Six Cylinders Motoring Notes

[Saabnut]

4 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

How about 24/25/26 August?

Anytime after mid August should be fine. May need to visit before then with a delivery if all goes to plan!

[MondeoBlues]

Pretty sure I'm available on 15-16 June. 

Unless I've forgotten something, although if that's the case, it can't have been that important. 

[Ghosty]

Sounds alright to me... excuse to get the tent out.

[grogee]

@Six-cylinder and @Mrs6C - thank you once again for the generous open invite, it really is above and beyond the call of duty for a crap car forum.

Just as I was plucking up the courage to attend, I realise that I'm in Lincs that weekend for classic car charity rally. 

My prediction, based on zero evidence or science, is that June will be glorious weather. Have a wonderful weekend, dung beetles. 

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, grogee said:

a crap car forum.

I think it's a shit hot forum, TBH

[Six-cylinder]

Fuel consumption check on the Morris 1300 - 31.4mpg.

[High Jetter]

50 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

Fuel consumption check on the Morris 1300 - 31.4mpg.

🤩

Needs twin carbs! 

[Six-cylinder]

9 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Needs twin carbs! 

That would be nice, but I am surprised how well it pulls on its single carb rated at 60 bhp. Our 72 bhp Metro only has a single and apart from being sort of a cruising gear is a pleasure to drive. Next month the plan is to have the MG Metro MK1 out for the Mini & Metro show at Gaydon so I will be able to do a back to back comparison.

Also I wonder how my 40 bhp 998cc Mini is going to feel compared to these powerful 1275cc cars.

[Tommyboy12]

The Mini being spritely will depend on the diff ratio more than anything. Minis feel quick if theyre on a 3.4 diff even with 40hp. Ive driven a 998 with a 3.9 diff and it was almost quick, but it was doing 5000rpm at 70mph! But if its a 2.9 (as per Mini City E) it will feel sluggish but have super long legs for the motorway. My 998 (which 10" wheels) has a 2.9 diff and you can definitely feel it once youre into 4th. But it also does 70mph at 3500rpm so is a real nice motorway cruiser.

[Six-cylinder]

Yesterday I took Morris to an MG Car Club lunch. Nothing remarkable except a Nissan Silvia unconnected to our group with a lady who bought it new.

[Six-cylinder]

I had some bad news today about the Vauxhall Carlton Estate.

Repair immediately (major defects):

• Offside Front Fuel hose leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))
• Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))
• Nearside Rear Sub-frame pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
• Offside Rear Sub-frame pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
• Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))
• Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))
• Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))
• Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))
• Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))
• .
•  

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):

• Fuel Pipe/s corroded ALL
• Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
• Alternator warning light on

[Six-cylinder]

Today Slowsilver did another grass cut of the FoD in preparation for the FoD Open Weekend.

Today I have driven both the V70 and the 940 and prefer the 940 by a small margin mainly because of the more comfortable ride. Anybody also driven both and have a favourite?

[High Jetter]

46 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

I had some bad news today about the Vauxhall Carlton Estate.

Repair immediately (major defects):

• Offside Front Fuel hose leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))
• Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))
• Nearside Rear Sub-frame pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
• Offside Rear Sub-frame pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
• Offside Front Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))
• Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))
• Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))
• Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))
• Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))
• .
•  

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):

• Fuel Pipe/s corroded ALL
• Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
• Alternator warning light on

Rear subframe & brake pipes are the worst, shirley? The rest is easy.

[Six-cylinder]

On 23/05/2024 at 09:18, Tommyboy12 said:

The Mini being spritely will depend on the diff ratio more than anything. Minis feel quick if theyre on a 3.4 diff even with 40hp. Ive driven a 998 with a 3.9 diff and it was almost quick, but it was doing 5000rpm at 70mph! But if its a 2.9 (as per Mini City E) it will feel sluggish but have super long legs for the motorway. My 998 (which 10" wheels) has a 2.9 diff and you can definitely feel it once youre into 4th. But it also does 70mph at 3500rpm so is a real nice motorway cruiser.

My Dec 1982 Brochure says the Mayfair could have 2.95 or 2.76 Final Drives. Anyway I can tell without taking it apart?

[juular]

The 740 and 940 series are so pleasantly smooth and comfortable, they feel very right. In terms of refinement they do not feel their age. It's unfathomable that the 240 outlived the 740, it feels like a tractor in comparison.

I do however really like the 70 series for a long drive. The seats just fit me better and I find it easier to get the perfect driving position. It is a much stiffer car which makes it less pleasant on country roads but on the motorway the smoothness and stability is brilliant. Plus, the 5 cylinder noise is fantastic, and a T5 really flies.

[Six-cylinder]

This morning I took Morris to Hobnob with Bentleys!

This afternoon Colin from The Milton Keynes Classic Car Club came to the FoD to finish cleaning up his 1979 Mercedes 450SLC that he had delivered 1-4-24 after sitting for 20+ years. It starts and runs, but badly on less than 8 cylinders. We have changed the petrol twice and Colin's garage thinks it is injectors so it goes into them later next week. Fingers cross they nail the problem and the project can proceed to a running driving car. 

[Tommyboy12]

On 24/05/2024 at 23:07, Six-cylinder said:

My Dec 1982 Brochure says the Mayfair could have 2.95 or 2.76 Final Drives. Anyway I can tell without taking it apart?

If you have the engine number I can tell you. I am a boring catalogue of knowledge 😅

[Six-cylinder]

2 hours ago, Tommyboy12 said:

If you have the engine number I can tell you. I am a boring catalogue of knowledge 😅

Fantastic, the car is away at the moment being welded so I don't have easy access to it. When it returns or I get the V5C back from the DVLA  I will give you the number to decode.

Remembering this is an Autoshite budget project and I can't find any used wheels with legal tyres for sale also new 10 inch tyres are so expensive I have been wondering how a set of used 12 inch with useable tyres would affect the gearing?

[Tommyboy12]

2 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

Fantastic, the car is away at the moment being welded so I don't have easy access to it. When it returns or I get the V5C back from the DVLA  I will give you the number to decode.

Remembering this is an Autoshite budget project and I can't find any used wheels with legal tyres for sale also new 10 inch tyres are so expensive I have been wondering how a set of used 12 inch with useable tyres would affect the gearing?

The rolling radius of 10" and 12" tyres for Minis are almost identical. It'll be 2-3mph difference maximum at about 60mph. If budget is name of the game id suggest some wheels and tyres from a failed project. Plenty of 12" Mini lites kicking round from people who bought wheels before realising the amount of welding required 😅

[chaseracer]

Is it true that Hillman Imp wheels fit a Mini (though not a MINI...) or am I talking out of the wrong hole?

Again.

🙂

[richardmorris]

54 minutes ago, chaseracer said:

Is it true that Hillman Imp wheels fit a Mini (though not a MINI...) or am I talking out of the wrong hole?

Again.

🙂

Google says no. Dangerous.

same PCD but more offset and larger holes.

[High Jetter]

5 hours ago, chaseracer said:

Is it true that Hillman Imp wheels fit a Mini (though not a MINI...) or am I talking out of the wrong hole?

Again.

🙂

My instinct says no.

[Ghosty]

940 vs V70...
close enough, I've had a 740 and an 850. I preferred the 850 to live with, more comfortable, less fragile bits, more performance for the same fuel economy, more features, and better handling. I found it a less gloomy place to be, and slightly better thought out.

[Peter C]

On 21/05/2024 at 12:48, Six-cylinder said:

Date for FoD Open Weekend

15/16 June 2024

Is there room for a blue Ford Sierra?

[chaseracer]

6 hours ago, Peter C said:

Is there room for a blue Ford Sierra?

There's ALWAYS room for a blue Ford Sierra... 😎

[Six-cylinder]

Today was prep day for cars and @Slowsilver came to help. One of the great thing about having Slowsilver help me apart from the chauffeur driven Maxi is he insisted we check oil, water and tyre pressures of cars that have been slumbering before we drive them about.

The Metro is going to Gaydon Sunday for the Mini and Metro show so it needed to come out of storage. It started with a jump easily.

We also got out our Citroen DS as next weekend is the national DS Rally again started easily with a jump and I have driven it home with no problems.

Tomorrow, Saturday is MK Modern Classic Breakfast meet and I fancy taking the Metro to that.

We also had to start and move the Lancia Gamma but did not have time to drive it other that in and out of storage.

The Renault 4 bonnet is still stuck shut as the rod that opens it feels like it is disconnected. I managed to wedge the back edge, of the tip forward bonnet open to see the catch but the extra long screwdriver I had was not quite long enough and I need one half the width of a Renault 4.

 

[Christine]

Oh yeah  , mower!   ...    National 68 mower free , but it'll need collecting near East Grinstead . Owner passed away  ?  Dangerous as ! 

[wuvvum]

10 minutes ago, Christine said:

Oh yeah  , mower!   ...    National 68 mower free , but it'll need collecting near East Grinstead . Owner passed away  ?  Dangerous as ! 

If you want to talk dangerous mowers, @Talbot is your man.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Christine said:

near East Grinstead . Dangerous as ! 

Yea, best avoided!

[AnthonyG]

I will be able to make this now. Are there any specific plans for stuff to do?  
Apart from collect fish and chips in a Morris 1300, that goes without saying. 

What’s the status on the Saab 95? I remember it starting and running but don’t recall it moving about much - did it need work on the brakes or clutch?