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Father Ted

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Just changed the plugs on the Transit van - I bought a set when I first got the van but hadn't got around to doing them before.  It wasn't the easiest plug change I'd ever done as the back half of the engine is buried under the scuttle and the rearmost plug, which has hardly any clearance above it, has a coil pack sat on top of it which is fun* to get out, but it wasn't as bad as doing the plugs on, say, a V12 Jag engine.

 

Anyway, the plugs that came out weren't in too bad of a state, but three out of the four were only in finger tight, which is less than ideal.  In fact one of them had soot marks halfway up it so I think some of the compression might have been getting out on that cylinder.  The van had apparently been serviced shortly before I bought it - it may well have been, but it was obviously done by a cretin.  The rearmost plug was in pretty tight, but that also looked older and more worn than the others so whoever did the service* might have decided that because it was a bit awkard to get to they couldn't be arsed to change it. 

 

The new plugs went in easily enough, the only slight hitch being when the rubber bit inside the plug socket decided to stay on #4 plug rather than coming out with the socket, but a bit of superglue soon sorted that.  Initial impressions are that the van is running more smoothly, although I haven't taken it for a proper run yet.  The experience has vindicated my decision to do my own fettling despite my mechanical ineptitude though - if a "professional" mechanic can forget something as basic as tightening the plugs then I'm better off doing it myself I reckon.

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I have some form in resurrecting old donkeys found festering on drives, pig farms etc, spending money on them then selling on for a loss when I get bored.

I also have been consistently rude about Sherpa Coupes for about 30 years, especially to a friend who owns one. You can guess the next bit.

On Monday I'm going to see a bereavement sale 1978 MGB GT , garaged and un tested since 2006.....

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Two MOTs today, one good, one not so good.

The good one was the 2005 Ducato-based motorhome, which passed with advisories for the front tyres.

The not so good? The ZX Avantage estate, which has been layed-up since the insurance ran out last September.

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With luck the rear shocks are siezed and not the bearings in the back axle...

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It's a shame, because I'd have liked to report on the window wiper that passed 2 MOTs on the same day - the passenger side wiper in the Ducato uaed to be the ZX's wiper, so it went back on the ZX for the MOT...

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I landed a new job 50 miles away and commuting in a car that does 14 mpg isn't financially viable. So last Sunday I traded in my 06 Expedition with 132,000 miles for this.

 

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2017 model with just 32 miles. It's only the baby V6 model but it's still got 300hp and it's a stick. So far it's averaging 26 mpg.

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Made a start on prepping the '88 Sunny for FOTU. The recent paintwork looks great, but that just showed-up other things letting it down.

 

Wheels rubbed-down and rusty bits treated with Jenolite, prior to hopefully priming and spraying them tomorrow, and bumpers and some of the black trim treated to Autoglym Bumper and Trim Gel. I know that linseed oil is the usual suggestion for this, but I thought I'd give the gel a go and it does seem to be doing the job nicely. Will do the rest of the black trim when it's had a wash.

 

Interior just needs a good hoover and dusting/wiping down. Might even clean the engine bay (but being mindful of the rather aged plug leads which don't like dampness).

 

It's a really tidy car and with a bit of effort over the next couple of weeks it could look pretty decent.

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I landed a new job 50 miles away and commuting in a car that does 14 mpg isn't financially viable. So last Sunday I traded in my 06 Expedition with 132,000 miles for this.

 

attachicon.gif20180630_140614.jpg

 

2017 model with just 32 miles. It's only the baby V6 model but it's still got 300hp and it's a stick. So far it's averaging 26 mpg.

lmao

 

plymouth pics stat

 

crazy yank :D

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I landed a new job 50 miles away and commuting in a car that does 14 mpg isn't financially viable. So last Sunday I traded in my 06 Expedition with 132,000 miles for this.

 

attachicon.gif20180630_140614.jpg

 

2017 model with just 32 miles. It's only the baby V6 model but it's still got 300hp and it's a stick. So far it's averaging 26 mpg.

We never got the bent six here, just the turbo 4-pot and the daft V8.  Some friends and I hired rented a V6 convertible in California a couple of years back though - badermatic obvs, but it still got a move on and seemed reasonable on fuel for what it was.  Sounded better than the 2.3 as well.

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Guest Hooli

I landed a new job 50 miles away and commuting in a car that does 14 mpg isn't financially viable. So last Sunday I traded in my 06 Expedition with 132,000 miles for this.

 

attachicon.gif20180630_140614.jpg

 

2017 model with just 32 miles. It's only the baby V6 model but it's still got 300hp and it's a stick. So far it's averaging 26 mpg.

 

Can you get the missing cylinders fitted as a warranty claim?

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Today, the fuel gauge in the Princess is working again, but only up to half gauge (there's about 3/4 of a tank of fuel in), and only when it feels like it.  Going to have to take the dashboard out to diagnose.  Again.

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Today, the fuel gauge in the Princess is working again, but only up to half gauge (there's about 3/4 of a tank of fuel in), and only when it feels like it. Going to have to take the dashboard out to diagnose. Again.

Or count the miles until the light comes on then brim, then only do those miles and refill again until its not such a horrible hot Weekend!

 

You deserve to not have to have the dash out for a few mo this, barring anything that makes it undriveable or catch fire

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Whilst out and about in the x1/9 this morning ( oh, ok, I was collecting a case from Laithwaite’s), a biker pulled up alongside at the traffic lights and had a brief chat about the car. He was on an M reg Honda, but not sure what sort.

Made up for the weekend warrior on a bike in Windsor who decided I didn’t mean to turn right round the roundabout despite my indicators and carried on flying down castle hill without stopping. It’s not easy locking four wheels on an x1/9 especially at 10mph. I could see in his eyes he knew he’d made a mistake. However this was nothing when compared to the car drivers in Windsor great park who insist on overtaking groups of bikes when there’s traffic heading towards them the other side of solid white lines. On the plus side the horns definitely work:-)

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I landed a new job 50 miles away and commuting in a car that does 14 mpg isn't financially viable. So last Sunday I traded in my 06 Expedition with 132,000 miles for this.

attachicon.gif20180630_140614.jpg

2017 model with just 32 miles. It's only the baby V6 model but it's still got 300hp and it's a stick. So far it's averaging 26 mpg.

I can't do maths or know where my phone is to use the calculator, but that must equate to near as dammit 30 miles per proper gallon . Which is probably what a 1600 Capri used to do .

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Vulg, gallon can in the boot just incase then reset trip recorder when full run until you feel uncomfortable then refill.

Range doesn't vary that much.

Will still use the same amount to the gallon if you put £70 in or 7 lots of £10

If you don’t have a trip meter I’ve used a small post it pad on the dash in 2cvs since my first one. Record the mileage at fill up and know that you’ve got at least 200miles in the tank.

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today we have been to Ormesby Hall with not one, but two mini's....

 

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while there we saw these.

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we had got parked up with some other mini's belonging to a local club

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what was a nice shaded spot earlier in the day, wasn't quiet as shadey later

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and there was thee motorcylces there too

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i was not going to bring the black mini over, cos, well, i don't really trust it. i ended up bringing it across late on saturday whaen the heat of the day had passed. even so driving the black one it did get warm on the way out of Hutton-le-Hole.

 

plus i think i'm goig to have to change the n/s/f brake back plate cos the adjusters are i think loose, and i'm not certain that the brakes are all that they should be. plus i think it making a wheel bearing type rumble too that wasn't there before. or it could be that i've not got that much faith in said car and am now on the look-out, or ear out for all and any "funny" noises.

 

bloody thing....

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