The BritishV8 Pub

I don't do facebook - have an accout but almost never go to it... but wanted to share and this sort of feels like a fb post...


Since I couldnt go to the VB8 meet this year, my wife and I decided to do a weekend with the car. Left yesterday for Fredricksburg TX - about a 3 hr drive. Car ran great. Started out with the top down but wind was making my wife's hair smack her in the face so put the top up and A/C on. Was the maiden voyage with AC and in the heat with my Volvo fan set up so I learned a few things.

First, fan works great. 94° out and at speed car pegged on 185. Stop and go (and we had about an hour of that in construction thru Austin) and it moved up, but never over 205 (about where the fan high speed kicks in).

Second, the Gen-II mini AC pumps cold. And it really cools the car... sitting still. At speed, the top leaks hot air in like a sieve and more hot air pumps in from the rear bulkhead speaker holes the PO put in! AC was barely marginal... ok on the back side of marginal. Can't do much avout the top at this point, but going to tape over the speaker holes before an hour back road run to New Braunfels for some tubing down the river there and see if that helps.

Time to invest in a removable hardtop......

As most of you know, "I love my Hardtop!" I now have the top stored but long trips require the Hardtop. No wind whipping or beating you like on a motorcycle and you can talk w/o screaming to passenger. maybe there is a fine line between a Wus and someone who knows better? Methinks so I
SAFETY FASTER!

Rob, I have family there in Austin and New Braunfels (my home town), on the river, so if you ever need to rest stop!

Great to know Don, thanks.

Had a great day yesterday. Taped up the speaker holes and that made a big difference. Went from not really marginal to truly marginal. I almost never put the top up, but with wife it has to be so I think Graham and Kelly are right and I need to find a hard top. There was a nice Bermuda top i could have bought a few months ago but with what the guy wanted and then taking care of the seals and painting it, I'd have been into a bit over $1k which is out of my range. Keeping an eye out for another bermuda or maybe a parrish top. I think those two styles would look the best on my car especiall painted body color.

Anyway, headed out yesterday for New Braunfels and ran across Luckenbach TX so had to stop. Great bar (cash only - "if you need credit you don't need a beer. You need a job."), good food, and friendly poeple. Next thing you know we'd spent about 2 hours there and had a bunch of people checking out the car. Headed back out and about 1/2 way saw people tubing as we crossed a big bridge so we just turned around and tubed there. Lots of fun.

Heading back home later this morning.

Pic of the car...

Sounds like you had a great day, Rob.

You two make a great looking couple and you're lucky she enjoys spending time cruising along; my wife doesn't appreciate these little cars as much as I do. Rob, can you tell me who manufactures the AC (evaporator)?

Jacques

Rob, looks and sounds like as much fun as you could have during a Texas summer. X2 on the hardtop. I haven't even gotten around to getting a soft top yet.

Been over a month since you put up your FB post,but with my Oregon Trail trip I just now got around to finding it. You two and the car are looking great, I'd say cool but maybe you need a hard top for that to be true.

Glad to see you enjoying the car together.

Howdy PJ. I have a line on a Parrish top that I'm told is in pretty good shape and the price is better than I could have hoped for so hopefully will have it and paint it in time for next summer. You did one heck of a trip - congratulations on the successful coast to coast and back!