Jump to content

The new news 24 thread


Father Ted

Recommended Posts

3 hours ago, grogee said:

Michelins, I hope? LJK Setright would be rotating in his grave if not. 

TRXs may need a surgical wallet extraction. 

Just £307each!

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic-car-tyres/citroen/cx/190-65hr390-michelin-trx.html

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Final leg of my journey home today overland and sea from Portugal to Wales. After leaving Somerset  first stop was @Kiltoxin Gloucester where I picked up a chopsaw I'd bought off him and had a great chat about electric vehicles. Then on to Coventry to @dean36014to pick up the welder I'd bought off him and had a look round his fleet.

Lovely to meet you, top shiters both would purchase second hand tools from again.

IMG_20211120_182348.thumb.jpg.b3dc548170c2774f1ff0a014bb9f240d.jpg

After four weeks away my old stone cottage is chilly and damp, time to get the burner lit.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, brownnova said:

Off to view a strong contender today, and if this isn’t the right one, the car I viewed on Thursday will be bought. 

 

The car from Thursday has it… 

Todays viewing was a Rover 75, which wasn’t bad, but I could spot a few jobs which needed doing imminently, and the underside was showing it’s 133,000 miles.

Collectioning the other car tomorrow, never owned this brand before, but do own a matchbox model of the car I’ve bought. Thread to follow. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And home.

20211120_201313.thumb.jpg.b7d930a1f2cced666f3ddf03718f5625.jpg

What an absolute heap.  Cosmetically it's rough as a badger's arse, the ignition barrel is MIA and has been replaced with a universal key switch mouunted in the dash, the nearside rear wheel bearing is droning fit to bust, and the exhaust is blowing from somewhere near the front and spent the whole journey doing its level best to give me carbon monoxide poisoning.  The brakes make all kinds of weird noises at low speed, the fan belt squeals loudly every time you pull away, the boot doesn't shut properly, and I'm far from convinced that the roof is fully watertight - the seats and carpets seem dry enough but there's definitely water sloshing around somewhere in the back during enthusiastic cornering.  Oh, and the wiper blades were shot to ribbons - I've bought it a new driver's side blade so I have at least a vague chance of seeing where I'm going in the rain.  It also runs very cool and the heater is mediocre - I think the thermostat may be either knackered or missing.

Having said that, it drove 170 miles home without missing a beat, and it still goes like the clappers - I had one of these as my daily about 15 years ago but I'd forgotten just how nippy they are.  Good on fuel too.  I'm going to sort the obvious bits (tighten the fan belt, patch up the exhaust and try and find a rear wheel bearing for it) and then see how we go from there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, richardmorris said:

TRXs may need a surgical wallet extraction. 

Just £307each!

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic-car-tyres/citroen/cx/190-65hr390-michelin-trx.html

 

 

Lucky not metrics on my CX. 6x14 wheels, so 195/70 R14 Korean tyres.

Tyre shop staff are a bunch of practical jokers. They've been around long enough to actually half-remember how to deal with oul Citroëns, but - in some sort of local tradition - they delegated the job to the youngest fitter. He'd never seen a CX before and was hilariously* nervous about touching it. When asked why, he said " 'cos if I get it wrong,  it comes out of my own pocket!'".

Once he'd found the front jacking points, he was still nervous. This was the last job of the day. What didn’t help his confidence were the two senior fitters plus the boss all now standing over him with knowing looks and passing helpful* remarks about torque settings and stripped threads. Also that they had homes to go to.

To be fair to the lad, he didn't put a jack wrong in the end, he learnt something useful about ancient Citroëns, and I can confirm that the wheels haven't fallen off after a 20-mile drive.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Verdict in on Miss SL's Yaris:

image.thumb.png.38ba3b89b581c7e6b765afd4956dd446.png

Nothing too worrying. I drove it there and was reminded what a fun little thing it is.

Yet more work on the house, very productive. Several weeks ago we removed some trellis and overgrown bushes which were edging this bit of the driveway. Had a friendly groundworker round yesterday, after he'd removed some roots and stripped the topsoil Master SL got involved with some compacting:

IMG_8073.thumb.JPG.e042edd47e745c515ccf10b33d0ca14e.JPG

Note drink in hand. Then whacking the top layer of stone:

IMG_8076.thumb.JPG.3711dcb9f24b565c260a9fc625f3d784.JPG

So by early PM I coud do this:

IMG_8079.thumb.JPG.4a90480feb6ca6c3dfdbf9ab8e11af71.JPG

Just some 20mm stone to move from the back garden and lay on it now, but at least it's functional. Should be ample room for the Yaris when it comes back.

What I hadn't considered is how much easier it makes getting parked-up - we can just drive in off the road forwards then back into this area, rather than the complicated reverse in backwards and manouevre around the gatepost that we were having to do (which was getting less fun on dark evenings).

It might also mean there's room for something else in the future.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Friggin Sunday morning drivers. 

One farmers limo nearly slid into the back, some twonk pulled out in front of me on a 60 mph section then cut the corner and drove towards me in my lane before pulling over. Idiot.

Then some twonk doing 20mph on a hill road that's also 60mph, causing all sorts of trouble with people wanting to get past. 

Now I have to take my 7 year old home, I hope they have calmed down. I nearly have. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Cluffyand I spent this morning wrestling with his Corrado gearbox. It came off after the requisite amount of swearing, sweating, grunting and pulling. 

In the end we decided the 'Falling Onto Something Soft' was the best way to get it out completely. 6 layers of foam floor stuff plus some rolled up carpet did the job, although I don't think that's the approved HBoL method. 

His task list includes new chains and guides, plus a new clutch because why wouldn't you when you're balls deep? Head is off to the specialist for skimming and stuff. 

Job#1 is Spring so we're hopeful it'll be back together by then. 

IMG_20211121_103715395.jpg

IMG_20211121_103523192.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, reb said:

The Corsa courtesy car that's replaced the MG3 is on less than 6000 miles. It has a gearbox fault. Aren't moderns wonderful?

Mrs Grogee had a brand new Europcar Corsa, quite high spec. The electronic handbrake switch broke off. Driver aids were downright dangerous on the country lanes and it smelled of McDonalds. Think it was list price £20k+.

The radio was alright though. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, grogee said:

Mrs Grogee had a brand new Europcar Corsa, quite high spec. The electronic handbrake switch broke off. Driver aids were downright dangerous on the country lanes and it smelled of McDonalds. Think it was list price £20k+.

The radio was alright though. 

Mums found the same with the driving aids, she tasked me with figuring out how to switch them off. The manual shows a completely different car!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well the standard 8 is sold, but wanted to drive it away, but sadly after sorting out dodgy King lead, grimey oily plugs, it fires over but fuel pump is past its best but she runs when fuel down the carbon, so next week they coming back with a new pump , fit it and drive it away.

 

20211121_143452.jpg

20211121_143435.jpg

20211121_153900.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...