I'm addicted!

[360beast]

So I just went to the other side of the country to buy a 1984 360 GLE saloon with a b19a engine, 5 speed, steel wheels, rust and centre console panel with working gauges (result!).

I'm officially addicted.

It has three crap tyres that need replacing ASAP, the brakes don't bite until the pedal is quite far down so it needs bleeding ASAP (doing it in the morning).

The odometer makes a clicking sound as I drive along, there is a rattle behind the glove box (which is a pita to open), it has a couple of green switches on the gauge panel, I didn't want to press them incase my grandad got ejected out of the passenger seat.

It has had a few alarms fitted so has a few red lights on the centre console.

There is no oil in the dash pot so idle is 1250.

The interior is quite tidy but the lumbar support doesn't work and it isn't in a nice position but far from uncomfortable.

The engine runs sweet as a nut and the gearbox seems fine, clutch works fine and reverse isn't an arse to engage (must be broken ).

It needs a wash.

So tomorrow morning I will put the Hercules alloys off my other 360 on to it as it has decent tyres, put oil in the dash pot and adjust the idle if it needs it. Wash it and bleed the brakes.

So over 200 miles home it performed faultlessly and only used 1/3 tank of fuel I was expecting it to use half. It even had over 3/4 a tank when I got it so I'm a happy bunny.

I will add some photos tomorrow hopefully but there you go I have another one.

Must say I do prefer the Mk3! Sorry Macplaxton MY86 onwards.

[Ride_on]

Awesome, mk2 is close enough and only high compression mk3 are 'right'.

Clicking speedo/odo.. maybe the gears, try pressing the trip reset. It gets knocked when the instrument panel is pulled out.

[360beast]

My mk3 is high compression and a very healthy engine

I reset the trip counter before setting off but I will try it tomorrow and report back.

Is there anything else I can try before removing it for an inspection.

[Logan360]

Pics or it didn't happen

[360beast]

Piccies later, currently bleeding the brakes and putting the Hercules off my SE on to it. Put oil in the dashpot and idle has dropped from 1250 to 900

The brake fluid was dark brown so I doubt it has been changed in years, at least I now have a brake pedal.

The colour coded is 208-5 onyx metallic an absolutely gorgeous colour.

[bogbasic]

Awesome work.

[SteveP]

Great news, glad that car has gone to someone here - looked a nice one! Where are the pics?!

[360beast]

Oh man this hasn't been a good day. So I got up this morning and it was frosty so I checked the coolant and as expected pure water for coolant, so I went to halfwords and got coolant and did a flush etc.

The tyres are crap so had to put the steel wheels on the SE and put the Hercules alloys on it for decent tyres.

Bled the brakes and they worked fine for all of five mins before straight back to spongy, by which time I was already on the m5. So I turned around when possible and came home. By this time it was about 3pm, I bled the brakes again and went back on to the motorway trying to go 70 miles to find my new college for tomorrow and the brakes go spongy again, I think the wheel cylinder seals are leaking air in to the system.

On the way home in the dark and the alternator stops charging properly so the voltmeter shows the voltage get down to about 11V so I had to go on to sidelights for 35 miles and the voltage crept up to 13V. Just put a spare rectifier in and no difference so I have taken the alternator off the SE but I can't see what I'm doing outside so I am getting a lift tomorrow.

I put oil in the dashpot and it idled at 850-900rpm for a bit but the idle is 1250rpm again so I need to find out how to adjust it.

The odometer has been reset and it still makes a sound like a leaf caught in a fan.

A day of crap and stress then, photos when I can, sorry everyone and I won't get a chance tomorrow either.

[bogbasic]

Man, that sounds epically mental.... I had spongy pedal due to a rust hole in the pipe on the back axle.... Any loss of fluid?

[360beast]

Nope no fluid loss, a big enough oil leak though!

Just got the alternator on with some help from my dad as I really didn't want to put anyone out tomorrow. The casting was different luckily too small not too big so spaced it out with a big nut.

This car really hasn't been given some basic tlc for quite some time.

[benji1985]

Hey sounds like some issues there,
The idle solenoid maybe for the revs
The master brake cylinder, seals could have gone?
I have a spare vacuum aid, sorry can't remember for life of me what these are called...
Where abouts are you?

Ben

[SteveP]

Damn, a few issues I suppose the good thing is at least you managed the trip home from picking it up ok! It does sound like it needs some TLC. I'd definitely be tempted to take a look at the wheel cylinders first, they're fairly inexpensive - check the flexible hoses as well, but Ben's suggestion is also a good one. The Gunson Eezibleed kits are handy if you're on your own - if you were a bit closer you could borrow mine!

[360beast]

Well credit given where due, I drove 75 miles this morning took about 2 hours and with my SE alternator on, it had absolutely no problems! Then on the way home another 75 miles took nearly 2 hours with a 20 minute stop start and stand still on the m5 it used less than 1/3rd of a tank so it looks like it just needed some tlc and with an oil and filter change this weekend and the brakes sorting plus a cd player it should be quite a reliable daily while I finish the SE. I need a cd player as driving for 2 hours in silence wasn't the most fun time of my life.