Dave's shonkers - continuing electroshite

[Dave_Q]

So I've done pretty much nothing to any cars the last few weeks as I've been busy with this:

 

 

All done now so I can start doing actual important things instead.

 

Fleet update:

 

Berlingo - chugging away brilliantly, no issues, although I should probably replace the tyre that keeps losing air.

I have been having impure thoughts about getting a bigger van, but that would be mental as the Berlingo is fully sorted now and would probably only sell for about 30% of what it owes me.

 

Impreza - hasn't been out of the garage since the last update. Have got alarm, tracker, standard exhaust and a set of standard wheels to go on. More on wheels below.

 

Fireblade - has developed a tiny oil leak from the gearshift shaft, and a bigger one from the fork seals. Seals have been ordered, to be done ASAP.

 

Wife's 147 - has developed it's first issues, alarm going off at random and slight smoke at full throttle. The alarm was giving the flash code for tilt sensor so that bit has just been unplugged. Smoke doesn't seem too bad to me but it will be getting a clean out of the EGR and a check for inlet hose leaks.

 

So today I painted the wheels for the Subaru. I got them from a dubbist who was planning to bodge them onto his mk3 Golf with megaspacers. He got as far as partly rubbing them down then changed his mind.

 

 

I've got another set of wheels that I'm planning to do a proper job on, these I just wanted to throw some paint on to make them all not gold. Prep was moderate, I gave them a further rub down with 240 wet'n'dry but didn't spend ages on it. 

 

 

You can see the first spoke of the first wheel I tried a bit harder before realising I was happy with a worse finish for less effort.

 

Here are my weapons of choice:

 

Poundlands finest primer and U-POL alloy silver and lacquer. T'internet reckoned U-POL is as good as Wurth wheel paint but $ instead of $$$$. I got 6 cans each of paint and lacquer for 40 quid off of ebay. This is probably more wheel paint than I'll ever need in my life seeing as I ended up only using 1 can each of paint and lacquer to do all 4 wheels.

 

Here they are primed.

 

 

While they dried, I popped out for a mid morning snack.

 

 

Colour next, I was pretty happy with how they were looking, I think this is after 3 coats.

 

 

Lacquer on here, I think this is after 2 of 3 coats.

 

 

They have turned out pretty well for the level of prep I did, but up close you can see various imperfections.

 

Overall I am very happy with the results to say I spent 4 hours on them in total. 

The U-POL paint is good stuff and sprays nicely, and is tolerant to amateurs putting it on a bit thick.

I did warm the cans after reading it as a tip on here, and also enjoyed the lazy masking method of using playing cards which I think I also read on here.

2 decks for £1 from the £shop and you're sorted.

[RobT]

LOLage at the playing cards thing. Good tip that.

[Dave_Q]

Can't remember where I read it, thought it was on here but maybe not.

 

But yeah, takes about 30s a wheel to jam them in there and they've kept 95% of the paint off the tyres which is good enough for me.

[Lord Sterling]

I also had to explain to him how and where I got the car, namely I found it on Swapz and did a p/x with a guy who may or may not have been called Mohammed in a Toys'R'Us car park near the M5 near Birmingham.

I don't quite remember this happening. I do remember being there though some years ago with a slightly broken Rover 827Si.

[Dave_Q]

I don't quite remember this happening. I do remember being there though some years ago with a slightly broken Rover 827Si.

 

Lolz. The guy told me his name was Sully, but when I eventually got the logbook back the previous keeper name was Mohammed Usman so who knows really. 

 

I'm almost certain it wasn't you though.

[Lord Sterling]

Lolz. The guy told me his name was Sully, but when I eventually got the logbook back the previous keeper name was Mohammed Usman so who knows really. 

 

I'm almost certain it wasn't you though.

Lol, I wouldn't get away with a name like Sully, I just about get by with Mohammed (with a few weird looks)

[Dave_Q]

What's this, 2 updates in 1 week? Crazy times.

 

First thing I did was reassemble the interior and reseal the rear lights.

 

This one has the "boot pool" option like my old one. No pics of the pool but just go back a few pages to see the old one.

 

Once removed you can see where the previous sikaflex or whatevs has failed, the silty looking shite at the top is where water has been getting through.

 

 

I cleaned all the old sealant off and put on my new favourite light sealant, Carafax non-setting bedding mastic.

 

 

I also fitted my standard exhaust and wheels.

 

Had a slight hitch with the wheel bolts, the old wheels had longer "tuner" bolts fitted which looked gash:

 

 

Luckily there is a jap breakers down the road from me, so a set of standard nuts were acquired for £10, 50% cheaper than bidding on 20 "U R BIDDING ON A WEEL NUT" auctions on ebay.

 

 

Here's how it looks now, much more like a car an actual adult might drive.

 

 

[Dave_Q]

Some happenings have happened.

 

After nearly a year of needing zero attention, oil started falling out of my 'blade.

 

 

The fork seals, which were an advisory for "slight misting" on the last test, had upgraded to "hoying out at a serious rate"

 

 

 Nice.

 

 

Like most things I attempt this 1-2 hour job turned into more like 2 weeks as I decided to change the fork bushes while I was there.

 

 

Annoyingly, they probably would have been good to go again if I hadn't scratched off some of the teflon coating thinking it was dirt.

 

 

The other oil leak was from the gear selector shaft. Might be a bit hard to see here, but easy enough to fix.

 

 

I bought this selection of pokey hook tools to stop myself scratching things when trying to pry things out with a small screwdriver.

 

 

They were shite, so I poked the old seal out with a small screwdriver.

 

To celebrate successfully completing these minor jobs, I dropped the bike when taking it off the paddock stand. I sort of caught it before the fairings got mangled but gained some new scratches for my trouble.

 

 

This week I've been attending to the Subaru.

This is what it looked like when I went to the garage:

 

Probably need new tyres then. This prompted me to pull my finger out and sort out the other set of wheels I've had for months.

 

As received: 2 painted some very thick black paint - possibly Hammerite. The other 2 were in white, which I thought might come off easier, until I discovered that the white was over the top of the black.

 

On with the trade spec paint stripper:

Nearly ready for paint:

 

Finished product. They're far from perfect as I didn't have the patience to remove quite all of the old paint, and it's flaked up where it is/was.

 

Other small jobs completed include new pedal rubbers:

 

Air filter:

 

 

And fixed the floppy gearchange by replacing the electrical tape bush with actual bushes.

 

I'll get some tyres fitted to the new wheels this week ready for the Northern Powerhouse meet on Thursday.

[Supernaut]

Oooh I always like some basket weave wheels. Those should look nice on it.

[Dave_Q]

Thanks, I do like them.

 

I was tempted to keep it standard but I'm going to allow these on the basis that they were apparently a ZOMG OEM JDM STI option *RARE* *L@@K* etc.

[Dave_Q]

I've done nothing on the car this week because half term, but I just remembered that I got a phone call while I was painting the wheels.

 

A "customer experience" survey from West Yorks Police.

 

I answered their questions, Yes the person I spoke to was very competent, No, I didn't feel like I was discriminated against because of my age, colour, sexual orientation, etc, etc.

 

I also told them, although they didn't really ask me, that I was rather unsatisfied with the fact that they DIDN'T ACTUALLY LOOK FOR THE MOTHERFLIPPING CAR or ever ring me to tell me anything, even if just to tell me nothing had happened.

[Dave_Q]

Just discovered http://a15ff11300g.sakura.ne.jp/catalogue/catalogue.html which has many quality scans of JDM Subaru brochures.

 

I had a look through to see if I could find my wheels.

 

All pics can be clicked for massives.

 

BBS were an option on all models in '95 but a different design, and only in 15 inch.

 

 

I had read somewhere that they were from a version III STI, but they are another different design with a recessed centre:

 

 

Finally, I discovered what I think are my wheels, available as an option for the '93 Legacy.

 

 

So not quite original fitment but close enough for me.

 

I flipping love these brochures, I could easily lose many hours looking at them all.

 

Look at this guy - don't you want to be him?

 

 

Random unimpressed looking woman next to pov-spec JDM Impreza coopay:

 

 

Who wouldn't want to be like the Pokemon-spec family in this accessory catalogue:

 

 

[Dave_Q]

One more - this is from the Oct 94 brochure which is as close as they have to mine:

 

 

I'm happy to see that the repro decal I've put on the boot looks correct, and the twin exit backbox I've fitted, which is actually off a new age, also looks about right.

[Lacquer Peel]

It's great to see one of these in relatively unmolested form.

[Dave_Q]

Thanks. I just want it to look like the one from Gran Turismo that I played with as a teenager.

 

Here's one more from the '94 brochure showing the sump guard the car has fitted - I wasn't sure whether I was going to keep it but think I will as it was probably dealer fit.

 

[Dave_Q]

So the insurance rinsage as a result of my 2 claims has begun.

 

Just renewed my bike insurance, couldn't get a quote for much less than 500 quid comp or TPFT, and those ones had hilarious excesses (£1100 excess, on a £500 policy on a £1500 bike??)

 

So have had to go for third party only with renowned shitehawks MCE insurance for an actually reasonable £145.

 

I could get fully comp on a GS500 or similar for £250 or so, but nobody wants that.

 

Not happy about being TPO but the extra £350 + £1100 excess in case of a theft claim would buy me a new bike anyway.

 

 

 

Might splash out on a bigger lock though.

[Spottedlaurel]

Look at this guy - don't you want to be him?

 

 

 

Isn't that Kyle MacLachlan? I'm guessing he needed to keep the money coming in after Twin Peaks finished.

[r.welfare]

Bruce Willis used to do JDM ads for Subaru around the same time, some on YouTube

[worldofceri]

Hey, only just read about your Impreza theft turmoils. Glad it seems to be turning out alright, apart from the insurance piss-taking.

 

I quite like Bradford myself (although I live in Coventry out of choice, so go figure). Years ago I locked my keys inside my Renault 5 whilst parked on Canal Road. It took me at least an hour and a half to break into it using a bit of wire I found in the gutter; plenty of people walked past but nobody batted an eyelid.

[Dave_Q]

Yeah I definitely don't blame Bradford, I'm a plum for leaving a thief magnet car anywhere with no security.

 

 

Bruce Willis used to do JDM ads for Subaru around the same time, some on YouTube

 

Thanks for the TOP TIP, here's one:

 

 

 

In further adventures of insurance, MCE have proven why they are such notorious bastards.

 

When the online docs came through it didn't have commuting on there. Checked and it was in fact my fault, I had various windows open and I took out the cheapest which was £146.25 - with commuting was £146.88.

Even though the flipping thing is a pointless piece of paper that will do me no good in any situation, I thought I'd better ring up and sort it in case I run over any nuns or kittens on the way to work.

 

Rings up to be given 2 options - add cover to policy for £48, or cancel and get £85 back.

 

This is after about 15 mins of cover. 

 

I've tried complaining over the phone but not got anywhere so will go through the written complaint and ombudsman path to try and get the rest of my money back.

I've re-checked the online signup process and there are no cancellation fees mentioned at any point despite the phone drones insistence that they are. 

 

I've screenshotted it all and downloaded the only t&c thing it gives you before signing up which states cancelling in the cooling off period will be charged for cover provided at a minimum of £25.

 

I will get my additional £35 back from them one way or another.

 

 

I then went to take up the next cheapest insurance, which is with the better sounding BMF, but my claims haven't transferred over properly from the comparison site - they're both down as attempted theft from vehicle when its 1x actual theft of vehicle and 1x hit by someone while reversing.

 

I'm gonna call them to check it's all legit before slinging any more money anywhere as 1 lengthy insurance complaint on the go is probably enough for me really.

[hairnet]

yon ins gadge sounded like a rigt plum - err yer asking about previous car history when its fuck all to do with you??

 

FRO

 

stock wheels ftw

 

bradford??  depends where

 

hattersley is worse

[Eddie Honda]

Even king of the chisellers Ryanair give you 24h to amend minor fuckups without being caned.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

 de-councilling 

 

 

Great phrase. I often wondered if it was worth hoarding standard car bits back in the day in eager anticipation.

 

"HAVE YOU BOUGHT A COUNCILLED UP CAR?"

[Richard]

I don't think you should get shafted for someone taking your property, it's not exactly fair imho.

 

The house always wins.

[Dave_Q]

Hairnet - I think it was an anti-fraud type thing, the bloke himself was sound but getting 20+ quotes a year on assorted chod apparently flags you up as  a potential wrongun.

 

The Rev - I'm a former fairly long term lurker from the e30zone, I think I picked up the phrase de-councilling, and the potential for profit from doing so, from your mate pacerpete.

 

 

MCE update - recorded delivery complaint letter sent off today. If I don't get a satisfactory response in 8 weeks I can go to the FCA or whoever it is now.

 

Forgot to add that apparently the £60 cancellation fee is made up of a £32 brokers cancellation fee and a £28 insurer's cancellation fee.

 

MCE insurance "broker" only acts as a broker for 1 insurance company - MCE Insurance.

[Dave_Q]

MCE rang me yesterday offering to refund me the £28 cancellation charge, but not the £32. I said OK as it's close enough to what I was demanding.

 

MCE also rang me today to say that they will refund the £32 cancellation charge, but not the £28. I also said yes to this.

 

 

I didn't tell person B that I'd already spoken to person A, if both of the above happen I will consider my complaint well and truly resolved.

[Dave_Q]

No sign of either refund yet but I was expecting the shitters to hang on to my $$ for as long as possible.

 

I've been slowly working on the Subaru over the last few weeks, mainly tidying up the rats nest under the dash, stripping out the old alarm and fitting the new alarm and tracker.

 

Got some new rubber fitted to the new wheels, Toyo T1R for £220 fitted for the 4 from my local partworn shed. Actually slightly cheaper than tyreleader by the time you've paid for fitting.

 

 

F for fuel economy = good and sticky. I'm sure that's what the EU had in mind.

 

Old alarm out, no pics of the new one in, obviously.

 

Managed to fix the horn when I noticed this.

 

I was planning to change the sump gasket, but it looks like a bit of an arse requiring engine jackage or subframe droppage. I did fit a new rocker gasket on the left hand bank so oil leakage will be reduced at least.

 

Finally the wheels. I replicated the OEM centre caps from the Legacy GTB catalogue as closely as I could with things that cost less than £20 on eBay.

 

I wasn't 100% sold on the wheels close up in the garage, but once I got it out and had a proper look I think they're well suited and PROPER BO like.

[Dave_Q]

Here's the wheels in the Legacy brochure, I think my eBay solution for the centre caps is pretty close.

 

[Dave_Q]

Fucking cars.

 

About 10 miles in to my new wheels & alarm fun, the aux belt came off.

 

Didn't snap, just fell off. I put it back on and continued along my way, but it came off again.

 

Didn't seem to be anything wrong with the pulleys or anything so I fitted some new belts.

 

Fired it up briefly and the crank pulley is hanging off at a jaunty angle. I thought the pulley might have delaminated but the bolt was hanging out.

 

I removed the bolt by hand and inspected the damage.

 

Remains of woodruff key look pretty mullered:

Inside of crank pulley is worn away:

Hopefully, the timing gear is OK (car was still running fine.)

 

I can't really work out how this has happened as nothing is seized i.e alternator/ps/aircon, presumably the crank pulley bolt hasn't been done up tight enough.

 

Hopefully I can get away with a new pulley and woodruff key, but as the timing gear has to come off to fit it, I'd better do the cambelt and waterpump, more $$$.

[Dave_Q]

Further strippage has occured.

 

The timing marks don't seem to line up 100%, the manual has a method to get it right by counting teeth on the belt so I'll do that.

 

 

I removed the belt and set about trying to remove the sprocket to get the remains of the woodruff key out. A prying attempt didn't get very far, so I found out online that the 2 x plain holes in the sprocket can be tapped to M8 to pull it off.

 

 

This has been frustratingly unsuccessful so far. I have now ground off the sticking out bit of key in the hope that that was what was keeping it on.

 

More updates as I take 1 month plus to sort it out.

 

 

In better news:

 

A full refund minus 33p, that's a reasonable price for 6 hours TPO insurance.