09-04-2025, 11:01 AM
Further to my previous post, having got the little car running, I couldn't resist the urge to take it into Llangollen yesterday to do some shopping and to visit my friend Jim at Pen-y-Bryn. The car is certainly running better after its top end overhaul. It managed the bank up from Acrefair to Pen-y-Bryn, normally requiring second for the steepest part, in third all the way with aplomb, and the climb on the A5 back from Berwyn Station to the Vivod turning, previously a third gear slog, was managed in top at a constant 25 mph with no effort. It was also difficult to keep the car to my self-imposed limit of 35 mph and at one point between Glyndyfrdwy and Corwen I caught the car whizzing along at 45!
There is, however, a fly in the ointment. At low revs, the clutch has a slight tendency to slip. Not badly: if one changes into top at about 20 mph and accelerate a bit too much, one can hear the engine revs rise slightly, but backing of and then reapplying the accelerator cures the problem. It doesn't do it at speed. Given the fact that, in nearly 60 years of motoring, I have never worn a clutch out, I suspect that there is oil contamination on the linings, but, given that it appears to be only a minor inconvenience at present and doesn't impinge on the general driving qualities of the car, coupled with the fact that young Leon has started to dismantle the Landrover engine and half the garage is occupied by engine bits, I am disinclined to tug it all to bits again unless it gets worse and I am absolutely driven to it.
There is, however, a fly in the ointment. At low revs, the clutch has a slight tendency to slip. Not badly: if one changes into top at about 20 mph and accelerate a bit too much, one can hear the engine revs rise slightly, but backing of and then reapplying the accelerator cures the problem. It doesn't do it at speed. Given the fact that, in nearly 60 years of motoring, I have never worn a clutch out, I suspect that there is oil contamination on the linings, but, given that it appears to be only a minor inconvenience at present and doesn't impinge on the general driving qualities of the car, coupled with the fact that young Leon has started to dismantle the Landrover engine and half the garage is occupied by engine bits, I am disinclined to tug it all to bits again unless it gets worse and I am absolutely driven to it.