The new news 24 thread

[vulgalour]

I have recently acquired a $2 set of roof racks from the tip for my Jag, they need a lick of paint and fresh bolts but will be handy to have.

 

What are other people's opinions to gutter-mount roof racks? My Dad says they are awful, they damage the car and I should take them back to the tip.

 

Never had a problem with mine which have been fitted to various of my cars.  I would recommend not leaving them on the car because the gutters can't then do their job, only fit them when you're actually using them so you don't cause rust traps.   Don't overload them either, that can not only knacker the roof rack but also your gutters.  If they're the two bars type rather than a cage they normal stow away neatly enough in the boot of whatever car is wearing them.  If you apply common sense, there's nowt wrong with gutter mount roof racks.

[Mally]

Got mot on 75, only spent £57 for new bottom arm.

Might be able to afford a spare key now.

[dollywobbler]

Proton caliper piston and seal kit has arrived! Now, will the weather actually let me crack on and sort it out?

[Volksy]

Spent most of Saturday fighting with a mates Corsa C due to a mot phail. Bottom arms, ARB links, full exhaust, front strut, various bulbs and bits and pieces.

Everything was seized, bolts rounded etc. Luckily I was able to borrow a ramp in the dealership workshop which made life a bit easier. It should have been scrapped really, but it's on finance, and he can't afford to replace it or pay it off.

[stuboy]

Spent most of Saturday fighting with a mates Corsa C due to a mot phail. Bottom arms, ARB links, full exhaust, front strut, various bulbs and bits and pieces.

Everything was seized, bolts rounded etc. Luckily I was able to borrow a ramp in the dealership workshop which made life a bit easier. It should have been scrapped really, but it's on finance, and he can't afford to replace it or pay it off.

how new is this?

[Volksy]

how new is this?

 

It's a 55 plate.

[dollywobbler]

Proton caliper piston and seal kit has arrived! Now, will the weather actually let me crack on and sort it out?

 

Just got the piston in and it started pissing it down. AAAARGH!

[trigger]

Ah, you were in Stowupland. That Alto always catches my eye whenever I go past.

 

Last time I was there there was a 740 estate, a mid 80s Passat and various other vehicles around the back. However, I never manage to get any photos as I pass, as I always seem to be in a rush whenever I go by the place.

 

What is the story behind the Alto anyway? It's been there a while and I wonder how it ended up there everytime I see it.

I sold it to a lad I know who used it for work everyday up an down the A14 outing and 5000 miles on in 6 months, the shock managed to kill the oil pump and shag the engine. He couldn't find a replacement so traded it on for a Astra, it ended up on eBay and the garage won it and that's where it's sat 3 years since.

[stuboy]

Took the Omega for a run over to a mate's this weekend. He gave me a hand cleaning up the interior.

 

 

I like it even more now the dash and seats are a bit cleaner. Turns out the steering wheel is grey, not black. Who knew?!

 

 

Home Bargains bargain upholstery cleaner removed a load of filth from the seats with minimal application of elbow grease.

 

 

Only issue with the interior is the passenger grab handle is knackered for some reason so I'd like to source a replacement.

 

 

My mate's wife had agreed to buy a piece of second hand furniture she'd seen for sale on FB. I offered to go over with them to collect it in case it wouldn't all go in their car (it's a big solid wood thing that splits into two sections). Turned out neither section would go in either car, so the bloke very kindly lent us his trailer and the Omega did the honours towing it back. We must have looked trustworthy, if slightly stupid (they'd given us the dimensions of the furniture, after all).

 

 

I was quite proud I managed to back it up their drive in one go.

 

Got a slight issue though. The battery has taken to going flat overnight. Weird as it's been fine all week despite several short trips and shunting it around on the drive, then the day after I take it for a decent run, the battery is flat. Not sure if there's a charging issue, but I suspect something has drained the battery overnight. Nothing obvious though; all courtesy lights etc go off. I've pulled the hrw relay in case that's the culprit, but only stabbing in the dark at this stage. Anyone know of any 'usual suspect' to investigate?

boot light swtch

[Tickman]

Insurance is definitely a yes on a 740 wagon, which is ace news.

Just need to wait for the bastard A4 to sell because of Old Man being a cunt, and I can start looking for one in earnest.

Have some ammunition though, there's one up on eBay reasonably locally and Old Man won't humour it as long as the A4 is around. If another comes up further away I can just say 'well there was one really quite nearby but you wouldn't consider it' then bugger off on OMG EPIC COLLECTION.

Still, if the A4 sells this week by some miracle I could still get it.

Can you please stop calling your dad a cunt.

[panhard65]

I have got a quiet week at work this week so decided to make a start on tidying the little Peugeot 204 up. The front wings had a couple of little rust spots, I have got a pair of excellent front wings so have started there.

No horrid surprises under there just a couple of patches on the inner wing and carry out a better repair to the bottom of the A post. When I did it a couple of years ago I just shoved the plate in under the wing without welding the top edge. Now the wing is off I can do a better job of it.

Next up will be the rusty rear wing but it will have to wait as I haven't picked the new one up yet.

[worldofceri]

Can you please stop calling your dad a cunt.

Seconded.

[worldofceri]

boot light swtch

First thing I checked!

[bub2006]

I have to agree also,you are a sound lad ghosty but me and my dad didn't see eye to eye for reasons that I can honestly say are most definitely a lot worse than your home life with yours but I wouldn't call him like that.

[dollywobbler]

Just got the piston in and it started pissing it down. AAAARGH!

 

Hmm. Piston not sliding easily, managed to damage the dust boot. Sod this for a game of soldiers, especially as there's a DOWNPOUR every five minutes. I've ordered up a replacement caliper, which is only £20 more than the sodding rebuild kit and saves a lot of stress. That's what I should have done in the first place.

[phil_lihp]

^ Sounds all too familiar, I am pretty sure I have a direct influence on the weather, every time I've set foot outside to work on the van the last few weekends the skies have darkened and it's started raining within minutes.  My neighbour has even commented on it, it never fails but it is awfully hard to maintain enthusiasm and motivation sometimes!  

 

I dream of a big work shed with power I can park it in for a few weeks while I get all the fiddly little jobs done!

[Noel Tidybeard]

Proton caliper piston and seal kit has arrived! Now, will the weather actually let me crack on and sort it out?

 

No! probably not

[dollywobbler]

Definitely not. Sodding weather. Paddled my way to the garage and fitted some interior lighting to the 2CV instead. 

 

Naturally, the wiring is a complete disaster area, but it does work.

[taxi paul]

Ordered two front door speakers and an electric ariel assembly from a scrappy in Birmingham for the celica. Also had a go at the paintwork with some autoglym paint restorer or t cut basically. Paintwork came up great. Only done it by hand didn't want to push my luck with the electric drill.

[Ghosty]

Alright, I'll tone it down. As you can tell there's a degree of resentment.

It's my mums birthday today (his is in three days) and he didn't get her a card or anything. :/

Yes they're married.

[Tickman]

Alright, I'll tone it down. As you can tell there's a degree of resentment.

It's my mums birthday today (his is in three days) and he didn't get her a card or anything. :/

Yes they're married.

Thank you for taking it as it was meant, I wrote a whole load of stuff out but deleted it as it could have been taken the wrong way.

Regarding the card and present thing, don't get upset on your mums behalf, maybe have a quite word with him about it.

We don't really do cards in our house as we don't need to have Hallmark involved to show we care. (that is just us and some people really like getting cards)

[dollywobbler]

I can't remember the last time I bought my wife a birthday card. Not sure I ever have. We decided very early on that cards are a bit of a waste really. And presents. We still have nice birthdays and festive times.

[Ghosty]

That's alright if you know she doesn't care!

Less said the better anyway.

[Mally]

My wife always reminds me.

[Pillock]

I can't remember the last time I bought my wife a birthday card. Not sure I ever have. We decided very early on that cards are a bit of a waste really. And presents. We still have nice birthdays and festive times.

 

We always buy cards.

The most garish, awful, tacky cards in the world. The ones where it's a struggle to keep a straight face as you're paying for it.

 

Last year I think I found one in a shop with so much glitter it looked like it had been made at playschool. And a picture of an owl covered in plastic jewels, but no reason for the owl or mention of it. Just a random owl.

 

We then post pictures of cards on facebook and let friends vote for the most awful one. She won the competition with a 3D pop-up monstrosity.

[DeeJay]

Dolly,

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3mX3m-4m-6m-9m-Waterproof-Outdoor-Tent-Garden-Gazebo-Party-Tent-Marquee-Canopy/252968388978

 

 

 

 

 

Hold "functions" as a sideline.

[captain_70s]

I sold it to a lad I know who used it for work everyday up an down the A14 outing and 5000 miles on in 6 months, the shock managed to kill the oil pump and shag the engine. He couldn't find a replacement so traded it on for a Astra, it ended up on eBay and the garage won it and that's where it's sat 3 years since.

There seems to be a curse whereby any Mk1 Alto which is owned by a shitter meets it's demise once it leaves the fold...

[cobblers]

I was gonna say the sample size of two is not significant, but when there's probably 5 mk1 altos still on the road it's quite a good sample size.

[stuboy]

Definitely not. Sodding weather. Paddled my way to the garage and fitted some interior lighting to the 2CV instead. 

 

Naturally, the wiring is a complete disaster area, but it does work.

where from??

[phil_lihp]

Bummer.

 

 

The lights I should have known about, no big drama.  The rear light has tape on it, hopefully some red lens tape will sort it for now as replacement light units seem ridiculously expensive, I could not get the rusted screws out of the numberplate light so they'll need drilling out I guess.  The towbar is currently unbolted for painting and the socket was smashed to pieces so I just strapped it up underneath, obviously that is not good enough so I'll probably just remove it entirely for now.  I can't see what I would ever tow with it, it's slow enough as it is.

 

I really thought I had dealt with the major rust on this van, oh well.  Will have to wait and see what my mechanic says about the cost!  Trouble is, it is already in for a list of work, one rear wheel keeps locking up under heavy braking and there's a horrible knocking from underneath which I think is the propshaft.  Hiaces may be reliable but 18 years of abuse as a roofer's van has certainly taken its toll.