The Current Driveway...

[TrabbieRonnie]

Looking good (and small?!) in the work's car park.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Hello all, 

As the old Rover has been providing faultless commuting service, creeping past 2000 miles in my ownership, I gave her the once-over this morning.

The engine does use some oil, but nothing outrageous.  A glug a week is ok by me, and that was my first task.  I've an oil filter on order, but it'll be next year before she's due an oil change I think.  

I then removed the crud from the glass bowl fuel filter...

...which is getting less every time, and makes me very happy.  I have no running issues at all now, I just turn the key and go, so whatever crud is still getting through obviously doesn't bother her.

The gearbox was my next port of call, I've been expecting trouble given the state of it's oil when I got the car, but no dramas there.  The dipstick showed the perfect level and spotlessly clean oil.  Man and machine are fully in sync now, it's not a gearbox to be rushed (especially when cold), but I just take my time and rely on the big 6's torque.

I'm watching my tyres in order to catch any alignment issues before they ruin them, but it's not been long enough yet really...  They seem fine, and are driving nicely in all weathers.

Coolant was fine, she doesn't seem to get very hot, ever, and hasn't used a drop apparently.

The brakes have definitely 'worn in' with use, and I'm sure they're further down the pedal than they used to be.  They work well when required, but I've ordered new discs and pads and will adjust the rears up a bit to get rid of the initial play hopefully.  Whilst I'm doing that I'll check and tighten up the wheel bearings if they need it.

All good then really, my 67 year old daily!  Have some before and afters, cheers all.

 

As bought...

...and now.

The 'powerbarn' before...

...and now, not much to look at still but I'm strangely proud of it!

And the exterior...

 

New doggo approves too...

[Matty]

Dogs a little stunner. Looks a bit like my mums lurcher in the face.

[TrabbieRonnie]

15 minutes ago, Matty said:

Dogs a little stunner. Looks a bit like my mums lurcher in the face.

Cheers bud.  She's 3/4 Jack Russell, 1/4 miniature poodle apparently.  6 months now, very clever and with excellent automotive taste.

[Matty]

Ah clever dogs. Youll need to be on your toes then. Im looking after my mums for the weekend. Now thats a dog thats as thick as a stoop 🤣

[TrabbieRonnie]

Playing with chat gpt...

I already have the red paint in, and have no plans to change the colour scheme... Interesting to see it differently though.  Aiming for this...

Could do the roof as well...

Or really do the roof...

Have always thought they suit black (as this one left the factory actually)...

And this is nice, especially with the black roof and wheels I think...

Had to stop there, ran out of free gpt credits I think!

[Matty]

This one 😍

[High Jetter]

I dunno, maybe a Bank Managers (Dove) Grey?

[Homersimpson]

I liked the all red one, looked very striking.

[High Jetter]

48 minutes ago, Homersimpson said:

I liked the all red one, looked very striking.

Period was more Maroon, IIRC

[Matty]

1 hour ago, High Jetter said:

I dunno, maybe a Bank Managers (Dove) Grey?

With a black roof. Thatd be quite a thing.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Finally got around to investigating a whining noise from the big Audi today... suspect was something connected to the auxiliary belt.  So as we all know, on an A8 that means BUMPER OFF!

Swiftly followed by the radiator...

This didn't take much time, I've not long been in here doing the cambelt and it's all still fresh in the mind.  Of course, I should have replaced all tensioner and idler pulleys at that point, but they were quiet then!

There isn't a kit I could find for this engine, so I had to order individual pulleys.  The left hand idler was one I couldn't get, so obviously that would be the one that felt a bit grumbly...  Could have been worse, I was sincerely hoping the alternator was ok, and it is.

The grumbly idler is a fairly hefty piece of kit, so I teased out the seals hoping I could clean and repack it...

This turned out to be the case, no play I could feel, and it's now silent with new SKF grease squeezed in.

The seals clicked back in ok too, I've got the part number now and will order a spare, but it should be fine for a bit I think.

Anyway, I put it all back together with a new belt, the new pulleys I did have, and filled up the coolant (I'd caught it all in a clean bucket as I pulled the rad, it's new-ish, and looks spotless).  

I turned the key at this point, as you can't get the last litre of coolant in until it burps itself with the heater on max.  

It is a bit quieter and deeper sounding, but the whine is still present.  It must be the power steering pump, the fluid does smell a bit burned.  However, I can cope with that, an oil change (maybe including some of that 'pump rebuild in a bottle' stuff) will hopefully improve it.  The main thing I wanted to achieve today was identifying the noise, and preventing a breakdown if it was the alternator or a pulley in danger of seizing up.  

We're off to Stornoway in a couple of weeks, and I'm looking forward to a spirited drive or two during the trip!

Tomorrow will see the bumper stitched up a bit...

... and refitted.  I've got front brake pads to fit whilst she's up... I don't know if it's the salt up here or if they're just another poorly made component these days, but I do seem to spend a lot of time changing them.

A good wash and polish up will finish the job, apart from this noise the old thing's going like a train and I still love it dearly.  185k and counting, long may it continue!

Cheers all.

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Evening all.

Just had wee spannering session on the way home from work.  The 'parts car' that came with Old Red, is finally destined for the scrap man...

She's in a sorry state, but still able to offer some useful spares.  Chief among which will be the engine, and the (overdrive-equipped)  'box.

So far, the good/useable parts include a fuel tank, carb, air intake and the exhaust manifold looks better than mine!  The engine doesn't turn, but I couldn't stand it going to the yard without giving it a shot at life.  It's sealed at least, with only clean oil visible on the dipstick.

Gearbox looks the same, intact and with good oil at the right level.

I've undone the engine mounts and bellhousing bolts, so with a gentle tug I'm sure the big six will lift serenely up from it's home!  That's for another day though, my friend (whose property this is on) has an old  forklift in need of attention first!

Loads of little spares still there too, trim joiners, dash bits etc, just need to find somewhere to put it all...

 

Cheers all.

 

[Surface Rust]

I can't remember if your P4 already has overdrive, but if you want to fit the spares car gearbox to old red you'll need the drive shaft as well.

[TrabbieRonnie]

9 minutes ago, Surface Rust said:

I can't remember if your P4 already has overdrive, but if you want to fit the spares car gearbox to old red you'll need the drive shaft as well.

Well pointed out, cheers.  I don't currently have overdrive, so yeah as a longer-term project I wouldn't mind upgrading one day.

[Matty]

52 minutes ago, TrabbieRonnie said:

Well pointed out, cheers.  I don't currently have overdrive, so yeah as a longer-term project I wouldn't mind upgrading one day.

Overdrive is an absolute game changer. Almost better than a 5 speed box.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Hello all,

Currently far from the madding crowd, in beautiful (and very sunny!) Stornoway.  The big liability A8 is again proving a very nice way of tootling round.  Here she is, parked up just shy of The Bridge to Nowhere...

We didn't go over the bridge, because... well it doesn't go anywhere!

Lovely though...

It's just up the road from Tolsta beach, which is the most stunning I've ever seen.  I am not able to do it justice on my phone cam, but I had a go...

Nobody there either, perfect.

As I say, the car is going great, and the big boot was called for, carrying music gear that my eldest 'shiter couldn't fit in the venerable 323...

We convoyed out to Ullapool ferry terminal together, a beautiful trip in itself.  Here's a potato pic taken by my co-pilot as we tried to reel in the mighty Maz...

So yeah, somehow six years have passed since we bought the Audi, 55000 miles ago too.  Even more with the wee Mazda 323, (of this parish).  Nobody can believe the age of either, but both are dearly loved here.  Great motors.

New Doggo however, not a fan!

Another few days of this before it's back to reality... as always, if anyone is considering a first trip to the Hebrides, you won't be disappointed and I highly recommend 👌.

Cheers all.