Amazon: New (to me) 1963 Volvo 122

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

Problem is that they don't allow the strip to fit flush, as you can see. You could cut the inner flanges right back to allow that. The original clips often rust away. They should also have a dob of dum dum type mastic on the inside to stop the water getting in. The original clips are available.

Many thanks. There are pros and cons of the strip not quite fitting flush of course - the way it is now doesn't damage the paint and the plastic bungs fill up the holes in the rear wing much better. I'll leave it as is for the time being, when I next order something significant from Brookhouse Volvo I may get a few of these and revert to the original - we'll see.

Some good news: Xmas (well, DHL anyway) came early and my Brookhouse Volvo parcel arrived while I was walking Bob. I'm itching to get the brakes back together but I have a school governors' meeting later this afternoon and so won't have time.

A job for tomorrow that I'm looking forward to :-)

Alan

[Othen]

Changing the rear brakes (shoes, cylinders and lines) today proved the first rule of working on older cars to be true: everything will take longer than expected.

The NSR was already apart from the other day, I'd given it a good scrub up with the wire brush, Screwfix degreaser and finally dried with acetone. It came up pretty well:



The OSR was as incorrectly assembled as the near side: shoes the wrong way round, lower spring and the woodruff key all incorrectly installed. It wasn't wet though, so the wheel cylinder had not been leaking - but it was pretty dirty:



Everything came apart pretty easily, except the brake line which was not going to let go of the wheel cylinder. I was going to change it anyway so I just cut the pipe off. Like the NSR, it looked quite pretty afterwards:



I was running out of daylight so I just bled the rear brakes - I'll do the fronts tomorrow - but the pedal feels pretty firm. The brakes have been adjusted properly for the first time in a decade, and I think the same is true of the handbrake (which was not strong enough to hold GAM on the ramps last week.

I'd hoped to get this finished today, notwithstanding the first rule. I hope it will not take too long to finish bleeding the lines and check everything.

:-)

[Volvo_133]

I can no longer see any issues in there! Good job done.
To pass an MOT the handbrake has to have something like 17% efficiency, mine was 38% efficient at its mot May 21.
Bear in mind with single circuit brakes the handbrake is classed as an emergency brake, one leak with single circuit brakes and a foot brake which hits the carpet is quite scary.
Back in the 70s aged 19 as an apprentice, i left my parents house in my £150 1965 122S wearing flared trousers. Approaching a T junction my right foot could operate the loud pedal but not the brake pedal as my flares were trapped in the door.
Opening the door to free my trouser leg allowed me to reach the brakes and stop at the give way sign in time.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Volvo_133

I can no longer see any issues in there! Good job done.
To pass an MOT the handbrake has to have something like 17% efficiency, mine was 38% efficient at its mot May 21.
Bear in mind with single circuit brakes the handbrake is classed as an emergency brake, one leak with single circuit brakes and a foot brake which hits the carpet is quite scary.
Back in the 70s aged 19 as an apprentice, i left my parents house in my £150 1965 122S wearing flared trousers. Approaching a T junction my right foot could operate the loud pedal but not the brake pedal as my flares were trapped in the door.
Opening the door to free my trouser leg allowed me to reach the brakes and stop at the give way sign in time.

Many thanks Chris,
I’m very pleased that the rear brakes are properly sorted for about £100 and a day’s work.
That is a good story about the flared trousers :-)
Alan

[Othen]

I have just taken GAM out for a test drive to check the brakes (they are absolutely fine, including the hand brake which now holds the car easily of steep slopes). GAM is becoming a really nice can now.

It would be nice to get GAM to be as good a daily driver as the RB, but I doubt that will be possible - the design is just too old, but that does not distract from it being enormous fun. Cabin ventilation seems to be a design problem - the only solution seems to be opening a window, but I think that is just the 1960s driving experience.

One thing I must improve is visibility - the door mirrors are almost useless - particularly the NS one:



The mirror is invisible from the driver's seat - hidden completely by the A pillar. I'm guessing these are not the original mirrors - does anyone know of mirrors that would fit (I think about 3" further back) that work?

More good news: the BT receiver and the cell phone holder I have fitted are both perfect. I had Bruce Springsteen for company as I drive and the lady from Google Maps giving me directions :-).

I'm very happy with Aunt Maud.

Alan

PS. More authentic 1960's driving experience: I stopped at Pipewell to adjust the windscreen washer with my Leatherman.

[packers1712]

Great to hear the brakes are all sorted!
I'm told not being able to see anything out of the nearside door mirror is a feature of the Amazon, it needs to be placed so far back on the door that when its in that position the quarterlight window can't be opened fully!

I fitted door mirrors to Mr Roberts and spent about a day trying virtually every combination of positions only to realise it doesn't work so I've modified my N/S mirror base to allow more adjustment angle and to be honest it still needs more!

Doug.

[john.wigley]

I also doubt that they are the original mirrors, Alan.

I don't think GAM would have been supplied with door mirrors, either as standard or a dealer fit extra. I think that they are a later addition - possibly dating from the early '70s.

I say this with some confidence as they are highly reminiscent of those fitted to my '72 (L) 145. Those were also difficult to adjust, afforded a very restricted field of view and were fouled by opening quarterlights, which effectively also limited the ventilation.

I doubt GAM would have been fitted with any external mirrors when new as standard. There were far fewer motorways and fast dual-carriageways, roundabouts, etc., where they are almost essential today.

If any had been specified by the original owner, they would most likely to have been 'wing' mirrors, positioned approximately half-way along the wing. This would of course have involved drilling the wing top with the attendant possibility of corrosion at that point. When wing mirrors were specified, the 'boomerang' type were much to be preferred as they would spring back without damage if inadvertently knocked.

If you wanted to fit this type of mirror they are still available - I have seen them advertised in CCW, but I would think twice before drilling those wings! An alternative might be to fit the smaller 'overtaking' mirrors that clipped either to the door frame or to the quarterlight - I have used these to good effect on early Minis and other cars without having to make any non-reversible alterations. Just a thought ...

Regards, John.

[c1800]

Those mirrors appear similar to what I have on my 1800e. Same problem with adjustment. I bought these.

https://ldpart.co.uk/shop/shop.php?c...id=1194&cat=69

Improved substantially the drivers side but still can’t get the passenger side to adjust in the proper position, although it’s better than what it was. So it’s more decoration than utility. I believe mirrors were a dealer add on accessory and mounting points were sometimes at the whim of the installer .

Give those a try , they may improve yours.

Good luck.

[Volvo_133]

Wing mirrors were extras in those days, usually mounted centrally above the front wheel. Not easy to adjust from the drivers seat unless you have carried heavy weight as a kid. I think the best option is to fit the type that clamp on to the quarter light frame. Occasionally quality old items appear on flea bay, Desmo, Tex, Wingard to name a few.
No drilling, easy to fit, easy to adjust, leave your existing ones in place. Personally I have always looked back over my shoulder (Mike and the mechanics) being an old git, this is how I was trained.
Chris.

[john.wigley]

My thinking exactly, 'Volvo_133'. As an experienced motor-cyclist, looking over his shoulder will be second nature to Alan I would expect!

Regards, John.