Project The Red Rocket ... Moogs Motahs

[The Moog]

Back home set to sorting the faults. 

The car came with two other front seats as the drivers was the cause of airbag light

 

Swapped drivers seat and light has gone.

The issue was that disconnected the battery to allow for airbag to discharge this happend 

Someone had added an end to the positive battery and it was loose. 

Fuse box apart and quick trip to Halfords 

 

Jobs a good un

Exhaust has been sprayed silver and is knocking (I don't think it is leaking). Fixed the rear rubber and knock has gone for now.

 

Other annoyances that I might get round to sorting are sloppy gear change, clutch bite is almost on the floor and adjustable rake is faulty.

Going to be used for autotesting and then decide whether to keep or move it on. 

[gm]

i wouldn’t worry too much about the sloppy gear change - that’s just how they are. and it will do 70 in second anyway  

[The Moog]

5 minutes ago, gm said:

i wouldn’t worry too much about the sloppy gear change - that’s just how they are. and it will do 70 in second anyway  

Ohhh good to know. 

It will be likely roffled in couple of weeks. 

[Andyrew]

Cheap fix is a  Few self tappers wound into the cup tightens up the slop.

 

[NorthernMonkey]

Clutch is adjustable too on these although it’ll probably need freeing off a bit as it’s prone to getting a bit crusty located where it is on the front of the box!

[colino]

I'd get the clutch adjusted properly pdq. They have quite a high pedal usually and tinkerers fiddle with them often to the point of constant contact on the pressure plate and prematurely burning the clutch out. 

[The Moog]

On 02/08/2025 at 19:37, gm said:

i wouldn’t worry too much about the sloppy gear change - that’s just how they are. and it will do 70 in second anyway  

Not this one... Limiter kicked in at 60 ... 

[The Moog]

On 02/08/2025 at 19:58, Andyrew said:

Cheap fix is a  Few self tappers wound into the cup tightens up the slop.

 

Ohhh might do this. 

12 hours ago, NorthernMonkey said:

Clutch is adjustable too on these although it’ll probably need freeing off a bit as it’s prone to getting a bit crusty located where it is on the front of the box!

 

10 hours ago, colino said:

I'd get the clutch adjusted properly pdq. They have quite a high pedal usually and tinkerers fiddle with them often to the point of constant contact on the pressure plate and prematurely burning the clutch out. 

Thanks for the advice.  This was literally 1cm off the floor.  Fairly easy to do and now have a clutch that is usable rather than stalling every time! 

 

 

[gm]

7 minutes ago, The Moog said:

Not this one... Limiter kicked in at 60 ... 

should be plenty for autotesting though  

[The Moog]

3 minutes ago, gm said:

should be plenty for autotesting though  

Very much so although focus can pretty much do that in first

[The Moog]

One out today ..  

Got £170 for scrap which I thought was a bargain 

[The Moog]

New autotest car picked up today ... 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

26 minutes ago, The Moog said:

New autotest car picked up today ... 

Unusual colour, I'd have thought...

[The Moog]

Well that didn't last long. 

A quick catch up 

I got a set of better wheels and tyres for the jazz, but after fitting it was clear they rubbed! 

The boot was full of water so a hole drilled to empty and then rust proofed it. 

 

I also tried the mini steels I had sitting but they rubbed as well. 

 

[The Moog]

It managed half an autotest before white smoke coming out the back. 

 

A bottle of k seal and top up of coolant sorted that for now.  Plus a Powersteering sensor and a fan switch fitted then I stuck 1500 miles on it with no problem 

[The Moog]

Today was MOT day.  

Needless to say it failed . Pretty well. 

We celebrated by overheating on the ay home

It looks like the rad is toast as it is pissing out the top. 

Whilst waiting at the side of the road, letting it cool I noticed this. 

Nice number.  Limping home i think that is the end of the road for Pinkie. 

I have really enjoyed the jazz and very tempted by another. 

The reality is I need a car for autotesting next weekend so will have to start scouring for a cheap hack for now. 

[hairnet]

cort lend him some scrap quick

[The Moog]

I picked up this wee beastie from Dundee yesterday. MOT till August next year, 1.3 GL. 

It has a bit of a first gear whine, clutch is high and the underneath is a bit crispy.  Having to do some hard braking earlier when a car pulled straight into my lane seems to have also killed off the master cylinder.  

Beyond that it drives nicely. 

Master cylinder ordered through Halfords which with discounts came in at £72 rather than the £150 eurocarparts wanted. 

In the meantime I wanted to see if the Honda wheels I bought for the Jazz fitted. 

They did and looked pretty good.   Although on closer look the tyres are pretty shot

Weirdly the fronts have newish discs but I think a previous owner has used old brake pads as they seem part worn. 

As the swift is going to be a dog car as well as track wagon, it means removing the back and making it as flat as possible. 

The floor seems pretty solid even though underneath is a bit flaky .  I don't wonder if a session with wire brush and converter might make it look better. 

 

The current plan is 

Change the master cylinder

Change brake fluid at same time.  

Ignore clutch and gearbox until I can't any more

Drive it

 

[dome]

I think a slightly whiny gearbox is fairly normal on these things, do a fluid change if you're worried as chances are it's never had one and then send it👌