Matty

Gasket arrived today (thanks, Royal Snail). I've bunged it straight on and have bolted most things back into place but it started drizzling plus Master Grogee needs feeding so I've stopped for now. 
I'll be doing a compression test before anything else because it'll be interesting to see if the compression is improved and maybe it'll change after getting hot/being run. 
It also has the added benefit of getting the oil pressure up before firing it up properly. 
It'll be nice if I can get a healthy running car back but I'm skeptical after all this fucking about. Plan C would be to source an engine. I did find one for £75 but it's in Pompey, plus there's the added faff of needing to get hold of an engine crane. 

I've checked block and there is no apparent banana-ing that I can detect. However there is pitting on areas of the block around the coolant channels, but not near the rings which seal the combustion chambers. There is no way of getting rid of this without a mill and a fly cutter so I'm going to live with it. 
I have been On A Journey as far as O-Series family tree is concerned. I was blithely assuming that all blocks and heads were basically the same, and I've successfully ordered parts for other cars (eg Rover 2000 and Freight Rover manifold gaskets) that fit just fine. 
Delving a little deeper I have found that head gaskets differ, at least between FWD and RWD cars and possibly even between FWD car derivatives. 
Part of my previous HG woes may well have been because I've been trying to fit the wrong gasket. 
The gasket in the plastic film is for a Sherpa/LDV and you can see the oil way and coolant channels don't match up. 
Fortunately I have a gasket listed for MG Maestro and Rover 800 (bASe models of which used O-series) coming. 
Whisper it, but I've also smeared a bit of sealant around the block where the pitting is apparent. This is a big Haynes no-no and must not ever be done under any circumstances. 
I wonder if it'll work? 

Youngest son next to a stunning ERF about 20 years ago, my once boss is part of the family who ran this in fairground days..

I started working for WS Transportation a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been allocated this Scania 18 tonner on pallet network and general haulage work.

Interestingly, it was originally a 4x2 tractor unit running in Eddie Stobart livery. In common with several sister trucks, it was stretched and converted to a curtainsider in 2021 (judging by the body builders plate on the door shut). At a guess, acquiring new trucks was difficult post-Covid, so the existing fleet was adapted to suit changing operational needs. Being a 410, it goes pretty well for a four wheeler! Here is a pic of it from the Eddie days, borrowed from ‘eastleighbusman’ via Flickr.

Just been taken out for a spin in this. 

Fucking gorgeous interior. 

Mate has paid £2.5k for it which seems fair.
The electrics survived the drive to the pub. 

This is brilliant. Autobahn near Bremen today; 
At first I thought he was an old Adolf who had accidentally joined the motorway, then it scarpered off up the road, when I caught it up and overtook it was some bloke grinning like a maniac. 🇩🇪😂

Battery charger and battery arrived.

Battery duly inserted in the hole, lubricated the mounting bolts and put the thing on charge because it's spent a lot of time in the box. 

Connected up, the dash provides a litany of faults. It all seems to work though. Climate control screen is half working, but the segments that are broken only show up at a temperature not normally set so that's good. 

Sunroof and windows all work, which is surprising.  Someone's been in there before, it's all nicely greased up.

Most of the other electrical things also work. Oddly this car has side repeater indicator lights, rear fog lights and the dash says BOOT OPEN when you pop the trunk. 
Driver's side seat has two movements that don't work, the front of the seat just whirs and doesn't move up or down, and the headrest just goes click. 
Radio also needs investigation.
 
Overall quite surprising how much of it still works. 
 
Phil

@rantingYoof dad broke it after not realising that you have to remove the back seat completely before trying it.
I fixed it when I got the car.
Broke it again when I forgot about removing the back seat 🤦‍♂️
Fixed it again.
Broke it good and proper when I forgot again about removing the back seat. 😫
 
So I'll put a health warning that you may end up doing the same with a new handle. 🤣

The search for a small auto for Little Cookie is over.
After weeks of frustrating car viewing and not finding anything suitable, that I can also use, I've bought a car.
A big fat German bird to be precise.
I've bought the E320 wagon, that @SiC was selling.

 
While its probably unsuitable for Little Cookie, now its on fleet, she can learn to drive in the Mondeo. 
No collection thread as I forgot
but @andyberg and @BerginJR accompanied me to pick it up.
Good chinwag ensued and then the drive home.
First impressions. Its a big heavy motor. Been a long time since I've driven a big petrol engined slush box motor. Needs a different driving style to the Mondeo. Very comfortable, lovely seats, makes you drive in a more relaxed manner. Lots of buttons, no idea what most do. Car exactly as described, as I expected, given I'm a repeat customer.
Mrs Cookie likes it a lot. She has always wanted a mercedes, seats are comfy and cosseting for her bad back and heated. She had a big smile on her face. Not taken her out in it yet, as have to save up for petrol
@SiC kindly threw in some parts, engine mounts, transmission service kit, which was very kind of him.
Fat bloke with the worst wollard selfie ever.

I've ordered some bits. Rubber boot mat to keep the boot clean, new wing mirror indicator, as the drivers side is a bit grotty.

A replacement rear view mirror, as the auto dim liquid has leaked, leaving the mirror with a dark bottom half.

And I've ordered a book pack, so I can find out what all the buttons do.
She will be used for the upcoming family visit to Hexham and Kirkcaldy and nephews wedding in Corbridge.
That should put a thousand miles on her.
When we get back at end of May, I will tackle the replacement of the rear air bags, engine mounts and service the box. 
 

Those are the best kind of fixes

Sorted. A folded up bit of paper on top of the battery to press it down more has worked 😂

We must have the same colour combo I think...

I think it's called Aqua Blue Pearl, and the inside is Platinum.  Looks cream in most lights but actually grey...

 
Also, when I scan the car using VCDS it causes the fault and alarms to go off, it does disappear when I close that controller though.  Maybe the 'turn it off again bit' is missing on your scanner?
If you're ever anywhere near Moray let me know if you want a go with it 👍

Currently having a shit week
This has made it
@Parky parky gis a wave

Here is the biography for Anne Sellors on IMDB. 

Sounds like a great woman. 
Wonder what she was in?
https://m.imdb.com/name/nm1856457/
 

Brave

Indeed. I'd sooner try to break the world record for pushing Cadburys mini eggs up my arse than drive a Picasso, and I cant imagine being alone in this (apart from the mini eggs bit obvs)

Not really the point I was making. Gambling costs literally mortgage’s. You can gamble 100’s,  1000’s or millions in the blink of an eye. Don’t recall anyone smoking a grands worth of fags in a week let alone a few seconds 

Yeah definitely angel dust influenced.

I never said they were cool or desirable, I just said they were technologically more advanced.

He's not wrong though is he. British Leyland cars were always way ahead technologically, except the Marina obviously before anybody buts in, but that was there because they could see Ford were outselling them with their horseless carts and thought they'd have a go.
But by the early seventies BL had FWD, five speed boxes, fuel injection, 16 valves, hydraulic suspension (and proper springs on the ones that weren't hydraulic) and self levelling suspension. And not just Leyland, most of the continental manufacturers were dabbling in these things too.
Yet Ford couldn't even manage FWD until 1977. But Ford knew how to sell cars and Leyland didn't. BL came up with lots of good ideas but never developed them properly. Any problems at the start of production tended to stay throughout the life of the car. And of course they were selling cars competing with themselves. Ford were selling simple to the point of ancient technology but people liked that because they understood it. 
Obviously Ford won by keeping it simple but there's no doubt everybody else was building better cars.

Weekend came.
Corsa B time. 
I replaced the front crossmember a few years back. I did weld it in and made sure it was glued in well. 
What if I hadn't done a good enough job!?
I also LOVE* making work for myself.
 
These plates are needed for Turbo swapped cars. Totally overkill for a 1.8! Figured having the tie rod area beefed up couldn't hurt.
Right! Cracked on with welding these plates in.


Passenger side welds are better. I was able to dial my technique in by then. Drivers isn't great, but there was enough heat in the weld to take a good hold. 
Rubbed down the crossmember to slap some red oxide on. Then that reacted with some paint I threw on it years ago. 
Duck it! I'll let it dry and worry about it another time.

Gone. Sold to a AS forum frequenter. I'll let themselves know if they want to. 
Will be one of the cars that I miss.

Took her out today as I needed to get my hair cut and give this a wash. She's been a good ol' bus and I'm going to miss it. Didn't think I'd like this car so much. 
 

Loaded and turned round now.