19 Years of Tin Snail - Back to normality

[LightBulbFun]

watched the last of the road trip videos last night and today

Awesome stuff  

I wonder what other motorists thought of a 2CV flying past them at 80Mph!

Just mentioning it as it seems like an easy thing to forget about but when landing back in the UK did you remember to readjust your head lamps for RHD?  

[dollywobbler]

I did. Sorted it on the ferry. Which confused the Mini folks!

[dollywobbler]

Last night was the first run out in the 2CV since getting home. I fitted a new flasher can relay, so indicator functionality has been restored. Reminded myself that you don't HAVE to travel thousands of miles to find epic views...

Was a two-hour round trip. What was interesting was that it genuinely felt good to be back in the 2CV. That definitely says something, because there are many long distance trips where the last thing I want to do is climb back into the car I used. I need to schedule in some love for this car - kingpin replacement being the major priority.

[shoddybanger]

What a grand trip indeed. I enjoyed all of the videos you put out. Shame it's finally come to an end, but it's good to see you and Elly made it back to home soil safe and sound.

Marvellous machine, that 2CV. Hopefully the new blinker can is of the uneven type that makes strange squeaky noises!

[dollywobbler]

It flashes a bit quickly, with no squeak, but at least it works.

[shoddybanger]

Ah well. New developments and all that. Ridding everything of personality.

Anyway, I had to do the manual blinking thing with a motorcycle once, and it grew old really fast, so I agree with the notion of functionality first.

[dollywobbler]

Last week, I finally got the kingpins replaced.

Drives much more sweetly now, or she did until I started getting a serious pong inside the car. The sharp tang of exhaust fumes on the overrun was necessitating an open window every time I slow down - at its worst on the overrun. Shoving a bit of windscreen washer pipe in my ear allowed me to trace the leak to the nearside manifold. I reckon it's been blowing for a fair while, but I've had the heater disconnected since the Croatia trip, so only noticed now it's all back together.

So, apart she comes again.

The job is made more entertaining because most of my tools are now at the workshop, not my garage. Still, a standard socket set is pretty much all you need to get this far. Manifold is now free, just waiting for new gaskets to arrive tomorrow, so I can hopefully get it all back together in time for a road run on Saturday (led by the Brownnovas). Sadly, they seem to have forgotten to book dry weather. 

[brownnova]

Oh bloody hell hadn’t even looked at the weather... I’ll pack plenty of kitchen roll! 

[richardmorris]

2 hours ago, brownnova said:

Oh bloody hell hadn’t even looked at the weather... I’ll pack plenty of kitchen roll! 

I find old tea towels better as they don’t fall apart and you can wring them out of the window on the run. Where are you going?

[brownnova]

Off to Portmerion with the North Wales 2CVers. We’ve secured permission to drive into the village! Should be a lovely run! 

[richardmorris]

12 hours ago, brownnova said:

Off to Portmerion with the North Wales 2CVers. We’ve secured permission to drive into the village! Should be a lovely run! 

Wonderful place - I've an architectural drawing of the bell tower on my wall. Pics of the event please.

[dollywobbler]

Gaskets fitted, new spark plugs fitted. Now just need to reattach her face and conduct a test drive. 

I fear tomorrow's photos will feature a rather large amount of rain. Some serious showers about, yellow weather warning for the weekend. Ideal!

[brownnova]

6 hours ago, richardmorris said:

Pics of the event please.

I’ll take plenty I promise! 

[dollywobbler]

GREAT SUCCESS!

Now, if the flooded roads could reopen, that'd be grand...

[Zelandeth]

22 hours ago, dollywobbler said:

Gaskets fitted, new spark plugs fitted. Now just need to reattach her face and conduct a test drive. 

I fear tomorrow's photos will feature a rather large amount of rain. Some serious showers about, yellow weather warning for the weekend. Ideal!

Well at least you're going to be out in a car with excellent weatherproofing aren't you...oh...wait...

[dollywobbler]

Today wasn't too bad, lovely run out with the 2CV lot.

Stayed dry the entire time we were in Portmeirion. We only got to pose here for a couple of minutes before they whisked us away to the coach park area.

2CV is running much better now and is no longer pinking, which makes me think it must have had a leak on one or both of the inlet manifold joints before. Quite pleased it managed to get to Croatia and back without dying if that was indeed the case! I can now give it full beans on a hill with no untoward rattling.

[richardmorris]

@brownnova at the front!

[Noel Tidybeard]

1 hour ago, richardmorris said:

@brownnova at the front!

yeah, he'd be at the front for the opening of a paper bag! lol

[brownnova]

3 hours ago, richardmorris said:

@brownnova at the front!

As I’d led the convoy to the village I ended up at the front driving through... 

[dollywobbler]

The post-event hoon certainly game a good visual demonstration of the difference between a 652, a mildly-tweaked 602 and bog standard 602 I think! Now the pinking has stopped, I might advance the ignition timing a little, because I think Elly still has a little more to give...

[brownnova]

Interestingly on the way to Bala there I had a 652 behind and the mildly tweaked 602 behind that and the the chap in the 652 was asking what id done to mine as he said he could only just keep up he (had no more acceleration than me) and we were leaving the other 602 behind at points.

Yet on the way back you left me for dust! Admittedly I was taking it easy on the twisty bits due to dampness... 

[dollywobbler]

Yeah, I am prone to recklessness, but when we slowed for a tractor and then accelerated, the gaps opened up fairly briskly in a straight line. That was uphill, so the extra torque really helps out.

[brownnova]

Yeah I noticed the power difference with Elly for sure! We’ll have to do a 2CV drag race some time. ?