New member, new (to me) Daf

[rhysnolan]

I have hankered after a Daf since the 70s when in NZ I always had Cars and car Conversions mag on the shelf at the local bookshop, and the de Rooys featured heavily. The Dafs were never officially imported to NZ.
Today is the 5th anniversary of having escaped from the Socialist regime in what used to be called NZ, and also the day that I have paid for my 66.
Thanks to the Dafman maniac in Peterborough I finally technically own a 66.
I'm waiting anxiously to putting miles on it.

[Richard DAF Webmeister]

Well done.

Did you find the Club joining details OK?

[andrew]

Welcome on board! We look forward to hearing about your antics "belting along" (ahem!) in your 66. Some pictures, perforce, would be advantageous......

[rhysnolan]

Dec 15, 2021 8:04:43 GMT Richard DAF Webmeister said:

Well done.

Did you find the Club joining details OK?

Yes found, application form is on it's way.

[rhysnolan]

Dec 15, 2021 8:19:49 GMT andrew said:

Welcome on board! We look forward to hearing about your antics "belting along" (ahem!) in your 66. Some pictures, perforce, would be advantageous......

I'm looking forward to that. Of course without photos nothing is true I hope it's easier than some other fora to post pics.

[swissdave]

Welcome to the forum! There aren't many of us who appreciate these special little cars, looking forward to hearing about your new toy.

[starider]

Hi, welcome to our happy band. Glad you have purchased your 66 from "the dafman". I met him when he was knee high to a grasshopper, when his father brought his DAF 55 into Benstead and Pidcocks in Peterborough, for regular servicing in the mid 1970s. I met him again a few months ago when we met in a car park in Swindon to exchange some body panels. He's certainly grown since I sae him last!!!
I hope you get as much pleasure from your DAF as we do ours.

[rhysnolan]

Well the car is now tucked up warmer than before in Grumpy's Garage, runs like a well oiled sewing machine. I'm looking forward to the times when I am prepared to go driving without salt/grit concerns.
I don't know if it's happened to anyone else, but DVLA tells me that you lose the Historic Status if you SORN a car. Resolved now but I did have to play a few games.

[starider]

You don't need to ever SORN your DAF. The best thing to do if you are not using it, is to get basic insurance such as Third Party Fire and Theft and just keep free taxing it.The bonus is that you have the benefit of having it insured[the only cost] and you can take t for a drive any time.
My only comment would be you must keep it to MOT standards or have it MOT'd.

[rhysnolan]

It was a previous keeper who SORNED the car, so when I went to have it in my name the historic status had vanished, and local PO wanted full tax payment.
Going to a main Post Office had that resolved, but time and effort.
Moving on!
The weather was finally good enough for me to venture out. I have no idea what had me deciding to fit a fuel filter before the pump, but I did this morning, and thank goodness.
Graham had fitted a new pump, and dealt with the mouse gnawed fuel line between pump and tank. He had also done a great job of cleaning and adjusting the carb, so putting it in gear as he suggested works just fine.
However a few miles from home, with the gauge reading half, the poor wee thing spluttered to a stop, just before the busiest intersection in Tamworth. Thank goodness it was downhill a bit to a place to get off the road.
Rude words were nearly spoken. Then following some prompts (thanks Dafman) I had a look at the brand new filter, there is a large amount of crud, and varnish coloured dribble of fuel.
I called on the household manager who came and got me, took me home to get the fuel container, and wallet. 4 litres of fresh fuel, and few sessions of pumping fuel and she (he?) burst into life. I wonder why it ran so much better on the way home .
Graham suggested taking out the sender to look, it does move, but the resistance winding has a film of light rust, and the points are darkened, so a new sender is a great idea. In the meantime, I'll keep a tab on miles and fuel purchase, and throw the new filter away and fit another!

[Richard DAF Webmeister]

Interesting. We live and learn, and have nearly all had the occasional roadside hiccup.

Talking of fuel, just in case you haven't read or been told, make sure you use the "old" E5 petrol, often branded "Super" etc from the likes of Esso, Total, Shell.
It's more expensive than the mass market "new" E10, which all petrol stations sell, including supermarkets, but it contains high amounts of enthanol (to tick green boxes) which will do the car no good at all, in terms of effect on fuel hoses etc and also possible running.

[rhysnolan]

Richard, thanks for the input. Of course I did read the insert in the last Belting along, and have also spoken with Graham about this issue.
I'm following his thoughts.

[rhysnolan]

Counting down! I have entered the Daf at the Prescott Classic on May15th, and get 2 runs untimed up the hill.
Thankfully the car seems to be running well, following new fuel pump, new carb diaphragm, new fuel line from the tank to the pump.
Hopefully my tame welder will repair the sill where I had jacked the car on the jacking point and punched through the very dodgy repair from some time in it's past. A patch had been rivetted on, then fibreglassed over with no effort to stop the rust.

[starider]

Any chance of some pics?

[rhysnolan]

Apr 29, 2022 8:42:23 GMT starider said:

Any chance of some pics?

Sorry for being slow on this. Photos of the rust hole or the event at Prescott?
I am losing sleepover the expedition as I haven't driven it far. I am nervous!
I se that Richard Hammond is due to be at Prescott, I was asked to pen an inclusion article for the programme and now I am in a prime position on the area, placed C1. Daf may be a featured marque so I really have to be there! No pressure, yeah sure.

[rhysnolan]

Well it was today at Prescott. Photos are to come , if the lensman did a good job.
Many people popped over to say how surprised that were at how well it went.
I have a few niggles to solve. Going down the M42 one wiper arm abandoned ship. Is this a generic part from something else?
Yes it was fun!

[rhysnolan]

[andrejuan]

Twas good to meet you and the car on Sunday, hopefully the niggles will soon be sorted and you will be belting along to more meets. Hope you had a good trip back. John.

[rhysnolan]

Jun 26, 2022 16:37:56 GMT andrejuan said:

Twas good to meet you and the car on Sunday, hopefully the niggles will soon be sorted and you will be belting along to more meets. Hope you had a good trip back. John.

Thanks John, the trip home was achieved with temporary repairs holding up. I'm about to go and take off the duff alternator.

[rhysnolan]

Minor update!
So the duff alternator is still at the doctor, but the replacement I purchased from Dafman is doing the job. I did have to swap the front end components (pulley, fan etc) and pay some attention to aligning stuff. The worst was that sometime in the past somebody had attacked the thread with a lump hammer, so I had to amputate the end of the shaft and dress the thread. Then the numpty that put it all together (me) didn't snug everything up properly (lack of shims etc) so the fan part made the most horrendous rattle!
Just to recite some issues, the fuel pick up was loose in the tank, so missing picking up the last few litres. (Winter job to take the tank out AGAIN!)
The front to back fuel line which I replaced works well, so I'll re-do that AGAIN! Just because its not quite how I would like it.
I have now finally done the wiring upgrade for the lights from the chocolate box connectors to proper soldered joints behind the headlights. Of course, some were not really very firm, hopefully better now.
I have one of my own company steering wheels Racetech Europe, I can report that 350mm diameter is a good size.
I have had to replace all the ignition components, points, plugs, condensor, and coil (leads seem OK) and recrimp a few connections and it is now running much better. Even so it does take a bit more to start than my quite extensive Renault engine history reflects, I'm guessing i's still a cold start fuel issue, even after to new diaphragm in the carb, jets cleaned etc.
Fuel system now has, as previously mentioned, a new tube from the tank to the pump, new pump, new hose to the carb and a filter before the pump. While the tank was out it got a huge internal clean and the filter is now running clear.
I'm still unsure about the brakes, I need to drive another as they don't seem to work without big pedal pressure, maybe just been sitting too long, maybe pads, maybe the calipers aren't moving as they should, however without having someone else about to push the pedal it's just difficult to analyse.

[dafman50]

With brakes calipers were new from Holland pads etc servo was original master rebuilt,could be lack if use as they tend after resting to stick. Had this on my 55 and 66 . But will check when see you soon.

[rhysnolan]

Oct 17, 2022 15:57:03 GMT dafman50 said:

With brakes calipers were new from Holland pads etc servo was original master rebuilt,could be lack if use as they tend after resting to stick. Had this on my 55 and 66 . But will check when see you soon.

Well that's something you didn't tell me! I can do with good news. I did mention sticky sliders a while back and no response I just thought maybe ? They haven't been great since I got it, but of course even when I did get to drive it had been sitting for a while.
Next question, do you use a generic rear muffler box? This one has had an "interesting" repair and blown out the pop rivetted piece. I'm sure this predates you Graham.

[dafman50]

Rear box was on car but at time left as no leaks.

[rhysnolan]

As I said Graham, the "repair" doesn't reflect your standards. All I was asking is there a generic one that could be used. The car has left my custody now anyway.
Thanks for everybody that helped while had a DAF.