The new news 24 thread

[mrbenn]

Thanks.

 

It does look good in that colour. I’m always quietly pleased when a car I buy has some marks to it as I won’t be quite as upset if it picks up another one.

[danthecapriman]

Got the Transit out today, not used it in months! Thought I’d best give it a good run before the MOT runs out on Wednesday. Unbelievably it seems fine, I’d expected sticky brakes or something but it starts and drives spot on.

I’d forgotten actually how good this thing is to drive. I mean it’s bloody awful really but in a weird way only people on here would understand that makes it brilliant!

 

Got home and checked it over quick ready for an MOT. Bloody wipers and washers not working! Not even trying.

This is a first for me, but I checked the fuse - ok. Oh, but what’s all this white powder all over everything? Pulled the fuse, cleaned off the white shite, fuse back in and everything working as it should! That’s got to be the first time I’ve ever had an easy win like that!

I think I’m going to get both rear tyres replaced at the same time too. They’re really looking their age now and there’s some big cracks appearing in the sidewalls. I think they’ve been an advisory a few times before but I think it’s time to not push it with them anymore.

 

I’ll book the test and tyres next week and see how it goes...

[Skizzer]

Riding high after fixing the Lotus yesterday I managed to get the Rover clutch hydraulics to work by flushing through with fresh Dot 4, which has nicely done the trick.

 

It runs happily enough round the farm so it’s now down off the ramps and no longer blocking the entrance to Shed 2.

 

 

The Lancia doesn’t want to let me siphon off any more of the stale fuel as I can’t get the pickup deep enough into the tank, so I’ll have to think of an alternative plan. It’s so close to running, it’s very frustrating.

[anonymous user]

How much do you reckon is left in the tank? I have been lazy in the past and stuck fresh super unleaded on top with a bottle of octane booster and it has worked. (This does not mean it will work on something as sensitive as a Lancia)

[Saabnut]

Went to the local farmers market this morning - drank wine.

 

Met up with a friend who was also there - drank wine.

 

Went of to a local Bric-a-Brac (car boot sale) in a nearby village - drank wine

 

Ate sausage and chips (well the french equivalent) and drank wine

 

Looked round the stalls and my friend bought a 3ft high wooden giraffe - previous activities had nothing* to do with this

 

Back to the wine stall - drank wine

 

Just been dropped off back at home and now sitting under the Linden tree, 27c, sunshine and drinking wine.

 

It is a hard life.......

[egg]

The electric Skoda Favorit pick up is now for sale. £2k though 

[Asimo]

4E1848FC-8B63-47DF-B9B1-7872F0F6C37C.jpeg

The Lancia doesn’t want to let me siphon off any more of the stale fuel as I can’t get the pickup deep enough into the tank, so I’ll have to think of an alternative plan. It’s so close to running, it’s very frustrating.

I have emptied a tank just by putting a piece of hose over the fuel feed from the pump to divert the fuel flow into a "suitable receptacle" ( a less fussy car / lawnmower that does work) and connecting the fuel pump to the battery.

 

With no pressure on it, the pump moves fuel at quite a rate, and of course is sucking from nearly the bottom of the tank.

[richardmorris]

I’m just back from Beaulieu. Traipsed around for five hours and had enough. Arrived at 8.30 am and no queues to get in at all and parked in the first place on the left not s far flung field. I liked the record breakers theatre in the museum, that’s new - seagrave, camberley cars etc with film. Overall the huge number of stalls was about the same but the crowds less I think.

 

The only thing that really took my interest for sale was a Maserati Quattroporte for sale by Brooklands historics at £28000 and a factory six door Mercedes w124 250D. RHD and black it was £9000.

 

My single purchase of autojumble was a tatty wheel spinner that I’ve just polished and put into immediate use as a paperweight.

[Skizzer]

How much do you reckon is left in the tank? I have been lazy in the past and stuck fresh super unleaded on top with a bottle of octane booster and it has worked. (This does not mean it will work on something as sensitive as a Lancia)

It’s about half a tank - I put a 5 litre can of fresh petrol in, but it was only 95 octane... another 5l of 98 SuperMegaUltimate and some octane booster like you suggest is a good next plan.

 

The nearest supplier of 98 octane is miles away these days. It’s a foretaste of 10 years hence when petrol stations become scarce because it’s very difficult to make money.

 

 

Edit: and if that doesn’t work, I’ll try Asimo’s suggestion of emptying the tank via the fuel pump. I have some spare fuel hose and a suitable receptacle.

[anonymous user]

It's worth a go, don't blame me if it doesn't work; although it would be a good excuse to buy something with an A series, that will run on anything,to use up the resultant mixture.

 

I was at Tesco Bridgend earlier getting diesel and noticed the car on the next pump had a shreddeded rear tyre, I shouted over to the lad putting fuel in, but he said he knew. I asked if he needed a hand to change it, but he said he had no spare, I said he was lucky that Kwik Fit was just up the road. He just shrugged, paid for his fuel and I watched as he went back out onto the main road, away from Kwik Fit.

[Skizzer]

It's worth a go, don't blame me if it doesn't work; although it would be a good excuse to buy something with an A series, that will run on anything,to use up the resultant mixture.

Good point; on reflection, my most suitable receptacle is in fact parked next to the Lancia in the above photo. The Rover will run on any old shit, because Buick.

 

I was at Tesco Bridgend earlier getting diesel and noticed the car on the next pump had a shreddeded rear tyre, I shouted over to the lad putting fuel in, but he said he knew. I asked if he needed a hand to change it, but he said he had no spare, I said he was lucky that Kwik Fit was just up the road. He just shrugged, paid for his fuel and I watched as he went back out onto the main road, away from Kwik Fit.

Croeso i Benybont.

[mark1986]

Still haven't got round to sorting the exhaust clamp out, although the replacement has now arrived. This week's procrastination did result in a rare visit from the bucket & sponge though. 

 

So.. the Clio is still looking moderately shiny, but this exhaust thing is starting to annoy me. Stuck it up on axle stands today to have a poke around, and while I was pretty pleased with the general state of the underside, the clamp type isn't what I was expecting (obvs the tightening screw is completely buggered and rusted solid)

 

 

It's getting noisier as well 

[stuboy]

Popped up to sittingbourne to swap brake pads and discs over on friends mondeo, hes 'new brakes'that were fitted had faded and glazed and were unsafe to use.. we also shunted his mk1 citrine about to allow other cars back onto the drive..

[wuvvum]

I've given up on changing the track rod end on the Audi.  Got the ball joint nut off OK with the nut splitter, and eventually got the locknut loosened and the retaining collar knocked off, but the TRE is showing absolutely no interest in coming unscrewed from the arm.  I left it soaking in GT85 overnight, I've heated it up with a blowtorch and got an adjustable spanner on it which I was then levering down with a 3' crowbar braced against the spring cup, and it didn't even flinch.  So I think I'm going to have to replace the whole track rod, or even the entire steering arm if they are still available - that would be the easiest solution from a hassle point of view as it's just held onto the rack assembly by one BFO bolt which is easily accessible from under the bonnet.

 

I have sorted the rattle on the back of the Rover of Doom though - turned out to be a slightly loose brake drum on the offside - I'd had to drill out the retaining screws to adjust the brakes for the last MOT, so the drum was just held on by the wheel studs, and there was enough play there for it to jangle around over bumps.  I nicked one of the retaining screws from the 45, and silence reigned.

 

Speaking of the 45, I've spent this weekend turning it into a lowrider.

 

 

Only joking - it was jacked right up at the back as my mate was welding up the suspension bush mounting point - that's all done now and it's back together, and it doesn't go "BANG" over speed bumps or judder under braking any more so I'm going to consider it fixed.  Just need to book it in for a test now.

 

I've done 30 or so miles in the Renault 6 today.  It's hardly been out of the garage all summer, and even then it didn't go further than the next village, which was a bit of a waste of its MOT-exempt status.  So today was its first proper run out for a good couple of years, and it behaved just fine - the front brake was still a bit sticky at times but I only had to pull over once to tap the caliper to free it off - it's definitely improving with use.  Here it is by the seaside earlier this evening:

 

[Fat_Pirate]

Made it to Beaulieu autojumble today - no queues, and it didn't seem particularly busy.  There was a clean Rover 213 in beige (brown velour) up at £995, but most of the other cars were stupidly overpriced.  Have some pics:

Quite a few fucked MGAs were on offer.

840i at £7950.  I quite like these but spending that sum on a M3 would probably be a safer bet.

Nothing good on TV you say?

[egg]

Popped up to sittingbourne to swap brake pads and discs over on friends mondeo, hes 'new brakes'that were fitted had faded and glazed and were unsafe to use.. we also shunted his mk1 citrine about to allow other cars back onto the drive..

 

I amazed it went in sideways! One of the most 'important' Mk1 Mondeos left too.

[tommotech]

For a while I’ve been considering an MG, F or TF but not really looked too seriously.

 

My opposite neighbor has a 2002 TF 1.6 that has 54,000 miles from new. He repaired the head gasket some 18 months ago and it blew again within 3 months and has not moved since. I’ve been offered it for £200, which seems reasonable to me.

 

As I have many projects on the go I’ve used man maths and AS logic to think I should take it on. Some of the fleet will need to be rationalised though, Rover Metro is available if anyone is interested, but inner and outer sills are needed, not a task to be taken lightly.

 

Picasso will have the engine and other useful bits harvested, but will be bridged.

 

Any valid reason not to enter into MG TF ownership? (even if it needs repair!)

[New POD]

Used about 4bhp for most of the pissing roadworks on the M6!!

I'll be getting up at 5 am to drive through them yet again.

[New POD]

For a while I’ve been considering an MG, F or TF but not really looked too seriously.

 

My opposite neighbor has a 2002 TF 1.6 that has 54,000 miles from new. He repaired the head gasket some 18 months ago and it blew again within 3 months and has not moved since. I’ve been offered it for £200, which seems reasonable to me.

 

As I have many projects on the go I’ve used man maths and AS logic to think I should take it on. Some of the fleet will need to be rationalised though, Rover Metro is available if anyone is interested, but inner and outer sills are needed, not a task to be taken lightly.

 

Picasso will have the engine and other useful bits harvested, but will be bridged.

 

Any valid reason not to enter into MG TF ownership? (even if it needs repair!)

It's just a mid engined metro.

[somewhatfoolish]

Made it to Beaulieu autojumble today - no queues, and it didn't seem particularly busy.  There was a clean Rover 213 in beige (brown velour) up at £995, but most of the other cars were stupidly overpriced.  Have some pics:

2018-09-02 10.28.52.jpg

Is that a Minerva?

[drivewaymyway]

For a while I’ve been considering an MG, F or TF but not really looked too seriously.

 

My opposite neighbor has a 2002 TF 1.6 that has 54,000 miles from new. He repaired the head gasket some 18 months ago and it blew again within 3 months and has not moved since. I’ve been offered it for £200, which seems reasonable to me.

 

As I have many projects on the go I’ve used man maths and AS logic to think I should take it on. Some of the fleet will need to be rationalised though, Rover Metro is available if anyone is interested, but inner and outer sills are needed, not a task to be taken lightly.

 

Picasso will have the engine and other useful bits harvested, but will be bridged.

 

Any valid reason not to enter into MG TF ownership? (even if it needs repair!)

How do they know it's deffo OMGHGF ?? If it's spewing out coolant from the cap it is a known fault for the cap to be weak. I've done a lot of work on my 'F' and the MGF owners have been very helpful. Working on these isn't as bad as it looks, you will most likely need something to stand on as working from the top means leaning in through a hatch.. I would recon there might also be an issue with the head gasket fitted as they are sold as MLS 'Uprated' which is BS, the MLS is only needed if the liners have dropped but if the block and liners are even the genuine HG is best. The issue isn't with the HG but with the plastic locating lugs but these were replaced in the factory in 1998 so a repeated HG fail is not going to be an issue with HG, £200 is a bargain. The 1.6 is not much different to the 1.8 to drive in the real world but they are much better on MPG, the only choice is 16v or VVC, I have a 16v and  with a few mods it does me just fine.. Buy it, fix it, enjoy it.. Get the pee taken out of you then just giggle in the knowledge you got a £200 bargain..

[tommotech]

The fact is that they don’t know it’s HGF, for sure, just assumed and parked it up.

 

I plan to diagnose it properly before taking any repair actions. I do agree it’s a bargain though. Thanks for the additional info too.

[stuboy]

I amazed it went in sideways! One of the most 'important' Mk1 Mondeos left too.

agreeable neighbor ok wth slight over hang on communal alley path

[iainrcz]

Work news.

6 hours to go and I'm fucking free till Friday.

 

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

[Richard]

I attached my secondhand wing mirror to the Focus today, replacing the one kindly modified by a drunk chav last weekend.  For £20 a slightly scruffy fully electric/heated wing mirror was procured and fitted, I swapped over the (tatty) coloured panel so it looks original and it works perfectly.  Sadly, the Hiace mirror wasn't so easy as the previous owner's fitted replacement mirrors which I think are for a different model, they have never had enough adjustment in them to get a proper view down the side of the van and the glass I was sent is a slightly different shape.

 

I then turned my attention to why the Focus' high level rear brake light and washer don't work.  I reckon there might be a connection there - or rather, a lack of connections...

 

20180901_190554.jpg

 

20180901_190612.jpg

 

It's a common problem on these it seems, the wires chafe through at the point where they're routed through the gap between the tailgate and body and the plastic washer pipe joiner, presumably used because the rubber could get squashed, has also split, making all the chafed wires nice and damp.  This would also explain the persistent dampness in the boot.  The wires are lovely and green and every one is damaged - the fun bit here is that if they break completely, I don't think I'll be able to open the boot as the release is electronic.  Well done Ford, great design!

 

I've ordered some heatshrink and wire, I'll break out my soldering iron and will have a crack at repairing it - can't make it much worse and a new loom is about £130 plus all the hassle of pulling out the headliner to find the plug where it joins the main loom, as it's nowhere to be seen from what I could establish during my ferreting about yesterday.  I can't find a part number for the plastic pipe so I'm going to glue the two halves back together (they fit neatly together, fortunately) and have ordered a length of washer pipe to sleeve it with as an added precaution.

 

I also went around the car with a touchup brush and made some of the stonechips, scuffs and scratches slightly less obvious - concours it is not, but nothing short of a full respray will rescue this car's paintwork.  Goodness knows what the previous owner was doing with it, but judging by the numerous heavy etchings of bird poo on the bonnet and roof, I don't think it got washed much.

 

I ended the day on a familiar note.

 

20180901_192917.jpg

 

It would seem that a number of short-ish journeys, leaving the radio on for a couple of hours while I worked on it and having a battery with 'warranty expires 2016' written on it in biro was a winning combination - battery voltage was down to 9V and it didn't even try to turn over.  Hiace to the rescue once again.

 

 

Add about 6" in when you repair the wires so you can push the solder joints well away from the bit that bends.

[egg]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/rpp/prepcar

 

Ebay have 15% of selected car parts/wheels sellers (including ECP). Probably the usual bull of increase prices and then put them on sale. But still, worth a quick browse maybe. Min spend £20.

[phil_lihp]

Add about 6" in when you repair the wires so you can push the solder joints well away from the bit that bends.

 

Good shout, thanks - yes, there's plenty of room to bundle up excess wires so no need to skimp here, should make the job a bit easier as well.

[Bren]

The filthy passat has shat its alternator.

I have spunked £175 fitted on a new one.

[nacho man]

Went to a classic car show on the bank holiday mon at a place just off the a47 in Leics. It was free for classics which was good.

 

But best thing was the pretty much full blown rally/Millie Miglia type run back of scimitar v xj12 of me v my uncle. Most enjoyable.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Fumbler]

Rav 4 went in to coachworks to replace broken trimpieces. They fell off because the mounts had become pure ferrous oxide. What grandmother didn't notice was the dent in her rear bumper which distorts the reflector and parking sensors. I'd have had that repaired over some wheel arch trim.