Exiled_Tat_Gatherer

My 8yr old was trying to point out a van last night - I couldn't tell what he was on about……
 
This morning - on the way to school - we passed a slightly more modern version of the Merc LWB van. He pointed it out and declared:
"When I'm older - I'm converting one of them into a camper" ……… #parentinggoingwellmethinks
 
I'll show him this thread later - he'll be chuffed

Well - EVERYTHING - flight delayed....... connection also delayed so I didn't miss it, bonus* - Craig moved it to car park nearer ferry port for my RORO delectation and the fudging thing wouldn't start....... fuxxstixx
 
It'll be thrown at a local spanner-magician for proper diagnosis but it seems fuel pump carck'd it, perfect timing.
 
Foot passsenger to Malo instead, last train gone..... find a hotel...... 2*povo spec FTASW. Grab some cash, thinks I, not on your life - says machine. New bank card wouldn't bloody work. Luckily I'd kept hold of the 'temp' card and it still worked, so a night sleeping rough was avoided (although not sure it would've been any worse than the fleapit).
 
Not to be daunted........ in the words of the big girls blouse from Hitler's hometown - I'll be back!
 
Oh yeah - this was all on my birthday that I'd forgotten, so 2 days late back and gf not at all happy...... happy shiting everyone.......

Norfolk has a suicidal animal group I swear...... the amount of various animals I hit, swerved to avoid or ran over remnants of beggars belief.
 
Best one was Uxbridge A40 though. On my way home late one night, under bridge going downhill past the speed camera and cows everywhere at the bottom on the curve....... swerved all over the place, missed em and ended up facing wrong way. Got onto side of road and called police.
 
Plod - hello......
Me - hi, there's a problem here on the A40 at Uxbridge by the speed camera. There's cows all over the road...... I've counted at least 13 of them
Plod - Sir, its a motorway, its built for cars......
Me - COWS
Plod - what
Me - C. O. W. S. - Moooooooooooo
Plod - bugger! OK see if you can warn anyone..... I'll radio through.
 
The guys showing up thought it was a prank at first. Local farmers field had some scrotes wrecking the fence so the herd went for a wander.
I left the 2 traffic bods to practice their cowboy skills...... it was 4am by then.

Hold the phone………….a fucking SPACESHIP!!!!  Where the fuck is THAT thread!

So the chuckle brothers were in fact, phase invertion pioneers!!!! Whodathunkit!
 
I am simply gobsmacked every time I see this car……. I can't help going through the photo's over and over again. I am a properly jealous guy. You are a lucky fella.
I also learn - which is a bonus for a thicko like myself. Appreciated
 
 
EDIT - Meant to say - apart from THIS
 

 
This gives me the cold sweats……. fuck that for a game of soldiers.

I honestly - for a second - thought that said EPIC - as in EPIC failure...………. something just dropped off/exploded and killed all nuns and kittens within a 5mile radius

And it is in hot track action today

Looks really good and sounds nice with half a silencer

Anyone lost a 1/4 drive ratchet ??

Ah bugger...

First part of this plan was to install some solar film on the cab windows. You can get this in various grades, but the basic idea is that it cuts out a significant proportion of the infra-red rays, but lets through most of the visible light. So given that most of the van is well insulated, I want to cut down on the sun's heat coming in through the windscreen.
Even with the aid of soapy water, manhandling a 2 x 1 meter sheet of sticky film inside the cab was rather tricky! With hindsight I thing I'd have adhered one edge on the glass without the soapy water, then removed the backing film as I went along. But I got it in:

Then I squeezed out the water, to allow the film to stick:

I'm not 100% happy with the end result, as if you look closely you can see imperfections, but not you can notice while driving. I need to replace the screen at some point, so If this makes a big difference I will apply film to the new screen before fitting. Anyway, this is the end result - just waiting for some strong sunshine to test it! You can see how some of the visible light is reflected, the effect of which is magnified at an angle.

We made a trip over to Shropshire this weekend, but although the weather was a lot better than Wales, we didn't get any strong sunlight while we were in the van. Went to our usual spot in the hills, and arrived just in time to watch the sun go down.

Nice drive through the ancient Blean Woodland for work this morning.

MOT pass, with a clean sheet. I do enjoy this little beauty. 

I wasn't happy with my tailgate so did a little bit more to it today.
RJC_9729 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_9731 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_9734 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_9736 by srblythe, on Flickr
 
Also been trying to sell the Polo for the last few weeks and just had my time wasted by dickheads so when someone offered there C230 Kompressor for it today I though fuck it, why not?
 
RJC_9747 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_9750 by srblythe, on Flickr
RJC_9752 by srblythe, on Flickr
 
Not bad at all!
 

Check out this sweet LDV pick-up which I saw at an event in Birmingham last weekend. Best vehicle there, in my opinion:

I chatted with the owner (the German Shepherd!) at some length and told him about about this place; he'd fit in straight away with such a quality motor, which has low miles, a very interesting history and is pretty much rot-free, having been Waxoyled when it was new. His plan was to take it on a pilgrimage to the remains of the former LDV factory at Washwood Heath at some point this week 

Hold the phone………….a fucking SPACESHIP!!!!  Where the fuck is THAT thread!

Hold the phone………….a fucking SPACESHIP!!!!  Where the fuck is THAT thread!

I've got a stash of HDD magnets for the flat panels when needing an extra pair of hands...…… they're incredibly strong for their size…… There's always a HDDD dying somewhere in your social circle. I've got the 'proper' ones too - but tend to use het smaller HDD bitches in preference. sadly - I think I have several on the chassis of various cars I've worked on, as i stick 'm close when busy and of course forget to take the damn things off afterwards………..

Finally got the keys to my new flat on Friday. I've spent all weekend putting curtains up etc and eventually moved in yesterday. The couples next door must be muslims as the lady mentioned they were fasting when she brought me a massive plate of pakora and spicy chicken wings. Lovely. She also got me a job for one of her mates. I have to fit a cooker extractor for him next week.

Hold the phone………….a fucking SPACESHIP!!!!  Where the fuck is THAT thread!

We supposed to place bets on which one outpaces the other (on a REGULAR) basis?
Love the XJS profile - if I had the space I'd be all over Broadswords………

My boss has the bypass on his new f type it hilarious when it’s bypassed spitting and popping . It starts in quiet mode which I imagine his neighbours are glad about.
He started it via the jag app on his phone yesterday to get the air con going 5 minutes before he left . I’d just spend all day starting and stopping it so I could hear it running from my desk

Post work quick bits done.

Connector for the headlight arrived


Electrical kit out



Old connector off


New ceramic one fitted


Drunk will also ordered a door bush set.

I hadn't remembered I had ordered them so was quite surprised when this package arrived


The old rubber ones get worn so some cheap 3d printed ones from eBay appeared today.

The doors then bang and flex when pushing on

Old ones

They go into this metal enclosures


Old bush off and compared to new


New one on and given a squirt



Doors miles less bangy now.

Beautiful peoples
Episode 17 is on yootoob,  without realising it is the least sweary episode yet
 
now onto the next stage and some spoiler for episode 18 which is still being processed.
Firstly engine oil burning issues were down to a blocked breather pipe on the RH head! such a silly problem with such a massive impact. Sleeping on it helped me find the problem next day with zero dismantlage and more importantly zero expense.
Barely a week ago I was at home, blasting stuff clean, getting busy with the wire brush on the angle grinder.
Here is why I do wear a carbon filter mask when doing this sort of shit

Results were good, next up was satin black powder coat

distracted briefly to help Mrs Thestag at a carboot sale - fucking hate them. BUT did bag this baby for 50p

This is the pipe that caused me so much bother, looks fine here but when the air filter is installed it is kinked.

Tailgates fitted beautifully. more issues were to follow here, because the tailgates are 2mm too close

inside of bonnet was grit blasted back, epoxy primed

paint on, not the greatest but for inside of the bonnet it is tidy enough

finally got the 3/16 threaded rod so I could link up the carbs correctly. Did a massive choon up and got the carbs and engine running sweet. It was at around this point that I noticed the buring oil in the exhaust

Irritated by that issue I moved onto other stuff, proving that the diff lock was working found an electric issue with the bulb circuit in the cars original switch.
This was one I borrowed from one of the projects. electrics are good on this but the vacuum switch is fubar. made one good switch out of the two

Nice 3d number plates arrived, super quick. Very pleased with these. Makes a massive change from the horrible trend of pressed aluminium plates on everything!

Wired up the number plate lights, the caps are in queue for powder coating tomorrow

I think this looks the bollocks, re powder coated bumpers are being picked up Tuesday, back end will be finished then 

Having fixed the oil burning issue drove up and down the field but could only get into 3rd gear even with low ratio selected. Might have been for a whizz around the block. Transmission is silky for an LT95 which is agricultural at best. 

Only issue really is that the tappets are tapping, maybe 2 hydraulic tappets have not settled. oil pressure is good. New quality set are on order but not due until Wednesday/thursday. Easy enough to fit but inlet manifold needs to come out again gah
Back on track for MoT next Friday

Just a little tidy up in the garage before lunch....................
Started to tidy up the mess I'd left in the garage after changing the Astra sump the other day. Wipe black oily mess of can of WD40 before putting it back on the shelf. Wipe, wipe, fumble drop! As the can left my hand and headed for terra firma it struck the slightest of glancing blows on the car ramp that was still sitting in the middle of the floor. Said Chinese sweatshop made ramp is naturally covered in many, many sharp unfinished edges. The ensuing geyser of WD40  erupting from the puncture wound in the nearly full jumbo size trade size can was so violent and rapid I just stood there and watched it laughing. Floor, toolboxes, motorbikes and me all drenched in the stuff. 
Two hours, half a gallon of screwfix degreaser, a box of rags and several buckets of hot soapy water later, the inside of the garage has never been so clean and I could see the funny side of things! Silver linings and all that it's made me have a good tidy up which has actually improved my shite fettling mojo somewhat.
I'm just REALLY grateful it wasn't a can of paint!

The maserati went all italian on me this morning, put ignition on and absolutely nothing happened. Opened bonnet was just about to start moving relays and it came to life, went for a run to gfs grandads to sort his battery out, sorted that, ignition came on but it wouldn't start, checked basics, fuel pump was priming and eventually it started, drove home OK, I'll check all the earth first job, then go from there 

2cv now ready for the Citroen rally next week.