Preparing for a road trip
Discussion
Guys.
The Griff is now coming up to 55k miles and I've a 3k mile european road trip planned in July.
Is it worth replacing the water pump now as a 'service item' or leave it alone because it isn't broken.
What about the oil pump too? There are no signs of any problems, I just don't want to be in the ass end of nowhere in a country I don't speak the language trying to find an RV8 ancilliary item.
I replaced the alternator last year and I'm pretty adept at bump starting so was wondering about the other bits and bobs.
The Griff is now coming up to 55k miles and I've a 3k mile european road trip planned in July.
Is it worth replacing the water pump now as a 'service item' or leave it alone because it isn't broken.
What about the oil pump too? There are no signs of any problems, I just don't want to be in the ass end of nowhere in a country I don't speak the language trying to find an RV8 ancilliary item.
I replaced the alternator last year and I'm pretty adept at bump starting so was wondering about the other bits and bobs.
Ring Ring...
My 500 has only clocked up 45k miles but in the last 3 years I've done 3 European endurance rallies which involve 4-6 days of fairly hard driving on A and B roads plus a run to the start and trip home. 3,500 miles in 8-10 days. I always carry a big bag of spares, tools and bits and bobs. One year a dropped a rear anti roll bar mount - which made a load of noise but I just unbolted it and threw it in the boot - it was difficult to tell the difference. Another year I blew a main beam bulb!
I'm on the origonal alternator, fuel and water pumps,starter motor and clutch.
So I would say a good service and a spanner check before you go and European recovery - just in case. Have a great trip.
Oh by the way check out www.guildofmotorendurance.co.uk the best fun a petrolhead could ever have!!
I'm on the origonal alternator, fuel and water pumps,starter motor and clutch.
So I would say a good service and a spanner check before you go and European recovery - just in case. Have a great trip.
Oh by the way check out www.guildofmotorendurance.co.uk the best fun a petrolhead could ever have!!
80k miles on mine . . . 5k miles on the continent last year and I broke off a rear ARB mount, slung it in the boot, snapped the handbrake pivot bolt, so used the gears and a handy rock off Col d'Galibier.
I take a big bag of bits, but no actual spares. I do take manifold gaskets and bolts. I also take Gun Gum as you can effect great bodges like we've been through at Le Mans before now. I've got rid of the orginal ignition system to reduce the need for rotor arms, caps, amps etc . . If the coil pack blows up, then I buy another one. Simple.
I'm paranoid about wheel bearings and ball joints mostly. The bottom ball joints and wheel bearings on mine have never been replaced as they haven't needed it, but if you went through the whole car you'd have no room for luggage.
To give you an idea, changed the propshaft UJ's last week when rebuilding the car. Thinking was, got a new ramp, so easier, haven't been changed for 80k miles, couldn't feel any slack, but probably would be on the bench, car's not given the easiest life in the world, any vibration I have would be prop based after wheel refinishing . .
The result, a shi77y job that takes a while to do, once the bearings were apart they were all happily greased, no dry joints, no wear, no slop, slack or movement . . . . No need to have bothered. Waste of time and money.
Lesson learnt - if it's looked after like mine is, then failues are very rare and you simply shouldn't just keep changing stuff 'in case' otherwise you get to not driving it 'in case' something breaks. . .
I'm always tempted to take bearing and ball joints with me and maybe this year I will, as Alpine pass after Alpine pass does take it's toll, however, I'd probably come back having not used them.
Assemble your normal Le Mans spares kit, get good recovery cover and head off after a thorough service/inspection. Grease everything, change the oil (don't under estimate the amount of oil you'll consume in hot motorway cruising and back road blasting - I did 5ltrs last year) fit a 74 degree stat if you haven't already, take a spare, fit a lower temp otter switch if you haven't already . . have cable ties, fuses, tie wraps etc etc etc you know all this . .
I take a big bag of bits, but no actual spares. I do take manifold gaskets and bolts. I also take Gun Gum as you can effect great bodges like we've been through at Le Mans before now. I've got rid of the orginal ignition system to reduce the need for rotor arms, caps, amps etc . . If the coil pack blows up, then I buy another one. Simple.
I'm paranoid about wheel bearings and ball joints mostly. The bottom ball joints and wheel bearings on mine have never been replaced as they haven't needed it, but if you went through the whole car you'd have no room for luggage.
To give you an idea, changed the propshaft UJ's last week when rebuilding the car. Thinking was, got a new ramp, so easier, haven't been changed for 80k miles, couldn't feel any slack, but probably would be on the bench, car's not given the easiest life in the world, any vibration I have would be prop based after wheel refinishing . .
The result, a shi77y job that takes a while to do, once the bearings were apart they were all happily greased, no dry joints, no wear, no slop, slack or movement . . . . No need to have bothered. Waste of time and money.
Lesson learnt - if it's looked after like mine is, then failues are very rare and you simply shouldn't just keep changing stuff 'in case' otherwise you get to not driving it 'in case' something breaks. . .
I'm always tempted to take bearing and ball joints with me and maybe this year I will, as Alpine pass after Alpine pass does take it's toll, however, I'd probably come back having not used them.
Assemble your normal Le Mans spares kit, get good recovery cover and head off after a thorough service/inspection. Grease everything, change the oil (don't under estimate the amount of oil you'll consume in hot motorway cruising and back road blasting - I did 5ltrs last year) fit a 74 degree stat if you haven't already, take a spare, fit a lower temp otter switch if you haven't already . . have cable ties, fuses, tie wraps etc etc etc you know all this . .
Front hubs are new last year, as are all the ball joints. Steering UJ's are new too.
All fuel lines and brake lines are new.
Fuel filter is new but I didn't touch the pump. These are expensive damned things but I'll see if I can find a spare.
I would have worried and probably replaced the driveshaft UJ's but thanks to Johno that sounds like a job I needn't worry about.
I'll get a spare water pump and I'd not have thought about a gasket or gasket stuff so thanks for the heads up on that one.
I already have spare dizzy, rotor arm and leads. Ignition amp is new but I'm getting a spare (Johno knows what a pig that is to diagnose!) and the I'm getting a spare coil too.
Battery is new and the weeny Varley 25 seems to be performing really well.
I can't really think of anything else to be honest. Can you ?
All fuel lines and brake lines are new.
Fuel filter is new but I didn't touch the pump. These are expensive damned things but I'll see if I can find a spare.
I would have worried and probably replaced the driveshaft UJ's but thanks to Johno that sounds like a job I needn't worry about.
I'll get a spare water pump and I'd not have thought about a gasket or gasket stuff so thanks for the heads up on that one.
I already have spare dizzy, rotor arm and leads. Ignition amp is new but I'm getting a spare (Johno knows what a pig that is to diagnose!) and the I'm getting a spare coil too.
Battery is new and the weeny Varley 25 seems to be performing really well.
I can't really think of anything else to be honest. Can you ?
Edited by Barreti on Saturday 29th May 08:12
ESD, I agree, they generally take time, but I've known them on other cars to collapse very quickly.
One year as we got off the boat in Calais the exhaust manifold blew. Fine getting on the boat, but then stuck with it, fortunately it was only Le Mans so bodgable, but it's when something goes at the start of a tour it bugs you're whole trip as you're thinking/worrying about it. This years tour is only 3200 miles, so I'm sure they'll be fine.
Ian, I've put in an Odyssey Extreme 40 in the end as the Varley's have a risk of going flat and then being knacked where as the Odyssey's are a little more durable, currently in the old box packed in, but once the interiors been re-trimmed with a modded footwell mat I'll fit it into a new box . . .
One year as we got off the boat in Calais the exhaust manifold blew. Fine getting on the boat, but then stuck with it, fortunately it was only Le Mans so bodgable, but it's when something goes at the start of a tour it bugs you're whole trip as you're thinking/worrying about it. This years tour is only 3200 miles, so I'm sure they'll be fine.
Ian, I've put in an Odyssey Extreme 40 in the end as the Varley's have a risk of going flat and then being knacked where as the Odyssey's are a little more durable, currently in the old box packed in, but once the interiors been re-trimmed with a modded footwell mat I'll fit it into a new box . . .
Water pump will do a fair bit of leeching (feel the little hole under the nose) before major coolant loss. Thats the only failure I've seen on those water pumps and they give you a fair bit of warning, it's just inconvenient topping the coolant up occasionally.
Your pre-serp pump is an SD1, only used on very few LR's, but the nose needs cutting down. They were longer for the viscous fan coupling, I think the proper short ones are an MGB / Morgan special?
Your pre-serp pump is an SD1, only used on very few LR's, but the nose needs cutting down. They were longer for the viscous fan coupling, I think the proper short ones are an MGB / Morgan special?
Mate. that cars in better condition than when it left the factory. Stop panicking!!! We can source and courier (lindsay's family have a courier firm remember) anything within a couple of days. Even prepared to use mine as a doner if necessary. At worst you going to have to stay put and enjoy the view for 48 hrs. Its a holiday remember.
Well, as you all predicted, the car performed flawlessly.
Here is some information from the trip.
Nottingham to Le Mans for the Le Mans Classic
Set off Thursday, arrived Friday.
Left Le Mans on Sunday and over 3 days we drove down through France, over the Pyrenees at Pau, across to Madrid and South to Malaga, arriving lunchtime Tuesday
On this leg I recorded cabin temperatures of 38.8C when the outside temperature was so hot we wound up the windows because it was like being in a tumble dryer.
We stayed in Malaga for 2 days and - with my wife taking over as navigator - with 4 overnight stops in Valancia, Andorra, Limoges and Bayeux we drove back to the UK.
Thats
10 driving days
3 rest days (1 in Le Mans, 2 in Malaga)
Total Mileage 3000+ or nearly 4900km
MPG 25+
7hrs driving and 500km per day average.
Never replaced a part.
Never broke down.
I never did get around to buying the water pump!
I'll properly write it up when I've got the detail and my thoughts together.
Here is some information from the trip.
Nottingham to Le Mans for the Le Mans Classic
Set off Thursday, arrived Friday.
Left Le Mans on Sunday and over 3 days we drove down through France, over the Pyrenees at Pau, across to Madrid and South to Malaga, arriving lunchtime Tuesday
On this leg I recorded cabin temperatures of 38.8C when the outside temperature was so hot we wound up the windows because it was like being in a tumble dryer.
We stayed in Malaga for 2 days and - with my wife taking over as navigator - with 4 overnight stops in Valancia, Andorra, Limoges and Bayeux we drove back to the UK.
Thats
10 driving days
3 rest days (1 in Le Mans, 2 in Malaga)
Total Mileage 3000+ or nearly 4900km
MPG 25+
7hrs driving and 500km per day average.
Never replaced a part.
Never broke down.
I never did get around to buying the water pump!
I'll properly write it up when I've got the detail and my thoughts together.
Edited by Barreti on Thursday 22 July 10:00
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