Project Dollywobbler's Invacar - Ongoing

[dollywobbler]

Here's where the extinguisher should live. Obviously, I definitely don't have an illegal extinguisher to fit in it.

 

That bracket is a pain in the arse to be honest. I'm forever catching myself on it.

[timolloyd]

Here's where the extinguisher should live. Obviously, I definitely don't have an illegal extinguisher to fit in it.

 

That bracket is a pain in the arse to be honest. I'm forever catching myself on it.

Perfect for a beer/coffee!

[dollywobbler]

Perfect for a beer/coffee!

 

I have nothing to do with either foul liquid!

[Zelandeth]

Interesting.  *adds that bracket to the "missing stuff" list*

 

Wonder if it might have been somewhere else in my vehicle as I reckon you'd smack your elbow on it every time you went for the choke/heater controls where they are in mine...

 

Also, I reckon if it had been there it would probably have fallen off by now as the panel is so thin there that I'm surprised the ID plate hasn't fallen off!

 

Likewise, I of course do not have a suitably period extinguisher to put in it...

[dollywobbler]

I've got a bracket in the spares car. That's just a more modern, generic holder that's just screwed to the side...

[dollywobbler]

This is the most stable an Invacar will ever be. Support on all four corners!

 

About time I got the original front tyre replaced I reckon. Sadly, while getting the wheel off, I noticed that the balljoint rubber is torn to bits. An MOT failure now I think? Plasticvandan, are they the same as Reliant?

 

I've also remembered that I haven't fitted the lower engine shrouds yet. Plenty to be getting on with then.

[oldcars]

I just had to replace one on my Rialto for the mot. £45 from Brook Road Garage. Do you have a photo of yours?

[dollywobbler]

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Can't exactly like that - but am ashamed at the rate a lot of the autoshite group crack on.........

 

On a softy note - wouldn't a piece of old carpet keep at least a little bit of the chill off? Only ask as I'm now going all southern and have reclaimed carpet tiles for locating under the various pieces of sh*t that torment my very existence.

 

How likely is the March on the Road looking?

[dollywobbler]

March looks very do-able. I still need glue recommendations for attaching the door seals, then the doors can be refitted - I need to bodge up another handle. Sort out balljoint and battery security, and the fusebox and we're pretty much there. I've even insured it today!

[madrat]

contact adhesive for door seals?

[Tickman]

What is the door seal profile like? Is it anything like this?

 

 

[dollywobbler]

No. Square section, is just glued to the door opening.

[Zelandeth]

£45 for a ball joint?!?

 

Lada ones are £12 new from the factory...

 

If the joint is okay can you just swap the cover over?

[dollywobbler]

Fresh from China, a new front lid lock arrived. Doesn't have a weather cover. Will likely die.

 

It does work though. Now I have TWO keys. Had to find a keyring FFS.

 

Also, the fusebox spent the night sitting in a vat of Mrs DW's homemade vinegar, and cleaned up nicely. The 35Amp fuse was duff though, so now it has a 25 Amp fuse in place of the 35 amp one, and a 10 amp one where the 25 should be. I probably need to buy more fuses, but things do actually seem to work, which is nice.

 

Getting the tyre fitted tomorrow, hopefully cracking on with door seals on Friday. Need to purchase adhesive and cheapo ratchet clamps. Annoyingly, I can find only one quarter of the ones I already own...

[Anglevan]

Just use contact adhesive for the seal. Alpha adhesive is amazing but expensive

Another option is to just use a 'D' seal. Very versatile/cheap and supplied with double sided tape. Just pick the size for the application.

[oldcars]

That drop link does not look like a Reliant one to me. Not the same as on mine anyway, Dan will prob know.

[plasticvandan]

I would suggest it is possibly a mini ball joint unit,Reliant were using one piece trackrods at this point so not borrowed from them,of course you can get universal dust covers to get you out the shit.

[plasticvandan]

£45 for a ball joint?!?

Lada ones are £12 new from the factory...

If the joint is okay can you just swap the cover over?

That is a one piece trackrod with a fixed ball joint either end.still I remember when they were half that.

[Zelandeth]

Mini is probably a good bet...

 

Hoping it's correct as they'll probably be cheap if so...and I'll be after a couple shortly too! I've got two torn dust caps from memory, plus one ball joint which actually has some play in.

[dollywobbler]

Haven't ID'd it yet, but there's no play I don't think, so cover replacement seems an option. 

 

Anyway, more invisible repairs!

 

That's part of an old Halfords screenwash bottle that I'm using just to cover the hole in this door. I now have functioning exterior handles on both doors. 

 

I also replaced one of the door seals. I bought a £1 tube of contact adhesive, and then had the most stressful ten minutes of my life, trying to apply it to the door opening without it getting on me, on the floor of the car or the garage and also trying not to glue my fingers together. It was horrific! Really runny stuff that seems determined to go everywhere but where you want it. Maybe I should have gone the Sikaflex route after all. Anyway, it's done, and hopefully it'll still be stuck to the car in the morning. Then I can get the doors back on.

 

Poundworld also provided me with a top quality* ratchet strap, which now holds the battery far more securely than a bungee did. Oh, and I've got the new tyre fitted. Not fitted the wheel again yet, as I'm pondering what to do with balljoints.

[dollywobbler]

Doors are back on.

 

New handles seem to work, new door seal hasn't fallen off. Great! Now on all three of the new tyres. Rides a bit better since I dropped the rears from 32psi to 22 as recommended! Front tyre recommended pressure is 17psi.

[coalnotdole]

If you get stuck for ball joints / track rods you can always give Amsteer a ring. They made a set of rebel ones for me a few years back. Quality stuff made in Staffordshire.

 

They are worth speaking to on the phone as they can make a much wider range of products than they have on their website. They may even be able to help cross reference if its a part shared in common with a more common car.

 

http://www.amsteer.co.uk/

[dollywobbler]

Thanks. Have just ordered a pair of covers for now, as neither balljoint seems to have play.

[dozeydustman]

Excellent progress Mr Wobbler. I hope the Mott goes well. Looking forward to the next video instalment.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks. If it stops sodding raining, I'll wrap this next video up. One after can be balljoint covers, then the first drive on the road! Razzing up the driveway, the temptation is huge to just keep going and have a spin around the village. Seems ridiculous that I can't assess it at speed until I'm driving to an MOT test.

[oldcars]

Wish you were nearer, i could offer a Reliant escort to the MOT station.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Just wear a balaclava through the whole video, noway anyone can ID you then.

 

Plus it would be fucking hilarious.

^^

What he said 

[dollywobbler]

More video, more driving, some tittering, an accidental arse, bodgery to the max.

[AndySnapper]

More video, more driving, some tittering, an accidental arse, bodgery to the max.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQxiIzDlGFw&feature=youtu.be

You could try wiping the inner windscreen with detergent to stop it misting-up.

 

Good luck Ian@

 

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