Thanks for that advice Mark, Peter.
---Trumpet fanfare ---
My car passed the TÜV (MOT) again this morning, and I managed to go for a little 'shakedown run' this afternoon.
Excellent fun!
It is know an entirely different beast!
Lightened flywheel seems to have really woken up the engine, it feels much more revvy (if that is a word) and racy. Deffo needs a fine tune, but that is to be expected after a longish lay-up, and having changed things, right?
I should've fitted a manual box years ago! Well, actually I've been wanting to carry out the swap for years, it has just taken me this long to make it happen.
It is pretty noisy in the car because I haven't finessed making a combo gearstick yet, I've got the long SD1 stick as a temporary measure, and the proper P6 rubber gaiter requires a corresponding centre console! I hadn't realised it differs from the auto console. Lots of interesting whining, whirring and clunking noises from the drivetrain that the automatic didn't used to make.
Alas, my elation was curtailed when, after stalling (Doh! Getting used to driving stick again!) it refused to start again. I had to call out the ADAC (AA in German!) roadside assistance. But off course I did, as I'd risked bringing my wife out with me to enjoy the test drive, therefore needless to say we had a breakdown! The ADAC guy ("yellow angel") grinned when he pulled up. I'm not sure if that was because of the shiny old car, or the lady in the passenger seat with the long face!? He knew the battery was in the boot, and said he'd worked on P6s before although not for many years. He gave me a jump and it sprang straight back to life.
He then diagnosed a probable 'lectrical leak at the starter motor, for me to look at/for tomorrow, and pointed out the female connectors on the wiring behind my alternator look pretty ropey!
I also noticed a bit of coolant puddling on top of the timing cover (double drat!
), which I'm
really hoping turns out to be a loose hose clamp and not the intake manifold leaking again. I'm going to wait for daybreak before I investigate.
I just wanted to trumpet being back on the road after such a long spell out of duty, and say thanks again to everybody who helped me make it happen, y'all know who you are.