Gone mad
- Thread starter Lashout_UK
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Didn't get much done today - spent most of the day collecting it a little friend. Think I'm building a "British Prestige" fleet, needless to say ze German daily is eyeing it's new comrades up with suspicion 
This morning my dad fixed the oil pressure gauge and oil warning light by......reattaching the wires. In typical style, having a poke around what I'd bought, as always, descended into a fiddling session.
I said I wouldn't run it this morning but I quickly checked the ancilleries and fluids and she fired right up on the key - then stopped. Then started again, then stopped. After about 5 minutes I managed to nurse it into idle and get a bit of heat into it
Shows good pressure too so it's good to go! Runs a treat when you've got it going but does sound like it's missing a little - mind you, god knows what petrol is in it. These things are designed for full on 100 octane 5 star.
Freakishly silent in 'drive' mind, though. It's louder in park and neutral!
Things I've noted so far (barring the obvious) are that I need a few bulbs, to top up the coolant and brake fluid - and to lubricate the lock mechanisms. I almost locked myself out of it today (jammed locks), as the door mechanisms haven't been used for decades....
I managed to leave the light (yes, rear sidelight, only one working out of the sidelights) on all day but to my suprise, started right up this time on the first crank and settled into a 900RPM idle. Potential!
This morning my dad fixed the oil pressure gauge and oil warning light by......reattaching the wires. In typical style, having a poke around what I'd bought, as always, descended into a fiddling session.
I said I wouldn't run it this morning but I quickly checked the ancilleries and fluids and she fired right up on the key - then stopped. Then started again, then stopped. After about 5 minutes I managed to nurse it into idle and get a bit of heat into it
Shows good pressure too so it's good to go! Runs a treat when you've got it going but does sound like it's missing a little - mind you, god knows what petrol is in it. These things are designed for full on 100 octane 5 star.
Freakishly silent in 'drive' mind, though. It's louder in park and neutral!
Things I've noted so far (barring the obvious) are that I need a few bulbs, to top up the coolant and brake fluid - and to lubricate the lock mechanisms. I almost locked myself out of it today (jammed locks), as the door mechanisms haven't been used for decades....
I managed to leave the light (yes, rear sidelight, only one working out of the sidelights) on all day but to my suprise, started right up this time on the first crank and settled into a 900RPM idle. Potential!
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Well today, due to vistors, I got nothing other than the chance to catalogue the car photographically - at least, the important bits. Consider them 'before' shots, if I do something with it.
Tomorrow I will start in earnest on it and I might actually get it down the drive so I can take some 'proper' shots of it, instead of the rather squashed photography from it sat on the hard standing.
So, for the meantime, the guided tour of HMS P5B:
Externally, well - the car isn't actually that bad. Yes, it's very faded, the paint's had it in places as it's been resprayed in some areas and the new paint hasn't taken well, so has cracked or lifted - but it's all there.
The main issue is the condition of the doors. The rear passenger side door has totally had it, it's just gone - so I'll have to source a replacement for that.
The trim is mostly fine. There is some pitting on the chrome but the majority of the P5's trim is stainless steel - and as such weathers the progress of time with ease, hence the shine.
One wierd thing is the state of the window rubbers (and some other strips on the car). It's literally melted away and I can't figure out what happened to it. I know this thing is old (41) but it seems an odd decay process. Maybe it was left standing in the sun for ages and it did just melt it, or maybe it was stored somewhere chemicals (as I swear it was ash on the roof) were present?
This is the front windscreen one, which is just perished (but again in an odd way):
These will be replaced I think - I'd like to get the exterior of it waterproof as that's half the battle to protecting the thing for the future and makes it much more presentable and much nicer to own - no damp cockpits or steamy windows.
Boot's pretty good although the underside edge of the lid needs a bit of love. There's some holes in the inside panelling on the RHS too but I'm not sure how important that is at the moment:
The roof's come up a treat now I've roughly cleaned it - still to T-cut and polish it but it's looking good so far:
Underneath the car looks really good, to be fair. There's some surface rust as you'd expect but the only 'funky' part I've found is the rear driver's side spring hanger, it looks like a battery's leaked into that area and consequently caused some nasty live active rust.
Powersteering, woo!
Bit of metal missing here - rear valance is really quite tatty but a replacement panel is only £50. Spring hanger looks OK but will prod around a bit more tomorrow when I get it up on the ramps.
Those two big pipes carry water to the rear heater - yes, the passengers have their own controllable water heater for the rear seats, as well as individual volume controls. Luxury!
Under the bonnet is well, to be frank, excellent. Everything's seemingly been well preserved and someone's spent some time looking after it - new plugs, leads, cap, alternator, radiator, hoses, fresh fluids - these kind of things.
It's the early high-compression 10.5:1 215ci (3.5 litre) Rover V8, so makes a moderate 160BHP and 210ft.lb, enough to slingshot the 1600kg beast to 60 in around 11 seconds.
Tomorrow I will start in earnest on it and I might actually get it down the drive so I can take some 'proper' shots of it, instead of the rather squashed photography from it sat on the hard standing.
So, for the meantime, the guided tour of HMS P5B:
Externally, well - the car isn't actually that bad. Yes, it's very faded, the paint's had it in places as it's been resprayed in some areas and the new paint hasn't taken well, so has cracked or lifted - but it's all there.
The main issue is the condition of the doors. The rear passenger side door has totally had it, it's just gone - so I'll have to source a replacement for that.
The trim is mostly fine. There is some pitting on the chrome but the majority of the P5's trim is stainless steel - and as such weathers the progress of time with ease, hence the shine.
One wierd thing is the state of the window rubbers (and some other strips on the car). It's literally melted away and I can't figure out what happened to it. I know this thing is old (41) but it seems an odd decay process. Maybe it was left standing in the sun for ages and it did just melt it, or maybe it was stored somewhere chemicals (as I swear it was ash on the roof) were present?
This is the front windscreen one, which is just perished (but again in an odd way):
These will be replaced I think - I'd like to get the exterior of it waterproof as that's half the battle to protecting the thing for the future and makes it much more presentable and much nicer to own - no damp cockpits or steamy windows.
Boot's pretty good although the underside edge of the lid needs a bit of love. There's some holes in the inside panelling on the RHS too but I'm not sure how important that is at the moment:
The roof's come up a treat now I've roughly cleaned it - still to T-cut and polish it but it's looking good so far:
Underneath the car looks really good, to be fair. There's some surface rust as you'd expect but the only 'funky' part I've found is the rear driver's side spring hanger, it looks like a battery's leaked into that area and consequently caused some nasty live active rust.
Powersteering, woo!
Bit of metal missing here - rear valance is really quite tatty but a replacement panel is only £50. Spring hanger looks OK but will prod around a bit more tomorrow when I get it up on the ramps.
Those two big pipes carry water to the rear heater - yes, the passengers have their own controllable water heater for the rear seats, as well as individual volume controls. Luxury!
Under the bonnet is well, to be frank, excellent. Everything's seemingly been well preserved and someone's spent some time looking after it - new plugs, leads, cap, alternator, radiator, hoses, fresh fluids - these kind of things.
It's the early high-compression 10.5:1 215ci (3.5 litre) Rover V8, so makes a moderate 160BHP and 210ft.lb, enough to slingshot the 1600kg beast to 60 in around 11 seconds.
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Plenty of fuses:
......but yea, the underbonnet area is really very good:
A bit of damage to the insulating pad but hey, not bad for it's age.
Internally it's just really dirty - and there is some light damage but nothing that can't be recovered, cleaned or reattached. Unfortunately most of the silencing and weatherproofing strips have had it, so they will need replacing and work. Certainly not the end of it, mind, just something that will make it a hundred times nicer when done.
Adjustable armrests?
Oh yes!
Headlining's good:
As are the rear seats & the picnic tray/drinks holder:
Check out the bolster depth!
Reserve fuel? Oh yes! All mod cons
Pull-out (from the dash) picnic tray is there too:
Which for some reason contains...
......but yea, the underbonnet area is really very good:
A bit of damage to the insulating pad but hey, not bad for it's age.
Internally it's just really dirty - and there is some light damage but nothing that can't be recovered, cleaned or reattached. Unfortunately most of the silencing and weatherproofing strips have had it, so they will need replacing and work. Certainly not the end of it, mind, just something that will make it a hundred times nicer when done.
Adjustable armrests?
Oh yes!
Headlining's good:
As are the rear seats & the picnic tray/drinks holder:
Check out the bolster depth!
Reserve fuel? Oh yes! All mod cons
Pull-out (from the dash) picnic tray is there too:
Which for some reason contains...
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Gotta love all this minor detailing too:
What happened to this company, seriously? All this design, detail, high build quality and comfort and it just seems to have evaporated into nothingness. Crying shame!
Rear heater and speaker controls (all very dirty, as is the whole interior. Never been cleaned I think and just sat):
Umbrella handbrake is fun:
The clincher?
Survey says, so far, possibly!
Oh and here's a quiz for you - what's odd here (barring the hideous carpet which I will soon be putting straight):
Ten internets to who works out what great feature is stashed in this shot!
Tomorrow work commences, so expect an update (and no doubt more grot) and a video soon
What happened to this company, seriously? All this design, detail, high build quality and comfort and it just seems to have evaporated into nothingness. Crying shame!
Rear heater and speaker controls (all very dirty, as is the whole interior. Never been cleaned I think and just sat):
Umbrella handbrake is fun:
The clincher?
Survey says, so far, possibly!
Oh and here's a quiz for you - what's odd here (barring the hideous carpet which I will soon be putting straight):
Ten internets to who works out what great feature is stashed in this shot!
Tomorrow work commences, so expect an update (and no doubt more grot) and a video soon
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Thanks
Sorry for the immense wall of pictures and lack of text today but I'm dead on my feet after this week's antics so haven't really had the chance to collect my thoughts. A balance will be re-established soon
Don't forget the mystery quiz, to re-iterate
What ace little gadget is present here (and very cleverly thought of!).
Sorry for the immense wall of pictures and lack of text today but I'm dead on my feet after this week's antics so haven't really had the chance to collect my thoughts. A balance will be re-established soon
Don't forget the mystery quiz, to re-iterate
What ace little gadget is present here (and very cleverly thought of!).
Thanks
Sorry for the immense wall of pictures and lack of text today but I'm dead on my feet after this week's antics so haven't really had the chance to collect my thoughts. A balance will be re-established soon
Don't forget the mystery quiz, to re-iterate
What ace little gadget is present here (and very cleverly thought of!).
Without looking it up - I'd guess at the windscreen washers on a pedal activated switch (like on my old Mk1 Fiesta!)
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Very good guess Lopez, almost - but not quite!
"It's good but it's not right!"
The foot rest, as you say, is actually a switch - but it's for switching between dip and main beam! Press it down and you can toggle between the two at your leisure, so when you're storming down the A1 in the rain at 100mph you don't have to release your death grip on the steering wheel
"It's good but it's not right!"
The foot rest, as you say, is actually a switch - but it's for switching between dip and main beam! Press it down and you can toggle between the two at your leisure, so when you're storming down the A1 in the rain at 100mph you don't have to release your death grip on the steering wheel
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Hehe - not by me!
The foot rest, as you say, is actually a switch - but it's for switching between dip and main beam! Press it down and you can toggle between the two at your leisure, so when you're storming down the A1 in the rain at 100mph you don't have to release your death grip on the steering wheel
I've got the same switch (actually it LITERALLY looks like the same switch, British Leyland parts bin raid methinks) on the LandRover. Being a manual, its a rpita, I am ALWAYS changing gear with my left foot on the clutch just when someone comes into view to be blinded. Well I say blinded, the lights on full beam are marginally brighter than a candle wafting in the wind, but you know what I mean.
Good project, what do you plan to do with it longterm? Get it up to concourse standard or just run it as is with a bit of polish?
edit: Why does the speedo have a "red" section on it? Is this where the car self-implodes or is it where the time travel speed is reached?
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HXC, wasn't a black/dark blue one was it?
Yea, Bluelion - the red section is 115-120mph - You'd have to be brave I think Might be a reminder because I think you'd be redlining the engine at that speed too.
Yea, Bluelion - the red section is 115-120mph - You'd have to be brave I think
Might be a reminder because I think you'd be redlining the engine at that speed too.I very much think it was!
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Random but probably totally unrelated
I saw a dark blue/black Mk.3 saloon (coupe has a much lower roof) around the area recently...hence why I thought of your comment!
I saw a dark blue/black Mk.3 saloon (coupe has a much lower roof) around the area recently...hence why I thought of your comment!