1971 Rover 3500 'Hildegarde'
- Thread starter Ethelred
- Start date
I am so pleased with the ride quality that I am going to have the other two cars uprated in the same fashion. It handles so well that I'll be wise to remember that there are other hazards that can make a car veer from its intended path, such as ice.
A chance remark in another thread has made me understand that it is very important not to overload a car, especially the boot. I'd assumed that I'd lost control because of narrower tyres and worn springs and suspension - in fact a massively overloaded boot caused understeer - poor old Lil wanted to carry straight on when she needed to go sharp left and ended up hitting a Trevor head-on. 100% my fault and I have never said anything else.
The accident prompted the request for a car that handled better than Lil - who was boaty even by P6 standards, with wide alloys like Ethel has worn for many years. In retrospect a properly loaded Lil would have taken that bend quite safely - indeed I have followed Lil round the same bend in Ethel - my father safely navigated the infamous left-hander where I failed.
I went to Wales to buy some more Vitesse alloys but I changed my mind several times during the project - again I am glad Tom twisted my arm back to how it was to begin with.
Ethel can have the alloys I bought in Wales after Tom has refurbished them - she's next for a full restoration.
WP_20140621_013.jpg by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
A chance remark in another thread has made me understand that it is very important not to overload a car, especially the boot. I'd assumed that I'd lost control because of narrower tyres and worn springs and suspension - in fact a massively overloaded boot caused understeer - poor old Lil wanted to carry straight on when she needed to go sharp left and ended up hitting a Trevor head-on. 100% my fault and I have never said anything else.
The accident prompted the request for a car that handled better than Lil - who was boaty even by P6 standards, with wide alloys like Ethel has worn for many years. In retrospect a properly loaded Lil would have taken that bend quite safely - indeed I have followed Lil round the same bend in Ethel - my father safely navigated the infamous left-hander where I failed.
I went to Wales to buy some more Vitesse alloys but I changed my mind several times during the project - again I am glad Tom twisted my arm back to how it was to begin with.
Ethel can have the alloys I bought in Wales after Tom has refurbished them - she's next for a full restoration.
WP_20140621_013.jpg by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickrjamesdean2112 said:
Thanks James - I know the road well and was on the northern section from the A595 to Keswick just the week before last - like Sunday, I headed east along the A66 from Keswick.
Rover 3500S - Dunmail Rise AA Box (A591) by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
AA phoneboxes are a must so I will have another go tomorrow on the way back south - shouldn't be so many Harleys about.
Dunmail Rise AA Box (A591) by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
I might get two in a day - three if I go straight to Lake View tomorrow - Cappercleuch here in Scotland and at Dunmail Rise on the A591. If I am really ambitious I could have a go at the one at Mere (A50/A556) but that is a very busy road so probably not.
Alas after some 500 miles of joy, the car failed to proceed on the way back to England today.
Slightly off by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
I had been given fair warning - the fanbelt started rattling and making an ugly noise, and there was a streak of dust all over the oil filter.
I called the Wizard of the Lake and advised him of the symptoms.
He told me to get to a garage urgently because the fanbelt would fall off and I would break down.
I'd already sent an email to the Wizard of the Lake about the weep from the power steering and he'd sent the following reply.
Of course he wanted me to find a garage much like his own - Lake View.
Being in Lanark and near a loch, Lanark Loch Garage was clearly just the ticket, and so it proved because even though they were very busy, they were kind enough to stop their work and tighten the alternator and stop the slip.
Loch View. Lanark by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
However, the mechanic said that all was not right if the fanbelt was abrading to this extent and warned me that I was likely to have further trouble.
And so he was right - I was having a great time recreating some of my favourite photos of Ethel with the new car - I'd avoided the motorway in Scotland but just as we were heading down the slip road, the fanbelt started rattling again - and then the rattling stopped as quickly as it had started. Then the IGN light came on and because Ethel did this to me on the M40 in 2009, I knew what had happened and what was coming next.
I was determined to leave the motorway if at all possible without wrecking the engine and just like in 2009, I was able to ease the car off to a safe place - the truck stop just of J19 and I exercised my right to be recovered to a garage of my choice.
We were trailered to Lake View where Tom and the Rovers were waiting.
Tom thinks that rust on the pulleys caused the abrasion rather than maligned pulleys. The bearings in the alternator are bad. He's the expert - he can deal with it.
The leak on the PAS hose, made to order locally in Leek, has a bad crimp and Tom was pleased to be able to deflect some blame elsewhere.
He has nothing to reproach himself for - this was the purpose of the trip - to find out the faults on the car.
Slightly off by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
I had been given fair warning - the fanbelt started rattling and making an ugly noise, and there was a streak of dust all over the oil filter.
I called the Wizard of the Lake and advised him of the symptoms.
He told me to get to a garage urgently because the fanbelt would fall off and I would break down.
I'd already sent an email to the Wizard of the Lake about the weep from the power steering and he'd sent the following reply.
Of course he wanted me to find a garage much like his own - Lake View.
Being in Lanark and near a loch, Lanark Loch Garage was clearly just the ticket, and so it proved because even though they were very busy, they were kind enough to stop their work and tighten the alternator and stop the slip.
Loch View. Lanark by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
However, the mechanic said that all was not right if the fanbelt was abrading to this extent and warned me that I was likely to have further trouble.
And so he was right - I was having a great time recreating some of my favourite photos of Ethel with the new car - I'd avoided the motorway in Scotland but just as we were heading down the slip road, the fanbelt started rattling again - and then the rattling stopped as quickly as it had started. Then the IGN light came on and because Ethel did this to me on the M40 in 2009, I knew what had happened and what was coming next.
I was determined to leave the motorway if at all possible without wrecking the engine and just like in 2009, I was able to ease the car off to a safe place - the truck stop just of J19 and I exercised my right to be recovered to a garage of my choice.
We were trailered to Lake View where Tom and the Rovers were waiting.
Tom thinks that rust on the pulleys caused the abrasion rather than maligned pulleys. The bearings in the alternator are bad. He's the expert - he can deal with it.
The leak on the PAS hose, made to order locally in Leek, has a bad crimp and Tom was pleased to be able to deflect some blame elsewhere.
He has nothing to reproach himself for - this was the purpose of the trip - to find out the faults on the car.
Same old road, different car
B7076, southern Scotland by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
A year and 3 days later.
B7076 by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
Still no gas
Ethel returning from a visit to Glasgow in 2007
Abandoned petrol station at Beattock by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
Hildegarde at the same location 7 years later, soon before the fanbelt's unscheduled departure.
B7076 by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
B7076, southern Scotland by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
A year and 3 days later.
B7076 by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
Still no gas
Ethel returning from a visit to Glasgow in 2007
Abandoned petrol station at Beattock by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
Hildegarde at the same location 7 years later, soon before the fanbelt's unscheduled departure.
B7076 by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
roverp5Bcoupe
Active Member
It is always a pleasure to read your resto and travel story's and you have some very nice P6's. It is a gamble to make such a far trip directly after a resto even though Tom is a good mechanic. I prefer to drive a few hundred miles not to far from home and with tools in the boot. There are always some problems coming up after a resto.
Peter
Peter
roverp5Bcoupe said:
Thank you. Of course you are right but I can't change who I am. I do have a feel for the cars but can get over excited.
I also needed a break from work so I would have gone away anyway.
Scottish retreat by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
My car and I were treated like royalty by the breakdown man on the trip to Staffordshire - a cheery, sunny Scotsman who loved his motor cars and his old roads.
Back on English soil by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
On the 700th anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn, Lady Hildegarde touches down on English soil after defeat in Scotland.
drabbers
Active Member
I am so pleased with the ride quality that I am going to have the other two cars uprated in the same fashion. It handles so well that I'll be wise to remember that there are other hazards that can make a car veer from its intended path, such as ice.
The accident prompted the request for a car that handled better than Lil - who was boaty even by P6 standards, with wide alloys like Ethel has worn for many years. In retrospect a properly loaded Lil would have taken that bend quite safely - indeed I have followed Lil round the same bend in Ethel - my father safely navigated the infamous left-hander where I failed.
I went to Wales to buy some more Vitesse alloys but I changed my mind several times during the project - again I am glad Tom twisted my arm back to how it was to begin with.
WP_20140621_013.jpg by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr[/quote]
A chance remark in another thread has made me understand that it is very important not to overload a car, especially the boot. I'd assumed that I'd lost control because of narrower tyres and worn springs and suspension - in fact a massively overloaded boot caused understeer - poor old Lil wanted to carry straight on when she needed to go sharp left and ended up hitting a Trevor head-on. 100% my fault and I have never said anything else.
The accident prompted the request for a car that handled better than Lil - who was boaty even by P6 standards, with wide alloys like Ethel has worn for many years. In retrospect a properly loaded Lil would have taken that bend quite safely - indeed I have followed Lil round the same bend in Ethel - my father safely navigated the infamous left-hander where I failed.
I went to Wales to buy some more Vitesse alloys but I changed my mind several times during the project - again I am glad Tom twisted my arm back to how it was to begin with.
Ethel can have the alloys I bought in Wales after Tom has refurbished them - she's next for a full restoration.
WP_20140621_013.jpg by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr[/quote]drabbers said:
The mods transform the car but I am relieved to report that I don't hate my 'old' P6 after riding in the new one - the blue Series 1 has a ride which is well above par - the 30 mile trip back from Lake View was not the ordeal I was expecting it to be - far from it.
They are cheap and plentiful.
Tom has a cheap and cheerful method of restoring these alloys that stands the test of time - he did these ones for Ethel back in 2008 and 6 years on, they show a bit of weathering but like for like, far better than they would have looked on a 6 year old SD1 Vitesse.
Tom's a highly skilled craftsman with an extensive portfolio of work, some of which has ended up on the front covers of famous auto magazines but I do happen to know that Ethel's alloys (now on Hildegarde) are in his wizard scrapbook - amongst the work he is most proud of. I fancy that scrapbook is about to be swelled by this project.
Vitesse alloys on a P6 are becoming almost clichéd, which is why I attempted to think of something else for this car, but Tom is right - the 205 width is part of the equation along with the shocks, the bushes and the springs.
The pulley on the non-viscous water pump is certainly huge in comparison to those on the viscous pumps.
I have to admit that I would be less than jubilant if after having my car worked on for 18 months, it then failed with an alternator problem. :shock:
Ron.
I have to admit that I would be less than jubilant if after having my car worked on for 18 months, it then failed with an alternator problem. :shock:
Ron.
SydneyRoverP6B said:
Tom's far more upset than me.
I didn't do myself any favours - a cocker spaniel would have shown better forward planning.
I didn't even have the presence of mind to get hold of a fan belt in Lanark. I thought it while I was having lunch in Lanark but didn't take it any further than that.
I was so pleased with myself for finding all those photogenic laybys but didn't once pop the bonnet on the way home until it was too late.
Tom has worked through the list of niggles, all listed in this thread and a couple of defects I failed to spot. I am collecting the car this evening.
I will stay closer to base this time - I will just use the car as a daily driver around town for a week or two.
The car is now pretty much 'final answer' - there are various badges, fog lamps and other bits of trim that were intended to go on the car but I have seen on another thread in the last few days that it is so easy to do a restoration to a high standard, get loads of plaudits then ruin the car by going too far with the extras.
I will stay closer to base this time - I will just use the car as a daily driver around town for a week or two.
The car is now pretty much 'final answer' - there are various badges, fog lamps and other bits of trim that were intended to go on the car but I have seen on another thread in the last few days that it is so easy to do a restoration to a high standard, get loads of plaudits then ruin the car by going too far with the extras.
Polite cars do not draw pretty patterns in the car park so it was off to Lake View for some remedial action.
WP_20140629_023.jpg by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
The high pressure PAS hose was replaced by borrowing one from another Rover P6.
Remedial action by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
The windscreen was also re-sealed with some extra gunk - Tiger Seal if I am not mistaken.
We are driving the length of the A6 this evening all the way to Luton and beyond.
WP_20140629_023.jpg by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
The high pressure PAS hose was replaced by borrowing one from another Rover P6.
Remedial action by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr
The windscreen was also re-sealed with some extra gunk - Tiger Seal if I am not mistaken.
We are driving the length of the A6 this evening all the way to Luton and beyond.
