The Jaffa - 1974 144DL

paul0075 · 2017-07-09T08:06:22+00:00

The first thing to do was order up all the service parts for the car. And to get it ready for roadworthy inspection and registration. I used a mix of suppli...

Major Ledfoot

ab1;116686 wroteis that a 2 series heater box? my 164 has a huge amount of unnecessary hoses at the bottom of the heater box rather than just two coming straight out the top like yours

If yours is a 73, it will have a vacuum-operated heater tap, not a lever-operated one, and that's why yours will have a lot of different hoses at the base of the unit. The heater box and core itself didn't change much, but the fan motor and heater taps did.

paul0075

It's a 74. The heater box here is the one used from 73 to 78

paul0075

Well the heater in the Jaffa is all hooked up. No leaks. Flow through the new heater tap is good. Except I have no heat at the heater core. The hoses on both sides are warm. I did burp the system, multiple times and the car ran for 20 min.

Will go hunting some more later this week. But I feel the water pump might be the issue. Ever since I put it on the car it has run warmer than it should and without consistency. But there might still be air in the system too. So we will see...

Vee_Que

It won't be air, they self bleed well. If the pump has never been done it makes sense.

paul0075

Winning. We've got thermonuclear heat from the 144. Needed another burp and more top up

paul0075

It's been a few years since I put anything on here about the Jaffa.

Time for a bit of an update.

The last 3 to 4 years, apart from oil and filter changes, etc, the old girl has just been driven around. But in saying that, I spent a lot of money on suspension upgrades (urethane and rubber, shocks, lowering springs, powder coated metal suspension parts etc.) It's also seen a replacement starter, new fuel pump, new water pump, head gasket, head shave, carby rebuild, replacement steering box, blower fan replacement, heater core refresh, radiator rebuild and many other jobs.

Since the old girl hasn't see much in 3 or 4 years, I have finally found some inspiration and I've started getting bits and pieces together and also been doing little tasks recently. New battery, the twin carbs I've had in storage are getting a rebuild, the rear tailights have been replaced, and I have a manual conversion sitting in the shed and a complete engine for rebuild sitting in storage too. But I am planning on a steering box service / rebuild, new front bumper mount to replace the broken one, new interior light door switches, late 70s Clarion AM/FM radio to go in, which will replace the modern unit I have in there, also need a custom radiator build done and some new battery / starter cabling done. I am also considering extractors and a full new exhaust. So a lot to be done, but I want to freshen and liven things up. I'd love to sort out the body work (fix dents, minor rust areas) and paint, but I don't have the funds for that. Plus I need to refoam the driver seat, and repair seat pad upholstery on the front seats, sort out some new front wipers (considering the 264 wipers I have in the shed, painted silver). Things are also underway for brake system rebuild with copper hard lines and new servo.

jamesinc

Keeping momentum going is the hardest part, I have to make a point of going down to the garage every day or two and knocking over even just 10-15 minutes worth of stuff (sometimes it's just cleaning up), otherwise my projects stall and I procrastinate forever.

paul0075

jamesinc
Keeping momentum going is the hardest part, I have to make a point of going down to the garage every day or two and knocking over even just 10-15 minutes worth of stuff (sometimes it's just cleaning up), otherwise my projects stall and I procrastinate forever.

One of my issues is head space. But also don't have the room to do much at home and wasn't able to stretch to something more suited for working on my cars. That said I am finally getting in the mood to do some smaller tasks and also to reorganise the shed. So hopefully that will be enough to keep things ticking along.

I took the Jaffa out for a short run on Saturday for about 90 minutes. Got it up to operating temp and on some 80 km/h arterial roads. It runs like crap, needs the brakes done very soon and is a pig of a thing to drive as it is right now. I haven't got the head for now to troubleshoot the poor running or anything else that requires a lot of planning or thinking.

VolDan

paul0075
https://ozvolvo.org/discussion/comment/207076#Comment_207076
One of my issues is head space. But also don't have the room to do much at home and wasn't able to stretch to something more suited for working on my cars. That said I am finally getting in the mood to do some smaller tasks and also to reorganise the shed. So hopefully that will be enough to keep things ticking along.
I took the Jaffa out for a short run on Saturday for about 90 minutes. Got it up to operating temp and on some 80 km/h arterial roads. It runs like crap, needs the brakes done very soon and is a pig of a thing to drive as it is right now. I haven't got the head for now to troubleshoot the poor running or anything else that requires a lot of planning or thinking.

As James quite rightly said, it's hard to keep momentum. Equally difficult to remain passionate with ever changing life priorities and goals. I struggle myself. The jaffa is a mighty fine distraction of an elephant. Just break those jobs down into bite size chunks for when the appetite strikes? Personally, I've been delighted to watch your progress with this cracker of a vehicle. And am also now considering reinstating the 70s clarion deck into Erik (72 1800) when the time comes :)

jrhendo

I’ve just read this trail from the beginning and enjoyed it very much. It’s been interesting to see how much approaches differ with different aims. You want yours to be as original as possible. My 144 is a rally car, so functionality is what matters to me. You’d probably be horrified to look inside my car!

Which reminds me, I’ve got a 1973 142 that I haven’t driven for a couple of years and could do with some tlc…

If you need anything, I’ve pulled a lot of stuff out of my rally car and a couple of other 144s over the years, so might be able to help.

You mentioned a non-functioning clock early on. My 244 rally car had the same problem. My rally nav mate is an ex-RAAF instrument guy. He pulled it down, cleaned and lubricated it, resoldered the joints and it’s now good again.

paul0075

jrhendo
I’ve just read this trail from the beginning and enjoyed it very much. It’s been interesting to see how much approaches differ with different aims. You want yours to be as original as possible. My 144 is a rally car, so functionality is what matters to me. You’d probably be horrified to look inside my car!
Which reminds me, I’ve got a 1973 142 that I haven’t driven for a couple of years and could do with some tlc…
If you need anything, I’ve pulled a lot of stuff out of my rally car and a couple of other 144s over the years, so might be able to help.
You mentioned a non-functioning clock early on. My 244 rally car had the same problem. My rally nav mate is an ex-RAAF instrument guy. He pulled it down, cleaned and lubricated it, resoldered the joints and it’s now good again.

Hey Hendo, thanks mate, the endeavour to keep it original or close to it is only because of what it is, a very hard to find model in AU, but it's already sporting a few other bits now, but done in away that it can be reverted back.

I am after a Cibie LH tail light (complete) or just the lens, but looking for something that's really tidy to match up with or come close to the full brand new light on the RH side. Also after a radiator too. Those are the must haves right now.

I ended up getting a NOS clock for the Jaffa, but the instrument guy would be handy, particularly when it comes to speedo work when the manual conversion happens eventually.

jrhendo

Hi Paul,

I’m currently in the US but will have a look when I get back later in the month. I’ve got a milk crate of assorted tail lenses so you may get lucky.

I normally just get radiators recored but there may be something around. I’ll look.

paul0075

jrhendo
Hi Paul,
I’m currently in the US but will have a look when I get back later in the month. I’ve got a milk crate of assorted tail lenses so you may get lucky.
I normally just get radiators recored but there may be something around. I’ll look.

Awesome thanks Hendo, I can wait :)

The radiator I have was re-cored but I've since been told by someone with 50+ years experience with mechanical that it should never have been done in the first place because of issues inside the tanks. He's been doing Volvo's for most of that time, and well-respected locally.

jrhendo

I’ve never heard that before. I’ve had several tanks recored with no obvious problems.

paul0075

jrhendo
I’ve never heard that before. I’ve had several tanks recored with no obvious problems.

The cooling system was mega neglected by the old lady who used to own it. The thermostat was locked open due to crystalisation, the top hose was date stamped 1974 and it and the bottom hose had been deteriorating from the inside sending bits of rubber all through the system, and when the top hose cooled, it all collected inside it, leaving a 10 or 12mm passage. The heater core was blocked with tarry old rubber too. I managed to flush everything out eventually.

1971_144GL

Paul, in have used radiators sitting about. Condition unknown, but I didn't keep them if they looked feral.

Depending on how handy you are, you an take the top and bottom tanks off and clean the waterways an then resolder like the old country mechanics used to do. You need a fine gas flame. I've done it a couple of times on the obscure early radiators, and it gets them very clean and takes an afternoon. But re core is still better in my view. Engine rebuild doesn't get cheeper unfortunately.

These cars are all pretty obscure now, when it comes to good used parts of find. Love the color of yours.

Fickled

Love your work Paul. Admiring the tenacity!

Cheers,

Tony.

paul0075

Fickled
Love your work Paul. Admiring the tenacity!
Cheers,
Tony.

Thanks mate!

Paul_Roodenrys

Momentum is the issue, that and having multiple and competing interests and needs. I swing from being super keen to thinking I should sell my GT to someone who will finish it. Luckily the times when I think I should sell are few and far between and the only pressure put on me to get it finished and on the road is the pressure i put on myself. In any case I don't notice the money so much when it is spread over a long time.

Fickled

Sounds like you've got the approach sorted! And I very much agree with the point about self-created pressure. This time round I'm telling myself *nothing* is urgent - just better done earlier than other things. ?

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