Autopendium :: stuff about old cars

Rear Spring Shackle Bushes (well 10 of the 12 required) are now done, shocks on order, points replaced, edelbrock chrome 14" air filter fitted (the original ford one was too big, with the washer bottle and wiper motor in place - bang goes the plan for a Cadillac one), speedo cable re-routed behind the pedals, minor fuses replaced, and wiring tied away, then it was tidy up, Rain X the screen and get on the way.... only to find that the Alternator had packed up. 

Quickly whipped off and taken down to Grove Motors in Greyhound Lane Streatham London SW16 for a rebuild. 

Sonny got it back the next day (Weds by 2pm after a 4.30 drop off Tuesday) and £120 lighter, fitted back on, voltages checked, and it was time for the off. 

Filled up with 98octane fuel (Only 11 gallons fill it up) and with no guages except the speedo it was off.

Fan was switched on in South Londons school run filled traffic, but as we hit the motorway off it went and leadbelly dug deep and roared off onto the M25 (FYI- Got 18 miles to the gallon average including that hour crawling through the SE of Bromley & Croydon, and then the M25 & A12 at modern speeds of 70-85 ish - I reckon on 23 - 25 on a leisurely motorway/freeway drive). 

I could barely contain the laughter after all the years of waiting for this. 

Speedo packed up before I got off the A21 to the M25, so dont know how fast we went but I do know we kept up with the commuter traffic in their smug modern econo-lookalike-boxes. 

It got a lot of looks and the driving on cross plies (bias belts for those US car folks) is so much more involving than a modern on radials.

Will get a few more pictures up soon, but hey I am just enjoying the noise and driving it. 

Catch ya'll wheels day.