Carl1981

I read that as you were suggesting putting an A-series engine in 😂🤦‍♂️ Probably be more reliable!

That was my thought, the water pump isn’t moving the fluid around. Im not keen on getting into a big project at the moment, I’ve got plenty of other crap old cars that need my attention unfortunately. I’ve never seen an a series fitted in a rover metro, but the a-series was a good little engine. when I’ve got some time later in the week, I’m going to ring a couple of garages and get some thoughts and prices on swapping the water pump. It’d be easier to sell if it was working properly!

With a sale now agreed on the T5, I’ve moved focus onto the Metro… Regarding the T5 though, why is it when I'm buying a car there is none available and they are worth huge sums of money, but when I'm selling no-one wants one?!? Perhaps it's just my taste in cars 🤣 As I mentioned previously, the Metro overheated about a month ago and had to be helped home by the nice people in those yellow vans. We were only 2 miles from home when she overheated, so a top up of water and nurse it home was deemed the best plan of recovery. The Metro was immediately banished to the naughty corner which this time was street parking in a quiet little road around the corner from the house, where I used to be on good terms with the neighbours 😬😂 Then my normal approach to this sort of thing... pretend the car doesn’t exist for a while whilst I decide what to do with her! I decided the most common fail (apart from OMG HGF) is the thermostat. So I ordered a new OE part from Rimmers and after looking at it for a fortnight, decided to get off my arse and fit it. After reading in the Haynes manual that the thermostat isn’t an easy part to get at… I first tested the new part in a pan on the hob, definitely working and opening at 88degC so I’ll press on. It is an understatement that these are not an easy part to get to, it’s almost as if Rover started with a thermostat and then built an entire car around it! It took nearly four hours, lots of swearing and quite a bit of skin off my hands, but shiny new part fitted by mid-afternoon Saturday. Unfortunately a month of being unused had knocked the life out the battery, despite being on charge since early hours Saturday, there wasn’t enough life to spin the engine over, damn. Back on charge then… Sunday morning, my CTEK charger says the battery is back up to full health, so back on it goes. I checked the coolant level again and started her up, a bit spluttery to start with but once she’d cleared her throat she was fine. Seemed to warm up well so I headed off to the farm shop for gardening supplies. “I used to have one of those” said the guy in the farm shop, “Did yours ever work properly?” I asked 😂 The car appeared to be working well, I drove it home and gave it a wash. Checked the coolant level again, fine. Right, I leave it to run until the fan comes on then. Nope, just getting hotter and hotter. Top rad hose hot, bottom cold, hmmm 🤷‍️. So I tested the old thermostat on the hob, damn, that seems to be working OK too, so it probably wasn't that then. I know you shouldn’t really, but I then ran the car with the expansion tank cap off, to see if there was any movement of coolant around the system, it looks a still as a mill pond. I confess, my understanding of this coolant system is very limited, but to my mind if I have no movement in the system I could have a duff water pump? So I’ve decided to banish the Metro again, this time to the MIL driveway a couple of miles away. I can’t put it back where it was, I think it had out stayed it’s welcome outside my now former-mates house! It’s a shame to banish it again, because the car drives really well and feels like a cheerful and willing little thing and it really does get loads of positive attention. But, the decision I need to make is whether or not to carry on messing about with it, I've had it nearly two years and haven't had it working properly and reliably much in that time at all, I think my love for the Metro has waned 😔 I’ve not got the motiviation to change the water pump and I’m certainly not confident to tackle the worst case, could it be HGF? I’m well aware that people call this engine the kettle series for a good reason! So I either farm out the work to a garage for diagnostic and whatever comes next, or I sell the car as is. I think I’ve done enough to save her from the scrappy, perhaps someone with a bit of experience on the K-series engine (or just a bit better with the spanners) could finish this off and enjoy a Metro that works properly! I’m provisionally posting a spares and repairs sale ad, see what interest (if any) we get.

I’ve started another post about thinning the collection down a bit… but the Metro is the other car that needs some consideration, it’s currently off the road due to (I think) the thermostat not working properly. after the last post here, she did successfully pass the MOT, a bit more rot was identified in the rear cross member / rear valance area, but nothing terminal. However, continued kettle series maladies and lack of time means in the last 12 months, it’s spent about 3 months playing up and hasn't covered many miles at all. It hasn’t turned a wheel again for a month now! I will do the thermostat when the weather cheers up a little, but I think the metro may have to go to support the thinning of the fleet and I promise not to buy anything else for a while immediately to replace the 2 car gap I’ll have in my automotive landscape! I need to focus on the T25 and the ‘40 and everything has got really expensive over the last 18 months, I’d rather have two or three good (ish) cars than a fleet of knackered cars I can’t afford to fix 😂 my question is this though, what do you guys think a 1994 metro might be worth? I was thinking £2250, but looking at what is available it’s really hard to tell if I’m pitching it right?

I'm not really upset that the Fiesta is finished, although I will mostly remember them fondly... I've had a few though... One of my older mates who was the first of our little group to get an actual car had a red mk1 popular that I loved and remember through rose-tinted glasses. Finance wasn't really the done thing then and hadn't got common place yet, so when my first Fiesta came along about 4 years later in 1998, mk1's were all very tired. I let Dad talked me into a much better mk2, D118 EVT, £160 we paid, with a bit of tax and test (probably just enough to get us home 🤣). This was a very tired and very end of life example. It was supposed to be diamond white, but it's 9 years had not been kind, it seemed to have spent most of its life parked up to its door handles in the sea! It had lots of orange staining and bubbly paint, on the arches, the sills, A-pillars, tail gate, doors and so on. The painted bumpers were particularly bad and the wings were beyond rescue. A sensible person would have admitted their mistake and cut their losses, perhaps selling on again as spares or repairs. But my driving test was booked for about 6 weeks' time, so within a month it was a multi-coloured mk2 950 popular, blue bonnet, two 'pattern' black front wings and a red door. Many rattle cans later it was all white again, but not pretty and not shiny. Within a month lots of the rust was starting to show through again 🙄 We got around the general grotty appearance by getting an MOT failure XR2 and in true 1990's style we swapped all the fancy plastic bumpers, body kit, spoiler, fog lights and pepper pot alloys on to mine. This dealt with the terminal rot very professionally hid the rust from view and allowed me to get on with abusing my first car. This meant the very cheap and tatty mk2 was actually a very expensive tatty mk2! But it was cheap to insure, and I learned a lot about running cars from my 18 months in my first Fiesta. I remember that car very fondly. My next fiesta (after many Rover and PSA products in between) was a 2001 zetec freestyle, mk4 .5? When Ford briefly dropped the sad face and put Focus/Mondeo style sharp/edge lights on the front as a face lift? That was a complete crock of cack, it was 25 times the price of my first one and whilst this one wasn't rotten it wasn't any better as 'an car', lots of niggly problems that the dealer didn't want to know about. I had it about 3 months, really didn't gel with it, someone must have done as it seemed to rock on until 2015 according to the MOT history. Again after some time away, I picked up and ran a cheap (£300) sad face Fiesta for about 14 months. My mates all called it '50 shades of blue'. There's a real pleasure in knowing your car, that the guys in his 3 series sneers at, total purchase price was less than one month PCP on his 3 series! I loved and drove that car until the front suspension unexpectedly and spectacularly fell apart pulling off the driveway. Car was destroyed as a result and it had to be trailered off in the most undignified fashioned to its final resting place, Tyrones in Brum. Strangely, I mourned and I continue to miss that grumpy looking car. Of about 30 cars I've had, Fiestas have been the most repeated and technically, if we include the XR2 donor car, I've had 4 of them. I like the look of the most recent ones, but they seem so expensive. Not when new (Although £20k sounds a lot for a Fiesta), inflation adjusted when you consider how big they now are and the safety kit you get, they're the same sort of price new as they probably always have been. But three and four thousand pounds for an end-of-life Fiesta, no thanks. Fiestas have always been best sampled at the now non-existent £300 end of the used car market! 😂 RIP Fiesta! (Definitely not heading over now to the sale section for another look at that yellow mk1! 🤣, don't do it, don't do it!)

That’s a shame, looked a lovely motor on the surface. I bet you’re disappointed on one hand and massively relieved on the other!

Lovely car, just the right spec, colour, engine everything… I’m not jealous!

That colour will look great, close enough to original that only the anoraks amongst us will notice it’s not 😎

Finally, the Metro... I still love this car, gingercators and all! But she's proving to be hard work, I've had her just about one year now and have made many improvements in that time, but she hasn't been running properly, the MOT has expired, she's had to have a tickle with a welding stick and she's been overheating! It got that bad, I sent her to the naughty corner (MIL driveway) and forgot about her for a couple of weeks months whilst I tried to get my Metro mojo back. Welding in the rear arches is sorted now, Whilst finishing that job, I cleaned the arches out properly to ensure we'd found and repaired all the rot properly. I was pleasantly surprised by the condition... I've now touched up any chips or damage and painted the welded areas with the same zinc primer, stone chip, body colour similar blue and then two coats of black dinitrol. So I'm fairly confident she's solid now, and protected from the elements a little. Next on my list was the rich running and lumpy idle, unwillingness to run without a bit of choke etc. Fearing all my symptoms could be OMGHGF, I consulted my big book of knowledge... Took a brave pill and told myself I'm already a couple of grand into this car, she's not completely rotten, must be worth saving and a bit of effort, come on man get a grip! I thought I'd start by cleaning the carb as I have already replaced all the electrical service items within the last 300 miles. Cleaned everything I could get to without completely dismantling beyond the point of my confidence to re-assemble again. Whilst putting it back together I consulted the haynes manual for cause of rich running on these, the Haynes manual made reference to a vacuum hose and also a breather hose that if blocked can cause rich running. I checked the breather, fine. Started the car, it was better but not 100% and still wouldn't idle warm without a bit of choke. So disconnected the suggested vacuum pipe and the car settled down, this vacuum pipe goes from the carb to air filter housing and from what I can make out there is a temperature operated switch in the air cleaner housing that should switch vacuum between cold air from the filter and warm air from the manifold, the switch must be past it's best as the car tries to stall if you put your finger over the disconnected vacuum pipe and if you reconnect said vacuum pipe to the air cleaner housing. It's running properly better now, but some further investigation required here I think. Next up, overheating. I started with a drain and re-fill on the cooling system. I had to fit a new expansion tank cap a couple of months back as it was hissing when the engine was running and whilst cooling down, which I think was letting air into the system. I hadn't been able to bleed the air back out properly so a drain and re-fill seemed a good start point. Flushing through with the hose didn't see anything untoward flush from the system, and the rad was replaced just about 2 years ago, so I was fairly confident to proceed to refill. One thing I noticed when the car overheated last, just before coming off the road, was that the fan wasn't coming on. It works if you short the wires, so i suspected a faulty switch (or an air lock in the system). I decided the safest thing was to install an override switch in the dashboard. So if the temperature does head for the red I can switch the fan on if it isn't working automatically for any reason. All these jobs done, I started the car, ran it up to temperature and left it to tick over. It ran well, didn't need much choke and none when warm. Doesn't smell like it is running rich anymore. Fan cut in on its own when temperature reached 3/4, so I'm thinking it was an airlock, but I'll keep my eye on it. MOT is booked for Tuesday at 11:00, fingers crossed we can get her through and get back to a bit of metroing! I may even be able to get miles on it at last 😲

I previously mentioned that we have Jowetts in the family too, another small break away in May at the annual rally. My lad is 6 now and hasn't been in Grandad's Jowett that he can remember (because Covid), so this was a real treat for him! Picture below, with Grandad, clearly having defeated the Jowett 😂

The next update is the Jag, my favourite on the fleet. We went to XJ40 day at Gaydon as mentioned in a previous post, we had a great time amongst all the other '40's that showed up. Next opportunity to get out and show her was a JEC event in Shropshire. It was good day out and to my surprise my car won its category, much silver ware, well glass ware, was received! A picture of the winners line up, very proud indeed. I've had this car since 2009 and it's always been a case of preserve rather than restore, nice to have all that effort recognised and by the JEC no less! The car is now sorn'd again as I won't get chance to use it now until September 🙄

It's been a while since I've updated anything on here, but there has been much car activity over the last couple of months... First thing is the VW, we've managed a couple of holidays in it so far this year, one of which was the Jubilee weekend, hence the wifes bunting on the awning! Kids still love it. Ran out of fuel on the way home from the last trip, the fuel gauge has never worked but I've always got on OK using 25mpg as a figure and then calculating the mileage vs what fuel has gone in. Double checked my maths and it appears that I can still do maths, I conclude the van is using more fuel for some reason 🤔 I cast my mind back to getting the van out of storage and doing my usual fix everything that has broken itself through the winter trouble free and most enjoyable first run out. The fuel lines had been leaking near the carbs, perished rubber. So I replaced the fuel lines from the tank all the way back, I've had a few aircooled VW's and dodgy fuel lines are known to bring an early end to many cars lives, so it really wasn't worth only replacing a small section. Its was a good job I did look at the whole system as iirc the fuel line is 6mm and there was no fuel filter fitted. But, the main run through one of the chassis rails was a rigid plastic pipe shoved inside the normal rubber just after the tank and running the length of the van to the fuel pump. 'Strange' I thought, then I measured the pipe, it was only 4mm. I replaced the lot with rubber and thought no more of it. The van seems a bit perkier (bear in mind its an old VW, so it's pedestrian at best 😂), perhaps the engine was struggling to get enough fuel through that old pipe I thought? Anyway, she struggled to pass the emmisions at the MOT test (running rich) and seems to be flooding a lot and my maths says she's using more fuel than she normally does, so my working theory is that the carbs have been set up to cope with the limited fuel coming through and now the fuel lines have been replaced it needs setting up again. I will get booked at rolling road services and see what he thinks. Other than that, the van is great, 8 years we have had her now and she's tax and MOT exempt next year which reduces the pain of the running costs somewhat!

I think it looks great, and even looking at Gumtree ads the money isn’t terrible. It is only an asking price after all! can a deal be done, perhaps £5k is more realistic given it needs some tlc? Have you seen it in the flesh?

I remember the 800 being a huge car in its day! looking at it next to that monstrosity Tesla it’s positively compact 😂

I was just about to post that I could have waved, well I could if I went upstairs! (Halesowen, ish)

‘tis ar! We’m bay as bad as them!

There’s no getting away from us is there! 🤣

Yes I did, still do occasionally but the forum is pretty much dead these days. It’s a great technical resource still though. What was your user name on there?

A bit of welding has happened … not the best picture, apologies. unfortunately I only have one picture of the repair… and it’s not finished, and it’s the other side 🤣 The repair is much tidier now it’s done and when I next get to make progress play with the car, I’ll take some more of the repair being finished off and painted. its MOT style repair rather than resto, but again it saves the car and gives it a chance to fight another day. We couldn’t find any other rot under this, which was surprising, so now it basically needs any loose under seal stripping off and sorting out and a general refresh underneath. the MOT is expired now and I have too much on to get into finishing the repairs and taking it for an MOT, but hopefully I’ll get it done in June. oh yeah, and she’s started running lumpy and rich when on choke, which is disappointing! Seems ok when warm, but I always panic about HGF on these 😂

Mine had to have similar amounts done in the same places, that looked really solid from outside too. it looks like your guy does a better job than my guy though, that’s really neat looking work. Despite looking very good, you can see that mine has been worked on.

Some that I haven’t seen mentioned here … Rover Met-Rot (Metro) Renault clitoris (Clio) Ford Escrot (Escort) Toyota Anus (Auris) Tin-Snail (Citroën 2cv)

Contribution made, PayPal F&F

Unfortunately I won’t get to use it much over the coming few days as I’ve got to finish relaying the driveway before anymore car activity can take place. MOT on the Metro is due in a couple of weeks, first one in my care. So I’m utterly shitting it and desperately trying to work in some time to get the car prepared trying to fit in a relaxing afternoon of MOT prep and definitely not finding more issues that need to be sorted out. luckily the little bit of welding that she needs can be done by a mate at work next week. Welding isn’t something that I’ve learned to do, I imagine it’s way beyond my skills and patience! I’ll be sure to get some photos of the work taking place and share the fail sheet new MOT certificate with you at my earliest opportunity!

Well not a lot has been happening the last few weeks, other than work. I’ve just not had time to progress my projects mess about with the cars unfortunately… but today has been very exciting indeed, the Metro has been treated to some much needed love. H&H have been around and replaced the hydragas system and it’s made a huge difference to the car, far beyond my expectations. this was midway through the work. when they arrived they checked suspensions travel and ride height. The only suspension travel we had up front was the flex in the tyres. The ride height was way down on where it should have been. all four units have been replaced and the system pumped up to the correct ride height. Quick test drive, check the ride height and pump up to correct height again and the little beast is entirely transformed. a recent before… And now, look at that gap between the front wheel and arch 😮 can’t recommend these guys enough, great service and they really know there stuff! These little cars have a surprisingly good ride when the suspension is working properly doing anything at all!

I recently joined here after lurking for a long while. I’ve enjoyed reading and admired some of the skill and perseverance in the restoration threads, but what I’ve really enjoyed about this community is the acceptance of any and every make and model in any and every condition. I am a serial buyer of shite cars that no-one else wants, I regularly spend too much saving something that no-one else would have saved. I love the rubbish motors that littered the streets when I was growing up in 1980’s brum (rotten old Austin’s and Rover’s, equally rotten old fords and the occasional Jag! Oh and my Dad’s canary yellow Skoda 120 GLS) so I thought I should fit right in here! My history of car ownership started when I was 15, back in about 1996, with a 3 door Ford Escrot estate. Then an orange Metrot MK1 that I saved, sold and bought back to save again. There were lots of Metro’s and Escort’s and Fiesta’s in the early days (Fiesta's always ended up being referred to as Fiestangs!). A couple of Rover’s and then a brief fling with the french when I had a bit more money to spend! I’ve had several Xantias over the years as well as a 406 coupe and a few french hatch backs. In all, I think I’ve had about 30 cars now and have loved them all in one way or another! Having only recently joined, I’ve decided to start a thread about my own fleet of classics shite. I’m always tinkering with one car or another and that will either be interesting to you guys or it won’t! I’m only really going to talk about the old and shitey cars that are still with me, and I'm going to stick them all in this one thread or you’d probably be bored to death! The main thing is, like many I’ve read about here, old cars make me happy. I enjoy learning new skills, having those skills tested, meeting new people and experiencing new and different things. Old cars are something that I do because I want to and it makes me happy (most of the time), not because I have to or need to.