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Father Ted

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When you're watching DD speed shop on the ole Lube Tube. 

You suddenly get reminded of that sight unseen in another country purchase you made. 

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Oh shhhhiiiitttt. 

Mad panic to find someone to be there to receive it! Luckily there is someone who can be there *phew*. 

So could be a new car Monday tomorrow! 

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Lack of sun meant play was over, but at least there are two colour coats now on. The primer paint pen actually worked!

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The surface is a lot smoother than it was. Plus, all the crazing and brush strokes I filled in with the paint pen haven't come through. Win. Needs a very light rubbing down with very fine sandpaper to get rid of the nubs and whatnot (if you can even sand metallic basecoat that is), a few more coats to bring out teh colourz, then shit tons of lacquer, for shiny purposes.

 

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Took the Volvo for a spin round the block earlier and I'm pleased to report no brake binding so far - although they do need a bit of a bleed as the pedal is softer than it was.  No pulling to the side either despite the (presumably) non-functional OSR brake.

@Six-cylinder the tyres are Michelin ZX - I hadn't spotted the little Z hiding within the X...

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Looks like the auto box on the beige BX is overfilled, which might be the cause of my unpredictable shifts between second and third. Usually quite firm, occasionally smooth and occasionally it flares like nobody’s business. Cue a big syringe and a length of vinyl tube…

also, anyone know where I can get and Dexron II from, in NZ?  Seems unobtanium from usual suspects, so I’ll have to try the local automatic specialists 🤞

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On 5/8/2022 at 10:26 PM, RayMK said:

A couple of days ago I treated my Tipo to four new tyres.  The old ones still had adequate tread but the sidewalls were cracking - as 7 year old budget tyres tend to do.  £204 later, my Tipo is resplendent with Chinese budget finery.  Whilst I was at the tyre place, a Tesla owner phoned for a quote and was complaining about the rate at which his car consumed tyres.  The quote was £218 each corner.  That made me feel better.

I've had occasional non-starting behaviour from the Tipo since about a week ago, usually cured by a sharp clout on the starter solenoid. It drove on to the ramp at the tyre place just fine, but was dead when the tyre fitter tried to drive it off after fitting the new tyres. He seemed slightly amused when I told him there's a hammer in the boot - just clout the starter solenoid.  He did so and the engine started.  The bonnet stay came off in his hand. I told him to chuck it in the footwell and have rehomed it this evening.  I've also polished the rear offside door now that the patch I de-rusted, primed, painted and lacquered has hardened.  It looks smart enough at a couple of paces.  I may replace the starter if it continues to misbehave. A remanufactured unit is £58 on eBay.  That would do.

When I investigated the starter problem a day or two after the above post (8th May 2022 - 5/8/2022 being the popular* American way of writing the date), I found one of the spade connectors to be a bit loose. It's one of those hard plastic shrouded type that are difficult to crimp for a tighter fit. I attacked it with my pliers and managed to tighten the connector without breaking the shroud. I was not convinced that this was the cause of the occasional non-starting but it has been fine ever since.  The hammer is still in the boot just in case.

I've also repaired both of the release buttons on the rear seat back, both of which snapped during the hot weather.   There was enough of the plastic stem left on each button to enable me to drill a small hole to anchor a portion of Sketchley hangar implant which has restored normal operation, albeit a bit stiffly.  The wire is out of sight and it's a lot more convenient than fiddling around with a screwdriver to release the catches.  Next task is to attempt a repair to the tailgate loom bellows/grommet which has completely disintegrated and lets water in during heavy downpours. I tried a self amalgamating tape repair but it only lasted a year.  I could try to modify a similar item from another car but that would cost about £10 and may not be successful - the Tipo's fitting has a peculiar plastic mounting at one end, making non-Tipo bellows very difficult to secure at that end.  Also, as I have no idea where the tailgate loom connectors are and do not want to start poking around in the headlining, whatever I use as a replacement bellows will have to be split lengthwise to get the loom in, then glued back together.  Instead, I intend to experiment with a length of cycle inner tube, slit then glued and the ends 'starred' out so that they can be glued to the metalwork.  It will keep me amused* for an hour or two.  

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5 minutes ago, RayMK said:

A couple of days ago I treated my Tipo to four new tyres.  The old ones still had adequate tread but the sidewalls were cracking - as 7 year old budget tyres tend to do.  £204 later, my Tipo is resplendent with Chinese budget finery.  Whilst I was at the tyre place, a Tesla owner phoned for a quote and was complaining about the rate at which his car consumed tyres.  The quote was £218 each corner.  That made me feel better.

I'm still waiting for the Skodas, Dacias of this world to produce a compact hatchback EV that is cheap to own and run. Preferably using run of the mill 205/55/16s for maximum cheapness.

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Today is a good day. There's more details of this on my own thread but I think is general newsworthy. 

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This is a huge relief. I bought this unseen off ebay which is something I swore I'd never do  even though it is very much an Autoshite mantra. But how often do Favorit GTI's come along.

But until I had my first MOT with the car I'd never quite know what I'd bought. Mechanically the engine seemed quite well plumbed in but electrically it has had a few issues. The wiring seems to be a mix of both Favorit and Polo looms and I've found several unused plugs just hanging around. And of course the respray could be hiding anything. 

But now I know it's all sound. Still a few electrical issues, the temperature gauge and heated rear window don't work. The guy who did the conversion replaced the rev counter with a clock because he said he couldn't get it to work. But the clock runs about half speed. I'm determined to get a working rev counter back in the car. 

But overall it's a sound car and now I know what I've got I can approach future MOTs without worry. 

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Also some interesting other chod outside the garage. 

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So this weekend had a long weekend away in the TransSport including the superb RADwood show

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And close to the FOD so good to pop in there too and for the daughters to get their first taste of the field! 

We camped, but swallowing the camping gear was no problem for the mighty Pontiac! 
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Back home now after 480 completely trouble free miles in complete comfort! 

Thought I’d best work out the MPeeGees… 

Remembering this is a heavy old 3.8 litre V6, complete with camping gear and all the assorted kiddy crap that you have to lug with small chiddlers… 

30.2

Yes… you are reading that right. Over 30 MPG.

I’m astounded. 

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Pulled the Boxster out of storage yesterday as I fancied a drive in it. While I was quite tempted to use the BGT, I haven't used the Boxster for a good few weeks. First world problems and all that.

Did remind me that I caught the sodding bumper on the wooden pillar when I put it away though. Haven't damaged a car like this in at least a decade. Hope I can get the marks out with a bit of polish.
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Went to Shepton Mallet for the Mid-Somerset show. £20 to park but entry was free.

There was lots of horses
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Automatic lawn mowers
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Bacon rolls
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Plenty of burgers and the odd dog competition.

Some other random stuff like wood turners and such.
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The usual vegetable growing competition too.
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Of course being Somerset there was a shite load of cheese.
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Which, while in competition, you could still buy.
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Some TV actor plugging his new book. Not my bag to watch but Mrs SiC loves her cooking and baking. I was about to drag her around...
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... the car section, so I couldn't moan about watching him. I mean that's what you really are scrolling through this post to see.

Quite a few cars were at the car meets I've been to before. But a few I haven't seen before.
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I said to Mrs SiC that I fancy something a bit more stately as my next classic.
"What, like that old Jaguar you won in the Raffle?" Disparagingly referring to the red XJ6 (MFV) that I won from Tickman a few years ago and now owned by Eddie Honda.
"No, something like this:"
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"I still really like the Frogeye though" she remarked as we walked past this. Unusual for her to still take an interest in them. I really do need to figure out how I can acquire one.
(Nice Jenson too)
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Fair few commercial vehicles too
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I do like a good truck, just no chance of ever fitting one either in my garage or storage.
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Land Rover with a Rover P4 engine
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This tatty but quaint Doromor camper van. Speedo maxed out at 70mph and mid point was 30mph. Can't imagine this is a fun portable roadblock to take anywhere.
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And naturally in a county show there were loads of tractors too.
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Including modern tosh.
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Finally a Somerset farmer/redneck theme park ride
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A pretty decent day out that was relaxing and most enjoyable. Weather held out pleasantly and wasn't too hot either.

In other related car note, I've just bottled out and ordered two new rear tyres for the Focus. They are still legal but only just. If I got stopped, they would be close enough that a plod would take extra interest in them. Would be okay providing they've worn evenly - that close.

Anyway the MOT is being done in 2 weeks, so it better bloody pass now I've put the finest Autogreen tyres on it. £92 fully fitted. The old ones probably would have passed but if they failed, my local garage probably wouldn't be as cheap to get replacements as those are.

At least when I come to sell the Focus (if it passes!), along with a fresh MOT and new tyres, it should hopefully sell on easily. Just I'm crap at banganomics.

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53 minutes ago, Cord Fourteener said:

It turns out that if you don't fasten the seatbelts when folding the rear seats in a V70 then the seatbelts reverse lock. 

Fix: unbolt the seatbelt. Bit of a faff but not a serious wpsi.  

Then remember this always. 

 

 

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My 850 does this too, I think it's a high mileage thing because I don't recall dad's estate on a third of the mileage doing it. The mechanism must just get a bit worn.

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11 minutes ago, Yoss said:

So entry was £20 then? 

As I drove yes for the two of us. If you walked, cycled, horsed (probably) or bussed then it would have been no cost due to not needing parking. A minibus full of people still would be £20. 

I believe it was £13 if you pre-booked. 

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