I picked up and 3.5 Coupe today from Schmitt Automobiles in Swiss Cottage who have had it in their garage for the last 3 weeks. It's been having a few problems with inlet vacuum leaks since I bought it. This was causing a fast idle (2000 rpm!). I've been driving around for several months with the idle adjusted right back and the timing retarded just to get the idle down.
It is now fixed I'm pleased to say. It needed a new set of gaskets on the inlet manifold and is now happily idling at 600rpm. Fabulous...
I also had a problem with one of the propshaft union bolts failing. It dropped out somewhere on the A1 causing a vibration through the gear box and the rubber union had started to breakup as a result. This was replaced, so no more vibration. I also had the sub-frame mountings replaced which were an advise on the MOT.
Prior to all that the car has also just spent a week at Nigel Coopers body-shop to get a bit of corrosion on the front wing dealt with, he seems to have done a great job and also realigned the drivers door to get the gaps a bit better. This has made the car look a lot more presentable. He had Jay Kay's 250 GT Berlinetta SWB (that's what it looked like to my untrained Ferrari eye) in primer in the corner so we were in good company.
I'm now hoping that is the end of any heavy maintenance for a while so my wallet can recover.
So now it's all set for the MSA classic at the weekend! We're on the Epsom start and am looking forward to showing James May (there in his Bentley) what a real car looks like...
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