The new news 24 thread

[stuboy]

unexciting but rang up the AA to ensure they got my 10 emails i sent telling them im not renewing with them, they pestered wanted to requoate so i said dont bother its got a knackered engine.

[beko1987]

3 hours ago, RayMK said:

Yesterday was too wet to investigate the suspected fuel tank leak on the Reliant.  Today I had a closer look and the result is inconclusive.  Whereas two days ago the tank area had a strong smell of petrol and looked slightly wet with the stuff, today it all looked as dry as a bone and there was no trace of a smell or sight of a leak. I've cleaned the tank exterior  and the rear chassis cross member as best I could without putting the car on ramps and will have a look again tomorrow.  I may even get it out of the garage for a checkover and go for a drive if it co-operates.

The photos show the car slightly less blocked in - I moved my mobility scooter which was also piled high with tool boxes and spares for other cars. I need to go on a training course for 'How to keep garages tidy.'  The following photos show the tank before and after I had wiped it over with engine degreaser. 

 

How full of pez is it? Didn't expand in the heat we've had and dribble out of an air bleed or similar did it? 

Its obviously not too bad if its dry now! 

[RayMK]

43 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

How full of pez is it? Didn't expand in the heat we've had and dribble out of an air bleed or similar did it? 

Its obviously not too bad if its dry now! 

Similar climatic themes had crossed my mind.  The fuel gauge sender has never worked but I think the tank is about half full i.e. at least 2 gallons. I think the only breather is via the filler pipe and vent hole in the cap. Another possibility is that whatever was in there has completely evaporated. I have not started the car since 9th January this year. I have noticed on previous occasions after months of inactivity that the fuel looks brown, indicating that the mild steel tank is gradually being eaten away by internal corrosion. If I get round to checking and starting it tomorrow, I am anticipating carb jet blocking problems despite having fitted a fuel filter just before the fuel pump in the engine bay. Having a 60 years old transparent fuel line does have some advantages - I can see what is being drawn in to the fuel pump. Amazingly, whatever it's made of has not gone brittle or soft despite its age and ethanol soakage.  It is thin walled and very tough, unlike any plastic fuel tubing which is available today for lawn mowers or old motorcycles. 

[Borsuq]

21 hours ago, barefoot said:

A decent upholsterer should be able to re-stuff it for you.

We'll see how decent they are when I pick the seat up tomorrow.

[trigger]

The new toy arrived yesterday! I'm so happy to own it, I've wanted one for years but never thought I'd be able to afford one but a few thrifty deals with the Granada and Marina meant that I easily had enough money in the end. 

The previous owner ran it up to me from Potters bar and I dropped him off at the train station, can't say better than that. 

Unfortunately I can't really drive it yet as the clutch isn't engaging properly, the pedal isn't coming up enough and it won't go in gear with the engine running and when it is running the cars driving with your foot still on the clutch! It's pissing out DOT4 too so I'm expecting a hydraulic problem is the cause. 

Anyway spent some time removing the stickers and cleaning some bits up. 

It's had a absolute mint spent on it in the last 10 years, over £10k in receipts, it must have single handedly kept Rimmers in business! 

Apparently its had a full engine and gearbox rebuild and a body restoration so fingers crossed its a good one, it's only done 71000 miles. 1st owner of 2 years was a manager at Unipart and was owned by BL. I'm well excited!

 

 

[captain_70s]

2 hours ago, trigger said:

Unfortunately I can't really drive it yet as the clutch isn't engaging properly, the pedal isn't coming up enough and it won't go in gear with the engine running and when it is running the cars driving with your foot still on the clutch! It's pissing out DOT4 too so I'm expecting a hydraulic problem is the cause. 

Dolomite clutch hydraulics are a shit. I've never manged to get my 1300's to have a biting point that isn't only just above the floor, after a bleed I usually have to run without the carpet for a few weeks as it fouls the biting point...

In other news I bought some new rad hoses for the Doloshite from a Triumph specialist.

Cool. That's actually older than the 43 year old car it was intended for...

[wuvvum]

I thought that was some kind of sea slug at first glance.

[Pat Earrings]

Changed the spark plugs and pollen filter today. I've fitted a k&n air filter to this as well and to my annoyance..I found there was no air filter fitted in place! Not impressed. Spark plugs were in decent nick no issues but I'm a pedant so NGK iridium's fitted. Also spotted 2 breather hoses looking brittle and cracked, so they're on order from Lexus and I've taped the ends that were cracked up for the time being. A new PCV and grommet also on order as the old one looks past it and is dribbling a bit of oil. Once they're fitted this will run even smoother. Forgot how much better i find Japanese cars to work on than VAGs etc. Just the oil and filter to do with a new sump plug which I shall do tomorrow as I can't be arsed now ?

[Borsuq]

17 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

33 minutes ago, captain_70s said:

In other news I bought some new rad hoses for the Doloshite from a Triumph specialist.

 

 

18 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

I thought that was some kind of sea slug at first glance.

I thought it was a dodgy sausage.

[vulgalour]

My not-too-fancy ICE ready to go in the Princess.  Goodmans speakers from, I suspect, the late 80s, and a little Sakura head unit with a QC sticker on the back dating it to March 1980, so just about the right era for the car.  Electric aerial a must too since the head unit has the wiring for it.  Probably going to need an amp, though that can be more modern since I'll be hiding it.

Next challenge is actually fitting the head unit since Princesses don't have DIN cages, they just have this weird proprietary sized hole which is super annoying to make anything work with.  The head unit is small enough that I can sink it right into the dash behind the radio blanking plate so I'm thinking of having a go at making a cradle that supports the radio inside the dash with the blanking plate hinged so it can be hidden away.  Going to require some head scratching to work out the best solution.  Thankfully the other half knows his way around car audio installs of this era so between us we should be able to make a nice job of this.

[anonymous user]

5 hours ago, Borsuq said:

We'll see how decent they are when I pick the seat up tomorrow.

If the upholsterer fails try a taxidermist

[richardmorris]

And now for something completely different.

[phil_lihp]

The Radiomobile MW/LW head unit in my Princess is just comically bad, it does pick up some stations but they're buried in static and interference from the engine bay - the single dash-mounted speaker probably isn't going to deliver stunning audio quality anyway regardless of what head unit I stuck in it though.  I've decided to leave it alone and I'll get something like this which can live on the parcel shelf:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Anker-SoundCore-24-Hour-Playtime-Bluetooth-Speaker/383627754995?epid=25020488268&hash=item5951fefdf3:g:j0YAAOSwKSRfB1HM

[anonymous user]

1 hour ago, phil_lihp said:

The Radiomobile MW/LW head unit in my Princess is just comically bad, it does pick up some stations but they're buried in static and interference from the engine bay - the single dash-mounted speaker probably isn't going to deliver stunning audio quality anyway regardless of what head unit I stuck in it though.  I've decided to leave it alone and I'll get something like this which can live on the parcel shelf:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Anker-SoundCore-24-Hour-Playtime-Bluetooth-Speaker/383627754995?epid=25020488268&hash=item5951fefdf3:g:j0YAAOSwKSRfB1HM

Will you be adding a W using red insulating tape?

[phil_lihp]

Hah, we use some of their IT kit at work, it's good stuff actually but yes there's been various threats to modify stuff with tippex...

[Pat Earrings]

I noticed that the "screws" holding in the air intake were the plastic number plate type ones. Clearly originals were lost, and this bothers me. Quick trip to Screwfix/Halfords and metal goodness is restored. May try and still do the oil change today but if not tomorrow it is. Even bought some Liqui Moly engine protection stuff which I've used in the past and always heard good things about. I really like this car, so that's why I'm going all out mechanically etc to ensure it continues to be stellar daily transport. Ignore the spilt coolant, that was me spilling some just doing some general top ups. I'll degrease it too later. 

[dozeydustman]

It would appear this weekend neither of the girls need a car so at last I can flush out the cooling system.

Toyota has developed a new clonk so that’ll need investigating as I’m keen to get it tested before its Boris MoT extension runs out the same day as the Suzuki’s un-Borised ticket does.

[Frogchod]

I think I may have an antidote for not getting that DS.

Just agreed to buy a slightly broken C6

How bad can a 1300 euro C6 be ?

 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

6 hours ago, vulgalour said:

My not-too-fancy ICE ready to go in the Princess.  Goodmans speakers from, I suspect, the late 80s, and a little Sakura head unit with a QC sticker on the back dating it to March 1980, so just about the right era for the car.  ....

That Sakura head unit is the exact same type as the one I had in my 1985 Audi 90CD. Good all-round unit despite its simple looks. I had the "LOUD" button permanently on, as the volume tended to be underpowered without it.

[Split_Pin]

The replacement coolant header tank arrived today for my neighbour's Fusion. 

I must say these little cars are a doddle to work on and the bodywork, especially around the engine bay area, is in great condition.

Removal of the old tank and fitting of the new one took about 10 minutes. We let it run for a good half hour to check all was well.

He went out in the car for the rest of the afternoon for errands which had been stacking up while he had no transport and whilst I was at the park with my son he drove past on the way back home and gave me a wave so I presume all is well.

He's father in law was worrying him by lamenting HGF however I said I was prepared to bet actual money that all was well with it!

[robinmasters]

Hardly worthy of its own thread (boring journey to collect unremarkable car), but as I see it's now too old for the moderns section allow me to present an car:

Actually I'm really starting to like it. 

[paulplom]

I fancy one of those. A bit more quirky than your average focus. 

What model is it?

[dollywobbler]

11 hours ago, Frogchod said:

I think I may have an antidote for not getting that DS.

Just agreed to buy a slightly broken C6

How bad can a 1300 euro C6 be ?

 

I look forward to finding out!

Some C6s are starting to show horrific levels of rot in the sills and floor, just to warn you.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

34 minutes ago, dollywobbler said:

I look forward to finding out!

Some C6s are starting to show horrific levels of rot in the sills and floor, just to warn you.

Slipping automatics as well....

[HMC]

2 hours ago, dollywobbler said:

I look forward to finding out!

Some C6s are starting to show horrific levels of rot in the sills and floor, just to warn you.

I’m all for The Citroen brand getting back in touch with its heritage but that’s a bit too far, PSA.

[egg]

I have a 5% Rockauto discount code that expires on 2 August - they are very common but just in case you need, code is below...

140441092129860720

[HMC]

In other Citroen news, the 4 speed Berlingo is in at my Favoured french chod fettling local garage to attend to the leaking injector seal. Hopefully that’s the limit of the catch up maintenance and repair for the moment.

[Patent]

I see Argos are doing away with the physical catalogues. Start hoarding now for future disputes and problem buyers

[phil_lihp]

1 hour ago, HMC said:

In other Citroen news, the 4 speed Berlingo is in at my Favoured french chod fettling local garage to attend to the leaking injector seal. Hopefully that’s the limit of the catch up maintenance and repair for the moment.

I'm curious...so why's 5th gear dead then?  That seems like the least likely gear to fail given that it's the least used.  Does it just not go in at all or does it select but not do anything?

 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

35 minutes ago, phil_lihp said:

I'm curious...so why's 5th gear dead then?  That seems like the least likely gear to fail given that it's the least used.  Does it just not go in at all or does it select but not do anything?

See here