When I returned to Queensland I came to the house to retrieve my car from the big shed. The house was still tenanted and I had to wait a further three weeks before I could return. The car had been lying for over three years and I was pleasantly surprised when after a bit of TLC she fired on the third attempt.

I did an oil change at 435,000 approx. A few weeks later as I was coming back home the brake servo failed which was scary because you really need to put a lot of pressure on the pedal to make you stop. I got a second hand one from the wreckers and got it going again.

Last week my friend Peter offered to help me fit an oil cooler to the transmission and to also do an oil change of the gearbox fluid. I got to his place around 10 am and it was dark o’clock before I left for home. There was an oil cooler already fitted to the car but it was tiny compared to the new one I got and what a difference the new one has made.

I’ve done 400 km or more in hot weather and heavy traffic and the car feels like brand new. The gear changes are so much smoother and the car is running very cool, I can’t believe what a difference it has made and I am very grateful to Peter for helping me get this done. It’s once more a pleasure to drive the old beast and I don’t have to worry anymore when sitting in heavy traffic or if it’s over 35c outside.

Next challenge will be to find out where the oil leak is coming from….