The new news 24 thread

[3VOM]

Now I'm in an airport in the originating country of my BMW waiting to go to Istanbul. I kind of fancy going to Beirut...

 

Anyone fancy an Autoshite meet in Istanbul?

Aleppo ? This guy should be a member on here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35387895

[spike60]

A local car restoration oufit near me sell mig gas loads cheaper  than the regular stockists so I went there on Friday. Considering they were not well liked at the time the late V12 E type (M reg?) looked well, amongst the other stuff ouside was an Ashley coupe, I hadn't heard of them before.

[Angrydicky]

Mr Ess_Dee_Won came around earlier to drop off a Maestro 1.3 water pump he found at his grandad's house. In return I fixed a bad connection on his 75 front indicator. The front of the house looked ridiculous with so much tat parked there - wish I'd got a photo. Good to see you Steve, and thanks again for the WP.

 

Nothing much to report with the fleet. The Somerset has a new battery positive lead after I discovered the old one was an earth lead with a bit of perished 1/2" heater hose wrapped around it which had shrunk and the thing was chafing on the speedo cable.

 

The Sierra is running much better now. We weakened the mixture as it was too rich and hunting at tickover, also we checked the timing with the strobe light and discovered that it had never been altered for running on unleaded petrol, hence the pinking. Haynes said factory was 12 degrees BTDC, for use with unleaded it needed to be retarded to 8 degrees BTDC. With this done, the car was transformed.

 

The Maestro completed a 900 mile round trip to Carmarthen via Thame, Southampton, Glastonbury, Cardiff and Swansea then home again via Oxfordshire. This was to pick up various car parts with my friend Ed, he had a landcrab roof rack to pick up in Cardiff and I had a Somerset wing to pick up in Carmarthen so we ended up collecting a few more bits and pieces and finally picking up my trailer from Skizzer. Thanks HUGELY to Skizzer and Mrs Skizzer (and Keith) for letting us stay in their fabulously 1960s lounge overnight and also to Skizzer for showing us around his fleet.

 

Unfortunately on the way there I got a speeding ticket, 35 in a 30 from a sneakily placed camera van

[captain_70s]

Jiggled some cables, cleaned some connections, Dolly 1850 now turns over on the starter! Don't seem to get any fuel up to the new filter, assume pipe is blocked at some location, probably not the location where it leaks... Going to buy some fuel line and fire it up from a jerry can when I get a chance.

Man with nearby shed has acquired a new MIG welder, I'm charging his Land Rover's battery to get it moving and clear space in said shed, could the Doloshite ride again?

 

Also been in contact with Retro Restoration out in Fraserburgh about getting the 1300's bodywork sorted, I believe they are responsible for Ken Wood's rally spec Dolly Sprint so hoping they'll apply less bodgey than the last people who "fixed" it.

[hairnet]

This bit of hedgeIMG_6968.JPG

 

did this to Mrs Me's Suzuki **.IMG_6963_2.JPG

 

Which is annoying enough (£188 + fill & paint the door) but the piece of wood was loose and easy to push back into the hedge out of harms way and judging by the quantity of smashed glass and plastic around it had seen off several mirrors, but nobody else had thought to push the hazard out of the way.

 

** edit - Grand Vitara

fuck. that.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/07-GRAND-VITARA-5DR-HEATED-ELECTRIC-DOOR-WING-MIRROR-FRONT-LEFT-NEAR-SIDE-NSF-/182123548687

 

and leave the door

[M'coli]

The "low pads" warning light has been flickering on and off (stays on if you brake then goes back to flickering) since the drive to Shitefest, and I finally got around to looking at changing them (I bought the pads a month ago!).

Each pad on both sides still has 7-8mm of material, so no need to change them! I celebrated by swapping the front Cooper tyre with 3mm of tread to the rear, and now have 2 nearly new Yokohama Bluearths on the front.

[spike60]

A link to the Spa 24h GT race taking place this weekend, posted a bit late. The last of the 24's I would like to see live.

 

http://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/live

[panhard65]

A link to the Spa 24h GT race taking place this weekend, posted a bit late. The last of the 24's I would like to see live.

 

http://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/live

I went a few years ago when it was running the prototypes as well as the GT's. It is a great event but expect to get wet. It can rain at the top of the circuit and be bone dry in the pits. Eau rouge is very impressive and it just doesn't look as steep on tv as it really is. I must go back again one year

[spike60]

I went a few years ago when it was running the prototypes as well as the GT's. It is a great event but expect to get wet. It can rain at the top of the circuit and be bone dry in the pits. Eau rouge is very impressive and it just doesn't look as steep on tv as it really is. I must go back again one year

I drove a lap round Spa some years back before it was all closed off, (1990?) in a Saab 9000. I was passing and they hadn't fully closed the barriers at the end of the straight where the track goes right off the public road. A very steady lap to have a look see and it was a long way round, about 5 miles IIRC.

[Bear]

It looks like the Festival of the Unexceptional never happened. Does that mean it can be done all over again?

[Asimo]

fuck. that.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/07-GRAND-VITARA-5DR-HEATED-ELECTRIC-DOOR-WING-MIRROR-FRONT-LEFT-NEAR-SIDE-NSF-/182123548687

 

and leave the door

Not the same sadly, need a later one with indicator. The only one of those on ebay was more than a new one. The door pronably will get left, not one for spending money on cosmetics, the Mrs.

[panhard65]

Off to collect some new shit in a bit. A Peugeot 206hdi so shit rather than shite and not worth a collection thread unless it shits itself on the way home. These are getting so cheap now, couple of months test service history and leather interior for just £250

[Bucketeer]

Anyone fancy an Autoshite meet in Istanbul?

When Mo? I'm only a bus ride (and a bit more) away.

 

 

 

Just before the forum went down I made a post about the mostly forgotten Bucketeer quiz of last year, or whenever it was - well apparently I won (Alex never finished the answers!), and I have now received my prize in Rover Lord sterling silver. Cheers!

I really did think I had posted all the quiz aftermath but it seems not. In mitigation, as I said to you before Max, I am completely flipping useless.

[Lord Sterling]

When Mo? I'm only a bus ride (and a bit more) away

I'm there now until next Sunday.

[Bucketeer]

I'm there now until next Sunday.

 

Sweeeet. Are you up for a visit? I can stroll over to Turkey any time.

[Lord Sterling]

Sweeeet. Are you up for a visit? I can stroll over to Turkey any time.

Yep. Just stroll over chap. I'm here until Sunday next weekend.

[gm]

I'm supposed to be collectioning today but for some odd reason I can't set up a bank transfer to go through until tomorrow I'll just take cash in the morning, watch this space tomorrow

[richardmorris]

Because even in the Internet age, banks only work five days a week.

[captain_70s]

'81 Princess for sale less than 10 miles away.

 

It's in my colour (reynard metallic brown), my spec (Princess 2, 2.0HL, brown everything), genuine 42,000 on the clock and runs smooth, the numberplate has the first three letters of my name on it for god's sake... Been off the road for 15 years and need work, but it is quite possibly my dream car. How can I do this... How can I make this car mine...

[billyboy406v6]

'81 Princess for sale less than 10 miles away.

 

It's in my colour (reynard metallic brown), my spec (Princess 2, 2.0HL, brown everything), genuine 42,000 on the clock and runs smooth, the numberplate has the first three letters of my name on it for god's sake... Been off the road for 15 years and need work, but it is quite possibly my dream car. How can I do this... How can I make this car mine...

Get some money, go there, haggle a bit, drag it home ?

[ruffgeezer]

Doeeeet!

[johngarty]

'81 Princess for sale less than 10 miles away.

 

It's in my colour (reynard metallic brown), my spec (Princess 2, 2.0HL, brown everything), genuine 42,000 on the clock and runs smooth, the numberplate has the first three letters of my name on it for god's sake... Been off the road for 15 years and need work, but it is quite possibly my dream car. How can I do this... How can I make this car mine...

 

You have to do this. For all that is holy. Your fame awaits you sir. DO IT !

[captain_70s]

Phoned about a row of garages in town, one is available as of the 1st of September so the Prinny wouldn't be rotting on the drive with the Doloshite if by some horrible* turn of events it becomes mine... 

 

Car is on eBay, guy doesn't want to end the auction early so we'll see how it runs.

[anonymous user]

Today I saw someone on the M4 living the dream, a very nice, lhd, two-tone green, Amazon estate, on Dutch plates, towing a very 1960's rounded fibreglass maroon and cream caravan. The towing mirrors were a sight to behold as they cantilivered forwards from the roof-rack. (in a similar fashion to the enormous ones you see on coaches these days) The Volvo was also fitted with a dashboard mounted interior fan. No pics as I was driving

[vulgalour]

BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS BUY THE PRINCESS 

 

 

 

I have brown spares.

[320touring]

princess aquisition is much to be happenings

[MarvinsMom]

'81 Princess for sale less than 10 miles away.

 

It's in my colour (reynard metallic brown), my spec (Princess 2, 2.0HL, brown everything), genuine 42,000 on the clock and runs smooth, the numberplate has the first three letters of my name on it for god's sake... Been off the road for 15 years and need work, but it is quite possibly my dream car. How can I do this... How can I make this car mine...

do you really, REALLY need 2 kidneys?

 

thought not,

 

so that is the solution for you....

[AMC Rebel]

Mended the screenwash on on the Puma.  In a piece of genius design, Ford put a little filter screen at the bottom of the screenwash bottle.  A 30 second clean of said filter involves removing the front wheel and arch liner. You then need to undo two 10mm nuts on the trailing edge of the inner wing - you can only do this by opening the door and reaching into the gap (or presumably removing the entire door which is what they seem to have done for the Haynes BOL. Another 10mm bolt at the top, pop off the filler neck and undo all all the pipes and electrical connectors, and you can drop the reservoir (which must have been an exercise in how many different shapes can be incorporated into a single washer bottle, take out the motor, clean the little filter and put it all back.

[vulgalour]

That's the proper way.  But the proper* way is the Savvy-approved method of diverting the screenwash pipes to a bleach bottle that has an aftermarket washer pump fixed to it with cable ties.

[captain_70s]

Seems everybody wants me to buy a Princess...

 

 

As an overview it's bloody clean for a Prinny, for a local car (registered in Nairnshire) it's outstanding. Work has been done in the past, the wheelarches have been replaced nearly seamlessly and the sills seem to have been in the process of being sorted but never finished. There is a smattering of rust along the door bottoms, on the bonnet, front valance (+ bonus hole), a tiny bit above the rear screen and the bottom of the bootlid is rotten on the inside at the bottom although the guy said he has a better one. Boot floor is good at the back where it meets the arches and the front floors look alright, couldn't really get past the carpet, it's a bit better fitted than the Doloshite's!

The worst bit is where the rear bumper bolts to the body work on both sides, on the O/S it's completely rotted through and the N/S isn't far behind. Paintwork is all pretty good quality but is a variety of shades.

 

The suspension is a bit low on one side but isn't slammed so there must still be pressure in the system, won't run on fuel from the tank as the tank is full of rust, currently has a Mini fuel pump fitted as the original is buggered, the car does run (from a fuel can), drive and stop but the clutch hydraulics stick and the carb needs refurbed so it's 4,000rpm or nothing. The engine sounds sweet though, no rattles or knocks, the 42k on the clock seems genuine judging by the lack of sagging in the complete but dirty interior.

 

The tyres are essentially brand new but 15/16 years old and most of the exhaust looks like it's never seen any action on the road. Certainly looks like it was being prepped for an MOT but never quite got there, been in storage for 15 years so perhaps the owner got scared by the amount of money he was putting into his car which would have been worthless in 2001 and shelved it?

 

The eBay advert is set to end at a time when I will be utterly wasted at a house party and will have access to eBay on my phone so this endeavour can only end well...

 

Oh, the guy selling it also owns this place: