Manalishis Mk 1a 827 Vitesse (manual)

[scoobyh123]

A bit of lube on your manifold butterfly mechanisnms might even improve the low end somewhat Henrik.

Was that Sterlingfixer in the USA that had the heater controls?

As for the HT leads, Rock Auto will be your friend on those as well, they even have the OE spec Denso leads for £39 for the full set :

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/ste ... e+set,7224

They have some "Wholesaler Closeout" sets (end of line stock we'd call it in the UK or NOS) starting at about £2 per set.

[Manalishi]

Thanks for the link Dave, I'm definately using RockAuto again.

Actually I found the guy by recommendation in a facebook-group, he has worked as a Sterling dealer and has loads of stuff still, 9 cars included. Apparently the Sterling is pretty cool over there and has it's own little community.

[Manalishi]

[Manalishi]

A day in the sun playing carpenter.

[scoobyh123]

Have you knowledge of an imminent flood and been building an ark?

Either i'm being dense or i can't see what you've built?

[Manalishi]

Have you knowledge of an imminent flood and been building an ark?

Either i'm being dense or i can't see what you've built?

Just a very small porch or rather the rail for my mother in law Dave! All done in Corona distance. :/

So packed the car up with tools and some 2x4 and then some. 25 deg in the shade 3h of work and some 200km driving in total. Car went on excellent with no mishaps.

[scoobyh123]

Now it makes more sense! I like the little perch you've put in the corner, could be used as a seat or to rest shopping on while finding the key.

[Manalishi]

This car is really growing on me. It’s really quick and responsive with loads of power from 2k rpm. It’s not as quick as the T16 Vitesse on 13psi of boost but for a car of the eighties it’s extremely potent!

The other day the clutch stayed on the floor but worked when lifted. This happened a few more times so I decided to order a clutch master cylinder plus slave from RockAuto in the US. Other bits and bobs we’re new ignition wires, plugs and fuel filter. So waiting for it to arrive.

Now, as the weather is colder it seems the problem with the clutch is temporarilly solved. Not sure if heat would do this though, but we’ve had temps of 32-34deg C.

The work on the doors is a bit slow. But at least I’ve painted the inside of the drivers door.

I used the roof rails and they were a bit complicated first but once fitted they are excellent.

[scoobyh123]

Reading that Henrik makes me wonder if simply bleeding the clutch would have fixed things. Maybe it's a heat-related thing with absorption of water into the brake fluid that serves the clutch.

Glad the car is growing on you though. When you get a really good one, you don't want to part with it!

[Manalishi]

True Dave, and I hope it will be as reliable as my Coupe has been.

Obviously the long storage with zero TLC has given some ill effects, possible clutch failure, heater controls not working, AC not working but it runs very smoothly with no tappetnoise for instance.

Left front cv joint is really bad but those things are only ”metal and wood” Like the timing belt, plugs, oil... Service items.

Two more weeks of work, then vacation. First week is off limit but second week the plan is to really put some effort into the three remaining doors.

And Dave. WI. You know what I mean.

[scoobyh123]

I suspect the extra heat in Spain has also given a few problems that are otherwise not encountered for you Henrik.

The best price i can find on CV joints is :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROVER-827-XS ... 3604445294

The only one Rock Auto listed was for the Freelander but they were out of stock so no price available.

Do i take it you've had some success with the water injection now?

[Manalishi]

I spent an hour to remove the handle today on the spare drivers door. Fiddling with 30 year old corroded junk is really something I truly dislike! Obviously one of the three cables operating the central lock snapped but finally got the sucker out. The lock barrel itself was seized in the socket and had to be knocked out with force. To be honest, not sure I can get it back together again and working, the lug snapped too and after drilling a 0.8mm hole into the lug and then soldering a new cable onto it I’m not convinced the central locking mechanism is still intact.

No problem in theory but theory and practise isn’t the same. And I love the writing in the Haynes. ”Extract the circlip from the end of the lock barrel and remove the washer plate and operating lever. Then swim across the Atlantic with your hands and feet tied while singing We shall overcome.”

[scoobyh123]

Think of it as therapeutic Henrik!

That's what i've been telling myself while doing a few things on the Volvo lately anyway!

I might have a spare passenger door handle (which would be your drivers door), i'll have a look. If there's a key-barrel in it, i don't think i'll have the key though.

[Manalishi]

Think of it as therapeutic Henrik!

That's what i've been telling myself while doing a few things on the Volvo lately anyway!

I might have a spare passenger door handle (which would be your drivers door), i'll have a look. If there's a key-barrel in it, i don't think i'll have the key though.

Therapeutic, no Dave. More of a path to insanity. Plus, as you and anyone else around their 50s would know the eyes are not what they used to be. When I get closer than 50cm it's almost painful for the eyes and I have to use reading specs. Obviously I always forget them when I go to the second garage so...

At least I'm soon having a full week off that will be spent with the doors. So far it's only been evenings and the odd weekend, but the week after next I'm having a full week by myself as the wife still works. I'll probably get some result then.

On the handle, It's ok, as I have 4 front doors I'll bodge something up. My main dilemma is to get the LH handle with the barrel in the door again. I lost the return spring on this one so it's down there somewhere, and I might just cut the black door once that's off the car to get everything out properly. `Not sure how yet but I'll manage.

It would be nice, and it was my plan to use the old black handle for the new door (which is green) as there is always a problem in painting plastic details.

Hopefully everything works in the "new" door. As it is now the central locking and electric windows work on all four doors. I might even hook the multiplugs up prior to fitting to really make sure.

Other news: I took some extra vacation so today the clutch master is fitted. Fingers crossed on that one and that it will solve my problem with losing the clutch from time to time.

Washed the engine too, I'll sort some pics later but hoping to get some new nice leads in first (ordered - not delivered) as that really puts everytning in a better perspective.

[scoobyh123]

A path to insanity is probably a lot closer to the truth than therapeutic Henrik! It was what i was trying to convince myself of though while trying to remove the front seats from the Volvo! There is a "mushroom" on the underside of each seat runner designed to fit into a "key-hole" in the floorpan to provide two extra fixing points for the seat.

Common sense suggests these would be parallel to each other but no, they're staggered so one side of the seats mushroom is further back than the other. That means getting it into exactly the right position on both sides and lifting the seat vertically. Much easier said than done!

Close up my eyes aren't too bad, it's distance i have a problem with. As such i need to wear glasses for driving (or flying goggles as i call them) but need to remove them for parking etc.

You've certainly had a busy day, good news on fitting the new clutch master, fingers crossed on the fix! Good idea to wire the replacement door up to check it before committing yourself. Don't forget to "fool" the latch into thinking the door is shut before trying the central locking by using a screwdriver blade to move the latch striker into the closed position.

Looking forward to all the latest pics!