The new news 24 thread

[phil_lihp]

I've had Falkens in the past and just had a pair fitted to the front of the Hiace, they're pretty good.  I'd guess they're a considerably better bet than the Roadstones I was offered as a cheaper alternative.

 

On the subject of tyres, I don't know whether it's just a local tyre fitter supplying them by the bucket-load but there seems to be a lot of Jinyu tyres about lately (yes, it's sad but I do look when walking past a car sometimes!) - are they still nasty budget crap or half-decent now?

 

Anyway, as I had a day off work today I decided to get a couple of van jobs done.  The snapped drop-link was priority number one, the weather was reasonable and I had the whole day, they were only fitted a year or so ago so should be a nice, easy job, right?  Meh, just for once I'd like that to be true!  The broken one on the passenger side did come out fairly easily, in bits:

 

 

The only issue I had here really was the new tyres seem to give the van just a half inch more ground clearance, it was already a struggle for my Halfords jack to reach the chassis rails, even with a big sturdy piece of wood bridging the gap, and I was a few mm shy of the axle stands lifting the wheel completely off the ground so had to resort to putting wood underneath them, not something I particularly wanted to do but it seemed to work and nobody died.

 

I remember when I fitted the old drop links that neither was particularly well made, the one on the passenger side in particular was a complete bastard to get aligned with the anti roll bar, it took ages and a lot of washing up liquid and bad words to force it into place and this probably hasn't helped its demise.  The new one was much better and took very little time to get in place.

 

I thought I'd better do the pair and moved over to the driver's side - it's a good thing I did decide to change both, it was almost on the point of snapping as well and after a few minutes of fighting with the spanners it did break, in exactly the same place.  At that point, it all went downhill as the bolt holding it to the antiroll bar was seized solid and no amount of Plusgas, talking to it or brute force made the slightest bit of difference.

 

In the end, I resorted to spending 40 minutes lying underneath the van at a strange angle with a hacksaw looped around the track rod end and cutting through the bolt.  It put up quite a fight but I wasn't about to be defeated.

 

 

Again, the new one went in much more easily.  Success! 

 

 

Put the van back down on its wheels, cleared away the tools and went to go for a test drive, then it then did something it's never done before - it didn't want to start.  It turned over fine but didn't even try to fire, until the 5th or so attempt when it suddenly fired and ran as though nothing was amiss - no big smoke cloud either so I wonder if there was a random air bubble in the fuel.  Probably ought to get that fuel filter changed, I've no idea how old it is.

 

A test drive proved that all is now well with no more hideous suspension noises.  Poking around underneath it did show how rusty it is though, there's any number of places that look ready to go through although it's probably worse to look at than it is in reality.  The jacking points are useless, they were 'repaired' at some point in the past and folded up like damp cardboard the first time I tried jacking it up on them.

 

Anyway, it all took so long I didn't have time for much else but finished off by giving it a good cleanup inside and putting some new bedding in the back so it's ready for its next adventure next month.  I've got two weeks to make use of, I'm a bit torn between going over to Europe again or saving the ferry ticket this year and going up to Scotland, which I've been wanting to do for a long time.  I think Scotland might win, I've never been north of Edinburgh.

[egg]

If it's a grey Thunder or a 'Black' model, please don't tell me about it.

 

A mate from school bought a 'black' new on PCP and he had a private plate. It was a nice thing all the same, lol.

[phil_lihp]

I don't think it is either. Just 1.7 but a fairly late one.

 

I'm not remotely interested, of course, but do go on.

[The Moog]

I'm not remotely interested, of course, but do go on.

I may* have sent a message about it. You are all very bad people making me do it.

[phil_lihp]

I think one of the only things that would get me out of the ST170 at the moment would be a really tidy 1.7 Puma.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

No idea about the Jinyu's, Phil.  I saw a big banner for them today and that's all I know about them.

[New POD]

Last week we booked a night camping on Saturday night near Ullswater. Have you seen the weather forecast. We ain't going. I may not get my money back either.

[vulgalour]

Finally found another house to put an offer in on.  Unusually, it was larger in person than it looked in the photographs, it's normally the other way around with estate agents.  Slightly awkward in that it currently only has parking for 2 cars and we have 3 to house, but there's space to extend the drive and build a nice garage and one of the three cars (probably the Princess) can live in a relative's garage until we've done that.  If our offer is accepted, of course.  We've not had a lot of luck finding properties worth going for that stay in budget but a recent slump in London house prices means we might have a bit of a chance with this one as people panic and accept whatever's offered, apparently.  I wouldn't know, I've only ever rented, which seems considerably less painful than attempting to purchase a house.

[New POD]

I posted up a house in another thread that we went to see today. Ideal BTL. Full of potential for martial disagreements.

Just redoing the bathroom will require decisions. Which cause strife.

We can't agree on what to offer and my wife thinks the rent should be 10% lower than i think it should be. But that 10% is 800 quid a year. Surely you'd advertise at a higher rent and see if you get interest????

[Ghosty]

Anyone happen to know someone in Lancashire who will change the electromagnetic bushes on a K11 CVT box? no doubt they've never been fucking done, and the car is a pain to get moving, sometimes it snatches and goes (prob like it should normally ) other times it goes through a fucking checklist.. "am i a cheeseburger... no... a plane? no... Jeremy Clarkson riding a penguin..no... OH FUCK I'm a damn gearbox.."

 

It's annoying.

 

 

My mum's been there with CVTs of that age, both with a K11a and a sad face Fiesta: mated to small engines they just don't work. My mum's Fez used to hesitate and stall in D, and when it cut out it wouldn't start again.

Personally I'd just sack it off, even ten years ago a CVT rebuild was £500+. Nobody really likes to touch them.

[wuvvum]

On the train to London, leg one of one of the dafter missions I've undertaken. It's going to be a long day. Not quite Bucketeer long, but long nonetheless.

[skattrd]

On the train to London, leg one of one of the dafter missions I've undertaken. It's going to be a long day. Not quite Bucketeer long, but long nonetheless.

 

Audi delivery and home in a bargain Rover perchance?

[wuvvum]

Perchance, perchance.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Grandfather’s 90th today. I’m driving his old car. Everyone else has a variety of conflicting vehicular priorities, including a retired actuary, a joiner, a vet, a mechanic, three farmers, two retired GPs, a crafter and a former sailor/electrical engineer. Possibility also the retired Major will turn up, the insurance broker and the Classics Teacher. All relatives. Let’s see what they turn up in this time...

[wuvvum]

Train #2 achieved, slightly ahead of schedule.

[wuvvum]

Audi level: unlocked

 

[The Moog]

 

 

Anyone happen to know someone in Lancashire who will change the electromagnetic bushes on a K11 CVT box?

Ask NJGleeds - he is in fence and has his own garage. Might tell you to bugger off if it is going to give him nightmares!

 

I think he is still in counselling after mx5 diff bushes for me.

[wuvvum]

I officially fucking hate driving in London.

[vulgalour]

When a house has been on the market for above a year and you've reduced the price by 40k and it's still not sold, perhaps you need to re-evaluate how much you think it's worth rather than saying "We're not being greedy".  Fired up the looking machine again to see if I can sniff out some more back up properties because I have a feeling this house is going to go out of budget because of a delusional seller.

[skattrd]

I officially fucking hate driving in London.

 

Waze, free satnav app for the phone I found works well in London/traffic

[wuvvum]

Escaped from London eventually, now on A14, stopped to check levels.

[davehedgehog31]

Gave the little C1 a full service. A mere 3.2L or golden nectar required.

 

The brake discs were pitted or something, most annoying. Got new discs and pads from ECP this morning and swapped over. All good.

 

Total cost for all service materials and brakes, £66. Can't grumble really...

 

The wheel trims were a bit fucked, so jettisoned those. I think the bare steel wheels suit the utilitarian baseness of the car.

 

It's size and modernness make going between this and the 405 quite a good change either way.

 

 

[wuvvum]

Over t'bridge.

 

[jollysmart]

Over t'bridge.

 

IMG_20180818_160730.jpg

I recognise that bridge and if you are doing 50 you will be the first one ever, I have it second hand that at least once in excess of 140mph has been achieved on it, allegedly and it is only a mile long. Not far from destination now?

[wuvvum]

Aaand again...

 

[junkyarddog]

Today I haz been mostly stripping the paint of a used MK2 Capri wing.

 

Bought this a couple of weeks ago.

Bloody expensive for what it is,but that's Ford tax for you.

Still it's rot free,Just surface spots here and there.

Some filler in there too,as it's been twatted in the past.

Looks like it was a replacement at some point as it appears it was bolted on.

Hopefully it will fit ok.

 

 

 

 

 

Bonus smoll dog content too.

[wuvvum]

Where Junkmen fear to tread.

 

[richardmorris]

I went to Capel show in the x1/9 today, the clutch is now fine, but the rear off side caliper is sticking on. Wheel is black and very hot! I’ve had the wheel off just now and nothings leaking, but the disc is very hard to turn by hand. I’ve ordered a new pair of hoses from Eurosport.

 

Some nice cars and owners, some not so much. The owner and I measured the mercury park avenue, it’s a full 6ft longer than the fiat!

[fordperv]

Today I haz been mostly stripping the paint of a used MK2 Capri wing.

 

Bought this a couple of weeks ago.

Bloody expensive for what it is,but that's Ford tax for you.

Still it's rot free,Just surface spots here and there.

Some filler in there too,as it's been twatted in the past.

Looks like it was a replacement at some point as it appears it was bolted on.

Hopefully it will fit ok.

 

 

20180818_122922.jpg

 

20180818_125537.jpg

 

20180818_132514.jpg

 

Bonus smoll dog content too.

Got any pictures of the capri to share?

[Guest Hooli]

Today I haz been mostly stripping the paint of a used MK2 Capri wing.

 

Bought this a couple of weeks ago.

Bloody expensive for what it is,but that's Ford tax for you.

Still it's rot free,Just surface spots here and there.

Some filler in there too,as it's been twatted in the past.

Looks like it was a replacement at some point as it appears it was bolted on.

Hopefully it will fit ok.

 

 

20180818_122922.jpg

 

20180818_125537.jpg

 

20180818_132514.jpg

 

Bonus smoll dog content too.

 

smoll dawg appears to know to stand clear.