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Daf 55
Sept 8, 2009 11:07:04 GMT
Post by joe on Sept 8, 2009 11:07:04 GMT
I bought this a couple of weeks ago from Stefan on here and I'd thought I better put a picture up now that I've given her a bit of a polish over the weekend! I'm still chuffed to bits. And everyone I've spoken too seems to be in love with her too. I hope to keep her looking nice for a very long while yet.
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spunkymonkey
Likes DAFs
Currently waltzing Matilda
Posts: 3,482
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Daf 55
Sept 8, 2009 11:25:59 GMT
Post by spunkymonkey on Sept 8, 2009 11:25:59 GMT
Hi Joe, That's looking good So we now have a herd of Pauls and a gaggle of Joes on here ;D Joe
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Daf 55
Sept 8, 2009 14:45:45 GMT
Post by munceyboyjoe on Sept 8, 2009 14:45:45 GMT
Very nice!
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stefan
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If it isn't broken fix it till it is
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Daf 55
Sept 8, 2009 18:14:01 GMT
Post by stefan on Sept 8, 2009 18:14:01 GMT
glad you still pleased with her mate. I will deliver the few extra bits for you some time this week hopefully.
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Daf 55
Sept 8, 2009 18:59:40 GMT
Post by dafdaffer on Sept 8, 2009 18:59:40 GMT
your car?............. Pretty car in Italian accent cannot believe that was condemned to a fate of bean cans ;D
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Daf 55
Sept 8, 2009 20:44:15 GMT
Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Sept 8, 2009 20:44:15 GMT
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spunkymonkey
Likes DAFs
Currently waltzing Matilda
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Daf 55
Sept 8, 2009 21:25:09 GMT
Post by spunkymonkey on Sept 8, 2009 21:25:09 GMT
Wonder if anyone saved the Trabby?
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Daf 55
Sept 8, 2009 21:33:18 GMT
Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Sept 8, 2009 21:33:18 GMT
Yes, the Trabby was saved. Sam Glover from Practical Classics took a trip to Lincoln following my DAF visit! He left Lincoln with Trabby in tow.
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stefan
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If it isn't broken fix it till it is
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Daf 55
Sept 21, 2009 6:09:30 GMT
Post by stefan on Sept 21, 2009 6:09:30 GMT
Are you trying to say she had a hard time in my hands John
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Daf 55
Sept 21, 2009 17:35:52 GMT
Post by Patrick on Sept 21, 2009 17:35:52 GMT
Did anyone find out how it/she? had slipped through the net back then?
I suppose it can happen so easily - I remember walking past a house every weekend with a 44 and a 66 coupe in the front drive back in 1998 Both appeared to be looked after and used - Yet today the DVLA has it that they were last taxed back in 2001.
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stefan
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If it isn't broken fix it till it is
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Daf 55
Sept 21, 2009 18:51:09 GMT
Post by stefan on Sept 21, 2009 18:51:09 GMT
Only joking john.
Car sometimes just vanish under the radar so to speak the some turn up again years later, much as we try we carn't track every daf.
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Daf 55
Sept 21, 2009 19:28:44 GMT
Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Sept 21, 2009 19:28:44 GMT
Yes, the story of the 55 in the scrappy. Early last year (2008) I took a call from another club member (Mike H) saying that a friend of his had told him that he thought there was a DAF (just like yours) parked to one side in the holding area of a scrapyard in Lincoln. Mike had too many other DAFs to contemplate another one, so I thought I'd find out more.
I phoned up the scrapyard and the lady confirmed that there was a DAF there and that it was a 55. It had been driven there a couple of months earlier by the owner who had unfortunately reversed out of his garage and hit a wall, therefore damaging the rear nearside wing/panel. The owner didn't have the time or inclination to get it repaired, hence taking it to the yard.
The lady said that she and the staff didn't have the heart to crush it straight away because they knew it was old, and thought it looked "cute", plus they had not seen one before. However, they had a business to run, and one day, it would have to be processed.
I took a trip up to Lincoln, found the yard and straightaway saw the poor little DAF looking rather sorry for itself. By now, it had been bashed a bit by a forklift and the bonnet was now dented. however, apart from the bash, the rest of the car looked very saveable, so, in a moment of madness, I decided to buy it!
There was then the problem of what to do with it/where to keep it, so good old DAF Daffer stepped in and said that he would be able to store it at his place and further more, would be keen to get it up and running. Phew!
So i arranged for a vehicle recovery firm to take it to Paul's. Paul took a shine to it and got it started and running with little difficulty. See video -
Then, Stefan stepped in and stated that he would be interested in the car. Phew again! So Stefan became the happy owner, and along with Paul, did much and impressive body/paintwork, and between them, they saved the car. They set themselves a target to get it right and on the road for the DOC/DCN Week in August 2008, and they succeeded.
So there we are.
Many years ago, the car was a member of the club, but I can't remember who owned it.
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Daf 55
Sept 21, 2009 19:29:59 GMT
Post by Patrick on Sept 21, 2009 19:29:59 GMT
......much as we try we carn't track every daf. Compulsory Micro Chipping for all then!
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stefan
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If it isn't broken fix it till it is
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Daf 55
Sept 21, 2009 19:34:15 GMT
Post by stefan on Sept 21, 2009 19:34:15 GMT
sounds like a plan
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daf44
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Daf 55
Sept 21, 2009 20:02:23 GMT
Post by daf44 on Sept 21, 2009 20:02:23 GMT
hi.
the story of the "lost daf in the scrapyard" sounds very familliar.
my MK1 44 was owned by one person from new until he died in the late 80s. the car was then taken to a local scrapyard, who thought it too good to scrap, and they put it into a sheltered corner and promptly forgot about it for nearly 18 years.
the scrapyard was then sold and closed down and the daf was sold as part of a job lot to a friend of mine who actually collects old trucks and busses but thought the car could be fun to play about with at some time and he stuck it in the corner of his warehouse and forgot about it for another couple of years.
two and a half years ago he was clearing the warehouse to make more space and decided that the daf would have to go. the car was pulled outside on the wednesday and the scrap boys were rung up to collect the car on that weekend. i happened to go to the warehouse on the thursday and noticed a "new" car sitting outside the unit. i was having a look aroung it trying to work out what it was as i had never even heard of daf cars at the time, let alone seen one. one of the guys working on a bus told me it was going for scrap on the weekend and had not moved under its own power in about 20 years. i was bored and after 20 minutes butchery and hotwiring got the engine to actually run and the car lurched about the yard for about 5 minutes. then i rung the actual owner and rescued the car for the sum of £50 scrap value.
i would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of the scrap yards out there who keep a little corner for those odd/cute cars that they think may be appreciated by someone someday.
i wonder how many other "scrapped" cars are still out there somewhere, tucked away in a sheltered corner.
paul44
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Daf 55
Sept 21, 2009 22:33:21 GMT
Post by dafdaffer on Sept 21, 2009 22:33:21 GMT
there was a Daf 66 in green at tamworth which was in good condition and was being advertised as breaking for parts on ebay that ericthered found, i called them to ask if they would sell it whole and they replied how much? i said there worth not much more that £200 and they never replied again, i think that they wanted big money.
and a lovely daf 44 which was running and tax exempt but the scrap yard would not sell it due to previous owners wife not wanting it to retyurn to the road and is now sat on a container semi stripped and rotting.
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Daf 55
Sept 23, 2009 11:59:01 GMT
Post by joe on Sept 23, 2009 11:59:01 GMT
I love the story behind how it was saved. Makes me even more determined to keep her well looked after. Lest guilt get the better of me!!!
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Daf 55
Oct 10, 2009 16:17:04 GMT
Post by joe on Oct 10, 2009 16:17:04 GMT
The selector has started rattling when going forwards, it only happens when you ease off the throttle. If you put your foot towards the floor it stops.
Before I start taking things to bits and making a mess, is this anything to worry about? There is no problem other than the noise, which just sounds like something is loose.
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Daf 55
Feb 1, 2010 21:47:45 GMT
Post by joe on Feb 1, 2010 21:47:45 GMT
Due to a change in circumstances I am now using it everyday to commute to work in. Which is rather great considering I don't get to drive it nearly as much as I'd like too.
The headlights have stopped working again though, which is a bit of a pain in the backside as Electrics + Me = DISASTER. The sidelights still work, as does the full beam on flash, but not when you try and switch them on permanently. Which means it isn't the bulbs, it isn't the fuses, it's something far more likely to leave me in a Insulation tape and Scotchlock induced rage.
Other than that, all is well and at peace in the world. She starts first time like a trooper too without fail. At the moment, touch wood, she is by far the most reliable car I've ever owned. Although this isn't saying much considering I've only ever owned two others, and they were both dodgy Friday afternoon cars.
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spunkymonkey
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Daf 55
Feb 1, 2010 22:08:22 GMT
Post by spunkymonkey on Feb 1, 2010 22:08:22 GMT
I'm not familiar with the switch gear on the 55 but I guess it's a similar arrangement to the others with a main light switch which gives you "off", "side" and "headlights" then a stalk for high / low beam and flash?
If it is then the problem is almost certainly in the main light switch. The headlights are normally fed through the main switch to the stalk, then from there to the high or low beam as needed. The headlight flasher has a separate live feed to the stalk so that it still works when the main switch is turned off.
So, if the "headlights on" contact of the main switch has failed, or there's a problem with the wiring between that and the stalk (check the connectors first), then you'd have no normal headlights but still have a working flasher.
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Daf 55
Feb 1, 2010 22:48:24 GMT
Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Feb 1, 2010 22:48:24 GMT
Yes, the switch and stalk system is the same for 44/55. The left-hand stalk on the steering column is the full beam on/off switch, and if I remember correctly, flick down for flash.
I wonder whether there could be a problem with the stalk switch? Just a thought. When the headlights are on dipped beam, moving the full beam stalk up switches on the full beam and switches off the dipped beam. I seem to remember from my days of 55 ownership that if you "held" the full beam lever "midway", the dipped lights would stay on as well as full beam.
Not a good idea to do that, of course, but maybe could be a clue re contacts/connections etc...
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Daf 55
Feb 1, 2010 23:16:37 GMT
Post by dafdaffer on Feb 1, 2010 23:16:37 GMT
we have plent o switches ;D give us a shout
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stefan
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If it isn't broken fix it till it is
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Daf 55
Feb 2, 2010 13:45:44 GMT
Post by stefan on Feb 2, 2010 13:45:44 GMT
Yes we have a few extra ones sat about if you need one
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Daf 55
Feb 4, 2010 12:14:14 GMT
Post by joe on Feb 4, 2010 12:14:14 GMT
Yesterday morning the lights worked again!! RESULT BACK OF THE NET ETC.
Then Yesterday evening they didn't again, and it was in the middle of a blizzard dealing with morons who can't drive with only sidelights on. Not fun.
At least I now know it's just an iffy connection. So nothing to bad to worry about.
I have to say, driving in the snow is a whole lot of fun. The only thing I don't like is all the salt on the roads. I can't imagine it is doing the wheel arches a whole lot of good.
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stefan
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If it isn't broken fix it till it is
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Daf 55
Feb 4, 2010 12:28:48 GMT
Post by stefan on Feb 4, 2010 12:28:48 GMT
Just keep hosing the salt off and she will be ok for a bit yet
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Daf 55
Feb 12, 2010 19:39:32 GMT
Post by joe on Feb 12, 2010 19:39:32 GMT
Latest report.
PROS: Lights now working, they did this of their own accord, magic or a loose connection? Who knows.
CONS: After having a chat with my next door neighbour last night waxing lyrical about the virtues of Dutch Engineering "The most reliable car I've ever had....never let me down" etc It wouldn't start this morning for some reason. It started first time after a quick jump though. And has been fine ever since. Also the mysterious rattling noise has sporadically reappeared in the selector. Which isn't good.
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pauldaf44
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Daf 55
Feb 12, 2010 19:51:58 GMT
Post by pauldaf44 on Feb 12, 2010 19:51:58 GMT
Something you should know then my DAF has developed various rattles since I have it and none of them have been a problem or affected the cars working in any way other than annoying the driver. They are very strong beasts if treated right, just remember that your car is the best part of 40 years old and is still more reliable than a useless six year old Landrover Discovery Mum had. Unless its affecting the way the car drives or something is obviously going to fall of I wouldn't worry about it. Its probably nothing serious.
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Daf 55
Feb 12, 2010 23:31:13 GMT
Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Feb 12, 2010 23:31:13 GMT
Get ready for a possible technical tip from yours truly. I may be wrong of course! But the rattling from the selector lever could be as a result of a loosening of a split pin kind of thing that connects the lever to the dog clutch lever thing on the transmission on the car. If the pin comes out completely, it will mean that the car will be stuck in forward/reverse (whatever was selected before falling out).
All you, or a friendly competent DAF, usually of the Central variety, has to do is to "reconnect" the link between the lever and the dog clutch thingy.
Am I sort of right, gang?
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stefan
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If it isn't broken fix it till it is
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Daf 55
Feb 13, 2010 8:27:21 GMT
Post by stefan on Feb 13, 2010 8:27:21 GMT
yes Richard you may well be right
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Daf 55
Mar 17, 2010 17:06:59 GMT
Post by joe on Mar 17, 2010 17:06:59 GMT
I may need a new brake master cylinder, can anyone help? In return, a fortunately timed, but rather enormous picture:
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