Allegro Club International

[josephlamont]

We are back on the road now - here's the refurbished radiator - it looks like new!
VP radiator March 2016 002 by josephlamont, on Flickr

VP radiator March 2016 003 by josephlamont, on Flickr

The new distributor parts that were fitted at the same time as the radiator have made running a bit smoother so everything is in order. We even have some sunshine to celebrate with!
Cheers Joe

[josephlamont]

I received a phone call today from Earnside Garage, the local bodyshop, and this was to say that there is time on their schedule for SWP 377V to have the bodywork improvements done. So, today SWP 377V and 5 different body panels were delivered, and work commences straightaway. All rather exciting, and it is not clear how much new metal will be needed until the old is examined. It seems that the metal repair is so widespread on the car that an overall respray will be needed (but not a glass out job!)......anyhow we will see.....cheers Joe

[joelamont]

Well, SWP 377V is in the bodyshop and the removal of the old rusted wings has highlighted the the metal sills need replacing. It is sensible to do this whilst the wings are off but the main problem is that I do not have the sills! If anyone can help I would much appreciate it! Please see the 'Wanted' category on the message board!
Cheers Joe

[Graham]

Hi Joe, sills are very rare things unfortunately. If you don't find a pair you may end up having to make do and mend. If the "heel" of your front wings are good they can be used to repair the rear end of the sill on the opposite side. Take your front wing, remove and turn it so it's facing backwards. Take it to the other side of the car and walk to the rear end. You'll see the bottom rear of the front wing is a good match for the end of the sill. The rest is fairly easy to fabricate and it'll be hidden behind the plastic anyway.
Hope you find a pair of sills though!
Good luck,
Graham

[joelamont]

Hi Graham,
Thanks for the advice about sills - I have 2 passenger sills on order from the spares service so we will see how it goes. Meanwhile there is good progress in the bodyshop. The two wings and the front panel have been removed and the new front panel is in place. The two replacement wings are Hadrian panels and they have some surface roughness. so they have been sent for shot blasting. The sill problem is really only on the driver's side, the passenger sill being in good order. I knew when I bought the car that it had some welding done on the driver's side under the B pillar. It must have been done some years ago and I was interested in what Earnside Garage had to say about it. The repair had held up, but apparently it had been gas welded, and the effect of this was to oxidise some of the surrounding metal. Over time this had allowed corrosion in, and I'm glad we've uncovered it now so it can be sorted before the rest of the repairs are carried out. The corrosion on the two driver's side doors has been cut out and we are getting close to completing all the metalwork repairs. So it is good to report progress - there is still a bit to do but we should be ready for the MoT due later in May!
Cheers Joe

[joelamont]

Well, there is progress to report. SWP 377V has had a full renovation of her metalwork. The doors, bootlid, bonnet and all the window glass have been taken out. Two new front wings and a new front panel have been fitted and the offside sill has been completely renovated. Most recently the car has been prepared for repainting and is now in an undercoat grey before the final respray. Along the way there have been some adventures including a leaking radiator. The radiator has only been recored about a month ago but there was a leak! It has been back to the radiator specialist and a hole filled so I think we are back to normal. We hope SWP 377V will be complete by the end of the month and we will need to drive straight to the MoT testing station - here is hoping everything will be OK! Anyhow I am very pleased with the progress so far - even the grey undercoat looks smart! Cheers Joe

[Michael Spackman]

Sounds like good progress is being made, looking forward to seeing the end result
_________________
Harvest Gold 1976 1300 SDL 2 Door known as "MRS P"

[joelamont]

Well it has taken a little time with some family circumstances intervening but here is SWP 377V in her new coat of paint:

DSC01478 by Joe Lamont, on Flickr

DSC01479 by Joe Lamont, on Flickr

DSC01480 by Joe Lamont, on Flickr

DSC01481 by Joe Lamont, on Flickr

I'm really pleased with the result and of course the smart paint encourages one to set about the other bits that need seeing to - there's always something! Cheers Joe

[Michael Spackman]

Looking good Joe, was next on the list of jobs needing done?
_________________
Harvest Gold 1976 1300 SDL 2 Door known as "MRS P"

[joelamont]

Hi, Thanks for the comment - there's a bit to do on the interior. There's water damage to the lining of the rear three quarter panels dating back to the time when water leaked in past the rear windscreen. I think that might lead to some work on the headlining - it is holding up but it is dirty and ragged where it meets the rear windscreen. Then there is the leather on the steering wheel - it really needs properly sewn up so it doesn't slip round the wheel. Anyhow, we will see how far we get.
I have always wanted to keep the cars running overwinter but the last few weeks have been really bad with salt on the roads. So recently I have been running the cars in the garage. Running the engine for 30 minutes gets everything warm and the cooling fan duly cuts in - I've even managed to dodge the carbon monoxide! It seems to work well enough although I'm not sure its enough to charge the cars' batteries fully. So despite the weather we are still roadworthy!
Cheers Joe

[Graham]

I thinks it is a bit of a balancing act as far as what is best but I do try to keep my cars mobile. I know my Scorpio hates being left standing for any length of time. Same with my Allegro really. Wet weather and salt certainly does no good but I think a 10 minute run around the block on a dry day, or warmer wet day will keep the moving parts happy.
Looking nice in her new coat anyway!
All the best,

[joelamont]

Graham,
Thanks for the reply - yes, at last we are getting some weather to get the cars out!
A bit more progress today because I took SWP 377V to the local Auto Trimmer. After a good discussion we have agreed a price to have the headlining and side panels refurbished with new lining material. It was pointed out to me that all the old material needs to go - partly because it is dirty or faded - but also because it retains the damp smell (even though the water has gone). So I chose the best match of colour for the new lining and we're all set as soon as it is delivered. I also signed up to have the steering wheel leather replaced. The original is tatty but more of a problem it slips round the wheel because the original stitching is on its way out. I think I will be most glad of that when it is done!
Cheers Joe

[Graham]

Good luck Joe, hope they do a top job to match the rest of the car!

[joelamont]

Well its been some time, but SWP 377V passed her 2018 MoT with no advisories and she is running very well. We now sport a very smart interior with a new headlining and linings to the inside of the pillars. The steering wheel has received a new leather cover, nicely stitched so it doesn't slip when being turned!
SWP 377V is a 1979 car so not yet eligible under the 40 year rule. However I was interested to know when the car was manufactured so I sent off for the British Motor Heritage certificate. It appears the car was built in the first week of August 1979 and it was first registered in October 1979. I must say I had thought it had been manufactured earlier than that and had been left unsold. The reason for that view was that this was still a Series 2 car and the first Series 3 cars sported 'V' plates. Anyhow its good to know she was not left in a field for 6 months prior to sale!
Cheers Joe

[Graham]

Very interesting Joe. This is something Colin Corke would know off the top of his head. I'll ask him when the S3 cars began to be produced. I should imagine there would be some overlap, especially as it is a VP too.
Cheers,
Graham