The new news 24 thread

[Vin]

As of Monday I am back at work...What I mean is that during the past fortnight, of excellent weather, I hasten to add, I have been on holiday...

 

Tuesday of last week, I took my Grandad to the 'Great Gathering' at the NRM - he sat in the fireman's seat of 'Mallard', a place he last occupied in about 1951 when he crewed it from Grantham to Lincoln due to engineering works on the ECML. He was over the moon, absolutely loved it

 

Most of my time off has consisted of stripping the 126 of all it's running gear. This came about as last year before MOT time I discovered a 10p size hole against the front suspension that I realised would result in failure. I decided the only way to repair it properly was to strip the front suspension. If I was going to do that I should really clean and refurbish/repaint it all. Then I thought, if I do the front, I should really do the back. It went OK in that 3 of the 4 steering rack bolts all sheared off...I managed to drill two out and clean the threads, the other captive nut came out completely and I was able to weld in a new nut into the support

 

My new favourite thing though is Bilt Hamber Deox C. I stuck the 126 drums and backplates and wishbones in it and they have come out like new... Brilliant stuff.

 

I've condemned the front leaf spring along with various other odds and sods, but as it is all Fiat 500 based and available from Axel Gerstl or Ricambio it isn't the end of the world.

[walk]

...and I'm sat here expecting to see van updates! Great to see the 126 being resurrected though, that colour still looks fab. Surely there's plenty of life left in that "cardboard" spring yet. 

[catsinthewelder]

I'd rather not have a car that was covered in scratches and dings because I dared to park in the same postcode as other people.

 

 

I found this bit of Aldi's carpark today had taken on a kind of exclusion zone

 

[cobblers]

Like I said earlier, the painter definitely didn't come at 5:30pm. Nor did he come at 8pm which he said he would when I rang him after he didn't turn up at 5:30, or at 7:30am the following morning like he also promised, so I drove up to his place and practically kidnapped him about lunchtime. He came down, looked over the van and seemed impressed with the work I've done and couldn't really fault it apart from a few corners that were a bit edgy. He's good at what he does but unreliable and badly organised, but I'm just the same so I'll work round it.

 

He reckoned it would be fine to just wet flat and paint over what I've done, but since I want a really good job he'll put a few coats of thinned down primer over it and flat it back so he has a uniform base.

 

Anyway it's going up for paint next week, I've just got to sling some primer at the tailgate and front doors, flat them down and work out how I'm going to get the van up to him.

 

It's a massive weight off my shoulders to be able to hand it over. I feel like I'm copping out a bit in not painting the insides myself, but in reality I don't have the right resources to do that properly. The final price for the job including paint will absolutely buckle me, but I know the work it will take so I'm happy to pay it, I'll just have to choose between beer or food for a month (beer wins)

 

 

[dollywobbler]

Headed over to Hereford last night, to a party thrown by the chap who (amongst other things) puts BMW bike engines in 2CVs (like that matt black Saxo eater).

 

Was a pleasant old evening. Then drove home in the dark. The 2CV decided at this point that main beam was over-rated as a concept. Cue many miles driving along on dipped beam only. Seems there's a slightly duff connection on the relay contacts. Wish I'd never fitted the sodding things now as I've already had one relay fail after a mere three months.

 

The journey was also livened up by the Rhayader Carnival, which we accidentally drove through. Having a carnival in a town that is a meeting of several major trunk roads was a great* idea. Stuck in traffic, some lads picked up the back of the 2CV and dragged it in front of a tractor coming the other way. Returning later, it was like driving through zombie land with drunks staggering all over the road and Police utterly failing to keep them away from passing cars. One prick slapped the windscreen, leaving a greasy paw print upon it. I did actually here someone else say "look at that old banger!" Thanks!

[Tayne]

.

[HMC]

In a deal with my Merc w124 estate i have now become the owner of this.....

 

 

First impressions are of a well looked after car, all the books and manuals, original font dealer plates etc. Drives well, but with a 2.0 six its not exactly fast. The manual box makes it fairly easy to stirr along though. By modern standards it has enormously fat, tall rubber which helps give it a nice wafty ride. My previous e34 experience was an 89 525i which i paid little for and was a fantastic hack, taking me round europe a good few years back. It did look a bit dodgy, black and dented, had no trouble with it at all except back in England the Metropolitan Police took one look at it and did an anti terror stop and search on Pall Mall. This one has a huge full length sunroof; this im hoping isnt going to break on me as i've heard they can be a pain.

[trigger]

 

I tried to get a photo of my Civic next to a new model yesterday but as the barriers was up I was unable too, I'll have to try again at a later date, plus a modern Vauxhall got in the way.

[skattrd]

The boring passed it's MOT with no advisories ... Well, after all of the rear bulbs were replaced 

In my defence only one had blown, the others were functional but black.

 

De-chavving the Storia has almost finished, all the chrome crap is now in the bin One of the wing mirrors was actually blue under the chrome plastic, that's now being sprayed black to match the other side. No colour coded mirrors or leccy windows on this car.

I picked up some Ferodo front pads very cheap off ebay (£17) and had some hoses made (not so cheap) which are now fitted. I also changed the oil and whilst the friont bumper was off repaired that again. The front bumper still  needs work, but it's structurally solid now which will do until find a stock pre-facelift Sirion one.

[loserone]

Took the opportunity to take the Ginetta SPC for a run out today - 35 mile round trip to the National Railway museum in Shildon, which somehow I'd never managed to visit before but was hosting a classic car show.   Somehow the marshalls directed us to the display area, and we ended up parked between an immaculate Scimitar and an early 90s mustang.  It was certainly the scruffiest car present, but held a never ending crowd of bystanders.  I did notice a number of photographers completely ignoring it, though!

 

I quite enjoyed the drive (I drove rather than being the full-licence holding passenger), though it's definitely not the same kind of fun as the MX5.  This was probably my first trip out behind the wheel that wasn't mostly motorway journeys, and it makes a lot of sense pootling around.  I should probably get it on a set of ramps and get the new exhaust fitted..

 

 

Highlights of the day: trains, a 924, and a tracksuit-clad youth pointing at the G26 and saying loudly "That's fucked that is, look at the wing! It needs painting and everything!". All in all a lovely trip out.  

[walk]

The Dedra passed its MOT yesterday (with different advisories to last year obviously!)  I couldn't be bothered taking it 50 miles to my usual place and leaving it for a few days so I popped into my local garage on the off chance they could squeeze it in ASAP. The MOT bay was free and their MOT bloke was drinking tea so the job was jobbed there and then.

 

Believe it or not in 24 years of driving and despite owning "older vehicles" for the majority of that time I have never actually observed a test being carried out, but with the offer of a green plastic garden chair to sit on and a cup of tea how could I say no!

 

Overall everything went well, the 2012 advisory for "free play" in the NSF ball joint had miraculously disappeared by 2013 but the slight oil leak still remains - I really must fit a new sump gasket this year. Oh and one of the front bumper supports looks a bit crusty. Apart from that the car seems rock solid underneath. As I mentioned many many moons ago my only real concern at MOT time with the Lancia is emissions, however the new cat fitted last year still seems to be working well and all is good.

 

Mileage covered since 2012 MOT 2480 miles (2000 since March this year) - definitely now considered a daily driver. With this in mind I do plan to give more regular updates if anyone is interested - and because a few of you out there do seem to like a drool over 3 box saloons here's a couple of recent shots to keep you happy 

 

 

Lancia Dedra Auto Italia 2013 by dick dedra, on Flickr

 

 

Ecclesfield 060513 005 by dick dedra, on Flickr

 

That's all for now.

[Lord Sterling]

Well, I managed to replace the glovebox in the Sterling. Some months back I got given a glovebox in the right colour along with some other surplus parts that the fella couldn't/sell didn't and was taking up space.

 

The new glovebox had previously been repaired due to suffering the same problem mine did, the plastic lugs that hinge the box onto the bolted on rails had snapped. This had been bodged/repaired by unbolting the rails and tying them with metal cables to the rails creating a hinge therefore only needing to bolt on the rail holders to the dash. It would have taken about 5 mins but I had to clean the glovebox out.

[Cavcraft]

AX gone, 406 possibly on the way out and all being well I'll own that Mk6 Escort for about ten minutes next weekend. I now have a potential gap for another car. Watch this space...

[sporty-shite]

AX gone, 406 possibly on the way out and all being well I'll own that Mk6 Escort for about ten minutes next weekend. I now have a potential gap for another car. Watch this space...

You need a 1970s Celica.

[Cavcraft]

I'd bloody love one me old tater but I haven't got anywhere near the dosh required to buy that. 

[chaseracer]

Given that the Dyane has been hibernating in the garage since 2009, only today have I needed to put some more air into the very expensive 135x15 Michelin ZXs on the front. At this rate, I'll have it back on the road by the end of the century...

[dollywobbler]

Come on Mr Racer - what does it actually need? Apart from being unburied...

[RobT]

 

I found this bit of Aldi's carpark today had taken on a kind of exclusion zone

 

DSCF1803.JPG

 

 

Good to see my old BX is still in use, and still on the shite Xsara trims

 

I had a productive Saturday with the Vitesse.  Bought a new OS tyre for it so it's now legal, and I found a decent independent tyre place.  I asked him what 195/65 15"s he had and he said he'd sold out of the cheap ones and only had a Firestone left for £57 including fitting.  Seemed reasonable enough to me.  I also spent four hours cleaning the interior and also the mankiest door shuts I've ever seen.  Can't have my beige slacks being snagged by dirt everytime I clamber aboard.  Also sorted the OS door mirror.

[dollywobbler]

Bit worried that you're using a rear view mirror to see where you're going...

 

2CV. Whipped all the front panels off yesterday as I was hoping to have a clear day today to give it the front brake rebuild I've been meaning to carry out for about three months now. Then my wife says she needs to go out. Merc has brake issues, Disco is a Disco and the BX isn't fancied because of the stupid 'remember this or it'll cook' fan switch. So, I set about putting the front end of the 2CV back together again. This goes well* as one captive thread has come loose (happened ages ago) so getting the wings back on is bit of a pain. Increasing humidity increased my anger and when one nut refused to go on, I lobbed my ratchet away, losing a 19mm socket in the process (I literally threw it straight down - where on earth has this sodding socket gone?!)

 

Out with a 3/4 inch socket and finally get the sodding wing back on. Quick check of the lights - offside front indicator isn't working. I give the wire a tug, as it's usually just a duff contact. It comes off in my hand having snapped inside the light unit. AAAARGH! In theory, I have spare light units, but removing them rarely goes well due to tiny, rusted nuts. I've sacked off the whole thing for now. I've got work coming out of my ears (due to an email fail), I'm really hot and cars are really annoying.

[wuvvum]

Got back this morning from a weekend in Somerset visiting family.  Being a sentimental twat I decided to take the AX - it's almost certainly going to be heading for the great Citroën dealer in the sky at the end of this month, so I thought I'd give it the chance at one last good run. 

 

I think my spine has permanently crossed me off its Christmas card list, but other than that the old heap managed OK.  535 miles in two days and it didn't break down once - the only slightly worrying moment was when it lost dipped beam briefly on the M4, but came back on after a few seconds and was fine for the rest of the run.  I think the diesel filter is pretty gunked up now though as it did occasionally lose a bit of power - nothing drastic though and it trundled along happily at motorway speeds.

 

It used £55-'orth of diseasel, which isn't bad considering that £20 of that was hideously overpriced £1.50 a litre motorway service stuff.  I've worked it out and I reckon it averaged 63mpg on the run, which is respectable enough as I wasn't exactly taking it easy on the way down (saw an indicated 96mph at one stage on a private section of the M4).  It didn't use a drop of oil either.  It's a shame it's probably not going to pass another MoT, but to be fair the Rover averages 55mpg and is a lot more comfortable and refined than the AX, so I won't have too many regrets going back to using that as a daily.

[Angrydicky]

Greased up the Atlantic, fitted a new bulb in the nearside headlight and topped up the steering box and idler in preparation for its MoT tomorrow. I did find an inner trackrod end that had lost its rubber boot, is this a fail now? Hopefully it'll pass, if not the Austin Counties Spares list the balljoints at £14 each which isn't too bad. 

You may wonder why I'm bothering to renew the MoT, well it's so shabby most people think I've just dragged it out of a barn and I'm taking advantage of the MoT exemption. Also it's peace of mind of course.
 

[Junkman]

The big news!

 

Pregnant woman goes to hospital to deliver her baby.

[vulgalour]

Today, I am experiencing shite balance with the Golf.  Fixed a set of bulbs and now a different set of bulbs don't work... we shall see how this pans out later.

[dollywobbler]

Aye. "The world waits," says the BBC. Not it fuggin' doesn't! The world goes on actually. I hope all goes well for her, but only because I wish that for any woman undertaking the baffling experience of popping out a sprog. If I want to make my eyes water, I'll stick to eating too many fizzy cola bottles in one go.

 

I'm currently trying to decide which car to fix next. I might get away with throwing a spare wing on the 2CV - it's scruffy, but so is the 2CV. BX needs an accumulator sphere fitting (I really should have bought a sphere removal tool) and hopefully the Merc is going in for welding on Thursday. The Disco is ok, but if I'm going to drive it far, I need to swap some wheels about so the iffy tyre isn't fitted. It's fine on the outer edge, but cracked like crazy on the inside.

[vulgalour]

Strangely, all bar one bulb now works on the Golf, that being the battery telltale.  Spend so far on getting the Golf sorted, including cleaning fluid for the plastics, is somewhere between £15 and £20.  Big spend coming up on a proper brown interior (thanks to bank of Mum and Dad) and about £40 on service items before the MoT.  Once that's all paid for I'll've spent nearly as much money as I did to buy the car.

[Junkman]

The big news!

 

Pregnant woman, who went to hospital to deliver her baby, gave birth to her baby.

[treehugger]

Sorry, who is Kate Middleton?

[dollywobbler]

2CV fixed. Decided it was easier to strip the wiring out of a spare indicator unit and repair the one fitted than try and swap wings again. Must crack on and get a bit more welding sorted so getting the wings on/off isn't such a pain!

[Bobthebeard]

My gran knows Kate Middletons mum* and tells me the baby is soon to be named as Wilf. Wilf Cambridge being a solid and traditional English name. You heard it here first!

 

* Though my gran does occaisionally get muddled

[meggersdog]

^^^ Austin would be much better