Six Cylinders Motoring Notes

[Inspector Morose]

I might bring my Thinkpad down and sit in a corner, tapping away, pretending it's 2005 and that I'm an engineer working off-site.

Or I might not and sit there miserably staring into the void.

[Talbot]

7 minutes ago, Inspector Morose said:

I might bring my Thinkpad down and sit in a corner, tapping away, pretending it's 2005 and that I'm an engineer working off-site.

Bringing that up to date.. there is unlimited free wifi at the FoD now.  I should even have a 300w inverter with me to keep stuff charged as needed.

[Inspector Morose]

I've always liked the idea of the style of car rallies of old (you know, lines of old cars in a field type of thing) but with totally inappropriate stuff. One I wanted to organise was a chesterfield sofa rally where folk walk around rows of deeply buttoned leather seating, reading the info cards in front while getting in the way of photographers trying to capture an image of their favourite leather grain or patina.

Hence the idea of a vintage laptop rally in the middle of a field appeals to my warped grasp of reality.

[wuvvum]

Looks like I'll probably just be coming down for the day tomorrow - I really need to get cracking on the Skoda's head gasket and the Toyota's brakes on Sunday / Monday.

[LightBulbFun]

55 minutes ago, Inspector Morose said:

I've always liked the idea of the style of car rallies of old (you know, lines of old cars in a field type of thing) but with totally inappropriate stuff. One I wanted to organise was a chesterfield sofa rally where folk walk around rows of deeply buttoned leather seating, reading the info cards in front while getting in the way of photographers trying to capture an image of their favourite leather grain or patina.

at a 2008 gathering of invalid vehicles in wales, someone had a line up/display of all the vintage artificial limbs that they had collected

does that count? LOL

[Mrs6C]

4 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

someone had a line up/display of all the vintage artificial limbs that they had collected

Fantastic for doing the hokey-cokey!

[beko1987]

I've not told the children yet, I wonder how close I can get before they twig? They helped me start packing the car wednesday and didnt realise, but the food bags lying around might be a giveaway tonight

I will have to make use of the communal kettle if thats OK, I can't find the lid for mine. I'll BYOM though, and will stick a few UHT milks in the car

[Tadhg Tiogar]

1 minute ago, beko1987 said:

.... will stick a few UHT milks ....

 

 

[LightBulbFun]

Just wondering, what sort of times are people planning to show up at the FoD at tomorrow? 

I have kindly got a lift from the station sorted, but the person will only be able to pick me up at around 1PMish

so I was just wondering if anyone would be able to pick me up any earlier from Milton Keynes Central Station?

im just a bit mindful on missing out on FoD Fun thats all  

normally I force myself up at like 8AM and make head way to be at the FoD at around 10AMish to make sure Im there nice and early for a full day of fun  

 

its not a big problem or anything but just figured id check  

[wuvvum]

I'm unlikely to be there much before 1 by the time I drag my sorry arse out of bed and get myself on the road.

[beko1987]

I'm not going to be able to get the kids up and sorted in time to get to mk Station but if you did Marylebone to Haddenham (it's a little halt station) that's not even a mile out of my way, and you could get there silly o clock early... Or 9ish

[wuvvum]

Haddenham & Thame Parkway.  I remember it well.

[LightBulbFun]

1 hour ago, wuvvum said:

I'm unlikely to be there much before 1 by the time I drag my sorry arse out of bed and get myself on the road.

 

44 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

I'm not going to be able to get the kids up and sorted in time to get to mk Station but if you did Marylebone to Haddenham (it's a little halt station) that's not even a mile out of my way, and you could get there silly o clock early... Or 9ish

No problem I was just seeing if anyone would happen to be able to pick me up earlier from MKC

but if its not possible/too much of an inconvenience then thats not a problem at all

ill stick with the 1PM plan then  (at least It means im able to sleep in a bit longer LOL)

[beko1987]

No worries, by 1pm I want to be wrapping up my rear brakes ready for an afternoon of nothing and whatever that brings? 

[chaseracer]

8 hours ago, Talbot said:

I should even have a 300w inverter with me to keep stuff charged as needed.

CollectED from adjacent postcode area this evening!

Edited May 28, 2021 by chaseracer
Job jobbed!

[Floatylight]

So my time with @Six-cylinder'S 306 Cabriolet is coming to an end as I return it this weekend.

I'll have done about 400 miles in it, sadly only about 30 with the roof down due to a month of shocking weather. 

I've still had time to do a bit of tinkering which has included. 

Rewiring stereo to stop it loosing settings.

Replace front speakers

Re stitch rear window into canvas 

Clean and waterproof canvas

Colour and nourish leather seats

Get slow puncture fixed

Replaced no plate fixings

Upgraded high level brake light with high output LED strip

Fault find abs light, found duff abs ring.

Pics here

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NnYVMjJLTRUsEjvG9

All in all an enjoyable month, would of kept longer if I hadn't acquired my Dad's SLK.

Heartfelt thanks to @Six-cylinderfor being kind enough to lend it to me..

[Floatylight]

Was planning on coming tomorrow but SmollFL not feeling well and was going to give me a lift home so I'll come on Sunday instead and get a lift back with @chaseracer

[Mrs6C]

1 hour ago, Floatylight said:

SmollFL not feeling well

Hope he will be and will feel much better soon! Look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

[Talbot]

6 hours ago, chaseracer said:

CollectED from adjacent postcode area this evening!

The 300w one is in my car.  The one you've collected is for the possibility of welding from an inverter and is a 2000w continuous / 4000w peak unit,  much biggerer! And also most appreciated!  Only fun bit is going to be finding 4 batteries to drive it, as it needs 48V input.

[Floatylight]

29 minutes ago, Talbot said:

The 300w one is in my car.  The one you've collected is for the possibility of welding from an inverter and is a 2000w continuous / 4000w peak unit,  much biggerer! And also most appreciated!  Only fun bit is going to be finding 4 batteries to drive it, as it needs 48V input.

That's easy, just rewire Dave's Lexus Zanussi

[LightBulbFun]

32 minutes ago, Talbot said:

Only fun bit is going to be finding 4 batteries to drive it, as it needs 48V input.

if only there was a vehicle at the FoD that used such a configuration of multiple Lead acid batteries in series like that... *clinks a couple milk bottles together*

 

also 48V eh? why do I have a feeling theres a BT engineer scratching his head at the local telecom exchange as to where the inverter powering the mains side of things has suddenly vanished off too! LOL

[Inspector Morose]

Meh, 48v is low , easy enough to rustle up that kind of voltage just depends on the amperage you need to run a welder. I suspect a lot of amps - sturdy leads are in order.

That reminds me, I must conjure up a 16.1v charge voltage for the T42 In the morning.

[LightBulbFun]

46 minutes ago, Inspector Morose said:

Meh, 48v is low , easy enough to rustle up that kind of voltage just depends on the amperage you need to run a welder. I suspect a lot of amps - sturdy leads are in order.

if we assume 2000W, thats "only" 41 amps or so  which is within the realms of some household wiring (say from a shower circuit)

would be much worse if it was 12V which would be 166A!

 

when I am eventually on the road with a car, I must see about dragging one of my big fuck off lightbulbs (and its associated control gear) down with me

then we can light it up in the middle of the FoD and convince the Locals that @Mrs6C has just added a UFO to her eclectic collection of vehicles  

(im assuming the inverter is a pure sine-wave one?)

46 minutes ago, Inspector Morose said:

That reminds me, I must conjure up a 16.1v charge voltage for the T42 In the morning.

I have (among my many other vintage Apple laptops, I did try and get a suitably vintage ThinkPad but my Hermes lost it *sad face*) a PowerBook G3 Kanga who's 24 year old battery somehow will still power the machine for several hours 

I would love to bring it with me, but it weighs a little* much for my back sadly

[beko1987]

"no we can't leave yet" for the 9th time

[Talbot]

6 hours ago, Inspector Morose said:

Meh, 48v is low , easy enough to rustle up that kind of voltage just depends on the amperage you need to run a welder.

Indeed.  intentionally selected to keep it at under 50VDC so that it qualifies as SELV.  You can get inverters with 60 and 72VDC inputs, meaning amps are reduced for the same power, but 72 (actually well over 80 for charging) volts is getting a little iffy.  one slip with a battery clamp and you'll have an instant DC welder on your hands without intending to.

Bodywork welding is somewhere in the region of 1.0-1.5kw load on average, so this might work.  it will be drawing a good few amps from 48V of lead-acid batteries, but well within the realms of a few bits of 25mm2 cable pulled from some scrap cars. (Not Chris's cars I hasten to add!)

[brownnova]

Sad to miss out on the action this weekend! Have fun all! 

[beko1987]

We are leaving shortly. I may have put my x60t (which if it's charged will last 5 hours) and my T43 which may boot itself to the desktop... And chargers for both

[DSdriver]

On a scale of 1 to 5 with flip flops at 1 and wellies at 5, what are the ground conditions after a wet May?

Hoping to arrive about 12.30ish. The M25 is a thing of wonder as in "I wonder if we should go clockwise or counterclockwise"

[beko1987]

4 minutes ago, DSdriver said:

On a scale of 1 to 5 with flip flops at 1 and wellies at 5, what are the ground conditions after a wet May?

Hoping to arrive about 12.30ish. The M25 is a thing of wonder as in "I wonder if we should go clockwise or counterclockwise"

I've got wellies in the car but old trainers are on now. It'll be damp grass but shouldn't be sodden wet

[Six-cylinder]

We running a bit late due to congestion on the drive, if you know the gate code let yourself in.