Just about got home from "A Bit Of A Drive"

[njhucker]

Started the wedge up on 10th May, and went for a bit of a drive. Stopping at / visited: Dover, Nancy, Lucerne, Gottenberg Tunnel ( 3rd largest road tunnel in the world), Mantova ( Italy ), Ferrari Museum at Marenello, Florence, Pisa, Port Ercole, Rome, Monte Casino, Pompei, Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi Coast Road, Termoli, San Marino, Marrenello Museum in San Marino ( Enzo's racing cars), Verona, Lake Como,Eguisheim ( Alsace). Got to Ghent for final stay on Sunday night and the temp went up to 120 degrees due to cooling fan seizing up. Copious amounts of WD40 and eazing and got it going again. Arrived back in Wales last night without any further overheating, but the fan is now seized solid, so will have to change it. Did 3,660 miles in total over 18 days. Apart from the fan, the only other thing that the car needs is the handbrake adjusting. Averaged 30mpg for the whole trip, which considering the speeds I was really surprised with. I was thinking 25 would be optimistic.
anyone any recommendations as to what is the best cooling fan to fit?

[mrzigazaga]

Sounds awesome..A very good advert for the TVR as well..Any piccies...Cheers..Ziga

[adam quantrill]

.... and you only popped out for a pint of milk.... ;^)

[vampire222]

I've previously used Flex A Lite fans they're electric so require a little bit of work to put in but it does make a difference in cooling and reliability!.

[pwd95]

Awesome Nige, glad the car went well. Any pics or vids.....

[JMF894]

I'm sorry but you cannot name drop like that and not post copious amounts of pictures!!

Jimbo

[Solitude]

yeah, pics














or it never happened !!

[njhucker]

I'll post some pics tomorrow. Have taken the fan assembly off. It's got an orange shroud, black blades, and says made in Australia. Any idea what it's from?

[JMF894]

njhucker said:

I'll post some pics tomorrow. Have taken the fan assembly off. It's got an orange shroud, black blades, and says made in Australia. Any idea what it's from?

A 'ute



Jimbo

[njhucker]

Here are a few pics of the tour.
https://plus.google.com/photos/1119161098782510169...

[mrzigazaga]

Great pics mate..Some right old classics there!!.."Belissimo"..I love also the wax work of enzo in his office..Ziga

[pwd95]

njhucker said:

Here are a few pics of the tour.
https://plus.google.com/photos/1119161098782510169...

. Dream trip for me that. You'll have to upload some more pics so I can 'sell' it to SWMBO.

[JMF894]

Quality.

Dream road trip for me too

One day it WILL happen

Just need to convince the beeatch!

Jimbo

[Gandalf]

Hi Nigel,
Re the fan I had the same thing happen to me in Lemans a few years back fan seized solid exiting Mulsanne, bit of a fraught journey back overnight in 30degree temp!
After copius calls and research ended up replacing the original Australian "DAF van" fan with an 11 bladed 12" Profan (PF1211) from Rally & Design in Kent never had any further heating issues. As I recall was about £75.00 + p+p
I have their contact details somewhere, PS pig of a DIY job! but do-able with patientce

[jmorgan]

Nice one.

Drove to Italy once and went through the Frejus tunnel and as we started in I thought "Oh for the Wedge" few kilometers in and I do not think I would like it, bit smoggy, it was honking in the cab with the air con set to recycle (or whatever it is called). How was the tunnel for air? Bit of a mare with the minimum distance etc but they have had a few nasty fires.

[dixiebabes]

Nigel I don't suppose you have the route saved on your pc by any chance. I have been wanting to a European tour for ages just never sure what route to take?

Dix

Oh and well done the wedge.

[maston]

Your trip sounds brilliant, would love to have a go but I'm not sure my ole girl (390 SE) would make it ?

[JMF894]

I'm very interested to know how you managed 30mpg in a 400se tbh. Not that i'm doubting you but that must be a very light right foot you have......

What was the fuel bill out of interest?

Reckon i need at least 600 sheets to do ma n pa's and back

Jimbo

[njhucker]

30mpg really surprised me as well. The couple we went with were following us in a Smart Roadster, so I had to be carefull not to leave them behind.
For the cost of fuel, hotels and the routes, click on the following link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0At9-c...

Also on the way back through Como on Saturday morning we passed the gates of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2012. The cars we saw on the road there were amazing. Astoons, lightweight E Types etc. A report on the event can be seen here:
http://www.sportscardigest.com/concorso-deleganza-...