The new news 24 thread

[cobblers]

25 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Just watched Jonny sideburns YouTube  on Gordon Murray’s Ford. Car was interesting but they’re driving a lot on my commute roads to work. The GMD HQ is in the old LInde BOC building in windlesham.

 

 

I was looking forward to watching this. Very amusing to hear the behind the scenes story of Jonny nearly treading a dog egg into that escort when he got given the keys to drive it himself.

[cobblers]

1 hour ago, yes oui si said:

Test fit. Went well, just need to roll the arches a bit. 

3 spokes on everything please!!  (But wheels should always be silver) 

I am constantly keeping an eye out for some 17" antera 3 spokes in 4x100. I don't have a car to put them on.

[wuvvum]

Some progress made on the Maxus this weekend, in that I took it round to my welding mate to get the two bits on the inner sill patched up.  While I had the van up on ramps to slap underseal on the new bits of metal I also rubbed down and rust treated the other rear brake pipe - it didn't fail the MOT but looked a bit manky.  When I give the welding a second coat of underseal I'll also run a fingerful of grease over the brake pipe.  I've also tightened up the handbrake.

The bottom ball joint and the track rod end however continue to resist my efforts to remove them.  While I was round welding mate's we tried putting a spanner on the TRE lock nut and then jacking the other end of the spanner up with the trolley jack.  It started to lift the van, then the spanner broke.  Fuck me it's on there tight.  The bottom ball joint taper also still won't come out of its socket.  I actually wound the nut back on to the end of the taper bolt and then got the jack on it and jacked the van up so the entire weight of the front end was on the taper.  It didn't budge.  I belted the shit out of the wishbone with the lump hammer to see if that would shock it free.  Nope.  So it's back together again and I'm trying to think if there's anything else I can try before giving up and asking the garage to do the work.

I gave the Mazda an oil and filter change this afternoon.  It obviously hadn't been done for a while, but to my surprise the old oil filter actually unscrewed by hand - which was a relief as it was going to be awkward to get my BFO pliers in there and I couldn't find my strap wrench.  So it now has a sumpful of nice clean 20w50.  I also chucked in a bottle of STP stop leak stuff that I've had in the shed for ages - it might help slow down the leak around the rocker cover, we shall see.

I finally got round to changing the battery for the remote in the Peugeot key - the remote locking has been getting more and more temperamental.  It'll now unlock from the other side of the car park, which is a definite improvement.  I also found out that the spare key will quite happily unlock both doors via the keyholes - the main key will only do the passenger side, despite being ostensibly the same key.  Useful to know if the remote locking ever packs up.

As it was a nice warm (for mid October) evening I went for a ride on the Mobylette.

It was running well today - it had been bogging down a bit when pulling away last time I used it but it was fine this time.  I don't think the throttle slide is quite opening all the way though, I'll have to tweak that at some point - it seems to be maxing out at about 38 on the flat when it used to do more than that (although admittedly that was 25 years ago).

Then I went for a (push)bike ride to the beach.

It was starting to get dark by then - they'd even switched on the lighthouse.

Big ole moon on the way home too.

[Zelandeth]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Some progress made on the Maxus this weekend, in that I took it round to my welding mate to get the two bits on the inner sill patched up.  While I had the van up on ramps to slap underseal on the new bits of metal I also rubbed down and rust treated the other rear brake pipe - it didn't fail the MOT but looked a bit manky.  When I give the welding a second coat of underseal I'll also run a fingerful of grease over the brake pipe.  I've also tightened up the handbrake.

The bottom ball joint and the track rod end however continue to resist my efforts to remove them.  While I was round welding mate's we tried putting a spanner on the TRE lock nut and then jacking the other end of the spanner up with the trolley jack.  It started to lift the van, then the spanner broke.  Fuck me it's on there tight.  The bottom ball joint taper also still won't come out of its socket.  I actually wound the nut back on to the end of the taper bolt and then got the jack on it and jacked the van up so the entire weight of the front end was on the taper.  It didn't budge.  I belted the shit out of the wishbone with the lump hammer to see if that would shock it free.  Nope.  So it's back together again and I'm trying to think if there's anything else I can try before giving up and asking the garage to do the work.

I gave the Mazda an oil and filter change this afternoon.  It obviously hadn't been done for a while, but to my surprise the old oil filter actually unscrewed by hand - which was a relief as it was going to be awkward to get my BFO pliers in there and I couldn't find my strap wrench.  So it now has a sumpful of nice clean 20w50.  I also chucked in a bottle of STP stop leak stuff that I've had in the shed for ages - it might help slow down the leak around the rocker cover, we shall see.

I finally got round to changing the battery for the remote in the Peugeot key - the remote locking has been getting more and more temperamental.  It'll now unlock from the other side of the car park, which is a definite improvement.  I also found out that the spare key will quite happily unlock both doors via the keyholes - the main key will only do the passenger side, despite being ostensibly the same key.  Useful to know if the remote locking ever packs up.

As it was a nice warm (for mid October) evening I went for a ride on the Mobylette.

It was running well today - it had been bogging down a bit when pulling away last time I used it but it was fine this time.  I don't think the throttle slide is quite opening all the way though, I'll have to tweak that at some point - it seems to be maxing out at about 38 on the flat when it used to do more than that (although admittedly that was 25 years ago).

Then I went for a (push)bike ride to the beach.

It was starting to get dark by then - they'd even switched on the lighthouse.

Big ole moon on the way home too.

I'd definitely just get the garage to do it.  They've got all the tools (and an oxyacetylene torch) to deal with it and will probably take them half an hour.  

I've had a rule for a few years now that any jobs which involve unbolting bits of suspension or steering are jobs for someone else.  I've had too many rounded off or snapped bolts in critical locations which immobilised the car in my time to make it worth trying to save a few quid.

Ball joints were definitely one of the first things which got on that list after the absolute hell I've had changing them on several old Saab 900s!

[yes oui si]

4 hours ago, cobblers said:

3 spokes on everything please!!  (But wheels should always be silver) 

I am constantly keeping an eye out for some 17" antera 3 spokes in 4x100. I don't have a car to put them on.

They're getting repainted when I have the fitment sorted. 

I've got a set of 17x8 Antera 145s...

[reb]

8 hours ago, cobblers said:

(But wheels should always be silver) 

I respectfully disagree, white or gunmetal are both acceptable too.

 

Purple can get in the sea though.

[yes oui si]

2 hours ago, reb said:

I respectfully disagree, white or gunmetal are both acceptable too.

 

Purple can get in the sea though.

Gunmetal wheels always look dirty. 

Some purples are nice. These are a shite pinky purple with glitter in, and loads of runs and orange peel and bits flaking off. God knows what the previous owner was thinking... 

They were never going to stay this colour. 

[Rustybullethole]

Borrowed the newly fixed focus today as need to go in the ulez for a knee appointment and the ungrateful fucker has broken a spring on me. On the plus side it didn’t go through the tyre so has got me to appointment. Just ordered a set of springs looks old like me old knees will be getting more physio then haha

[davehedgehog31]

14 hours ago, yes oui si said:

Test fit. Went well, just need to roll the arches a bit. 

Assuming you have four of them, if you pop one at the bottom of your black wheelie bin each time it's emptied they'll be gone by Christmas. 

[cobblers]

24 minutes ago, davehedgehog31 said:

Assuming you have four of them, if you pop one at the bottom of your black wheelie bin each time it's emptied they'll be gone by Christmas. 

They're what dreams are made of 💗

[barefoot]

Bad dreams by the look of it.

[Split_Pin]

Not shite related at all but fuck it, I passed my Pensions and Retirement Planning RO4 exam today. I've been studying for it since January and failed my first attempt at the end of last month. I set my brain to malkie and after 2 weeks more studying,  some last minute cramming at the skatepark on Saturday, last night,  in the car park and some more before I started the exam I ended up with 70%.

It's literally the hardest thing I've ever had to study for, even moreso than my Uni dissertation. Simply because the knowledge would not stick to my brain.

I'm never studying again 😂

[yes oui si]

50 minutes ago, davehedgehog31 said:

Assuming you have four of them, if you pop one at the bottom of your black wheelie bin each time it's emptied they'll be gone by Christmas. 

Three spokes is best spokes. 

[Rustybullethole]

16 hours ago, yes oui si said:

Test fit. Went well, just need to roll the arches a bit. 

Polarising as ever. I like them on that am more of a fanboi as the years pass. Keep them that colour too for yeah what fuck you ive got 3 spokes maximum effect haha

[wuvvum]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

It's literally the hardest thing I've ever had to study for, even moreso than my Uni dissertation. Simply because the knowledge would not stick to my brain.

I'm never studying again 😂

Aye, it's amazing how much harder it is to absorb information when one is no longer young.

[reb]

Just now, wuvvum said:

Aye, it's amazing how much harder it is to absorb information when one is no longer young.

I'm still relatively/quite/somewhat/very young and I'm only capable of retaining utterly fucking useless information like the phone number for Hastings Direct.

[yes oui si]

34 minutes ago, Rustybullethole said:

Polarising as ever. I like them on that am more of a fanboi as the years pass. Keep them that colour too for yeah what fuck you ive got 3 spokes maximum effect haha

Cars are silly things, not worth taking them seriously. 

I don't hate the colour, but the poundland glitter and shit paint job can't stay. 

[Split_Pin]

53 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Aye, it's amazing how much harder it is to absorb information when one is no longer young.

Aye, mine brain is a much waning gibbous and my knowledge is bearing neap-tide soon.

By my hilt though,  I reckoned I could'st study and pass a' the Ministries' Annual Theorem of Fitness for Conveyances twixt twa rund phases of the moon. Alas, there be linked scriptures which I didst oo'erlook whilst I pensively awaited the outcome of mine twa randoms on the weekly Bonus Bille for a Saab 93 Convertible. Woe, it's a fuckying 5 percent chance even with 3 tiquets,  back to my hand-cart until the Michaelmas Thunderballe. 

[Rust Collector]

I've decided to get the pain over quickly with the new BX and I've booked it in for an MOT on Thursday.

For anyone who wants to look at the history and then make a prediction on the outcome, the registration is F126 OLX. The car is presently on 167,7xx miles and so it has only done about 900 miles since the last test...

The tester at the place I use is decent, so I know it'll be a fair test. I just hope that I don't have to do too much to put it through a ticket otherwise I will potentially be asked to explain myself by my partner, and we don't want that!

[Bren]

I purchased a serpentine belt for the 545 weeks ago. However I couldn't fit it because somebody had been there before me - and broke the bit of tensioner where the T60 slots in.

I had to cut the old belt off just to get a socket on the bolt which secures the tensioner.

You can see where the old one was mullered.

Not much room. It's all fitted now - ran the engine for a bit and the belt didn't try to flee.

[Markeh]

Hired a car tomorrow to explore the island a bit. £38 for 2 days hire in Ibiza of a "C3 or similar". Place your bets. I'm not sure it'll top the beautiful Hyundai minibus from Antalya earlier this year.

[Fumbler]

3 hours ago, Rust Collector said:

I've decided to get the pain over quickly with the new BX and I've booked it in for an MOT on Thursday.

For anyone who wants to look at the history and then make a prediction on the outcome, the registration is F126 OLX. The car is presently on 167,7xx miles and so it has only done about 900 miles since the last test...

The tester at the place I use is decent, so I know it'll be a fair test. I just hope that I don't have to do too much to put it through a ticket otherwise I will potentially be asked to explain myself by my partner, and we don't want that!

Without looking it up, is that the blue 1.9 you've got?

Or do you now have 3?

[Dyslexic Viking]

14 minutes ago, Fumbler said:

Without looking it up, is that the blue 1.9 you've got?

Or do you now have 3?

He just bought another one. Red diesel estate.

[richardmorris]

7 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Not shite related at all but fuck it, I passed my Pensions and Retirement Planning RO4 exam today. I've been studying for it since January and failed my first attempt at the end of last month. I set my brain to malkie and after 2 weeks more studying,  some last minute cramming at the skatepark on Saturday, last night,  in the car park and some more before I started the exam I ended up with 70%.

It's literally the hardest thing I've ever had to study for, even moreso than my Uni dissertation. Simply because the knowledge would not stick to my brain.

I'm never studying again 😂

So you can now offer advice on how investing in rubbish old cars  is good for your retirement ?

[Rust Collector]

24 minutes ago, Fumbler said:

Without looking it up, is that the blue 1.9 you've got?

Or do you now have 3?

As @Dyslexic Viking said; I cheated and bought a third one that’s currently got a short MOT on it!

[High Jetter]

I hope you've made friends with your neighbours!

[HillmanImp]

Whats this car directly behind the bike in this old public information film? 

 

[High Jetter]

Mazda. 1000?

[Metal Guru]

On 09/10/2022 at 19:06, Split_Pin said:

I'm pretty sure plastic reflective plates were in use well before 1980. My dads old 1980 Cortina MK4 had them from new.

My Dad got a Bedford CA van in 1969, it had the white/yellow reflective plates .

[Split_Pin]

6 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

My Dad got a Bedford CA van in 1969, it had the white/yellow reflective plates .

They would have been metal though surely?