P5B - His Lordship

Fantastic work James! Great to see the car thriving in your ownership, and your modifications are very sensible indeed.
 
I'm longer overdue an update here, so here goes:

I awoke the P5B from its winter slumber in April (I know, I know) and realised the alternator was failing to charge. Unfortunately this was the original item, but after some help from the P5 owner's club I sourced a new Lucas A127 self-regulating example and it slotted in without fuss. Job done, or so I thought...



I attended a couple of shows, lifted my nose to London traffic and generally V8ed about this summer. The new alternator shredded two belt and so I spent a number of trips replacing nuts, bolts, washers, pulleys and tension until all uneccessary noises ceased.



In one memorable incident I helped to heard some ducklings back to the pond. Such a versatile car.

I have never had the carbs balanced properly so I journeyed down to Tom Airey in Hampshire, an established SU guru, to try and establish what could be done. The car has a slight 'surge' of power once warm, which could be a choke cable, SU issue or myriad other problems, so he said we'd go through the lot. A thoroughly knowledgeable chap with many, many good stories, we prodded, filed needles, checked floats and gave the 3.5 a tune up.



The results? The Facet pump was way over-pressure for the carbs, explaining the fuel smell when cornering as they overfilled. An in-line fuel pressure regulator was set to 2.5psi and then rebalancing began. 2 hours and 15bhp later, the car was in fine fettle.



I then journeyed to Somerset for the Bath & West classic show. Luckily 90% under cover, so the rain wasn't debilitating, and I sourced a new glove box lid for a few pounds. The slight surge remained, and I suspect sticky brake calipers...

200 miles later on the M3, the new alternator gave up, not charging unless the engine revs were extremely high. A classic-enthusiast RAC recovery gentlemen tested and found the regulator to be shot. Original alternator - 43 years. Replacement - 300 miles. Brilliant.

I am doing some more research on 'good' Lucas A127s and alternatives - perhaps an actual ex-Maestro unit or A133? All suggestions greatly received!



Now I must find out how to repaint Rostyles myself...
 
Glad to see you're still enjoying the car a great deal, James! I've now acquired a Series 1 3500, so I'm very much enjoying being back in V8 ownership!
 
Back
Top