Long way in an old car

alfesti

alfesti

Member
Typical, not been on the forum for ages and now he wants something...

We all know the dream, restore your favourite classic (a 2000SC), jump in and head across Europe, loving every mile of sunny country road and not breaking down once...

In November Im doing that, in the name of charridee I'm loading up my P6 and heading through France on the Beaujolais Run. Previous experience with borrowed cars suggests I might need to get the spanners out at some point, and it will be dark and cold when it happens, but it should be a laugh, and in the 18 years Ive owned it Ive never driven the 2000 outside England

The event is supporting the Richard Burns Foundation (the world rally champion who tragically lost his battle with a brain tumor) who support victims of serious illness and Headway/Henry Surtees Foundation, researching head and brain injury.

I know most people read these and think "dont worry, someone else will do that", I know I sometimes have (but not again)! But it turns out no one else does and I really do need support from the Rover community. Im driving amongst Astons and the like, so the P6 is more stylish but their wallets fatter and will just write a cheque, Im fighting for every penny.

Please, if you can spare even £1 click http://www.justgiving.com/Matt-Richardson1 and help me to help them.

Thanks and happy Rovering
 
Thank you hugely to the guys who have sponsored me, I wont name names and embarrass but its that kind of generosity and spirit that makes the Rover community a great thing to be part of!

Thanks

Matt
 
So far, new radiator, engine side plate and internal flush, 4 tyres, alternator, full service, kenlowe fan and headlight relays wired in for the trip, and now 2 weeks to go and I cant select any gears!

I think (hope) its the clutch slave, glad it happened now rather than in France. It had been a bit 'draggy' recently, and the warning was last week I was sat at lights and I could feel the car pulling in gear, it didnt want to come out and eventually stalled, now I cant select a gear from idle very often, which I think is the never reliable slave cylinder. Lets hope so, or its going to be a big unwanted last minute expense!
 
alfesti said:
So far, new radiator, engine side plate and internal flush, 4 tyres, alternator, full service, kenlowe fan and headlight relays wired in for the trip, and now 2 weeks to go and I cant select any gears!

I think (hope) its the clutch slave, glad it happened now rather than in France. It had been a bit 'draggy' recently, and the warning was last week I was sat at lights and I could feel the car pulling in gear, it didnt want to come out and eventually stalled, now I cant select a gear from idle very often, which I think is the never reliable slave cylinder. Lets hope so, or its going to be a big unwanted last minute expense!
Click to expand...

Oh great. Rooting for you Matt. I'll make sure I get some sponsorship in.
Cheers
Nick
 
Thanks Nick, its very much appreciated!

Im carrying a mini vac everywhere and getting a bit OCD with dust on the overmats, never mind the actual carpet. And when it came back from having the relays done there was a shoe rub mark on the side of the seat! I felt faint! At first I thought it was just the mats were too thick and didnt worry about the clutch..

If its not the slave can you guys do a gearbox drop half day clutch swap (In between my going to work and fitting the refurbed carb, which I hope will be back in time)?
 
alfesti said:
Thanks Nick, its very much appreciated!

Im carrying a mini vac everywhere and getting a bit OCD with dust on the overmats, never mind the actual carpet. And when it came back from having the relays done there was a shoe rub mark on the side of the seat! I felt faint! At first I thought it was just the mats were too thick and didnt worry about the clutch..

If its not the slave can you guys do a gearbox drop half day clutch swap (In between my going to work and fitting the refurbed carb, which I hope will be back in time)?
Click to expand...

Yes - if need be we'll mobilise the forces Matt. Just shout.

We are pretty convinced it's hydraulics.
 
alfesti said:
Will be knocking of Geoff's door 9AM monday for a slave, should know by lunch time
Click to expand...

OK. We're pretty confident it's just hydraulics. Any change and a major mobilisation of resources will follow.
 
I suspected the slave as Ive had more of them go than masters, never with any fluid loss though, but changed the slave and bled the system Monday and it worked briefly before failing again. A master cylinder is in the post, so I hope to get that sorted tomorrow (or Friday as Im bound to miss the delivery and have to go collect it...)
 
It was the clutch master - must have been going for ages as it feels better than it has for years and the clutch judder has gone too!
 
In case anyone is interested, over the last few months, due as much to paranoia as wear and tear, as Ive broke down in France in a TR7 - yes I should have seen that coming - Ive now changed:

Radiator recored previously done
thermostat
rubber water pipes
kenlowe fan
rebuilt the fuel pump
added in line fuel filter
alternator
headlamp relays as the fuse box was melting from Halogen upgrades years ago (garage did that)
engine side plates
4 tyres
clutch slave
clutch master
rear shocks

and rebuilt carb is on the way

Phew. Would have been cheaper to take the modern car and give the Rover repair cash to charity! At least I have a sweet running 2000 again...
 
We made it! Hundreds of miles of Autoroute, hundreds more back roads and some dirt tracks, a couple of fields and 2 1/2 race tracks later, the Rover was amazing and got us there and back safe and sound.

It did blow its exhaust at the manifold and back box so was louder and slower than planned, but at least we had something to talk about! The French loved it, loads of thumbs up and people stopping to look at it, and an awful lot of money raised for charity along the way.
 
Final one on this as its in the P6 Club mag. Last week, combining Just Giving and cash donations we gave £2250 to the Beaujolais Run charities (both sort of car related - the Richard Burns Foundation and Headway via the Henry Surtees Foundation). I dont know what the full amount raised is yet, but there were 33 teams, with a minimum donation of £2250 and some did better than us, so about £75K! Frankly amazing.

Thanks to everyone who helped with sponsorship, encouragement or techinical advice, its all appreciatted and was worth it,

Matt
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top