The new news 24 thread

[Ghosty]

Going on a mystery trip tomorrow afternoon, as in I don't even know where I'm going. 

Probably be only moderately interesting, but I can hope, eh?

[trigger]

 

 

I'm fucking done with fords.........

Yep, i feel your pain. I can't afFORD a Ford anymore!

[SiC]

I wish the parts in my Saab were worth that much!

[reb]

I treated Pugsley to some new feet this weekend, definitely improved the ride quite a bit with the larger tyres. They fill the rear arches very well, and the arch gap at the front looks a bit less silly now too.

Unfortunately it's squealing basically constantly now, and the front tyres are wearing scarily quickly. Maybe the tracking is out after all!

[beko1987]

Aux belt squealing? Best sort that... I got the zx tracked up after wearing the inner edges of my new tyres down quite far after 5 months, it transformed it! Check the drop links and track rod ends too, lemforder ones are cheap at ecp, do it before the tracking too and as long as it's close enough to get to the tyre place they can do it for you! Apparently the guys I took it to rolled their eyes thinking everything would be rusted solid, and were happy when they saw it was all new!

[dieselassist]

Got the news this evening that I am now the 'half share owner' owner of that laguna 1.9DCI of 2002 vintage- I posted a few pages back on this thread; I think the uncle, felling sorry for them,  gave them a 'nominal' few quid after he bestowed the news that DMF clutch issues were the root of its evil; rather than just a 'least worst case senario' -drivers side shaft 'inner splined coupler' stripping its splines, as we had its front end end 'up in the air' n neither wheel spun with gears selected n clutch out... my '50%' was the cost/hassle of draggin it back to his place - €25 roughly....

 

...a second hand clutch/DMF can be got for €50, n get the spanners/axle stands/engine crane out, n 'fix it'; if 'can be arsed' levels are sufficient - otherwise sell the car for its 'engine money'...

[reb]

It's the tyres that're squealing, spent the entire night at work yesterday feeling like I was in a 70s cop show. Track rod ends and one track rod are brand new, along with one of the lower arms. It's replacing that after getting the tracking done that's knocked it out again I think.

[captain_70s]

Sort of want to do the next Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run in 2018.

 

Minor issue that actually getting to the starting location and the back home from the finish makes it something like 4,000 miles over not a lot of days which would make it slightly sore on the ol' wallet regards fuel and hotels etc...

[barmatt]

The craziness continues, my cortina rs steering wheel just sold.....£303.59 + £20 postage.

WTAF!

I'm fucking done with fords.........

 

I sold a mk1 capri wing last year, sadly not mine but belonging to a mate who bought it at an autojumble for £20. ebay osf selling price......£660!

 

complete madness.

[Tayne]

Sort of want to do the next Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run in 2018.

 

Minor issue that actually getting to the starting location and the back home from the finish makes it something like 4,000 miles over not a lot of days which would make it slightly sore on the ol' wallet regards fuel and hotels etc...

Assuming you could run to it, do you think you'd manage the reliability part of the trip?

[RobT]

Fleet update.

 

The Cavalier is in for its MoT this week, the second in my ownership, which is impressive considering how fickle I can be with cars. It's only done 3,500 miles since the last one but that's because I've done over 6k in the Senator this summer so the Cav has been used for local trips only. Mrs T commented how it has felt a bit sluggish lately (which I'd also noticed), so we took it for an 80 mile run this evening plus a thrash along the M25. Is much better now!

 

It'll need new front discs and pads which I've already got, and all the obvious things seem OK so fingers crossed for Wednesday. I gave it a thorough clean and it's not looking too bad. I need to get a proper camera as these tablet photos are shit.

 

 

 

On a roll I then went to my other lockup to fetch the Metro, but had a rare FTP. The battery had discharged so I brought it home and lobbed it on charge. I must have left the interior light on or something, but will check the alternator once I connect it back up. The battery is a 10 quid job from a scrappy 10 years ago, so it's probably about time I bought a new one!

 

The 405. Carlo now has it and seems very happy with it, so that's a good outcome.

 

And finally, the Senator. As mentioned above I've done 6,000 fault-free miles over the summer and bloody love it. All I've done is an oil change and just driven it. The only issues have been a leaking fuel rail pipe and non-working heater which doesn't matter in the summer. However, the MoT is due next month and after having a poke under the covers a few weeks ago I've found out the sills are fucked (the worst one being the NS). So it's decision time on that one. A fellow shiter knows a guy who will buy it off me, but I'm having trouble with the idea of parting with it, which speaks volumes really. I'm on the waiting list for another garage that should be available soon, so if that works out I'll stash it away for a while and get it welded up next year.

[captain_70s]

Assuming you could run to it, do you think you'd manage the reliability part of the trip?

Well I'm sort of hoping that the 1300 will have a new engine nicely run in after two years, although I thought that two years ago as well...

 

Regardless, I've done over 15,000 miles in Dolomites with relatively few breakdowns that couldn't be bodged or repaired at the roadside so it should be possible.

[billyboy406v6]

Well the rain gods had a few days off, so the coupe now has new top mounts, strut bearings and drop links. Stopped the annoying Brembo squeal as well !

[Cavcraft]

Fleet reduction going swimmingly: Astra, Saxo, MX5 and Clio gone in 5 days and could have been a full house (5/5) but I knocked an offer for the Cavalier-in-a-shellsuit back.

 

I've been offered a deal involving a 2001/2 Merc C230E coupe with panoramic roof, but they don't seem to be worth as much as I thought they would be. Quite a nice car all the same.

[M'coli]

It's the tyres that're squealing, spent the entire night at work yesterday feeling like I was in a 70s cop show. Track rod ends and one track rod are brand new, along with one of the lower arms. It's replacing that after getting the tracking done that's knocked it out again I think.

Tracking can be set roughly by the palm-of-hand test - on dry roads, drive the car for a time without hooning around corners, this gets some heat into the tyres. Check where the tyre is warm and cold - warm inside edge/cold outside edge, adjust tracking for more toe-in; warm outside and cold inside, adjust for toe-out. It doesn't negate getting them properly set up, but it can save a pair of tyres from getting ruined before you can get the tracking properly done.

[Jazoli]

Tracking can be set roughly by the palm-of-hand test - on dry roads, drive the car for a time without hooning around corners, this gets some heat into the tyres. Check where the tyre is warm and cold - warm inside edge/cold outside edge, adjust tracking for more toe-in; warm outside and cold inside, adjust for toe-out. It doesn't negate getting them properly set up, but it can save a pair of tyres from getting ruined before you can get the tracking properly done.

https://www.national.co.uk/download-voucher/WheelAlignment/

 

Tracking is £15 at national, cheaper than tyres

[egg]

Decided not to go and look at the Mazda 323 coupe in Margate discussed in the tat thread.

 

The very similar, but surely more desirable*, Colt of many shitters is a very similar car (1500 auto) and isn't very valuable nor sometimes much desired!

 

I could get lumbered!

[dollywobbler]

Decided not to go and look at the Mazda 323 coupe in Margate discussed in the tat thread.

 

The very similar, but surely more desirable*, Colt of many shitters is a very similar car (1500 auto) and isn't very valuable nor sometimes much desired!

 

I could get lumbered!

 

To be fair, I think the biggest problem with the Colt is the fact someone needs to bite the bullet and sort out the rear arches and filler neck. It was a fine little thing for blezzing around in.

[alf892]

Fingers crossed. The question is how did it get so bad in the first place? It looks like water but the oil is still perfect and it doesn't lose water?.

Looks like maybe that valve had some water behind it while it was laid up which was seeping into the combustion chamber?

 

Water in fuel either stops the car or goes off as steam..........and just gives a nice clean combustion chamber and piston top. 

[reb]

https://www.national.co.uk/download-voucher/WheelAlignment/

 

Tracking is £15 at national, cheaper than tyres

The place i had it done last time offered to do it again for free since it couldn't be set reliably because of the ball joint. It's good to know it can be done so cheaply though!

[Guest Hooli]

I treated the goona to anti-freeze & a new aux belt yesterday. Probably a good job as it only had water in & the belt was so worn the steering had got lumpy where it was slipping.

[Ghosty]

Surprise outing wasn't too interesting unfortunately. Now in Holmfirth - spotted strangeangel's Honda Spacy Fusion in a car park.

I want this 405 that's come up, it's an XUD for £100, can't go wrong with that. Probably a better buy for me than RobT's would have been really. I can probably afford to buy it and tax it on Direct Debit (that's about £20 a month), does anyone fancy running/storing it for a bit? Just add diesel/insurance.

[egg]

To be fair, I think the biggest problem with the Colt is the fact someone needs to bite the bullet and sort out the rear arches and filler neck. It was a fine little thing for blezzing around in.

 

Indeed. That's why I haven't bought the Colt the last 3 times it has been offered up - I'd end up spending £500 on it!

 

The other hesitation with the 323 is that seller thinks it doesn't have MOT and has priced it at £395. It does have an MOT, and I'd have to tell him/her, I have no interest in messing with them - which would probably mean they suddenly want £600.

[Kiltox]

Decided not to go and look at the Mazda 323 coupe in Margate discussed in the tat thread.

 

The very similar, but surely more desirable*, Colt of many shitters is a very similar car (1500 auto) and isn't very valuable nor sometimes much desired!

 

I could get lumbered!

 

Desirable* as fuck* - you should definitely make enquiries about it's availability

[vulgalour]

Fleet update.

 

The Cavalier is in for its MoT this week, the second in my ownership, which is impressive considering how fickle I can be with cars.

Since we still have Nugget the Corsa who is performing similarly admirably whenever required, I'd say you're the South's answer to Cavcraft.

[reb]

Managed to get Pugsley in for an alignment, which is good because I'm now working tonight it seems!

[The Moog]

 

 

I want this 405 that's come up, it's an XUD for £100, can't go wrong with that. Probably a better buy for me than RobT's would have been really. I can probably afford to buy it and tax it on Direct Debit (that's about £20 a month), does anyone fancy running/storing it for a bit? Just add diesel/insurance.

I can store it if you need up my front, only in Accrington

[Cleon-Fonte]

Surprise outing wasn't too interesting unfortunately. Now in Holmfirth - spotted strangeangel's Spacy in a car park.

 

I want this 405 that's come up, it's an XUD for £100, can't go wrong with that. Probably a better buy for me than RobT's would have been really. I can probably afford to buy it and tax it on Direct Debit (that's about £20 a month), does anyone fancy running/storing it for a bit? Just add diesel/insurance.

 

Depending on insurance I could find use for it as a BX substitute for a while I suppose, it'll need to come off the road for welding/rustproofing/general sorting out at some point.

[Ghosty]

This all sounds good - if you can make use of it CF I'd be more than happy for you to be a temporary custodian! Car seems to be in the Norfolk countryside sans MOT so epic collections or Shiply would be in order...

 

edit: is the 'Peugeot/Talbot diesel engine' HBOL for XUDs? If so I know where to find one.

[Tayne]

In an attempt to improve my chances of selling my car I put it in for an mot (current one runs out in February).

 

It failed on a broken spring and two balding tyres.

 

I'll be ordering a pair of Uniroyals tonight and have put the winters on for the retest so will be driving around looking like a twat for the next few days.