Impromptu BL line up

[Lucas CAV]

Late to the party with the Sherpa but have you had a drive of a diesel version, Breadvan?
I had a diesel van - much like the one converted by Jaws above and it was painfully slow and noisy -

I bet the petrol is quite peppy?

[anonymous-user]

The two litre O series petrol engine is reasonably powerful. On the motorway, the van storms past lorries and old VW campers, even going up hills. The speedo (probably inaccurate) will indicate 80 MPH but the engine feels strained at that speed. Overdrive would add 8mph to top speed and improve MPG a bit.

[Lucas CAV]

Breadvan72 said:

The two litre O series petrol engine is reasonably powerful. On the motorway, the van storms past lorries and old VW campers, even going up hills. The speedo (probably inaccurate) will indicate 80 MPH but the engine feels strained at that speed. Overdrive would add 8mph to top speed and improve MPG a bit.

Obviously diesel made sense from a economy perspective but there were some decent petrol engines on 70's and 80's van - my neighbour had a Bedford CF2 that had a lovely sounding engine -

[anonymous-user]

Diesel was a false dawn. I have always hated the stuff. Recent disclosures show how dumb it was to go diesel rather than petrol for commercial vehicles.

The O series engine was used with a twin carb setup in the Princess and Ambassador, and it made a good engine for a family saloon.

I am ashamed to say that my UMM is diesel; but it rarely goes anywhere.

[Lucas CAV]

Breadvan72 said:

Diesel was a false dawn. I have always hated the stuff. Recent disclosures show how dumb it was to go diesel rather than petrol for commercial vehicles.

The O series engine was used with a twin carb setup in the Princess and Ambassador, and it made a good engine for a family saloon.

I am ashamed to say that my UMM is diesel; but it rarely goes anywhere.

I am inclined to agree for light and medium weight vehicles -
But a Gardner 8lxb in an old truck is a thing of beauty!

[Scotty2]

The Ambassador is in the building. Photos to follow.
Anyone got a spare carburettor?

[anonymous-user]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Er... but that's just a really rubbish drink - not a Martini, not a Manhattan, not a Negroni and not anything recognisable as a drink. Does it even have a name?

[anonymous-user]

Scotty2 said:

The Ambassador is in the building. Photos to follow.
Anyone got a spare carburettor?

Yes but it is four barrel monster of the American V8-feeding variety, not yer basic SU!

[Mr2Mike]

Breadvan72 said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Er... but that's just a really rubbish drink - not a Martini, not a Manhattan, not a Negroni and not anything recognisable as a drink. Does it even have a name?

I'm not a cocktail aficionado (much prefer a nice, unadulterated Islay malt), but could it be a "Gin & IT Fizz"?

[anonymous-user]

A Gin and It is gin with Italian sweet vermouth. It would be fizzy if some fizzy ingredient such as soda or a sparkling wine was added. A mix of gin with red and white vermouth seems to me like a mashup between an Americano (no gin, but yes Campari) and a Negroni (yes gin and yes Campari - an Americano turbocharged at the request of a bloke called Count Negroni - hence the name), but manages to be neither (no Campari). Maybe it is a something else that I have never encountered.

[lowdrag]

Was drinking gin, rosso and campari on Sunday, but that's an Americano. At home I cheapen it using just two fingers of Rosso, one of Campari, obligatory fruit and top it up with ice and tonic. Makes a lovely less alcoholic summer drink.

[Scotty2]

The Wedge has arrived and being fettled. Issues with HIF44 Carb. Apparently a common problem. Old 1 /34" SUs used to be fairly good, so why has going metric made them less reliable?

Good solid body, trim a bit sun damaged.

[anonymous-user]

Abassador yaaaay and hope carb gets sorted. I rate the O series - it's a good unit.

Cocktail time: I am in Glasgow, where a place called Pizza Punks has invented the NEDgroni. This is a sort of Negroni but features IRN BRU and Buckfast. Set aboot ye!

[iSore]

Those wheel trims are tragic.

To think I bought one of those in 1989 for £350, 1984 on an A plate. Mine was a 1.7HL from the days when I used to flip cars. They fell out of bed very quickly! Not a bad old thing though - superb seats, ride and tons of room - also a fantastic tow car.

[iSore]

Breadvan72 said:

Diesel was a false dawn. I have always hated the stuff. Recent disclosures show how dumb it was to go diesel rather than petrol for commercial vehicles.

The O series engine was used with a twin carb setup in the Princess and Ambassador, and it made a good engine for a family saloon.

I am ashamed to say that my UMM is diesel; but it rarely goes anywhere.

Not quite - the Princess always had a single 1.34" SU - only the VdP (and HLS?) Ambdor had the twin set up.

[Scotty2]

Carb problem was due to a very fine internal gauze being silted up. Filter fitted and carb rebuilt. Came to work in it this morning and drives very well.

[anonymous-user]

Fab! Daily driver?

My current daily driver is a 1982 SD1 2600SE. 51,000 documented miles. Triumph/Rover straight six with twin SUs (fat ones). Upgraded front brakes, and Kenlowe fan, but still on points (must fit electronic ignition soon). 26 to 28 mpg in motorway use, a lot less in town or if five speed manual box put to use to surprise modern BMWs.

[anonymous-user]

[anonymous-user]

iSore said:

Breadvan72 said:

Diesel was a false dawn. I have always hated the stuff. Recent disclosures show how dumb it was to go diesel rather than petrol for commercial vehicles.

The O series engine was used with a twin carb setup in the Princess and Ambassador, and it made a good engine for a family saloon.

I am ashamed to say that my UMM is diesel; but it rarely goes anywhere.

Not quite - the Princess always had a single 1.34" SU - only the VdP (and HLS?) Ambdor had the twin set up.

I have learned stuff! Thanks!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Breadvan72 said:

Brilliant. Very cool car.