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holbeck got a reaction from egg in IRAN'S ARROW: The Rise and Fall of Paykan - (2016 Documentary Film)
There is one in the Coventry Transport Museum.
Maybe the same car?
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holbeck reacted to 83C in 83C's Shite-esque Fleet: VXR8 - the Saga Continues.
If it’s on, it’s gone:
Borrowed a friend’s trailer to go and move Mrs. 83C’s car from where the RAC took the car to, onwards to the garage that will hopefully sort it out. Can confirm L322s make great tow vehicles.
In C5 news the n/s is almost finished:
New brake pipe made, caliper mounting cleared of all the encrusted bits of corroded caliper (the other side is worse!) and all the new bits fitted. Just needs bleeding. Oh, and the whole o/s doing before that.
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holbeck reacted to HMC in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
So, as delivered by 2 stocky, and friendly Russians, “here we have” as they say on e bay, this old passat.
It was dead on the key @Barry Cade as the pros say, and charging in hope the grubbly looking bosch it came with didnt work. So i bought a new battery, and it fired up with no fuss.
It seems to drive ok, the front end seems fairly slop free, good brakes, but boost seems to bleed off gradually; so theres a small leak somewhere. I had a quick look at the induction rubberwork and all of it looks a bit fucked. Still, its £600 worth (make that £700 with the battery) of faded bauhaus goodness*
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holbeck reacted to HMC in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
Ingrid fought and won the VAG lock struggle
And the 23 year old passat is (un)locked and loaded
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holbeck reacted to 83C in 83C's Shite-esque Fleet: VXR8 - the Saga Continues.
Yesterday was something of a learning curve. French cars have never really featured much on my list of cars owned, I can count 5 that I remember out of 150+ vehicles. I’ve also never had to replace pads or discs before on a French car.
The C5 has a bit of a wobble under braking. The pads and discs have been very recently replaced, but for whatever reason the pads were replaced, then the discs. I don’t mind reusing a good disc with fresh pads, but pads that have started to bed in to an old set of discs? Nope, chuck and fit new. The front wheels had to come off anyway for new tyres, so £30 for a set of pads wasn’t a major spend or much extra hassle.
Or so I thought…
First thing I tried to do was rotate the disc and measure any run out with a dial gauge, but the disc was jammed solid with the pads firmly engaged on the disc. The car had driven perfectly well with no brake binding, why had this suddenly seized? Then I looked at the back of the caliper and clocked the extra pipe and the spring mechanism on the back of the piston.
(AS Upside-Downism Syndrome Strikes Again)
This then, was my first encounter with handbrakes actuating the front caliper. Mad buggers, the French. It also necessitated a trip to Halfords for a set of big impact torx bits as my set only went up to T50 and the caliper carriers are held on with a pair of T55 (no, not the tank) fasteners. After finding a pair of chocks and also attaching the tow rope from the front of the C5 to the back of the Range Rover as a final safety against rolling away (my driveway slopes a bit) I gently released the handbrake. No more ‘seized’ disc. Dial gauge reckoned there was around 0.15mm run out, and it was an even rise and fall around the disc rather than any particular high spot. So off with the discs and clean the hub and disc mounting surface. Got both sides down to about 0.05mm which is fairly acceptable.
New pads went in, along with all 4 wear sensors - yes, a wear sensor for each pad. French overkill.
There is still a bit of vibration under braking so definitely something else to look at, maybe a bush or two. A job for another day, as is the slightly raspy exhaust.
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holbeck reacted to 83C in 83C's Shite-esque Fleet: VXR8 - the Saga Continues.
While you were away, there have been developments in the 83C fleet.
The garage that the Mini was recovered to have told me they can’t fix it, it needs to go to a specialist. There is a BMW & Mini specialist in Shrewsbury, but he can’t take the car for at least two weeks. More details in a specific thread on this.
So with Mrs. 83C sans car for the foreseeable, what to do?
Yup, buy another car. This C5 1.8 16v came up for a fairly reasonable price locally, it’s low mileage, fairly tidy and only needs a few little jobs like a tyre replacing. Today’s job is getting it ready for service.
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holbeck reacted to gm in gm's unhealthy obsession with mx5s - look who’s back
A bit more track day prep this morning :
i did think about refitting the bucket seats but will do this one as a 'stock' mx5
but the comfy seats are just not up to it. Time for a "foamectomy"
these seats belong in a late mk1 or mk2 car and do feel like you are sitting on rather than in them.
four bolts out and flip it over
another four bolts and the runners are off (six bolts for me as crappy later seats)
ping off all of those rusty metal rings and peel the base cover back
that big lump of foam is our target
and we shall need to employ Mazda Special Service Tool #BRdKnF
just like slicing a Hovis
Don't dip this in your soup
a quick tidy up
cover back on
and securely fixed in place
look at all that space we've created
if you have original mk1 seats (all in one backrest) then you can take things further
ping off four more rings and fold the backrest flap towards the front of the seat
lift the flap and you will see a 'swim float' size cushion that can be removed
more cable tie action and it's ready to reassemble
back in the car, can you see the difference ?
nope, me either, but I am now sitting lower which surely means FASTER
with my fancy* eBay belt lock, I'll be setting lap records
nice easy mod, works best on mk1 seats but definitely worth doing on these too
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holbeck reacted to SiC in 1979 Triumph Spitfire! - A Goodbye and a Hello
What have I found?
Busy day at the SiC household. With the Rover gone, it was time to pick up it's replacement. Due to an insurance timing fuck up on my part, @N Dentressangle kindly delivered this for me.
Just done four hours of driving going back and forth so I'm now a bit knackered. I'd usually sit in it and have a fiddle but I might end up falling asleep in there.
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holbeck reacted to 83C in 83C's Shite-esque Fleet: VXR8 - the Saga Continues.
Been a busy couple of weeks for the 83C fleet.
Out: the Boxster. Left a few days ago for a new life with a lad doing a motorsports degree.
In: this, today:
Its the MG ZT that RichardK was selling, needs a bit of work.
Started by laying some slabs. At the end of the driveway there is a gap between the concrete and the shed base, and it was just mud. Laid 4 reclaimed slabs after I’d knocked a load of concrete off the bottom of them (they were the floor in a friend’s garage until he had it converted into an extra room).
Makes working around a vehicle at that end much nicer, boots don’t get covered in mud. Next step was to get the ZT in place for surgery:
Next door neighbour was celebrating the arrival of a British motoring classic, obvs.
Went and bought a new set of ramps from Halfords, no need to take the wheels off for the work that is needed and it raises the front of the car to an acceptable working height.
Based on discussions leading up to buying the ZT, it could have been a couple of things causing the smoking issue. One was a leaky inlet manifold gasket, the other was a leaky turbo oil seal.
Aye, that answers that question then, wet around the exhaust joint and other bits of the turbo. Oil down the exhaust aiding the Land Rover style application of anti-rust treatment there.
Time to get stuck in. It’s immediately obvious that there has been someone in here before, going by the exhaust manifold studs/bolts/fresh air:
Still, they’re holding for now so no point in disturbing them.
Bit of spannering later and this is where we’re at with access.
Next stop is draining the coolant. It’s clear the car has been looked after even if there are hints that it’s fallen on hard times recently such as the budget tyres that are fitted. It’s filled with the correct OAT coolant, oil looks okish (but will be changed), and everything is coming apart without too much hassle.
Took the inlet pipe for the turbo off and this came oozing out:
Oil and water mixing inside the turbo is a Bad Thing. Stuck my fingers down the turbo inlet and there’s a good couple of mm of movement on the turbo shaft - the trade term for this is ‘its fucked’. You’ll not see it here and it looks clean because I’ve already wiped all the excess oil off, but here’s the cold side impeller:
That’s as far as I got with this today, I’m watching a new turbo core on eBay for £58 and this is held on to the exhaust housing with something similar to a V-band clamp, so there really shouldn’t be any need to remove the exhaust manifold or unbolt the housing. The core and inlet housing should come off as one unit once water and oil connections are removed, there’s certainly space for them to do so.
Also in is this:
Triumph Tiger 955i. Wanted a bike that I could go out in all weathers on and be a bit more upright and comfortable riding. This was a bit of an opportunist purchase because it was local and the right price, but will come into use soon, with collection tomorrow.
I’d already decided the ZZR was going - it did less than 50 miles last year. I don’t ride it if it’s wet, I don’t take it to work because there is nowhere dry to park it, and I’m so busy that it’s just not getting used. It was MoT’d and serviced in preparation for selling, probably won’t put an advert up here as it’s not the sort of thing for this forum. It’s been a blast owning it but it’s time to move on, got more plans to pay for.
Finally this evening the Arnage got a run out to a local car show at High Ercall village hall - in a spectacular fail for a budding motoring YouTubist I only took one photo the whole show and no video at all:
Well recommended to anyone in or near Shropshire, there really was something for everyone there including bikes, cars from 1920-2023, tractors, a couple of commercials, a traction engine and more.
The temperature gauge on the Arnage seems to be having a bit of a fit - normally it holds at half way constantly. Today I noticed it quickly dropping about 10 degrees and then rapidly rising back to half way, every 5 seconds or so and taking about a second to complete the movement down and up. On the way back it couldn’t decide and held for a while at the lower position and then rose, then fell etc. I can’t find anything odd under the bonnet, rad top hose is hot, header tank is hot, heaters work well (no discernible change in temp whilst the gauge was flicking up and down), no leaks, nothing. I’m wondering if the sender unit itself is iffy, or has a bad earth. I might just try running a jump lead from the engine to a suitable bolt or body-mounted bracket and see if that has any effect.
It’s all Jolly Good Fun.
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holbeck reacted to 83C in 83C's Shite-esque Fleet: VXR8 - the Saga Continues.
Today I decided to redefine pointless and polish the poverty pork:
It’s actually turned out ok for a 10 footer, amazing what a bucket of hot water and various Autoglym products can do.
I also tackled the small spots of green on the hood, some Meguiars stuff seems to have done the trick but we’ll see when it dries properly. Missed a small bit on the rear window in the corner, will try again tomorrow:
And if you’re thinking ‘they look like sales advert pictures…’ award yourself 10 internet points. These (and more) coming to an advert near you soon.
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holbeck reacted to BeEP in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
Both of these have been tootling around West Norfolk today. The white one is off to a new home in a fortnight with a good friend who I met through the 1100 club 27 years ago (where does time go etc...)
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holbeck reacted to HMC in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
P6 updates- the refurbished selector knob arrived today.
I fitted it and celibrated a fully functional gear selector by going for a spin. Who knew satin/matt almond was an actual colour.
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holbeck reacted to HMC in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
So the 65p o- ring arrived today and the p6 no longer leaks petrol out of the fuel reserve tap. Now i can drive it again and it no longer needs to be pointing uphill!
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holbeck got a reaction from AnnoyingPentium in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
Well done.
Is the name change to "The Gaffer" in the offing?
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holbeck got a reaction from 500tops in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
Well done.
Is the name change to "The Gaffer" in the offing?
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holbeck got a reaction from gadgetgricey in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
Well done.
Is the name change to "The Gaffer" in the offing?
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holbeck got a reaction from Six-cylinder in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
Well done.
Is the name change to "The Gaffer" in the offing?
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holbeck reacted to HMC in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
This is a bit like speed dating. Bought at 845, to be collected at lunch, and delivered for dinner.
Lets hope its not a minger where it counts, and that we have a meaningful relationship.
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holbeck reacted to HMC in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
My fave spec too, my first was a 4 door so ive always had a soft spot for those. Plus the sweet little 948 and clap hands wipers with an original issue plate.
These arnt speed machines; its probably not used to climbing hills in Jaywick, but there are plenty in West Devon. Even so it felt quite “flat” performance wise, and it occasionally backfired on downhill engine braking situations. Plus its only covered 1000 miles in the last 25 years, although it looks to have had a recent thorough service.
My plan of attack on the flat-ness was to use simply use it, and replaced a perished distributor advance vacuum hose and also slightly advanced the distributor position. Its definitely a bit more eager now, at least as far as can be expected.
Meanwhile i went shopping in the VDP1300 which is driving really nicely and, to my eyes, looks great in a slightly dilapidated way. I keep looking at it, i really like the design and packaging of it. Plus i keep crawling all over/ under it expecting a horror show but it isnt even very rusty. Im going to attack it with many litres of dynax s50 when the weather is a bit warmer.
Letterbox-eye view
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holbeck reacted to Dyslexic Viking in 1963 Mercedes Benz 190DC Fintail. First start 2024.
It was a purchase
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holbeck reacted to HMC in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
Its just occurred to me that “radio on” is a 1970s British art house film what I’ve got a copy of. The protagonist drives a knackered p4 from London to Bristol. Might watch it again soon.
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holbeck reacted to Tubbo in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
It’s a real shame to burn all that history!
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holbeck reacted to HMC in HMC- Incoming- Old Skool Ford (contains mk2 escort)
Well, I charged the battery, changed the plugs first thing. I was suspecting as per @RobT that it might be the condenser but as I don’t have a replacement, and I’m a wishful optimist I decided to fire it up -
And it started and runs perfectly.
Not sure what the diagnosis was to be honest and Hence I’m a bit wary of it doing it again- but it’s a runner!
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holbeck reacted to Matty in Fen's Fiat Folly
I've got the john brown smoothies on my austin and they don't have a dish that wide. They do make them for rakes of different applications though