1973 Renault 15 - I've broken my own rules.

[Bren]

I would imagine the alternator could be overhauled.

[4wheeledstool]

On 26/11/2024 at 19:45, Bren said:

I would imagine the alternator could be overhauled.

It comes apart easily enough, but not found a source of spare parts for it yet.🤔

Proper back box went back on today.

Sounds a bit less like it has a big hole in it now.👍

[4wheeledstool]

A pic of the car in 2010 was posted on the blue forum.

Just this one image gives some idea of how its been fucked up over the last 14 years. 🤨

[4wheeledstool]

Here it is after its first paint job.

Looking at replacement alternators, I can source one in Germany at considerable expense. Does anyone have any recommendations for a place that can refurbish obsolete French electrical equipment?

[Mr Pastry]

1 minute ago, 4wheeledstool said:

Here it is after its first paint job.

Looking at replacement alternators, I can source one in Germany at considerable expense. Does anyone have any recommendations for a place that can refurbish obsolete French electrical equipment?

It's only a basic alternator, there must be loads that would fit, surely? 

[stuboy]

wwhy has it been painted twice>?

[4wheeledstool]

1 hour ago, stuboy said:

wwhy has it been painted twice>?

It's been painted black before ending up yellow, so three times. (The last two badly!)

[4wheeledstool]

2 hours ago, Mr Pastry said:

It's only a basic alternator, there must be loads that would fit, surely? 

I could cobble something together for sure, but as I intend to restore it, I want to use original mounting tackle and components so it looks right. (I'm a bit sad like that) 😀

[Billy - Medhurst]

2 hours ago, 4wheeledstool said:

 

Have to admit I prefer this colour - Very 70's

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, 4wheeledstool said:

Here it is after its first paint job.

Looking at replacement alternators, I can source one in Germany at considerable expense. Does anyone have any recommendations for a place that can refurbish obsolete French electrical equipment?

Replacement diode pack, or get it overhauled? Any auto motor fettler should be able.

[LightBulbFun]

On 27/11/2024 at 23:12, 4wheeledstool said:

Just this one image gives some idea of how its been fucked up over the last 14 years. 🤨

im very glad that despite all that it managed to retain its original raised digit number plates going by the font they are in they look like Ace plates  

[wuvvum]

On the bright side, it's a lot less fucked up than 99% of the Renault 15s that were sold here.

is still a lot better than

or

.

[Semi-C]

On 30/11/2024 at 21:21, 4wheeledstool said:

Here it is after its first paint job.

Looking at replacement alternators, I can source one in Germany at considerable expense. Does anyone have any recommendations for a place that can refurbish obsolete French electrical equipment?

http://www.carelectricsuk.co.uk/

These boys are who I go to should I ever need alternator repairs, highly rated. 

[4wheeledstool]

Alternator is away being looked at by a bloke that used to work on this sort of thing when they were current.

When rooting through the boxes of junk the other day, I found what must be the original boot lock. (It takes the same key as the locks on the doors)
After working out how to remove the old one, it was pretty straightforward a job.

 

It all went back together nicely, so now we have a matching set.

 

Another small job ticked off a huge list.👍

[4wheeledstool]

On 01/12/2024 at 01:38, LightBulbFun said:

im very glad that despite all that it managed to retain its original raised digit number plates going by the font they are in they look like Ace plates  

Sadly, front and rear don't match. The G is a "rounder" font on the front.

They're both proper 70's plates though. 👍

[LightBulbFun]

21 minutes ago, 4wheeledstool said:

Sadly, front and rear don't match. The G is a "rounder" font on the front.

They're both proper 70's plates though. 👍

its all part of that proper period look  that is sadly often lost when a car is restored. Funnily enough my good friend Stuart who is an even bigger number plate nerd then I am noticed the difference and had this to say on it 

Quote

btw, that reggiy 15 on as, rear plate is ace, front is I reckon one of those almost sandalloy but not, nor NPC plates as yet unidentifiable

if you get a close up of the front perhaps it might be identifiable?  

[4wheeledstool]

On 04/12/2024 at 16:29, LightBulbFun said:

 if you get a close up of the front perhaps it might be identifiable?  

I'll get one tomorrow chief.👍

Some more pieces arrived today - a fuel cap, its the same as the one thats on there but this one has keys!

Badges for the wings, I think they only had them on the passenger side from new but got two anyway.

Hopefully a new speedo cable should arrive soon too. 😀

 

[Christine]

I always expected the weedy ignition key to snap on my 17.

[4wheeledstool]

4 minutes ago, Christine said:

I always expected the weedy ignition key to snap on my 17.

Ignition and door keys do look fragile!

[wuvvum]

Keys look to be the same type as my Renault 6.  I've not managed to break those in 17 years of ownership and I'm a hamfisted twat so you "should" be OK...

 

[4wheeledstool]

It's a bit battered 🤔

[4wheeledstool]

Alternator bloke was unable to find any parts for the non functional original one. I did manage to find a like for like replacement in Germany though. 

Now it shows 15.5V at the battery when running - I probably need to find a new voltage regulator too. 🤔

[4wheeledstool]

In other yellow French shitbox news, my missing TS badge turned up via ebay.

No more badges required. 👍

[outlaw118]

My uncle had one of these back in the day WTP388L IIRC, in that orange yours was sprayed in at some point.

He had some dodgy black plastic louvres over the rear window, and some really nice* hubcaps, the ones that look a bit like the old Audi Coupe ones. 

It replaced a V4 Corsair, and was later replaced by a 1976 Lancia Beta 2000, with predictable results.

[Bmwdumptruck]

On 04/12/2024 at 15:14, 4wheeledstool said:

 

Another small job ticked off a huge list.👍

Love the old Renault keys, brings back memories of mums old 12 Estate she had through most of my teens.  EAR589K, probably long since scrapped.  Dad bought it when I’d have been about 11, one of the few smaller estate cars with 5 doors. All the escorts and vivas were 3 door at the time.  I even drove it a fair bit once I got my licence up till she traded it for an 18 Saloon.

Has this got the same 1400 engine? 

[4wheeledstool]

On 20/12/2024 at 13:02, Bmwdumptruck said:

Has this got the same 1400 engine? 

1600. 👍

A kind bloke on a French forum helpfully explained how my voltage regulator can be adjusted. 

 

I just turn the wheel a little until the desired voltage at the battery is read. Every day is a school day. 😀

[Spiny Norman]

2 hours ago, 4wheeledstool said:

1600. 👍

A kind bloke on a French forum helpfully explained how my voltage regulator can be adjusted. 

 

I just turn the wheel a little until the desired voltage at the battery is read. Every day is a school day. 😀

So they realised that a component might wear out over time and built in some adjustment, how wonderful!
Nowadays you're likely buying a new alternator.

[dollywobbler]

From personal experience of French, do check the voltage regulator has a properly good earth or they can do strange things. 

[4wheeledstool]

New RHD speedo cable arrived from Holland yesterday,  so got it fitted today. 

Car now has working speedo, pic above was just after a test flight round the Farm.👍

[N Dentressangle]

On 25/12/2024 at 01:09, Spiny Norman said:

So they realised that a component might wear out over time and built in some adjustment, how wonderful!
Nowadays you're likely buying a new alternator.

This is the wonderful thing about old cars, isn't it? Nothing is simply designed to be thrown away and replaced with a new piece of Chinese shit. Everything can be rebuilt, refurbished, adjusted and fettled.

Sadly that isn't what makes some people loads of cash.