catsinthewelder

The blue is one:
The eBay aux belt should have arrived on Wednesday but it didn’t even arrive before the Easter break, it finally dropped through the letterbox this morning. I swiftly set about installing it and immediately realised it’s much too small, <sigh> that was well worth the wait! I decided to try and get a 10x750 off the shelf somewhere but the web search for GSF and ECP only search by car so that wasn’t working. Pre-armed with a couple of part numbers I trundled off to GSF where they were able to cross match a belt. They got one branch transferred from Bradford to Leeds in 2hrs which I though was good. Should have done this in the first place.
Belt 1 10x740 - £4.19 inc del. eBay
Belt 2 10x750 - £6.96 GSF 

Even the 2nd belt was tight. No way it was going on by hand but it flicked on with the starter motor trick. No need for additional tensioning!
And with that I declare the blue one ready to be moved.
 
The Gold one:
As previously covered this one starts and moves but has no brakes. I don’t really fancy loading, unloading and driving up the steep driveway without any so this was the next task. 
Surprisingly I managed to get both front bleed nipples out ok, though they will need replacing down the line as I gave them one hell of a beating. Got one rear out but the other wouldn’t budge. Gave the pedal a pump and it built some pressure, that’s promising. So I started it up and tried shunting it but the pedal went to the floor again. Bummer. Loads of fluid coming out of one drum so that’ll be a popped wheel cylinder. I’m not digging myself a new hole by taking these drums apart, it’s time to engage bodge mode… just snapped the rear brake line and squashed the end over. An initial leak was fixed by getting a bigger hammer and with that the rear brakes are isolated.

Gave it a shunt and yep we have brakes, rubbish brakes, but that’ll do.
Wedged a fuel can in down the back and strapped it so it can’t fall on the exhaust manifold, also threw a strap on the battery. That should suffice.

I declare the Gold one also ready to be moved.
-Steve-

Epic London spot(s).
My work here is done.

And some more.
Cardiff:












 
Bloody Hyundai Pony!


 
Works event out in mid-Wales:


 
 
 

Cardiff, summer 2022:









 
Chepstow:



 
 
W Sussex:







 

 
New build estate in deepest Essex:



 
Mousehole, Cornwall:

More from the streets of Cardiff.

Sorting out 2 years of backlog of spotting photos.
Some time in early 2022 my eldest decided sleeping beyond 5am was not an option. We took to pounding the mean streets of Cardiff in the early morning.


























 
 
These were in Chepstow, near a friend's place:


 
And these were spotted on repeated visits to a friend in Godalming:

I've long admired the original Daewoo range launched here in 1995. I even managed to convince my dad to test drive an Espero from the 'motorshow' in Bristol in 1996.
Today I took delivery of three of the few surviving Esperos left in the UK. 
The silver N reg is a lovely original car with loads of history. Not mint but hopefully easy to bring it up to scratch, the P reg will be a parts donor as it has structural damage that won't repair.
The green N reg is well known on the 'socials, bring a ULEZ survivor rescued by Jude Currie. It's tatty in places but too good to break up. Realistically it'll only be staying with me briefly as I have other projects that need my time and money. 

I’m not  
Destination achieved, nice cup of tea with @jonathan_dyane and then headed south. Stopped at my old university friends place in St Helens to top up with LPG and now waiting for another shiter to finish work so I can make my second collection after which I can start heading north. Only as far as Preston tonight
Picture near the next shifters place

Morning All
It is that time again where collections need to be made. The Xantia has signed its own death warrant so reliable and practical replacement is required. The journey to collect it involves three trains with little time between them, so the risk is high. If all goes to plan I will be there mid afternoon. If not, as I am a cheapskate and bought cheap fixed train tickets.......
Important stuff to start the day. PC = 1
Breakfast was just a cupof coffee, might pick up something on the way

Full breakdown kit packed

Soon be time to go.....

Rightio, the nagging has paid off and I've got it booked.  Location is my mates field/woods/campsite near Bridgnorth in Shropshire.  Should be quite reasonably priced so long as we tidy up afterwards.






https://www.powkesmoreholding.co.uk/

Edit #1
Lets make the location easy to find.
What3 words to the entrance.  ///bungalows.next.windmills
Which looks like this

The open one on the left.
From above.

Access is from Ashfield Road, the track marked on Google heading South East doesn't exist as far as I know.
Further out.

After Easter another defleet of the older cars before influx of new , debowsing a 70 plate 50 odd k Crossland and I see the cover for the centre consule cubby is missing ...... I wonder how long that's been missing , pulling off the side panel produced 3 fag lighters , 5 ear rings , half a snickers and £13.64 in change .....I'm guessing it's been gone a while ...

Almost the first thing i saw

Apologies for the dreadful photos but.....

Three Nissan Prairies!

£715 for my Saab.

GT cars at Oulton park this weekend 
Just seen this posted, looks like it was slightly muddy 

...cont...

After an overnight pit stop at Castle_Cleland, we continued north to the lads' unit at Thornaby.



Pops_KJ for a day out, a spring chicken in his mid 80's at the time.




Last pic of that day, just down the road... not Mike_Knight's 944, but somewhat similar.

 

Thank you Rich... I've just found the other pics from that rescue  
A selection:



" Are you sure you want it, Angyl? "

" It's purple. So yes. " 

Mike appeared less enthusiastic. 


Also on the scene: @DodgyTom 

I remember you letting my son drive it round the field at Chumley with the BX on a trailer hitched up behind.
Driving it myself at Shitefest Cymru with you encouraging me to give it the beans up the hill climb.
You traipsing all the way down to Ludlow in it to fetch that Austin 1100. 
Passing the buck to you when AP broke the Skoda at SF last year. 
Rest in pieces wonderful car, hope the eventual replacement is equally epic.

Always remember - a picture paints a thousand words, so make sure your car ads are selling not just the vehicle but the lifestyle your audience aspires to.
Here’s an excellent example. 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/reliant-rialto-1988-848-cc/1475999076
 
 

Acquired one of these lately.

Looks a bit “unhappy” to my eyes. 

Pininfarina design and build apparently. Presumably this one wont feature in future glossy portfolios of their work.

Familiar focus vibes from the view out front. 2.0 duratec/ manual. Its a bit flat in a car this weighty (think its about 1500kg) but its quite a comfy cruiser to potter about in.

If you've never set fire to a car while welding, you're just not getting enough heat into the weld.  Try cleaning the metal back further and stepping up to the next power level.  Maybe a bit more wire feed speed too.
.. and I totally did not* set fire to the Merc C250td on the driveway a couple of days ago.  Nope.  Not me.  Never.
Briefly.

Little known fact - if you weld the (previously Waxoyled internally) chassis rail on a Ser 2a Land Rover you'll find that the chimney/venturi effect of the hollow rail will push all the burney stuff along quite nicely to where it meets the 30 years of accumulated rust proofing (leaked engine oil and crud) at the front end.
Better know fact - Birmabright melts at fairly* low temperatures.
A friend told me this - probably the same one what welded your C250td?