Project SPOILER alert ... Moogs Motors

[The Moog]

Did a collectioning 

@Dave_Qkindly moved this northwards, so using the finest rail tranport, I headed to Hapton.  There I was met by @NorthernMonkey who wafted me to chateau Q. 

From there it was quick pez stop 

Before a straight run back to Kinross, only stopping after Kincardine bridge to stick the roof down!

 

Aside from drivers window needing adjustment and the speed holes in the front wing, it really is a nice thing.   

 

 

[The Moog]

As may have been seen elsewhere - I offered the SLK to @Supernaut in exchange for his beige beauty. 

We snapped each others hands off and today met in the gloriousness of Forfar to exchange keys.  

Quick tour of the vagaries of each beast, then fill with fuel and head home

 

Happily sits at 70 on motorway although revs are a bit high.  

Something flew off from under the car just past Perth, I don't think it was that important* as the brakes and the go pedal both continued to work.  

Will be used for Autotest in August and after that I will decide what to do with it.  

In all honesty I probably want a K11 Micra rather than K12. 

But I reckon a good suspension over haul and a half cage might make it work for autotesting and nav rallies. 

 

 

[The Moog]

500 miles in the wee Micra and I love it.  Forgotten how much fun they are. 

Not hanging around and still gets this. 

I am really taken with it, I am thinking of making it the best handling K12 with coilovers,  LSD etc.   that way it can autotest and also do the nav rallies.

Merc on the other hand has been an arse. 

Front discs were warped so ordered a set with new pads to get them changed.  

Life and rain got in the way, but seeing as doing big trip in it on Wednesday thought it was about time to do the change.  

Early signs weren't good, someone had mullered the retaining screw so had to use the death wheel to get it off. 

 

Except the pad pins were solid.  Drifts and a big hammer did fuck all. 

I don't have any map gas or similar.  In the end I bit the bullet and got a new pair of calipers for £130 delivered. 

Based on the discussions on here I even got proper slippy line for the brakes

Things are flying.... Er no. 

The discs supplied were correct but the pads aren't! 

Quick hunt online and Euro is open til 4pm on sat in the glorious town of Kirkcaldy.  

The car had advisory for loose wheel bearings, they are adjustable so tightened them up following online advice. 

Pads purchased and in.  All the naughty bits removed. 

All back together but a 1 hour job took most of the day.    

The spare pads and fitting kit will be up for grabs in for sale soon!

 

[Supernaut]

Glad you're enjoying the Micra!

I didn't realise it was so good on fuel, but I only ever put a few quid in at a time for the couple of weeks I had it hanging around.

It really is a giggle on the right road, even with the utterly humped front shocks. A suspension overhaul would definitely transform it!

[The Moog]

Got to lovely shiny brakes peeking out from behind the wheels.

27 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

Glad you're enjoying the Micra!

I didn't realise it was so good on fuel, but I only ever put a few quid in at a time for the couple of weeks I had it hanging around.

It really is a giggle on the right road, even with the utterly humped front shocks. A suspension overhaul would definitely transform it!

Absolutely.  I can either do lowering springs plus normal shocks or go down the route of BC Coilovers.  

[The Moog]

New wheel day for the Merc. 

It currently sits on 17 inch staggered Merc alloys, but the front right wheel is slightly buckled and they could do with a refurb. 

Seeing as it is Missus Moogs car, I offered the choice of refurb wheels or new ones.  She went for new ones - so ordered them from alloy wheelbase.  They came with 15mm spacers, but due to big brakes I had to wait for them to send out 20mm ones to clear the front. 

After autotesting at weekend and seeing everyone with big boy jacks, drunken will ordered one so as to fit in! 

What a game changer. 

Wheels were ordered with new all season tyres as the Merc does a lot of motorway runs in rain. 

Not my favourite wheels, but look ok, are straight and importantly are paid for by someone else. 

Will stick the original wheels up for sale, the fronts have pretty much brand new tyres on them. 

[The Moog]

The Kia is going to be put up for sale this weekend, but has no history that I could find.  I think to get best money it is worth sticking a new timing belt on it and service the car. 

Jacked the bad boy up 

 

Battery disconnected

Then on with taking the bits off. First up is to loosen PAS pump. 

Then alternator, although this bolt is a right pain to access

Before the water pump pulley belt is loosened, these four 10mm need to be cracked off. 

 

Next on the list was the top engine mount 

Followed by top timing cover 

Moved the PAS reservoir

At this point the magnetic pot was filling up nicely 

Sparkplugs out so easier to turn over the engine

Then checked the timings 

All good, it was time to crack on with taking the tensioners and idler off

Alll swapped over and new belt on. 

Cup of tea time before turning over the engine on a breaker bar. So glad I did. 

New tensioners had moved the crank slightly 

You can see it is a tooth off here. I had to take it all back off and retime the engine.  The red mark is where it is supposed to be

Didn't take many photos putting it back together but these pulleys were a little bugger to get back on as room was tight and they are free floating

Swapped the air filter and plugs over, then it was the moment to start 

Luckily it started first time and after a quick run up the road everything seems to be good. 

Treated it to a new oil filter and finest shell helix oil. 

Tomorrow is get it cleaned then i will brave FB market place. 

[The Moog]

I was missing an ugga dugga so bought a cheap one from eBay to see if it would work on crank bolt. 

 

£29 and whizzed the bolt off first go. Highly impressed with it. 

[The Moog]

It's been a while.

Collectioning happening 

Wetherspoons eggs on toast - completed it mate

Holiday pint - not today sunny Jim! 

Read the scandalous lies about the pub - my eyes did all the work 

 

Let's get the big orange bus and fly south.   

[The Moog]

What kind of day is it going to be??? 

Or

 

 

[The Moog]

Not a bad view of England. 

[Keymaster]

PC?

[The Moog]

15 minutes ago, Keymaster said:

PC?

[The Moog]

On Choo Choo now .... Heading more south west. Got to be careful I don't run out of land ..

 At least one of the lads is rooting for me.. 

[Tayne]

Lada Samara?

XK8?

Fiat Twin Air?

[The Moog]

15 minutes ago, Tayne said:

Lada Samara?

XK8?

Fiat Twin Air?

Almost .... 

Not quite at the end of the line ... 

Time to play hunt the car with the keys left on the tyre...

Oh hello there cheeky 

 

 

 

[Supernaut]

Should go round a track a wee bit quicker than a Micra!

[The Moog]

9 hours ago, Supernaut said:

Should go round a track a wee bit quicker than a Micra!

That's the plan Captain! 

[The Moog]

230 miles done, half a tank of fuel. 

A stop off for a game of ball kicking 

 

Verdict now in London. 

Very odd car - not sure why it has so many gears.  Incredibly directional which on the right road is great, but tiring on motorway. 

Not particularly quick but first is massive long which will be good for Autotesting.

Issues with this example 

Dash is playing up, back light blinks every 5 seconds, fuel gauge is playing up - this is with full tank. 

Bit of a coolant smell - but that might just be the stink of the south. 

 

What I would like to do is 

Do the cambelt

Skid plate

Lsd

Suspension 

Steel wheels with tyres

Half cage 

 

What I will probably do 

Add to the moss collection 

Cambelt change

Autotesting 

 

 

[The Moog]

So far the scores on the doors are 33mpg over 320 miles so far. This includes  so exploration of the (non) VTEC Yo!

Going to be adding another 400 odd on tomorrow. 

Car is starting to grow on me, the screaming up to 7k rpm is quite addictive.  Handles pretty well, although heavy clutch and shite turning circle means London traffic isn't fun! 

[Marshall2810]

Nice to see it's growing on you Moog. I had a blue one a few years back which was a nice car but the ride was far too firm for round these parts. 

Also found it very unquick for what it was 

[The Moog]

3 hours ago, Marshall2810 said:

Nice to see it's growing on you Moog. I had a blue one a few years back which was a nice car but the ride was far too firm for round these parts. 

Also found it very unquick for what it was 

I get what you mean. 

I have now covered almost 700 miles since Sat.  It mostly is pretty meh. Keep your foot down and those extra revs are really nice, but no kick in the back or feeling like warp speed has been engaged. 

On B roads it is fairly grippy and if you rev to red line, then next gear is already at 4.5k so hustling along. On motorway it needs cruise, otherwise is okish.  Round town not great. 

But it actually works for what I need it to do. Will be good for autotesting as got very long first gear with reasonable power, nav rallies mean interior can be easily modified and room for maps, plus hard roof means kids can also drive it. 

The plan is to sell the turbo mx5 as a project - it isn't going to get finished soon with me. 

This will become my autotest toy for a while. 

[hairnet]

calling @gm

[yes oui si]

4 hours ago, The Moog said:

I get what you mean. 

I have now covered almost 700 miles since Sat.  It mostly is pretty meh. Keep your foot down and those extra revs are really nice, but no kick in the back or feeling like warp speed has been engaged. 

On B roads it is fairly grippy and if you rev to red line, then next gear is already at 4.5k so hustling along. On motorway it needs cruise, otherwise is okish.  Round town not great. 

But it actually works for what I need it to do. Will be good for autotesting as got very long first gear with reasonable power, nav rallies mean interior can be easily modified and room for maps, plus hard roof means kids can also drive it. 

The plan is to sell the turbo mx5 as a project - it isn't going to get finished soon with me. 

This will become my autotest toy for a while. 

I know a lad in Alnwick who autotests a mainly stock one. Iirc he downsize the diameter on the front tyres a couple of steps to shorten the gearing a bit. 

[gm]

2 hours ago, hairnet said:

calling @gm

it is entirely possible that discussions have taken place already  

 

[The Moog]

10 hours ago, yes oui si said:

I know a lad in Alnwick who autotests a mainly stock one. Iirc he downsize the diameter on the front tyres a couple of steps to shorten the gearing a bit. 

Challenge with that is the stock brakes need big wheels ... but shall investigate! 

[yes oui si]

1 hour ago, The Moog said:

Challenge with that is the stock brakes need big wheels ... but shall investigate! 

You can fit a lot of 15s over the stock brakes. They're a common swap onto older Fords. 

[yes oui si]

*some 15s will require clearancing of the caliper. 

[Tenmil Socket]

@The Moog

Any use to you £20?

 

[The Moog]

21 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

@The Moog

Any use to you £20?

 

Thanks for the offer, but I am likely to take bits off rather than add anything on. Although it may keep some of the cow poo out of the window!