happiness is a red S2
Discussion
My recently acquired bright red S2 is now back on the road, albeit still very tatty and with a huge amount of work to do.. Sellers unsupported claim that it had done only 24k miles looks as though it might possibly be true. It still had the original Bridgestone tyres on the front (perished ¾ worn, Manufactured week 28 in 1988 which fits with a 1989 registration), front discs almost unworn and seats in reasonable fettle (under layers of ground in dust). I have decided to make myself happy by believing him.
Tyres replaced, brake fluid changed. Brakes all checked and working fine. No sign of perishing on brake pipes (I think these may have been replaced at some time.) all the cooling hoses were weeping - cured with new jubilee clips, a new regulator in the alternator - now putting out 14 amps, and a bit of a start made on T.cutting the paint work.
Then the sun came out and all interest in tinkering vanished. Runs nicely and pulls like train, but the first time it got really hot it produced clouds of white smoke from the exhaust. B****r thinks I, head gasket or cracked block? Within 15 minutes later white smoke disappears completely, and no coolant lost..[ I am guessing the previous owner had washed it, probably with a hose, and got water into the uptilted exhaust pipes. Running in the garage did not heat the back end of the exhaust pipes sufficiently to clear it but when it got really hot the water boiled off hence the white vapour trail.]
Accelerating hard while overtaking up a steep hill, with a grin from ear to ear, and the sun shining, I realized I should have bought one years ago! I am now a believer!
A couple of questions; has anyone come across G999RKO in the past?, I would dearly like to know some history. Most of the chassis still has a coating on it, though flaking , it appears too thick to be paint but it is black, does anyone know if any S2s were produced with black coated chassis, the bible says it should be white so maybe the body has been off at some time.?
Looks as though the sun is coming out again so I;m off for another blast around the country lanes of Sussex – bye.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/t/cCyirpfo.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/B0Z39Isz" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/t/B0Z39Isz.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/9jSAGnYP" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/t/9jSAGnYP.jpg)
Tyres replaced, brake fluid changed. Brakes all checked and working fine. No sign of perishing on brake pipes (I think these may have been replaced at some time.) all the cooling hoses were weeping - cured with new jubilee clips, a new regulator in the alternator - now putting out 14 amps, and a bit of a start made on T.cutting the paint work.
Then the sun came out and all interest in tinkering vanished. Runs nicely and pulls like train, but the first time it got really hot it produced clouds of white smoke from the exhaust. B****r thinks I, head gasket or cracked block? Within 15 minutes later white smoke disappears completely, and no coolant lost..[ I am guessing the previous owner had washed it, probably with a hose, and got water into the uptilted exhaust pipes. Running in the garage did not heat the back end of the exhaust pipes sufficiently to clear it but when it got really hot the water boiled off hence the white vapour trail.]
Accelerating hard while overtaking up a steep hill, with a grin from ear to ear, and the sun shining, I realized I should have bought one years ago! I am now a believer!
A couple of questions; has anyone come across G999RKO in the past?, I would dearly like to know some history. Most of the chassis still has a coating on it, though flaking , it appears too thick to be paint but it is black, does anyone know if any S2s were produced with black coated chassis, the bible says it should be white so maybe the body has been off at some time.?
Looks as though the sun is coming out again so I;m off for another blast around the country lanes of Sussex – bye.
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