Six Cylinders Motoring Notes

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, richardmorris said:

I think I’m in wales. But have a good time.

Are you lost, dear? 🤣

[Six-cylinder]

The new starter for the 480 arrived today so I attempted to fit it.  Andyrew had warned me it was very difficult to wiggle it out from the rear bracket and he was not wrong. To put it straightforwardly I failed! I have also lost a torch, and two levers down into the engine bay somewhere and as it was getting dark I gave up..

[Six-cylinder]

We moved the Citroen XM off the Grass this morning at the FoD. It had a flat battery, but with a jump pack it started straight up. Unfortunately Mrs6C found mice in it and managed to catch two but the third is still in there.

It is waiting for an MOT but is in a queue.

[hairnet]

no cheese for meeces

[Six-cylinder]

The continuing story with the Volvo 480ES is @Andyrew came and saved us.

I had another go at wriggling the starter Motor into place and Mrs6C had a try but we failed. Andyrew turned up in the freezing cold and dark and after a bit of a battle got it into place. And all for a cheesy chips supper!

Saturday all I had to do was tighten the 3 fixing bolts, connect the main power lead and connect the starter solenoid wire. I just could not get the starter wire connected on the blind side of the solenoid, it just seemed too short so I made up a short extension wire. The starter now worked.

@Prince_of_darkness91 and I went for a ride, toped up the petrol and it started fine. We then took the long way home and returned to the drive. I went to test restart it and it just clicked, we turned the engine on the alternator and it started. We turned it off again and attempted a restart and this time the starter spun but the engine did not fire. We rested it and it started if a bit rough at first. I then took it to the FoD but did not switch it off until I got home.

At the FoD I noticed the n-s daylight running lens had fallen off and the o-s was very lose. I found evidence of previous glue so to keep water from rushing into the bulb holders I have glued the coves back on.

At home there was ignition lights but no turning or even clicking of the starter so I moved the gear selector from park to neutral and it started instantly. I then retried it in park and it started with a wiggle. Now it started perfectly in park or neutral.

[Six-cylinder]

Late afternoon I risked the 480 again and went to a car gathering in Milton Keynes in spite of the grey damp cold weather. Usually this meeting is 50+ cars but today I counted just 18.

The good news is the 480 behaved perfectly, restarted to get lined up for a photo without any issues and again to go home.

The car I most wanted to take home other than the 480 was the Ford Anglia van.

[richardmorris]

You can’t beat pop up headlamps. Hours of fun for small children and childish adults!

[High Jetter]

9 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

Unfortunately Mrs6C found mice in it and managed to catch two

Pics or it didn't happen 🤣

[Six-cylinder]

I forgot to say our ZX TD Estate has a fresh MOT.

It needed a bit of work.

Lower ball joints, wishbone bushes, welding on driver’s side chassis, headlight alinement and an oil change.

Today Mrs6C has it traveling hundreds of miles again.

[richardmorris]

How does headlamp alignment change unless it’s been replaced or rammed into a passing wall?

[Talbot]

Different MOT tester maybe?  I've had cars that have absolutely fine headlamp alignment, which have passed for years then suddenly fail on too low/high/left/backwards.  Adjust them so they pass, and they're so short they're dangerous.  Adjust back up to something sensible, and then pass next year again.

[juular]

Ironically the lights on my C70 passed an MOT yet were blinding everyone as they had somehow shifted up and to the right. Probably messed them up when I had the engine in pieces.

I had to adjust them down / left myself to stop getting flashed.

Not convinced any MOT place checks them properly / knows how to check them properly.

[Six-cylinder]

This morning was Milton Keynes Classic Car Club gathering, cold and wet and as expected half the usual number of cars turned up but still good.

The starter of the 480 still does not turn first time every time and sometimes needs several tries before it turns. Mrs6C suggested I should take the V70 today for a reliable dry car without flaky electrics and rain leaks. I likened it to the young girl who goes out on a freezing night with little clothing because she looks good like that! Yes I look good in a wet steamed up unreliable Coupe!

My pick for the car to drive home in if not mine was the Princess 3 Ltr.

One upset was another member came into the pub to say somebody had bumped my car and driven off. Turns out he had mistaken the Mercedes E320 Coupe belonging to another member Kevin as being my Ex Richard Morris E320 Coupe. A relief for me in the Volvo 480 but sad for Kevin with his lovely E320 that now needs a grill and bumper.

[Six-cylinder]

The MG TF has found itself a garage for the winter.

A friend asked do you want to borrow a garage for the winter. What only one, no I didn't say that just accepted gratefully. Today the MG TF was put away until the spring sunshine. I even remembered to disconnect the battery.

[AnthonyG]

That Vanden Plas is gorgeous.

But a Rover 200vi BRM is probably rarer! 

Good to hear the TF is tucked up warm in bed. 

[hairnet]

13 minutes ago, AnthonyG said:

That Vanden Plas is gorgeous.

But a Rover 200vi BRM is probably rarer! 

Good to hear the TF is tucked up warm in bed. 

shhh ffs

[Six-cylinder]

Why would you offer 4 spark plugs in a service kit for a V6 engine! 

[Six-cylinder]

I did a Storage inspection today and all looks well.

Now what if somebody had stole all the cars and put empty carboard boxes under the covers to fool me!

[Mrs6C]

10 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

what if somebody had stole all the cars and put empty carboard boxes under the covers

Bagsy have all the cardboard to use on my 'no dig' beds in the vegetable garden...

[Six-cylinder]

You know you have taken on too many projects when you can make your own Autoshite calendar single handed!

[mat_the_cat]

For the next 20 years!

[hairnet]

40 minutes ago, mat_the_cat said:

For the next 20 years!

longer

[Six-cylinder]

An experiment for @Talbot!

The Sigma had MOT failure headlight internal reflectors. Talbot tried to separate the glass off the plastic case to try and chrome paint the reflectors but no amount of prizing would separate the glass. In the end with the help of @MorrisItalSLX I bought new headlights from Australia.  The question is would heat separate the glass, Talbot was reluctant to try heat with the original headlights, but the Sigma has new headlight so I had nothing to lose.

I popped a headlight in the oven this afternoon and the glass just peeled off. The only thing is I think 175° C for 15 mins was too much and I melted the case beyond saving!

[hairnet]

lol oops

but yer roasties were perfect

[Zelandeth]

Oops...yeah I think the recommendation last time I read about doing similar (Saab 9000 lights I think) was 75C...so just a little warmer than target!

At least you've got a spare lens now though.

[Talbot]

47 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

An experiment for @Talbot!

The Sigma had MOT failure headlight internal reflectors. Talbot tried to separate the glass off the plastic case to try and chrome paint the reflectors but no amount of prizing would separate the glass. In the end with the help of @MorrisItalSLX I bought new headlights from Australia.  The question is would heat separate the glass, Talbot was reluctant to try heat with the original headlights, but the Sigma has new headlight so I had nothing to lose.

I popped a headlight in the oven this afternoon and the glass just peeled off. The only thing is I think 175° C for 15 mins was too much and I melted the case beyond saving!

Definitely a tad more than needed.  Bet that smelled good* too.

[vulgalour]

On 01/12/2023 at 21:50, richardmorris said:

How does headlamp alignment change unless it’s been replaced or rammed into a passing wall?

Sometimes, Citroen headlight adjusters self destruct, which is a fun thing to learn on an unlit narrow road in the depths of Lincolnshire during the Unaliving Season for Pheasants.

[hairnet]

2 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

An experiment for @Talbot!

The Sigma had MOT failure headlight internal reflectors. Talbot tried to separate the glass off the plastic case to try and chrome paint the reflectors but no amount of prizing would separate the glass. In the end with the help of @MorrisItalSLX I bought new headlights from Australia.  The question is would heat separate the glass, Talbot was reluctant to try heat with the original headlights, but the Sigma has new headlight so I had nothing to lose.

I popped a headlight in the oven this afternoon and the glass just peeled off. The only thing is I think 175° C for 15 mins was too much and I melted the case beyond saving!

banned from ever using the range again

[Six-cylinder]

29 minutes ago, hairnet said:

banned from ever using the range again

It did smell of burning plastic for a while!

[Zelandeth]

5 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

It did smell of burning plastic for a while!

I *definitely* didn't do something similar a number of years ago - and forget it was in the oven.

...Then turn the oven on several hours later to preheat to 220C.

Oops.

Only took a month or so for the smell to totally leave the kitchen.