Sold Dollywobbler's Bluebird - Buy an award winner! £SOLD

[BorniteIdentity]

Did you try swearing at it?  

 

I find this strangely satisfying yet unhelpful.

[uk_senator]

I also had a dizzy fixing snappage moment when putting a new cap on my Bluebird, solved with a zip-tie for the moment, will get the dizzy off when I do the timing belt.

 

[dollywobbler]

Yup. Think I'll be tying it in place for now. Once I can face touching it again. I think I've at least established that I've got the leads in totally the wrong place.

 

There was a further diversion when Mrs DW rang me to say she was ten miles away, and the 2CV has stopped running. Turns out it hadn't been refuelled since we were in Wells on Saturday night...

 

Had to bump start it down a hill to get the fuel flowing again. At least 2CVs are nice and simple!

[Forty-two]

I had the honour of owning one of these comfy chariots. A 1990 2.0 GSXi Hatch.

 

It suffered from bizarre corrosion, the guides for the windows which live inside the doors rot out from the bottom, all the ones I could find in the breakers at the tile suffered the same fate. You'll know when the guide goes, the window drops at 45 degrees and wont go backup!

 

More alarming was the fuel filler pipe from the flap to the tank. I had brimmed the car one day and walking back I saw a puddle under the rear wheel, quick check and it was petrol dripping out the filler pipe. A later inspection found it was like a sieve.

 

It had a sunroof that leaked, I left some paper in the roof near the leak that absorbed enough in the rain and then dried out quickly ready for the next shower.

 

Apart from that, it was comfy, went well, better infact than a mk1 1.8 16v Vectra that were brand new at the time and filling up the M25

 

I swapped it for a Classic Range Rover after eight or nine months... but thats another story

[dollywobbler]

I toiled today, and suffered many, many midge bites. However...

 

https://twitter.com/dollywobbler/status/877927283192766464 

[Dave_Q]

Congrats for getting it running.

 

What was the issue, timing / distributor woes?

[danthecapriman]

Well done DW! Makes the midge bites worth it!

[dollywobbler]

Congrats for getting it running.

 

What was the issue, timing / distributor woes?

 

Having got the dizzy cap off (and breaking it in the process), I was able to re-establish where cylinder 1 was meant to be firing. Then, knowing the firing order, it was simple from there. I didn't capture the first fire on video sadly (as there have been SO many failed attempts! I may have faked it for the next video...) but it was remarkable. A short burst of starter and it just fired beautifully into life. My excitement was not faked.

 

The dizzy is currently held on with garden twine, and the thermostat housing needs replacing, but this is still important progress.

 

It has reminded me that the clutch is VERY heavy. I'm wondering if there's anything I can do about that?

[Dave_Q]

If its a cable clutch there may be places to put grease on the linkage etc, if that doesn't work I'd advise leaving it and hoping it gets better with use.

[barefoot]

Or you could have a look and see if it's a genuine Nissan cable.

My Scirocco had a dreadfully heavy clutch caused by a cheap, aftermarket cable.

A new VAG effort sorted it in a trice.

Well done on getting the bag of shite running.

[bunglebus]

Heavy clutch can be the springs getting knackered - my dad's Saphire went through several clutch cables before I had a look at it. He had one leg like Arnold Schwartzathingie after driving it like that.

[dollywobbler]

Heavy clutch can be the springs getting knackered - my dad's Saphire went through several clutch cables before I had a look at it. He had one leg like Arnold Schwartzathingie after driving it like that.

 

That's my fear. I've encountered plenty of this sort of thing with PSA stuff. Clutch plates outlast the springs by a considerable margin...

[twosmoke300]

Gotta be honest - she doesn't sound like it has much going for it !

[bunglebus]

I like it more all the time - the more frustrating the initial few weeks of ownership are, the better it is when you're out driving it on a nice day with your favourite cassette playing.

[Lacquer Peel]

Rip engine out, replace with a glorious V8 out of something Japanese, win all the cool points.  

 

Did Japanese car manufacturers ever try something as silly as a transverse fwd V8?

My top choice for an engine transplant would be a CD20T inevitably.

 

Top marks for saving this from banger racers despite its relative shabbiness, unmolested Bluebirds are becoming rare.

[spartacus]

If the clutch is heavily worn them that makes the action heavier as you're having to push the finger springs further 'over center'. However, if it's a cable clutch then try disconnecting the cable at the gearbox end, then, with the end supported in the air somehow, I usually hang it off​ the underside of the bonnet, then dribble oil down the inner cable. If you really want to be a nerd, then make a little funnel out of plasticine, then fill that with oil and leave it for an hour or so.

Obviously check all pivot points for binding etc and lube as necessary.

 

Second edit. How fucking rude of me.

Congratulations on getting it running, I'm sure others will agree, it's mighty frustrating when we're looking from a distance in the knowledge it's probably* something simple, but easily overlooked.

[Forty-two]

Many different car failures merge into one over time. I am sure my 2.0 had a hydrulic clutch and needed a new slave cylinder. It's mounted outside the box so not a major drama. Not really relevant to the issues with DW's clutch...

 

Carry on!

[320touring]

Did Japanese car manufacturers ever try something as silly as a transverse fwd V8?

My top choice for an engine transplant would be a CD20T inevitably.

 

Top marks for saving this from banger racers despite its relative shabbiness, unmolested Bluebirds are becoming rare.

Wonder if you could put a Lexus v8 into a Honda legend gearbox.

[Felly Magic]

3.0 V6 from a 300ZX should fit no bother

[Snipes]

3.0 V6 from a 300ZX should fit no bother

QX probably "easier" being FWD.

[dollywobbler]

Anyway, now the engine runs and doesn't need replacing, I'm going to get some JB Weld to bodge up the thermostat housing. Then hopefully the water will stay in it and I can start thinking about MOT.

[dollywobbler]

Pissing it down today, so the only progress has been interior.

 

This buckle actually works! It also appears to be brown. Excellent. JB Weld on order. Once I've actually run it up to temperature and had a run up the driveway, I'll get it booked in for an MOT to see what it fails on.

[RayMK]

QX probably "easier" being FWD.

 

The qx's engine is very tall.  It may fit, but a power bulge might be necessary.  Transverse power bulges don't look right  .  If luck holds with the standard engine, keeping it is by far the best option.

[dollywobbler]

Not much to report today. I have fitted my new battery clamp, so that's another MOT failure point dealt with. I've also sprayed a load of grease around in the hope I can improve the clutch. It sounded pretty dry at the pedal end, so I've lubed the pivot and as much cable as I can see. It feels a little better, but cable is my suspicion rather than the clutch itself. 

[jonathan_dyane]

Really pleased to hear that you've got it running nicely, excellent progress.

[dollywobbler]

Another video update. Contains first start! Which goes terribly. 

[dollywobbler]

I'm meant to be working, so obviously I'm pissing about with the Bluebird. Filled the cooling system and ran it up to temperature for the first time!

 

I was waiting for the fan to kick in, but then this happened. Bodge fail!

https://twitter.com/HubNutVids/status/879626745040834560 

[dollywobbler]

Did some work, rewarded* myself with more tinkering time. Success!

 

The JB Weld putty stuff seemed to actually set this time, nice and rock hard. Ran it up to temperature, turned it around so the rad was higher than the heater and waited for the fan to kick in, which thankfully it did! So, I set about checking the lights.

 

That's it. I'm declared it ready for MOT now! And yes, I have since refitted the front numberplate...

 

I reckon it'll fail on track rod ends/balljoints, as the front end is definitely clunky - in a 'feel it through the wheel' sort of a way. Might take it steady on my way to the garage. I'll let them do battle with whatever needs replacing as I really can't be arsed with faffing with steering stuff. Will get it booked in for test next week - no earlier than Wednesday thanks to deadlines.

[junkyarddog]

 

 

 

 

I reckon it'll fail on track rod ends/balljoints, as the front end is definitely clunky - in a 'feel it through the wheel' sort of a way. Might take it steady on my way to the garage. I'll let them do battle with whatever needs replacing as I really can't be arsed with faffing with steering stuff. Will get it booked in for test next week - no earlier than Wednesday thanks to deadlines.

You should at least jack up the front and check to make sure the track rod ends aren't about to part company,before taking it out on the road

[dollywobbler]

I should have time to do that before I head out. It's 4 miles to the garage, with sheer drops at the side of the road and lots of narrow sections. Not a great place to lose your steering...