Return of the Scarlet Skateboard

[stuboy]

uk spec i assume not usual grey import ting

[eddyramrod]

Ahem...

 

  And yes, it came in at about ten years old, from Japan.  I do believe this is the first Japanese grey-import I've owned.

[KruJoe]

Aye, just rub it down and blend in the patches as best you can. It might be hard to match the top coat colour, because the original red showing through is a different shade.

 

Eddy, what's wrong with its old radio? (It did have one in, didn't it?)

If you're replacing it and the wireless works (that's all I want) I may buy it off you, I have two Toyotas here with funny plug systems and gaping holes in the dash.

[eddyramrod]

Joe: yes it does have what appears to be the original radio/cassette/CD combo unit.  It won't play a cassette (I've tried).  Haven't tried a CD yet.  In the ebay listing the seller said it would only receive Radio 5, by which I think he meant BBC 5 Live.  However, with a spot of patient retuning I have managed to get the important one, BBC Radio 2.  Reception isn't the best, which may be down to the aerial being built into the windscreen, but at least it's there.  If I find a better one you are welcome to this one, but it's not very high on my priorities now that I've got it doing something like what I want.

 

Today I had a happy few minutes in Halfrauds with one of the red-painted badges in my hand; one that had been removed from the bootlid to make way for a Pininfarina!  I tried it against most of the reds on offer until I found one that looked about right, then I bought two tins of it.  Should be enough for most of the blemishes.  If not, well I know where to go for more!  After that I dropped into a local scrappy and found a dead MR2 with a correct steering wheel on it!  So I went home for tools and now the wheel is in my boot.  Pics to follow.

 

The scrapper has the original flat panel that fits beside the engine cover, where mine has the Snorkel scoop.  That panel seems to be pretty good.  I'm a bit torn, I like the Snorkel but if I'm going to de-twat I should probably do the whole thing.  I might go back and get the panel anyway, and some more paint (it's a black car) and just keep it in reserve. 

[eddyramrod]

No photos yet, because the computer I store them on is being an arse, but: yesterday I changed the steering wheel over.  The Toyota wheel came off the scrapper quite easily, and cleaned up nicely with Poundland baby wipes.  The aftermarket wheel put up a heck of a fight, it really didn't want to detach from the splines.  I was beginning to think I'd just have to re-assemble it when finally my vicious attacks with the claw hammer worked, and it lurched off.  Toyota wheel on, all tightened up, and oh boy, it's so much nicer to drive.  Rob at work had put his eye on the chavvy wheel so I took it in this morning.  He's welcome to it, I think it's awful.

 

Today's job: second attempt at the road wheels, this time using "Clean Spirit" from Homebase.  After I've had a bite to eat.  Tonight: see if I can get my computer running properly (fat chance) and upload pics.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Fine work!  I confess that I a thinking of putting an aftermarket steering wheel on my auld Lancia, having bought one for magic beans and buttons on the ebahgumbay.  I will photificate it and seek the wisdom thereupon of the shiter Kollektiv later. 

[KruJoe]

Good work on finding a smart standard steering wheel Eddy!

 

Thanks for the offer of the dicky radio - I'm sure it's better than the hole I have now. I couldn't make anything work in it, even with the right plugs etc.

No rush from me too, my Merde is trapped at the back of the shed, on a SORN, without MOT / wheels / rear suspension, so I'm some way from Dales lanes hooning, wind in my hair, Radio 2 blasting.

 

Have you been for a proper bez yet Eddy?

[eddyramrod]

Have you been for a proper bez yet Eddy?

 

Not yet.  It's going in on Thursday, when Martin will assess the front suspension bushes.  I described the symptoms and that's where he pointed the accusing finger, so I'll let him get on with it.  Plenty of time yet.

 

So, today I've been at the black paint on the road wheels.  It was applied much better than I previously thought, which means it was much harder work than I expected.  I had to go out and buy some actual paint stripper.  I only finished less than an hour ago, and then only because I ran out of light in the alley.  You can see now that the wheels are supposed to be silver, but they still look dirty and streaky, I've done a rubbish job.  I'll have to do it again to get them looking even half-decent.  At least they're not all-black any more!

 

Meanwhile, it'll be going to its first event on Sunday: Drive-In Day at the Lakeland Motor Museum.  Anyone fancy it?  It coincided with my "Coniston" meet last year and was a good day out, despite the weather.

[New POD]

Who lives near settle ? I used to live in Long Preston.

[HH-R]

Blimey! I bet whoever was driving that Rav 4 at the time had brown trousers afterwards!

[KruJoe]

Who lives near settle ?

 

 

Me!

 

Blimey! I bet whoever was driving that Rav 4 at the time had brown trousers afterwards!

 

Me!

The brown trousers afterwards were due to the OFFROAD MONGFEST @ SHITEFEST 2013 not the A-framing incident... I broke it at low speed, trying to shuffle the rig backwards up a steep slope. Twas like pushing string.

As any fool know, A-frames R GR8 (forwards only).

[eddyramrod]

Before I go scouring ebay and/or charity shops (GR88 for this kind of thing)... anyone got a Haynes for the mk2 MR2 lying about?  I may never need it but I do like the cushion effect of having one in case.

[Formula Autos]

It looks more shonky than sexy right now, as I've been stripping off the Ferrari and Pininfarina badges.  Every last one has pulled some red paint with it.  I think I'll have to see if I can match it in a can... damned if I'm going to respray a car I only intend to keep 6 months or so!

 

Eddy,

 

How about getting a local sign place to make up some vinyl badges to stick over the missing paint? Toyota/MR2 emblems would do, or even TTE logos if you feel like being a bit ironic. The background could be colour matched to the rest of the car fairly approximately, I'd guess. Much cheaper than getting it blended in by a bodyshop, no doubt.

 

You could maybe even contact the firm who liveried your work van for this, and play the "repeat business" card.

 

Anyhow, a nice Mister Two there (well, it will be when you've de-Barried it). Top bombing Sir!

 

Shame I didn't know about you popping along to the Blue Box on Sunday as well - I've already committed to a drinking sesh on Saturday, so will be in a distinctly illegal state for most of Sunday, and won't be able to drive down. Are you planning a pilgrimage there every drive-it day though? If so I'll pencil 2015's into my diary.

[KruJoe]

I don't think such a HBOL exists Eddy, though I'd also be interested if there is a workshop manual for it.

[eddyramrod]

Shame I didn't know about you popping along to the Blue Box on Sunday ... Are you planning a pilgrimage there every drive-it day though? If so I'll pencil 2015's into my diary.

 

Yes, I think so, though it will rather depend on what I'm driving at the time.  I don't think I want to take a winter beater, but as long as I've found the year's summer classic by then...  It also falls handily close to my birthday, which is nice.  They are hosting a bunch of other events over the year, including a sports-car day which I thought I might pop along to as I have one this year!

Thank you for the comments about the car.  I hadn't thought of stickering it.  I live right around the corner from the firm that'll be doing my van, and in fact I need to speak to him about reproducing a 1978 T-shirt I found... I've put on a fair bit of weight in 36 years!

 

 

 

Joe, if I lay hands on two I'll let you know.

[eddyramrod]

Right, I've managed to upload the latest batch of photos.  First up, the Pininfarina badges and the scars left by their removal...

 

Here's the one I found in the scrappy.  I might go back for the shoulder panel yet, to replace my snorkel.  Haven't decided...

 

 

And here's the surgery in progress, and completed...

 

 

It's in the garage now having a new cambelt and fluids, should get it back tomorrow.

[eddyramrod]

Got it back yesterday, with new oils in the engine and box, new cambelt and a new balljoint, which has improved the low-speed steering.  Cost me £200 but it's all good for my peace of mind.  Yes, I'm only planning to have it a few months.  Yes, I've not long spent more than that doing some of the same jobs on the Volvo; and before that the Cherry and 406, and no doubt I'll be doing it all over again with the next winter beater and after that, next year's classic, and so  on.  But, as long as the sale of one covers,or nearly-covers, the cost of the next one, then it's all cheap fun.

 

Today I bought a new number plate for the front.  The standard long plate that's on it overhangs the plinth at both ends, because the plinth is for a JDM plate, which is a whole different shape, very much like an American plate.  So now I've got one the right size to put on when I'm ready.

[hairnet]

eewar - we may have a biter

[hairnet]

i think you may be carrying on to improve this fine (cough) vehicle........

[eddyramrod]

New number plate is on, pic to follow.  It does look much better.

 

Now then... the car might be going up for sale.  "Already?" I hear you cry.  Well I went to see a chap today and he unexpectedly made me an offer I might not be able to refuse.  Let's just say for the moment, one Jap incoming will mean the other has to go.  I don't want to reveal all until I've got it and it's in use.

[hairnet]

you are panda aicmmfp!

[eddyramrod]

   Who forgot to upload the pic then, over a month ago?  Sorry!  This is just a bump to remind me later, when I'm on the other computer.  This afternoon I'm mostly cleaning up the wheels, at long last.  Tell you all about it tonight.

[eddyramrod]

Finally!  Here it is with the number plate it should have had all that time, fitted.

And here it is yesterday.  Call these "before" pics if you like, because today I've been cleaning the wheels, adding the usual Vannas Car Sales sticker, and washing it.  Much-needed!

As you can see, I still haven't done anything about that snorkel scoop.  I haven't reached a firm decision yet, but it's looking likely that I will go back to the scrappy for the flat panel off the black car.  Nor have I done anything about the scabby bits of paintwork that need touching-in, but if we get some nice afternoons over the next week or two that's likely to change.  Ideally it needs a complete respray, but that won't be on my watch.  The one it's already had is poor quality, even by my standards.

I think I need to do some out-of-town runs with it.  I'm feeling a bit stale, but that could just be because all I do is take it to work and back.  I've got some shows booked, that should liven things up a bit.

[hairnet]

needs a 590 blast

[Spiny Norman]

That does look smart, doesn't it?

[eddyramrod]

590 blast?

 

As in Italian Tune Up?

It probably does, tbh.  I'm not inclined to cane an engine, although it's been necessary on occasion.  So despite being nominally a "sports car" it normally gets driven like there's a grandad at the wheel.  Oh... hang on...  I AM a grandad!

[KruJoe]

Are you telling us you still haven't taken this out for a damn good thrashing?

 

The car deserves it, you deserve to experience that mid-engined chuckability after the love you've given it, and we deserve the write-up of your afternoon on those great Lakeland roads.

 

It'd be rude not to!

[eddyramrod]

That's just it, I haven't really given it a whole lotta love.  I'm not feeling it for this car, somehow.  Joe, you're probably right, I probably do need to give it a good chucking.  It's had the coast road from Ulverston to Barrow, and a couple of others, but maybe when I've been a bit tired for chucking.  Maybe I need to set aside a nice morning and hit it.

[KruJoe]

Yeah, good idea.

Wait for a dry day so you don't have to worry about it biting you on the arse...

The engine will enjoy it, and who knows? Maybe you will too!

[gdhaydock]

Just had a flashback to the last time I tried having a "spirited drive" in the lakes, I came home with my tail between my legs after my newly acquired Calibra threw a major dicky fit at the bottom of Hardnnott Pass and was thus disqualified from the unofficial hill climb