Brilliant as ever. It is so important to demonstrate repetition of the parts that you have. By doing this you give those doing such jobs more confidence. I am grateful that you showed a comparison between Peggy and Jessie. In an earlier video (I was paying attention at the back!) you said Jessie was ‘over-engineered’ is this an example of what you meant. Thanks so much for the Hill Climb film. I used to go with my Dad often and am going to Prescott in a month or so - so many thanks for bringing back memories of long ago.
Jessies over engineering consists of multiple bolts holding one little thing together that on most BL cars would of been clipped on with 2 clips. Also the need for 5 switches to be in the right place at the right time for overdrive to work...
What a lovely video Alex, to remember the exact process off your head is remarkable. Peggy is a beautiful Allegro, sadly I'm old enough as a child to remember the release of your car.
Yay!an ALLEGRO! I used to have one, for 12 years! (It was already 9 years old when I got it) I sold it to buy a much bigger Carlton, when the Allegro was 21 years - with NO rust!
You can build a pump like that using Schraeder valves and a grease gun. The only issue with these vs. the original Churchill pump is the original had two pumps one to evacuate the system and second to refill the system. Without that complete evacuation the car can be rather more bouncy. But a reasonably satisfactory solution for the late lamented Churchill pump nonetheless.
Hi Alex, Brilliant instruction video, I never knew it was that simple. The Allegro's predecessor had the same system I believe. Made for a lovely smooth ride. I had a Morris 1100 for a while, I did enjoy that car...until the floor pan gave out...🙄 Peggy certainly has plenty of bounce now...😄 Catch you next time, Jon B. 🙂
Just cos I’m Miss Pedantic, the predecessor ADO16 cars used hydrolastic (fluid+rubber springing) but the Allegro used hydragas (fluid + nitrogen gas springing)
I used to have a 1980 beige on - but this colour really does look nice! Much nicer car than some these days, that are SO characterises inside! The paintwork on yours( even in the engine compartment) is immaculate! Have you had it restored?
I don't see clearly enough to drive now, and always miss driving! I mean, it wouldn't really be fair to carry on driving - if I would always have to scrape cyclists off the bumper, when I get home! I must say I DO have my "own" bus stop outside my flat, though, so I don't really NEED a car now. But I saw you not only have an Allegro - which I used to have, but also a marvellous Rover P4, like my uncle used to have! Try as I may I do really miss driving! The Rover is one of the most appealing cars ever made, and is a car EVERYBODY (bar none) should have a ride in, sometime in their life!
That suspension system is really interesting. I have never understood why car makers tried to reinvent the proverbial wheel with suspension systems. Spring and shock systems are more reliable and easy to work on. As for floaty suspensions, I grew up around and owned quite a few larger American cars with floaty suspensions. My 1980's cars (like the Cutlass Supreme) had softer springs while my 1990's and 2000's cars (like my Buick LeSarbres) had air shocks. These were designed to compensate for road imperfections and in some instances, I went over large potholes at night going over 60mph and never knowing I did until i discovered I lost a hubcap or had a slight bend in the wheel.
Errr springs and shocks are much less reliable than the system the Allegro and quite a few other BL products used. Springs break regularly and shock absorbers leak and lose their damping ability very regularly. But they are CHEAP to replace. The hydragas displacers regularly last 20+ years without a problem. THAT is reliable!
Nice video Alex, very informative 👍. If id known it was so straightforward i may have bought hydrogas cars in the past - but was always put off incase the suspension needed pumping up and the problem of finding someone to do it and the cost involved : /
Surely you must have to? If you don't bleed out the hoses worth of air , this will go into the system into the " non compressible " side of the system ?
A beautiful car, I remember well a friend having one, jacking it up and not being able to open the doors, sadly the car bent when jacked up, he bought a Maxi afterwards, then one day pulled on the handbrake, and it ripped out the floor.
Another great constructive video Alex. I once saw an allegro scragging in a corner of a car park as it was getting dusk. Couldn’t see anyone about outside, I found this very strange indeed. Question is it wasn’t Peggy was it? Thanks 😊
Fascinating video. What a shame the Allegro did not have the design panache and build quality of a Volkswagen. If it did the successor model Austins might still have been on the roads today. Currently writing an engineering procedure where the fitters have to grind down the flat of a spanner because the standard article is too thick. One day I might get to write something where the fitters are told to use a broken spanner because the standard article is too long! Always learn something from watching your videos.
A friend did on his modified Allegro.... i think he used an MF F subframe or something? His name is Ed Kay and has a Blue race Allegro with orange wheels and K Series engine in
Isn’t the Hydrolastic fluid basically just alcohol and water? Not that you shouldn’t buy the poper fluid, but I don’t think it is dangerous to get it on the hands.
Hydrolastic Suspension Fluid contains a combination of selected corrosion inhibitors in a solution with Methanol to give a fluid with a low coefficient of expansion. It has been manufactured to British Leyland standards for hydrolastic suspension units.
