Finally registered

Hi all

I have been lurking without registering for about two months since I bought a Cabby and then decided to do some research about what I should have looked out for when I bought it.

I think I have been fairly lucky after being off ebay, without viewing on a whim for £750.  I new that for that money it would need some work but I think I have been pretty fortunate so far.  

It's a '89 Clipper which was entirely original including stereo, 109k miles, 6 owners but full set of MOTs and service history including brochures.  Needed a new roof which I had done at Carhood in Chessington and I have basically tidied up some loose trim… just about finally wired a cd player in and given it a good clean. Had it#s second cambelt change last year, various gaskets, radiator, brakes etc - it was owned by a mechanic for 2 years who had been tiding it up, but it was one of 7 cars he had so didn't get his full attention.

Body work is pretty amazing.  Think it's had some work at some stage but no rust anywhere.  Have changed the orginal steel rims for BBS RAs which look really nice.

It is not without it's problems though.  The troublesome piersburg carb. needs looking at.  Revs at 1.5k for 5 seconds or so and the it's 2.5k until the engine is hot  and then it falls to 1.2k, never below 1.1k.  I keep reading bits and pieces on here and then forgetting what to try to fix it.  I suspect it's combination of the O ring above the manifold as it runs on a bit after I switch the ignition off… and TTV… could be waxstat and whatever else of course!

And 2nd gear is notchy when the gear box is cold.  Not really sure what that means…

Will get to a garage somewhen as although I would like to have a go, no garage and winter doesn't mean I really want to!

Great website, gleaned loads of info already.

Cheers

hello and welcome aboard, get some piccies up soon as

chris

Wellcome to the club.It mite not be the carb check the vucuum unit on the distributor not be working.If it is the carb then invest in and get a webber .I did and never looked back .and check feul filters.

Welcome along   more the merrier

Oh and a few dodgy electrics! Speedo light out and rear indicator stopped working! "solved" both with a tap!!!

Bought as a daily for my 1.5mile trip to work while my wife has our sensible car (c-max) but it is turning into an obsession with a need to make everything perfect! An expensive obsession but I love it!

I think you have the sensible car not her.Wait to the summer and you have the top down .

Hello & welcome, get some pics of it uploaded

Sounds like a good deal £750 if all it basically needed was a new roof. Won't be many cabrios that are still on their original roof.

Check all wires and pipes all around carb. The symptoms you describe are very common but fixable, sounds like waxstat?

Notchy 2nd gear is also very common, try replacing gear oil with 75/90 semi synthenthic.

Glad your using it but not sure a cabrio would have been my 1st choice as winter transport for 1.5 mile trips.

I was expecting very little but didn't realise all the potential pit falls before buying but have avoided most.

Thanks for the tips. Where is best for parts? Lot of mentions of GSF.

I was cycling to work for two years but got fed up of getting knocked off! Even with the roof leaking it was better than cycling! I take it for a run every week so it's not always having short journeys. Had frost inside and out of the car this week which is a challenge. With no garage will invest in a cover I think! Has a heated washer though - presume retrofit.

Ah, one more problem. The heater works fine on the windscreen but only blows cold out the main dash vents. Some trunking astray do you think?