[Barry]

I'm sure it will be fine for 3,000 miles, in fact, it will probably be very good for the car (as well as your spirit!).

Perhaps a 3-400 mile spin after the car returns from your mechanic might be in order to make sure there are no minor issues that require attention before you leave the country? (I'm not actually sure if that is genuinely needed of just an excuse to spend the day in the car in advance of a holiday in it... )

[jshiveral]

Thanks Barry (and belated happy Paddy's day)

I'm joining FLED 6 the weekend before Monaco so that it gets a good run before disappearing through the Chunnel.

I'll also make sure it gets some shorter runs between now and then.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by jshiveral

I'm joining FLED 6 the weekend before Monaco so that it gets a good run before disappearing through the Chunnel.

Perfect

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Barry

I

Perhaps a 3-400 mile spin after the car returns from your mechanic might be in order to make sure there are no minor issues that require attention before you leave the country? (I'm not actually sure if that is genuinely needed of just an excuse to spend the day in the car in advance of a holiday in it... )

+1, I would give it a good hard 100 mile run as soon as it is back just to make sure everything is in good working order.

[jshiveral]

Thanks folks. I will observe all the recommendations. What a chore to have to give it a 100 mile hard run !!

The first 40 miles will overlap the intended FLED route. I think I'll call it micro-FLED

Incidentally - for those fellow Boxer owners, I have discovered that the ignition coil is no longer available. My guy suggests researching a compatible alternative which he will install and I'll keep the original as spare.

[jshiveral]

Got the Boxer back on Saturday morning and took it for a run over to its newly (nearly) built garage home in Argyll. Fantastic drive. Weather was fantastic and the car was even better.

I hope the guy in the Alfa 159 waiting at the lights on the Rest and be Thankful finds his jaw after dropping it so violently when I drove past

So far so good.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by jshiveral

Got the Boxer back on Saturday morning and took it for a run over to its newly (nearly) built garage home in Argyll. Fantastic drive. Weather was fantastic and the car was even better.

I hope the guy in the Alfa 159 waiting at the lights on the Rest and be Thankful finds his jaw after dropping it so violently when I drove past

So far so good.

[tazandjan]

J- I looked through your posts and did not see any photos of your car except for the avatar and in your profile. Do you have some more you could post?

[jshiveral]

Going on a wee trip next weekend, so hopefully I'll have some better photos as a result. Meanwhile here some pics from a couple of events we attended last year.....

[tazandjan]

J- Thanks, she is really pretty. Like the license plate, too.

[jshiveral]

Well, if the clutch slave cylinder was going to give up, then I'm glad it happened 2 hours from the house and only 150 yards from a garage! At least it didn't happen on FLED or on the way to Monaco.

Good news is that this is one BB part that is common with other models (eg Mondial) and is readily available.

I'm going to try to do it myself. I was going to have to swallow a brave pill and do the fuel pump on my e-type anyway.

Any tips from people who know which way round to hold a hammer?

[Scottish16M]

Good luck with your lovely Boxer John, see you on FLED6 next month.

ATB

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by jshiveral

Well, if the clutch slave cylinder was going to give up, then I'm glad it happened 2 hours from the house and only 150 yards from a garage! At least it didn't happen on FLED or on the way to Monaco.

Good news is that this is one BB part that is common with other models (eg Mondial) and is readily available.

I'm going to try to do it myself. I was going to have to swallow a brave pill and do the fuel pump on my e-type anyway.

Any tips from people who know which way round to hold a hammer?

Newman might be able to help.

[550v12]

Originally Posted by jshiveral

Well, if the clutch slave cylinder was going to give up, then I'm glad it happened 2 hours from the house and only 150 yards from a garage! At least it didn't happen on FLED or on the way to Monaco.

Good news is that this is one BB part that is common with other models (eg Mondial) and is readily available.

I'm going to try to do it myself. I was going to have to swallow a brave pill and do the fuel pump on my e-type anyway.

Any tips from people who know which way round to hold a hammer?

Are you going to overhaul your existing pump or fit new? If fitting new get one of the solid state version from Burlen. It does away with the points which can be troublesome.

[jshiveral]

Thanks. Unfortunately by the time I read this post, I had already ordered the replacement. I noticed that the part itself supercedes the original, so hopefully it is a step forward.

I hope I get used to working on my boxer because if you are not used to it I have found it astonishing how frequently and varyingly one can hit one's head off the open rear clamshell !

(After posting this I realise you were commenting on the fuel pump. Yes indeed - I have ordered the solid state one. The number of comments about the older model saying "hit it with the heel of your shoe" or "whack it with a spanner" was sufficient motivation to go for the upgrade!)

[jshiveral]

Replacement clutch slave cylinder finally installed. I didn't think to find myself extracting studs from the gearbox housing or having to replace the new cylinder's piston with the old fork from the old cylinder, but you live and learn!

[Barry]

Originally Posted by jshiveral

Replacement clutch slave cylinder finally installed. I didn't think to find myself extracting studs from the gearbox housing or having to replace the new cylinder's piston with the old fork from the old cylinder, but you live and learn!

Good work. Wish I had the necessary skill (& bravery) to try such a piece of DIY.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Barry

Good work. Wish I had the necessary skill (& bravery) to try such a piece of DIY.

+1, very impressive.

[jshiveral]

Thanks both.

I don't know about the skill, but as the years go by I acquire more bravery for this sort of thing, and more patience. Having the good sense to walk away before doing something you suspect may be daft, thinking it through (and in my case phoning a friend!), is something I would not have had 5-10 years ago.

The bravery also comes in part from living in the middle of nowhere and knowing that this is allegedly one of the simplest tasks and should take a competent mechanic 20 minutes or so, not wanting to submit to the dreaded transporter. It took me half a day! (My e-type did in fact leave on a transporter because having replaced the fuel pump, it still wouldn't start and I wouldn't know which way round to hold a distributor or spark plug)

Here's hoping there is no more bravery required between now and FLED 6. Had her out for a 40 mile test drive today and she behaved impeccably, and looked marvellous thanks to some care for the paintwork and interior from me and she-who-must-be-obeyed in between head-scratching over slave cylinders etc.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by jshiveral

Had her out for a 40 mile test drive today and she behaved impeccably, and looked marvelous.

Result!. Look forward to seeing 512 in the metal in a few weeks.