How much shite is too much shite? Or How Many Miles is Too Many Miles?

[Saabnut]

Back in 2018 I was returning from Lemans Classic in the Bentley T2 Turbo. When I stopped at the local shop to buy milk, the doors decided they were staying locked. The year previous, the rear nearside door had done the same and was fixed, and fortunately that door continued to open so I could get in the back and climb over the seats to get home. Dignified it was not. Once home, it was put in the shed with the usual "I will look at that later". Four and a half years later.....

My friend Simon called me last Thursday saying he had a few hours clear on Friday and would be in the area so was willing to take the Bentley to have a look at it. A mild panic attack followed as it was 3 years since it was started and 4 since it moved under its own steam.  Reconnecting the battery, adding some fresh petrol and a boost from my starter and after a few attempts it started and reversed into the centre of the shed. The wheel dollies were deployed to turn it through 90 degrees and it drove out fine after the tyres were topped up. Yesterday it was returned with working doors  . Apparently it was age hardened grease on the servos, but after a clean it will be back out and about again, having covered 120 miles this weekend without problem.

This morning I had a 6 hout teams meeting during which the sun shone. As the meeting ended and I put on my overalls, so the rain started  Tomorrow I am heading to foreign climes to collect the last of the three items of chod I acquired during my last trip offshore. This one has sat for over a year, the model is renowned for electrical reliability*, and has a totally flat battery and at least 2 flat tyres. As a result I need to take a trailer, and as we all know it is illegal to tow an empty trailer both ways on any journey so decided to take the little Kubota and the rotary mower to tackle some of the riverbank whilst in France. Fortunately the rain stopped for the loading. In the back are two trailer spares, a new battery, jump leads, tyre goo, trolley jack, 12v compressor, mains compressor and a code reader. Should be fine!

 

Plan is to head to Folkstone tomorrow, cross on the chunnel in the early hours Thurday to arrive at my place Thursday lunchtime, then I plan on collecting the chod on Sunday when there is hopefully less traffic. I will update this thread as and when I can.

[High Jetter]

Please get a sun strip for the Rangie saying 'Thunderbird 322'!

[Saabnut]

Left home at 0915 yesterday and arrived Chez Moi (Fr) at 0615 this morning. 940 miles covered, roughly £450 in fuel (Eeek) and no problems encountered. After a couple of hours kip on the couch, I unloaded but otherwise had a day off.

The Kubota is hiding in the barn. After the fog burned off, it was a lovely sunny day and 17c

[Saabnut]

Did nip out to the supermarket for essential supplies and the first chod of the trip was spotted

Proper scruffy, used example

[Saabnut]

Today I go to collect the last vehicle of the threesome, which is why I am up at an ungodly hour on a Sunday! This will be the first time I have seen it (I have only ever seen 1 photo of it in a car park) and it has been sat for over a year. I know it has at least 2 flat tyres and a flat battery, and it is 140 miles away, in the centre of a city I have never been to and the carpark it is in is underground so I cannot get the trailer to it. In contrast to the last collection thread where my tool kit consisted of a code reader and an AA card, this time I am taking a battery, jump leads, jump pack, compressor, 12v compressor, full tool kit, hammers, punches, tow rope and anything else that I think I may need..

Right, time to hitch up the trailer........

[GMcD]

Good luck!

[Schaefft]

The title promises much excitement. Chod speed!

[Six-cylinder]

1 hour ago, Saabnut said:

Today I go to collect the last vehicle of the threesome, which is why I am up at an ungodly hour on a Sunday! This will be the first time I have seen it (I have only ever seen 1 photo of it in a car park) and it has been sat for over a year. I know it has at least 2 flat tyres and a flat battery, and it is 140 miles away, in the centre of a city I have never been to and the carpark it is in is underground so I cannot get the trailer to it. In contrast to the last collection thread where my tool kit consisted of a code reader and an AA card, this time I am taking a battery, jump leads, jump pack, compressor, 12v compressor, full tool kit, hammers, punches, tow rope and anything else that I think I may need..

Right, time to hitch up the trailer........

Yes should have taken a driver's mate experienced in L322s and driving on the right so you could prepare the new one while the tow set up was guarded dumped on the street!

[Saabnut]

I had planned on updating this through the day, but things did not exactly go to plan! Started off fine, taking my friend Elaine as she speaks much better French than I do. Made good time from La Chatre sur le Loir towards Niort and stopped for a coffee at the last services on the A10 about 40 miles from Niort. It takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours to cover the run.

Weather was great and Waze took me straight to the car park, where I failed to find anywhere to leave the trailer as all carparks were full and I made my first mistake. I decided the car park with the chod looked accessible, even if the height would prevent loading in the car park. Of course, once committed I found the exit was on the floor below and the turning points and the ramp curve were as tight as only the French could design. As a result, at each turn I had to disconnect the trailer, manhandle it around and the ramp had literally a half inch clearance  either side. Elaine could not believe I got it down!

Once I had found the chod I had gone for, I dropped the trailer and had a look at what I had acquired. Two flat tyres and a totally flat battery.

First job was to attach jump leads and see if any life could be coaxed.

After a couple of minutes, lights came on so I added my jump pack and gave it a turn. It was last started in September 21 (indeed it has not been touched since then) but it started first try. Amazing. Left it running and tried to air up the rear tyres. One took air, but the other refused and as locking nuts are fitted, I came to the conclusion it would still drive   Hitched the trailer back on and headed out and as some of the church crowd had gone, I found somewhere to park fairly close. Back to the new* one, another jump and we headed for the exit. I had been sent the pass card for the barrier but no matter what I did, the barrier stayed down.

After a couple of minutes a man appeared who explained he had seen us working on the Rangie, had phoned his boss, who instructed him not to let it out as over a years parking was owed! Eeek. I had been assured the parking was paid (since confirmed as being the case) but French bureacracy confused things and we were informed we would have to return tomorrow when the office was open. We persuaded him to phone his boss who despite not being at work on Sunday was in the area and came down to see us. At this point I was really pleased I had Elaine with me, and after an hour of discussion, showing lots of paperwork, taking photos of my licence etc he agreed to let us take the car as we promised to get in touch with the notaire who had been dealing with it to sort things out. A result, but it cost us 2 hours.

Once out of the car park, on 3 half flat tyres and one completely flat, I decided to push my look and park on a clearway half on the pavement with the flat tyre visible from the road, and left Elaine with it whilst I went for the trailer. Of course, just after I had left, the police stopped but they were apparently just concerned Elaine was OK. By this time I had collected the trailer and RR and was heading back, but of course fell foul of the one way system. As I turned into yet another one way street, I realised I was wrong so pulled over to check where I was. At this point a police car pulled up, told me the quick way back to "ma femme" and then stopped the traffic to let me reverse out of the one way street! Top guys.

Got to the car, drove it onto the trailer, strapped it down and headed out of town. Stopped at the same services for more coffee.

Took three and a half hours to get back due to reduced towing speed, but all was good. Now back at my place, where it was dropped off and I took Elaine out for dinner as a thank you. 

Tomorrow, I will see what I have got.

[High Jetter]

🎶 Take me home...

[hairnet]

nicholas 120% insane

 

[Saabnut]

This morning, after the obligatory several cups of coffee, I went out to see what I had got. Blew up the tyres, but one went down almost as fast as I filled it, as the side wall had several holes in it from sitting flat so long. First surprise was it started off its own battery this morning, so it looks like the battery has survived. Drove it off the trailer and set to looking for the locking wheel nut key. This was eventually located in the glove box, I had started there but it is smaller than expected and tucked into the bottom of a spanner set. With that located I loosened the wheel nuts and started to remove the spare, in the hope it would hold air. The rear parcel shelf had been wrongly fitted and had jammed, so sorting that took a while, but the spare turned out to be a nearly new tyre, bonus!

With the spare fitted, my attention turned to the air suspension, the pump for which remained silent. Eventually, connectors covered in verdigris were located and cleaned up, and the Rangey rose to the correct height.  A quick tet run down the drive showed the long layup had not caused any major problems. The only faults I have found are non operational washers and a handbrake that needs adjustment.

The bodywork is fair with only a few minor dents, but it does have many scrapes in the paint in true French fashion. I am sure a session with my mop will get rid of most, so will bring it down next time to get it looking its best for a Controle Techniq. Photos do flatter it a bit.

[djoptix]

21 hours ago, Saabnut said:

started first try. Amazing

Knew it 😎

21 hours ago, Saabnut said:

I had been assured the parking was paid

It absolutely fucking has, it's paid until December.

 

Good luck with it @Saabnut, I'm very happy it's gone to you rather than the scrapper and I hope to see it again one day.

[tom13]

Land Rovers just keep getting more and more appealing to me.  Great collection mission.

[Noel Tidybeard]

in a rather fetching shade of green 👍

[djoptix]

On 11/15/2022 at 7:17 PM, Noel Tidybeard said:

in a rather fetching shade of green 👍

Best colour imo!

[hairnet]

are ye still in ecosse nick? @Saabnut

[Saabnut]

Just now, hairnet said:

are ye still in ecosse nick? @Saabnut

Got back just after lunch. Petrol RR covered over 2200 miles over the last 2 weeks, at an average of 17.4mpg.

Eeek.

[hairnet]

9 minutes ago, Saabnut said:

Got back just after lunch. Petrol RR covered over 2200 miles over the last 2 weeks, at an average of 17.4mpg.

Eeek.

lol i did that the other week (2200 miles)

56 mpg

[Saabnut]

For a change, most of this week has been spent running around The relevant highlights for here are this is back

New springs from Germany courtesy of Autodoc has seen the front lifted by over 2 inches and means it has suspension again. A bew CV boot and headlamp adjusters repaired means it is now the shopping trolley of choice.

My Rover P5B was on loan with a friend in Sheffield prior to going on the market but some corrosion (OK holes) were found in one sill, one inner wing and both door A posts, so today it went to visit Mr @GingerNuttz for a dose of looking at with the sparkly stick, after which it will be put in my shed until spring when it will get an MOT and be returned to Sheffield and the market.

Since collecting the Range Rover at the beginning of October, I have covered over 4100 miles, 90%+ towing and at 17mpg at a fuel cost below some countries GDP. No problems though  

Tomorrow I hope to finish installing a power supply into my tyre shed as for the last 7+ years everytime I have needed to change tyres I have had to run out several extension leads and have had a daylight only operating window. Hopefully that will change tomorrow!

[Saabnut]

Very much a good news- bad news day today.

The good news is I eventually completed the power install into my tyre shed. It has been done properly with RCD breakers, spurs, junction boxes etc. I would claim all the credit but I was supervised and advised by my mate who is a retired electrician so I can't. I now have lighting and 6 13A sockets in there so that will do for now.

The bad news, whilst not really unexpected came from @GingerNuttz who has started investigating the rot in the P5b. Not really surprising, as with any old car, it is worse than hoped, not helped by the previous owner being a bodger with a liking for structural P40.

I will put some photos up tomorrow for your delight!

[GingerNuttz]

Only in for a bit on the bottom of the A pillar.

had a couple of days to have a poke while I waited on gas so I could let Saabnut know how good or bad it would be. 

 

[SiC]

Weld it in and no one in customs would ever know or suspect...

[LightBulbFun]

@GingerNuttz Jeez! you really dont have much luck with "just a small repair" jobs do you? I swear I could send you a Fibreglass boat and it would somehow turn out to majorly rusty LOL

 

 

[GingerNuttz]

1 minute ago, LightBulbFun said:

@GingerNuttz Jeez! you really dont have much luck with "just a small repair" jobs do you? I swear I could send you a Fibreglass boat and it would somehow turn out to majorly rusty LOL

 

 

Always expect the worst then you can never be diapointed 😂

[Saabnut]

As the weather outside has stopped outdoor fun, I have a bit of time to update this thread. It never fails to amaze me how some people will go to a huge amount of effort to bodge something when very little extra would have done a good job. Their efforts worked though, I have been around classic cars for 25+ years and I did not spot the bodges. When I bought it I spent a lot of time checking the usual rot points on a P5b but A posts are not renowned for serious rot. In the previous owners defence,  it lasted for at least the 12 years I have owned it. Against that, because it was bodged, what would have been a simple repair has festered away unseen and made a much bigger job.

I will let the photos courtesy of @GingerNuttz tell the story so far

[SiC]

Oof. Glad I'm not having to sort that one. 

This is why I have an intrinsic inability to buy any nice shiny classic. Especially when so many of these cars were cheap for so long. Even small amounts of bodywork is more than what they and many still are worth. Problem is that filler is cheap and low setup costs. Anyone can go down to a car parts store, pay a tenner for a tub and get going with it. Welding needs a machine, consumables, materials, PPE and some practice. 

Also makes me love working on common classics. My Midget isn't that bad but I've got a complete new A-Pillar and hinge panel for like £50 all in. So much more enjoyable (for me) to just cut that mess out and put in something without having to heavily fabricate a repair panel.

[GingerNuttz]

Lucky if there was 30 tack welds on that whole pillar,I mean it just goes to show how strong a shit tack weld really is 😂 

That isn't all the rot cut out either btw, I've had to leave structure to copy before I chop the lot out so it's gonna get 10x worse than it is atm.

I've already got two of the panels made before I ran out of 1.2mm steel but I've got a sheet incoming tomorrow if Parcelforce aren't part of the strikes.

 

[Saabnut]

Ice, snow and Parcelforce have combined to slow progress on the P5b but as I am in no rush I am sure it bothers @GingerNuttz more than me  

About 10 days ago, temperatures dropped below zero, and until yesterday the maximum temperature here was -2c with a lowest of -12c. This slowed progress a bit on projects, and then we had a good foot of snow with some drifting. My excellent neighbour ploughed my drive but was unlucky enough to snag my phone cable on Thursday meaning I had no phone or internet. As I have no mobile signal here, I rely on wifi for my mobile, so basically the world was cut off from me! The usual, excellent, Openreach engineer visited yesterday, a day early as he knew I had nothing, and fixed it for me. He also said I was likely to get fibre installed in the next couple of years, something I never thought would happen, as mine is the only house about a mile from the nearest junction box!

These pictures were taken after the initial snowfall, about the same fell overnight but I didn't take pictures.

On this one, note the ice on both sides of the shed windows. This is a 20ft x 12ft shed with many gaps and no insulation and was flooded a few weeks ago after THE rain we had. My new chinese diesel heater arrived so I put a shelf up and put the heater together, running off an old car battery.

Put a couple of gallons of Jet-A1 in the tank and switched it on. The temperature inside the shed was -6c and after 2 hours running on a mid setting

Almost all ice on the windows melted and temp of +7c in the shed, having used well under a litre of fuel. As I type this, it is running in the shed (3c when switched on, 7c after an hour) where it is drying the shed out. Overall I am very pleased with the heater, although it is a bit noisier than I had hoped, but the compressor will drown it out. For less than a hundred quid it makes the shed much nicer to be in and it will save me a fortune as it has already dried out my tyre changing machine which seems to have survived the experience.

TLDR: Chinese diesel heaters 9/10 would recommend.

[SiC]

Small tip, it's worth putting the burner air intake outside too. Otherwise it'll be sucking your nice, recently generated hot air through the burner and back outside. While not a enormous difference, I found it made a bit for mine.

How is the ol' Moggie nowadays?