The new news 24 thread

[Ghosty]

Looking over the Golf, I’ve found someone has very recently serviced it and taken good care of it.
 

Nissens rad. 
NGK plugs and new leads. 
Mahle filter (oil changed and replaced with Bosch just now)
Front arms have been replaced. 
Intermotor coil
Dizzy cap
Vac diaphragm 
Prosport coilovers
Some sort of stainless backbox
Tank straps
Cambelt is 9k old
Brand new clutch and gear linkage…

It’s an absolute gem. I got a mk2 Golf for quite a few reasons, personal and otherwise, and I absolutely bloody love it.

Needs a £20 steering column mount, some better tyres (all cracked) and I’m currently fixing the radio and 12v socket - and the heater matrix is blocked seemingly, but that’s about it.

[Ghosty]

The Golf had a DIN shaped hole in the (warped) dash. Can't have that.
Dug out my bullet connectors and crimps, and bought a random ISO adapter from the clearance at Halfords for £3.
Cut the proprietary socket off for the ISO sockets and wiring, and it's time to get to work - don't think I've wired in ISO sockets since I had the W124 - that was fun* as it didn't use ISO wiring, being an '80s German car.
...an '80s German car. The Golf was made in West Germany...

Here we go again. Pulled the wires out of the hole, few loose ones, some bullet connectors, and a random bit of bell wire going to a latching push switch in the fusebox.
Crimped bullets onto all the wires that didn't have one, and sacked off the bell wire (I think it's for a non-functional alarm that looks suspiciously like a Mercedes part).
Took the random ISO adapter, cut off the proprietary socket, crimped on female bullet connectors to match. Time to match everything up.


Somehow while looking for Golf bits I found a wiring diagram for a T25 that had the VW speaker colours on it.

WTF were they thinking?



As to be expected, the speaker wiring is completely arbitrarily coloured, the radio is permanent live direct to the fusebox and battery (even with the key out), and for some reason, one of the speaker wires is solid red - as well as the +12v. No idea WTF the designer of that was thinking, but at least they had the foresight to use different gauges of wire, so discerning +12v from a dash speaker positive wasn't too hard.

I'm wondering if this last fact is why the 10a fuse for the radio and 12v socket had blown (much like the speakers which I'm replacing - weird sizes in 3.5" and 6x4" which are on order). The car doesn't appear to have a switched live at all which is a bit shit, but given the radio is the only remotely complex bit of the car's electrics, it's sort of understandable.

Successfully wired everything up, but the lovely Aiwa cassette radio from my dead Civic that I decided to use (I know I was going to sell it...) would only dimly operate its LCD, the backlight didn't work, no sound, and no sign of life from the tape deck either - the guts must have corroded/dry jointed in storage or something. Tried that Kenwood CD player too and it wouldn't even turn on. The ISO plug has 12.7v and even earthing straight to the battery negative didn't improve matters, so I think my head units have been killed off by sitting in the garage over winter. I'm heading to a car boot sale in the morning so I'll try and find something else with ISO plugs to try, that doesn't look too out of place.
 

[SiC]

Popped down to Weston-super-mare pageant of transport yesterday afternoon. Decent selection of varied stuff there. 

These are the ones that caught my eye.

 

[RoverFolkUs]

The latest "W4 NKR" (🤣) plates on the market, "bubble plates" 😆

[MJK 24]

Came across a couple of old Suzuki’s the other day that seemed to have survived remarkably well for their 20 plus years…

 

[MJK 24]

In other news, this looks legit 👀

No Health & Safety concerns here…

 

[Ghosty]

Went out car booting this morning. 
Found a flippin IBM PS/2 monitor for £20. Comedy screen burn and damaged pins on the output cable but the case is mint, someone will want that (anyone?). 
 

Also picked up a ton of car radios including an identical Aiwa to the one I’ve already got - I’ll be selling these on so if anyone needs a cheap head unit, I’ll start a thread. 

[Ghosty]

In Golf news, it’s misfiring. Changing the distributor cap did nothing, but the timing was a bit off. Still misfiring. 
Turns out the cone air filter on the intake was non-functional and the air box had a washable K&N in it - absolute winner. Cleaned that out and stuck it back in, binned off the cone and it’s more free breathing but still missing. 

Carb needs a rebuild no doubt - will try that next. 
 

 Back to radios - the battery negative was a bit loose, so have tightened it down and I’ll see what that does for things. If it doesn’t improve matters I’ll try putting my own fused wire straight to the battery and see if that works - I wonder if the +12v is high resistance. It’d explain the blown fuse. 

[meshking]

Spent a night camping at the 2cvgb registers day yesterday and today. Good to see the friendliness of the club (and the late night partying) hasn’t changed. It’s been many many years since I went to an event. 

camping with new friends 

luckily I didn’t get shot - this has a bmw engine fitted

The rest of my photos are black blobs again - yay iPhone. But we made it there and back in a van that hasn’t turned a wheel in quite a while - certainly hasn’t seen the giddy heights of 60mph for a long time!

[Dick Longbridge]

1 hour ago, MJK 24 said:

Came across a couple of old Suzuki’s the other day that seemed to have survived remarkably well for their 20 plus years…

 

Weren't they on display at Beaulieu or something? Shame they appear to have been dumped in a car park. 

[MJK 24]

6 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Weren't they on display at Beaulieu or something? Shame they appear to have been dumped in a car park. 

I was returning some cars to Suzuki GB and they were just outside in the car park.

They were on YouTube a few weeks ago someone tells me.  I’m guessing they haven’t had time to put them away since they were returned.

[JJ0063]

Trailer project complete bar I need to order a new cover. 
 

Went to the jet wash at the petrol station and gave the whole trailer a really good clean down, undid the tipping mechanism so I could clean all the underside up too.

The OS light was being temperamental, took it apart and it was rusted to shit, other side looked virtually new inside so assume the OS just hadn’t sealed right when fitted. £5.something in Halfords for a replacement unit, wired in and tested.

Finally the world’s shittest, quickest paint job of the wheels. Literally took them off, blast over with the wire wheel, primer and Poundland alloy wheel silver,  back on before they were barely dry. 
 

Definitely looks better than when I picked it up yesterday, and must be worth more than £60! 

[Christine]

2 hours ago, Ghosty said:

In Golf news, it’s misfiring. Changing the distributor cap did nothing, but the timing was a bit off. Still misfiring. 
Turns out the cone air filter on the intake was non-functional and the air box had a washable K&N in it - absolute winner. Cleaned that out and stuck it back in, binned off the cone and it’s more free breathing but still missing. 

Carb needs a rebuild no doubt - will try that next. 
 

 Back to radios - the battery negative was a bit loose, so have tightened it down and I’ll see what that does for things. If it doesn’t improve matters I’ll try putting my own fused wire straight to the battery and see if that works - I wonder if the +12v is high resistance. It’d explain the blown fuse. 

Some have rev limiter rotor arm that can get stuck..

[Zelandeth]

5 hours ago, Ghosty said:

Went out car booting this morning. 
Found a flippin IBM PS/2 monitor for £20. Comedy screen burn and damaged pins on the output cable but the case is mint, someone will want that (anyone?). 
 

Also picked up a ton of car radios including an identical Aiwa to the one I’ve already got - I’ll be selling these on so if anyone needs a cheap head unit, I’ll start a thread. 

Oh hi...that sounds potentially useful indeed...

[richardmorris]

4 hours ago, meshking said:

Spent a night camping at the 2cvgb registers day yesterday and today. Good to see the friendliness of the club (and the late night partying) hasn’t changed. It’s been many many years since I went to an event. 

camping with new friends 

luckily I didn’t get shot - this has a bmw engine fitted

The rest of my photos are black blobs again - yay iPhone. But we made it there and back in a van that hasn’t turned a wheel in quite a while - certainly hasn’t seen the giddy heights of 60mph for a long time!

I was hoping to go, but haven’t had the manifold gaskets done yet.

[brownnova]

4 hours ago, meshking said:

Spent a night camping at the 2cvgb registers day yesterday and today. Good to see the friendliness of the club (and the late night partying) hasn’t changed. It’s been many many years since I went to an event. 

camping with new friends 

luckily I didn’t get shot - this has a bmw engine fitted

The rest of my photos are black blobs again - yay iPhone. But we made it there and back in a van that hasn’t turned a wheel in quite a while - certainly hasn’t seen the giddy heights of 60mph for a long time!

Very jealous! Wanted to go, but alas at over 6 hours drive it was just a bit too far on a bank holiday weekend with the kids! Glad it was good! 

[Ghosty]

1 hour ago, Zelandeth said:

Oh hi...that sounds potentially useful indeed...

Can bring to FoD if you wish!

[stuboy]

9 hours ago, RoverFolkUs said:

The latest "W4 NKR" (🤣) plates on the market, "bubble plates" 😆

they did something similer in the 90's

[adw1977]

10 hours ago, RoverFolkUs said:

The latest "W4 NKR" (🤣) plates on the market, "bubble plates" 😆

Does actually seem to satisfy the regulations:

Seems the plate can be any shape (think Rover 75!) as long as it has the 11mm border.

The requirement to show the supplier name and postcode does rather spoil the effect.

[Zelandeth]

1 hour ago, Ghosty said:

Can bring to FoD if you wish!

Yes please!  I got rid of all my CRTs save for a couple of PAL only ones and one multisync one when I moved south as I was in a rush, and still kick myself for that.

An early-mid 90s IBM is on my list to be resurrected in the not too distant future as well, so a properly branded monitor would be nice to go with it.

[RoverFolkUs]

13 minutes ago, adw1977 said:

Does actually seem to satisfy the regulations:

Seems the plate can be any shape (think Rover 75!) as long as it has the 11mm border.

The requirement to show the supplier name and postcode does rather spoil the effect.

Indeed so, I think that's the point they're trying to make by producing them because everyone has hit back at them being "not legal" when in fact they've pointed out the above. I'd say it's very much a case of "just because you can doesn't mean you should" 🤣

[egg]

Today from Instagram....

This is a Hyundai Accent, except it’s actually an Excel. This model was only ever sold in the UK as the “Accent” as was the case in most of Europe. In Belgium, The Netherlands and Australia however this car was sold under the name “Excel”.

Australia is particularly worth mentioning because upon further research I have discovered that this is an import model from down under...

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7UbYE_iIqO/

[scaryoldcortina]

12 hours ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Indeed so, I think that's the point they're trying to make by producing them because everyone has hit back at them being "not legal" when in fact they've pointed out the above. I'd say it's very much a case of "just because you can doesn't mean you should" 🤣

It's a bit of an odd one, the mot regulations imply (but don't state) that the 11mm border starts from a rectangle drawn around the whole VRM.

Issue probably isn't mot though, it's that awkward late night police stop...

[Rustybullethole]

Am not saying I have not pushed the boundaries of legality and shall not continue to do so as I see fit though for me the main issue about those there plates is that they look shit. To each their own though this is just my opinion.

 

[scaryoldcortina]

I agree with you, they look shit.

[Rustybullethole]

Spent half an hour eyeing up getting these mk1 Galaxy swivels mounted in the Belingo. 

Ran out of time to get them fitted today though I think with removing the bases made up to make them fit an old Transit and a bit of cut and shut of some flat bar I have in the lock up I should be able to both spin them 90 to out my driving slippers on in comfort and 180 to kip fully stretched out in the back.

A job for another day.

[Metal Guru]

13 hours ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Indeed so, I think that's the point they're trying to make by producing them because everyone has hit back at them being "not legal" when in fact they've pointed out the above. I'd say it's very much a case of "just because you can doesn't mean you should" 🤣

Do they fool speed cameras?

[EyesWeldedShut]

7 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Do they fool speed cameras?

The MK 1 eyeball fitted in both front seats of a police car is likely to take some interest in them?

[wesacosa]

as posted elsewhere my visit to Enfield Pageant on Saturday didn't go as planned 

 

The last couple of sets of traffic lights on the A10 the temperature gauge went up from middle to 3/4 (not quite sure how accurate they are) I did turn the fan override switch and but the heater on hot but it didn't seem to help much. As I turned into the queue at the gate I noticed some steam sleeping from under the bonnet so quickly pulled over to be greeted by a spring of coolant dumping itself on Donkey lane

It wasn't entirely clear where it was coming from but it wasn't the coolant bottle and there wasn't coulds of steam only a small amount so I am hoping it didn't actually overheat and cool the gasket 

Auto aid man turned up within the half hour and we poured a bit more water in which pissed straight out from somewhere around the water pump so it was promptly loaded up and brought home in shame 

First chance to have a look today 

Radiator, stat and most of the rubber hoses were done in 2019 before the Monaco trip and then the water pump was done about 18 months ago (although only done about 100 miles thanks to this ULEZ BS)

quick look at the oil and no obvious sign of coolant mixing 

so out with the bottle of water and a torch 

well at least one leak found. Not sure if its the root cause or a consequence of it getting hot but I guess if it had been leaking some water here it might explain why it started creeping up and the fan override didn't help 

now I am not 100 percent sure which hoses I did in 2019 but I'm pretty sure this is probably the only one I didn't do but it looked ok when I did the pump last year so I didn't change it , guess it must be different diameter on each end otherwise I'd have just popped a new bit of hose from the garage on when I did the pump 

Fingers crossed its just this 

 

[grogee]

8 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

as posted elsewhere my visit to Enfield Pageant on Saturday didn't go as planned 

 

The last couple of sets of traffic lights on the A10 the temperature gauge went up from middle to 3/4 (not quite sure how accurate they are) I did turn the fan override switch and but the heater on hot but it didn't seem to help much. As I turned into the queue at the gate I noticed some steam sleeping from under the bonnet so quickly pulled over to be greeted by a spring of coolant dumping itself on Donkey lane

It wasn't entirely clear where it was coming from but it wasn't the coolant bottle and there wasn't coulds of steam only a small amount so I am hoping it didn't actually overheat and cool the gasket 

Auto aid man turned up within the half hour and we poured a bit more water in which pissed straight out from somewhere around the water pump so it was promptly loaded up and brought home in shame 

First chance to have a look today 

Radiator, stat and most of the rubber hoses were done in 2019 before the Monaco trip and then the water pump was done about 18 months ago (although only done about 100 miles thanks to this ULEZ BS)

quick look at the oil and no obvious sign of coolant mixing 

so out with the bottle of water and a torch 

well at least one leak found. Not sure if its the root cause or a consequence of it getting hot but I guess if it had been leaking some water here it might explain why it started creeping up and the fan override didn't help 

now I am not 100 percent sure which hoses I did in 2019 but I'm pretty sure this is probably the only one I didn't do but it looked ok when I did the pump last year so I didn't change it , guess it must be different diameter on each end otherwise I'd have just popped a new bit of hose from the garage on when I did the pump 

Fingers crossed its just this 

 

I'm sick of everyone's cars bleeding vital fluids. Can they just stop, and bloody well seal please. 

@wesacosa although that hose looks at the bottom of stuff it doesn't look too hard to change? Is it a straight one or a Skoda special?