BorniteIdentity Posted March 16, 2021 Author Share Posted March 16, 2021 Just now, Split_Pin said: Looks perfectly fine to me but I would suggest having that brake line replaced as it looks pretty corroded. That is, indeed, why the car is in pieces at the moment - and precisely the reason I didn't have the offside pipe done last year when they did the nearside one. This bastard runs under the subframe and around the fuel tank so it was always going to be an expensive job. Once done in copper though, it should never need doing again - so it's a nice opportunity to get some squirty Bilt Hamber into the hidden places. Angrydicky, Split_Pin, Vantman and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraser.innes.3 Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 That is, indeed, why the car is in pieces at the moment - and precisely the reason I didn't have the offside pipe done last year when they did the nearside one. This bastard runs under the subframe and around the fuel tank so it was always going to be an expensive job. Once done in copper though, it should never need doing again - so it's a nice opportunity to get some squirty Bilt Hamber into the hidden places.I had the same problem with a brake pipe running above the fuel tank in an E46. We just diverted the pipe so as not to have to drop the tank.Sent from my EML-L29 using Tapatalk BorniteIdentity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split_Pin Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 4 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said: That is, indeed, why the car is in pieces at the moment - and precisely the reason I didn't have the offside pipe done last year when they did the nearside one. This bastard runs under the subframe and around the fuel tank so it was always going to be an expensive job. Once done in copper though, it should never need doing again - so it's a nice opportunity to get some squirty Bilt Hamber into the hidden places. Avensis offside brake lines: A shower of bastards. Glad the garage are sorting it as you have asked them to. Its lasted this long so deserves to have some preservation. BorniteIdentity, mrbenn and wuvvum 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted March 17, 2021 Author Share Posted March 17, 2021 Man discovered the wizardry of Vactan for the first time. Low Horatio gearbox, wuvvum, mrbenn and 4 others 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BorniteIdentity Posted March 26, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 26, 2021 I'm more than ready to be teased over the following entry to the memoirs. After all, I should have "weighed in the fukka" a few times over by now. James Brown'd it. Dumped it on the scales. Cubed it m9. etc. Three weeks ago I took the Avensis off to my lovely friends at Japex in Kings Langley - legends in the Japanese sphere. They're happiest tinkering with exotic JDM stuff but, fortunately for me, the director learnt his trade on these at Toyota 20 years ago and knows them back to front. I ditched it there hoping that they'd be able to make it live a year or two longer - but also knowing the scrappy is a 2 minute walk up the road. Things didn't look very good to begin with. The catalytic converter that I'd tried to bring back from the brink with Cataclean was condemned. Fucksake. Remember, this wasn't about money. If Toyota had any left, I'd have gladly paid their £640. Plus VAT. What to do? They promised they'd work something out, one way or another. Because of their value, it is literally impossible to get an OEM one from a scrapper either. Anyway, the weeks passed and it went quiet. I made them promise not to get stressed about it, and to only work on the car as and when they had time. I'd sent some bilt hamber spray and VACTAN out to them to tidy up the undercarriage whilst the subframe, tank and exhaust were off - but wasn't prepared for the next batch of photos that came through. LOOK IT! Looks like bloody new!! Apparently they'd taken it upon themselves to paint up...err... everything. Again, the trail goes cold - so I put a call in to see if 'the car was in the way' ? It's a nice way of saying "Err - has it gone over rainbow bridge". Yesterday they said they were about to test it, so I spent the final hour of the day furiously typing the registration number into the DVLA checker. Nada. Then, out of nowhere, a text! OMG I'VE GOT A TEXT! #LoveIsland "Scraping through". Cynical bastard. That's about as good as it ever was. Confirmed. More shots of my pristine undercarriage were forthcoming Then it goes quiet for a bit. It felt like an eternity but was actually 40 minutes and... I am absolutely elated. I told him not to consider himself a vehicle technician, but a vet who has saved a much loved, grey muzzled, slightly limping Labrador. For reasons nobody other than us would ever understand, we love it. With every passing year, there are far fewer of them left. But that's irrelevant. No other car, would be our car. It's seen the very best of me, and the very worst of me. I'd not be without it. Often in life, it's not about what something is worth to someone else - but what its worth is to you. For the same reason I still have my Grandad's pipe and marching staff. There wouldn't be a buyer for either on the open market, but for me they have immeasurable value. As I often rue - many folk know the price of everything and the value of nothing. How did they fix the cat? Sheer bloody minded determination. A second bottle of Cataclean (I suspected the first one was beginning to work) JLM oil flush and new oil. The oil was only 3,000 miles old but obviously had to be changed anyway. Verdict: these cleaners do work, use them strong - and don't give up at the first attempt. Looking forward to picking it up next week and continuing the journey to 300,000 miles. AVENSIS: 262,814 miles: NOT OUT Floatylight, Craig the Princess, loserone and 54 others 57 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 When my mates car was in his local garage for an MOT, his "scraped through" when the probe must have accidentally poked itself into the car in the bay next to it. 🤣 Would it be possible to have welded in a more plentiful cat from another car model? I know they have to be type approved on newer cars but not sure the cut off date when that is required. BorniteIdentity, Eyersey1234 and Jim Bell 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted March 26, 2021 Author Share Posted March 26, 2021 9 minutes ago, SiC said: When my mates car was in his local garage for an MOT, his "scraped through" when the probe must have accidentally poked itself into the car in the bay next to it. 🤣 Would it be possible to have welded in a more plentiful cat from another car model? I know they have to be type approved on newer cars but not sure the cut off date when that is required. No tomfoolery here. They’re too reputable. I did suggest we went down the route of gutting the cat and me finding out where all the Stanceyboi’s go but they were confident from the beginning on a solution. I think, largely, as I gave them two sets of readings - they could see progress. I doubt the cat will last forever, so I will ask them what they think about one from a newer car. Good shout. Split_Pin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split_Pin Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Best post of the week this, mainly because you have a bloody excellent garage. Be sure to bring them a case of beer when you collect it! Shite Ron, Low Horatio gearbox and BorniteIdentity 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 Chodtastic news about the MOT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 Awesome! 11 months 20something days to hunt out an better exhaust system? Does custom aftermarket and just tell them not to chrome plate the fucker work on these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted March 27, 2021 Author Share Posted March 27, 2021 1 hour ago, beko1987 said: Awesome! 11 months 20something days to hunt out an better exhaust system? Does custom aftermarket and just tell them not to chrome plate the fucker work on these? Who knows. It might last a year, it might last 5. On the one hand, the fewer the miles - the longer it will last. On the flip side, the fewer the miles - the more likely it will clog. I don't think it's a coincidence that I was doing a solid 25-30,000 miles problem free (up and down the A1 every day) and then, as soon as I start using it for a 3 mile commute, drama. I have promised myself to rotate the cars better this year. Hopefully the Sierra will actually be ready for a test next week, so will try hard to keep the wheels rolling on all of them. Still a few jobs outstanding on the Avensis. I've asked them to change all window regulators as two run slow (one gets stuck) and fit a new door seal too whilst it's there. Jobs I am capable of doing but, frankly, can not be arsed. I know they've had a tough few months too, so it's nice to be able to give them the money to do it. Win/Win. Fumbler, spartacus, Tickman and 10 others 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickman Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 10 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said: I'm more than ready to be teased over the following entry to the memoirs You spelt applauded incorrectly! Outstanding result and attitude to the family member. BorniteIdentity and phil_lihp 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 No I fully agree, my xsara is running like shit compared to when I did 250 miles a week. It's why I try and not use it as much as possible for short trips (and am subsequently sat waiting for the tyre shop to open as the rule of less use/less wear didn't apply to the perishing on the back tyres it seems! mercedade 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_lihp Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 What a marvellous story, it's quite inspirational really. If you think about it, you could have spent whatever this has cost several times over buying something newer and wouldn't really have gained much. It looks like it has years of life left in it now, job well done. What was the product that was sprayed underneath? I could find a use for a few tins of that. BorniteIdentity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greengartside Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 That’s a great result for the Avensis. Just shows that there are some things you cant let go no matter what the cost. Anyway, it’s not all about the cost, it’s about the memories and sentiment that something can hold. The right choice was made here a hundredfold. I’d like to think I could one day feel the same amount of affection and emotion for my daily Fiesta. Top work! BorniteIdentity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted March 27, 2021 Author Share Posted March 27, 2021 6 hours ago, phil_lihp said: What a marvellous story, it's quite inspirational really. If you think about it, you could have spent whatever this has cost several times over buying something newer and wouldn't really have gained much. It looks like it has years of life left in it now, job well done. What was the product that was sprayed underneath? I could find a use for a few tins of that. Hi Phil! It’s Bilt Hamber Dynax-UB. It’s like a wax, so never really cures. Scratch it and it self heals. Witchcraft. The browny black stuff is UB and UC is clear. (UB under body - UC under chassis) Thanks for your kind words. It’s a simple car to work on, comfortable to drive, and everyone’s fond of it. phil_lihp 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timewaster Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 That work is most impressive. Sadly I think most garages are a bit jaded and would have muttered something about a heap of shit and done the bare minimum. Treasure the spannerers. BorniteIdentity, wuvvum and Low Horatio gearbox 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leyland Worldmaster Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 20 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said: Often in life, it's not about what something is worth to someone else - but what its worth is to you. For the same reason I still have my Grandad's pipe and marching staff. There wouldn't be a buyer for either on the open market, but for me they have immeasurable value. As I often rue - many folk know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Exactly. That is why I keep Alison going, actually. I bought Alison as a "Technically Interesting" distraction from losing a good friend a few years ago. I thoroughly studied the Audi A2 and settled on a 1.4TDI. Took a punt on a poorly photographed car on Auto Trader in Exeter. There was enough minor trim stuff I could replace, and a few things have been changed over the last few years. Yes, I could have spent the money on a newer car, but this one has sentimental value. And she refuses to die! I'm really glad you have kept the Avensis going. Hardly any that shape around where I live. Great colour and the work that the extremely dedicated Garage has carried out has been amazing! Here's to the next 260,000 miles! 😎😎😎👍👍👍 Low Horatio gearbox and mercedade 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 On 3/7/2021 at 7:08 PM, BorniteIdentity said: What about... Tina the Toyota? Ava/Eva the Avensis? BorniteIdentity, Craig the Princess and loserone 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 In completely banal news, I got totally sick of needing three arms to put anything in the boot of the Sierra and thought “FUCK IT” - my poor head has had enough - “let’s fit the new gas struts I bought 3 or 4 years ago”. Out fell the most complicated, Engrish instructions you’ve ever seen. Straight in the bin with those and went in like a Bull in a China Shop. One side done in 2 minutes, so I tried to break my own record the other side. 28 seconds. Now I’m annoyed I didn’t do it sooner, so have ordered a set for the Escort. Amusingly the boot opens at 257MPH now too so it’s not your head you have to look out for anymore; it’s your chin. LightBulbFun, Jenson Velcro, timolloyd and 24 others 19 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted March 29, 2021 Author Share Posted March 29, 2021 In Sierra news - the MOT is booked for Thursday. I had to abort the last one as we were having earthing problems with the rear lights (it was like a disco of intermittent tail light and indicator!). It turned out that it wasn't an earth problem at all, it's just one side has been wired differently to tother. So you have to have one plug on upside down to make it all work correcty! Am I going to diligently take it apart and rewire it correctly? Am I f**k. It works well now, so that's how it can stay. I printed off an MOT check list at lunchtime and went through it all from top to toe and, unless there's a giant hole I can't see, then I've done as much as I can. AGGHHH. One thing. The recurring PitA which is the indicator stalk. It's 100% perfect turning left but turning right often leads to nothing, clicking relays or a lightshow suitable for a small, illegal rave. I took it all apart, cleaned it as best as I can, blasted it with contact cleaner and...errr... still not very good. Ah. Hang on. One of the screws is a bit loose. With all 19 stone of me behind the screwdriver the screw relented and turned another spin and now, along with another blast of contact cleaner, is 100%. I managed to get contact cleaner over the cowling, so here I am giving it a bath. The wife found this hilarious. "The rest of the car looks fucking shit but here you are cleaning the steering wheel surround" She's not wrong, is she? Wish us luck for Thursday! danthecapriman, rob88h, wuvvum and 22 others 24 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadworkUK Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 20 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said: Amusingly the boot opens at 257MPH now too so it’s not your head you have to look out for anymore; it’s your chin. The same issue besets our 306 after I "improved" it. The old ones were no longer man enough for the job, so I replaced them with a set of dimensionally identical struts that had, in turn, proven not man enough to hold the boot open on a C-Class Coupé at work. What I hadn't allowed for is that the rear hatch of one of those weighs about the same amount as planet Earth itself, and having a 306 tailgate that doubles as a medieval trebuchet is the outcome. PS. Good luck for Thursday. mercedade, nacho man, BorniteIdentity and 3 others 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greengartside Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Good luck for the MOT. I’ve recently been finding myself reading again about the collection story of the Sierra and how it’s escaped all the odds. Love this car to bits. mk2_craig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyersey1234 Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Good luck for the MOT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 16 hours ago, RoadworkUK said: The same issue besets our 306 after I "improved" it. The old ones were no longer man enough for the job, so I replaced them with a set of dimensionally identical struts that had, in turn, proven not man enough to hold the boot open on a C-Class Coupé at work. What I hadn't allowed for is that the rear hatch of one of those weighs about the same amount as planet Earth itself, and having a 306 tailgate that doubles as a medieval trebuchet is the outcome. PS. Good luck for Thursday. On the Ford Puma the boot was supposed to open by itself (fling itself up with the struts when you pushed the boot button on the key) Was an easy fix as above, however the puma boot also let a fuck load of water all into the boot as it ran from the screen surrounds. I nearly bought a pair to do the easy job but mine did a little pop as it came off the latch then no more. By then waiting 5 seconds all the water had drained into the channels and I could pull it the rest of the way. Decided to leave it broken and it still held the boot lid up otherwise I'd have had to change them and be annoyed every time I opened the boot and it worked properly RoadworkUK 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BorniteIdentity Posted April 1, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 1, 2021 "Do you know love - I bought that car five years ago TODAY?" "It's been such a joy to see the incredible progress you've made on it since then. Absolutely transformative. Oh no wait." Cheeky cow. Yes, happy Sierraversary - April 1st 2016 the bASe was bought. It was a brilliant day, and a terrifying day. I remember vividly finishing work at 1000 in Watford, having to be in Clapton by 12000 and Milton Keynes by 1500, and having to do at least half of that journey in a 33 year old Sierra. Here's a younger me on that very day! Firstly, I can't believe it's five years ago. Secondly, I can't believe that the equivalent escapade today would be to chase and snare an E reg car. Thirdly, I can't believe how fat I've got since. Must try harder. So there was a wonderful appropriateness about having the car MOT'd today. It means, with a pass, I can get a full years 2021 of motoring (last year we managed a paltry 100 miles or so) and also a full month of tax too. Preparations began last night with a run up to get some petrol and some air. Amusing as it is to have a car with no specification worth mentioning, the lack of 12v is quite annoying when it comes to tyre inflation. I begrudgingly paid the £1 (I know I know) just to save myself the fanny ache of backing a car up nearby (and then having to swap ends to do the other side). I will butcher one of my inflators so I can use it straight on a battery. Back home with 3 gallons of VMAX YO, preparations were just about complete! This morning, being obsessive, I decided to go through an MOT list this morning. I've never used this MOT station before and I didn't want to make myself look stupid. I'm not usually obsessive about stuff like this, but I didn't want the garage to think of me as a doofus. My regular garage already know that, and like me for it, but this is like a new start. I'm glad I did because, somehow, the pipe to the screen washer had become disconnected. FICST. Off we go then! I have to confess, I have a huge soft spot for garages like this. Ones that literally haven't changed in 30 years. Sadly, unlike my regular garage, they have stopped selling petrol from the small forecourt outside - but inside is brilliant! Those honey jars are all full of various bulbs that they'll probably never need until they throw them out. I like their style. The tester (and I know this is a cliché) was very complimentary. Actually, his excitement was childlike. "I love old Fords". "You won't love this one" I dryly retort". The 45 minutes of masked waiting gave me time to think about the last 5 years. Lots has changed. My job, my fleet, probably my whole attitude and approach to life. But constants like this ground you in the past. Where you came from. Your story. I've also had to accept that this car is more famous than I am when it comes to the modern world of the internet and social media. It also turns heads, whereas I do not. As terrible and as shonky and as clunky and as shite as it is - I adore it. I wish everyone loved their cars in the same way. Anyway - enough self indulgence. Tadaaaa! First observation, I need to do some miles. Another 10 minute conversation with the tester ensues, and he's still bouncing off the walls. "It's had a lot of admiring glances from people on the way past". He explained that the brake pipes aren't bad at all and would I mind him advising them?! I said no of course - it gives me a list to work through. The tank I know about and will be replaced, and the exhaust (which has about 251 patches on it) is also slightly blowing too. SUCCESS! On the way home I stopped a few miles short to take a nice spring like photo. Hopefully symbolising a better year ahead for the Sierra and all fellow shiters. Essex V6, anonymous user, RayMK and 65 others 65 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 That's brilliant! Just drive the fucker, it'll do it good*! Get that vmax pumped through Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 Well done! Here’s to another (better) year of Sierra-ing! You still planning on daily driving it this year? Low Horatio gearbox 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain_70s Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 Blimey, half a decade of the bASe. Madness. BorniteIdentity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted April 1, 2021 Author Share Posted April 1, 2021 44 minutes ago, beko1987 said: Just drive the fucker, it'll do it good*! Get that vmax pumped through It's not a fucker thank you very much! It's a much adored and cherished, motor powered, road going conveyance! 42 minutes ago, danthecapriman said: You still planning on daily driving it this year? Well, they're all sort of getting used daily now. Whatever that means. I don't really go anywhere - in all likelihood I'll be working from home 4 days a week until I change job or get fired. I need to rotate better, for sure. Last year, the Sierra was just the victim of circumstance. There was nowhere really to go and, most of all, nobody to do it with. No events, no commute, no fun. I used it for the odd run to the shops and to take my kids to cricket but that was about it. I've lost a bit of trust in the Escort at the moment so will need to pull the ignition system apart and replace obvious candidates as a matter of best practice. The Avensis will return sometime in the next week or so - at which stage the T4 needs to go in and have an aux belt and new vacuum pump fitted. The Mini will, for the time being, rest. Its time is coming though - a lot of this quick investment in the fleet was to get it all "Turn Key", so I could focus on the Mini. danthecapriman, rob88h, beko1987 and 4 others 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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