Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

I noticed a few cars at recent meetings showing signs of grumpiness at being put back into show service, perhaps after a couple of years where they've seen little use. Small pools of unidentified liquid(s) have been spotted underneath a few cars lately, another would barely move under its own power despite having a monster V8 under its bonnet (I couldn't decide whether the engine was poorly and/or a brake was stuck on firmly).

Has your old car shown similar signs of displeasure lately?

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[Minxy]

My Minx never saw the road at all last year so I’m quite expecting issues when I get it ready for this year. They don’t like not being used that’s a fact especially the older they get……not unlike me actually.
_________________
Hillman minx convertible. Lanchester LD 10

[MikeEdwards]

I'm fortunate in that I keep mine on a farm with a long driveway, so even when the advice was to not make non-essential journeys, I could run them up and down the drive to get them warmed through. I'm actually finding that they're not getting as much attention now, and that's down to just a general overloading of the shed that means it's quite an operation to get them out. I must try to run them both this weekend, though, as long as it's reasonable weather.
_________________
1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT

[alastairq]

Any inactivity amongst mine is purely down to a lack of enthusiasm on my part due to the time of year, and age-related aches & pains.
I have to remove the mustangs' exhaust to effect some 'repairs' to the up n over part....cannot afford to take the car 30 miles to the nearest bespoke exhaust fabricator, then fork out a few hundreds for the pleasure of watching someone else do the job with ease, using a ramp.

Then there's draining off the last gallon of ''fuel'' from the Dellow's tank, so I can replace one of my dodgy rubber fuel line bodges which I suspect may create some occasional problems of loss of priming...Plus, rebuilding the starter solenoid as I'm not wealthy enough to fork out25 or so pension quids for a brand new, shaky chinese item. might have a couple somewhere in my shed that I could strio as well...plus, the old one off the Mustang, which I rebuilt after buying a new one from the USA [a lot cheaper for a Motorcraft Ford item, new, from the USA, than buying a Lucas item, new, from the UK! Oddly enough!]....

I'd go out to a local farm butchers today [13 mile round trip, or thereabouts]...in the Dellow, but with the forecast winds [AKA, Southerners Panic?]...but the Dellow doesn't steer very well in 60 mph side winds....unless I drop the windscreen...which does nothing for my hair-do..

Besides, getting smacked around the head by passing branches makes my eyes water at my age..
_________________
Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
----------------------------------------------
Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[norustplease]

The Wolseley is still a work in progress, so is still not in use.
The Citroen , however, has been troublesome ever since the 2020/21 lockdowns, mainly down to fueling issues and I eventually have, like a significant number of other Traction owners, resorted to changing from the original spec (temperamental) Solex to an SU. Although I haven't yet had chance to do any substantial road testing initial indications are good.
The Volvo has had intermittent use and up until a few weeks ago, when the weather turned very poor, it doesn't seem to have suffered unduly, albeit I did have to change the pinion seal on the back axle last year. That however, could well have been the result of a blocked axle breather.
_________________
1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV

[Crashbox]

Due to lack of storage one of the two old cars has to be located in west Herefordshire, about 33 miles away, at a friend's place with a bigger garage than I have here. Most of last year saw the 2CV in Herefordshire and the Minor over here in my garage. As a consequence of that the 2CV did less than 2000 miles in 2021, and the Minor managed 4000 miles. When Boris brought in the (third?) lockdown in January 2021 I couldn't pop over until mid-April, but the 2CV wasn't bothered in the slightest... It started pretty easily and performed faultlessly on a 30 mile drive around the roads west of Leominster like it had only be used the day before.
_________________
1989 2CV

1932 Morris Minor S.V. Two-Seater

[Crashbox]

BTW, has anyone thought "sod it" and used E10 in their old car? There are a few forecourts here that sell E5 but it's not widely available so I've ended up using E10 more often than not, and so far I've not had anything that warrants concern. Out of the two old cars I'm more inclined to worry about the 2CV rather than the 90-year-old Minor.
_________________
1989 2CV

1932 Morris Minor S.V. Two-Seater

[mikeC]

I would be more concerned about the potential long-term damage to the soldered, brass and mazak components in the Minor.
_________________
in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[Miken]

I don't think my A40 has suffered. I bought it 2 years ago and have so far rebuilt the engine, gearbox and braking system. I've Had it down to bare metal, welded in quite a few repairs, primed, undercoated it and had a top coat sprayed for me. I've also managed to drive it almost 6500 miles in this time and was careful to comply with any pandemic restrictions.
I've been using E10 for the last few months.
We'll see how that goes.

[Ray White]

My Swallow has suffered a bit.

One thing I noticed was evidence of woodworm in the glove box. The tell tale sprinkling of wood dust on the floor carpet below was worrying.

I have treated the body frame under the back seat in the past and thought that was an end to the problem but now it is eating away at the bulkhead area. I think it is only the thin plywood of the glove box that is affected but until I can get to the frame I won't know if it has spread.

I have bought some spray woodworm treatment and will be dosing the area with it asap.

[alastairq]

[ukdave2002]

I dusted the MGA down today to attend a local meet. I haven’t really used it over the last 2 years; firstly a mouse has made its home in the spare wheel bowl, I’d removed the battery cover so it hade a path in! Fortunately the mouse had not caused any damage.

Found that the clutch had stuck to the flywheel, fairly easily resolved, a fuel drip has emerged from one of the SU carbs, and it was running rough. I took it down to our local petrol station an put a couple of gallons on, car ran roughly for about 10 miles and then was ok, I’m thinking there may have been some H2O in the fuel and the top up sorted this out. Still has a fuel drip from the carbs, so I’ll whip them off soon.

Dave