The new news 24 thread

[320touring]

Resolved

 

They look ok on:

[EightMegs]

I'm due to get on the ferry over to the UK next week and Harris the Yaris has just decided to start leaking fuel.

[Split_Pin]

I bought a new Nissens Radiator and a new Intermotor fan switch all for £33 posted. 

Hopefully the radiator fits.

For that price it is easier to replace the radiator rather than faff about trying to get it flushed successfully. 

 

[Mrcento]

Had the civic out on some country roads yesterday, it's changed my opinion on how it drives.

I quite liked it before, but found it a bit nervy on things like motorways, would be easily unsettled by crosswinds, bumps etc, not bad, just not much 'waft' to it. Had a few more drives like that in it, and definitely feel more used to it, but that little edgy nature is still there, exaggerated by a ride that is just a touch too jiggly.

But, It works brilliantly on twisty stuff. It dives into corners, steering feels razor sharp, it's really agile, has tons of grip, feels well planted and balanced, you can throw it into corners in ways that feels like it'd be too quick for a lot of cars and it darts in so quick on turn in and hangs on so easily, it feels like it's begging you to give it more stick. Good fun. Helped by a lovely gearshift and the engine that just has dollops of torque out of corners.

Only real downside on those roads is still the ride. Not outright bad, but just jiggly enough often enough to think 'This is a good laugh, but i'd happily trade a little bit of sharpness here for a touch less jiggle'.

[Sunny Jim]

I got to do a glider flight yesterday. Winch launches you 0 - 60mph in 3 seconds up to 1000ft when the cable is released. Did the, "You have control" "I have control" bit while I frantically tried to remember what the instructor had told me and managed a few manoeuvres  for a few minutes, all in all a wonderful experience.

 

[stuboy]

13 hours ago, Sunny Jim said:

I got to do a glider flight yesterday. Winch launches you 0 - 60mph in 3 seconds up to 1000ft when the cable is released. Did the, "You have control" "I have control" bit while I frantically tried to remember what the instructor had told me and managed a few manoeuvres  for a few minutes, all in all a wonderful experience.

 

 

stuff that

[stuboy]

16 hours ago, 320touring said:

Looks decent, doesn't it?

 

Obviously, being the base model, the drivers one is all black plastic.

 

for over 2 years my galaxy has matt black drivers mirror where passenger mirror is colour coded..

 

i do have a replacement that needs painting.. for last 2 years though.

[wuvvum]

My new welder has been getting a bit of a workout this weekend.  Not with me at the helm as I don't trust myself with it yet on thin stuff, I let my welding mate drive, but the result is that the floor of the Renault 6 now looks rather less like something out of the Flintstones.

The Innocenti has also had the hole in its nearside rear inner arch / floorpan welded up, although I didn't get a photo of that.

I had been hoping the replacement brake flexi for the Toyota would arrive on Saturday so I could get that done but it hasn't turned up yet, so it'll be one evening in the week.  Seems to be the week for Toyotas failing MOTs on brake flexis...

[Jamie]

Enjoying @Kiltoxvideo on the disastra

[High Jetter]

13 hours ago, Sunny Jim said:

 got to do a glider flight yesterday. Winch launches you 0 - 60mph in 3 seconds up to 1000ft when the cable is released. Did the, "You have control" "I have control" bit while I frantically tried to remember what the instructor had told me and managed a few manoeuvres  for a few minutes, all in all a wonderful experience.

Why do I find myself idly wondering what would happen if the cable didn't release? I'm with @stuboy on this one.

[Sunny Jim]

There's a manual release in the cockpit and if that didn't work for some reason there's hydraulic cutters to cut the cable at the winch end. i.e. two back-ups. Stu was statistically more likely to come to harm doing his DIY than I was going gliding.

[Cord Fourteener]

Fkmee I've been busy. 

So busy I don't even get much chance to scroll the beige recently. 

But, holidays and work and life etc etc so it's all good. 

Mondeo got an aircon regas. Now it's like winter in the Antarctic inside.

On that basis the Passat is also under the surgeon's knife. 

Mondeo also, as well a MiL light telling us it needs a service, stop light warning, has started showing traction light and cutting power. Upon reading on the Internet, therefore true, I find out this can be caused by incorrect tyre pressure so first job this morning was a trip to the tyre machine and sure enough each tyre was different. Apparently different tyre pressure can, occasionally, give a wheel speed error and make the computer throw a fit. 

Anyway all is well generally, but I'm busy, is it time for a snooze? I hope so.

[Cord Fourteener]

Turns out my Passat a/c is toast and can't be regassed.

Nevermind.

[Pat Earrings]

So the Honda centre caps were deteriorated and really annoyed me. Rung Honda near me and they quoted around £110 for 4...which was ludicrous. Apparently aluminium and plastic is why. However Startin Honda in Worcester seem to do special offers on their eBay store for random honda items and to my surprise, they had a set of 4 for £35.  Makes all the difference!

[Jerzy Woking]

On 7/23/2021 at 9:01 PM, Six-cylinder said:

It is a McLaren Speedtail, about £1.75 million each.

A friend of a friend has an 1992 F1 that he bought 15 years ago for £650,000.

He still has it, and occasionally drives it when he is in the UK. Looking at what they sell for now, an unbelievable investment too,although he bought it for the pleasure of driving it. 

[junkyarddog]

The lower steering knuckle on my 205 aka the Peashooter, had play in it.

Local factors couldn't help,so turned to eBay, got the wrong one,there are 3 types apparently. Great.

One with a square end to the steering rack, and two splined versions.

More research required then.

MrAuto had them both,helpfully one had an "up to chassis number" listed,so bit the bullet(again)and hoped for the best.

Arrived this morning, a quick check under the car,and yes,it looks the same.

Assume the position, 

New one fitted.

Old kippered one.

Took almost as long to get the gaiter seated back in as it did to swap the UJ.

Still all back together now and it works well,so not a bad mornings tinkering. 

[stuboy]

Mandatory training for work today and next door is car auctions.... many many I loved  to own..

[High Jetter]

35 minutes ago, stuboy said:

Mandatory training for work today and next door is car auctions...

Going to put in for some more training sessions then?

 

[Jerzy Woking]

Can't believe a Kawasaki GPz 305 deserves to be called a classic. Old yes, rare yes, but neither make something a classic.

They were awful things, with horrendously fragile engines. Can you guess what lead me to this conclusion?

[Jazoli]

38 minutes ago, Jerzy Woking said:

Can't believe a Kawasaki GPz 305 deserves to be called a classic. Old yes, rare yes, but neither make something a classic.

They were awful things, with horrendously fragile engines. Can you guess what lead me to this conclusion?

I agree, they were dogshit when new, anything old seems to get a 'classic' tag these days, when most stuff actually isn't.

[stuboy]

14 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Going to put in for some more training sessions then?

 

huh?

[stuboy]

14 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Going to put in for some more training sessions then?

 

huh?

[stuboy]

14 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Going to put in for some more training sessions then?

 

huh?

[stuboy]

14 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Going to put in for some more training sessions then?

 

huh?

[stuboy]

14 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Going to put in for some more training sessions then?

 

huh?

[dozeydustman]

Good to see Hobbs & Parker are still going. 22 years ago I made my student beer tokens there buying snotters with 6 months' ticket and flogging on for £50-£100 profit to fellow students who needed wheels.

Got my 205 from there for £150 and ran it for 3 years with no issues save worn carbs

[High Jetter]

10 hours ago, stuboy said:

huh?

...so you can go back and have another poke around in a while.

[Ghosty]

So I've been off to Simply Japanese at Beaulieu this weekend as a bit of a holiday with some friends, and I went in the Aerodeck. About 780 miles on it, ran well on the way down to Southampton but then later that night when we were off to the beach, it started running on three cylinders, and it turns out the carbs were making a bit of a bid for freedom. Stuck them back on and tightened them up and they behaved themselves for the next day or so - the car show was rubbish, though I did . Went across to Littlehampton that night, then the next morning started to head north at a leisurely pace, A roads etc. Stopped off for a bit in London in the evening, then headed north. Got as far as Banbury and stopped at a petrol station - turning into the forecourt there was a bit of a dip, and that knocked the carbs off. The night guy at the petrol station and a passing copper were both quite helpful and made sure I was OK. Got them all screwed back on, headed off, and the car cuts out again - after a previous electrical FTP, the fuel pump wiring had been get-you-home bodged into the switched live for the electric windows by soldering a wire to the fuse (!) as I thought I'd have sold it by now, and the bodge expired. Swapping it to the other electric window didn't work either, but the fuse hadn't popped, and touching it to the battery positive ran the fuel pump. 

So, I ran to a nearby Tesco (the benefits of FTPing in a town), got some parcel tape, and taped the fuel pump's bodged positive feed to the battery positive, and started the car so it doesn't flood. Ran fine. Can't turn the engine off unless I un-tape it, so it's a one shot run home. I have two mates to drop in Warwick and Leeds on the way home too. 

Oh, and the car FTPd with an open window. Which is now stuck open. At night. I also later found out that the windscreen wipers have also died. 

Hoodie on, heater on, it bloody worked. Got home and stuck a bin bag over the open window with the parcel tape, and went to bed. 

That was fun*. 

[RayMK]

I've not posted much for a while, mainly because not much has happened and therefore there is not much to say.  This is just an update of uneventfulness.  My '94 Tipo 1.4ie continues to serve as reliable transport whenever needed. Average usage is about twice per week, covering maybe 100 miles total. I am playing mild cambelt roulette on age, not miles.  Just occasionally, I drive faster than usual and have found its handling and roadholding to be better and more predictable than my modern Mitsubishi Mirage. I'd even rate it more highly than a Peugeot 205 - all of the examples we've owned were very good but had a sudden breakaway at the rear when driven enthusiastically,  as does the Mirage, despite its electronic safety nonsense which makes it behave strangely at times. The Tipo just corners fast and very tidily without drama. The other old car in the fleet is my 1961 Reliant Regal MKVI. I'm ashamed to say that I still have not fitted an electric fuel pump which I bought years ago to overcome its warm weather vapour locking tendencies. Insulated fuel lines, rerouted fuel lines, heat shields, insulation blocks etc have all been tried and made absolutely no difference. Running with the internal engine cowl removed, it's fine, but then I cook as I go deaf with the din. It definitely needs a pump to push fuel to the engine from the tank rather than the standard mechanical pump mounted on a hot engine in a cramped, hot engine bay which tries to suck fuel and hence cause it to turn to gas about a metre before getting to the pump. A chap in the Netherlands who had the same problem (same make and model) engineered a fuel return line which worked reasonably well, though it took a lot of trial and error to find and fit the best orifice size in the return line to enable full throttle without fuel starvation. My Reliant has barely moved off my driveway in the last 12 months - and only then when I can be bothered to clear its way out of the garage.

[Spurious]

Every fortnight or so a fella comes round to our block of apartments. He does the lawns and such and uses a highly irritating leaf blower when a yard brush would do the same job to clean the footpaths. The leaf blower blows crap over all the cars also. Which is mildly irritating. 

Anyway, I'm up getting ready for work and his leaf blower isn't happy. Keeps stalling when any throttle is applied. And it's annoying this fella greatly. Spying him from the upstairs window after about the 14th time it stalled he fucks it across the patio with lumps of plastic flying. I may have laughed. He may have heard me. He's returned with a yard brush to finish the job 🤣