Zel's Fleet Blog...Rover, Renault, Peugeot, Trabant, Invacar & Sinclair C5

Post pictures and stories about your cars both present and past. Also post up "blogs" on your restoration projects - the more pictures the better! Note: blog-type threads often get few replies, but are often read by many members, and provide interest and motivation to other enthusiasts so don't be disappointed if you don't get many replies.
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Zelandeth
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Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70

#81 Post by Zelandeth » Sat Sep 15, 2018 10:35 pm

Aux drive belt decided to come off the Activa today, so something is definitely amiss with one of the tensioners or something...though they all seem fine when spun by hand.

I'll get as many covers etc out of the way and stick the belt back on and get it idling and see if I can see any signs of where it's wandering off centre. Hopefully it will be obvious. Have a choice of a spring tensioner, fixed eccentric tensioner, alternator or hydraulic pump.

Hopefully it's not the hydraulic pump as that would be a royal pain. Both in terms of finding a replacement (it's Activa specific) and that the fact that currently all of the connections are fluid tight so ideally I'd rather not disturb it if I don't have to.

Steering ain't half heavy without hydraulic assistance!
My website - aka. My *other* waste of time
Current fleet: 73 AC Model-70. 75 Rover 3500. 84 Trabant 601S. 85 Sinclair C5. 88 Renault 25 Monaco. 06 Peugeot Partner 1.6HDi.

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Zelandeth
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Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70

#82 Post by Zelandeth » Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:32 pm

Look what I found at a classic car show today...

Image

Was glad to get them parked close enough to each other to get the photo of them both.

The green one is a 210 as well, so 2.5 petrol - and automatic at that...shudder to think how many miles that doesn't get to the gallon...though probably does go rather quicker...

Dash looks odd with a blanking plug in place of the glow plug light too.
My website - aka. My *other* waste of time
Current fleet: 73 AC Model-70. 75 Rover 3500. 84 Trabant 601S. 85 Sinclair C5. 88 Renault 25 Monaco. 06 Peugeot Partner 1.6HDi.

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Zelandeth
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Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70

#83 Post by Zelandeth » Thu Sep 20, 2018 8:57 am

So ...far too long ago... you may recall that having transplanted my only slightly dodgy brake master cylinder from my spares Invacar, I'd attempted to bleed the brakes only to have one of the metal brake lines immediately pop. I'd also had to swap over one wheel cylinder following a bleed nipple snapping off.

Today I finally decided it was time to stop faffing around and sort the brakes. I knew from prior investigation that the unions on the central distributor T joint were already rounded before I got to them. All attempts to coerce the retaining bolt out failed. I'd hoped to get it off the car and see if I could extract the unions off the car. Not going to be a five minute task at least.

So my backup plan was to grab the same T piece off KP...it was equally disinterested in moving. Frustrated at this, I whipped the front out off KP. It's essentially the same thing but with an extra port with the brake light switch screwed into it. Will do to at least find out what bits of the brakes are working and what isn't, I'll introduce the one on the car to the angle grinder some time soon and sort it properly.

I decided to save some time at this point as I figured the main front to rear line was equally likely to need changing (it's quite hard to actually see as it's tucked up close to the floor and buried among a bundle containing the fuel line, wiring loom etc. KP has had a NOS pre-formed one fitted...however it's incredibly stiff and even with the floor pan and half the body missing was an utter pig to fit. So I decided to just use copper as it's so much easier to work with and I've a heap of it in stock.

It's currently just dangling under the car too...patience for carefully routing stuff was insufficient today, especially when it started raining.

I'm just going to clip it along one of the chassis rails I think. Yes it will be slightly less well protected, but in the same breath it will make the line far easier to give a visual inspection. The pipe on KP originally failed in a location that's totally impossible to see unless you have the car on a ramp or jacked up far enough to be fully underneath.

I was rather annoyed that the bleed nipple on the offside rear and front wheel are well stuck (I'm not reefing any harder on them for fear of shearing them off) despite them both having been open recently. Have soaked them in Plusgas again and will try again soon.

However the one wheel I've properly done hose easily, and I've done the front as far as the Flexi hose banjo bolt.

The result of this? I actually have brakes! Not very good...but it's a start and is enough to make getting it back into the garage far less terrifying.

I'll hopefully be able to get the remaining pair of wheels properly bled tomorrow and then see which cylinders need changing. Oh, and it's nearly out of fuel again. Seriously considering adapting a 20l Jerry can as a temporary fuel tank (get a new one and braze on stubs for a fuel outlet and vent) as so far nobody has responded to my requests for a quote to make a new one.
My website - aka. My *other* waste of time
Current fleet: 73 AC Model-70. 75 Rover 3500. 84 Trabant 601S. 85 Sinclair C5. 88 Renault 25 Monaco. 06 Peugeot Partner 1.6HDi.

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Zelandeth
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Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70

#84 Post by Zelandeth » Sun Sep 23, 2018 10:48 pm

One big failing in the van is the fact that it sounds like you're driving a bag of metal biscuit tins full of ball bearings down a flight of stairs on a pogo stick due to the number of bangs, rattles, squeaks and other assorted noises from the living area.

Now it's essentially a house crammed into a plywood box that's strapped to a van chassis and fitted with hard compound commercial tyres running at 65psi...so you're never going to make it quiet on the move, but anything that can make it quiet*er* has to be a good thing.

Step one has been to go around every single door, locker and drawer and stick felt pads on each corner. I knew one major contributor was the bathroom door as I could actually see the top edge vibrating against the frame in the rear view mirror. This has made a huge difference! Need to get someone else to drive it for a bit so I can sit in the back and try to track down the worst of the rest. Oven is a major cause of a horrendous din, though I'm not sure if anything can really be done about it.

One thing I am considering is putting locks on all of the overhead lockers just so they can be firmly secured when driving - they have detents built into the hinges but there's quite a bit of slack in the closed position...and to be honest I don't really trust them not to open if there's an emergency braking event...

The exterior door is also a source of much buzzing. The latch looks to be missing a contoured bit of plastic behind where it sits, this in addition to the seal being a bit tired means that there's quite a bit of movement possible - even though it's still latched in four locations so ain't going anywhere. Easy enough to sort though. May well add a couple of better latches anyhow as the factory thumbturn types don't really inspire confidence...any camper of this age is going to be about as secure as a soggy teabag anyway, but anything to help make it a bit harder to get into can only be a good thing.
My website - aka. My *other* waste of time
Current fleet: 73 AC Model-70. 75 Rover 3500. 84 Trabant 601S. 85 Sinclair C5. 88 Renault 25 Monaco. 06 Peugeot Partner 1.6HDi.

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Zelandeth
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Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70

#85 Post by Zelandeth » Wed Sep 26, 2018 9:27 pm

Apparently the Lada has decided that I've got too much free time and needed more things for the to do list.

In traffic today the cooling fan decided to lose interest in providing cooling. Thankfully there's enough capacity in it that it had only crept up to 2/3 on the gauge before I was able to escape the queue so no harm done. It ain't going anywhere now until I've had a chance to investigate though.

So I've got an Activa which has shredded it's aux belt because a tensioner has gone wonky, the Invacar only has 1/3 working brakes and is still a fair ways from an MOT, the Lada has decided fans are for losers. Van will be on front line duty for the next couple of days then! Figures I just put fuel in the Lada and the van needs it...with the 70 litre tank. Grrrr...
My website - aka. My *other* waste of time
Current fleet: 73 AC Model-70. 75 Rover 3500. 84 Trabant 601S. 85 Sinclair C5. 88 Renault 25 Monaco. 06 Peugeot Partner 1.6HDi.

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Zelandeth
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Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70

#86 Post by Zelandeth » Fri Sep 28, 2018 9:44 pm

Unsurprisingly the Lada when looked at, decided to behave perfectly.

So I've got a Lada with what appears to be an intermittent electrical issue.

Before any further action is taken I've given the fuses all a highly technical wiggle as poor contacts in the fuse box are usually responsible for about 95% of electrical issues in these cars.

We'll see how things go.

On the Invacar side of things, I've now managed to remove the seized up wiper assembly from the car so I can have a better look at it. If I can't get it working I'll get the one off the parts car. That works fine at least.

Also have ascertained that two of the brake bleed nipples don't want to move. I think the best course of action here before I stick a socket on them and heave is to just order two new wheel cylinders. They're only £12 apiece, and that absolutely ensures that they will unscrew without snapping when I apply brute force. So beyond these wheel cylinders the following looks like the current MOT list...

[] Three new tyres.
[] Fuel tank (now up to three local companies who haven't even bothered to return my enquiries...anyone know who might be able to make a tank for me?).
[] Fix wiper assembly.
[] Tidy up brake lines.
[] Properly secure the seat as it currently wobbles.
[] Make one good pair of doors out of the four knackered ones I have.
[] Patch up the bodywork to sufficiently satisfy Mr. MOT Tester.
[] Clean the lamp holders to deal with the currently intermittent nearside rear indicator.

It's actually not that daunting looking list now...

This car is getting on the road before the end of the year... I'm determined about that!
My website - aka. My *other* waste of time
Current fleet: 73 AC Model-70. 75 Rover 3500. 84 Trabant 601S. 85 Sinclair C5. 88 Renault 25 Monaco. 06 Peugeot Partner 1.6HDi.

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JPB
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Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70

#87 Post by JPB » Sat Sep 29, 2018 10:20 am

That's certainly not too bad a list, especially given how bad the car appeared when you first acquired it. On the fuel tank question; one of my Rebel estates had a double capacity stainless tank made by a specialist who did a handful of them at the time so perhaps the kitten register will still have a contact for that sort of thing.

There's another practically forum user who's also been involved with the register since its earliest days, maybe he (John P / "Atodini", can you help?) will know who made our Rebel fuel tanks, or you could try the AC Petite owners' group that I'm told is out there somewhere, they may have a source of off the shelf tanks?
J
"Home is where you park it", so the saying goes. That may yet come true.. :oops:

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Zelandeth
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Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70

#88 Post by Zelandeth » Sat Sep 29, 2018 4:50 pm

Thanks for that, any ideas to help with the fuel tank issue are definitely welcome.

Never realised how spoiled for companies who make "stuff" we were back in Aberdeen until I moved south...

I can't help but feel that once the tank issue has been resolved it will probably give a significant kick with regards to willpower to sort the rest, given that's all little bits and pieces I can pick away at.
My website - aka. My *other* waste of time
Current fleet: 73 AC Model-70. 75 Rover 3500. 84 Trabant 601S. 85 Sinclair C5. 88 Renault 25 Monaco. 06 Peugeot Partner 1.6HDi.

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Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70

#89 Post by Atodini » Sat Sep 29, 2018 5:18 pm

Zel, messaged you.

John
"I thought I was wrong once - But I was wrong"...

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Zelandeth
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Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70

#90 Post by Zelandeth » Mon Oct 01, 2018 4:34 pm

I had always thought that the Invacar fuel tank looked like a glorified Jerry can... didn't realise quite how much until I put them next to each other!

Image

Annoyingly the handle on the top of mine prevents me sticking it in place temporarily.
My website - aka. My *other* waste of time
Current fleet: 73 AC Model-70. 75 Rover 3500. 84 Trabant 601S. 85 Sinclair C5. 88 Renault 25 Monaco. 06 Peugeot Partner 1.6HDi.

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