dieselassist

A mate of mine, Ray, has had this Renault 11 5 door turbo for a number of years; he originally bought it from his brother, who lived in France for a number of years n drove it back home to Ireland, on moving back here... Its still on French Plates.
 
Its rust free, and runs n drives very well; paint is pogweaseled but no damage  n pretty straight n looked after, AFAIK
 
... hes kept it started n driven it occasionally locally, over the years - its always been garaged; hes selling as he has a few projects (Volkswagens mainly), n needs the space its occupying back....
 
Im not 100% on year or mileage but I will get more details off him when im next talking to him; next days or so- looks like a 'Phase 3' to me, so 1987 on??... but im not what you would call a world authority on Renaults... According to him, the 5 door turbo R11's were only available in France
 
Anyways, he looking for €1700 ono; €1200 on the nose'.....
 
 the car is located in Ireland, south Tipperary, about 2 hours drive from Rosslare.
 
Pm me  n i'll pass on Ray's no to anyone genuinely interested....

a lot of old famers round these parts used to swear by 1.9D mk3 golf's n vento's, towing heavy cattle trailers; their preferred 'mod' was to replace the springs with section of right diameter pipe, to aid towing/ avoid severe 'arse drag' - of course its hugely dangerous n the brake bias is rendered useless/inactive....
 
'Funniest bodge' I heard of was from a newly qualified mechanic, they had a regular customer who was a dower, ignorant wanker - constantly taking down to the small garage proprietor n waxing lyrical about how all folk in the motor trade were crooks etc etc - the customer was a small time courier n had a 1.9D seat inca, that feck all much went wrong on, but he was a regular in for minor 'small time shiz problems and servicing...
 
...anyways, he minced the mechanics heads on several trips over the heater not being directed to where he wanted it; most of the dash was disassembled n a sticking flap fixed.... he returned again saying they's 'fugged up' the reassembly job as with the fan at full, wasn't as powerful as before 'they'd be at it'...
 
mechanics duely disassembled the dash heater ducts again but this time 'JB welded' in a child's plastic whistle in the base of one of the main ducts, reassembled all n returned the van back to the customer...
 
He returned again n again, moaning, 'the heater is whistling like a banshee now' - which was met with much laughter... they feigned fixing the 'problem' till the customer took his business n drama elsewhere....

...its a 115bhp BKE engine code B6; mine is a sort of irish spec semi s-line spec; colour coded lower bumpers but base level cloth interior etc; its up at 380k kms at the moment; TBH its had an intank  lift pump that I replaced with a 2nd hand unit; it has a 'every 4 to 6 months' -refuses to start at all, issue; possibly worn injectors; 2 days in the year on the day it will crank n crank n wont catch at all; draining battery's  n wont start- next day it starts on the key- no issues... I actually forget about this issue occasionally; had it plugged in but they found no faults - it had all audi service history before me with eye watering bills before I bought it for €600- previous owner used to chug it round france n Europe with no issues... its just a daily / load lugger to me; a motorised holdall for tools etc - I have broken a rear spring in it... best MPG I had was when me and the brother bought my old mans 04 skoda estate 110bhp auto - he originally bought that from BCA in blackbushe, Hampshire UK - it was possible to achieve 65 mpg in that 50mpg if you hammered it with the right foot...
I like the VAG Tdi's as the seem to largely 'look after themselves' if you bother to service them; even without regular service they seem to plod on; just all round a decent reliable daily chugger...

...I pissed myself laughing yesterday when a mate told me he'd been to  our local NCT centre to have a 'visual' minor fault inspected (seat belts 'inoperable'- just slow to release so I wanged some GT/45 or whatever into them) from last week...
.... he reported the place was ramm'jammed with folk n in total chaos; the local place is always staffed by a contingent of knobend testers; they are super reluctant to issue the pass cert first time, n fail on petty shit eg. 'number plate lights not sufficiently bright enough' or whatever - anyways the lifts issue coupled with their propensity to have folk returning for the minor outside in the carpark visual inspection shit led to the total chaos - their continued petty stupidity caught up them... I travel 40 miles away to the limerick test centre when getting my own done; its staffed by reasonable non petty testers

Couple I have seen
1975 Ford Fairmont Falcon XB. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr
1971 Ford Fairmont 4.9 V8 Station Wagon. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr
1971 Ford Fairmont 4.9 V8 Station Wagon. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr
1972 Ford Fairmont 4.9 V8 Saloon. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr
 
 
1961 Holden EK. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr
1973/74 Holden Kingswood. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr
1993 Mitsubishi Magna 2.6 GLX Estate. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr
 
1996 Ford Falcon Longreach GLi. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr
2004 Ford AU Falcon Utility. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr
 
Seen a few of those pickups about, most recently near Buckingham around Christmas time, I think they were imported for a very short period.
2003 Coleman Milne Fairline. by Sam Osbon, on Flickr
One of the batch of converted Fairmonts for funeral use, these were marketed as funeral transport I think. I have seen one or two for sale, one not being very much. Saw another about a week ago. 
 

RJC_3627 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_3626 by srblythe, on Flickr
 
I got another 190E!
 

RJC_2900 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2901 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2903 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2904 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2905 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2906 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2907 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2908 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2909 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2910 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2911 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2912 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2917 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2919 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2922 - Copy by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2924 - Copy by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_2926 - Copy by srblythe, on Flickr
 
Just fucking wow! It's amazing under there!
The rust around the rear screen isn't pretty but everywhere else seems to be in great order. It doesn't currently run, I think it needs a new mechanical fuel pump and some new points as the wiring all seems a bit loose. Yesterday at the sellers place it seemed to fire up briefly so I know that it is capable of doing something but at the moment there's no fuel getting through. Replacement bits seem to be readily available and cheap on ebay.

Collecting Tuesday...................

RJC_2733 by srblythe, on Flickr
 
I managed to get the Subaru up on the ramp yesterday and it seems to be more solid underneath than my black roadworthy one, I think it will need the brakes sorted, a pair of front drive shafts and a hole in the bed welded up and it might go through an mot. It now starts up and drives fine with no issues.

ive just spent the last few hrs going through this thread; facinating n enthralling stuff altogether!! fair play datsuncog et all for all the ongoing research ...
 

ive just spent the last few hrs going through this thread; facinating n enthralling stuff altogether!! fair play datsuncog et all for all the ongoing research ...
 

Sorry, I didn’t take a vid but I did take a photo!
its looking much better, the door shuts have all had a nice wipe down but the whole lot is begging for a cut and polish. 
 
I did find a little rot though, the inner wing below the drivers side headlight will need a patch but nothing too drastic.  
 
the inner wings near the bulkhead were covered in damp mulch which was jetted away quite nicely. The areas appear totally solid but the VIN plate has corrosion and I’m not sure I’ll be able to read the VIN number to get a new V5c!

I’ve heard people having good results by sticking bacofoil onto headlight reflectors to make them shiny again. perhaps worth a try. 
 
A couple of the rims are so corroded the valves are in danger of popping out. I think they’re beyond help realistically.
I forgot to add the photos of it coming home, I didn’t A frame it in the end, the guy had just bought a Eurocargo recovery truck and was dying to test it out, he delivered it the couple of miles back home for free! Top fella. 
 
The boot contained a big box of spares, mostly brake parts and filters which will come in very handy, included was a spare NEW hubcap. I’m tempted to replace all the hubcaps for chrome items as I prefer the look of those, I’m not sure on the availability of them though. 











 

I need to cut down on my screen time, I seem to spend far too much time on Facebook and AS. Yesterday was one of those times and I spotted a little Visa for sale very locally.
It had been left semi abandoned in a yard and had disappeared under a row of conifer trees. The yard was being extended and the overgrown area cleared and out popped this little Citroen. All 652cc of it (2CV engine!)
 
I was expecting a right rot box but amazingly I can’t find any real grot anywhere, the odd patch of sill has surface* rust which should clean up OK, the flange on the bulkhead where the spare wheel goes also looks a bit flakey and might need repair. 
It was last on the road in 2010 and drove to where it was parked,  I’m unsure whether the engine has seized and the brakes are very stiff but fingers crossed it won’t be that bad. 
I left a deposit and I’m A framing the thing back home tomorrow.
The keys are missing so I’ll have to remove the steering lock, I’ll then have to replace the locks or order a key, if that’s possible.
Anyway, some photos..

@jonathan_dayane (didn't feel like clogging up the thread quoting)- that looks similar to the way mk1 focus's rot in that area; a longwinded n intricate sort of welding job- I sacked off doing it on my mates mk1,5 focus in that area on both sides of the boot floor; the strut towers were also cornflake consistency after hammer strike testing... his also had sill perorations so the car got condemned; anyways fair play for metal kitting all that back together; looks like a decent job...  

Slight MOT failure issue repaired. I did have to buy a new welder but now all good
 

Another collection today. Local car so not worthy of its own thread...Ka with the usual rusty fuel flap. Which is a shame as its like new otherwise. Wheel trims will need binning tho, anyone with a decent set lying around?

c'est ca!! ...six is an acceptable no; same as myself (I think!), tho I have a few 'halves' which are either car bodies/shells so I don't count them... I try to stay away from 'odd number of cars' as it creates 'storage anomalies ' so I aim for the even numbers; rarely sell one but a new purchase gets me into the even numbers again- you have to have a system as harry hill says...

Thx @dieselassist and @Garythesnail I might advise my friend* that one might make an ok veg commuter.
This one is giving me my friend the horn, but MOT history makes me a little suspicious:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Landrover-Freelander-Mark-1-Diesel/123918004436
 
 

it will work well as a car; my mate who had a few of them reckoned the prop removed/FWD consversion was better for his general MPG n he mentioned tyres lasting longer, after he changed to road only tyres n he lived in 'big time stickZ'; he liked to buy a breaker that didn't have its prop removed tho as he reckoned the coupling wear in its past life had transferred to rear diff n with it removed after many miles; the undriven rear diff was likely to even more severely worn n leakey...
On the diesel theres one of the glow plugs that unremovable unless the pump is off; he was down at mine with cold cranking/catching issues n the glowplug behind the pump was well older than the rest n stuck; I managed to heat n bend a spanner to remove it after heating it, but there wasn't enough space to physically remove the plug- from memory its was 2000 era...
I welded on some off-road OLLI looking  tubular steel side steps with checker plate inserts he got off one of his breakers onto his one; they were so bent n the holes didn't line up so I I just welded them on; utter poinlessness vanity but that's what he wanted done....
theres a 'hippo's forum' - hippos are their knickname he used to be on he mentioned, some 'good info' was on there, is the forum is still going...

it will work well as a car; my mate who had a few of them reckoned the prop removed/FWD consversion was better for his general MPG n he mentioned tyres lasting longer, after he changed to road only tyres n he lived in 'big time stickZ'; he liked to buy a breaker that didn't have its prop removed tho as he reckoned the coupling wear in its past life had transferred to rear diff n with it removed after many miles; the undriven rear diff was likely to even more severely worn n leakey...
On the diesel theres one of the glow plugs that unremovable unless the pump is off; he was down at mine with cold cranking/catching issues n the glowplug behind the pump was well older than the rest n stuck; I managed to heat n bend a spanner to remove it after heating it, but there wasn't enough space to physically remove the plug- from memory its was 2000 era...
I welded on some off-road OLLI looking  tubular steel side steps with checker plate inserts he got off one of his breakers onto his one; they were so bent n the holes didn't line up so I I just welded them on; utter poinlessness vanity but that's what he wanted done....
theres a 'hippo's forum' - hippos are their knickname he used to be on he mentioned, some 'good info' was on there, is the forum is still going...

This fine* automobile is still in my possession. 
It's a lot better than it was after a new MAF, replacing all the boost hoses, new PAS pulley, new belt, fixing various bodges, ensuring the exhaust no longer leaks and slowly poisons the inhabitants, etc. but it's still slow.
Back in the searing heat of the summer I fitted a new AC condenser and dryer as the bottom inch or so of the condenser was completely missing. Probably not the most pressing thing to sort, but this gave me lovely cool air and made me not hate the car so much. Recently the AC belt tensioner starting squealing horribly so the AC belt is off and I've lost interest in getting anything else sorted.
Every time I look at the car it reminds me of my stupidity.
Anyway, enough wallowing in self pity, anyone interested in buying a hateful 320d compact?

So I bought this omega in 2015/16 with the intention of doing a banger rally to Benidorm. The engine had a horrible grinding noise and the auto box was lazy. I spent £100 buying it, £50 on oil and filter for the gearbox and sold it for £200. I sold it to a distant mate who put another 2.5 Diesel engine in and put it back on the road. He’s been using it as a daily ever since. He bought a later omega in better condition with the same engine and offered me this one back or scrap it. £50 exchanged palms and the Omega is now back on my driveway. Epic. 
So the plan is this. I’m going to let it sit on my drive for a while, as next year I’m going to do another Banger rally. Cool. Then on return, the engine and Auto gearbox will be transplanted into my diesel Carlton. I hate having a manual gearbox so a diesel auto carlton is a great idea. Whether it happens or not is another thing. But I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. 

The rally takes three days finishing in Barcelona on the Sunday evening. We had originally hoped to add on a couple of days to wander about in Spain. Then work got in the way and I needed to be on a plane on the Tuesday. Mrs 3S and I had the option of scrapping car and flying back, or a big drive from Barcelona on the Monday.
The start was in Rouen and registration was on Thursday evening. We left home on Wednesday for a leisurely and drizzly drive there – with the roof up.
There were about 20 other cars. Some were really well decorated – there were two USS Enterprises,
Queen,

crash test dummies,
one golf fairway,

and some monks.
and a tank.

Most of the others had many stickers but some were, like us, quite low key with just the two rally stickers. As for spares we had a roll of electrical tape to mask the headlights and stick on anything that fell off. And some bulbs to be legal – but I don’t know if they fitted any of the lights.
The Friday section was from Rouen to Bordeaux. Along the way we had to find or do silly things as challenges. How I regretted taking those tapes out of the car. That lost us a point. Didn’t matter because we didn’t get many others anyway. The weather brightened, down came the roof and there it stayed. We stopped at the LeMans museum where I saw more old Citroens than I expected. That was a long drive and it was getting dark when we got into Bordeaux.

That was frustrating as we wanted to see the city – UNESCO World Heritage site…
Next day we headed south for Andorra.
All the challenges were photographic. We started to get the hang of this but still only go about half the points. This was a shorter drive and more fun than the day before. The phone’s satnav took us down some lovely little (and I mean little) roads as we approached the mountains. But it got confused and we paid 6 euros for a lonely drive through a 3-mile tunnel with and then another 6 euros to do it in the other direction. We ended the day high-fiving a female traffic cop in Andorra to get a 2-point photo.
The final day’s mission was to leave Andorra and head south for the Barcelona beach but the first challenge for us was to get out of the car park because there was no attendant to give us a ticket. When we finally got one I dropped it into the gap between the bonnet and the windscreen. That was the only time I opened the bonnet on the whole trip. The driver’s door wouldn’t unlock so I had to climb over it. By the time we had all that sorted and reached the start point everyone had gone. No matter we caught some of them up – it’s not hard to catch a Mercedes with a broken gearbox with 4 big blokes that’s dressed up as a golf course.
 


No challenges that day (apart from the car park). And then we were in Barcelona.

Thanks for the replies, guys - it's kept me entertained?
I haven't bombed too badly. It's a 2003, 3 door V6 automatic with 45k on the clock, full cow and, ecxept for 'AC needing a regas', everything works (or at least it has until I made that bold statement). It's also 4WD - must be as it's managed a huge* 1:5 slope on gravel and is therefore a proper* Land Rover. All bits of undercarriage are present and reasonably correct.
It drives nicely, the auto changes smoothly and it seems quite good at being a car.
Collection involved a hire car, 400 mile round trip, FTP (or more accurately FTS) by the FL, undeclared damage (a 'dink the size of a 10p piece' was bigger than my fist), a little white lie about the cambelt (yes, they have been changed but you neglected to mention that it was 9 fucking years ago) (*edit to add that an invoice has been found for the second cam belt change in the vehicle's life in 2019 - winner),  the purchase of a new battery to get it started..... and I was still stupid enough to buy it, leading to a completely uneventful 200 mile journey back home.
Here it is.

I am undecided on a name but shortlisted to Ollie, George or Gazza.
I actually quite like it.