chris3
Part of things
Posts: 125
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I've heard it said that every man has a house build in them - almost finished that so its time for a little distraction. Let me introduce you to the Renault Fregate. Some of you may have seen this for sale on this forum last week - well it has stayed within the Parish and I am pleased to say I am the new owner. I owe a big thank you to Bob The Fish - Thank you Bob The Fish, hopefully you will be pleased with where this goes, I owe you a spin as an when I get to that point. So first couple of pics borrowed from Bob (hope you don't mind) - here goes.
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Last Edit: Jul 5, 2013 21:44:43 GMT by chris3
Volvo 440 Disco TD5 Disco V8 Jag XJ8
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chris3
Part of things
Posts: 125
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I owe a further thanks to my dad who made the effort to borrow a trailer and meet me for the tow home - pretty uneventful if slow (its a heavy old beast) once I'd remembered how to strap a car down!
So home and unloaded - it meets approval from a couple of friends who understand what its all about. Others somewhat confused.
What have I bought and why? Well its a 59 Renault Fregate Domaine - the Domaine being the estate version. Last of the RWD renaults, once being the flagship of the fleet. I'm no fan of french cars in particular - but have been looking for some form of early estate car thats in budget for a while. I love the big Humbers, Zodiacs and would happily give an organ for a Nomad - none of which are available for the £600 I have paid for this!
Needs work? Non Runner - Trans Fluide gearbox - thats part auto part mechanical and an unknown quantity - body wise having been stored in a barn I understand for 27 years appears on first inspection to be solid so I'm hopping for only localised repairs - we shall see.
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Volvo 440 Disco TD5 Disco V8 Jag XJ8
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chris3
Part of things
Posts: 125
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I'll pop some interesting pics up in the morning. Been waiting all day to leave work and scratch that itch so it was straight under the bonnet to see what we have got.
She runs...sort of! Battery applied and electrics fiddled and slowly some of the lights came on as it awoke from slumber - taking it slowly expecting wiring issues. My French is non-existent and very few of the controls have any labels - I've learnt it turns over in forward and reverse and after a fiddle with the column level - Neutral. It's all a bit excentric inside compared to my usual ford and land rover clobber.
Using a water bottle for a petrol tank and a tweak of the ignition system we almost have life - certainly the start of a rumble.
Dynamo reconnected, belt on I added some water with thoughts of a spin up the drive to see whats behind the gear lever. Oh dear - radiator ok - leaks just about everywhere else though - water pump dead, it turns but the ally has gone to the point that no hose will connect - potentially water coming out of the exhaust manifold and maybe from the crank case vent (to atmosphere!
Daylight run out now - Vintage fare tom'w then back on it to explore further.
Comments welcome - head spinning with ideas of running as is given its rareity in the uk - possibly dropping in a small 4 cylinder replacement or maybe a 'quick' Jag straight 6! Either way its an oily rag job and back on the road asap first. Here we go then.....
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Volvo 440 Disco TD5 Disco V8 Jag XJ8
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Very nice looking project, I could see it with a vintage rack. Please show us a picture of the dash.
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1987 Alfa Milano/75 1979 Alfetta Mille Miglia 1976 Alfetta GT race car 1970 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Rallye S 1968 Fiat 850 spider
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chris3
Part of things
Posts: 125
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Last Edit: Jul 6, 2013 6:59:17 GMT by chris3
Volvo 440 Disco TD5 Disco V8 Jag XJ8
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Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
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Oh yes! I'm quite surprised seeing this kind of car here but that's really cool. If you need any parts, leboncoin is a good start, shout out if you need any help dealing with sellers I don't know much about the Transfluide gearbox, but found some basic information here, and a Transfluide refurbishing here. Thread bookmarked!
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chris3
Part of things
Posts: 125
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Thanks Clement - my french is non-existent and google translate only goes so far so I may take you up on that offer. Links very much welcomed thank you. Seems like main service items are easily found but significant broken items such as the water pump less so. No decisions yet - more exploring to do.
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Volvo 440 Disco TD5 Disco V8 Jag XJ8
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Anglia68
Posted a lot
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Posts: 2,049
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What a quality looking barge, it really has presence and a certain je ne sais quoi.
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79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,615
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Very interesting to see, I heard Renault started assembling Ramblers after the Fregate for those who wanted bigger vehicles. Renault 4 shared the same concave headlamps, & more recently early Lotus Elise also used them.
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Are the headlights made by Cibie, they've been making concave glass lights for decades
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chris3
Part of things
Posts: 125
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Its official - engine is dead. To be precise the cylinder head. When filled with water the water exits from the exhaust port for cylinder number 4. Seems like the water galley and exhaust area of the head has broken through.
It is an alley head but I don't think a repair is on the cards as there is no obvious access. So source a cylinder head (and a water pump) or replace the whole engine for something else? Comments welcome.
There are a couple of options looking on Lebcoin (thanks Clement) - we shall see how I get on with the language barrier....
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Volvo 440 Disco TD5 Disco V8 Jag XJ8
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Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
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There are two heads on leboncoin, though I'm not sure whether there are different kinds that make a difference. €400 ono, reconditioned with valve gear included€525 but brand new, no valve gear, price includes delivery within FranceFrankly, this car has always been known for being dead slow, 50bhp for 1200kg will never get you very fast. Plus it likes fuel a lot. It's a three-main bearing construction, the gearbox seems to be a dog to refurbish. I reckon it'd be easier to put another inline-four instead, perhaps a little newer and sturdier, just to get the car to drive under its own steam. Recondition the original engine during that time if you want, but finding all the parts and having them shipped over from here will be quite a hassle! As for the language barrier, it's easy, just ask me what you're looking for and I'll try to find it or give you the information you want
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chris3
Part of things
Posts: 125
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Clement - thanks for the links - they seem quite expensive. I did spot a couple of whole engines for circa 150 but this could be just buying more trouble. I wasn't aware it was only a three bearing construction - useful information. Thanks for your advice.
I shall spend a little time with my tape measure this week looking at some transplant options - I know I can have a jag auto in place without a stick on the floor - anyone know of other 4/6 auto combinations that the gearbox can be controlled by wire?
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Volvo 440 Disco TD5 Disco V8 Jag XJ8
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Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
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I agree with this unfortunately! I just learnt that the Transfluid was putting out around 80hp SAE though, it's not that bad then. I keep going back to look at the pics, I really like this car. There are plenty of tatty ones for sale here, begging to be dropped on airride and smoothies
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RA40tony
Europe
Rollin' rollin' rollin'
Posts: 768
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Very cool car. There was a vandalised one about 25 years ago next to our summer house in Greece. It was black too, all the windows smashed and the roof caved in by kids. I used to dream about getting it, fixing it up and cruising in it. Got scrapped when they sold the land it was on
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1979 Toyota Celica GT. Currently Gone.
1975 Toyota Celica ST. 13x7 Allycats, "the stick" applied. 100kW 4AGE... Sold
1963 Karmann Ghia - Lo & Slo, Sold.
1965 VW Fastback - cruising
1953 Oval Ragtop, work in progress...
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chris3
Part of things
Posts: 125
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Good News - DVLA has issued an exception certificate for the MOT. If I take them an insurance certificate I can have a log book, number plate allocated and a tax disc. So no inspections required - that's decision made for a replacement engine and box. Goes off to look at space and options - one proviso auto box which is control by wire.
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Volvo 440 Disco TD5 Disco V8 Jag XJ8
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
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Good news, I can't wait to see the build!
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chris3
Part of things
Posts: 125
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Aug 23, 2013 21:39:29 GMT
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So some progress at last.
Its been a steady start, engine bay stripped bare - thorough clean and a quick splash of paint for now. New engine now fitted - much measuring and deliberating between the usual suspects - volvo red block (too wide due to the slant mounting), zetec/duratec - some of the parts are too expensive all led me to where I didn't want to be...a pinto!
I've looked at it this way - the car will be on the road quicker, its on budget and pending the lotto win something else can follow on. So showing some serious commitment I have traded my XJ8 against parts, ramp time and a little banger know how with some friends - so lets get this moving on.
As of this evening the car now sports a an EFI pinto with A4LD auto box. You will see from the pics it is mounted well forward within the engine bay. The original engine had the fourth cylinder in line with the main front cross member - replacement is in the same place so dynamically a neutral impact hopefuly. The car has an almost flat floor, a feature I really wanted to keep - hence no bulkhead cutting - it sort of all fits...not too much power - dimensions are almost the same as the orginal - this shall be a cruiser.
Some highlights from the pics and fitting - landrover cotton tail mounts, front left uses the original base mount onto the body, right side has been relocated and welded on. Some trimming to the structure - all seam welded up, plus a little chop to the cross member - reinforced inside and plated over, means no sump cutting - a bonus. Some modifications to the donor and host crossmember brought the gearbox home. As the connecting cross member was reasonably short - under Phils instruction we have made our own, the shafts allowed a full length sleeve and some careful welding - felt good on the tow home!
Pics to follow - a big thanks owed to Phil for his efforts and skills - the banger workshop is more than capable of turning out hot rods Phil - this shall prove it.
Time to take stock now - clean down and work out the ancillaries. Key problems on the horizon....
Exhaust manifold is a real headache, just no space, we have tried the usual suspects. Think its going to have to be a custom job that keeps everything close - a series of or a single J pipe if you will. I've over done it on the exhaust pipe size so a restrictive header may not be a bad thing with a bit of back pressure, I'm a little worried about the impact on the engine - we shall see and advice welcome.
Wiring for the EFI will be ok - noting I shall build a whole loom from scratch as I go...but the auto is semi-electronic and as most fit manuals its back to the wiring diagrams as there is little information!
Autojumble next - list of brake bits the main priority and some RHD headlights.
Right - pics....
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Volvo 440 Disco TD5 Disco V8 Jag XJ8
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s
Kinda New
Posts: 1
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HI do you still have the original gearbox? would you be interested in selling it?
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