Andyrew

The quick engine mount swap then, firstly what a wanky car this is to work on, Everything just in the way. 
Were we left off the engine wouldnt line back up and the rad broke.
Engine mount being upside didnt help! An Extra hand arrived and we  bolted it back  in. Rad then, simple ill just get a new one from mini spares. Nope 1300 rads bigger. £200 for a recon, luckily i found one for 28 quid that had been removed from a small tractor with a marina engine fitted.  Looks in good shape but untested as of now. 
Few bits picked up from mini spares as i was passing. Key one being an exhaust clamp as i couldnt get the exhaust too seal now the mounts have moved the engine where it should be (it was blowing before)  and a stat gasket. 
New clamp on , Exhaust still blowing. flange is miles off from going on straight and stat housing stuck. Balls. 
With the sun out i stripped out the old rad and numerous bits bolted to the engine. the cacked on oil and grime taken off.  Parts were cleaned up and some cases a quick and dirty paintjob given. 
Back to minispares a few days later. New stabilizer bushes (poly for the lower and rubber on the uppeelr), new stat housing and overflow pipe and a few other bits. 
Wire tidy and the coil got a neat little boot. It didnt need it. I just wanted it!


 
 

Sexy steels,
Not sure if ive mentioned it before but the scruffy panda of many miles ended up staying with mother rew after it was decided she found it easier to drive than her felicia.  The felicia will live on just parked in my workshop maybe one day it will get a tickle but its low on the list. 
Anyways, after a puncture and chewed up tyre from the tracking being out i picked up another set of part worns from my usual place on ebay and on they went. While the wheels were off the brakes were check after a noise was mentioned. Sure enough a weeping cylinder has made a mess in the drum. New drums, shoes and cylinders go on tomorrow.  I popped the other two tyres off and gave the wheels a quick knotwheeling and went from scuffy black to my favourite simoniz steel wheel paint. All rebalanced and chucked back on.
New number plate on and we are Looking povo spec snazzy

The other side still has the big dent in the door , the bonnet and bumper are showing the miles (133k!) However it seem this shade of silver is different to all the others being broken on ebay. Balls!
 

Today see a smidge of tinkering, 2 out of three jobs went well. 

Mates mondeo returned for some new boots, the two year old toyos where at about 2mm all round.  This time hes opted to go for some Kumhos, which may be what i go for next so i await his review of them!  Again, who doesnt love new tyres? 

With the Astra past my usual change interval and rapidly approaching 180k some of the finest 10w40 and a new filter went on. I said to my friend id drop the oil and while thats dripping every last drop out ill change the engine mounts on the VP1300, well. . .

It had at least 3 hours to drip, because though (still not finished) mounts were just a pain in the arse.  And the concerning crusty rad now leaks, bumhats. 

Tuesday a mate pops over and we will try again to wrestle the engine into place, ill drop the rad out and take it to my radiator guy. Its an expense i could have done without but the rad was very very crusty, as was the engine mounts 
 

Old shite new trick. 
A quick google suggests any A series with this down to manifold flange style struggles to seal. And if it does seal after a while it will blow again as there is no flex to exhaust appart from bending it. 
With new mounts and beefed up stab bar bushes id guess we would probably be okay for longer if i could get it to seal. However the part on the exhaust came in at the wrong angle in my eyes. And was barely sealing one side. Maybe tweaked from the engine moving about alot before.  So bollocks im cutting it. Choppy choppy. 
A snip on the down pipe part and i bolted the flange up as inline as possible. I then cut the first curve off and tweaked that a bit so its pointing in a direction i was happy with. 
As far as im concerned the exhaust would benifit from being isolated from the engine like a more modern motor so having found just one seller on ebay i ordered the smallest flexi ive ever seen at 32mm ID. Also a sleeve so i can make the single piece exhaust into two, so its not a massive arse to move about when fitting. 

It would probably be fine as is but some Additional brackets and mounts will be welded on to the front part of the rear section to  support the exhaust so the flexi isnt under a downward load 
Im told the new exhausts fit well but given this so far has cost only 40 quid in parts and the new systems are very pricey, im Hopeful this will be a reliable cure to a common problem, but we will see. 
 

Old shite new trick. 
A quick google suggests any A series with this down to manifold flange style struggles to seal. And if it does seal after a while it will blow again as there is no flex to exhaust appart from bending it. 
With new mounts and beefed up stab bar bushes id guess we would probably be okay for longer if i could get it to seal. However the part on the exhaust came in at the wrong angle in my eyes. And was barely sealing one side. Maybe tweaked from the engine moving about alot before.  So bollocks im cutting it. Choppy choppy. 
A snip on the down pipe part and i bolted the flange up as inline as possible. I then cut the first curve off and tweaked that a bit so its pointing in a direction i was happy with. 
As far as im concerned the exhaust would benifit from being isolated from the engine like a more modern motor so having found just one seller on ebay i ordered the smallest flexi ive ever seen at 32mm ID. Also a sleeve so i can make the single piece exhaust into two, so its not a massive arse to move about when fitting. 

It would probably be fine as is but some Additional brackets and mounts will be welded on to the front part of the rear section to  support the exhaust so the flexi isnt under a downward load 
Im told the new exhausts fit well but given this so far has cost only 40 quid in parts and the new systems are very pricey, im Hopeful this will be a reliable cure to a common problem, but we will see. 
 

Old shite new trick. 
A quick google suggests any A series with this down to manifold flange style struggles to seal. And if it does seal after a while it will blow again as there is no flex to exhaust appart from bending it. 
With new mounts and beefed up stab bar bushes id guess we would probably be okay for longer if i could get it to seal. However the part on the exhaust came in at the wrong angle in my eyes. And was barely sealing one side. Maybe tweaked from the engine moving about alot before.  So bollocks im cutting it. Choppy choppy. 
A snip on the down pipe part and i bolted the flange up as inline as possible. I then cut the first curve off and tweaked that a bit so its pointing in a direction i was happy with. 
As far as im concerned the exhaust would benifit from being isolated from the engine like a more modern motor so having found just one seller on ebay i ordered the smallest flexi ive ever seen at 32mm ID. Also a sleeve so i can make the single piece exhaust into two, so its not a massive arse to move about when fitting. 

It would probably be fine as is but some Additional brackets and mounts will be welded on to the front part of the rear section to  support the exhaust so the flexi isnt under a downward load 
Im told the new exhausts fit well but given this so far has cost only 40 quid in parts and the new systems are very pricey, im Hopeful this will be a reliable cure to a common problem, but we will see. 
 

Old shite new trick. 
A quick google suggests any A series with this down to manifold flange style struggles to seal. And if it does seal after a while it will blow again as there is no flex to exhaust appart from bending it. 
With new mounts and beefed up stab bar bushes id guess we would probably be okay for longer if i could get it to seal. However the part on the exhaust came in at the wrong angle in my eyes. And was barely sealing one side. Maybe tweaked from the engine moving about alot before.  So bollocks im cutting it. Choppy choppy. 
A snip on the down pipe part and i bolted the flange up as inline as possible. I then cut the first curve off and tweaked that a bit so its pointing in a direction i was happy with. 
As far as im concerned the exhaust would benifit from being isolated from the engine like a more modern motor so having found just one seller on ebay i ordered the smallest flexi ive ever seen at 32mm ID. Also a sleeve so i can make the single piece exhaust into two, so its not a massive arse to move about when fitting. 

It would probably be fine as is but some Additional brackets and mounts will be welded on to the front part of the rear section to  support the exhaust so the flexi isnt under a downward load 
Im told the new exhausts fit well but given this so far has cost only 40 quid in parts and the new systems are very pricey, im Hopeful this will be a reliable cure to a common problem, but we will see. 
 

Old shite new trick. 
A quick google suggests any A series with this down to manifold flange style struggles to seal. And if it does seal after a while it will blow again as there is no flex to exhaust appart from bending it. 
With new mounts and beefed up stab bar bushes id guess we would probably be okay for longer if i could get it to seal. However the part on the exhaust came in at the wrong angle in my eyes. And was barely sealing one side. Maybe tweaked from the engine moving about alot before.  So bollocks im cutting it. Choppy choppy. 
A snip on the down pipe part and i bolted the flange up as inline as possible. I then cut the first curve off and tweaked that a bit so its pointing in a direction i was happy with. 
As far as im concerned the exhaust would benifit from being isolated from the engine like a more modern motor so having found just one seller on ebay i ordered the smallest flexi ive ever seen at 32mm ID. Also a sleeve so i can make the single piece exhaust into two, so its not a massive arse to move about when fitting. 

It would probably be fine as is but some Additional brackets and mounts will be welded on to the front part of the rear section to  support the exhaust so the flexi isnt under a downward load 
Im told the new exhausts fit well but given this so far has cost only 40 quid in parts and the new systems are very pricey, im Hopeful this will be a reliable cure to a common problem, but we will see. 
 

The quick engine mount swap then, firstly what a wanky car this is to work on, Everything just in the way. 
Were we left off the engine wouldnt line back up and the rad broke.
Engine mount being upside didnt help! An Extra hand arrived and we  bolted it back  in. Rad then, simple ill just get a new one from mini spares. Nope 1300 rads bigger. £200 for a recon, luckily i found one for 28 quid that had been removed from a small tractor with a marina engine fitted.  Looks in good shape but untested as of now. 
Few bits picked up from mini spares as i was passing. Key one being an exhaust clamp as i couldnt get the exhaust too seal now the mounts have moved the engine where it should be (it was blowing before)  and a stat gasket. 
New clamp on , Exhaust still blowing. flange is miles off from going on straight and stat housing stuck. Balls. 
With the sun out i stripped out the old rad and numerous bits bolted to the engine. the cacked on oil and grime taken off.  Parts were cleaned up and some cases a quick and dirty paintjob given. 
Back to minispares a few days later. New stabilizer bushes (poly for the lower and rubber on the uppeelr), new stat housing and overflow pipe and a few other bits. 
Wire tidy and the coil got a neat little boot. It didnt need it. I just wanted it!


 
 

Old shite new trick. 
A quick google suggests any A series with this down to manifold flange style struggles to seal. And if it does seal after a while it will blow again as there is no flex to exhaust appart from bending it. 
With new mounts and beefed up stab bar bushes id guess we would probably be okay for longer if i could get it to seal. However the part on the exhaust came in at the wrong angle in my eyes. And was barely sealing one side. Maybe tweaked from the engine moving about alot before.  So bollocks im cutting it. Choppy choppy. 
A snip on the down pipe part and i bolted the flange up as inline as possible. I then cut the first curve off and tweaked that a bit so its pointing in a direction i was happy with. 
As far as im concerned the exhaust would benifit from being isolated from the engine like a more modern motor so having found just one seller on ebay i ordered the smallest flexi ive ever seen at 32mm ID. Also a sleeve so i can make the single piece exhaust into two, so its not a massive arse to move about when fitting. 

It would probably be fine as is but some Additional brackets and mounts will be welded on to the front part of the rear section to  support the exhaust so the flexi isnt under a downward load 
Im told the new exhausts fit well but given this so far has cost only 40 quid in parts and the new systems are very pricey, im Hopeful this will be a reliable cure to a common problem, but we will see. 
 

Old shite new trick. 
A quick google suggests any A series with this down to manifold flange style struggles to seal. And if it does seal after a while it will blow again as there is no flex to exhaust appart from bending it. 
With new mounts and beefed up stab bar bushes id guess we would probably be okay for longer if i could get it to seal. However the part on the exhaust came in at the wrong angle in my eyes. And was barely sealing one side. Maybe tweaked from the engine moving about alot before.  So bollocks im cutting it. Choppy choppy. 
A snip on the down pipe part and i bolted the flange up as inline as possible. I then cut the first curve off and tweaked that a bit so its pointing in a direction i was happy with. 
As far as im concerned the exhaust would benifit from being isolated from the engine like a more modern motor so having found just one seller on ebay i ordered the smallest flexi ive ever seen at 32mm ID. Also a sleeve so i can make the single piece exhaust into two, so its not a massive arse to move about when fitting. 

It would probably be fine as is but some Additional brackets and mounts will be welded on to the front part of the rear section to  support the exhaust so the flexi isnt under a downward load 
Im told the new exhausts fit well but given this so far has cost only 40 quid in parts and the new systems are very pricey, im Hopeful this will be a reliable cure to a common problem, but we will see. 
 

Sexy steels,
Not sure if ive mentioned it before but the scruffy panda of many miles ended up staying with mother rew after it was decided she found it easier to drive than her felicia.  The felicia will live on just parked in my workshop maybe one day it will get a tickle but its low on the list. 
Anyways, after a puncture and chewed up tyre from the tracking being out i picked up another set of part worns from my usual place on ebay and on they went. While the wheels were off the brakes were check after a noise was mentioned. Sure enough a weeping cylinder has made a mess in the drum. New drums, shoes and cylinders go on tomorrow.  I popped the other two tyres off and gave the wheels a quick knotwheeling and went from scuffy black to my favourite simoniz steel wheel paint. All rebalanced and chucked back on.
New number plate on and we are Looking povo spec snazzy

The other side still has the big dent in the door , the bonnet and bumper are showing the miles (133k!) However it seem this shade of silver is different to all the others being broken on ebay. Balls!
 

Old shite new trick. 
A quick google suggests any A series with this down to manifold flange style struggles to seal. And if it does seal after a while it will blow again as there is no flex to exhaust appart from bending it. 
With new mounts and beefed up stab bar bushes id guess we would probably be okay for longer if i could get it to seal. However the part on the exhaust came in at the wrong angle in my eyes. And was barely sealing one side. Maybe tweaked from the engine moving about alot before.  So bollocks im cutting it. Choppy choppy. 
A snip on the down pipe part and i bolted the flange up as inline as possible. I then cut the first curve off and tweaked that a bit so its pointing in a direction i was happy with. 
As far as im concerned the exhaust would benifit from being isolated from the engine like a more modern motor so having found just one seller on ebay i ordered the smallest flexi ive ever seen at 32mm ID. Also a sleeve so i can make the single piece exhaust into two, so its not a massive arse to move about when fitting. 

It would probably be fine as is but some Additional brackets and mounts will be welded on to the front part of the rear section to  support the exhaust so the flexi isnt under a downward load 
Im told the new exhausts fit well but given this so far has cost only 40 quid in parts and the new systems are very pricey, im Hopeful this will be a reliable cure to a common problem, but we will see. 
 

The quick engine mount swap then, firstly what a wanky car this is to work on, Everything just in the way. 
Were we left off the engine wouldnt line back up and the rad broke.
Engine mount being upside didnt help! An Extra hand arrived and we  bolted it back  in. Rad then, simple ill just get a new one from mini spares. Nope 1300 rads bigger. £200 for a recon, luckily i found one for 28 quid that had been removed from a small tractor with a marina engine fitted.  Looks in good shape but untested as of now. 
Few bits picked up from mini spares as i was passing. Key one being an exhaust clamp as i couldnt get the exhaust too seal now the mounts have moved the engine where it should be (it was blowing before)  and a stat gasket. 
New clamp on , Exhaust still blowing. flange is miles off from going on straight and stat housing stuck. Balls. 
With the sun out i stripped out the old rad and numerous bits bolted to the engine. the cacked on oil and grime taken off.  Parts were cleaned up and some cases a quick and dirty paintjob given. 
Back to minispares a few days later. New stabilizer bushes (poly for the lower and rubber on the uppeelr), new stat housing and overflow pipe and a few other bits. 
Wire tidy and the coil got a neat little boot. It didnt need it. I just wanted it!


 
 

Unhelpful 🤨

Old shite new trick. 
A quick google suggests any A series with this down to manifold flange style struggles to seal. And if it does seal after a while it will blow again as there is no flex to exhaust appart from bending it. 
With new mounts and beefed up stab bar bushes id guess we would probably be okay for longer if i could get it to seal. However the part on the exhaust came in at the wrong angle in my eyes. And was barely sealing one side. Maybe tweaked from the engine moving about alot before.  So bollocks im cutting it. Choppy choppy. 
A snip on the down pipe part and i bolted the flange up as inline as possible. I then cut the first curve off and tweaked that a bit so its pointing in a direction i was happy with. 
As far as im concerned the exhaust would benifit from being isolated from the engine like a more modern motor so having found just one seller on ebay i ordered the smallest flexi ive ever seen at 32mm ID. Also a sleeve so i can make the single piece exhaust into two, so its not a massive arse to move about when fitting. 

It would probably be fine as is but some Additional brackets and mounts will be welded on to the front part of the rear section to  support the exhaust so the flexi isnt under a downward load 
Im told the new exhausts fit well but given this so far has cost only 40 quid in parts and the new systems are very pricey, im Hopeful this will be a reliable cure to a common problem, but we will see. 
 

Old shite new trick. 
A quick google suggests any A series with this down to manifold flange style struggles to seal. And if it does seal after a while it will blow again as there is no flex to exhaust appart from bending it. 
With new mounts and beefed up stab bar bushes id guess we would probably be okay for longer if i could get it to seal. However the part on the exhaust came in at the wrong angle in my eyes. And was barely sealing one side. Maybe tweaked from the engine moving about alot before.  So bollocks im cutting it. Choppy choppy. 
A snip on the down pipe part and i bolted the flange up as inline as possible. I then cut the first curve off and tweaked that a bit so its pointing in a direction i was happy with. 
As far as im concerned the exhaust would benifit from being isolated from the engine like a more modern motor so having found just one seller on ebay i ordered the smallest flexi ive ever seen at 32mm ID. Also a sleeve so i can make the single piece exhaust into two, so its not a massive arse to move about when fitting. 

It would probably be fine as is but some Additional brackets and mounts will be welded on to the front part of the rear section to  support the exhaust so the flexi isnt under a downward load 
Im told the new exhausts fit well but given this so far has cost only 40 quid in parts and the new systems are very pricey, im Hopeful this will be a reliable cure to a common problem, but we will see. 
 

The quick engine mount swap then, firstly what a wanky car this is to work on, Everything just in the way. 
Were we left off the engine wouldnt line back up and the rad broke.
Engine mount being upside didnt help! An Extra hand arrived and we  bolted it back  in. Rad then, simple ill just get a new one from mini spares. Nope 1300 rads bigger. £200 for a recon, luckily i found one for 28 quid that had been removed from a small tractor with a marina engine fitted.  Looks in good shape but untested as of now. 
Few bits picked up from mini spares as i was passing. Key one being an exhaust clamp as i couldnt get the exhaust too seal now the mounts have moved the engine where it should be (it was blowing before)  and a stat gasket. 
New clamp on , Exhaust still blowing. flange is miles off from going on straight and stat housing stuck. Balls. 
With the sun out i stripped out the old rad and numerous bits bolted to the engine. the cacked on oil and grime taken off.  Parts were cleaned up and some cases a quick and dirty paintjob given. 
Back to minispares a few days later. New stabilizer bushes (poly for the lower and rubber on the uppeelr), new stat housing and overflow pipe and a few other bits. 
Wire tidy and the coil got a neat little boot. It didnt need it. I just wanted it!


 
 

Sexy steels,
Not sure if ive mentioned it before but the scruffy panda of many miles ended up staying with mother rew after it was decided she found it easier to drive than her felicia.  The felicia will live on just parked in my workshop maybe one day it will get a tickle but its low on the list. 
Anyways, after a puncture and chewed up tyre from the tracking being out i picked up another set of part worns from my usual place on ebay and on they went. While the wheels were off the brakes were check after a noise was mentioned. Sure enough a weeping cylinder has made a mess in the drum. New drums, shoes and cylinders go on tomorrow.  I popped the other two tyres off and gave the wheels a quick knotwheeling and went from scuffy black to my favourite simoniz steel wheel paint. All rebalanced and chucked back on.
New number plate on and we are Looking povo spec snazzy

The other side still has the big dent in the door , the bonnet and bumper are showing the miles (133k!) However it seem this shade of silver is different to all the others being broken on ebay. Balls!
 

Sexy steels,
Not sure if ive mentioned it before but the scruffy panda of many miles ended up staying with mother rew after it was decided she found it easier to drive than her felicia.  The felicia will live on just parked in my workshop maybe one day it will get a tickle but its low on the list. 
Anyways, after a puncture and chewed up tyre from the tracking being out i picked up another set of part worns from my usual place on ebay and on they went. While the wheels were off the brakes were check after a noise was mentioned. Sure enough a weeping cylinder has made a mess in the drum. New drums, shoes and cylinders go on tomorrow.  I popped the other two tyres off and gave the wheels a quick knotwheeling and went from scuffy black to my favourite simoniz steel wheel paint. All rebalanced and chucked back on.
New number plate on and we are Looking povo spec snazzy

The other side still has the big dent in the door , the bonnet and bumper are showing the miles (133k!) However it seem this shade of silver is different to all the others being broken on ebay. Balls!
 

Sexy steels,
Not sure if ive mentioned it before but the scruffy panda of many miles ended up staying with mother rew after it was decided she found it easier to drive than her felicia.  The felicia will live on just parked in my workshop maybe one day it will get a tickle but its low on the list. 
Anyways, after a puncture and chewed up tyre from the tracking being out i picked up another set of part worns from my usual place on ebay and on they went. While the wheels were off the brakes were check after a noise was mentioned. Sure enough a weeping cylinder has made a mess in the drum. New drums, shoes and cylinders go on tomorrow.  I popped the other two tyres off and gave the wheels a quick knotwheeling and went from scuffy black to my favourite simoniz steel wheel paint. All rebalanced and chucked back on.
New number plate on and we are Looking povo spec snazzy

The other side still has the big dent in the door , the bonnet and bumper are showing the miles (133k!) However it seem this shade of silver is different to all the others being broken on ebay. Balls!
 

Today see a smidge of tinkering, 2 out of three jobs went well. 

Mates mondeo returned for some new boots, the two year old toyos where at about 2mm all round.  This time hes opted to go for some Kumhos, which may be what i go for next so i await his review of them!  Again, who doesnt love new tyres? 

With the Astra past my usual change interval and rapidly approaching 180k some of the finest 10w40 and a new filter went on. I said to my friend id drop the oil and while thats dripping every last drop out ill change the engine mounts on the VP1300, well. . .

It had at least 3 hours to drip, because though (still not finished) mounts were just a pain in the arse.  And the concerning crusty rad now leaks, bumhats. 

Tuesday a mate pops over and we will try again to wrestle the engine into place, ill drop the rad out and take it to my radiator guy. Its an expense i could have done without but the rad was very very crusty, as was the engine mounts 
 

Jesus
 

Today see a smidge of tinkering, 2 out of three jobs went well. 

Mates mondeo returned for some new boots, the two year old toyos where at about 2mm all round.  This time hes opted to go for some Kumhos, which may be what i go for next so i await his review of them!  Again, who doesnt love new tyres? 

With the Astra past my usual change interval and rapidly approaching 180k some of the finest 10w40 and a new filter went on. I said to my friend id drop the oil and while thats dripping every last drop out ill change the engine mounts on the VP1300, well. . .

It had at least 3 hours to drip, because though (still not finished) mounts were just a pain in the arse.  And the concerning crusty rad now leaks, bumhats. 

Tuesday a mate pops over and we will try again to wrestle the engine into place, ill drop the rad out and take it to my radiator guy. Its an expense i could have done without but the rad was very very crusty, as was the engine mounts 
 

Today see a smidge of tinkering, 2 out of three jobs went well. 

Mates mondeo returned for some new boots, the two year old toyos where at about 2mm all round.  This time hes opted to go for some Kumhos, which may be what i go for next so i await his review of them!  Again, who doesnt love new tyres? 

With the Astra past my usual change interval and rapidly approaching 180k some of the finest 10w40 and a new filter went on. I said to my friend id drop the oil and while thats dripping every last drop out ill change the engine mounts on the VP1300, well. . .

It had at least 3 hours to drip, because though (still not finished) mounts were just a pain in the arse.  And the concerning crusty rad now leaks, bumhats. 

Tuesday a mate pops over and we will try again to wrestle the engine into place, ill drop the rad out and take it to my radiator guy. Its an expense i could have done without but the rad was very very crusty, as was the engine mounts