The new news 24 thread

[SiC]

After feeling guilty having the Boxster sitting out freezing itself and unused, I decided today was a good day to sort storage and put it away. Still icy cold out and Quattro certainly hides the slippery roads - perhaps too much. You only really notice when you come to stop and have the abs kick in on touching the brakes. I'll replace the ditchfinders on it at some point.



This is the problem I have with storage.

Far too many Dolomite seats! Given I'm paying £70 pcm for this bay, it's a bit silly having all this clutter there.


Anyone after any seats? If I can't find a home in a week or so, I'll probably send them to the scrap yard.


I took back some of the wheels I have and they can go in the garden for now. Anyone after Morris Minor wheels and/or Marina wheels?!


With that cleared, I packed it all to the back.


Problem is, that didn't give enough room still for the Boxster. The MGB was going to have to give up it's space and move to the other side. I put my hat out to people like captain_70s and those that daily these old BL bangers in the cold. She took a hell of a lot of churning and a good dose of choke before firing into life. The obligatory choke popped back in and stalled the engine. One peg wasn't enough, so I had to hold it out while manoeuvring.

After a considerable amount of protest, it was moved to the bay on the other side.


Tight, but just enough room.


Boxster then took it's space for the next few months. I really should have cleaned it down before doing this, but (a) the hose pipe is frozen and (b) I couldn't be bothered anyway. Also shouldn't have gone away wet from the frost melting but there we go.

Driving it reminded me of how it's such a great car especially against the TT. Steering gives so much more feedback and is nicely weighted, engine gives power nearly instantaneously and the gear change is precise with a great feel.

Incidentally, talking about great cars, the Austin Healey next to it is now uncovered. It's sat here for quite a while and I don't see it move. Looking at the sign in the window it appears it was in a classic car auction with a 90k to 100k estimate. Not sold, so must not have met reserve. A lovely machine and the value of the cars in this storage is a good reason why I'm careful when charging and such. 


In sorting out the box of old parts panhard65 replaced, I had a play with the top mount. It seems in good condition off the car but it was giving a good creak on the car.

 

Looking at the part, I think the problem is either the bearings are dried up or simply the rust build up between the two halves was catching.


As soon as the weather warms up a bit more I'll get it booked in for a full four wheel alignment. Will cost a bit but I'll get it done at a Porsche specialist. Should make it absolutely spot on again.

 

[captain_70s]

15 minutes ago, SiC said:

 I put my hat out to people like captain_70s and those that daily these old BL bangers in the cold. She took a hell of a lot of churning and a good dose of choke before firing into life. The obligatory choke popped back in and stalled the engine. One peg wasn't enough, so I had to hold it out while manoeuvring.

Regular use helps, stops the points fuzzing up and plug getting clogged from running on choke all the time.

Left the Dolly sitting a month or two and it took an hour of fucking about to get it to fire, filling dashpots and sanding points and waiting 20 years for the fuel pump to bring petrol up from the tank. Now it goes on the first turn of the key again. Doesn't help the choke isn't rigged up and is actuated by jamming a screwdriver in the linkage...

[GrumpiusMaximus]

On 12/9/2022 at 8:06 PM, stuboy said:

Missus stuboy wanted another sunstrip, so I got the guy who did mine, designed with the missus ideas, yeah some will scoff and laugh but she's happy..  what I'm not happy about was getting my v6 back with petrol light on and more bird poo than bottom of a budgies cage..

I thought the Princess Mk2 was called the Ambassador but I've been wrong before.

[artdjones]

44 minutes ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

I thought the Princess Mk2 was called the Ambassador but I've been wrong before.

Mk1

Mk2

Ambassador 

[bunglebus]

I'm amazed this is even a news story, anyone fancy saving a Beetle? 

https://www.donegallive.ie/news/crime---court/984614/abandoned-vw-beetle-to-be-disposed-of.html

[bunglebus]

It's a little chilly 

[chadders]

10 hours ago, captain_70s said:

Regular use helps, stops the points fuzzing up and plug getting clogged from running on choke all the time.

Left the Dolly sitting a month or two and it took an hour of fucking about to get it to fire, filling dashpots and sanding points and waiting 20 years for the fuel pump to bring petrol up from the tank. Now it goes on the first turn of the key again. Doesn't help the choke isn't rigged up and is actuated by jamming a screwdriver in the linkage...

I used to daily my MGB in the late 70s/early 80s on a 12 mile, each way, trip to work. It used to start and run OK, subject to the usual choke juggling whilst warming up. Having a good heater also helped to make it quite acceptable.

[bunglebus]

Just rescued a little old lady with an 04 Almera, left her lights on at Tesco so the battery was flat, and she didn't have her phone.

Got lucky that the space in front of her became free just as I needed to pull in there.

Quick jump start and she was away, second car I've jumped this month...

[GrumpiusMaximus]

3 hours ago, artdjones said:

Mk1

Mk2

Ambassador 

As I said, I’ve been wrong before…

[Asimo]

All of the pre autochoke BL / BMC stuff I have driven had “choke”*** controls that locked when turned. Has this feature been forgotten / worn out / omitted from cheaply made replacement cables?

*** Pedant mode  “chokeing”not possible on SU carbs., mixture enrichment by lowering the jet.

 

[Asimo]

Shitty weather suggests I should keep this rather than let it go for p/x.

Heater-fan controller now fixed.

A thermal fuse had failed. It did it’s job, protecting the power transistor. 

No thermal fuses to hand so replaced by a thin piece of wire. Normal operation restored.

[Ghosty]

Old radio out.

Pleased to find a proper job done of the wiring and install.

New one in:

Alas the aerial lead is too short so it's strictly Bluetooth, but that's what I want it for anyway. The old radio can go in the other MX5.

 

Was also surprised to find the emergency flare from Japan is still intact! 

And lol at the window sticker. 😄

[wuvvum]

Never heard of a Clarity before - is that one of those JDM stereos that will only pick up Radio 2?

[Ghosty]

16 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Never heard of a Clarity before - is that one of those JDM stereos that will only pick up Radio 2?

No, it's not Japanese  - the car's been over here since about 2000 (the flare expired in 2003!). The original Mazda radio would have been a Panasonic double DIN FM/tape/CD unit.
This radio seems fairly new as it's still listed online, albeit discontinued, it's FM/CD/aux/SD/USB/DAB - everything except Bluetooth (argh!). The front flips down to access the SD and CD slots. It's okay, nothing special, but the volume is a bit odd as you have to put it into the 50s/60s for it to be audible as opposed to the typical 10-15. Not much info on Clarity online, seems like they only do digital radio products though. 
Doesn't feel massively high quality but doesn't feel cheap either. I couldn't get the DAB to work, even though it had a windscreen aerial. 

[chadders]

3 hours ago, Asimo said:

All of the pre autochoke BL / BMC stuff I have driven had “choke”*** controls that locked when turned. Has this feature been forgotten / worn out / omitted from cheaply made replacement cables?

*** Pedant mode  “chokeing”not possible on SU carbs., mixture enrichment by lowering the jet.

 

I've got a couple of spare cables and both can be locked when turned.

[richardmorris]

Charlie et les hangers on visited wrexham afc friday. before a ceremony making the town a city. To be green he apparently took the train, but the chauffeur and police escort still had to drive the Bentley there.
The car was spotted increasing the weekly fuel sales in Chester. The bp off the a55 I think.

 

Mum’s vicar joked this morning that he’d shaken hands with the king at the parish church and could pass it on for £5.

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/23183502.king-charles-car-spotted-petrol-station-chester/

 

[High Jetter]

That's posh, having yer own vicar! 😄

[MiniMinorMk3]

1 hour ago, wuvvum said:

Never heard of a Clarity before - is that one of those JDM stereos that will only pick up Radio 2?

Sounds like some Aldi middle isle copy of Clarion

[RoverFolkUs]

Spent this afternoon putting the Christmas tree up 👍

Decided to spice things up a bit this year because for some reason everyone seemed a bit underwhelmed last year: 🤔

[richardmorris]

18 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Spent this afternoon putting the Christmas tree up 👍

Decided to spice things up a bit this year because for some reason everyone seemed a bit underwhelmed last year: 🤔

Yours has more decorations than mine. Only put it up as I was writing cards as last posting day is tomorrow.

[MJK 24]

11 hours ago, artdjones said:

Mk1

Mk2

Ambassador 

Is it controversial to claim the Ambassador is by far the most attractive of the three?

[artdjones]

45 minutes ago, MJK 24 said:

Is it controversial to claim the Ambassador is by far the most attractive of the three?

No, but if they had made it a hatchback from day 1 and given it the 5 speed gearbox it deserved it would have been a much bigger seller. I still enjoyed mine ( Princess ll 2.0 HL auto).

[stuboy]

Nothing exciting all it just snowed a bit...

[Ghosty]

3 hours ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Sounds like some Aldi middle isle copy of Clarion

Does a bit. Aldi would be Tevion though surely?

[vulgalour]

9 hours ago, Asimo said:

All of the pre autochoke BL / BMC stuff I have driven had “choke”*** controls that locked when turned. Has this feature been forgotten / worn out / omitted from cheaply made replacement cables?

*** Pedant mode  “chokeing”not possible on SU carbs., mixture enrichment by lowering the jet.

 

In my limited experience, the BMC era ones tended to be notchier and more inclined to stay put even with a lot of use.  BL era ones aren't as notchy and are far more difficult to persuade to stay in one place.  Even the brand new one I fitted to the Princess lasted about a week before it refused to lock, you could twist it to set the position and it would simply untwist itself and release. Could be worse, could be an Ambassador auto-choke.

[Asimo]

2 minutes ago, vulgalour said:

Could be worse, could be an Ambassador auto-choke.

Yes indeed, worse than useless. Maestro’s stepper-motor driven thingy wasn’t much better. 
All they needed to design was a better choke cable!

[Noel Tidybeard]

45 minutes ago, Asimo said:

Yes indeed, worse than useless. Maestro’s stepper-motor driven thingy wasn’t much better. 
All they needed to design was a better choke cable!

mine worked fine

[ruffgeezer]

7 hours ago, Ghosty said:

Old radio out.

Pleased to find a proper job done of the wiring and install.

New one in:

Alas the aerial lead is too short so it's strictly Bluetooth, but that's what I want it for anyway. The old radio can go in the other MX5.

 

Was also surprised to find the emergency flare from Japan is still intact! 

And lol at the window sticker. 😄

I believe I have an aerial extension lead in the garage if you'd like?

[Rust Collector]

Whilst getting fuel earlier I saw a land crab in the wild:

Apologies for the shit photos, I have a water ingress problem in the truck currently…

[wuvvum]

/\ That's a Maxi that is.