"Hazel" - a series 1 V8 daily driver

I have been asked by the P6 Club guys to take Hazel to the Practical Classics' March NEC show, so hopefully I may see some of you there. Please come & introduce yourself if you see me!

I hope Hazel won't look too out of place & that she doesn't get too hot & bothered in the inevitable motorway traffic hold-ups on the way....;)
 
Hi Phil
That’s great - I will definitely see you there as I too will have ‘HJ’ on the P6 club stand having been asked to bring him up! Agree hopefully no dramas getting there and back! I intend to do some work on HJ while there a few things on my to do list as it is the restoration show and I believe it’s what’s expected- tools out overalls on!

Dave
 

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DaveRover3500s said:
Hi Phil
That’s great - I will definitely see you there as I too will have ‘HJ’ on the P6 club stand having been asked to bring him up! Agree hopefully no dramas getting there and back! I intend to do some work on HJ while there a few things on my to do list as it is the restoration show and I believe it’s what’s expected- tools out overalls on!

Dave
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I look forward to meeting you Dave. Your car looks super - I don't think I've got time to get Hazel looking that good before the NEC ;)

I'm deliberating about taking the front wings off on the stand, but Bri (Barker) tells me there will be a rolling NADA shell there - so people will be able to see what a P6's front end is like anyway. I'll certainly be doing something, though. There's a little bit of play (MOT advisory) in one of the track rod ends, but that's definitely a garage job (so that you can swear to your heart's content)!
 
lol trust me there is lots needed and I get P6 envy every time I go to these events! It’s done 100,000 hard miles at least in its life with usual wear n tear snd tin worn activities! So it’s no show queen! All the fun of P6 ownership am sure next 10 years I will be kept busy and hopefully clocking up the miles. That’s the plan anyway!
Look forward to seeing you there Phil.

Dave
 
My latest issue with Hazel is that it's oil light has started coming on during driving. Today it would only go off above 2,000 revs.

The engine always runs well, there's no smoke & it's driving well as usual. Could it be the oil pump failing - although I would assume these are pretty robust? Possibly the sender? I did top up the oil a few weeks ago, but will check the level again. It's reasonably fresh oil, too. There don't appear to be any significant leaks....

:( :(
 
MikeMelb said:
Suggest replacing the sender as a first step, happened on ours about 30 years ago.
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Thank you Mike.

Driving the car yesterday, the oil light didn't come on until the engine was warm & then gradually would go off above 1,000rpm, then 1,500rpm etc as the engine got hotter, suggesting that the oil may be past its best & a bit thin when warmer.

So I may just change the oil & filter first & see if that improves things. I see from my records that I haven't done this for 3 1/2 years ( :oops: - a symptom of having too many classics perhaps?) although it's only about 3,000 miles ago.
 
All seems to be in order now, after changing the sender, plus it's got new oil & filter into the bargain :cool:. Please see this thread Oil pressure light coming on

Seeing that Hazel is appearing at the NEC this coming week, I thought I'd better give it one of its annual washes ;)

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It's getting a little flaky around some edges, but it doesn't look too bad overall & quite reasonable for a regular driver. Although it's probably best to stand back a bit if you see it at the NEC :LOL:

I intend to deep clean the interior whilst I'm there & then give it some leather feed/balm. The seats have always been very comfortable & are in good condition, but I've never given them a really good clean & feed so I thought the NEC was a good opportunity.

I'll be taking everything out, including the rear parcel shelf. I thought for a long time that it had been sun-damaged or similar because it had turned a dark brown, but I had a go with some 'Woolies' cleaning fluid & couldn't quite believe it:

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So that will look totally refreshed, for a start. The seats will benefit, too, although they're not that bad!
 
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Look forward to seeing you and Hazel at NEC Phil!

Agree the 3 days are a good opportunity to get a few things done - I too have a list!

Dave
 
Thank you to Bri, Andy, Pat & crew for making Amy & I so welcome over last weekend at the NEC.

Hazel did us proud in both driving & display & there seemed to be a lot of interest in P6s & the cars on display. It was also good to put several faces to names :)

This is Dave's car & mine:

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I had tidied Hazel up a bit & 'she' didn't look at all bad:

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I also managed to get both front seats cleaned & some bits in the back. This is a 'before & after' picture:

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I hadn't properly cleaned these seats since owning the car (19 years) & it's amazing what muck there was. I will colour the faded vinyl sections but just feed the leather as the patina goes well with the car. I also don't want to potentially make the seats less comfy as they are the best car seats I have ever sat in :cool:
 
Interestingly, I have done a couple of fuel consumption checks over this recent trip & was pleasantly surprised :)

I have been telling everyone that the car was doing about 18mpg, which I last tested several years ago & perhaps when things weren't tuned bang on, but it has achieved 24.72mpg & 23.85mpg over the weekend, which is good going I think. Admittedly, running 'around town' won't do quite the same, but I'm impressed nonetheless :cool:
 
Hazel was indeed looking well at the show Phil! (as was Dave's 'S' also). I didn't get to say hello to you both unfortunately, but it was great to have a good peruse over the cars.
 
As you say Phil Brian Andy and Pat really appreciate the welcome and the good craic over weekend - as with you to Phil- it was great to get to know you and your P6 history and ownership - over many many years (I am just starting out at 10 years!). It was great experience being an exhibitor and speaking with such a wide range of P6 enthusiasts- either owners themselves or just love the cars. I also cracked on and got few things ticked off the list inc my wiper delay working after 10 years of ownership!
Like you Phil I did some fuel calcs and was really surprised but having double checked 28 mpg was achieved over 200 mile run at 55-65mph nearly all of it in 5th gear. She purred home no bother but clutch slave cylinder is weeping so it’s now a priority.

A cracking weekend.

Dave
 
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Phil Robson said:
I have also been thinking about changing the front number plate which is now letting the car down: It would be interesting to know other people's opinions?

As is with original front plate (the rear is 'full size'):

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Or with black & white.... (I'm not going to put these actual plates on....;))

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Alternatively, a full-size white P6 plate (a letter missing on this one):

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Who likes which? :confused:
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On an H suffix plate you can go with black background and white lettering or stick with the current colours. Modern plates are reflective which is useful when parked on a dark road but I would tend to go original, black and white.
 
Phil Robson said:
Looking through the great advice threads on here, I wonder how I can have been so daft to just go from the manual (& I of course don't know anything about Dexron either!).

I have just had a short run out to get up to temperature & then went carefully through the gear selections; when I checked the fluid level several times with the engine running it was only just at the bottom of the dipstick :confused:. Over the last 24 hours, this much ATF has dripped out (plus some on the floor...)

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Looking closely under the car, the auto sump has droplets on it - where is it getting out & why?

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I must admit that I really don't understand what's going on. Any explanation in idiots' language would be much appreciated!

By the way, when I did drive the car on Sunday for around 25 miles, it behaved impeccably.
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Did you torque up the bolts correctly? They should be 13 lbs/ft
 
Phil Robson said:
Hazel's just having her front pads renewed. The driver's side were almost gone, whereas the passenger's were still very much in good health. I'm not sure how that has happened as the brakes always work well & were evenly matched at a recent MOT o_O

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I have had this problem on a Discovery 2. Either the calipers were sticking or the flexible hoses were delaminating internally. When the brakes are released, the inner sleeve of the hose collapses, preventing the fluid from returning and thus the brakes fully releasing. I fitted it with aeroquip hoses all round which solved the problem.
 
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