Practically Classics Forum

Finished work early today so took the opportunity to get the singer out of the garage for a wash. Great news that the front screen doesnt leak (well until im in torrential rain that is!)
Decided that I needed to drive the car around the estate (private road) as a sort of test drive. even managed to get her to change up into 2nd at one point . All seems ok and the brakes are very good.
Put it back into the garage and thought that as the engine was nice and warm, I would do a quick oil/filter change. Dropped the oil, it was black (3rd oil change since Ive had her) so I am assuming the fresh oil is flushing the engine nicely..will hopefully put some miles in after the looming mot and change it again.
After dropping the oil and removing the filter (spin off) I went into my garage loft to get a fresh filter and some Castrol GTX Ive had on the shelf since last year (bought it when on sale at asda)..bugger, noticed it was 15w40 flavour not the 20/50 needed..got 3 gallon as well!. Reverted to the bulk tub of 20/50 I have (bought 2 x 5 gallon a while back). Filter on and oil in and another job ticked off.
mentioned a while back that the FM radio was picking up interference, some one suggested fitting a separate earth to the ariel. removed it from the wing, soldered a decent earth cable to it and fitted a ring connector to the other end. Found a decent, existing earth on the car and connected it up, using some contralube to prevent corrosion..result is a lovely, interference free reception.
Actually looking forward to the mot now but that will have to wait until after the bank holiday.

Kev

You are right in that the regular oil changes are flushing the engine. This is the best way of doing it. I'd recommend a decent brand of oil especially the Millers classic 20w50. I've just done the oil change on my Dolomte and I used the Millers. A local motor factor sells it for just shy of £20 and it is money well spent.

Looking forward to your MoT pass...

Toledo Man wrote:You are right in that the regular oil changes are flushing the engine. This is the best way of doing it. I'd recommend a decent brand of oil especially the Millers classic 20w50. I've just done the oil change on my Dolomte and I used the Millers. A local motor factor sells it for just shy of £20 and it is money well spent.

Looking forward to your MoT pass...

The plan is to do a few more oil/filter changes using the non branded oil I have (its dealer spec 20/50 so good quality) even perhaps as short an interval as a week or so then do a final change and use a premium brand such as the one you recommend. I was fortunate in that i bought quite a large supply of fram oil filters for £3 ea.
On checking the castrol oil 15w40 spec with castrol, they suggest it is perfectly ok to use in lieu of the 20/50! dont think I will however, probably just ebay it away.


Kev

kevin wrote: I was fortunate in that i bought quite a large supply of fram oil filters for £3 ea.

Totally agree with this strategy, although I might keep the oil in for more than a week - depends on the mileage I suppose. If you're changing it that often I'm not sure I'd change the filter every time though - just before the final "quality" oil fill would do I would have thought. Your call though - as you say, at least the filters were cheap!

All the best with it - loving this story.

Cold and wet here today so went for a trip to the Llangollen Motor Museum. I have been there many years ago (only a couple of miles from my house) and recently seen an advert in the local press, it mentioned a good cache of spares so I fired over an email regarding the ever elusive air filter element for the Vogue (sort of an early K&N, a fabric 'pillow' impregnated with oil and supplied new in a foil wrapper'. I got an email back a few days later and they suggested one was available.
Turned up today to find it was actually an oil filter they had (lady proprietor is well in her 80's so can be forgiven).
Anyways, paid my fee and had a look around which was worthwhile. Whilst having a mooch through the spares section I spotter a shelf full of chrome, aftermarket 'performance' filters. All sorts of cars are listed on the boxes and low and behold, so was the vogue!
Doubt I will fit it as its a bit 'boy racer' for me, couldnt leave it there for £6 though?






Kev

Put it on, you know you want to!

TerryG wrote:Put it on, you know you want to!

Noooo
If I can source another air box, I have hatched a plan to use one inside though, solves my air filter problem easily. Will have to pop back to the museum on tuesday and pick up another (they had 6 on the shelf)
If I can work out what champion plug the singer takes I will get a box of them too - original is KLG FE75 so I think the Champion code is N5C (full boxes of NOS champion plugs at good prices)

Kev

Hmm, even inside an original airbox that sort of filter will do an engine no good at all as they're brilliant at breathing in all manner of airborne abrasives. A K&N element may well be available though, and K&Ns, being oil bath devices as intended to be in there originally, will make correct setting of the mixture much easier, plus they can be washed out and refilled with the correct oil many times, so will save cash in the long run.

Today was a good day.
Up early, had the Singer booked in for the MOT

Had an apprehensive first drive to the garage where she was subjected to a very thorough inspection.........

So after a hibernation of 28 years, 5 months, 23 days she is officially roadworthy




I must state that I really dislike taking vehicles for the MOT but today was a pleasure, from the first drive (she drives fantastic to be fair) to the inspection and brake test during which I was allowed to accompany the tester. No issues whatsoever!!.
I had previously rung the DVLA for advice regarding taxing the car and changing her taxation class to 'historic'. the adviser suggested I could go to a local post office, sign the V5 and insert a change of taxation class on the V5, obtain my tax disc and they would send off the V5 for updating. Only downside to this was the lady at the post office said she couldnt do it and I would have to go to a DVLA office......luckily the manager was within earshot and offered to ring and check with the DVLA....



Great feeling and return journey from the garage was a complete joy!

Kev

Good to see it road legal once again. I've seen a similar car near to where I live (I've seen it go past my house a couple of times when I take the dog out first thing in the morning). I think is the Humber version. I know that the Rootes Group did badge engineering. The next time I see it, I'll get a photo.