Six Cylinders Motoring Notes - a Workshop Day Today

[catsinthewelder]

Then own up when hes fixed it!

[Six-cylinder]

Yesterday evening Colin came to the FoD to take his Mercedes 450SLC for a run as it now has it's headlights back in, that were removed for rust prevention behind them.

Colin did just 9 miles and he came back with his wallet torn apart, well he had to put petrol in it!

All is not well, even after the thermostat had been taken out and a rad flush carried out, it came back with banging sounds. The radiator is getting warm all over and the temp gauge shows lowish. We suspect the water is not circulating and it is getting hot spots in the engine itself. Next step forward is going to be a new water pump.

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Our Citroen XM is needed to fill in for our Mercedes 200TE that has a puncture and next weekend is going to the Chevrons Citroen rally. Trouble is it is still not right and has a hardish ride. It has had the rear spheres replaced which improved it a lot but what next?

[Six-cylinder]

In the 11 ½ years we have bought cars from this forum we have grabbed 42 of the finest cars.

Trouble is we still have 19 of them!

[richardmorris]

Does your xm have the hydractiveII? There used to be a kit available from someone in the ccc that did the job of the dead diodes that switched from normal to firm.

[richardmorris]

Are you coming down for the GSAmi rally? Back in Tilford 5th October.

[Six-cylinder]

30 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Does your xm have the hydractiveII? There used to be a kit available from someone in the ccc that did the job of the dead diodes that switched from normal to firm.

It is hydractivell but it is harder than the sport setting.

[Zelandeth]

Were they actually new spheres, or new old stock from somewhere?

I just find myself wondering if they may be flat if they've been sitting on someone's shelf for the last 30 years.  Not sure if the accumulator sphere(s?) would affect the ride quality drastically.

[Six-cylinder]

2 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Were they actually new spheres, or new old stock from somewhere?

I just find myself wondering if they may be flat if they've been sitting on someone's shelf for the last 30 years.  Not sure if the accumulator sphere(s?) would affect the ride quality drastically.

I believe they are new and not old stock.

I bought them from AEP Scotland Ltd.

[Six-cylinder]

@ianbmw started getting the Carlton Estate repaired for an MOT after its fail. The fuel leak repaired, ABS light is out, indicators work.

Next time the heavy work tie rod, bushes and rear brake discs starts.

Who switched the light off at 8.30pm!

[ianbmw]

Silly Carlton, after all that hard graft I’m buggered if a few “minor” mot issues will let it die.

 

but once it’s done, I’m going to take a huge amount of enjoyment in bringing that spirited 1.8GL back to life……because I secretly know you want that one working!

[Six-cylinder]

10 minutes ago, ianbmw said:

Silly Carlton, after all that hard graft I’m buggered if a few “minor” mot issues will let it die.

but once it’s done, I’m going to take a huge amount of enjoyment in bringing that spirited 1.8GL back to life……because I secretly know you want that one working!

NO, No, no it is a sad car lacking 2 cylinders, auto gearbox, a/c, leather, cruise etc. 

Just remember how much trouble it gave when @Andyrew owned it!

[ianbmw]

Not sure what you’ve done to it, because it was manual when I last saw it!

[Six-cylinder]

10 minutes ago, ianbmw said:

Not sure what you’ve done to it, because it was manual when I last saw it!

Luxo barges should have big engines and be Automatic!

[ianbmw]

But it’s the new world, it’s all about the environment!

[Six-cylinder]

I collected the freshly prepared heads for the Sigma today.

[Six-cylinder]

I am thinking about what wheels to use on my Mini. I have four of these 12" but some have said I should stick to 10" as that would be original to this car.

[LightBulbFun]

6 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

I am thinking about what wheels to use on my Mini. I have four of these 12" but some have said I should stick to 10" as that would be original to this car.

I would go for 10 inch wheels  and I am not just saying that because Me and @Mrs6C can then pinch them for our own use  but I personally find 10 inch wheeled mini's the most atheistically pleasing, and ya dont see many original 10 inch wheeled Mini's these days, I mean yeah you see fair few Mk1's etc I suppose at shows, but most standard 1980's mini's like yours, usually have had different wheels or various things fitted to it over the year

I also have heard that Mini's handle best/have the best handling feel when on original 10 inch wheels, but I have never driven any sort Mini sadly! so I cant personally vouch for that

[chaseracer]

Chris, it's your car - use whatever wheels you like!

[Six-cylinder]

25 minutes ago, chaseracer said:

Chris, it's your car - use whatever wheels you like!

If I had a must have idea then it would be easy.

[Six-cylinder]

Today once again @Slowsilverturned out to help me get my Citroen LNA out of storage. It is the Citroen Chevrons Rally this coming weekend and I had offered to take it.

Somehow the LNA had worked its way to the back row and we had to move in no particular order:

Peugeot 404, Citroen Ami, BMW 330CI, Triumph Toledo, Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coup, Lancia Trevi and Gamma. They all started even if some needed the jump pack.

[MorrisItalSLX]

An interesting article about the development of the Magna Wagon/ Sigma Estate.

https://club.shannons.com.au/club/news/retroautos/magna-wagon-secret-styling-ideas-of-aussie-success/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1LBosw7iHjnXvX9_yST6VbBUV96TmxvBc0HGrstdwtUaBPdimUhWVGkik_aem_KvSU9wJNhCR_SU1WxFzoyQ

[hairnet]

14 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

I am thinking about what wheels to use on my Mini. I have four of these 12" but some have said I should stick to 10" as that would be original to this car.

 

mambas

[DSdriver]

On 27/08/2024 at 22:31, Six-cylinder said:

@ianbmw started getting the Carlton Estate repaired for an MOT after its fail. The fuel leak repaired, ABS light is out, indicators work.

Next time the heavy work tie rod, bushes and rear brake discs starts.

Who switched the light off at 8.30pm!

Looks like the DS is poking its nose in to see what's occuring 😀

[DSdriver]

Do you disconnect batteries of cars not being used? I do, they are more likely to start without using the jump pack.

[Six-cylinder]

19 minutes ago, DSdriver said:

Looks like the DS is poking its nose in to see what's occuring 😀

The DS has been my go-to car for the last week since the 1300 is in doc for a U/J.

[DSdriver]

13 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

The DS has been my go-to car for the last week since the 1300 is in doc for a U/J.

They do appreciate regular use, the clutch on mine is a bit bighty if the car has not been used. 

[Six-cylinder]

18 minutes ago, DSdriver said:

Do you disconnect batteries of cars not being used? I do, they are more likely to start without using the jump pack.

Me I would Lazily leave them connected, but fortunately @Slowsilver often helps me and insists he disconnects all the batteries because he knows it will be him connecting the jump pack next time! He even insists on checking tyre pressures of cars being taken out on the road, rather than my visual check.

It is good to have friends.

[Six-cylinder]

Not a good day, my LNA didn't start this morning, I smelt petrol so I guess I have flooded it. Mrs6C bought me out the keys to the Volvo V70, but that had a flat battery. It has a drain somewhere and randomly does this. 3rd choice was the Citroen DS that started and did my 50 mile round trip just fine.

I delivered a rubber U/J coupling to my favourite garage for the Morris 1300. You would have thought they could have just called the local motor factor and had one delivered for a best selling car! Interestingly Mark had a friend there reboring one of his Triumph 2500 engines for him.

I am still struggling to tax the MG Metro. Today I took my V5C and no MOT needed V112 declaration to the nearest post office I can park outside only to be told they only do car tax in the mornings because nobody is trained on the afternoon shift.

[beko1987]

That same post office has 2 queues too. One for the post office and one for the shop. Un signposted. 

I stood like a bloody right idiot for 10 minutes there the other week before someone told me I wanted the other queue 🙄

[Six-cylinder]

12 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

That same post office has 2 queues too. One for the post office and one for the shop. Un signposted. 

I stood like a bloody right idiot for 10 minutes there the other week before someone told me I wanted the other queue 🙄

Last week I went to tax a car, they took so long to find somebody who could work the machine I had to ask for a chair.