The new news 24 thread

[dozeydustman]

Quite a bit of prep achieved over the weekend ready to do another load of work to the 205, for which I only now need a few sundry items (nuts, bolts etc.)

The prep involved installing the garage wiring onto it’s own breaker in the house fuse box, running some 10mm cable between that and the garage and installing a garage consumer unit - the old socket was piggybacked off the 16A boiler MCB, running through a 22mm copper plumbing pipe over the top of the side gate and into the garage wall. I’ve placed my socket boxes on the wall I just need to run conduits and feed the cables, replacing the external piece of conduit at the same time and fitting a bend so it has a sealed entry into the consumer unit.

Old single socket is temporarily connected to the CU for now, I should have the second fit and connection of socket ring final done this week.

I have started building up a list of things for the other cars. Renault is getting new discs and pads all round soon, the Hyundai needs nothing and I need to give the Auris a service and general once over.

It’s going to be nice this week so I’ve charged the pushbike up!

[stuboy]

easter sunday nice and early car meet.... spot the mighty mondeo, sadly no music due to youtube and its rights,, mix bag of many ages and makes... 

 

 

 

[Snake Charmer]

Wasn't expecting this in a Tesla.....

[Rustybullethole]

A cherry picker had been rented by a contractor at work. Didn't get picked up before the Easter holiday which i'm working. And they left the keys with it. 

Did actually be useful and clean all the gutters though of course had to see how high it goes.

 

Edited April 6 by Rustybullethole

[Remspoor]

4 hours ago, Snake Charmer said:

Wasn't expecting this in a Tesla.....

Fiat want their seats back

[richardmorris]

Came back from north wales this morning and found I’d left the lights on on the traction and obviously flattened the long-suffering 6v battery. It’s now on charge - luckily the first thing I bought last week was a Noco 6v charger. 
 

[JJ0063]

On 01/04/2026 at 22:46, JJ0063 said:

Picked up a new van for Mrs JJ today. Her Berlingo is a bit small and she wants something she can sleep in if ever travelling to dog shows (not fully converting this, just a rock n roll bed and window)

ex demo plus 1 owner for the last 9 years, has lots of optional extras being ex demo plus it’s a 330 model so can carry a decent amount along with having a detachable tow bar. 
 

Done some miles at 170k but full stamped history. Paid £3250 plus vat. Put it through my business so can at least save some tax.

Wants a good clean but it’s a lovely drive and being the 2.2 it’s chain and no adblue.

Now got Easter weekend to prep the Berlingo for sale!

Managed to pick up a set of wheels on Facebook yesterday to smarten it up a bit, looks much tidier IMO

Also have two side windows arriving today for it.

[barefoot]

I've been having a few problems with carburettor icing and intermittent flat spots on the bay...

I would imagine that a pair of dual Dell'Orto 40's will sort the fucker out.

Ice up now you bastard!

[Stinkwheel]

2 minutes ago, barefoot said:

I've been having a few problems with carburettor icing and intermittent flat spots on the bay...

I would imagine that a pair of dual Dell'Orto 40's will sort the fucker out.

Ice up now you bastard!

Am i not right in thinking that downdraught or side-draught carbs like the big 40's in dellorto and weber flavour are actually known for carb icing quite a bit?

Sorry

[barefoot]

Possibly, but not when they're on ludicrously short manifolds right above the cylinder heads.

[Stinkwheel]

16 minutes ago, barefoot said:

Possibly, but not when they're on ludicrously short manifolds right above the cylinder heads.

Keeping fingers, toes and eyes crossed for you.

All i can remember about my old beetle is that every time I had put the engine back in, something else went wrong that mean taking the engine out 

[richardmorris]

Quick wipe down and autoglym. A couple of small marks here and there in the paint but overall very good. Battery now been on charge for 26hours and still showing less than 25 % charged on the noco trickle charger. It did start though.

[beko1987]

Work colleague runs a 2018 (I think) transit with some 2.0 diesel in it.

Apparently last week as he was driving home it snapped a glowplug which then hit the piston which then wrote the engine off (although it still starts and barely idles apparently, the AA guy crept it on and off the loader).

£9ish grand for a new engine plus a few whilst your in there's apparently (he wants a new Clutch, turbos need checking and some other 'while your in there's).

Shame really, he won it for £15 of tickets in some Rev comps type raffle several years ago and has driven it since, so he's still fairly up on the whole thing but still sounds like a pisser.

If my qq ever does that it won't be the RAC I can but ASM and give them my what3words and ask them to drop me off near home 😂 

[richardmorris]

3 hours ago, richardmorris said:

Quick wipe down and autoglym. A couple of small marks here and there in the paint but overall very good. Battery now been on charge for 26hours and still showing less than 25 % charged on the noco trickle charger. It did start though.

May go to work in it tomorrow- weather looks good.

[Lord Sterling]

Popped out today to do a few things. Didn't want to, but had to. Firstly I've paid for a good chunk of the work done to my XJ. They haven't finished yet, nae worries for me.

The XJ will likely be back home at the end of this month. The Vectra then will need ferrying to Birmingham to live in a garage for a few months whilst I play car-jenga.

Mick the welder has just bought this:

Granada-Scorpio seats, front are electric and heated and actually work. But Mick wants these out to return it to standard presumably. 

Apparently, this used to live in Oldbury. I recall seeing a red Cortina near Blackheath but that has since been sold on and has been lightly modified.

The welder still has a customer's car hanging around. Its been done for months but the geezer never returns his messages or calls:

Shame, as its as nice car.

My S-Type is starting to hesitate slightly on light acceleration and the gears are beginning to get a little cashier now. I think it's time it had its gearbox oil changed.

I popped up to Steve's tat yard to do a "twin car" photo:

Would love to save the other blue S-Type, but I've faaaaar to many cars and limited monies and space. So I spend on smaller items:

I think this is getting out of control. Enough now.

[richardmorris]

Commuted. 

[Brigsy]

Done loads of diagnostics on renaults lately for customers.

Diag on a laguna 3 gt last week..4control rear steering issues after actuator repair.  

Key coding on Kangoo 2 via Renolink.

[BL Bloke]

The Saxo has failed its MOT on both front wishbones, a tyre and a dodgy handbrake. I'm wondering if it's worth getting it done or to try and sell it as is to someone who can sort it out themselves. 

[beko1987]

11 minutes ago, BL Bloke said:

The Saxo has failed its MOT on both front wishbones, a tyre and a dodgy handbrake. I'm wondering if it's worth getting it done or to try and sell it as is to someone who can sort it out themselves. 

That's a shame, none of it sounds too tricky, maybe tweak the handbrake adjusters at the caliper? Front wishbone wouldn't be too arduous if the suns out (track tod ends and tracking needed too or is the fucked tyre just from whatever bush will get replaced with the entire wishbone?)

Would offer to help but ive got the children this weekend 

[Dan29]

2 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

Would offer to help but ive got the children this weekend 

Surely this is exactly the sort of thing they need to be taught 😉

[catsinthewelder]

15 hours ago, Dan29 said:

Surely this is exactly the sort of thing they need to be taught 😉

"Right kids, the suns out so this weekend we're going to Dudley to fix an old Citroen". 

"Can I stay at mums?"

[richardmorris]

22 hours ago, richardmorris said:

Commuted. 

Going home was a little more stressful as two idiots were tailgating when I was signalling and slowing to turn right. That's about the only problem in using a 75 year old car to commute. Battery is showing fully charged this morning. 

[beko1987]

1 hour ago, catsinthewelder said:

"Right kids, the suns out so this weekend we're going to Dudley to fix an old Citroen". 

"Can I stay at mums?"

"of course you can stay at your mums" 👌 

The youngest is a bit too young to be bearable doing that yet... Few more years maybe

[Joey spud]

I bought a couple of Clarendon grey rattle cans from a well known auction site to do some bits on the Minor. It is a direct gloss no lacquer required product and it's easy to apply, covered very well and was touch dry in 15 mins so happy days I can now paint all the primered patches and get the car looking still old/honest but a bit more presentable.

I did the glove box lid first to see what the colour match was like.

Well that's a bummer. Ok so previously I had painted the front panel Clarendon grey with paint from East Sussex Morris Minors and that was close enough for a 67 year old mongrel of a car.

So I compared it to that finish and no it's a country mile out there too. 

I've messaged the supplier and sent the above images asking for their thoughts. I'm awaiting a reply.

[captain_70s]

Almost as good as my Volvo 108 sapphire blue, also from a certain online auction site...

Another supplier did a better job...

(Ignore my painting directly over rust, it's a pro restoration trick).

[Bren]

I have a driving assessment for arriva next week.

[Datsuncog]

Nope, I didn't forget! 

Set reminders and everything. 

And washed it this year! 

Then realised I'd knocked the rear winder while vacuuming last night, so a fair bit of POWER WASH AND WAX ended up running down the door card and spilling onto the rear seats. 

Oops. 

Test in 45 mins. 

Heading shortly to see if the Rockin' Rolla can squeak an MOT pass for another year (potential areas of concern: corrosion to rear offside arch/sill and failing ball joint). 

Cleverly*, I got the belts done last month so we'll soon see if that was a smart investment or not... 

[Datsuncog]

We're here. 

Big Lexus luxobarge in the adjoining lane might be a sign of prosperity.

Or it might not. 

[Datsuncog]

Not much waiting about tonight. 

Just ten minutes of terror to go... 

[Datsuncog]

The Shed of Shame is somewhat draughty this evening... 

Quite glad I brought a hat and scarf. A less than balmy 5°C showing on the car's thermometer, and there was a healthy coating of frost on the roof and windscreen this morning so we're not quite past winter yet...