Ozcoupe progress (lack of?)

Having cleared most of my backlog at work, I now have more time to spend on the car. As many of you will be aware, I've been accumulating parts and knowledge since joining the forum last April, shortly after buying it.

I spent most of yesterday working to ready it for the necessary roadworthy test. In Victoria (Aust.) this is not an annual requirement, but is required when a vehicle changes hands. In my case it has been further complicated by the fact that it is an interstate car (different registration authorities) and that it was built prior to the requirement to attach an Australia design rules compliance plate. This necessitates the car being viewed by the state road authority rather than simply having certification by a mechanic licensed to perform the task.
(If this seems complicated, it is; but you must also remember that Australia is a Federation of states which are former colonies. As a nation, these states are still not entirely seamlessly integrated).

I should also point out that the areas that failed the informal preliminary test that I had done after returning with it from Queensland are relatively minor items in the grand scheme of things. Things like oil leaks, weeping wheel cylinder and calliper, cooling system leaks, cracked steering wheel, etc.

While dissappointed that leaks had appeared on the trip home, thereby preventing me from immediately re-registering the car in this state, I wasn't entirely surprised. It's an old car that hadn't had a lot of use in the last couple of years and the trip home would have tested many much younger cars. Sustained 100 to 110 kph driving in 30 to 35 deg.C heat for nearly 1,800km over 3 days was bound to test the old girl's seals and joints.

But the various jobs are straightforward and relatively minor thanks largely to the efforts of the previous owner (Jeff Jones) who has done an incredible job of body restoration giving me a sound, straight, rust-free body with a beautiful interior. Similarly, my current tasks have been made much easier thanks to the assistance and generousity of members of this forum and my own local club (RCCA).

So, having started work on the car yesterday, I thought I might begin to post updates on my progress as I have enjoyed reading those of others.

Warwick.

P.S. Must think of a better name for the car.
At home it tends to be simply called the Rover or P5, although P5 is quite apt for a different reason. There is (and has been for a long time) a locally produced childrens' TV programme called Bananas in Pajamas. The 2 main characters are bananas and they are named simply B1 and B2. When my son was of kindergarten age, the show was one of his favourites. Around that time we owned 2 identical Peugeot 505 diesels and these became known as P1 and P2. These were later replaced by later models which then became P3 and P4. It was interesting that the Rover was the next car to arrive.