Just bought a Sylva Phoenix
Discussion
Hello.
This weekend I've just bought a sylva phoenix. Quite possibly it will turn out to be the most stupid decision I'll ever make because, at the moment at least, I don't know a great deal about cars! I get the feeling that that'll all have to change once it starts falling apart on me.
Are there many people around the Bath area with kit cars who's knowledge I might be able to steal on occassions?
Also, the car has pretty much not been used for the last year, so I think it needs a bit of general sorting out to get it running smoother. Does anyone have any suggestions on where is best to start?
Thank you very much!
Sam
This weekend I've just bought a sylva phoenix. Quite possibly it will turn out to be the most stupid decision I'll ever make because, at the moment at least, I don't know a great deal about cars! I get the feeling that that'll all have to change once it starts falling apart on me.
Are there many people around the Bath area with kit cars who's knowledge I might be able to steal on occassions?
Also, the car has pretty much not been used for the last year, so I think it needs a bit of general sorting out to get it running smoother. Does anyone have any suggestions on where is best to start?
Thank you very much!
Sam
I'm nowhere near Bath, but I have a Phoenix on the fleet, too - they're pretty simple, so you shouldn't have too mucxh trouble keeping it in shape.
Maintenance/recommissioning will depend to some extent on the engine fitted, but as a guide:
1) Check that the brakes are free and not seized/binding. Jack each wheel in turn, make sure they spin fairly freely by hand, lock when someone presses the pedal or operates the handbrake, and spin freely again when the brake is released. You may wish to bleed fresh fluid through, too.
2) Get rid of the fuel in the tank and give it some fresh petrol
3) If the engine is not running cleanly, check/replace any ignition components that may have been effected by damp. If the car is on carbs, jets may have been blocked by sediment - particularly if they are twin Webers, you may wish to get a specialist to look at them for you if you are not familiar with them.
4) Give it an oil change; check all the other fluid levels (gearbox/diff oil, coolant, brake fluid)
5) Check all the electrics. Corroded connections are likely if it has been standing for a while, so any circuits that don't work or are intermittent are probably nothing worse than a bad earth or dirty connection.
6) Drive it gently for the first couple of hundred miles when you do get it running, to make sure all the fluids and lubricants have a chance to work themselves around the system again and so that any faults have a chance to show themselves.
7) Once you have done a few hundred miles, check everything for signs of play or deterioration (wheel bearings, steering rack, suspension joints and bushes, binding brakes etc.).
Good luck!
Maintenance/recommissioning will depend to some extent on the engine fitted, but as a guide:
1) Check that the brakes are free and not seized/binding. Jack each wheel in turn, make sure they spin fairly freely by hand, lock when someone presses the pedal or operates the handbrake, and spin freely again when the brake is released. You may wish to bleed fresh fluid through, too.
2) Get rid of the fuel in the tank and give it some fresh petrol
3) If the engine is not running cleanly, check/replace any ignition components that may have been effected by damp. If the car is on carbs, jets may have been blocked by sediment - particularly if they are twin Webers, you may wish to get a specialist to look at them for you if you are not familiar with them.
4) Give it an oil change; check all the other fluid levels (gearbox/diff oil, coolant, brake fluid)
5) Check all the electrics. Corroded connections are likely if it has been standing for a while, so any circuits that don't work or are intermittent are probably nothing worse than a bad earth or dirty connection.
6) Drive it gently for the first couple of hundred miles when you do get it running, to make sure all the fluids and lubricants have a chance to work themselves around the system again and so that any faults have a chance to show themselves.
7) Once you have done a few hundred miles, check everything for signs of play or deterioration (wheel bearings, steering rack, suspension joints and bushes, binding brakes etc.).
Good luck!
I thought about one of these BECAUSE I don't know much about cars. I don't think it gets much simpler, and if you end up throwing your hands up ANY garage will sort it. Also if you break something a scrappy is your saviour.
Specific car support is more limited compared to say the 7 clones with what seems like 1000's out there.
Camster said:
Was that the yellow one that I saw advertised recently? MkII escort based...
As a prospective Phoneix/Fury buyer, I was tempted to take a look myself. I will be interested to see how you get on. Make sure you give us regular updates!
No, it's a blue one. So far, other than slight problems starting it yesterday which were caused by me not being used to old engines, it's been fantastic. After picking it up, had a nearly 3 hour drive home, which it did without too many complaints, most of which was in the dark and quite a few traffic jams as well. Since then have used every excuse to need to go somewhere. I always seem to unforunately miss my turning first time at every roundabout too, but never mind!
Need to go out and get some pictures of it at some point, but driving it is just a bit more fun.
Sam
samwilliams said:
Hello.
This weekend I've just bought a sylva phoenix. Quite possibly it will turn out to be the most stupid decision I'll ever make because, at the moment at least, I don't know a great deal about cars! I get the feeling that that'll all have to change once it starts falling apart on me.
Are there many people around the Bath area with kit cars who's knowledge I might be able to steal on occassions?
Also, the car has pretty much not been used for the last year, so I think it needs a bit of general sorting out to get it running smoother. Does anyone have any suggestions on where is best to start?
Thank you very much!
Sam
Glad to hear you've bought a Phoenix, what a great little car they are. I run a Fury race car (although it was my only road car for many years) and have had loads of great experiences through owning the car for the last 9 or 10 years. The owners club is full of characters and there are many road trips around the country and on the continent organized to give you an opportunity to enjoy the car.
Go to [url]www.s-s-r.org.uk/index.html[/url] for details.
Failing that, send me an e-mail through my profile on Pistonheads and I'll put you in touch with the Secretary of the club.
Enjoy!
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