The new news 24 thread

[barrett]

Here it is anyway. I'll go and get it on Tuesday. What a hunk of junk!

[anonymous user]

Barrett I think that's wonderful, why has it got a set of knuckle-dusters fixed to the bonnet?

[bub2006]

Cavalier gls auto cms? Hope to see pics mate!

[skattrd]

That looks a right little honey Barett, you do find some kwality vehicles.

[HMC]

Trying to read the signwriting on that lovely reliant. Looks to have its original reg, -YC so yeovil IIRC. Love the plates, they look original with the slightly larger pre 63 character size.

[barrett]

I think it's a new reg sadly, date of registration is 1984. I could be wrong though (it does happen occasionally). The sign writing is just a sticker and it will be unpeeled as a matter of urgency, it's horrid in the flesh

[MarvinsMom]

that green reliant is MAGNIFICENT.

 

that is all....

[Slappy]

Bit of a mixed day today as while Miss Slappy was en-route to Portsmouth somebody 3 cars in front decided to go from 70-0 in Lane 2 of the A3 as quickly as possible in what sounds a bit like a strange road rage-esque moment. That in turn caused the aforementioned 3 cars to end up somewhat shorter than what they were at the beginning of their journeys. Her car, a current shape Fiesta that is beige on the outside, beige on the inside and sans wheeltrims is sadly a complete write off, it would have made for an excellent AS bike in 15 years time . Front end was crumpled completely and the airbags went off.

 

Fortunately she's ok other than the airbag marks, and she knows of course that she will be held part liable due to not stopping in time. She did say that although she was doing the same speed as the car in front which was a 1 series, it was just able to stop so much quicker than she was, which is definitely making me think about replacing the Britpart brake pads on my older Fiesta ASAP. I think GreenStuff ones might sort them out!

 

Only silver lining was that when I found her and her friend to recover them from the roadside, I did meet one of the coppers who was on the Hampshire serii of Traffic Cops.

 

Oh and brownie points, I have earned a whole lot of brownie points today!

[RobT]

Shit, sorry to hear that, but glad Miss Slappy is OK. Cash in those brownie points soon before she forgets!

[SiC]

She did say that although she was doing the same speed as the car in front which was a 1 series, it was just able to stop so much quicker than she was, which is definitely making me think about replacing the Britpart brake pads on my older Fiesta ASAP. I think GreenStuff ones might sort them out!

If doing an emergency stop, the car is capable of triggering the ABS then the wheels are at the point of locking. Stronger brakes is not going to make the wheels stop turning any quicker if they're ready to lock!

 

You know what I'm going to say (!), but if she went into the back of someone else then its simply a case of being too close to the car in front.

 

The amount of cars I see nowadays that are close enough to be towed by the car in front is crazy.

[RayMK]

I think it's a new reg sadly, date of registration is 1984. I could be wrong though (it does happen occasionally). The sign writing is just a sticker and it will be unpeeled as a matter of urgency, it's horrid in the flesh

 

A few years ago (10+?) I remember looking at a Reliant website which had photos from past rallies (of the gathering variety).  The website name escapes me at the moment.  I had a vague idea it may have been "North(something) Online" i.e. it was not a mainstream Reliant Owners Club Site or 3Wheelers.com.  Anyway, the registration of your van looked familiar and I recall seeing a 1980s photo of a van of that model and possibly that reg on a trailer at a rally in the South West somewhere .  Unfortunately, the Reliant forum in which I mentioned the sighting folded a couple of years ago.  I'll look on my old back-up discs to see if I filed the photo anywhere.  

 

Plasticvanman, does this ring any bells with you?

[Barry Cade]

[Slappy]

If doing an emergency stop, the car is capable of triggering the ABS then the wheels are at the point of locking. Stronger brakes is not going to make the wheels stop turning any quicker if they're ready to lock!

 

You know what I'm going to say (!), but if she went into the back of someone else then its simply a case of being too close to the car in front.

 

The amount of cars I see nowadays that are close enough to be towed by the car in front is crazy.

 

I hear ya! In fact I think my first thought after "Are you ok?" was I hope* someone went into the back of you and not the other way around.

 

Thing is, I drove her car to Norwich and back 2 weeks ago, and her brakes are/were far superior to mine, so while I am minded to leave an extra gap in my car, I can't stop the idiots who want to continually fill that space between me and the guy in front.

 

It's mildly cocked up our plans for the weekend, but just means that I'll be driving instead, and it could be a whole lot worse!

[Richard]

I'm not a lawyer but I don't think "if you went into the back of somebody it must be your fault" is the hard and fast rule that Man In Pub would have you believe. On a motorway it is reasonable to expect that nobody is going to do an emergency stop, particularly if you can see what they can see and there is no reason for them to do so. It wasn't on the motorway but the SVM was nearly wiped out by a woman in a Mazda 2 doing a dead stop from 50 during a domestic. 

[Pillock]

Plus if the car in front has hit something, then it will have stopped in a shorter distance than purely braking so another collision isn't necessarily through following too close

[HMC]

I think it's a new reg sadly, date of registration is 1984. I could be wrong though (it does happen occasionally). The sign writing is just a sticker and it will be unpeeled as a matter of urgency, it's horrid in the flesh

If its the original (which I suspect it is) that would put original date of registration at August 1957, Somerset, which fits with when the van was current. The 1984 thing might be an anomaly from when the DVLA was computerised at around this time; vehicles not in recent use were allowed to retain thier numbers following a bit of paperwork shenanegins.

[plasticvandan]

The knuckle duster is in fact the Reliant mascot, known as the teacup handle,3 circles signifying 3 wheels.The bonnet scoop is also original,Reliant exported some to hotter climates. The only place that will have any bits (he also hasd one of these vans) is castle hill garage in Norfolk.contrary to belief the Reliant side valve shares almost no engine parts with the A7,they changed everything just enough so people had to buy reliant spares.

Front suspension uses a torsion bar and unusual steering arrangement compared to later ones as well.

The mk 1 and 2 are quite tight for space in the cab,people were smaller then.

I do remember this coming up on eBay a few yrs ago.

[plasticvandan]

Aren't bits just the same as any 747cc side valve Regal? Tbh I don't even know if it's got an engine, I assume it does! Know anyone who might want to buy it when it's on the road? I'm hoping it just needs petrol and a battery and it'll go. Optimism?

Yes,but they aren't available either! Old engines sometimes come up on ebay New parts stopped being made in the late 1960s.

The engine if original won't have an air or oil filter either! Thermo syphon as well,so no pump or stat!

Front steering and suspension only used on the mk 1-3.

6volt as well.

I remember this van on eBay within last couple of years,and I'm almost certain it was running and driving.

[plasticvandan]

[purplebargeken]

Some stupid twat in a large MPV thing stopped dead on the A406 a few years ago. Late at night and no other traffic. I was on the bike at the time and thought I was going to die. Thankfully, due to my lightening reflexes and ace riding skills, I swerved round it and took off his/her mirror with my shoulder. Did I stop? Nah, their own stupid fault. It was a large and expensive mirror too. Glad she's ok. 

[fordperv]

I think GreenStuff ones might sort them out!

 

That's shitty but at least she's OK,

 

On another note Don't touch GreenStuff pads with a big stick, they are shocking mrs fp had a set on her rs turbo with new discs, i bedded them in and they were shit there was no sharpness to them, i even tried getting them warm even then they didn't want to stop, i replaced them with a set of delphi pads and the braking was improved 100%

[dollywobbler]

Odd. Greenstuff pads usually have a good reputation. I fitted some EBC pads to the XM. Don't think they were Greenstuff but the bedding in description was pretty long winded! I know they bite well now as I actually had to perform an emergency stop the other day. The sort of 'ABS kicks in in the dry' sort of emergency stop. Amazing how quickly a huge barge like an XM can stop when you need it to...

[barrett]

Hey plasticvandan, any idea what it's worth? Assuming it was up and together and on the road with a decent advert, what would somebody actually pay for it?

[SiC]

I'm not a lawyer but I don't think "if you went into the back of somebody it must be your fault" is the hard and fast rule that Man In Pub would have you believe. On a motorway it is reasonable to expect that nobody is going to do an emergency stop, particularly if you can see what they can see and there is no reason for them to do so. It wasn't on the motorway but the SVM was nearly wiped out by a woman in a Mazda 2 doing a dead stop from 50 during a domestic.

When I was rear ended on the motorway, it shunted me into the car in front. Before my insurance would pay out they needed to speak the guy in front I hit. Question asked was, was there 2 bangs or 1?

 

My insurance told me was in case someone hit the van behind too. My older neighbour at the time was a lawyer specialising in defending car accident claims, told me was that it was to see if I went in first.

 

As it was 1 bang, it was a non fault claim for me.

 

So yeah going into the back of someone isn't automatically your fault. Just need solid evidence to prove otherwise.

 

I keep meaning to buy a dash cam!

[Sloth in a bowl]

Got round to replacing the Puma battery, all is well again, but MOT is only a month away, rust may be an issue, but I'd like it to last another year. I may have to learn the art of derustification this summer.

 

Also assumed that the gearbox oil level was low as reverse is a sod when cold and you get a bit of bearing whine (I now think it is probably the clutch release bearing). Gearbox oil is fine so it is just that the box is a bit old and knackered.

 

However it was good that I checked the oil levels as the engine oil level was low, so topped back up, used about .5l in 2000 miles I would guess.

[Jazoli]

Got round to replacing the Puma battery, all is well again, but MOT is only a month away, rust may be an issue, but I'd like it to last another year. I may have to learn the art of derustification this summer.

 

Also assumed that the gearbox oil level was low as reverse is a sod when cold and you get a bit of bearing whine (I now think it is probably the clutch release bearing). Gearbox oil is fine so it is just that the box is a bit old and knackered.

 

However it was good that I checked the oil levels as the engine oil level was low, so topped back up, used about .5l in 2000 miles I would guess.

 

My Puma is beginning to bubble on the rear arches ever so slightly which means the previous owner didn't fix it properly before respraying it its also showing rust at the bottom of the front wings which I'll have to sort but its too cold to be crawling around on the floor today.

 

On a happier note the AC on my focus has never worked and seeing as Halfords have a 3 for 2 on I bought the recharge kit, stop leak and trigger and its worked perfectly, I now have ice cold ac (digital thermometer was actually showing -1) which is brilliant, plenty left in the can to recharge other cars in the household too, I'm a happy bunny today

 

 

[RayMK]

A few years ago (10+?) I remember looking at a Reliant website which had photos from past rallies (of the gathering variety).  The website name escapes me at the moment.  I had a vague idea it may have been "North(something) Online" i.e. it was not a mainstream Reliant Owners Club Site or 3Wheelers.com.  Anyway, the registration of your van looked familiar and I recall seeing a 1980s photo of a van of that model and possibly that reg on a trailer at a rally in the South West somewhere .  Unfortunately, the Reliant forum in which I mentioned the sighting folded a couple of years ago.  I'll look on my old back-up discs to see if I filed the photo anywhere.  

 

Plasticvanman, does this ring any bells with you?

 

Drawn a blank.  I found the revamped website "Northmead Online" which was established in 1998.  It used to have a strong Reliant bias, but although three wheelers do still appear in quite a few of the photos, I can't find any of the old Reliant rally photos in the archives.  I have yet to find a CD drive to hook up to interrogate my back-up discs.

 

Value wise, very few of these come up for sale, so success depends entirely on attracting a Reliant/three wheeler/microcar enthusiast who has some cash.  My estimate for the van would be £1500-£3000 depending on whether it is running, original and has a good chassis. Reliant owners are notoriously tight.  That's why they drive the things .

[barrett]

Okay, I figured it must be at least £3000 if it's all up and together. A girder fork van sold for around £4k at the same sale. I guess I'll find out how much it needs on Tuesday and report back. Oh, any idea what the steering wheel should look like and whether a 3/25 item will fit straight on? This one has a silly little sports job that needs to go in the bin asap

[catsinthewelder]

The Cherry has just departed to a Premium grade shitter,  after a bit of tinkering it is driving but not quite right.  I'm happy that it's gone to a good home.

[dollywobbler]

The clutch on the XM seems to have recovered from its diesel bath the other day. Last time I drove it, it was still slipping a bit. Went for a run today, including several fords (thanks Welsh bank holiday weather!) then went up the 'test hill' at pace. No slippage! Hoorah!

 

On the downside, I tried treating the Michelin wiper blades with Vaseline yesterday to stop them juddering. WARNING - you must let the blades air dry before using them, so you don't smear Vaseline all over the windscreen. Anyway, this trick worked! For about two miles. I'm so fed up I'm considering going for aero blades, even though I hate the look of them.