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Recommended spares for an older car for France trip?

paul_w

By paul_w
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paul_w

paul_w

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Hi - I'm hopefully* heading off to France in my father's HPC BDR on the 2nd. We go every year and do a couple of thousand miles but for the last few years it's been in my Sigma car and all I've taken is a spare throttle cable and some odds and sods like fuses and hood poppers. But the HPC has been off the road for a few years, and is a much older car, so wanted to get some advice on suggested spares that might stop me getting stranded.

I'm thinking clutch cable, alternator belt, rotor arm and cap maybe? Plus the usual tools and cable ties, but would appreciate any pointers on anything specific for older cars and BDRs in particular if anyone has any tips.

Cheers,

Paul

*If the nameless specialist who has had the car for 10 ten days already to get it ready for the trip, and told me today that they hadn't started working on it yet, actually finishes the agreed work in time.

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SLR No.77

SLR No.77

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I work on the basis of take parts that might prove difficult to get and might curtail the trip, ie. alternator belt, clutch cable, throttle cable. I also carry fuses because they're small plus a set of spark plugs. I also have recovery whether abroad or at home.

I've never felt the need to carry items like a rotor arm or dizzy cap because the likelyhood of failure is low. I know of one owner who had to be trailered back from France because of a dodgy fuel pressure relief valve, certainly not something you'd entertain taking!

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ChrisC

ChrisC

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Agreed, but the problem with the statement, "take parts that are difficult to get" probably covers most parts on the car.  Whilst clutch cables and throttle cables are common to fail, they are also easy to inspect, any fraying even if it's a single strand, replace them.  The same (providing you can get originals) for the dizzy cap, rotor arm, leads and plugs, they are all service items.  Fuel lines and hoses, or almost anything rubber should have also been replaced along with braided brake lines as again theses are all service items.

What I am trying to say is a well serviced car won't need parts carried just in case, just a backup plan (recovery cover) if the unexpected happens.

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paul_w

paul_w

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Cheers - I will try Redline and see if they can do the cables and belts - the cars isn't nearby so I can't just look at it to match the numbers. Plugs are a good call as well, BDR is likely to be more finnicky than the Sigma on that front I guess, and probably harder to get.

I do have European recovery, and as you say you can't take a spare everything with you, but things like the cables and belts would be a very frustrating end to a holiday if they failed. 

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SLR No.77

SLR No.77

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I agree Chris, and mostly I've used my own tools and spares on other peoples cars! The alternator belt is the must have, it's too easy to pick up a stone and do damage, same for the pump belt on a dry sump K-Series.

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Jonathan Kay

Jonathan Kay

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Appropriate Imperial tools. 

Recovery service or equivalent, 'phone + charger, web browser, credit card.

"What I am trying to say is a well serviced car won't need parts carried just in case, just a backup plan (recovery cover) if the unexpected happens."

Yes. My anxiety is much less if I have a plan.

Jonathan

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paul_w

paul_w

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Thanks all - the point is that is not really a "well-serviced car"! it had a comprehensive restoration in 2016, was used sparingly for a couple of years, and then parked up until going to the specialist for recommissioning. I was really clear that since it had been sitting it would need going through and testing but they sat on it for 10 days before touching it meaning there's not a lot of time left to surface any issues.

Thankfully today the specialist has started working on the car and say it will be ready for collection on Saturday - I'll then drive it as much as I can in the coming week and hope that if something breaks it does it nearer to home than once in France...

(It's a long and slightly painful story as to how I've ended up having to recommission the car for the holiday with such a short timeline, but suffice to say I didn't plan it like this!)

I've had classics of all kinds for decades and have come home on breakdown truck a few times (though never from France) and I don't think on any of the occasions I could have avoided it by carrying a spare. But a few likely suspect items, or things I could fix easily and carry on my way are probably worth the investment.

The car doesn't have a great track record with France - my father's only trip over there started badly when the newly-fitted battery failed as he tried to drive off the outboard ferry, and unable to get another that fitted had to jump start the car all the way round France. Then as he was waiting to turn right at a junction a woman drove into the back of him. He never went back.

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ChrisC

ChrisC

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I was in a similar position at the beginning of the year, my car is a 93 1700 SuperSprint, that had only cover 6868 miles, and almost non since 2003.  I spent the winter going over all the essentials, and replacing hoses, belts and bushes.  Since then I have been building up the miles for next weekend, were the plan is Donnington followed by a few days in Wales.  

I know its not as far, but its still way more miles and continuous hours than it's done for years, and I am confident because I have built up the miles and trust since spring.

Given your car was rebuilt in 2016, I think you have less to worry about.  Parts tend to either fail quickly, or give good service life, and it sounds like your car is in that window of "good service life" since the rebuild.   Obviously the cars track record isn't great in France, but I would be confident if you can get a few miles done before you go.

Also there are plenty of older cars running around France and the rest of Europe, so I am sure sourcing that obscure part won't be impossible if the worst should happen.

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paul_w

paul_w

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Thanks all, some good tips and I've got a week to collect spares. Drove the car back from the specialist today (North Wales to London, through some quite spectacular thunderstorms) and it was misfiring quite badly and also running hot - not totally boiling over, but consistently 100-110 on the gauge so just nudging into the red. Made it back home, but the Eurotunnel is booked for first thing Saturday morning, so I'm going to have some busy evenings this week working out if there's anything fundamental wrong that means making other plans, or if it's just tweaks that are needed.

The specialist changed any suspect-looking cooling hoses, but having read your other thread Anthony I'll check the system over carefully. I think maybe the misfire is an air leak around the carbs, but hopefully I'll work that out tomorrow.

Tom, there is very limited space for wine, so I have come up with a clever plan in previous years - I've found that rather than carrying it in the car, I am able to store a great deal of it in my own body during the course of the holiday...

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anthonym

anthonym

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Caterham's France motorsport agent based in Ales are well worth knowing. Practically rebuilt my R500 K on tour in an instant.

‭+33 4 66 83 88 17‬ last I contacted them.

Pôle Mécanique d'Alès - Vallon de Fontanes - 30520 SAINT MARTIN DE VALGALGUES

and Redline shipped me parts in 48 hours flat when in Southern France - granted one's proximity to a hub matters.

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paul_w

paul_w

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Thanks Anthony, I'll add them to the contacts.

Spent Sunday going through the car. The misfiring turned out to be a loose no1 plug lead, and the hot running seems to just have been due to the the system not being properly filled after new hoses were fitted. Plus the idle was way too rich so the plugs were fouling. Had a run out to Goodwood yesterday and it was night and day better - temps good, much smoother running - but didn't quite make it home so had to leave the car at a friend's place - sitting in traffic on the M25 I felt the clutch bite point suddenly drop, so guessing at a fraying cable I did as few gear changes as possible and arrived at my mate's in Golders Green with only a couple of strands still connected so decided to leave it there rather than risk getting stranded on the North Circular. The pivot at the pedal end was seized so it was bending the cable with each use, and the cable looks really old - I checked back at the paperwork from the restoration in 2016 and there is no sign of a new cable, so guessing it was re-used. I had been trying to get hold of Chris to order one as a spare to take anyway, but it's got a bit more urgent now!

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paul_w

paul_w

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Thanks Jonathan - RatRace are listed as 'permanently closed' on Google, and that number is invalid - shame, cause as you say, they are really pretty close by. 

I couldn't get through to Redline, but spoke to Caterham and they said it's the same as a live axle car as it's before the enclosed pedal box, so have ordered two and a throttle cable from them. It's going to be cutting it pretty fine as I can't go down to pick them up - hopefully they'll get here tomorrow...

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