The new news 24 thread

[pompei]

I like purple. I also like beige. From what I've seen so far, I'd say keep it beige.

[michiel]

Beige with a purple roof, and a huge tiger decal on the bonnet.

[cobblers]

ebays cheapest universal leccy window kit turned out pretty good:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160852387078? ... 597wt_1163

 

 

Came with a decent set of switches and some kind of mounts that allow you to fit them to any old flat door card, and if you are smart you put the switches covering where the hole for the winder was (but some winder hole blanks are supplied if you must put the switches somewhere else)

 

There was also a fully complete wiring loom as well, all I had to do was run an ignition live and a ground to it, the rest all plugs in!

 

I'm now some mega pimp who can wind my passenger window down (and more slowly up) from a distance, but I won't let it go to my head.

[rml2345]

 

Finally managed to get the pod lights working on the right hand site. Mostly using electrical tape and swearing.

That pod has been in and out more times today than something that gets taken in and out alot. Use your imagination...

Let's see how long it lasts before something else on it breaks

[Shep Shepherd]

 

Finally managed to get the pod lights working on the right hand site. Mostly using electrical tape and swearing.

That pod has been in and out more times today than something that gets taken in and out alot. Use your imagination...

Let's see how long it lasts before something else on it breaks

 

Volvo 700 instrument clusters really are the pits of the earth; The Volvo has had three replacements (plus several replacement instruments) in the nine years I've owned it and none of them have worked properly

[rml2345]

They're an absolute nightmare Shep! You'd think for a car intended to last that long (Volvo designed them to last something daft like 20 years) the instruments would be a tad more reliable. One of these days I'll get the fuel gauge to work...

Got a spare pod in the shed I can rob bits from, but really regret not poaching the one in a breakers at Newbidge as you can never have too many.

[Shep Shepherd]

They're an absolute nightmare Shep! You'd think for a car intended to last that long (Volvo designed them to last something daft like 20 years) the instruments would be a tad more reliable. One of these days I'll get the fuel gauge to work...

Got a spare pod in the shed I can rob bits from, but really regret not poaching the one in a breakers at Newbidge as you can never have too many.

 

I have all manner of bits and pieces from countless instrument panels - both VDO and Yakazi - in my stash

 

The Volvo's fuel gauge has never worked properly below half-full, regardless of which instrument panel the car has had fitted - I suspect a duff sender, but have never got round to replacing it.

 

Certain aspects of the 700 Series, such as the crappy instruments (I drove The Volvo for three years without panel lights, which made it horrible to drive at night), the saggy headlinings and the dodgy relays really grind my gears, but the overall awesomeness of the model more than makes up for such issues

[vulgalour]

The saggy headlining and a foggy or water-filled (I can't remember which) rear light cluster is what made my Dad get rid of his lovely metallic burgundy 740 saloon with the tan leather interior. It was an excellent car, I wish he'd never parted with it and so, I think, does he.

[CreepingJesus]

Glad it's not just mine then! Light switch packed up at 0130 the other night, so I had to throw £41 odds at a new one. Still, at least I fixed some heater issues for free.

[254575]

have aquired a vauxhall combo van, has a bit of a wierd problem, after any more than 50 miles of driving the speedo throws a wobbly then stops working.

 

ive done weeks of short journeys with no problems, but as soon as you get around 50 miles in one go under your belt it stops. turning it off for 5 mins and back on again will bring it back to life.

 

ive ordered a replacement speed sensor, fingers crossed its that :/

[barefoot]

I had a similar issue with my 944, bog all reading until 50 miles - a quick blast to 160mph & then it would work.

Eventually I shelled out for a new one, but noticed when it was all fitted back together that the fuel gauge gave a better reading & the tripmeter reset (which isn't in the speedo) worked better, so I suspect a dodgy connection & merely taking to bits & putting back together might have cured it.

[barefoot]

& in other news - Scirocco failed its MOT today on a leaky (presumably fucked) shock absorber & rear wheel bearings what need tightening.

 

So not quite the end of the world then,

[Pete-M]

In dangerous territory. Found a beige CL600 in need of electrickery.

 

It runs perfectly. Just doesn't stop well...

[Cavcraft]

Just been to Liverpool to buy a fairly horrendous 'new' car. More of that later when it's cooled down enough to be able to safely open the bonnet.

[Guest]

In dangerous territory. Found a beige CL600 in need of electrickery.

 

It runs perfectly. Just doesn't stop well...

 

Take it you'll be bringing the Birkenhead tunnel to a standstill when I get to work then?

[philibusmo]

The Hyundai has sold, at full asking price and a month earlier than I needed it shifted.

Good times.

[skattrd]

Just been to Liverpool to buy a fairly horrendous 'new' car. More of that later when it's cooled down enough to be able to safely open the bonnet.

 

Lol, only on autoshite is this sort of behaviour encouraged.

[skattrd]

Once again I didn't buy a car.

I went to look at an X1/9 that was quite local, very tidy car, minimal welding done in the past and looked like none needed. The engine fired up with a jump and it seemed to run ok once warm. Issues, new battery needed, one headlamp wouldn't go up, brakes not good and the choke needed holding in position, but nothing major. Unfortunately I just didn't like the driving position, so I knew I wouldn't get on with the car.

[boobydoo]

Some of you may recall a year ago, I bought a nice Solara off old Mr Ingram.

 

Haven't used it at all this year, but did get the towbar removed and replace the worn door mirror. Although the bodywork is excellent, the Willow Green metallic paint had faded quite badly so have booked it in for a proper 'trim off' respray next week at a bodyshop in Cheshunt, recommended by a friend of mine. It's going to cost a couple of grand which I know I'll never recoup back, but the car will look the nuts afterwards. Getting quite excited already!

[Lord Sterling]

It's going to cost a couple of grand which I know I'll never recoup back, but the car will look the nuts afterwards. Getting quite excited already!

 

Its refreshing to hear that, I like the way you think. Far too many times I've heard so-called 'enthusiasts' break or scrap otherwise pretty good cars because its needs this or that doing to it and "its gonna cost too much" etc.....

 

Good luck with the resto.

[trigger]

Boodydoo is a legend in saving old shite, There can't be many like him who's happy to spend more then a cars worth just save another example, Good on ya!

[Cavcraft]

Boodydoo is a legend in saving old shite, There can't be many like him who's happy to spend more then a cars worth just save another example, Good on ya!

 

+1, Tony is a legend.

[Lord Sterling]

Well, I'm back in England (boo hiss)

 

Whilst still in thre land of Belgium, I spent Saturday morning helping my uncle change the brake pads on his Honda Jazz, didnt realise it was such a simple job, its certainly given me the confidence to try and fit brake pads on my car on my own (that said, it does seem to be less simple on my Rover)

 

Uncle does his own servicing on his cars having spent much of life working at various car dealers. We popped into a seriously old-school motor factors to get the bits, seems Belgians just cant be arsed to gloss over everything with new corporate looking tat, they seem happy to carry on with shitty wooden wall panels and 30 year old shelves carrying and array of stock, even the owner looked old school, his hair, or what was left of it, was rather amusing.

 

Upon arriving back here, a good mate of mine picked me up in my car, though in true Rover fashion it shat coolant over the floor, though I think this is because I overfilled it slightly before I left.

 

Seemed great getting back into the Sterling, comfortable and fast, even my fellow Rover 800 collecting mate was surprised at its pick up of speed and power which is nice to know.

[CreepingJesus]

Stuff like brake pads and discs, and basic servicing are good jobs to build confidence, and get to know the car better.

That having said, I should get my finger out, and do likewise to mine; what with the banjaxed drop links and a warped disc out the back, it sounds like a Cozy Powell drum solo under braking .

[Albert Ross]

Apparently (I might be wrong) in Belgium, everything in a shop must be for sale. Hence old shelves and high prices...... Like I say, I may be wrong.

[HillmanImp]

Just found this parked on my street. Not sure whose it is but assume its just visiting.

 

 

Its well fit.

 

Not sure about the wheels like but I can forgive this minor indiscretion.

[wuvvum]

This weekend I have mostly been trying to fix shite.

 

Bled the clutch on the Mazda. It worked for about three minutes and then started playing up again. So it's obviously a bit more serious than just air in the system then. And the slave cylinder is an absolute pig's cock to get to. Arse.

 

Attempted to remove the brake master cylinder from the P6. To my surprise everything unbolted easily enough, but for some reason I cannot get the fugging cylinder off the bulkhead. It'll pull out half an inch or so, then it stops dead, and I can't for the life of me see what can be blocking it. I even dug out my old factory workshop manual to see if I'd missed something, but I hadn't. So now I've got to drive it round to my mechanic mate's on just the handbrake to see if he can sort it. Not something I was prepared to attempt today with the number of mongs in camper vans clogging up the roads of north Norfolk. Although to be fair the bloody thing will probably stop quicker on the handbrake than the footbrake with the servo being dead.

 

Tried to get the Spacy fired up, for the first time in over a month. The new battery I bought has held its charge and managed to crank the engine over for ages, despite being under-spec for the bike. It wouldn't run though until I sprayed Easystart into the carb. Further investigation led to a diagnosis of fuel starvation, apparently due to crud in the fuel tank blocking the outlet pipe. That's going to be fun to sort.

 

Nabbed the magical Box of Doom off the Rover 200 and fitted it to the 400. In the end, and against my better judgment, I used Scotchlocks to connect the wires from the box to the fuel pump wiring, as there was too little wire and too little space to risk trying to use proper connectors. They seem to have worked though - the thing now goes like a scalded cat, and chucks out vast clouds of black smoke. It's definitely overfuelling more than the 200 was - I think borrowing the cone air filter off the 200 might help. Mind you the 400's engine has always been rather smokier than the 200's, even before the box was fitted. It's not quite as fast as the 200 was, probably due to the extra weight, but it's certainly a lot quicker than it used to be - and so[i/] much more responsive. I might try upping the boost a bit and see if that does the trick - not too much though as the engine's done 167K and I'd rather it didn't go bang quite yet.

 

So I've not had a particularly successful weekend, but it hasn't been entirely wasted.

[Cavcraft]

Besides the Fiat tinkering this weekend seemed a good time to tit about with my mountain bike. After the dismal 'improvement' of fitting a (cable type) disc front brake, which actually made the braking worse, I got a second hand hydraulic rim brake set up and proceeded to fit that instead. Amazed at how easy it was all going, despite not having instructions or prior experience, it was only a matter of time before Sod's law came into force. It chose it's moment by waiting for me to do the final adjustments then split a hose and piss brake fluid all over the place. A temp hose (prob. not of correct material) was fashioned on and futile attempts to bleed it were made.

 

This wouldn't be a major problem had I not 'carefully' removed the old brake lever with a FBH, a screwdriver and a punch. I chose to do this because the current set up has the gears and brake lever integrated, and the hydraulic system is lever only.

I then bought another mountain bike and actually did some successful work to that, just need to piss arse about setting the gears up now.

[wuvvum]

I once had a Honda CB125T with a cable operated front disc, so I can vouch for the fact that cable discs are shit.

[dollywobbler]

I took the Maverick for a drive this morning. First time it's moved for almost two weeks. In the past three months, I think it's clocked up 300 miles. I do like the occasional greenlane jaunt, but am struggling to justify the expense. Perhaps it's time to move it on and go back to an entirely classic (in insurance terms) fleet. It still has over 12 months MOT (12 months a two days!). I do get a bit of work because I own it, but pennies really compared to the cost of owning the thing (fill the tank fully and it's getting on for £80). While I've made some good friends locally with the laning folk, the standard (ie complete lack of) literacy is very depressing. Do people who can actually type not do the whole 4x4 thing?

 

The money would be useful for my ridiculous plan to semi-restore the Mk2 BX estate.