danthecapriman

The carnage continued today.

 
I got the idea yesterday night that just ramming a long screwdriver through the heater core should give me a much better grip to pull it out. To my surprise, this slightly barbaric technique actually worked!

 
Old vs. New

 
You can see where the old one leaked its coolant at the top.

 
The workshop manual said to reuse the old foam pads so I quickly glued them on the new heater core.

 
Also found this old build sheet behind the dash, unfortunately you can barely read any of it anymore.

 
Turns out a foam seal between the heater core casing and firewall was stopping it from sliding out as the inlet/outlet tubes of the heater core are angled at their ends, however the foam sits at the base of them and wouldn't let the ends slide through its holes. Unfortunately its not removable either which meant that installing the new part wasn't as easy as you'd expect, too. A bit of pushing (with my foot) made it slide in eventually, I just hope I didn't damage/bent the tubes when pushing it in as the whole thing is made from aluminium after all. They looked fine on the engine side though.

 
I reinstalled all the essentials and plugged all the electrical connectors back into the dash's wiring loom. Since I will need to refill the coolant I'll use the chance to replace the thermostat at the same time next weekend and refill the cooling system. Hopefully nothing will leak and I can reinstall the rest of the interior. I really don't wanna replace that thing a second time.

Okay, since Photobucket decided to become a total POS, here's the same post again. From now on I'll just use my flickr account, I'll update my first post as well in a few minutes:
 
So I was bored and decided to destroy one of my cars today.
 
The first object which had to endure my wrath was the center console 
 

 
Which I promptly got rewarded for   I don't know who Judge Kym Worthy is, but if she wants her ice cream stick back, send me an email and I'll arrange the shipment back to the US. Also, what secrets could lie beyond the doors this mysterious key belongs to...?
 

 
Next up was the steering column, never liked that thing anyway.
 

 
Never really stood a chance. Since the dash got away pretty much unharmed until now, it was next. 
 

 
After 4 hours of carnage inside the car, I decided to focus my attention on a very particular set of hoses in the engine bay. Not much left after I was done with them.
 
 


So far, things went pretty smoothly, until I finally met the endboss, the fearsome heater core. And here's where things are getting funny. 
 

 
It just won't budge! No matter I hard to rip on it, it doesn't wanna move an inch. It should* just slide out, yet no matter how hard I pull on it, not much is happening. I'm pretty sure its the foam pads glued onto it that rub on the housing its stuck in, but I can't really get a good grip on it to pull it. Pushing it from the engine side doesn't work either. Any idea how to get it out of there?

This MG YA was an absolute sweety but rong colour

 

 

 

 

 
see this a lot around North Devon, I reckon it has as rusty a frame as the one I am mid way restoring, be nice to fix the frame and hang the original panels back on it again so at least it has some structural rigidity

 
barn find in early 1960s, maintained since but never restored. Brush painted, perfect

 

 
one of these is high on my want list

 
early 6

 
this was a local barn find, off the road for nearly 40 years. plans are to stabilise it, get it running and to NOT PAINT

 

BL chod next which to be honest was the bulk of the field. Here is some that i enjoyed looking at
 
mint

 
Nope I have no idea either, managed to fit a 1500TC engine into it though

 
There cant be too many 1600 Vitesses about let alone estates

 

 
missing bell and Police sign, a very lovely thing it was too

 
Tr7 and caravan I have seen on the A361 North Devon Link Road and did a double take. Pain is original but very flat, it is regularly used and properly but honestly shonky, liked

 
Exceptionally nice Clubman complete with original Unipart numberplates. 

 

some vauxhalls are not shit
 

 
Just look at the bling on this Velox! reckon most of it was factory

 

 
fucking cool mascot, high level of want for this little bit of the car

 

fair bit of ford, most of it was Maxpowa stuff in which I have absolutely no interest at all
 
But this lot, tidy
 

 

 
ex Press 1.6 Capri said the notice on the screen

 

 
Early mk1 Escort

 
Minty

 
This pop plus was in fair shape, at least it had resisted mong rims and cut springs. surface rust here and there but very nice

 
This had had a fairly extensive body resto

 
do like a 105e

van was noice

 
for some reason most of my ford piccies were of the arse end

there was some posh stuff there
 
Bentley

 

 

 
and Armstrong Siddeley

 

 

going for the weird shite next
 
this special was made in the early 1970s from a rusty mk9 Jag, in a workshop in Braunton! So successful was it that they made a few. Not sure about it but different it is

 

 
yep wood worm on your picnic tables

 
Hearse saved from the banger boys back in the 1990s, done well to survive

 

 
Nice looking Viva

 
With a Mazda Rotary engine fitted - masochism

 
Fuck me a berlingo, was my first impression, followed by

 
40 mile range is useful, survived because he cant get it as far as the scrappy

 
I love spotting folk who are gullible enough to be liberated of cash for snake oil, think this is one of the pez molecule straighteners 

 
And finally onto the Shit
 
Yes that is a Mr2 and Yes it is for sale! fucking astonishing damage crystal meth can do

not much from the land of the Rising sun
 
Ubiquitous Pistonhead Cattle Brand

 
the 240z was gorgeous

 

Americana next, there is a load, North Devon Cruisers seemed to be their club. Load of stuff that didnt interest me but the following did
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

chod from the continent first
 
phone got wet hence misty images. this 5 Turbo was minty

 

 
Amazon B18 with Over-Drive

 
Alfa 33 sportwagon, details were keen to point out that only 9 are left and this is the only one evea with a factory sunroof

 
pretty Lancia, Shite colour

 
why do the pineapple lot slam these things so badly? ride and comfort must be shocking! the red van was standard road height and the one I would choose

 
Voluntary firefighter! 

 
v10 RS6 rocketship thing, no space wasted under the bonnet

just got back from this. nice selection 200ish cars and some bikes, some chod, some car park material but on the whole a good larf
 
http://www.brauntoncaenrotary.co.uk/braunton-wheels.html
 
us lot first
 
because the village / hamlet where fatha thestag lives is so small yet there are so many cars of interest we kind of group up and go along to these things. this year, new cayenne, old moggie traveller, my stag, a 1990s mini cooper, dad's land rover series IIa and his 1972 Range Rover, Miata MX5 mk1, Splitty VW camper van with barn doors
 

 

 

 
up at 7:30 this morning, on the road at 8:10 and arrived at 9:30 after a regroup. twas a long day, rain was persistent this morning but sun all afternoon made up for it.
 
shitty tinny PA system from Tarka Hospital Radio roadshow was a constant pain in the earoles, sound like fatha thestag now
 
anyway pic heavy thread, tried to group everything into logical groups. the cars and bikes were all mixed up

Fleet reduction plan is not going well......
 

I had one new headlight reflector in stock, so now it only has one geriatric eye...
 

£3500 
Was up for £3750 but managed to wangle a bit off. Probably should have got a bit more off, as end of season but apart from the pressure from here to get something, I knew that it was generally a good one and didn't want to miss out again.
 
It's not perfect, but then it's a 1/2th the price of a near perfect one. But even that probably is only perfect in the paint and body department, not the often neglected suspension department. The body on this, from what I've managed to see looks in very good nick and patch free. Even the door chrome lines up with the body. I suspect the sills have never been welded.
 
The paint is reasonable too. Some areas have been touched up and very obviously noticeable from the different colours. Biggest bit is the offside wing around the light area. Not sure if it's had a respray or if original paint. If respray then it would have been a good while back when it was done - better quality (non eco friendly) paint. Might get the different colour touch-up patches done in the future if it proves reliable and doesn't disgrace herself at the next MOT.
 
I have stuck a bit of bent wire up the sill drain holes and you can drum the inner sill metal. No rust chunks fall out either! Only thing I haven't looked under is the door jam kick plates. Completely forgot to look under before I bought. Hoping they'll be alright! Should be given the rest is pretty straight.
 
Probably get my local, friendly garage to have a good look over too so I know of anything in advanced that will need attention. Also put my mind at rest that I haven't bought a dud/missed stuff.
 
Dying to go out in it, but holding off until I've replaced the perished death rings (20-30yr old Pirellis). Also need to sort the Smart out and sell it. It's in the way to being able to easily get it on and off the drive.
 
In other news, I've asked a local builder for a quote on a car port. Not quite as good as a garage but should keep most of the elements off and my drive is pretty narrow and enclosed between two houses anyway.

All your questions will be answered in due course.
Stay patient, drink tea, you will be rewarded with traditional GGG antics and gay abandon.

Skizzer and Breadbanned no doubt.

Sounds like it's in good hands and that's the main thing. Who was it that bought it if you don't mind my asking?
 
Oh, and when is LTD collectioneering taking place!

There comes a point with old tatty cars where it can't really be bodged up and left. They get to the stage it's really got to be either fixed well and properly or it's going to end up scrapped. I've had cars like it myself, you like the lived in look but keeping on top of the distressed bits gets difficult.
 
Imho, you've done the right thing here and it looks great too now without being overdone to the point of a full on restoration. It'll keep the car going and keep it sound and reliable.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Escort-MK2-Cosworth-Cortina-Mk5-Subaru-WRX-STI-4wd-Granada-MK2-2-8i-ghia-X-/192259377534?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368&clk_rvr_id=1270329920884&utm_content=buffer7c3d7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&rmvSB=true
 

BASE how slow can you go?
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Capri-Mk3-1-3-1982/253068806651?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D888007%26algo%3DDISC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140328180637%26meid%3Decb00bd3108a4a04a2a42ed30a150f5c%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D302398180027
 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ford-granada-3-0-gxl-/302398180027?hash=item4668560abb:g:JpEAAOSwGzxZfIUp

This looks nice

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Transit-Mk-2-Ci-Motorhome-1980-48-000-miles-1-Yr-Mot-2-5-Di/263107006455

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Granada/253068971202

I would. Fuck knows what engine is in it but it's big, not a v8 and has a turbo on it.
 

 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1968-Chevrolet-Suburban-4x4-turbocharged-and-LPG-tax-exempt-power-steering-Chevy/292198750958