The new news 24 thread

[dean36014]

Been playing with the rover today. Bonnet cab mod done, thanks for the heads up on that dollywobbler. Fitted the new modified handbrake compensator, so now have a working handbrake. new PCV filter fitted, old one was filthy so hopefully the engine will breath easier.Adjusted the fit of the nearside front wing so its a bit closer to the bumper, not perfect yet, but better. Removed the old phone cradle off the dash so it looks neater inside. Found under the rear carpets wet , so suspect its the rear light seals so ordered a new pair. oh and the airbag light has now gone off, so i'm pretty sure thats the connectors under the seats as theyve been moved about alot today. Jobs left are feed and clean the seats, and adjust the bumper bracket so it fits correctly.

[dollywobbler]

Just back after another road trip to the South East. The Mercedes was absolutely in its element. Overall MPG was 27, but that included two hours of 80mph followed by two hours of crawling traffic as we hit the M25 in Friday afternoon's rush hour. Got to love an automatic in those circumstances! It is now starting much more happily and barely lost any coolant at all. It has hit my reserve of £400 on Ebay with a day to go. Hope it does more!

 

If I needed to do more cruising like that, I think I'd be tempted to keep it. I've never owned anything that feels so ridiculously relaxed at an indicated 80mph (and occasionally a bit more as it's easy to accidentally do a few more). As it is, I'm still plotting what to get next...

 

EDIT - forgot to mention that I went to a rather pleasant party in a posh part of Croydon (yes, there is one). One of the guests turned up in an H-reg Orion. WINNAH!

[cort16]

Wuvvum the only thing that shifts tree sap is hot soapy water nowt else will shift it.

[catsinthewelder]

You're looking for a Favorit and a Samara needs saving, you know what you need to do....

 

 

[Mike D]

I collected this honey on Friday afternoon, for no other reason other than I've never had an Alfa and my friend was selling it close by

 

 

It's ace, quick, fairly communicative for a big lump, and the embroidered momo leather interior is a lovely place to sit. It's had the heater matrix and top engine steady replaced already, as well as receipts for the exhaust and wishbones in the past too

[vulgalour]

Trick of the light or is that actually a very dark metallic brown?

[Mike D]

its a very dark metallic aubergine

[cms206]

Fitted the first of four Sherpa seatbelt buckles to the Maestro today, not ideal as they're on mounts which are about six inches too long... done the front passenger seat which was bolted in, but the rears are Torx. And I don't have the right size. Durrr. Found a tin of black Hammerite to tidy the sills up. Fixed the rear bench and the parcel shelf today, then it repaid me by lunching a headlight bulb and gaining a steering shudder at about 60mph. Deep joy oh rapture...

 

In other news I've got my letter of resignation typed up for work, significant other has typed hers up and fingers crossed we'll both be starting new jobs within the next fortnight.

[dollywobbler]

Merc is currently at £400 on Ebay with less than two hours to go. I hope it does more but at least if it sells, then I haven't got to tax it - RFL runs out tomorrow.

 

Given that the BX is broken, that does leave me worryingly low in terms of working cars. Well, just one in fact - the 2CV.

[cort16]

Fitted the first of four Sherpa seatbelt buckles to the Maestro today, not ideal as they're on mounts which are about six inches too long... done the front passenger seat which was bolted in, but the rears are Torx. And I don't have the right size. Durrr. Found a tin of black Hammerite to tidy the sills up. Fixed the rear bench and the parcel shelf today, then it repaid me by lunching a headlight bulb and gaining a steering shudder at about 60mph. Deep joy oh rapture...

 

In other news I've got my letter of resignation typed up for work, significant other has typed hers up and fingers crossed we'll both be starting new jobs within the next fortnight.

 

Do you know what size of torx you need I've got a spare set of 1/2 inch drive (i think) one you could borrow?

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I got the Sprite & Mini's exhaust clamps swapped round, and both cars seem happy with the arrangement for now. I don't mind if the Sprite blows at the clamp because there's excellent access to it without having to remove anything. Whereas the Mini needs the bonnet removed, the carb removed with all that entails, the front wheel off and the car on stands, and all that nonsense.

 

Cleaning out the needle valve improved the rough running but didn't cure it so the carb came off again for a more thorough cleaning. Loads of little black specs of dirt in there so fingers crossed that's it sorted now.

[dollywobbler]

Contact made with the Merc buyer. Looks like it'll be going on a banger rally. Well, why not travel in comfort? Should be gone this week.

 

Fired up the BX so I could get it back on the ramps and it was misting the LHM. That suggests a high pressure pipe failure. In theory, this should be no more difficult than changing a brake pipe. In practice, I bet the rear subframe needs dropping and all the unions are rusted up. Bother.

[dollywobbler]

In other news, I'm trying to decide what on earth to buy next. I got in a right state last time and ended up with a Mercedes that did my head in right up until the moment I decided to sell it. A Xantia V6 seems a nice idea, and there's an Activa on Ebay tempting me. But given that complicated cars invariably end up doing my head in, neither of these choices seem that wise.

 

So what about a Ford Cougar? Mondeo underpinnings, 'interesting' styling and I found one for just £295 with long MOT. Yes, it comes with an enormous To Do list, but anything is at that money. But am I actually going to look at it and consider it well bought? I doubt it. I've been looking at Rover 75s again as well. I would like another - V6 auto this time (shame Norfolk is so far away) perhaps. Maybe that's the answer.

[sporty-shite]

Took 306 for MOT last week. Failed on a track rod end, a drop link and weak handbrake. Replaced both TREs, both drop links and sorted the handbrake on Friday, thinking that whilst I've been working all weekend and early shift today, I'll take it for retest this afternoon. So, just to piss me off, it's spunked all of it's PAS fluid out of the pump. So, tomorrow will be spent trying to find a replacement pump, get it fitted, then go for retest.

 

Anyone got a PAS pump for a 306 turbo D lying around? Preferably close to Bolton. CASH WAITIN M8.

[cobblers]

I been at the T25 again today. I wasn't 100% happy that the rear lower corners I welded up last week weren't going to rust through in a few years, and doing the rusty rear tubs underneath them would have been a nightmare to get access to - so I ordered a pair of new corners from Anal Schofields, £15 each and I was promised they fitted pretty well. I've had some good stuff from them before, but also stuff that was completely unusable, so I waited til they arrived before cutting the (probably perfectly good) old ones off.

 

After they sent them to the wrong address and UPS ignoring the change of address, I finally got them a week after I ordered. Nevermind though, they seemed reasonably good quality so I came home from work today and got the grinder out.

 

So here you can see me checking the panel fits before cutting the old off:

 

Here's the main reason I was cutting all that out - rusty rear tubs, every t25 will look like this - All the water that comes in the side vents collects in these corners and rots a hole out, which allows it to drain, so they only get so bad. It's not an MOT fail but I'd rather get rid of it obviously. Most vans just get a snotted on patch covering the rust because you can't get in to cut it all out or even prep it properly.

 

 

I went at it a bit with the grinder and turned loads of the 80s VW trademark rubbery foam underseal stuff into dust and loads of blue smoke, which I'm sure is very healthy to breath. To be fair, this stuff is good gear - If I could replace it with the same stuff I would, but I doubt it's something you can buy nowadays, it's probably a special asbestos/lead/bakelite composite.

 

Anyway so I chopped that horrible lot out, and then remembered my air filter was just above, along with a load of fuel lines and all sorts of stuff, so I moved them out of the way before I started welding cos I wasn't really in the mood for setting the van alight, maybe another day!

 

 

MEGA PRO TIP: Don't pissball around with cardboard templates or tracing round the bent up bit of scrap you took out, just put a load of masking tape over the hole and use your mucky finger to trace the outline (dress the edges of the hole first or you'll end up slicing your finger open and then you'll never be able to see the mucky mark). I had to artificially filth my finger for this step, which was unusual, my hands are usually dirtyer than a butchers housekey.

 

Now peel this off and stick it on your sheet of zintec, or bit of old window side cut off a T4, whichever you prefer. Get an adult to follow the mucky mark with a felt pen:

 

 

Cut it out, go over it with a stripit disk for about 45 minutes to remove all 10 layers of paint and bitumen sound deadening, give it a quick fettle and it'll fit lovely:

 

Forget to take a picture of it welded on before you put the rear corner back on, so take one after and hope nobody notices or takes the piss out of the messy upside down with a knackered mask welding:

 

Tadaa, all done. The £15 Schofields panel actually fit pretty well, it only needed a few minutes work braying the seam over a bit, takine a crease out of the corner and a little tweak to get the curvature perfect. Now it just needs the seam filling with some kind of goop and it's ready for prep:

 

 

I was hoping to get both sides done today but didn't really want to rush it, so I made a start on the other side. Here it is before - it was 100% solid apart from the obvious, but underneath it wasn't much better than the other side:

 

So I cut the lot off:

 

Nowehere near as bad underneath, but it's just as easy to put a big plate in as it is a little one, so I'll replace the same amount:

 

 

Has anyone got any recommendations for something I can try and pump into these seams to stop the going rusty, that will fill the gap and not shrink/crack in a few months? We used brushable seam sealer on the last van - squeegied deep into the seam, then all wiped off with thinners and a rag, like grouting tiles but with much more chemicals. Looked great to start with, but it all started to shrink and crack a few months after paint. I'm planning to use tigerseal?

[Cavcraft]

Took 306 for MOT last week. Failed on a track rod end, a drop link and weak handbrake. Replaced both TREs, both drop links and sorted the handbrake on Friday, thinking that whilst I've been working all weekend and early shift today, I'll take it for retest this afternoon. So, just to piss me off, it's spunked all of it's PAS fluid out of the pump. So, tomorrow will be spent trying to find a replacement pump, get it fitted, then go for retest.

 

Anyone got a PAS pump for a 306 turbo D lying around? Preferably close to Bolton. CASH WAITIN M8.

 

 

(Unhelpful response)

 

I was going to buy a rough 306TD, agreed a price then the seller Welshed on the deal and now wants more money. It's still worth the asking price but they can shove it up their arse, it's the principle of the thing now.

[DSdriver]

Loads of little black specs of dirt in there so fingers crossed that's it sorted now.

 

Could possibly be the insides of your fuel pipes reacting to addition of ethanol?

[sporty-shite]

Took 306 for MOT last week. Failed on a track rod end, a drop link and weak handbrake. Replaced both TREs, both drop links and sorted the handbrake on Friday, thinking that whilst I've been working all weekend and early shift today, I'll take it for retest this afternoon. So, just to piss me off, it's spunked all of it's PAS fluid out of the pump. So, tomorrow will be spent trying to find a replacement pump, get it fitted, then go for retest.

 

Anyone got a PAS pump for a 306 turbo D lying around? Preferably close to Bolton. CASH WAITIN M8.

 

 

(Unhelpful response)

 

I was going to buy a rough 306TD, agreed a price then the seller Welshed on the deal and now wants more money. It's still worth the asking price but they can shove it up their arse, it's the principle of the thing now.

 

MEH! Money grabbing wankers!

[DSdriver]

@ Cobblers

Nice work and a great write-up. Made I larf.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Loads of little black specs of dirt in there so fingers crossed that's it sorted now.

 

Could possibly be the insides of your fuel pipes reacting to addition of ethanol?

 

I never thought of that. I did renew some of the lines, but I had to use R6 hose because I didn't have time to order anything better online. In any case I fitted an inline fuel filter, I'll keep an eye it.

[dollywobbler]

Bah. Merc buyer seems to have gone all quiet now. I asked for a deposit before I spend £123.75 on road tax and haven't had a reply. Given that the BX is broken, frankly I'm starting to think I should have binned the auction before it ended. The Merc is now starting beautifully. I pulled the idle control valve off on Friday, just before we departed. Gave it a clean up so perhaps that's done the trick. I was trying to find why it was running rich. I haven't sussed this one yet, but it is running nicely. Bloody typical that I finally get it working just as I sell it.

[messerschmitt owner]

Bah. Merc buyer seems to have gone all quiet now. I asked for a deposit before I spend £123.75 on road tax and haven't had a reply. Given that the BX is broken, frankly I'm starting to think I should have binned the auction before it ended. The Merc is now starting beautifully. I pulled the idle control valve off on Friday, just before we departed. Gave it a clean up so perhaps that's done the trick. I was trying to find why it was running rich. I haven't sussed this one yet, but it is running nicely. Bloody typical that I finally get it working just as I sell it.

if desperation strikes - you can borrow a ratty XM hatch for a few weeks

[dollywobbler]

Thanks Campbell. I think the deal has fallen through. He's claiming dishonesty because a friend saw it advertised with what I thought at the time was a serious radiator issue. The fact that I've just driven over 500 miles in it has not proved satisfactory. Down on my Ebay fees but keeping it works for me at the moment.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Another eBay cockshaft, I wonder what percentage of eBay motors sales actually result in a trasaction nowadays? I bet its about 20%.

[dollywobbler]

Another eBay cockshaft, I wonder what percentage of eBay motors sales actually result in a trasaction nowadays? I bet its about 20%.

 

Aye. It only made £400 as well, so yet further proof that this really is a crap part of the world to try and sell cheap motors. Not to worry. I'll just keep it and stop faffing about wondering what else to buy. Need to fix some of the cars I already own! On the plus side, the V5C has finally come through, though it states: "was registered as ID 4323, declared manufactured 1990." Date of first registration is actually 1997. Wonder what's going on there?

 

EDIT - Mystery solved. It's an error on the logbook. Was originally registered IDZ 4323 in Northern Ireland, by Isaac Agnew. I'm currently trawling through the service history. Some of the entries are filled in with a fountain pen! Seriously classy.

[sporty-shite]

He's claiming dishonesty because a friend saw it advertised with what I thought at the time was a serious radiator issue. The fact that I've just driven over 500 miles in it has not proved satisfactory. Down on my Ebay fees but keeping it works for me at the moment.

 

Car in GETTING FIXED shocker.

 

I'd be onto ebay about getting fees back over this. No way would I be taking a pill for £40+. They could fuck right off.

[dollywobbler]

I didn't fix it though! It was just not as broken as I stupidly thought. I can't be arsed fighting over this one. I did when some twat came up with the old 'my son bid but didn't mean it' when I was selling the 309. This time I'm just a bunch of 'meh.' I really should have ended the auction, or perhaps not even put it on Ebay at all! Stupid haste.

[Mike D]

I rescued my beetle from my now ex house, and have dumped it on my folks drive while I have some tea

 

 

I had to lob the jump pack on it as its been sat for about 8 months, but it started first flick after that. It has its annoying 'you've not used me so i'm going to clack like a bastard' tappet back, but i'll wazz some wynns through it when I change the oil. Hopefully the drive to my mates later may help clear it too

[Lankytim]

When I was 10 that Beetle was my all time dream car, same wheels, same colour.. I used to draw pictures and it looked exactly like that!

[Junkman]

When I was 10 that Beetle was my all time dream car, same wheels, same colour.. I used to draw pictures and it looked exactly like that!

 

You can't have been 10 that long ago then.