Alabama Shrimp's very occasional car touching extravaganza

[AlabamaShrimp]

So thought it was about time I started my own thread on my very random tinkering. Im lazy and go in fits and starts but somehow I've now got 7 cars so it's about time I did stuff to some of them...

 

 

Today's excitement was to get the recently purchased Ka out in the day light give it the quick once over and get it booked in for the nearside wishbone doing and the test.

 

 

First thing the battery was flat (and now I remember fucked) so charged up the semi knackered one I took off the ST the other week stuck that in and all started up nice.

 

As it was full of leaves it got cleaned but not washed and came out very nice.

 

 

Ford the vac perves I used this lovely* old Sanyo that lives in the garage

 

Drove very nice to the local garage to get it booked in for Friday it's surprisingly fast and has sod all brakes like all good Fords.

 

Few jobs that I found that I could fix but probably won't it the boot won't unlock (have to use the button inside) and the drivers door will lock but won't unlock. We'll see how long that pisses me off before I do anything about it.

 

Anyway wishbone ordered in the morning, possibly wash it and definitely more pictures for next time

[bub2006]

My friend did say on way home brakes weren't great but feels similar to his focus. The vans brakes you only have to breathe on them though.

[320touring]

You dont need brakes in a Ka - 5 forward speeds and that 1.3 provides all the retardation you'll ever need!

 

properly good steer these wee things, I love them due to a 7500 mile 2 week driving holiday to Gibralter in one.

 

my 6ft 5 mate loved that the glovebox cutout meant he could get his feet up.

 

enjoy!

[beko1987]

Nice sanyo! I have the 1400w tol yellow model, which suffers from worn clewner head pivots so rattles like a fucker. Shame really as I refurbished it in the hope it would go away but it hasnt, and leccy tape has not helped.

 

Shout if you want the 1400w motor or owt to upgrade yours!

 

Atcnbe...

[AlabamaShrimp]

Nice sanyo! I have the 1400w tol yellow model, which suffers from worn clewner head pivots so rattles like a fucker. Shame really as I refurbished it in the hope it would go away but it hasnt, and leccy tape has not helped.

 

Shout if you want the 1400w motor or owt to upgrade yours!

 

Atcnbe...

Lol ta! this one's started to rattle now (tbh I thought it's days were numbered) but I'll keep on using it.

 

As for the brakes they'll only get changed if it fails the test

[beko1987]

If you squeeze the sides of the bottom bit hard and it stops, you have the same issue.

 

All the suction stuff is done at the botrom of the main bit though, so you could sack off all of the brushroll part if you only use it for the car/tools, chop off the belt spindle on the motor and just have it laying on the floor/hack an old backpack up and make a backpack vac...

[AlabamaShrimp]

Well I got it the near side wishbone and it went for the test today only to fail in the off side wishbone and some welding on the off side sill.

 

Not seen it yet as I have to go get the other part but the garage have been good and say they'll fit both for £40.

 

This does mean I have to break out my uber shite welding skills now..

[Sealtainn]

Wishbones are a piece of piss to change on these and brakes on them do need a fair old shove to work - they're all like that Sir, because Ka.

The 1.6 in the Sport Ka and Street Ka is a right hoot for chucking about but the fuel consumption and tax costs sting somewhat

[AlabamaShrimp]

They might be a piece of piss when you've some kit to do it with but one jack and a tool set would equal me dicking about all day and getting mega pissed off.

 

As it is they can do it mega quick leaving me with the welding.

[Sealtainn]

I did both on my old Ka in a couple of hours with nil mechanical expertise, a trolley jack, pair of axle stands, socket/spanner set and several hammers of varying sizes lol. I think I have a pair of droplinks for a Ka kicking about. Sold mine ages ago so I've no need for them which reminds me I need to get rid of all my "blingy" bits for it.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Will make sure I give it a go next time. Will have to get more axle stands though as the kn s I've got are still under the suzuki

[billyboy406v6]

When you have more cars than axle stands it time to start a roffle !

[sopaz]

Nice to know she's going to live on. Forgot to mention the door lock - worked with one key if I remember but was stiff with the other? To be honest I rarely locked it...

[AlabamaShrimp]

It's in a garage unlocked and the other side works so it's no big thing. I haven't been able to use the key to lock my fiesta for the last 4 years, it's something you just get used to.

 

So both wishbones changed yesterday and I saw the welding (but forgot to get a pic) it's about an 8 inch line at the back of the offside sill. Don't look difficult just need the weather to be better so I can get it done

[AlabamaShrimp]

So all my new tools and stuff turned up so attempted to weld the Ka today.

 

Started off as it meant to go along when my brand new, never switched on, power file thing broke when trying to change the belt for a rougher one.

 

 

Not that cheap and going back to Amazon

 

So used the grinder as best I could then let my mate finish it of better than in my crap photo

 

 

After a bit more messing all the kit ready to go it started to piss it down...

 

So no welding done and I'm worried all the gas will be leaking out of the welder as the valve seemed crap.

 

Only got about 3 days until I run out of free retest so will have to do it tomorrow on my own no matter what.

 

[Sealtainn]

I've got some blue & black leather seats from a Sport Ka that'd go nicely in that

 

Sent from my E2105 using Tapatalk

[AlabamaShrimp]

Yeah but aren't you a million miles away?

[AlabamaShrimp]

Yeah but aren't you a million miles away?

 

No welding today it's raining like a bugger. I can see it rusting over again and I'll have to pay £35 for another test. Don't get why there's a time limit anyway

[AlabamaShrimp]

Today's attempt at welding was as frustrating as ever and 3 hours nearly wasted.

 

My new welder again started to judder when I tried to use it. No idea what's wrong as it's fine when you pull the trigger but try to weld and it just jumps, this doesn't seem to change no matter what current setting it's on or wire speed (when the dial works)

 

Tried to use the replacement Clarke welder but it won't feed, must be jammed just near the gun.

 

So packed away and I'm bodging it will filler. Hopefully this will be enough to pass the test if not then who knows

[Sealtainn]

If you end up keeping it, I am down in Bristol in March and could bring them with me

[AlabamaShrimp]

They look very nice but it's more money on a car that is meant to be cheap so ta but I'm out

[AlabamaShrimp]

In other news after the balls up that was the welding I got this today

 

 

Very happy at the garage with it and overall impressed with the lack of rust especially round the filler cap.

 

Get it taxed and insured at the end of the month

 

Frontera time being it's living in a semi damp garage. Not sure if to put my fiesta in there or if it would be better out in the open for a few months