My Vanden Plas Auto Resto

Nice local show on Sunday 2nd June with a varied mix of cars from the 20's to 80's. Sun was shining too



Had a nice spot

















There was one other Allegro there, a blue Vanden Plas



Very nice day, will go next year for sure. Also found a replacement embellisher to replace my missing one Andy.

Sunny day, lovely cars, were you abroad Andy

I had a Dolomite I got from my big brother a good twenty years ago, disintegrated in a pile of rust, but I loved it, same colour as that one in the pics, but a 1300 engine - happy memories - I guess that's what I love about used cars, and the more used the more memories and stories they could tell

Cheers,
Jim

...A few nice bits of machinery there ...that P6 looks really rather nice, had a twinkle in my eye for one of those for quite some time now, proper Rovers

I noticed when I fitted the gauge set back in May that the oil pressure indicated seemed a bit low. I put it down at the time to gauge inaccuracy until last week when I noticed the oil lamp had started to illuminate at idle, or when putting the autobox in drive, or reverse - time for action otherwise it's going to cost me an engine and gearbox  

Gauge was indicating 15 to 20 psi when above idle and driving, less than 10 psi at idle accompanied by oil lamp coming on so something clearly was not right.

First things first, drained the oil and removed the oil filter housing & oil head. When checking with the Haynes book, noticed I seemed to be missing a few parts, the spring, the cone thing and all the steel & sealing washers. The filter element was therefore flopping around inside and the oil was probably bypassing the filter completely  



Inside the oil filter housing, fished out a random part not shown in the manual   It looks like part of an old filter element I think and shouldn't be there for sure.



Fortunately my dad had a complete oil head in his garage, so retrived the missing parts I needed. Next took out the oil pressure relief valve, found it jammed part open, so soaked it in petrol & free'd it off  



Re-filled and tested. At idle  



At 1200 with drive selected (brakes on obviously!!)  



Looks like it's sorted. Certainly drives better, much more power  

As I had another hour to spare and my hands were already mucky, changed a split steering bellows I noticed few weeks back & re-charged with oil



Then fitted my lovely period Panasonic radio cassette I got from the 'bay' as my radio didn't work



Good couple of hours work  
Andy.

Andy Perman wrote:Nice local show on Sunday 2nd June with a varied mix of cars from the 20's to 80's.  Sun was shining too

There was one other Allegro there, a blue Vanden Plas
 Andy.

Hi first post, on the forum, I just bought the blue VP shown at this show. should be delivered in a week or so. looking forward to it.

Welcome to the forum & congratulations on your purchase.  

I know Geoff's car, have seen it at several of the shows this year, tidy machine that. I was very tempted to buy it myself, but have no space to store it (in the dry) plus the missus would have done her nut  Nice buy.  Are you local to the south coast?

Here's another picture of your car I got at the Selsey summer show......



And another at the same show....



If you have the car in time and fancy a run out it's the Autumn rally this coming Sunday 29th at the museum of rural life Milton Keynes. It's a three club rally, the Allegro, Maxi & landcrab - should be a good day.

Keep us posted of your purchase & hope to see you and the car about.    Andy.

Autumn rally @ Milton Keynes Museum of rural life. Great day so thanks to all who helped organise it. Even the weather was good!!

On the A3 - at speed !!



Oil pressure holding up now....



Approaching the Hindhead tunnel



Merv's engine bay - we can all dream.....



















Here's the old girl.....



Maxi & Merv's Allegro leaving Milton Keynes - at speed!!



Great day out, thanks all involved.

Well, it's been a year since the 'old girl' was restored and put back on the road and the 2nd MOT is now looming so I've made a start - on the starter    Not exactly MOT work but the cranking has been getting slower and when I started to investigate the terminal on the solenoid was beginning to melt so time for an overhaul......  

The lead has started to melt   



Starter removed and solenoid taken off - pre-engaged type looks in pretty good shape so far..



Partially dissmantled solenoid still looks OK



Un-soldering the contact cap. I guess these were originally not designed to be dissmantled, just replaced. But in the absence of any available replacement needs must    



Fully dissmantled & the fault is arcing damage and oxidisation on the top contact....    



More to follow.....

Bank holiday weekend. Sun kinda shinning and the MOT now booked for Sat 31st   

Ground and polished the solenoid contacts...


Solenoid all back together & rust treated


May as well service & lube the starter motor whilst it's off the car..


Brush plate


All parts serviced, rust treated & ready for re-assembly


As good as a factory restored unit   


Servicing the swivel joints - taking out some slight play & changing the grease


Service time - the old spark plugs are text book 'brown' so all looks well with the engine & tuning


New oil, filters, plug, points etc....


Replaced points & condensor - setting up the dwell   


Service completed. Engine bay given a quick 'spruce over'   Started engine - starter spinns over effortlessly now like new


Rear hubs now. Replaced cylinders, shoes & wheel bearings, plus cleaned & rust treated   








Old bearings coming out.....



Hub complete. Repeat for LHS   



Rust treating the wheels


Replaced the fuel gauge sender unit whilst the rear end was up in the air.  Rust treated tank last year so all looks OK here   



Thats it - good days work & ready for MOT on Sat, then (hopefully if it passes) SHVPS show on Sunday 1st June   
Andy.

really impressed no longer own an allegro but good to see these cars getting restored