Leaderboard

There’s been one of these missing from my collection of crap for some time. I’ve had loads of them over the years, this one will be staying. They are starting to get scarce and rather expensive here too. Welcome to the lounge that is my W124. CFD

Yesterday afternoon was busy. I made space and wheeled the car outside. That meant the engine could go at the back of the garage. That keeps it out of the way and I can poke and prod at it occasionally if I need to. I took a quick look at the rear lights- the nice shiny ones that came with the car (outside edge) are wrong- they're for a Fury 1 or 2, with the narrow surround. Shame, they look nice. I made a start pulling the stainless trim off. Unfortunately I bent the one on the rear gutter because it refused to budge. Found out why- the gutter appears to have been snagged at some point on a post or something and is bent. I had a go at straightening it up but it needs a bit of metal letting in at the top dent first. I should be able to dolly it true enough to put the stainless strip back on and hide the wrinkles- even like it was, the strip looked perfectly presentable. I just wanted to pull it off so I can whiz the gutters and surrounds down and check see how much rot is hiding. Previous owner wanted to nix the rear roof seam trim, as seen by Doctor Bondo's efforts there. Throw a tub of pudding at it and hope for the best. I got mediæval on it with a wire cup. It's actually not too bad. I need to get the trims, the one I do have for the other side is a bit iffy and it's also plain- I want the "Plymouth" script ones. I fought with the trim clips (they're great in theory but ugh Chrysler) and got the window trim off. More wire wheel showed the usual B/C body grot in the corner of the window. I had seen the sharp filler edge on both sides (and the middle of the scuttle, heck knows why they rust there) so this came as no surprise and no real worry. I need to see if the rubber is flexible enough still to easily liberate the glass. If not I'll cut it out so I can get at the window aperture all the way around. It definitely needs repair in both corners so here begins the strip down. Phil

I absolutely love finding the best car in the car park and then parking next to it for extra contrast. The bloke with the SUV looked utterly bemused.

I am thinking about the end of May Bank Holiday weekend 29/30/31 May By then we will be able to host 30 people so a larger gathering than the 6 only we have done so far this year is possible. Camping/caravan/motorhome/car camping are all welcome and can be extended before or after the bank holiday. You are welcome to bring your family and use us as a base to visit the area for other activities. What can you do: Bring your own project car or non-car related projects Sit around and drink tea Toledo –paint anti rust primer on open rust wounds Trevi – last year Zel put rust killer on the worst rust spots but they now need filler/paint on them. Invacars – inspect all brakes on both cars Cut the grass with a ride on mower Condor mower needs starting and adjusting to run well Garden railway Mrs6C has bought some garden railway track and there is an opportunity to lay some out and scoot on her unpowered trolley. Campfire in the large chiminea – fun with saws getting ready There is also the opportunity to pick your own project in advance, if I have a cars that you think I have neglected and want to do something about it subject to me getting the parts required in time then I can bring it to the FoD for you to work on. Dogs, cats and even horses are welcome. Our farming neighbour is using the main field so you can’t drive in it. All weather dependent and I will keep an eye out post updates of the plan. All equipment is dangerous and you must be responsible for your own well-being.

Instead of using a separate camera for photos, I'm trying out the screenshot function on the video editing stuff. It makes this part of the update much easier since I can use just the one device and footage and means I have one less thing to forget when actually working on the car. The first job was refitting the rear door card that we hadn't yet. The video really highlights what this job is like, it involved making a lot of these sorts of faces. Once all the edge screws were in to hold the door card in place, Pat fitted the wooden capping since he seems to be better at that than I am and we made sure nothing was binding on the door frame. Happily, everything was good so we moved on to the next bit. Fitting the pull handle was easy, that's just two large screws, fitting the window winder was another matter. As previously mentioned, the window winders almost seem to have too short a post on them meaning it very difficult to get the escutcheon compressed enough (even on the original plywood cards) to get the pin to go in the locating hole that holds everything together. We found it impossible to do solo, instead it usually takes three screwdrivers, a lot of huffing and puffing, and a dash of luck. The door release handle, by comparison, is a doddle, partly because the post for that is just a bit longer. All the door cards in and the windows etc. tested we could happily draw a line under this part of the renovation. No more flappy door cards. When it comes to replacing the carpet on the bottom, we wont' actually have to remove the door card to do it, there's enough flex in the plywood once the side screws are undone that you can glue and tack the new carpet on pretty much in the same way it was done originally. This is no doubt deliberate since the carpet is the bit that's most likely to need replacement due to wear. On to the dashboard then. We'd already fitted this but did it wrong, so it had to come out again so we could reinstall it correctly. Confusingly, the top rail that looks to be the last thing to go on is actually the first thing because once you fit the main dash board you can't get to the fixings that hold the top rail in place. Visibility for the four screws that hold the rail in place is poor, opening the fresh air vent did help a bit, with the side effect that any dust and detritus you didn't want in your face got blown straight into it. The screws go through metal brackets on the car's wooden body frame and into the rail itself, the first attempt we misaligned and screwed into thin air. This turned out to be another two person job since I had to see where it was aligned and then Pat had to hold the rail to prevent it from moving until we got a couple of screws located. You can make out where they're supposed to go in this next picture, spot the silver coloured crosshead screws. Then it was on to the dashboard itself. This is held in with three screws, one in the centre and one into each A pillar through metal brackets. First though, the glovebox needed to be reattached. We'd had to unscrew this to get the dashboard moved enough to fit the top rail, now it was a case of doing some contortions to get around the various obstacles to put the screws back in. This time we got all of the screws in so the glovebox is a good bit more secure than last time, which was nice. Access is not great. Everything was then eased into place and the final three screws put in and we could call the dashboard done. Hopefully it will never need to come out again. We can do the wiring without removing the dashboard, access to the relevant bits is actually quite good for what it's worth. Next up, the cables for the choke, starter, and fuel reserve were refitted. The fuel reserve system isn't being reinstated but to save the cable just flopping about it made sense to put it were it belongs. We may repurpose the pull knob for another function in the future, like the hazards or something, for now it's not a worry. Then it was the turn of the temperature gauge and its fragile capillary line. The wire on the back of the gauge is actually a very fine tube, sealed at both ends, that cannot be removed from the guage or the sender that goes into the water pump. It works so we're happy to reinstall it and it keeps things nicely original. It's held into the back of the instrument cluster with two stubby little flathead screws, like the rest. It was nice to finally see the instrument cluster complete again. The speedometer cable was reattached too. We didn't attach the starter cable to the starter because the starter motor needs to come off for a service or repair and to do that it looks like we need to remove the exhaust to get access to at least one of the starter's bolts so that's going to be another fairly involved job. We also learned that either one of the hose connectors or the non-return valve for the washer pump is leaking a bit. We know it's not the heater matrix as that hasn't been used or disturbed this time, and you can trace the water to the washer pump connections. That one at least is an easy fix using generic parts. It's wonderful seeing all of these things coming together and we're eager to crack on with the rest as soon as time and weather permits.

Collection mission is a go! Leaving the house at 13.55. Bus at 14.05 Train at 14.46 Change at 15.05 Next train 15.25 Arrival 15.51 Should be back home for 5pm at the very latest.

From sublime

This is nice in a day-van sort of way. Low miles and petrol power. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-details/202105092392620

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224456759400?hash=item3442aa5868:g:DQIAAOSweV5gj8kB

As previously for sale on the Blue forum: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294167718586?hash=item447dc32aba:g:ZMkAAOSw5Yhgl83E

Just no.

Did a bit more stripping down today. Battery tray. Not too bad Under the washer bottle-a known bad spot. Not pretty but there's seems to be mostly metal there. Into the boot and I started removing the wiring loom. Bumper off to get the number plate light wiring out And onto some more interior stripping. Most of its in pretty good nick. This helps explain why One non smoking owner from new M9. Plan is remove the full loom and dash to sort the bulkhead/A pillar. It'll also need modified for the new engine and whatever other changes I make along the way. Rotisserie arrives tomorrow in kit form-welding it together will give me some practice. I'll carry on stripping and get ready to drop the drivetrain out. I'm getting my covid jab tomorrow so we'll see how that affects me for making progress. Plan is to take the Jag to get my jag

Sitrep. BMW E30: I've changed the E30 ignition lock (which will be the next GrandThriftAuto film, on Thursday at 8pm).. ...but will it start? You can probably guess. Suspect yet another fuel pump issue, but further investigation needed. I still need to change all the other locks. That shouldn't be hard as long as the door cards don't hold out on me. I'm a bit sad about taking them off as they appear not to have been disturbed since leaving Munich, a benefit of having nice simple wind-up windows. Incidentally E30s have weird tiny connectors on the spark plugs / HT leads so none of my spark testing gadgets will fit. The lead set has a kind of harness/keeper arrangement and replacements cost £200 or something equally stupid, so we won't be doing that. Lotus Elite: I've confirmed it has a coolant leak and traced it. Unfortunately it's not an easy fix: the 907 engine has a join around the crankcase and coolant seems to be seeping out from there. You can see the coolant glistening in this photo, taken from below: There's also some minor weeping from the radiator, which looks a bit secondhand in general. Both of these require the engine to come out. While I've got the engine out, do I strip the whole car and get the shell repainted? Then rewire it? How much if any of this should I do myself, given how many other cars I've got that need work? Jaguar XJ-S: Came back from MOT and a few odd jobs running fine at first but then started coughing and hesitating under load. Fuxake. There's a whiff of petrol in the boot so I'm thinking ethanol has eaten the fuel pump on this one too. FUCK OF WITH THE ETHANOL. Why the fuck did governments decide it was a good idea to rip up thousands of acres of virgin forest around the globe to satisfy entirely artificial demand for a new cash crop that destroys the machines it fuels?

Off we go!

I've been looking at Minis for a good few weeks now. Thanks to @Mr Laurence putting up with my rambling musings. 🤣 I was hoping for something ready to go that wouldn't need any work for the near future. However it seems no matter how much you spend they're all in varying states of decay or bodge up. Even the expensive ones look to have lashings of filler. I very nearly went to see a Clubman Estate yesterday and booked a day off to see it as it was a 6hr roundtrip away. But the seller sent me some pictures of the car and basically it was masses of filler in the awkward to weld bits. For the same money you can get much better condition Moggie. Mrs SiC and I like both the Mini and Moggie too, so it wouldn't feel too off-putting if I did get one instead. They also meet the criteria of plentiful local parts support (literally local being Charles Ware is in Bristol too). Something that I sorely miss on other cars I've had. I guess the thicker metal helps here and also by the 80s they were pretty much classics, unlike the Mini which still was a utilitarian car for many. When I get a Mini, I think I'll just wait till the season quietens down at the end of a year. Also it's going to be a project either way, so buy one that already is at a good price and then weld it up myself. At least I'm not paying for someone else's filler lashings and quick blow over. Going back to light part support, that includes my Dolomite. With a free day off I decided to go up and see the club parts man to relieve me of over 500quid of various bent pieces of metal. 😳 Hopefully this should be all that I need now in terms of panels to complete it. Just need to put in time now and get it all done. Taken a chunk out of my budget for a Moggie but there isn't a huge amount out there of them at the moment anyway.

it's always nice to see your bulkhead not connected to anything. I always judge the severity of the rot by how big a cat could climb through the hole following the famous kitten Peugeot 604 picture. I think you're at an american curl heading for an exotic short tail

Frisbee the trims and be done. Also colour coded interior! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265154042489?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200818141841%26meid%3Dbe73e27589a04aeb89278181724526a9%26pid%3D101111%26rk%3D8%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D194049613963%26itm%3D265154042489%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2563228%26algv%3DDefaultOrganicWithAblationExplorer&_trksid=p2563228.c101111.m2109

6000 mile Proton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164857521079?hash=item26624623b7:g:PAwAAOSwPgtgmB7f

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101298489777 Cat C 1007, looks well* repaired. "Please call to check availability to avoid disappointment". The only disappointment would be finding it still there.

Probably realised it wasn’t worth his while trying to sell you drugs.

Start preparing early for next winter's OMGSNOKAOS https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/397875577494802

Tomorrow, at WTF??! o'clock in the VERY A.M., to a track day at Mallory Park for a shakedown (hopefully not literally) 😎

If it comes to Britain, it won't stay rust-free for very long. Best it stays where it is.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/295615582095464/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_general&referral_story_type=general&tracking={"qid"%3A"6961456873722550971"%2C"mf_story_key"%3A"30518397885389193"%2C"commerce_rank_obj"%3A"{\"target_id\"%3A30518397885389193%2C\"target_type\"%3A6%2C\"primary_position\"%3A10%2C\"ranking_signature\"%3A8814523779142123520%2C\"commerce_channel\"%3A501%2C\"value\"%3A0.00022510283383611%2C\"upsell_type\"%3A108}"}

I really like this but its hugely overpriced Interior looks nice besides the missing trim but the seller glosses over one small detail- the mot ran out in 2007. 14 years ago ffs. £7,999.00 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194095599233?hash=item2d30ffce81:g:DRAAAOSw23JgkTPR

Thanks all, agree hopefully when I make another. I'll make it more weathered. An I will definitely try and add some extra security! Cheers @Split_Pin, there a another Cav hiding in there along with a Nova & Belmont too. I've got a few that have been modified as well, but are mostly just wheel swaps. I got into them as a kid, as occasionally my parents would stop by two shops that sold 1:87 Cars. Me and my Brother could only afford a few back then. So like most of us, I've been making up for lost time. Sounds like you have a healthy collection there too. You should definitely build a house scene!

Well I've checked out all the other charity shops and unless you wanted a Corgi copy London bus in a box, or a Cararama size Inspector Morse Jag keyring for £6, there was nothing else. I did gently berate the woman at the till for selotaping the price label over the original stickers on the Rolamatics Rangie, but careful cutting with a blade hasn't left it looking too bad CX and Pontiac were similarly taped, paint damage was already on the big Bird

Two calls and sorted. Yay.

Hmm...

Just came across my uncle's stash of late 1970's to late 80's bus pornography on his Flickr account, and instantly thought this stuff would be right at home here: That's him driving over a particularly humpy bridge in rural Essex in 1982, his passengers stood in the cold to shed some weight for better ground clearance. Here are a few other pics, a lot more on his Flickr account for those interested:

Over the weekend Tom and I managed to do the long awaited road trip around the dales. I will pull together a brief video explaining the story and a few short clips i took from the trip. Sadly last night both cars have gone off to new homes so its onto the next chapter!!

Any excuse

I was pretty certain where it was from at the time but hadn't checked: I remember buying this set after winning about £50 on the premium bonds, and being allowed to use half of it on toys. Also got a Corgi Mini and the Police Peterbilt recovery vehicle

Big day today, the E30 went for a drive on a public road to a garage for some last little bits and pieces/its test, officer. Most of the rust *repairs are done and she's been tarted up a little bit. Words are boring, pics better: Unpainted filler is the preferred look. Still need to be lowered c.40mm on the front.

An old Mazda pickup truck. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284287936027 Oh, but what's this?

Start the conversation with your mrs about how you’ve put a bid on this decommissioned 737 for 120 grand https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114795926316 Then you turn the conversation around to you’d actually prefer an old Land Crab or something, she’ll agree in a heartbeat

Have the fastest Maestro in town. Not much of a brag these days, except on here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164855683133

So, the bold Merc has developed an incontinence issue.... After much head scratching, and a little culinary and nasal testing, it was deemed to be diesel..... Where from though?? Also, thank flip it wasn't suspension fluid 😂 I had been out assisting a mate with a Tigra that had a stuck on handbrake, large hammer to the rescue! Got home after dark, and decided to have a look under the bonnet to see if I could see what the issue was.. Started at the passenger side, working round the fuel filter, all dry... Then round to the driver side and the diesel smell grew stronger, nothing quite like diesel leaking onto a hot engine to clear the lungs.. The culprit: A quick rummage around found some vac line in a similar dimension, so that was employed for a temp fix! https://youtube.com/shorts/spQAb9xWjx0?feature=share Not the best pic, but you can see how wet it looks, also its a bit gubbed! Tune in soon for more exciting content! Also, pretty happy it was a simple issue!

Buick Reatta in an unusual color with an ambitious reserve. Unfortunately this one wasnt equipped with the CRT touchscreen: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203447577183?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l1120&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=48601f4b06fe4af3b4721602b06844b0&bu=43272004167&ut=RU&exe=98459&ext=232178&logid=nqt%3DEAAAAAAAAAIAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAAAAAAAAAQAAIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAAAQAAAAAAAAAAAEA**%26nqc%3DEAAAAAAAAAIAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAAAAAAAAAQAAIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAAAQAAAAAAAAAAAEA**%26mdbreftime%3D1620730144425%26es%3D77%26ec%3D1&osub=-1~1&crd=20210511040029&segname=11021&sojTags=ch%3Dch%2Cbu%3Dbu%2Cut%3Dut%2Cnqt%3Dnqt%2Cnqc%3Dnqc%2Cmdbreftime%3Dmdbreftime%2Ces%3Des%2Cec%3Dec%2Cexe%3Dexe%2Cext%3Dext%2Cexe%3Dexe%2Cext%3Dext%2Cosub%3Dosub%2Ccrd%3Dcrd%2Csegname%3Dsegname%2Cchnl%3Dmkcid

I'm surprised the price of these hasn't gone through the roof yet. This one is a v6 for 1500 quid. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/461388988256083

MOT pass achieved!

I made things complicated again. . So a spare carlton centre section and discovery back box, Some chopping and thinking later and the box is in. The bumper is all melted from previous exhaust issues. So i cut the bumper to a nice even square but then it ended up massive. And well this happend . . . Some head scratching and some large ish gaps in the joints were welded but for a first attempt at an exhaust from basically scrap im quite pleased.

106 has departed, and everyone's happy.

Stepdaughter started a new job today, a few hours a week in the local chippy. She is 17 in January and is hoping to start lessons as soon as she can

£2,000.00