Project Rusty Triumphs in Scotland - Dolomite in "most reliable" shocker - 08/02/24

[vulgalour]

I wonder if the Civic used to be a P6?  Would explain why it's so CURSED.

[captain_70s]

Yeah totally understand that. Just thinking if it runs and can be shown running then you're likely to get a bit more for it.

Oh aye, I can show it running with the Doloshite's battery. They just 'aint keeping it, if somebody wants to drive it away they'll have to bring one.  If the Acclaim and Civic had swap-able batteries I'd have bought a new one, sadly it aint' the way of things.

 

The current battery seems to have marginally more life in it than the old one. I'll buy a battery charger (need one anyway) and shove it on for 6 hours and see if I can get any life out of it.

 

Needless to say, if any of you suckers fine gentlemen wants the thing for £200 please get in touch.

 

I wonder if the Civic used to be a P6?  Would explain why it's so CURSED.

Captain Slow was selling a Rover 2000 for £700 recently, needed WELDING and BRAKE WORK. It'd STILL probably less of a ballache than the bloody Honda.

[Supernaut]

 

[captain_70s]

I'm not wasting precious petrol on the fucking thing...

[dave j]

I would take the battery back to the scrapyard! Or, do you know anyone you can borrow a charger off until you get your own? If an overnight charge doesn't sort if then it's a duff battery.

[captain_70s]

Charger acquired, worryingly it did buzz quite loudly and get alarmingly hot but it did result in a battery with enough oomph to start a Honda Civic. In related news.
 
WHAT A FUCKING BARGAIN.
 

[Guest Hooli]

Oh it's a lovely colour

 

 

/typical non-AS car buyer

 

 

 

Good luck getting shot of the thing

[captain_70s]

First offer is in on the first day of the auction for just £100 less than the start bid.

 

Who are these people...

[JeeExEll]

Have you tried these guys?

At least you know the battery works. For now. Peep peep.

GLWTS Captn, hopefully a few sheckels towards the Triumph Preservation Phund.

[captain_70s]

Somebody has bid on the Civic so as long as they don't fuck me about I'll be making £250 next week... £150 once you take into the cost of the calipers and discs I just fitted...

 

My new timing light also arrived today so I set about checking the fleet's ignition timing.

 

The Doloshite was pretty close from me setting it by ear but seemed to waver by a couple of degrees regardless of what I did. It is at least better than it was. The Acclaim was miles out, although the dizzy was tightened up so whoever did it last made a pig of it. It now sounds like less of a bag of spanners and the idle is much less shit, although still not perfect. Fingers crossed setting the valve clearances will render it silky smooth, I took it for a quick spin around the block and it seems much happier.

 

I also swapped the Doloshite's front wheels as I'd put them back on backwards after painting them so the directional tyres were facing backwards... Me and Girlfriend_70s will be heading to a car show in Bo'Ness tomorrow, hopefully in the green machine.

[captain_70s]

Today I exchanged a car for cash monies.

 

 

Farewell Civic, you were... fairly alright. Sold for £400 to a dealer from East Kilbride who specialises in Honda Civics so it'll probably live on. I'm back to running nothing but old crocks just in time for winter, natural balance is restored.

 

In Acclaim news my new HT leads landed and were fitted to make absolutely no difference to the lumpy idle at all. Valve clearances next (he said, for the millionth time). The new leads do at least fit well unlike the Dolomite ones I'd bodged in previously.

 

In Dolomite news I pulled it's face off.

 

 

Just as I got back from my last trip out in it the N/S headlight fizzled out. Dipped beam had died. Removal was four screws for the grille and three for the light. Easy peasy. Only one grille screw put up a fight and it eventually lost.

 

What the fuck do I buy to replace this fat fuck of a thing...

 

 

I've also ordered some new HT leads as the current lot are a mix of various sets I've had over the years, and a new rotor arm as the current one looks a bit shit.

[Guest Hooli]

Looks like one of these if I've guessed the wattage right https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Ring-Automotive-RU410/1562362209?iid=230938180917&chn=ps

 

[captain_70s]

Looks like one of these if I've guessed the wattage right https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Ring-Automotive-RU410/1562362209?iid=230938180917&chn=ps

 

Bingo.

 

I'f I was less of a moron I'd have noticed it has R2 written on it.

[SiC]

This?

 

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-blades-batteries/car-bulbs/halfords-410-r2-car-bulb-x-1

[plasticvandan]

Top banana on getting shot of the evil civic and getting more than bridge money too,I would suggest picking your main winter car and give it a bit of love:-)

[Richard]

You might want to splash out on a Halogen conversion bulb like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60-55w-Halogen-Conversion-Bulb-for-Classic-Car-Headlamps/252845715249?hash=item3adec76f31:g:ly0AAMXQlgtS6oN3

[dozeydustman]

^^^ what he said. HB12 bulbs aren't much more pennies than the 410/R2 type, but much better light output. If halogens were an option on the more misery spec Dolos, then the wiring should be able to take the extra watts.

[captain_70s]

You might want to splash out on a Halogen conversion bulb like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60-55w-Halogen-Conversion-Bulb-for-Classic-Car-Headlamps/252845715249?hash=item3adec76f31:g:ly0AAMXQlgtS6oN3

 

 

^^^ what he said. HB12 bulbs aren't much more pennies than the 410/R2 type, but much better light output. If halogens were an option on the more misery spec Dolos, then the wiring should be able to take the extra watts.

 

Bah, wish I'd seen this before I bought two R2s on eBay...

 

Ah well, the Doloshite rarely ventures far after dark these days anyway. I'll file this knowledge away for future use....

[vulgalour]

So now you've sold the reliable* modern, what kind of Triumph are you getting to replace it?  A Mayflower would ramp up the misery nicely, especially a £400 one, so you should absolutely do that.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Time for a Stag, methinks.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

A TR7 with K Seal residue and rust blown all over the engine bay. 

[Guest Hooli]

Triumph Tiger Cub, still more waterproof than a Spitfire.

[captain_70s]

Personally I like this:

 

 

A rare early Toledo two door in a fetching shade of turd, except the bits that aren't. Obviously I'd need a drivetrain which is where this:

 

 

Crusty looking four door would come in, handily located in Glasgow already...

[Guest Hooli]

Looks like a sensible* plan to me.

[captain_70s]

Looks like a sensible* plan to me.

And that's BEFORE they are lined up on my street behind my equally fucked Dolomite and I decided that they're all good enough to be "saved".

[Guest Hooli]

Just hide them around the local streets all with the same number plate, no-one will notice.

[Noel Tidybeard]

modern for the price of victorian

 

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-blades-batteries/car-bulbs/halfords-012--car-bulb-x-1

 

 

[Split_Pin]

Brilliant, Glasgow registered Toledo, stayed local all it's life!

[captain_70s]

Finally figured out who complained about my Shitefest tent.

 

While refitting the Doloshite's headlight and older lady who lives in my tenement approached me and asked if I had a license for trading cars. I said no, as I'm not trading cars. She didn't believe me and said I was causing a problem for residents parking and that she'd be "monitoring the situation". Why she cares I know not, as she doesn't have a car or drive.

 

My landlady did mentioned an unusual lady who lived along downstairs, my suspicions of it being complaining woman are now confirmed.

 

Can't wait until I get to explain to the police that car traders rarely keep a car for 5 years before selling it on and that over that period of time I've probably lost about £5k in my "business venture"...

[SiC]

Sounds like the complaint my grumpy old neighbour put onto me. He also said he'd report me to the inland revenue. Kinda wish he did as it'd force me to calculate how much money I've wasted on cars...

 

Do you actually need a licence from the council to trade cars?