Tell me about British Leyland
Discussion
aeropilot said:
CDP said:
aeropilot said:
My Dad loved them......so I've done lots of miles at the wheel of them back in early 80's. He would have preferred to have had a P6 Rover 3500, but he had to have an estate for work reasons.
He had owned a K-reg 2000TC Estate from about 1977 to around 1981/2, then sold it and replaced it with a 2500S Estate which he then owned until 1986.
Not building the SD1 estate was a huge own goal. He had owned a K-reg 2000TC Estate from about 1977 to around 1981/2, then sold it and replaced it with a 2500S Estate which he then owned until 1986.
Such a shame.
Frankthered said:
StescoG66 said:
Keep it stiff said:
That is correct for right hand drive as the blade will sweep up into the top corner of the screen. 
Inspired by this thread I did a little light reading (on Wikipedia, so it MUST be true!) and it appears that the wipers on the Marina were configured for LHD (as you would put it) because if they were correct for RHD, the driver's side wiper would lift at speed. Not sure if this also applied to the Allegro, but I do note that, of the three photos in recent posts, the other two are configured for LHD, as it were.
In reality, given the stories recounted on this thread regarding the reliability (or otherwise) of parts supply, I rather suspect that, in some cases at least, whatever was available got fitted!
Scotty2 said:
That is for the fluid side. Over around 15-20 years the Nitrogen bubble above the diaphragm at pressure (15-18 bar) has usually leaked away, then the fluid is pumped up to compensate. Eventually this gives a very harsh bouncy ride and the diaphragms burst. With the rechargeable displacer, a Schrader valve is welded onto the displacer so that the "bubble" can be recharged to give the wonderfully smooth Hydragas ride. Makes a big difference.
See: https://hydragasandhydrolasticservice.com/hydragas...
Coupled with computer actuated valves and a compressor maybe an adjustable, self-levelling suspension system? Maybe add a hydraulic ram + reservoir to the fluid system and it would be possible to pick suspension/damping rates on the fly? Or use the hydraulics as an anti-roll system...See: https://hydragasandhydrolasticservice.com/hydragas...
For years most , if not all, most BL cars had wipers which were 'wrong; in that they swept two arcs , leaving a dirty blind spot on both sides . But those dangerously progressive folk from Ford had the wit and common sense to arrange for the wiper on the driver's side of a RHD car to end its arc parallel to the A post .This is deep in anorak territory, but the 'clap hands ' wipers on Ferrari Dinos and some Alfas were quite deliciously sexy
alabbasi said:
When it comes to performance, there's no replacement for lightness
Very true, but an XK150 is a heavy beast. It weighs a fraction under 3000lb. It was a road car, nothing removed, it's not like the racing one which are nearer to 2000lb. And we were two up 
Hey nothing with an XK in is going to be light. saaby93 said:
Frankthered said:
StescoG66 said:
Keep it stiff said:
That is correct for right hand drive as the blade will sweep up into the top corner of the screen. Inspired by this thread I did a little light reading (on Wikipedia, so it MUST be true!) and it appears that the wipers on the Marina were configured for LHD (as you would put it) because if they were correct for RHD, the driver's side wiper would lift at speed. Not sure if this also applied to the Allegro, but I do note that, of the three photos in recent posts, the other two are configured for LHD, as it were.
In reality, given the stories recounted on this thread regarding the reliability (or otherwise) of parts supply, I rather suspect that, in some cases at least, whatever was available got fitted!
a8hex said:
alabbasi said:
When it comes to performance, there's no replacement for lightness
Very true, but an XK150 is a heavy beast. It weighs a fraction under 3000lb. It was a road car, nothing removed, it's not like the racing one which are nearer to 2000lb. And we were two up Hey nothing with an XK in is going to be light. Mikebentley said:
a8hex said:
alabbasi said:
When it comes to performance, there's no replacement for lightness
Very true, but an XK150 is a heavy beast. It weighs a fraction under 3000lb. It was a road car, nothing removed, it's not like the racing one which are nearer to 2000lb. And we were two up Hey nothing with an XK in is going to be light. 
Oh yes, even a stock XK goes quite nicely, I never felt my 150 was short of power on the road, it was only getting stuck behind E-Type drivers who wanted to go quickly down the straight and then slowly round the corners on track days, which led be to tinker. I'd love to have an XK140, and DHC preferably.
else an OTS, but I'm not sure LadyB8 would be so happy with an OTS in anything except perfect weather. TwigtheWonderkid said:
What BL said : The quartic wheel allows easier entry and exit from the vehicle and gives a clearer view of the instruments.
What BL meant: We fitted a normal steering wheel but you couldn't get in or out of the car nor could you see the instruments. So we came up with this solution and are now pretending it's an important motoring innovation.
Anyone who ever drove an early Allegro with the quartic wheel would tell you it was practically undriveable, how it ever got past prototype stage amazes me. However BL at the time were slow to learn and tried again with the first SD1s which were fitted with an oval wheel.What BL meant: We fitted a normal steering wheel but you couldn't get in or out of the car nor could you see the instruments. So we came up with this solution and are now pretending it's an important motoring innovation.
imagineifyeswill said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
What BL said : The quartic wheel allows easier entry and exit from the vehicle and gives a clearer view of the instruments.
What BL meant: We fitted a normal steering wheel but you couldn't get in or out of the car nor could you see the instruments. So we came up with this solution and are now pretending it's an important motoring innovation.
Anyone who ever drove an early Allegro with the quartic wheel would tell you it was practically undriveable, how it ever got past prototype stage amazes me. However BL at the time were slow to learn and tried again with the first SD1s which were fitted with an oval wheel.What BL meant: We fitted a normal steering wheel but you couldn't get in or out of the car nor could you see the instruments. So we came up with this solution and are now pretending it's an important motoring innovation.
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a8hex said:
Mikebentley said:
a8hex said:
alabbasi said:
When it comes to performance, there's no replacement for lightness
Very true, but an XK150 is a heavy beast. It weighs a fraction under 3000lb. It was a road car, nothing removed, it's not like the racing one which are nearer to 2000lb. And we were two up Hey nothing with an XK in is going to be light. Oh yes, even a stock XK goes quite nicely, I never felt my 150 was short of power on the road, it was only getting stuck behind E-Type drivers who wanted to go quickly down the straight and then slowly round the corners on track days, which led be to tinker. I'd love to have an XK140, and DHC preferably.
else an OTS, but I'm not sure LadyB8 would be so happy with an OTS in anything except perfect weather. 
Mikebentley said:
Gratuitous pic: The Vitesse is original in every way, the Jag was raced in early 60’s through to 80s in clubman stuff. Very subtle mods. C Type head? HDU8s on sandcastle manifold? And I have fitted twin stainless exhaust.
Gratuitous pic much appreciated with two very attractive cars - I bet they are a lot of fun to drive as well.Mikebentley said:
Gratuitous pic: The Vitesse is original in every way, the Jag was raced in early 60’s through to 80s in clubman stuff. Very subtle mods. C Type head? HDU8s on sandcastle manifold? And I have fitted twin stainless exhaust.
Any excuse for pictures of XKs is a good excuse in my books and the Vitesse is lovely too.It's good to see the 140 on steel wheels and wearing spats. Not a chrome wire in sight
As you say very subtle, I bet she's a real wolf in sheep's clothing. The C Type head was an option on the XK140, usually painted red, although the first few weren't IIRC, and with the sandcast HD8s
Am I allowed to beg for more "Gratuitous pics" I'd love to see the under bonnet scene too.
Are the pipes straight through? I bet they make a glorious noise.
StuntmanMike said:
That’s great, have you seen the YouTube channel The late brake show. He is building an Allegro sleeper that has a supercharged 827 V6 in it.
He also does an episode on a barn find Allegro SS.
Just watched them both last night! Mmm I have a Trio of Rover 800s... I wonder how easy it was to get driveshafts e.t.c for the conversion to use an EOG rather than an in sump one.He also does an episode on a barn find Allegro SS.
I have an Ambassador and Maxi which would also benefit from an 820 turbo lump...
Scotty2 said:
Just watched them both last night! Mmm I have a Trio of Rover 800s... I wonder how easy it was to get driveshafts e.t.c for the conversion to use an EOG rather than an in sump one.
I have an Ambassador and Maxi which would also benefit from an 820 turbo lump...
One of the interesting things about this thread is that developed the admiration that many of us have for "ordinary" classics. I have an Ambassador and Maxi which would also benefit from an 820 turbo lump...
Scotty2 said:
Just watched them both last night! Mmm I have a Trio of Rover 800s... I wonder how easy it was to get driveshafts e.t.c for the conversion to use an EOG rather than an in sump one.
I have an Ambassador and Maxi which would also benefit from an 820 turbo lump...
You would have seen me in the V6 Allegro Video then as my workshop has it in at the moment!I have an Ambassador and Maxi which would also benefit from an 820 turbo lump...
I've just sold an 820 Turbo Engine this week. I also have an Ambassador, but that is a never-welded car with a total timewarp interior, so will be saying standard that on!
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