The new news 24 thread

[richardmorris]

Got my dad to transport the stainless exhaust for the x1/9 down from their garage so they could drop it off with me on their way back from Heathrow/ Budapest. Hand built for a hill climb car ( bought his original  seats too a few years ago) he used it a couple of times he said, but decision he wanted a more sporty system.  I hope it’s not too loud at motorway revs ( 70 is 4000ish).

[lanciamatt]

Good day at fotu really enjoyed it, thema got us there and back with out an issue. Nice to meet some of the autoshite guys. 

[MarvinsMom]

i wanted to post this the other day, but our interweb was running really, really slow cos school holidays (i think) and it wouldn't let me.....

after running too and from work earlier this week in Marvin, yesterday we went and put him away.

considering the number of folks who have expressed positive comments about the car, i think it has cheered other people up too, as it has me when stuck at work. there are even a couiple of guys in the tool room who eve like BL cars, like me..... and then there are another couple who remember the Metro fondly, have learned to drive in one. well just about everyone around my age (i'm 44 sadly) did lean to drive in a metro, i know i did.

i have been able to park out the back, near where i have been so that i can keep an eye on him!

but this weekend, we have to sort an MOT out on the Rover, and there is going to be some Mini 1000 tinkering, so, the best place for Marvin is back in the garage, and it means we will only be parking TWO cars on the road at home instead of 3.......

so, sadly back to the garage we go.

and disturb the other tenents.

"...... and so to bed"

nighty night Marvin.......

oh and we did take the Roer for its test. 

it failed, a front ball joint, which are integral with the bottom arm on these, and a hole in the back of the drivers side sill.  caused by the thing shipping water through the jack point been distorted and the pad thing been missing. the hole is maybe 2 x 3 inches across and is on the underside of the sill.

so, do i replace said bottom arm, and get it welded up?

 but realistically the rovers time is coming to an end. and i'm skint/too mean/not seen ANYTHING that i fancy owning instead.

its going back on wednesday to get put right. 

i should have scrapped it last year when the clutch went.  but been an idiot i didn't. and now i'm in too deep just to walk away!

we did manage to get the new reversing switch fitted to the Mini 1000, and also replace the feed pipe for the oil pressure gauge on the same car. now i am hoping that the new pipe will put an end to the oil spraying all over the side of the engine. the old pipe was a mix of rubber pipe onto some copper bits so we think oil was coming from the joints. the new pipe is nylon and in one piece but we have routed around the side of the engine bay along the wiring loom, so i am hoping that the new pipe will be far enough away from the heat of the engine. but only time will tell

 

 

[New POD]

Fix it. 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Autoshite repair* for CX radiator fan switch:

[holbeck]

I did a carboot with the C15 today. My son enjoyed* it immensely. 

[egg]

Did you make any money on it?

[Spottedlaurel]

During a busy few days of getting my car ready for FOTU, I went to see this last week:

1985 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Maxima Coupe by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1985 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Maxima Coupe by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1985 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Maxima Coupe by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1985 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Maxima Coupe by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

Owner had my number after we talked about a Micra they had a few years ago (can be seen in the background of the second shot). He's now looking to move them on, as well as a Mk2 Golf (apparently a 1 .8 auto).

I don't need a project and I'm pretty happy with what I already have, but I'd still like to help them find a good home. Haven't got a clue what he's after at present. Sunny has been off-road for around 14 years, has done just under 70k. Will need some bodywork.

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, holbeck said:

I did a carboot with the C15 today. My son enjoyed* it immensely. 

I always op for the L-shaped stall layout as well.

[Stanky]

2 hours ago, holbeck said:

I did a carboot with the C15 today. My son enjoyed* it immensely. 

Were you selling all his worldly posessions? His body language suggests you might have been? ?

[richardmorris]

I had zero energy this morning, so no ride or walk. I did though take the x1/9 to the farmer’s market in ascot. Bought some lovely gurnard fillets, eggs, and cider from crazy dave. I say bought, but I’d run out of cash, and his reader had a fit of “computer says no”. So my four bottles are on account!  He’s at Maidenhead camra beer festival next week where my colleague is chairman so I can pass on the cash.

then I heard my x1/9 starting in the car park on leaving the market on a Facebook video- I can’t link it yet but will investigate.

 

if you are in the area check out Dave...

https://crazydavescider.co.uk/

[wuvvum]

27 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

During a busy few days of getting my car ready for FOTU, I went to see this last week:

1985 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Maxima Coupe by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

Owner had my number after we talked about a Micra they had a few years ago (can be seen in the background of the second shot). He's now looking to move them on, as well as a Mk2 Golf (apparently a 1 .8 auto).

I don't need a project and I'm pretty happy with what I already have, but I'd still like to help them find a good home. Haven't got a clue what he's after at present. Sunny has been off-road for around 14 years, has done just under 70k. Will need some bodywork.

I imagine your driveway is looking rather empty after the departure of the 929 - that Sunny would fill the space nicely.

I remember having a drive of a saloon version of this many years ago.  Struck me as a very competent car, if not overly exciting, and it went well despite being hopelessly overgeared (would do 70 in second).  The coupe version always struck me as a bit of an afterthought on these.

[vulgalour]

Parked up next to a new-ish small* Peugeot today and at first thought someone had slapped some super cheap colour-coded wheel trims on it.  Nope, it had what looked like proper factory alloys and what's normally a polished face to the spokes was body coloured.  Maybe it's a sporty option?  Maybe someone did a fairly good DIY job of making it look like a bad factory choice?  Maybe it's some sort of bizarre aftermarket protective coating?  At any rate, it made a fairly new car look quite shabby and old, especially since the paint on the front wheels was chipping off all over.

[Stanky]

Day out with the family today to see friends and go to Alton Bus Rally which I can firmly recommend. Here are some of my pics. I'm not that clued up on busses, I know what a routemaster is, and I know Volvo B10M's are the best thing ever but hopefully someone who know more about these things can fill in some more detail. Hopefully my photos aren't the bus equivalent of a gigantic lineup of Vauxhall Insignias...

Many routemasters.

 

This looked amazingly shite - a sherpa front end on a minibus? I bet progress was glacial?

Busses in the 50s and 60s had a lot of style.

We used to get these to school in the mid 90s when they were presumably EOL and only fit for carting grotty schoolkids around before being fragged?

Then onto slightly more familari ground. Cars

The styling on these is superb, especially on BBS wheels.

OOOF. are those original wheel trims? They look shit.

Cadillac coupe de ville I think? A gigantic way to transport two people.

Open Kadett 1.2 AUTOMATIC. I bet this gets outrun in traffic light grands prix by tectonic plates. Still lovely.

Compulsory beige Allegro.

I have a bit of a thing for Hillman Imps. Especially ones on minilites.

Another OOOF - Vauxhall Viva GT with hand painted bonnet and front panel. Yes.

I smiled to myself at the concept of 'Autoshite Corner' in the car show

Another Vauxhall I'd actually want to own. A firenza? Or Magnum? I'm not too sure with droop snoots. Still very nice and no visible rust.

The Panda on the right had an actual tent that folded out the back of it. It was stunning.

 

Tercel. Yes.

 

The absolute nadir of taste. a Tickford turbo mk3 capri. In full-on white supremacist colour scheme. If they could have specified white rubber for the tyres I bet they would have.

First time I've seen one of these. A Matra Murena I think?

3500 SD1 VDP. very tidy it was too.

This Scrote was brilliant, mostly doom blue, but had a hand painted (in enamel black) 3/4 panel and a boot from a red XR3i. There needs to be more of this sort of thing at car shows.

Shovel front Volvo 245 in AS yellow with rust.

brilliant day out and I didn't get to see half of it because I had the kids with me. free to get in and loads to see and do. top marks, and well worth a visit.

[holbeck]

41 minutes ago, Stanky said:

Were you selling all his worldly posessions? His body language suggests you might have been? ?

I was selling his worldly possessions!  He did perk up when he realised he had made £22 from stuff that was gathering dust. 

[Justin Case]

From the 'you couldn't make it up' department. This morning driving along the road from Wolverhampton to Bridgnorth, I caught up with two honda Jazzes, both hurtling* along at a heady 38mph in a 50 limit. However I wasn't delayed for too long, they both turned off into (different) garden centres. A full set of stereotypes and it was still only 10 o'clock in the morning

[Spottedlaurel]

1 hour ago, wuvvum said:

I imagine your driveway is looking rather empty after the departure of the 929 - that Sunny would fill the space nicely.

I remember having a drive of a saloon version of this many years ago.  Struck me as a very competent car, if not overly exciting, and it went well despite being hopelessly overgeared (would do 70 in second).  The coupe version always struck me as a bit of an afterthought on these.

If it got to the point of being super-cheap and needing a stay of execution then I'd probably be tempted....

I've had an A-reg coupe and a Y-reg 1.3 4-door. Latter didn't seem to be much slower, probably because of more sensible gearing. Handling is a bit tip-toey, my current next-gen model feels much more planted. Coupes look a bit dumpy to me - roof too tall and/or bonnet too short. Fastback estate is the best looker I reckon.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

2 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

During a busy few days of getting my car ready for FOTU, I went to see this last week:

1985 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Maxima Coupe by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1985 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Maxima Coupe by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1985 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Maxima Coupe by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

1985 Nissan Sunny 1.5 SGL Maxima Coupe by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr...

..Sunny has been off-road for around 14 years, has done just under 70k. Will need some bodywork.

Actually doesn't look that bad on the outside, although that stain on the driver's seat makes me wonder if someone had a digestive crisis there.....

[stuboy]

had a great day at aylesford prioy yesterday, took million photos, ill bore u later with them

[holbeck]

15 hours ago, egg said:

Did you make any money on it?

Not enough to make me do it again!

[adw1977]

16 hours ago, Stanky said:

OOOF. are those original wheel trims? They look shit.

No, and yes they do.

[RayMK]

The Tipo's clutch behaved strangely yesterday as I drove along our cul-de-sac on the way out to Stanford Hall.  It juddered quite severely a few times then settled down as if nothing had happened for the rest of the day, including going to my daughter's house near Leicester to water plants after Stanford Hall.  Today I was going to go to Buckingham Tesco to refuel but before Whittlebury the clutch pedal progressively stayed nearer the floor after each gear change.  I thought it might be a failing clutch master or slave cylinder so looped back home, using my walking stick to pull the pedal back up.  I've had a close look at the pedal and return spring - all looks clean, unbroken and in perfect condition. There is no trace of hydraulic fluid leakage anywhere.  I lubricated the clutch lever arm on the housing in case it had started binding, then went for another run round the block.  The clutch operated completely normally and smoothly until half way round then the pedal started to stay near the floor again for each change. I can't make the clutch or pedal do anything unusual by sitting in the car and repeatedly going through clutch and gear changes. Similarly, holding the clutch fully down or partially down for 15 seconds or more did not make it misbehave. I don't really know what else could cause the pedal to stay down but still allow the clutch to operate normally when pulled back up. There are no odd noises e.g. from a failing release bearing. Perhaps yesterday's temporary juddering is pointing to a problem with the springs or diaghagm in the clutch plate which, when rotating i.e. driving, starts to go out of position and jam up. Very odd. I'll have another look at it tomorrow.

[RayMK]

PS:  I went round the block again a few minutes ago and the clutch behaved perfectly.  How I love intermittant faults.  Some self curing problems I'll live with, but running out of clutch in busy traffic is not pleasant.  I had to judge engine revs and crash change this morning as I drove through town on the way back home.  It was very crunchy. I don't remember my MK1 Fiesta heap being that difficult to drive in the 1990s when its clutch cable snapped.  I must be out of practice.

[vulgalour]

Dropped Princess head off with the machine shop.  Pressure test and skim if required.  I've also asked them to remove the paint from the casting if possible (something they weren't super keen on doing) and to see if they can install a pipe in place of the waxstat housing so I can change to an in-line thermostat.  They made no promises on the paint removal or the pipe, and would look into what was involved.  I felt like I was asking for something really complicated, I'm sure I wasn't.  It'll be a few days before I know what's what, they're always pretty busy, so the Princess will be out of action for a bit.  Got to wait for the new head gasket set to arrive anyway and make a trip over to Lincolnshire to see a friend with special O series locking tools and shims and stuff for the head rebuild.  It's all a bit of a faff really, all because I want to do the job right.

While out in the BX today I was getting an occasional whiff of coolant.  I can't find any leaks, there's plenty of coolant in the car, so I'm not sure what was causing it or if it was just a coincidental thing.  It also sometimes smells like chip fat for some reason, even though I don't run it on veg and nor, I believe, did Dean.  It's otherwise boringly reliable, it's great.

[brownnova]

Had (I think) a positive phone call from the garage... The second (project) 9000 had gone in for some MoT work... apparently it’s nearly ready... 

“Was hoping to get it back to you today, but just need to finish doing a brake pipe” 

No MoT on the system though, But he is the tester! I’m cautiously optimistic I might have both 9000s on the road tomorrow... and for a smaller bill than feared... 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

CX hopefully goes in for first fluid drain and change next week after the gearbox rebuild, after doing the first thousand miles.

Need to get the join between front and mid-exhaust sections looked at, as there is definitely a very visible blow there.

Bought pack of small female spade connectors and some cable numbering labels in the hope of replacing the fecked ones on the radiator fan switch without getting the leads mixed up.....

 

[reb]

Today I went out and bought more PSA shit...

[stuboy]

Balls best book the mondeo in for its mot..

[nigel bickle]

M25, , Friday afternoon

I’m 

 

Yup, damned hot

 

High priority, say AA. Really dangerous position.. So, a 5.5 hr wait, to move us to a “ place of safety”- then another 2 hr wait?

 

Useless, just sodding useless

 

[MarvinsMom]

2 hours ago, nigel bickle said:

M25, , Friday afternoon

I’m 

 

Yup, damned hot

 

High priority, say AA. Really dangerous position.. So, a 5.5 hr wait, to move us to a “ place of safety”- then another 2 hr wait?

 

Useless, just sodding useless

 

well it does beat the 25 hours it took the RAC to get us and the Mini 1000 the 100 miles from Newark to Pickering, especially after the man from the RAC used a crowbar to pry the fuel pump off the back of the engine, breaking the end of the lever arm thing and it and the return spring then fell into the engine.

the RAC man i think thought it ery unreasonable that i didn't want him to just stick another fuel pump oon the car, given the big bits of metal floating around in the bowels of the engine and gearbox....

these are the broken bits of fuel pump we got back from inside the gearbox.

so yes, they are all friggin' useless.