The new news 24 thread

[adw1977]

2 bolts for grille then 2 "tent pegs" per light and out it jolly well comes

Yep, except that one of the "tent pegs" didn't want to budge. Ended up paying Halfords a fiver to do it for me. Truly I feel the shame.

[dave21478]

...

 

What you do to order a new barrel when the old one is completely dead I don't know - obviously you can't get the car to the dealer. Perhaps they come to you?

 

some thieving pikey chogged two sets of car keys from my next door neighbours house last week. The local garage managed to get their old Berlingo on the go with ease but their new is Vitara had to be trailered to the dealership.

[Tickman]

The 850 went for its MOT yesterday. It may be dead. A bush has given way in the rear axle and it looks like too much to do in the driveway, especially as I'm working away all week and the next two weekends are spoken for. I've been to see the local Volvo specialist and he's going to let me know on Monday but realistically I don't think it's going to happen. It might be James Brown time, which would be the end of private motoring for me.

Would somewhere inside help in the chances of fixing?

I have space in Forfar you could use, it is a little awkward to get into but the 940 and the C70 both managed.

There if it is of use.

[SiC]

Got the Mercedes to the dealer this morning to order the ignition barrel. Tried to do it on the phone but they wanted the v5, a photo Id and a photo of the chassis plate! £102.50 so it could be worse, and will be here in five days which isn't bad for a 22year old car. I do think the barrel is on its way out though as although the key turned this evening at work I had to help it back to position after starting as the spring seemed to stick. I won't chance using it again.

 

What you do to order a new barrel when the old one is completely dead I don't know - obviously you can't get the car to the dealer. Perhaps they come to you?

I imagine a proper, skilled locksmith would be able to get it removed in this scenario?

[Bren]

BIG NEWS. SD1 MOJO RE ACQUIRED.

 

I replaced the n/ s front wing but repaired the o/s as a cost saving exercise. However I always found myself looking at the areas I repaired. I bought an o/s front wing and today I removed the old one -

Good job really as there were areas of rot not visible with the wing fitted that only would have spread. So I have a bit of work to do before fitting the new one. Pointless spending four figures on a paint job when the car is still rusty. Changing the wings on one of these is not for the taint hearted - they are a bit awkwatd and looking at the cars construction I can see why they rusted so badly.

 

I have a compressor that would have helped but no room yet to set it up.

[320touring]

You are doing future generations a favour there Bren- Guid work!

[Guest Hooli]

When you've finished it Bren I'll have numbers 8 & 18.

[For Fiats Sake]

I traded the modern for a slightly less modern.  Although the mk4 was a panda it didn't feel like one, too smooth, quiet and refined compared to the mk3.  Crunch time came when I took it for a spot of green laning and was worrying about damaging it instead of having fun.  The problem with the mk3 1.2 petrol for off roading is it runs out of puff on inclines at slow speeds.  My solution is a mk3 1.3 turbo diesel! Ten more bhp and lots of torques, quick at the lights and generally a nice little motor to rattle around in.

 

 

I shall certainly be keeping this one a bit longer than 5 months!

 

[wuvvum]

Wow, that is an odd looking thing isn't it?

[r.welfare]

Gopping lights compared to a normal Panda but if you are happy who am I to judge

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I love it!!!! Its like an ordinary panda thats been on some sort of 'shite atkins diet'

[The Moog]

What's the Mohican?

[catsinthewelder]

That looks like fun.

[Ghosty]

I like that.

 

There should be a 4WD Citroen Cactus.

[Ghosty]

A month ago the mother and I went to look at a Cooper S auto.

 

They've still got it, because who the fuck wants an auto MCS? It's £100 cheaper now good luck selling that, lads.

I've noticed an even better one at a price I know we'd get direct p/x at, and even better it's one of the supercharged ones now. 

I kind of want to suggest it, but I don't think I should...

[BorniteIdentity]

Collection day for me today.  I've not bought any chod since #BrexitDay and I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms.

 

(A bit like the FTSE 250)

 

Anyway, the remedy is definitely to buy something you don't need with money you don't have to park in a space that doesn't exist.  

 

It'll be the most civilised pick up of the year.  Chauffeur driven modern there, money through the letterbox and drive off in luxurious style to a meal of tea and medals.

 

Well, that's the plan anyway.  I've got my AA Card just in case the inevitable happens!

[BorniteIdentity]

In other news, Facebook reminded me that this time last year the Avensis featured in Autocar Magazine.

 

 

Now on 188,400.  Had a clutch 3 months ago but that's it.  Same tyres as when it was in the magazine, and still with 4-5 mm left all round!

 

 

[Bobthebeard]

Steering wheel now off thanks to a generic puller. Will allow me to investigate the previous bodges on the starter switch on the Oldsmobile. Bonnet release cable replaced with an aftermarket part. The seats and carpet are to be removed for deep cleaning as are totally minging really. The smell of damp and the oily carpets annoys me. Lack of rear foglight rectified. Rear headlining drooping partially sorted, but needs more adhesive. This is my second neglected yank car, and a pattern is emerging here... Old American cars seem to be run into the ground and neglegted. Shame really. They deserve more.

[twosmoke300]

Looks like my Saab has found a new home - flew though its mot again . Just gonna give it a service and rear pads morro for the new owner and shes off.

I will miss it im sure , it was fast (235hp), comfy and reliable but im kinda bored having had it for 5 years now . Sold it for 50 more than I paid for it so cant be too bad.

 

Got a random 306 hdi coming morro , friend of the outlaws . Was going to scrap it because a garage scared him with the price of an injector . Mot til may and meant to be really clean . Scrap money he says ! Might move it on through here when its fixed.

[danthecapriman]

Steering wheel now off thanks to a generic puller. Will allow me to investigate the previous bodges on the starter switch on the Oldsmobile. Bonnet release cable replaced with an aftermarket part. The seats and carpet are to be removed for deep cleaning as are totally minging really. The smell of damp and the oily carpets annoys me. Lack of rear foglight rectified. Rear headlining drooping partially sorted, but needs more adhesive. This is my second neglected yank car, and a pattern is emerging here... Old American cars seem to be run into the ground and neglegted. Shame really. They deserve more.

I think a lot of old yanks get bought by people with the best intentions but they soon get pissed off with the issues caused by the cars never being sold here like parts availability and prices to get them here. They seem to suffer from neglect a bit more because of our shitty climate too, people bring them over from dry states then do nothing to stop them from rusting now they're in a cold wet country with a worlds supply of salt dumped on it's roads every winter. You'd think though that given the cost involved in getting the cars over here people would take better care of them.

 

With your carpet, get a wet vacuum carpet cleaner on it if it's coming out. I did this twice with my Granada's carpet as that was oily and filthy. It got it back to a nice standard but it takes ages to dry properly. I had a dry sunny weekend when I did mine then hung it up over the washing line to get it dry.

[Bobthebeard]

I think a lot of old yanks get bought by people with the best intentions but they soon get pissed off with the issues caused by the cars never being sold here like parts availability and prices to get them here. They seem to suffer from neglect a bit more because of our shitty climate too, people bring them over from dry states then do nothing to stop them from rusting now they're in a cold wet country with a worlds supply of salt dumped on it's roads every winter. You'd think though that given the cost involved in getting the cars over here people would take better care of them.

 

With your carpet, get a wet vacuum carpet cleaner on it if it's coming out. I did this twice with my Granada's carpet as that was oily and filthy. It got it back to a nice standard but it takes ages to dry properly. I had a dry sunny weekend when I did mine then hung it up over the washing line to get it dry.

 

The amount of neglect on this car is enormous really. Broken locks, broken bonnet release cable, broken rear spring, all brake pads worn out, rusted brake discs, leaking transmission pan, bodged ignition lock, broken boot lid spring, broken steering lock, The list goes on really...

[dollywobbler]

I'm fast starting to think that it's the same story with grey imports from Japan too. My Honda had certainly not seen a whole lot of love in its time in the UK. "These go on forever" is code for "doesn't need servicing, ever" I think.

[For Fiats Sake]

What's the Mohican?

just a stylised roof rack.

 

This being my fifth mk3 I was ready for a different look, these only come in diesel flavour so was an obvious choice.  

 

I can't wait to get it off road!

[richardmorris]

I imagine a proper, skilled locksmith would be able to get it removed in this scenario?

Yes, but the dealer still wants the car on their forecourt before they will order the replacement.

[AMC Rebel]

This is my second neglected yank car, and a pattern is emerging here... Old American cars seem to be run into the ground and neglegted. Shame really. They deserve more.

 

 

I think a lot of old yanks get bought by people with the best intentions but they soon get pissed off with the issues caused by the cars never being sold here like parts availability and prices to get them here.

 

 

Bodges on my AMC - 

 

Servo brake booster from flip knows what fitted - never worked, in fact I'd venture to say it was worse than no booster.  When I finally sourced the correct one, I found various bits of old steel rod sawn up and placed in the end of the master cylinder (loose) along with a million thin brass washers on the 4 fixing bolts - this was a previous owner's cack handed attempt to line it all up and it's frankly a flaming miracle we all survived.

 

Lucas alternator fitted with a variety of Heath Robinson bracketry - it never ran true to the engine, always at a slightly jaunty angle and was impossible to get the belt tension to anywhere sensible due to the crap bracket arrangement.  Now replaced and rewired with a Motorola original from my parts car - but not sure how long that'll last as they have a reputation for fragility.

 

Wrong fuel tank fitted (this is probably something to do with the poorly repaired rear end damage done at some time past). It has no proper breather for filling and consequently takes about 15 mins to fill as you have to put the juice in so slowly.  I have a spare (correct) tank but it needs a cleanup before fitting.

 

Terrible exhaust system cobbled up from all sorts. 

[spike60]

Yes, but the dealer still wants the car on their forecourt before they will order the replacement.

When I ordered a W126 key they wanted a digital pic of the stamped vin on the bulkhead, a photo I.D and the V5 before ordering. They wanted the car there when key was delivered so they could check remote, immobiliser etc. Once I assured them it had nowt like that they were happy just to hand it over.

[spike60]

On the way to work this morning I passed a very smart yellow P reg Mk1 Cavalier parked on Redcar seafront. It seems a period film is being filmed there at the mo. No other period cars though

[egg]

Has anyone signed their car up for film work?

 

http://www.filmcars.co.uk/

 

http://www.caristhestar.com/

 

No scam-age involved??

[vulgalour]

Chompy found the persistant oil leak on the Princess today, one that I've never been able to pin down.  There's a blanking plate on the side of the sump/gearbox casing on the passenger side, it doesn't do much leaking until you run the car and then oil just squirts out everywhere!  How I've not seen this for the four years I've owned the car I don't really know, perhaps it just had to get to a critical point to show up.  Easy to resolve at least.

 

The squeal isn't the clutch, that's a loose alternator belt.  Another easy fix.  New condenser and a new can of fuel were also put in the car and now it idles better but I haven't yet got it warmed up enough to idle off the choke fully.  We are getting there.  Oh, and we almost got the compression fitting repair completed, we just ran out of light to see to line up the pipe with the displacer properly so we could screw it all together so we'll be doing that tomorrow.

 

Pretty satisfying hour or two of tinkering for us both at any rate.  Here's hoping the compression fitting repair works!

[danthecapriman]

Bodges on my AMC - 

 

Servo brake booster from flip knows what fitted - never worked, in fact I'd venture to say it was worse than no booster.  When I finally sourced the correct one, I found various bits of old steel rod sawn up and placed in the end of the master cylinder (loose) along with a million thin brass washers on the 4 fixing bolts - this was a previous owner's cack handed attempt to line it all up and it's frankly a flaming miracle we all survived.

 

Lucas alternator fitted with a variety of Heath Robinson bracketry - it never ran true to the engine, always at a slightly jaunty angle and was impossible to get the belt tension to anywhere sensible due to the crap bracket arrangement.  Now replaced and rewired with a Motorola original from my parts car - but not sure how long that'll last as they have a reputation for fragility.

 

Wrong fuel tank fitted (this is probably something to do with the poorly repaired rear end damage done at some time past). It has no proper breather for filling and consequently takes about 15 mins to fill as you have to put the juice in so slowly.  I have a spare (correct) tank but it needs a cleanup before fitting.

 

Terrible exhaust system cobbled up from all sorts.

 

I got away with any sort of bodgery really on mine, it seems to of been left more or less as it was built then when it became fucked and worn out it was just parked up and left alone for years until I bought it over here.

The bodgery started (and ended!) with the attempts to get it home once it was here. The original starter died so the importers used a small block Ford starter to get it running. This has the same fixing pattern but isn't big enough for the big block in my car so, predictably, it literally blew to bits on the way home! When the engine was rebuilt they found loads of old bits of the starters bearings etc in the bell housing.