Maxi 1750 WOD389S draughts and knocking sound

[theorganist]

I have been wanting another Maxi practically ever since I watched my old one being driven off around eighteen months ago, after selling it.

 

Today I had this one delivered it is a January 1978 1750,it was originally Sandglow but it was painted matt Black sometime in the early 1990';s.

 

The story goes is that the owner (living in Devon) when he was sixteen in 1990, purhcased this Maxi,it was going for scrap. He got it on the road and drove it after he passed his test till 1997. At some point an interior and a couple of doors, including the hatchback were sourced from a yellow 1980 model. The gearbox is from an Allegro 1500 I believe which has high gearing, apparently this one is slower off the mark than most 1750 Maxi but will reach a higher speed, he reportedly did over 100 in her!! The engine is the original.

 

Since getting married, having children and moving up to the outskirts of Leamington Spa the Maxi got put in the garage and mainly forgotten about. Until a few years ago him and his father (also a former Maxi owner and a mechanic) started working on her to get her back on the road. Unfortunately his fathers ill health and real life have got in the way,although he reckons he has done 90% of the work needed.

 

It has had two new sills and the clutch has apparently only done six miles. I met him on facebook as he was giving away a free Maxi so I got in contact. I didn't have the heart to take it off him for nothing so offered him £100, which is nothing really. There is half a cars worth of spares! Two doors, bonnet, 2 fibreglass wings, a sill off a Landcrab, carbourettor, hoses, pipes, doors handles/locks, two jacks, two coils and loads more.

 

I was thinking of repraying her back to Sandglow but I am not sure now, it looks rather good I think in Black!

 

I haven't tried to start her yet, the battery which was new before it was exiled in the garage is dead but I am attempting to charge it. The handbrake and foot brakes seem to work and she rolls freely! The clutch pedal is jammed solid at the moment, I have not checked all the fluid levels yet!

 

The suspension is down on the offside, apparently he fitted a new Hydrolastic pipe but did not do the nut up tight enough and after it was pumped up it went straight back down again!

 

Here are some pictures:

 

 

Great Autoshite recovery vehicle too!

 

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6056/626 ... 6586_m.jpg

 

Overtaking it on the M40, I was in the Megane

 

 

Rather nice Porsche something on the M40 in a bit of traffic near the M42 interchange

 

 

On arrival in Stourbridge

 

 

 

 

Boot full of spares, the boot of the Megane Scenic was full too and there are some still to be picked up!

 

 

 

Here you can see the original Sandglow paint

 

 

Before I washed it!

 

 

After I washed it!

 

 

 

 

Sorry about the size of the pictures, you can see them here with some extra ones, if you so desire!!

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48758436@N05/

[RedSparrow]

Another winner!

Nice work. Any plans to re-paint it?

 

edit: Sorry I just read your post properly!

[theorganist]

Thanks Redsparrow!

 

Not sure to be honest. I don't really know if I like Sandglow and it looks quite good in Black, even my mum likes it!!

 

I think if I leave it Black though I will respray it gloss and do all the unpainted bits. However I think I would like to make it as original as possible.

[Cavcraft]

WOO!

 

Maxis are for winners, mass Autoshite approval guaranteed!

[ashmicro]

Yeehaa! Top save. Get him twin carbed and that should restore the off the line zip lost due to the Allegro 'box. Nice work.

[barefoot]

If it's matt black - you need some serious red/yellow/white flames.

[dollywobbler]

Nice. Black suits it so the glossy plan sounds nice. Originality is good, but it's not exactly factory fresh and unmeddled with is it? Gives you a chance to put your stamp on it.

[RoadworkUK]

Indeed. I have to admit this is the first time I'll ever recommend flame graffix and moon-discs! Top shiteage.

[theorganist]

Thanks all, as ever for all your interest and encouraging comments.

 

but it's not exactly factory fresh and unmeddled with is it? Gives you a chance to put your stamp on it.

 

Thats exactly what I was thinking, Glossy would look nice I think!

 

Have thought about twin carbs and maybe something like some Allegro HL wheels if I can find some!

[DSdriver]

If I recall correctly, with the Maxi's fully reclining front seats that turn the interior into almost a double bed, the motoring press at the time of its launch described it as "the ideal car for a young man about to start a family"*

*women didn't buy cars in those days.

Black wasn't an option so I think you have to for for beige.

[theorganist]

I have seen two Maxi's in this colour, I know one (a series 2) was original, not sure about the other. I have seen Allegro's, Marinas, Princesses and Mini's all seventies models in black so would be surprised if it wasn't available. Also the Maxi Owners Club references it on their website.

 

Not going to worry about it too much until after I get it MOT'd!

[Lord Sterling]

W1NAR!

 

That look utterly dreadful, but great at the same time. I'd love to see this in the metal, I dont think I've seen a Maxi in the metal for some time. Are you planning to put it on the road? If you need a hand with this car, let me know.

[theorganist]

Hi Lord Sterling, yes definately plan to get it on the road over the next couple of months.

 

Thanks for your kind offer I may well take you up on that!!

[BMC Dan]

I think black was available on BL products as a special order. There was a totally fecked (stood in grass and used as a shed from 1994 until this year after it failed it's MOT) 1980 1750 auto in a scrapyard near me until recently finished in it, pretty sure there was an outline of a crest on the driver's door so might have had an interesting first owner.

 

Great save

[DSdriver]

Those were the days - you had to pay extra for black (thanks BMC Dan, I was pretty sure it wasn't standard). Now some cars are only available in black, but you do get a choice of shade.

[Pete-M]

MAXImum WIN.

 

Always amuses me how truly huge inside those things are.

[Wilko220]

Great save!

 

I seem to recall they did a late run-out special edition Maxi 2 which came in black... I could be imagining it though

[theorganist]

Torsten had a black series 2 IIRC.

 

Tried charging the battery yesterday, I think it is buggered though as when charging it stayed on one and didn't move at all. Tried jump starting it this morning with the Renault 14, it turned over slowly so at least I know then engine is not seized but even after leaving it attached to the Renault for some minutes it still only turns the engine slowly and could barely power the wipers. The radio works though!!

 

The second hand battery I got from the scrapyard is too wide, so will try and get another this week!

[theorganist]

Just a quick update:

 

I have an exhaust thanks to Craig the Princess, I took a trip over to Norfolk on new years eve in the 14 to pick it up. Unfortunately the old exhaust is being held together by some as yet undiscovered atomical matter, so I think it will be a job for the garage when I get it mot'd.

 

Thanks to Lankytim as of this afternoon it is now sitting level. He kindly came round to pump the suspension up for me and collected a sill and two fibreglass wings for his Maxi in the process.

 

 

 

 

 

Once it is mot'd which will hopefully be either February oor March then I am going to strip of the matt black yo rat look paint. It is coming off sporadically, infact you only have to rub against it and it seems to peel off, certainly you can do it by finger nail!! I will be re-registering it as Sandglow (or Brown as the DVLA calls it) and repainting/tidying up the paint etc.

 

 

There are still a couple of problems I have discovered, the nearside indicator lights up instead of the brake light when the brake pedal is pressed, I do have a set of replacement light units though if I can't fix the problem.

 

Also, and I wonder if anyone else on here has had experience of this, the indicators and lights do not appear to work. The previous owner told me it happened once before and he let the car warm up and they started working, he called it a dry joint or something?!!

 

I did have a similar problem on my old Maestro when the windscreen wipers would not come on unless you

 

a) wiggled the relay underneath the dashboard or

waited for a few minutes for the car to warm up

 

Anyway so hopefully both Autoshite Maxi projects are slowly advancing!

[wackywacerwill]

Great save. Dare I say it but I quite like it in black

[theorganist]

Cheers Will.

 

I think black suits it too, but the paint is pretty awful and the way it is coming off I would not want to paint over it! So I figured if I am going to take it off I may as well keep it its original colour.

[Taff]

thats awful in a great way, i love it.

a always fancied shoving a V8 of some description into one of those somehow, though i know it wouldn't quite be as easy as that.

 

dry joint? Hmm, probably just on it's way out, lighting circuits are pretty straight forward on cars of that era though. At the very worst, rip it all out and pinch a scrapyard loom to provide the bits you need?

[dieselnutjob]

the nearside indicator lights up instead of the brake light when the brake pedal is pressed

 

make sure that the light cluster has a good earth connection. it might be the brake light earthing through the indicator circuit rather than the body

[theorganist]

Thanks taff and DNJ

 

I am going to have a play around with it tomorrow (if it is dry)!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I bet a quid its the flasher unit, they just dont last forever, theyre only about £3 for a new one. there'll be two, one for the hazards and one for the indicators. Are the hazards working? If so swap the flasher units round and see what happens.

[theorganist]

Cheers Mr B but no, none of the lights work at all, except the nearside indicator lighting up when I apply the brake pedal, instead of the brake light.

[keef]

Always had a soft spot for the Maxi.

 

Looks like this one is slowly coming together; well done!

 

Wiring is usually bad earth or maybe corrosion on contacts at fuse box?

[Lankytim]

Glad to be of service, all hydragas/lastic cars look miles better with the suspension pumped up , they actually look like someone owns them!

 

Many thanks for the sill and the wings, just the drivers side sill to find then its out with the grinder!!#

 

BTW, Mr B. We used your pump to blow up the Maxi, hope you don't mind!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

GRRRR!!! WHY-I-OUGHTA.....! etc.

[theorganist]

Sorry,forgot to say thankyou to you Mr B for the use of the pump