The new news 24 thread

[nacho man]

Had a week off and didn't have anything planned till a few weeks back but booked the Eurostar and ended up in a lovely apartment in Brugge.

 

Hired this for two days.

 

 

I was a skinflint and ordered a c3 but they upgraded me to that fine stead. It was a 1.6hdi and initially felt dog slow. But after bombing around it for a couple of days I got to like it. Quite funky inside with a touch screen taking care of air con and sat nav. Nice little steering wheel, and cursing at 120kmh with cruise on and it was doing about 1800 rpm was lovely and quite.

 

Went to Dunkirk

 

 

Then onwards to Ypres

 

 

Then spent the next day on a random mission we had lunch in Gent and then had tea in a random place on the way back.

 

Brugge is lovely, but bloody hell its bleeding pricey. Spent a fortune.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jazoli]

48€ a kilo! fucking hell!

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

I spent today on a training course at a business park, which turned out to actually be the former headquarters of Pilkingtons Glass in St Helens, I near did a wee when I walked through the slightly delapidated main door to be greeted by what must be the most amazingly oridinal intact 60's luxury office building left, wood paneling everywhere and obviously all sorts of structural/artistic glass. I think the trainer thought I was nuts as I couldn't stop cooing about signage etc. I was told that the top 2  floors are the directors suites and are intact and untouched since Pilks fucked off and nearly emptied my nuts, they are off limits but my camera is going with me tomorrow 

 

I worked for the Belgian PO on an international shipping system for automated import tax etc... (boring I know!) -

BUT

On arrival in US - pickup was ina MONSTER Ford Heavy Duty right off the forecourt. Guy driving said "Hi, My name is Carl......... "

"I'm John - the UK guy living in Belgium"

"Oh - the guy with the GT6 racer"

"Yup - that's me"

"I'll have to show you my race cars too - we can do that once you're settled at the hotel - work tomorrow eh?"

 

He was only Carl Pilkington III (the third if I recall correctly)......... His 'racers' were a collection of lightweight Porsches, stripped out Ferrari and a south african V8 Alfetta he'd imported and gone to town on........ god I was in heaven! He even took me up to the local 'road track' - damned if I can remember the name in Jersey and I was let loose with the Porsche and Alfetta (I promptly bought a povo version when I got back)

 

God that family are minted!!!!! Thoroughly nice guy who worked 'for something to do' but a real laugh........ had a fantastic couple of weeks with him.

 

(apologies for name dropping - but I still go weak at the knees remembering the garage door opening!)

[egg]

Part arrived nicely boxed from Caithness, can you tell which bit it is?

 

[egg]

Looks like my/our ex forum Skoda is getting the love it needs...

[Ghosty]

eBay keeps telling me new 740 rear lights don't fit my 740 (from carparts4less) They're £10 cheaper each.

Do I bother risking it or buy slightly more expensive ones I'm more confident will fit from Parts for Volvos Online?

[egg]

Few odds and sods of interest at Aldi coming up this week...

[egg]

Re earlier Skoda pic, he's really cracking on!!

[puddlethumper]

I had the great fortune today of fucking off two Irish pikeys (other nationalities and travellers available) trying to rip off an eighty two year old woman across the street from where I'm working. 

Went out the front to have a faaag and saw a transit outside her house and a conversation going between her and two blokes. I've worked before on this house and knew the old lady slightly. Its a small cul de sac, so no through traffic. 

Went over and asked her if everything was ok. Blokes didn't look too happy that someone else was taking an interest. She told me they could jet wash her block paving for £450. 

Block paving on her place is no more than 4m x 2.5m. When I pointed out this was extortionate there answer was that they were going to put on a sealer that cost £100. When I asked what this product was, and could I see it  they said they would have to go and buy it. Yeah, right. Anyway you can't put a sealer on block paving when its wet from jet washing. It has to be dry for a start. They also said they would replace a roof tile in the price. Yeah, right.

They then tried to distract me by saying that you don't see many of those vans around anymore, 305, but didn't have a clue what make it was even though his grandad supposedly had had one and he remembered it as a kid.Yeah, right. Diversionary tactics.

Upshot was they fucked off. Fuckin shit bags.

I am feeling, erm, a bit chuffed to be honest.  Bastards!!!! Me 1 them 0.

[alcyonecorporation]

They wouldn't have bought it. 

There's apparently some water between here and Ireland and the ferries cost money. 
Or something. 

[Lord Sterling]

Took the BMW back up north to Middlesborough near to where it was first registered in Stockton-on-Tees. It performed faultlessly swallowing up the miles. Was weird seeing a lot of similar registered vehicles and rather surreal driving my own car so far. I've been up there a few times in works cars. Doing the job I do has made me wonder whether my own car was taken down south in the same manner, though it did live up north for quite while until I got my grubby mitts on it, just not in the same place it was registered.

[Shep Shepherd]

eBay keeps telling me new 740 rear lights don't fit my 740 (from carparts4less) They're £10 cheaper each.

Do I bother risking it or buy slightly more expensive ones I'm more confident will fit from Parts for Volvos Online?

 

I bought The Volvo's current pair of rear lights from Parts for Volvos Online/PFS and they fit and work perfectly. I've bought the majority of my Volvo parts (and latterly Saab parts) from the company over the years

[puddlethumper]

48€ a kilo! fucking hell!

Yeah, but its Belgian choccy stuff and if you get your lady just 12 euros worth, she will forgive you everything for at least a week, and to keep the good times rolling the suggestion that more could be obtained in the not too distant future can be used to your advantage. Its worked for me.

[Craig the Princess]

Enjoying the comfort of the 405 to go collecting...

 

 

[worldofceri]

I've slept in the car overnight...

 

I think I spotted you having a kip on the A14 early on Wednesday morning. Didn't realise it was you at the time though...!

[Craig the Princess]

 

The art of negotiation.

[Craig the Princess]

 

 

Zesty fresh.

 

Beige1100 has just bought this, 106 Zest 2 diesel. One owner from new who died in January, looks pretty straight bar a small dent in the passenger door.

 

Last day of MoT, failed on Thursday on handbrake inefficiency and a 10p size rust hole in the floor.

[dougiefourspeed]

Zesty fresh.

 

Beige1100 has just bought this, 106 Zest 2 diesel. One owner from new who died in January, looks pretty straight bar a small dent in the passenger door.

 

Last day of MoT, failed on Thursday on handbrake inefficiency and a 10p size rust hole in the floor.

 

Winners chariot.

[wuvvum]

Last day of MoT, failed on Thursday on handbrake inefficiency due to a 20p stuck in the handbrake mechanism..

FTFY.

[egg]

What have I become? Fake AA sticker replacement makes me happy!

 

[HMC]

Tested for another 12 months, in the end all the rear subframe bushes and most of the self levelling pipework got replaced, a bit of welding and a new injector. £ouch. To redeem itself it needs to be reliable transport for a year, and I need to keep it for a year. I trust the car but not the bit that involves me.

[adw1977]

Last day of MoT, failed on Thursday on handbrake inefficiency and a 10p size rust hole in the floor.

Weld 10p coin into hole, sorted.

[MorrisItalSLX]

That reminds me of the time I needed a large washer with a small hole and could not find one so I drilled a hole in a Aussie 50 cent coin and bunged it in.

It is probably still under the bonnet of my Hyundai as I don't remember swapping it for an actual washer. 

[17-Coffees]

So I'm borrowing* the jet washer and hose from my parents, and have a big collection of proper cleaning, sorry 'detailing' products I've never used, I always seem to win th stuff which is ironic considering how I don't properly clean my cars.

 

So having set about giving the Abarth a proper clean, it's all smooth and shiny now I offered to clean Supernaut's Mondeo, and gave me a chance to try in his OZ wheels from his old LS400...

It's a no from me, but also the fact the studs are too short for my likening! (On a few threads).

 

So after that I set about giving the Mondeo a clean up, and I'm pleased to say it's came up rather well for what I've done. Smooth and shiny!

[Justin Case]

A day of contrasting means of transport  (virtually all from the passenger seat though) First it was an open day at the museum  and this morning I was helping to look after the passengers on the Routemaster. I hadn't been on it for a while but I'm still impressed how good the ride  is for a 60  year old design 8/10.  Next I got talking to a visitor who regularly comes in his 1972  Landcrab and this ended up with him giving me a grand* tour of Aldridge in his car. I had forgotten just how good they were, there is acres of room inside, you sink into the comfy seats for a magic carpet ride and visibility all round is of course superb. 10/10 Going straight into the Mazda, it struck me how dismal and bland modern dashes are compared to those of 45 years ago.  Finally this afternoon off to see a Civil War re-enactment by Alfa Mito Cloverleaf. Impressive, but after the Landcrab the seats felt too firm and the ride too jiggly for comfort even on billiard table smooth motorway. It did however feel that it was always straining at the leash, which is to be expected from a Punto in a sharp suit with the power of 170 horses on tap 6/10.

Shitenote - Looking around the camp, the weapons of choice of the Parliamenterian Army are the pike, the musket and the Nissan X-Trail

[puddlethumper]

O.k. We all know what kind of dick heads, ( and other species ) that lurk in the cesspit of ebay. 

 

I've been looking at campers for under £1500. Just to see what you get. Yeah, I know, optimistic you would think, and in general you would be correct. 

 

I spotted a Bedford lwb Cf2 for £600. Click on pics. 4 abysmal pics. O.k. Scroll down to read up on what could be a shite camper, as befitting this parish, and the following missive was presented to me.

 

Heres my old Bedford camper, excellent summer project

Its a non runner, in need of some tlc on the engine.

Any questions 0780 blah de blah.   FFS!!!!  Is that it ?

 

I'm slightly interested in one of these as some years ago I had a Cf2 Lwb Diesel twin wheel and I liked it. As in " I kissed a girl and I liked it" sort of thing.

 So, decided to ask a few questions. I didn't want to ring coz he seemed to be the head of a penis. Did the ebay question route and sent the first 10 obvious ones. Then I sent another 10 slightly less important ones. I'm now in the process of thinking up 10 really stupid ones just to emphasise what a twat he is.

 

Been through all the mechanical shit, and some about interior stuff but open to ideas.

 

Don't know how to do a link coz I is see rap.   Crap, for those who are dyslexic.

[Noel Tidybeard]

A day of contrasting means of transport  (virtually all from the passenger seat though) First it was an open day at the museum  and this morning I was helping to look after the passengers on the Routemaster. I hadn't been on it for a while but I'm still impressed how good the ride  is for a 60  year old design 8/10.  Next I got talking to a visitor who regularly comes in his 1972  Landcrab and this ended up with him giving me a grand* tour of Aldridge in his car. I had forgotten just how good they were, there is acres of room inside, you sink into the comfy seats for a magic carpet ride and visibility all round is of course superb. 10/10 Going straight into the Mazda, it struck me how dismal and bland modern dashes are compared to those of 45 years ago.  Finally this afternoon off to see a Civil War re-enactment by Alfa Mito Cloverleaf. Impressive, but after the Landcrab the seats felt too firm and the ride too jiggly for comfort even on billiard table smooth motorway. It did however feel that it was always straining at the leash, which is to be expected from a Punto in a sharp suit with the power of 170 horses on tap 6/10.

Shitenote - Looking around the camp, the weapons of choice of the Parliamenterian Army are the pike, the musket and the Nissan X-Trail

 

not a damask red landcrab is it?

[Noel Tidybeard]

[Justin Case]

not a damask red landcrab is it?

No, it was was a murky green colour, I think its called Tundra

[OwdChina]

The timing chain cover has arrived.......

 

 

 

Now the rebuild can start...............

 

 

Or can it ?...........this is the very first time I've had a BRAND NEW head to fit. Loads of reconditioned heads or repaired or straight up gasket changes but never a untouched brand new one.

I'm thinking of putting a shelf up in the living room for it, with a sign underneath it saying

    BRAND NEW HEAD-DO NOT TOUCH-STAY AWAY