Post by shambolic on Oct 11, 2012 16:28:31 GMT
Still can't find my camera, still haven't managed to take pics for a "Hi, this is me" post either!
But I've simply got one car too many now the Metro is working, so I think I ought to sell the Allegro.
It's very yellow, though the paint needs some work, it's faded in places, a bit murky in others, and some genius has touched up with random yellows here and there. But overall it's not too bad, just a little work to get it sorted. There's a small number of bubbles, most more rust "crazing" of an inch or so under the paint, then one scabby area under the rear screen, one on the drivers doorstep, and the front panel would benefit from a wire brushing, rust treating, and stonechip protect painting.
The electrics probably all work, I can't be sure about the rear demist as it's not got misty/ damp enough yet to try it, but have tested with the multimeter and all looked OK. The alternator is tired, needs a few revs to get the light out, but it's manageable that way.
The wiper stalk is epoxy'd back together - It holds fine, all works as should, but be aware rough treatment wouldn't be wise. And the indicators don't self cancel, due to not working out how to replace the silly springs in the cancel pivoty bits. Stalks are the same fitting as 1970s Minis, but as I recall you might have to swap some of the terminals around in the connector block if you were to fit Mini stalks.
At the moment it needs a new wheel bearing, which I'll do before it sells, other than that there's no obvious suspension or braking issues - It just went through an MOT (the bearing started squeeling on the way to the retest!), so hopefully that suggests most bits are reasonable. One rear brake was low on the test, due to me under adjusting it - The drums are a little oval, not to fail levels, but means adjusting was the usual swine so they didn't rub too much, didn't brake too little.
The engine is sweet, emissions were something like 2.5CO, 200ppm hydrocarbons, which is well within limits. There's no smoke, and it is nicely quiet and smooth for a 30 year old A series.
However, the gearbox.. Needs help. I don't know if an oil and filter change, and brake band adjust, has cured the squeel shudder clunk pulling away when hot, haven't been able to give it a proper run, but there is a flare between 2nd and 3rd still. Manageable if you know how to drive around it (ease off a bit when it's about to change, or do it manually), but clearly a sign things need attention sooner or later. I don't know if a 1300 auto Allegro is meant to be as slow off the line as this thing either, but once up to 15 or so, changing manually sees it build speed quite well given the size of the car compared to the size of the engine.
The interior is mostly very tidy, a couple of splits on the dashrail, and one or two marks on the door cards, and some fraying on the drivers footwell sill carpet. The main issue with the interior is I can't work out how to fit the *censored* back seat base properly!
Overall, it owes me around £350, so that's what I'd be happy to take for it. For the sake of some gearbox work and paint tidying it'd be worth roughly twice that, as one of a dozen or less left in the UK, according to the howmanyleft website. If I had time, money, and patience for sourcing a decent engine and box to drop in I'd do so and maybe keep it a while, but as is I know my Metro suits me better (it's a mk2 GTa, tired but fun) and I have my auto Triumph awaiting finishing off, I really need to have less cars.
The only other downside is I'm still waiting for the logbook - I bought the car mid September, have the green slip, but as yet no V5. Of course, I get that people prefer not to buy without V5, if only because Swansea charge £25 or more for a replacement now. Am more seeing if there'd be any interest, than making a determined effort to sell right now. And ideally I'd like it to go to someone who'd keep it auto - I've got a couple of spare manual engine/ boxes, but it seems sacrelidge to manual such a rare automatic.
Car is in Dorset, much like myself..
But I've simply got one car too many now the Metro is working, so I think I ought to sell the Allegro.
It's very yellow, though the paint needs some work, it's faded in places, a bit murky in others, and some genius has touched up with random yellows here and there. But overall it's not too bad, just a little work to get it sorted. There's a small number of bubbles, most more rust "crazing" of an inch or so under the paint, then one scabby area under the rear screen, one on the drivers doorstep, and the front panel would benefit from a wire brushing, rust treating, and stonechip protect painting.
The electrics probably all work, I can't be sure about the rear demist as it's not got misty/ damp enough yet to try it, but have tested with the multimeter and all looked OK. The alternator is tired, needs a few revs to get the light out, but it's manageable that way.
The wiper stalk is epoxy'd back together - It holds fine, all works as should, but be aware rough treatment wouldn't be wise. And the indicators don't self cancel, due to not working out how to replace the silly springs in the cancel pivoty bits. Stalks are the same fitting as 1970s Minis, but as I recall you might have to swap some of the terminals around in the connector block if you were to fit Mini stalks.
At the moment it needs a new wheel bearing, which I'll do before it sells, other than that there's no obvious suspension or braking issues - It just went through an MOT (the bearing started squeeling on the way to the retest!), so hopefully that suggests most bits are reasonable. One rear brake was low on the test, due to me under adjusting it - The drums are a little oval, not to fail levels, but means adjusting was the usual swine so they didn't rub too much, didn't brake too little.
The engine is sweet, emissions were something like 2.5CO, 200ppm hydrocarbons, which is well within limits. There's no smoke, and it is nicely quiet and smooth for a 30 year old A series.
However, the gearbox.. Needs help. I don't know if an oil and filter change, and brake band adjust, has cured the squeel shudder clunk pulling away when hot, haven't been able to give it a proper run, but there is a flare between 2nd and 3rd still. Manageable if you know how to drive around it (ease off a bit when it's about to change, or do it manually), but clearly a sign things need attention sooner or later. I don't know if a 1300 auto Allegro is meant to be as slow off the line as this thing either, but once up to 15 or so, changing manually sees it build speed quite well given the size of the car compared to the size of the engine.
The interior is mostly very tidy, a couple of splits on the dashrail, and one or two marks on the door cards, and some fraying on the drivers footwell sill carpet. The main issue with the interior is I can't work out how to fit the *censored* back seat base properly!
Overall, it owes me around £350, so that's what I'd be happy to take for it. For the sake of some gearbox work and paint tidying it'd be worth roughly twice that, as one of a dozen or less left in the UK, according to the howmanyleft website. If I had time, money, and patience for sourcing a decent engine and box to drop in I'd do so and maybe keep it a while, but as is I know my Metro suits me better (it's a mk2 GTa, tired but fun) and I have my auto Triumph awaiting finishing off, I really need to have less cars.
The only other downside is I'm still waiting for the logbook - I bought the car mid September, have the green slip, but as yet no V5. Of course, I get that people prefer not to buy without V5, if only because Swansea charge £25 or more for a replacement now. Am more seeing if there'd be any interest, than making a determined effort to sell right now. And ideally I'd like it to go to someone who'd keep it auto - I've got a couple of spare manual engine/ boxes, but it seems sacrelidge to manual such a rare automatic.
Car is in Dorset, much like myself..