project 1972 Vanden Plas Princess 1300 - The Forum Bike VP

[purplebargeken]

Yes, seem to recall Woolies did it on a roll. 

Have Fablon’d a dash before and it looked pretty much just fine.

Also did a dash on a 1300FWD in aluminium plate that had engine turning (IIRC) done on it.  Looked rather spiffing actually.

[SiC]

Opened up the speedometer yesterday evening. 

Gave it a good clean out and re-oil with clock oil. 

It was filthy from metal dust. The spinning magnets appear to be hitting the needle cup. I tried bending things out of the way but didn't want to break anything. Spinning by hand while pushing in the drive cable side doesn't catch at least now. There is play on the cup which presumably why it's hitting.

MGOC order has apparently been delivered today so hopefully I'll get some time later to fit this all back in again. Also have a go at fixing the heater controls while I'm in there. 

[SiC]

One of 'dem newfangled self driving cars with no steering wheels. 

Started off by sorting the heater controls. Zip tie repair wasn't holding well. 

Removed all that and decided to come up with a different solution. 

 

Plan was to put these clips on. They're for a MGB/Midget but also used in places on this 1100. The left clip can't go in like that as the plastic is broken.

This way around would mean the angles are all wrong for the cable.

Other side is easier as it can hook through. Just needs a hole drilling.

After a bit of bending of the clip on the broken side, I hooked it around.

Other side was easier.

With new holes drilled for the screws and all bolted in, it was done.

Cable was too long for the under bonnet - I bought the longer one and should have got a shorter cable. However easier to shorten than lengthen. I used some bicycle cable cutters which give a very easy clean cut. I guess an angle grinder would have worked as well too.

Also fitted a CTEK charge connection and a battery isolator. Useful for in storage to cut power and keep things topped up if left for a while. 

Decided to rebuild the column. These have two bushes. A top plastic and a bottom felt that is soaked in oil. Bit shite design but I guess enough for a few years till the cars rotted out. The issue with this one is the bottom felt bush was completely flat and the whole column rocked around. Apart from a very annoying rattle, it is quite annoying to have the steering wheel move around in your hands all the time when driving.

Not too tricky a job. Basically undo the wheel and pull apart. Plastic bush push in and the felt slips in the bottom after copious amounts of oil soaked into it. 

Stiffer but still moveable. A lot less rattly though!

Put the dash all back together. Actually pretty straightforward job and far easier with the column out.

Behind the dash looked remarkably solid.

I would assume this is the original factory paint colour.

Test drive found the Speedo working again. About 2-4mph too fast on the Speedo versus actual speed up to around 40mph. Above that it gets quite a bit more inaccurate. That's fine for me and better that way around. More than good enough now and not worth sending it off tbh. 👌

Took it for a drive to the gym. Got chatting to the guy with the Midget. He also owned a XJS Jag and a '72 Bentley.

Slammed the door on the passenger side to make sure it was properly shut. Quarter light handle fell off in comedic fashion 🤦‍♂️

Need to figure how I can reattach it! Might have to be epoxy glue...

Going to give the car a quick going over with some t-cut this afternoon and see if the paint can be brightened up a bit.

[N Dentressangle]

A neighbour (who long since sold his blue car) gave me this:

Worked really well on the P6 - better than all my far more expensive potions.

[SiC]

Pre polish but post wash

Post polish front end.

So far it looks better...

...depending on the angle you look at it 🫣

[SiC]

I mean it's kinda better where I've gone over with it... Left is after, right is before in case it's not clear (probably isn't 🤣)

I think the heat and hot metal is not helping the front end. 

Worst case I'll only just have to drive this on dull days. 

[N Dentressangle]

Yeah, doing it in the sun never gives good results.

That blue polish stuff I mentioned covers a surprising multitude of paint sins, too.

[Andyrew]

My guess is that the paint was matt/ satin finish(Certainly looks that way in the old lay by photos) and not a poorly applied gloss. No amount of wet sanding or polishing could bring a decent shine to it and any oils in wax products just washes off. Like it's gone porous. 

I used to wipe it down with wd40 occasionally. possibly a good candidate for the boil linseed.

 

[SiC]

Well I've resorted to snow jizz in an effort to get the large quantities of G3 compound off. 

I think I've wasted an afternoon of a day off 🙃 

(Tbh too hot to be welding the Midget anyway)

[camryv6]

Hahaha you bought this to just jump in and drive !!

[2flags]

Great work on this. At least this one you can now drive. 😄Hopefully no weldathon on this one!

[beko1987]

It's not aggressive but Poorboys black hole is a fantastic hot weather friendly glaze

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/poorboys-black-hole

Won't do much polishing but I use it almost as much as a post polish cleanup as a nice glaze and base for wax. Is glorious in the sun and a hot panel to work with too!

[Cookiesouwest]

1 hour ago, beko1987 said:

It's not aggressive but Poorboys black hole is a fantastic hot weather friendly glaze

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/poorboys-black-hole

Won't do much polishing but I use it almost as much as a post polish cleanup as a nice glaze and base for wax. Is glorious in the sun and a hot panel to work with too!

Plus one for poor boys products

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, SiC said:

Well I've resorted to snow jizz in an effort to get the large quantities of G3 compound off. 

I think I've wasted an afternoon of a day off 🙃 

(Tbh too hot to be welding the Midget anyway)

You flooded the distributer! 

[SiC]

16 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

You flooded the distributer! 

Don't be silly. That won't fill a distributor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doing this can though.

Especially when pressure washing it after 

[High Jetter]

2 minutes ago, SiC said:

Don't be silly. That won't fill a distributor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doing this can though.

Especially when pressure washing it after 

Is your cardboard cover in place?

[SiC]

19 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Is your cardboard cover in place?

No, it doesn't have one.

 

And yes it didn't start after. Water was mostly in the coil cover actually and the dizzy was dry. Also some water got through the air filter cover and into the carb too. Which suggests the air cleaner isn't actually sealing that well. 🫠

 

Why did I do this? This engine bay has been one of the worst I've had where every time I go into it, I get absolutely filthy. By far the worst even going by all the other old wrecks I've had. Probably not helped by the oil filter housing keep leaking. 

Anyway apart from cleaning it up so I don't get dirty, it's easier to track and notice any new oil leaks if the engine bay is relatively clean. 

[SiC]

4 hours ago, camryv6 said:

Hahaha you bought this to just jump in and drive !!

Which I have done for the most part! The things so far are just tinkering bits that I could have ignored but I had time and wanted something to fiddle around with. Like for example the heater controls I could have just left to off in this weather. Plus a few "while I'm there" type jobs. Like the steering column bushes which isn't a hard job and just makes it wobble about less. 

I mean I did buy it not just to drive but also to work on. Use and improve. 

The paint I knew was shite and as I said a few posts ago, actually was a reason I bought it. It's primarily a test bed to have a go at coach painting and if successful I'll do it on the Midget next. This cars paint is so bad that even if it's not successful, it will invariably be better than it is currently!

Interior freshen up is easy and not that expensive to do. But also makes a big difference in improving it as a place to be. 

[High Jetter]

The BL dealer I worked for used a steam clean co. Condoms on, tho

[Matty]

9 minutes ago, SiC said:

 

Why did I do this? This engine bay has been one of the worst I've had where every time I go into it, I get absolutely filthy. By far the worst even going by all the other old wrecks I've had. Probably not helped by the oil filter housing keep leaking.

Easy answer to this Si. Simply pull the engine out, buy another, fully strip and rebuild it, clean the full engine bay and reinstall. Worked for me.

Hope this helps 🫡

[High Jetter]

4 minutes ago, Matty said:

Easy answer to this Si. Simply pull the engine out, buy another, fully strip and rebuild it, clean the full engine bay and reinstall. Worked for me.

Hope this helps 🫡

I've done this. Clothed, tho 😄

[SiC]

8 hours ago, Matty said:

Easy answer to this Si. Simply pull the engine out, buy another, fully strip and rebuild it, clean the full engine bay and reinstall. Worked for me.

Hope this helps 🫡

Going by my garage floor, this lump actually is one of driest that's been in there!

[Andyrew]

What colour are you thinking of going for?

 

[SiC]

5 hours ago, Andyrew said:

What colour are you thinking of going for?

 

Not sure. Thinking either keeping to the original (not sure but royal blue or something along those lines?) or Tahiti Blue (basically Ford tractor blue). It was a BL colour at the time but not sure if original to the VP. Maybe a bit bright. 

It's probably a controversial colour - certainly was on my 1100. But I partly want to do it that colour as I like it and also miss that car.

(Also pondering about a vinyl on the roof too like this was - but that might be a bit too far)

[Andyrew]

5 minutes ago, SiC said:

t's probably a controversial colour - certainly was on my 1100. 

Ha! anyone who finds the paint colour of an Ado16 controversial seriously needs to have a wank and a biscuit. 

Brighter the better IMO , Also better at hiding not so good bodywork.

I wanted to do either The MG Aconite purple or Alice charmers orange.

 

 

[SiC]

11 minutes ago, Andyrew said:

Alice charmers orange.

🤔 Tempting 

I was also pondering Vermilion Red (basically orange)

[DodgeRover]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

Not sure. Thinking either keeping to the original (not sure but royal blue or something along those lines?) or Tahiti Blue (basically Ford tractor blue). It was a BL colour at the time but not sure if original to the VP. Maybe a bit bright. 

It's probably a controversial colour - certainly was on my 1100. But I partly want to do it that colour as I like it and also miss that car.

(Also pondering about a vinyl on the roof too like this was - but that might be a bit too far)

How about doing it 2 tone, a green with a silver upper?

[Six-cylinder]

How about dark green?

I like the white of my Morris 1300 2 door, but I am not sure that is right for such an up market car like the VP.

[N Dentressangle]

I'm boring and would always stick with the original colour if possible.

Your car's probably a 1973 model year, so your choice is likely to have been:

A few examples here to choose from:

https://archive.ph/toKf2

 

 

[SiC]

Not sure I like green. 

Interesting that Tahiti blue was a BLMC colour at the time. I suspect it wouldn't have been an option on a VP as a bit bright. There are two Tahiti Blue. An earlier one (which I prefer) or a later (which I don't). Earlier was used on this era, later on 90s Minis and such.