The King's new ride (warning: Norfolk mustard content)

[meshking]

Ooh, mk2 Astra glovebox lock you say? That's one bit that is broken, then handle has been removed (presumably the catch broke) and replaced with a tie wrap.

[Largactil]

Ooh, mk2 Astra glovebox lock you say? That's one bit that is broken, then handle has been removed (presumably the catch broke) and replaced with a tie wrap.

 

On the SE it is - Vauxhall part number 90 272 984 (From the Astra / Carlton)

 

On the S2, apparently it's a little different: 90 229 527 on the main body / 90 229 528 on the handle / 90 185 448 on the plastic U clip that holds it in place.

 

(Cribbed from LEC http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Glove_box - Lots of good info on there...)

[meshking]

Ah, yes. I'm slowly working out the resources that are out there. Thanks very much for looking that up!

I bought some new spark plugs, but they didn't have NGK iridium in stock. Based on the code he gave me the Bosch equivalent. I can't find a list to check from though, they appear the same maybe a touch longer than the current ones which makes me hesitate to fit them.

[Largactil]

Have a look here: http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Spark_plugs

 

[Vince70]

That is one seriously nice élan I'm bloody jealous as it the same car as in the Amiga game. and a yellow one in my books is the best colour for an élan.

 

And to add to the true sprit of Autoshite you could actually buy it with a Kia badge so it's an autoshite winner all round.

 

[meshking]

Have a look here: http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Spark_plugs

 

Ah, no. What I should have typed was 'the plugs I got aren't listed on that page, so I want to find a bosch spark plug application list to check'

 

But, thanks!

[meshking]

Not sure what engine the Kia version came with, but those rear lights? Not doing it for me !

 

It's really nice to have something that is genuinely how it left the factory (or dealer), I think this car will be passed down to my kids rather than sell on.

[skattrd]

PS Bagsy first dibs to buy it when you get fed up with it?

 

Can I get dibs after Bready.

 

As for the Piazza engine, wasn't the Piazza a 2l and this is a 1.6 ... so not quite true.

[dome]

Funnily enough I've just been offered an Elan SE Turbo as a swap for the 944. Interesting...

 

What do I need to look out for on these things?

 

Brian

[Largactil]

Ah, no. What I should have typed was 'the plugs I got aren't listed on that page, so I want to find a bosch spark plug application list to check'

 

But, thanks!

 

Ah - Sorry!

 

Mines was kinda new at the time (well; 7-8 years old), and I was less frugal than I am now, so got it serviced at the main Lot-arse dealer rather than DIY-ing anything. (Plus it came with a full main dealer history from HR Owen in London - Even went there for MOT's & tyres!)

 

Can I get dibs after Bready.

 

As for the Piazza engine, wasn't the Piazza a 2l and this is a 1.6 ... so not quite true.

 

Quite correct - My bad, as I always had the Piazza down as 1.6; google suggests it's from an Isuzu Gemini which wasn't sold in the UK.

 

Funnily enough I've just been offered an Elan SE Turbo as a swap for the 944. Interesting...

 

What do I need to look out for on these things?

 

Brian

 

Lotus Elan Central has a good buyers guide: - http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Buyers_guide

 

Off the top of my head:

 

Rusty rear wishbones

 

Torn door / roof seals = Wind roar and leaks

 

Fragile trim

 

Cam Angle Sensor playing up, leading to all sorts of rough running / misfiring - The seal fails, and they piss out oil too

 

As an old school turbo it should really have been left to idle for a minute after a good roasting, in order to coast down the impeller a bit, to prolong the life of the turbocharger - Usual checks about excess smoke on acceleration indicating knackered seals.

[dome]

Went for a quick look today.  It's not bad. Paint is good. It hasn't moved for a while and was pretty damp inside-looks like there's a leak somewhere.

It fired up fine and sounded healthy, I didn't get a chance to drive it as it's on sorn-will take the risk and get a drive before doing a deal though. 

 

The guy is local to me and liked the 944 so a deal may be done, we'll get Christmas out of the way first.

 

 

[RichL]

Ah, yes. I'm slowly working out the resources that are out there. Thanks very much for looking that up!

I bought some new spark plugs, but they didn't have NGK iridium in stock

 

I'd be inclined to hunt a set of NGK's down, there the best plugs IMO, especially in a Jap engine

[meshking]

Went for a quick look today. It's not bad. Paint is good. It hasn't moved for a while and was pretty damp inside-looks like there's a leak somewhere.

It fired up fine and sounded healthy, I didn't get a chance to drive it as it's on sorn-will take the risk and get a drive before doing a deal though.

 

The guy is local to me and liked the 944 so a deal may be done, we'll get Christmas out of the way first.

That looks good, check those wheels though. I read somewhere that they increased the size to 16 on the runout models and it didn't improve the handling. They look bigger than on my car, so it might handle worse than it should.

[meshking]

Righto, back on this car today.

 

Sold one of my 2cvs yesterday so I'm revelling in the spare time and space I have now by washing and machine polishing this. In the short time I've owned this, it's been a bit temperamental in the temperature department.

Whilst shuffling cars a while back I left this to warm up idling on the drive. The cooling fans cut in, so I know it's getting up to temp, but there was a small bit of steam coming out of the front of the car. It's been sometime since I owned a water cooled car that's not a modern (although this could be considered modern!) but that's not right.

 

Just 'gliptone twinned' the leather seats, and I noticed a small puddle of water by the near side front. Taking a peek under the bonnet I see that a few of the connections between hose and rad have white deposits. Is that normal? Also, looking at the rad through the grille I see more white deposits on the radiator itself - again, normal?

 

I'd like to get this back on the road for summer, so need to sort these out. Whilst the car was idling on the drive I noticed a drip from the exhaust underneath the car , I guess this is just condensation since the car had not been driven properly for a few months.

[the judge]

Pics of white stuff pls. So you did the deal then?

[brickwall]

The design of these is like a good wine in that it takes a while for it to become really nice.

[meshking]

 

Pics

 

 

Not sure what deal?

[meshking]

Holy thread resurrection batman.

 

Sorry for this, over the past few years I've had advisories for slight exhaust leaks at the silencer.

 

Here's the hole... I'll probably attack it later with my dremel to clean it up some more. Is this something I should use some bridging putty on with a little mesh, or should I buy some gas and weld it up?

 

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