The new news 24 thread

[Mr_Bo11ox]

 I don't get excited by Alfas as a rule

 

Get a new rule!!!

[mat_the_cat]

Out of interest how would it effect the timing? The distributor isn't loosened or moved, so surely if timing is ok before then it should be fine. Not contradicting anything, just trying to learn more

 

It's because previously the timing is determined by the position of the heel on the points relative to the lobes on the distributor shaft, and afterwards (assuming it's not using the points as a trigger) it will use some other means, which may have slightly different relative positions. I'm only familiar with the Lumenition type which uses a chopper and optical pick-up - FWIW I've been happy with it but the unknown to me is reliability; I've done around 20k miles so too early to say.

 

IMO it's one of the few modern add-ons I would consider desirable on an older car. I've even replaced the points on my (old) mower with electronic ignition!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Points suck

[fordperv]

My pinto Capri ran as a daily with its points dizzy starting on the button all weather's with only regular maintenance.

[michael1703]

Waiting at roadside for rac man.... Front propshaft wasn't sounding too healthy and got a bit juddery and snapped and just ploughed a furrow down the a12

 

Oops

[barrett]

Got the Herald running today for the first time in almost a year, absolutely no excuse for it really, I'm just a lazy bugger. Put the rebuilt carb on, nicked the battery off the Allegro, doused everything with easy start and she fired straight up! Needs some fine tuning which is probably beyond my capabilities, but I managed to get it to a point where it idles (a little high) and sounds fine. I was shocked, to say the least.

 

The other day I needed to move it, so a group of burly builders helped me push it up the drive a bit which has freed off the brakes. Annoyingly, the incredibly patient neighbours with whom I share a drive have gone on holiday, and their 206 is blocking it in. I doubt they ever expected to see it move again, but it means I can't take it for a run until Sunday. I have a couple of rare days off this week so I'm going to attempt to replace the one dodgy headlamp and give it a mega-clean inside and out. It doesn't seem to have suffered too badly from sitting, all things considered, hopefully a once over will get it looking as presentable as it ever has done.

 

I also nicked this steering wheel (looks a million times better in real life, it's a nice '60s wood-rim jobbie which almost matches the colour and grain of the dash), which used to be fitted to the Berkeley until we put an original-spec Standard Ten item on a couple of weeks ago, so I am gonna have a play around and see if I can make it fit on a Herald boss. I've got a spare steering column etc from the Bond parts car lying around, so no harm no foul if it won't go. I might even fit the Bond bucket seats if I have time, then I reckon I can book it in for an MoT without too much to fear. Optimistic?

 

[vulgalour]

Good to see anti-Barrett out doing good things to old cars, long may it continue.

[Lord Sterling]

Heap of shit Coupe failed it's MOT today. Power steering is leaking somewhere, there is some corrosion in one sill, a handbrake cable decided to give up during MOT time and some other minor stuff that I've forgotten about.

 

I'll get it sorted, use it until I get possibly get shipped out to France and SORN it once the tax runs it at the end of this month.

 

The wheels got tracked due to the steering wheel being slightly turned.

 

Also managed to find myself helping a mate try and haggle over Pug 206 he was buying for his sister then drive it back for him (he had a rental Astra as his Megane had given up for the umteenth time) he only managed a few quid off the Pug but the car was very clean, tidy and very tight to drive. It had only done just over 51k. I don't like driving 206s but this particular one was very well sorted.

[Jon]

STUNO came over to visit a few hours ago, fresh from gaining a WOF (MOT) on his BX. Having met a local Citroen/Renault fanatic recently, they came over in convoy (his is the series 1 BX 19GT manual), resulting in this spectacle on my driveway:

 

 

7 litres and 16 cylinders of PSA's finest. The new guy in the fold is a mine of information and owns loads of stuff. No doubt we'll take a trip round to his gaff at some point and take some photos. 

[Honey Badger]

Heap of shit Coupe failed it's MOT today. Power steering is leaking somewhere, there is some corrosion in one sill, a handbrake cable decided to give up during MOT time and some other minor stuff that I've forgotten about.

 

I'll get it sorted, use it until I get possibly get shipped out to France and SORN it once the tax runs it at the end of this month.

 

The wheels got tracked due to the steering wherl being slightly turned.

 

Also managed to find myself helping a mate try and haggle over Pug 206 he was buying for his sister then drive it back for him (he had a rental Astra as his Megane had given up for the umteenth time) he only managed a few quid off the Pug but the car was very clean, tidy and very tight to drive. It had only done just over 51k. I don't like driving 206s but this particular one was very well sorted.

 

Strip it for parts to fix the other cars and then scrap it, with all your other 800s to fix surely adding another just makes fixing any of them less likely?

 

Unless the other 800s are bigger sheds than this coupe?

[dugong]

Mo, this coop seems like a bit of a dead loss. 

Can you not get the grey saloon I drove at the NEC up to speed for less?

Please tell me to FO if there's something I've missed, but that would seem the easiest option, and \ or selling the coop as well. 

[Pete-M]

Surely a better one wouldn't be hard to find? They're still out there for not much money? Get rid of a few and buy one really good example while they're cheap. Keep it mint and enjoy it. Keep a scabby runabout if it's too nice to use daily.

[vulgalour]

Pete-Meister speaks the truth.  Hallelujah, &c.

[barrett]

Bit more fiddling today. Replaced the broken column stalk, fitted a working horn, unblocked the washer jets, replaced some bulbs, put one of the Bond bucket seats in and gave the whole thing a wash. Its definitely a bit rustier than it was, but it would probably be worse had it been sitting on the street getting used rather than on my very sheltered drive. I'd forgotten how small it is inside, too. Just need a headlamp and then I'm booking a test for it! Place bets now on how badly it will fail

[ruffgeezer]

Made an Autoshiteesq clock £7 if anyone wants something to spice up their home/garage/princess-in-a-layby.

 

 

 

[plasticvandan]

Loving the Herald Barrett,I went to look at one last month in my quest for white with a roof,and it was quite possibly the worst car with an not out there,one outrigger was entirely fibreglass paste,every chassis member patched,all panels had rot (valance was almost hanging off) and the floor would have made a good cheese grater,it drove OK though,the silly moo that owned it wanted £1250 for it though,I said I wouldn't be rude(daft) enough to make an offer! Still got the hankering for one mind!

[barrett]

Well, I'm unsure what will happen with mine when ita sorted. I'll probably drive it for six months at least and then move it on, so I'll let you know when the time comes. It's completely solid, has had a body-off restoration in the past but some of the welding is not the neatest, though it does the job and nothing is visible anyway. It looks pretty smart, has a funny reg and a nice colour. I'd probably want £1500 for it which doesnt seem too outrageous...?

[plasticvandan]

Sounds about right,if you fancy a royal Enfield let me know lol

[ruffgeezer]

Or some boxes of Royal Enfield?

[plasticvandan]

Intrigued, I'm after a rack if you have one here's mine,on Sunday

[Fat_Pirate]

This will hopefully discourage people from asking why I never polish my car:

 

 

OCD car detailers, look away now...

 

[Shep Shepherd]

The Volvo has been off the road for exactly two months now, for no good reason. I really ought to adjust its handbrake and submit it for an MOT...

[beko1987]

See, if I had a pogweaseled car I'd 50/50 the whole thing.

 

Pogweasel was on my list, was a bit sad when I saw the zx was green...

[Lord Sterling]

Strip it for parts to fix the other cars and then scrap it, with all your other 800s to fix surely adding another just makes fixing any of them less likely?

Nice idea but this is a Coupe and the others are Saloons, not a lot is interchangeable.

 

Mo, this coop seems like a bit of a dead loss.

Can you not get the grey saloon I drove at the NEC up to speed for less?

Please tell me to FO if there's something I've missed, but that would seem the easiest option, and \ or selling the coop as well.

Not at all Jon, in fact this is what I should have done in the first place, the KV6 is much nicer.

 

Surely a better one wouldn't be hard to find? They're still out there for not much money? Get rid of a few and buy one really good example while they're cheap. Keep it mint and enjoy it. Keep a scabby runabout if it's too nice to use daily.

Thing is, the Coupes are starting to fetch higher prices and what with me waiting to find out if I still have a job in France my money is starting to dwindle, plus I have Mrs_Sterling awaiting and various other commitments now (which started after I bought the thing)

 

Also, I am commited insurance-wise as I paid it off all in one and I cannot get a refund, I suppose I could transfer the insurance over to another car, but the Coupe now has 12 months MOT as of today.

 

The other cars are fine, some need some minor work to get them back on the road but are very well presentable. They are safe, clean and dry where they are. As I said before, I might have done better getting one of those back on the road.

 

I love Rover 800s through and through, however I am starting to feel like I want to buy and try other, better cars.

[Parky]

This will hopefully discourage people from asking why I never polish my car:

 

 

OCD car detailers, look away now...

 

Vulgalour is hyperventilating into a brown paper bag at this precise moment.......

[Ratdat]

The Cherry Europe confirmed it's Alfa Romeo credentials this evening when the tail lights and dash lights decided they would no longer work when the headlights are on... although they still work fine with the sidelights. This was accompanied by a mild burning smell. I expect I'll go out tomorrow morning to find my garage razed to the ground.

[Asimo]

Waiting at roadside for rac man.... Front propshaft wasn't sounding too healthy and got a bit juddery and snapped and just ploughed a furrow down the a12

Oops

Hope you didn't have to wait too long.

 

Lucky you didn't polevault!

[wuvvum]

The last obstacle to my Chinese faux-C90 being completely road legal was the absence of number plate lighing.  I'm assuming there must have been some kind of light when it was new, or it wouldn't have passed type approval, but there was nothing there when I bought it and I was buggered if I could find where a light was supposed to go.  So I bought a couple of those number plate bolts with LEDs in them - under 3 quid delivered.  I fitted them this evening, and they do an adequate job.  I wired the live wires into the feed to the taillight bulb using a Scotchlock (I know, I know...) and the earth is simply shoved into the bulb holder and held in by the bulb itself (I only had one Scotchlock).  I will definitely* get round to doing a proper job of it when I have more time.

 

I also got the rather fancy Cabasse Auditorium stereo in the Vel Satis working.  It'd lost its code when the previous owner fitted a new battery; I eventually found the code in the paperwork, but after sitting in the car for 20 minutes last night pressing buttons like a twat, I was buggered if I could find out how to enter it.  Google and the ever-helpful Renault forum came to the rescue, explaining that the code had to be entered using the steering column remote controls rather than the buttons on the stereo itself (logical  ).  I followed the instructions and soon had choonz.  It's not a bad-sounding system - not as bassy as I'd like, but the sound quality is pretty good and there's enough speakers to give a decent surround-sound effect, at least with the engine off. 

 

Then the car decided that as I hadn't started the engine in 10 minutes I must have forgotten to take the key card out, and it switched everything off.  I fucking hate being second-guessed by computers.

[michael1703]

Hope you didn't have to wait too long.

Lucky you didn't polevault!

25 mins,he rattle gunned the remains of the prop off and sent me on my way in rwd mode

 

It's a lot better accelerating but doesnt corner as well

[Pete-M]

I love Rover 800s through and through, however I am starting to feel like I want to buy and try other, better cars.

My views on the 800 are well documented, but if you like them and think you'll still want one in the future I'd suggest you either get the coupe mint and keep it or buy a minter while the price is low.

 

They're at the age now where they're either dying or being restored. This will send the price up for the best ones. If budget is an issue now it'll be worse if prices rise.

 

Try other cars if you get the chance, there are some great things out there for sensible money at the moment.