Travels & travails with a C15 (& other vehicles)

[Zelandeth]

Sounds like that's an arc welder with the mention of welding rods. Have to admit to having never worked with one of them.

The MIG here was a revelation to me the first time I actually used one that was properly set up and using the self dimming mask. Way different to any prior attempts, which mostly involved me either welding the torch to the metal or blowing holes in stuff. So having the welder in good order does make a huge difference.

[CitroJim]

Zel, if you ever want to have a play with an arc welder just come and see me... I have a lovely old Oxford professional rig here with an oil-filled tap-changing transformer... It is a beautiful piece of engineering...

One of these but mine is in far better condition...

[van ordinaire]

Sounds like that's an arc welder with the mention of welding rods. Have to admit to having never worked with one of them.

The MIG here was a revelation to me the first time I actually used one that was properly set up and using the self dimming mask. Way different to any prior attempts, which mostly involved me either welding the torch to the metal or blowing holes in stuff. So having the welder in good order does make a huge difference.

AND the fact it came from Lidl's! But I wasn't suggesting/claiming otherwise, just broadening the scope of the subject

Not seen it for years, actually, clearing out that garage (I did spent a bit of time in there when it was really hot, but barely scratched the surface) might just assume a higher priority: if I made a concerted effort (shame I didn't think of this before) & cleared nearly everything out - including the up-ended trailer & Disco wheels & tyres x 5, I could push the parts car in there - AND the green Cherokee could have the drive to itself, thus making working on either/both of them a lot easier.

[demag]

We used to have one of those at work, it was a beefy bit of kit. Were they 3 phase? Can't remember now.

Van I'm intrigued by your "numerous abandoned projects"

[CitroJim]

Van I'm intrigued by your "numerous abandoned projects"

As am I Do tell Van!

[van ordinaire]

In no particular order:-
'74 Rover 3500S
'71 Triumph 2.5 PI auto
'70 1/2 Chevy Camaro
'79 Lada Niva
'80 BMW 323 cabrio
'89 Jaguar XJR
all in various stages of neglect/disrepair which I suppose I could advertise as "barn finds" but free to good homes (except, possibly, the Jag)

[Zelandeth]

I'll take the P6! ...Or would given a working garage, unlimited time, no other projects on the go and unlimited resources!

[CitroJim]

Yes, the P6 and the 2.5PI are my choices

I still lust after a nice P6... One day maybe...

[van ordinaire]

I'll take the P6! ...Or would given a working garage, unlimited time, no other projects on the go and unlimited resources!

If I had all those it wouldn't be languishing in some long forgotten lock-up but regularly campaigning on Paris-Pekin type events.

[van ordinaire]

Yes, the P6 and the 2.5PI are my choices

I still lust after a nice P6... One day maybe...

Re-wind far enough & the PI would've been a regular sight in your neck of the woods, fully utilising its more than reasonable performance to the full, between N'mptn & Newport Pagnell.

Used to want one of those v. late 3500S's with leccie windows, air con. metallic paint & SD1 interiors, not now - but would like the one I've got, for purely sentimental reasons, restored to "nice + a few upgrades"

[van ordinaire]

Bonne Annee! (well it WAS New Year's day when I started this)

OK, so I'm back (a) in London after a week in Zunny Deb'n, where do rain 8 days out of 7 - & it did! Messed up my plans good'n'prapper Ikun tell'ee, of which more anon!
(b) behind the wheel of the C15, not literally, 'cos I did leave down there, in hope another week of daily dousing will remove the strange algae that's developing on the bonnet
(c) the mood to resume this blog - yes, I know I suggested it was too much like hard work, but perhaps I shouldn't have given up so easily (note to self: highlight & copy this before submitting).

Now, let's see if I can put all this into some sort of perspective before trying to bring this up-to-date.

When I got back from 'merikee at the beginning of October I caught up with the forum - but suffered terminal inertia when I reached this section, truth be told I wasn't feeling very Citroenny at the time for reasons that'll become clear. Of course, this time catching-up will take a bit longer (even if I resist the temptation to, effectively, revive (or, at least, revisit) what must've become historic threads &, on past form, I'd be doing this about Easter, rather than now, while it's still topical (no, really - well, the important bit is) so, this time, I decided to do this bit 1st.

Once upon a time . . . well actually it was the Thursday evening before August BH - there, told you it was topical! Anyroadup, I took the C15 down to Devon to collect some stuff I needed for my forthcoming long weekend at the Great Dorset Steam Fair (made possible because the European Cadillac meeting in Denmark that w/e had been cancelled). However, things weren't quite right, lost top end, started baulking at hills, felt like it was running out of fuel - so much so that I convinced myself that not only was the gauge wrong (those of you with good memories might recall that it did seem to run out at 1/4 full) but the consumption had deteriorated significantly, so with the prospect of the infamous Telegraph Hill & not actually passing another garage before my destination about 20 miles on, I filled it up (which I later bitterly regretted) & pressed on. I got there, but it was a bit touch & go at times.

Next morning, poked about under the bonnet but, being a diesel I just felt like the 17 yr old schoolboy with his 1st car I remember so well. So, particularly because, one way or another, I wanted to be on my way, I 'phoned my recovery service for an expert opinion &, hopefully, a quick roadside repair. Man comes, says it's an injector, suggests I replace them all while I'm at it & leaves. Now 4 injectors are going to leave me a bit short of vouchers for 4 straight nights in sundry beer tents AND, I understand, they can be a pig to remove. Next up, call my (relatively) new found friend in the trade (remember him? Yes? Good, at least some of you are keeping up) who we'll call John - as his parents did! Explained my position & asked as he wasn't busy (it being his day off) if he'd come over & help. John, duly arrives but being him, wants to do his own fault finding &, what does he find, air, i.e. not so much bubbles as small, frequent airlocks, all too visible in the length of clear fuel line, once he'd wiped the accumulation of grime off it. Not good enough for him, he wants to demonstrate this IS the problem + he does seem to enjoy passing on his knowledge/expertise. "Have you got a can of diesel?" I suspect he knew what the answer'd be. Next thing, he's under the van, whipped off the rubber hose from the metal pipe, found a bit of hose in the back of his van (ex-AA, & better equipped than it ever was when they had it), pushed one end onto the fuel pipe, dropped t'other end in the "can" of diesel. Out from under the C15, turns the key, starts immediately, revs freely; I'm dragged round under the bonnet & urged to look at that same length of clear fuel hose: it's a uniform colour, solid fuel - ergo, air leak in region of tank. That's his job done, all he wants is another coffee - oh & £30, for saving me how much? - & he's gone!

This is not going to be a quick fix, so load up the Cherokee & off to GDSF I go.

Next weekend, moment of truth, so drain the tank, right break out the new electric oil pump but can't get the pipe down the fuel filler. Really don't achieve much beyond removing ever more of the ply shelving & lining to get at the moulded cover for the filler, to get the hose off & drop the pipe from the pump into the tank & drain the tank. Not happy with this, it's supposed to have been full, yet the 25 litre drum I've pumped the tank into is only about 1/2-full. Over the next few weekends learn why, it seems you can't actually drain the tank, so every time I pulled off a hose (there are so many - why?) or moved the tank, diesel escaped. Fortunately I'd thought to carpet the area under the van with cat litter (& not that dreadful, cheapo, cheapo stuff that turns to a thick, sticky paste) although i was glad I didn't have to spend any length of time lying under the van.

Eventually the time came to make sure there was nothing left attached, it wasn't still hung up woutith the h/brake cables, pull it out from under & finally empty it by up-ending it over the 25l drum.

Then a little dismantling: the sender unit, a cylinderical device quite unlike any I've seen before but when inverted a float could be heard falling to the top - & back, when righted - so I assumed it was OK & the fuel pick-up which required closer attention because, Jim it was, I think, who suggested I should check the in-tank filter when I was having fuel problems earkier in the year. As it was a tank out job, I said it'd have to wait - never dreaming that moment would come so soon - or in such circumstances. I couldn't find any obvious leak (there's a clear pipe within the pick-up that had a split at one end, but as that in the return & would be immersed in fuel, I couldn't see how that could be letting in air) OR a filter! What prompted me to peer into opening in the tank I don't know but I did, & I could see something - which I was able to retieve with a pair of forceps. It was the filter, completely blocked, but, then, as it was detached that wouldn't make any difference. It was dumped, unceremoniously into a jar of solvent & left to soak for a week. On removal the filter was remarkably clean, just requiring a little work with an old toothbrush to remove the final few stubborn specs. That piece of pipe I repaired with superglue, freezer tape & a cable tie, I then struggled to carefully apply enough force to snap the filter back on, so how it came off is beyond me. I noticed that what had been blocking the filter had risen to the surface of the solvent & set like a black scum, about 2mm thick!

That was pretty well the position when I arrived, ostensibly, for Christmas/New Year. Reassembled sender & pick-up in the tanl, still not found ant obvious air leak, so replaced both hoses anyway, the outlet is a bastard size, best guestimate (at the factors) was 9mm, didn't fancy forcing 8mm onto the plastic stub, so got 10mm - & really fought to get that onto the metal pipe!

So, all done, except reassembling the interior, now apart from being started a couple of times when pumping up flat tires & twice to run the oil pump, this hasn't run for over 3 months, & it started immediately, or would've - if I'd remembered to prime it! As it was, it fired, faltered, died - & wouldn't re-start, even with a jump. Had horrible thoughts about the starter motor, but after having battery on charge overnight, it started, no problem. Run it around locally & it sems fine (except the low fuel light doesn't work). The idea now is to bring it back up to London next Sunday, it would've suited me to have driven home today (or yesterday, as it now is!) but, not wanting to tempt fate, I'd already bought my ticket.

Oh, all this interspersed with developments with Cadillacs & Cherokees - but that must wait for another time as I'm sure that any of you who have got this far will have had enough - I KNOW I have!

Until the next thrilling instalment, mes amis . . .[tr][/tr]

[white exec]

Zel, Am I right in thinking that wouldn't be the first P6 that might have been garaged at your abode?
A certain Mike Beetham?

[Zelandeth]

I've not got my grubby paws on a P6 yet (well, I borrowed one for a week once a few years ago), though who knows what the future may bring. Mind you, they way their prices seem to be going on the whole...

[CitroJim]

The P6 is my all-time favourite British car... The very early ones especially

I'd love one but I know their value/prices now will always preclude that...

[Zelandeth]

P6 probably wouldn't be the rarest bit of British metal to be parked in our driveway in the past though...

Photo (well, video still-frame) dating from early 1981.