The new news 24 thread

[Angrydicky]

1 hour ago, wuvvum said:

I'm not sure I'd want to drop in a 1798 twin carb from an MGB - the gearbox and rear axle probably wouldn't thank you for that - but a 1489 gives adequate power to be usable without completely overwhelming the brakes.  Brakes can be adequate if properly maintained, but being hydro-mechanical they do need proper setting up.

The 1200 engine is a sort of proto-B-series so not sure how upgradeable they are without finding contemporary '50s tuning bits, which might be expensive.

Brakes are fully hydraulic on the Somerset. Early A70s and A90s had mechanical rear brakes but the hydro-mechanical rear brake setup was unique to the A30/35 and Mk1 A40 Farina (in BMC terms at least)

[mrbenn]

18 minutes ago, Angrydicky said:

There’s a Royale saloon like mine on the drive of that house in Swindon! Can anyone make out the plate?

Reckon its LSC 484.

DVLA says blue Vauxhall, untaxed since Feb 2014, no MOT since April 2015.

[vulgalour]

@Angrydicky

If you wouldn't mind, having a poke around your Somerset would help us avoid any potential pitfalls with a new purchase when we get to that point.  I'd like to say we'll be buying this year, but you know what happens whenever you set a deadline on these things, so we're not doing that for now.  I've only ever sat in a Somerset, I've never driven one, so I've no idea what the driving position is actually like beyond 'upright'.

[wuvvum]

45 minutes ago, Angrydicky said:

Brakes are fully hydraulic on the Somerset. Early A70s and A90s had mechanical rear brakes but the hydro-mechanical rear brake setup was unique to the A30/35 and Mk1 A40 Farina (in BMC terms at least)

I stand corrected - for some reason I thought the Devon and Somerset had them too.  (I've never actually looked underneath a Somerset if I'm honest...)

[Split_Pin]

I put my Clio 172 up for sale today. I've been told it's getting rusty. Gutted is too small a word.

[BorniteIdentity]

Out and about. I need to bodge some repairs over the next few days because the water ingress has increased, and the mould has become rampant. 

Gonna stick it inside for a while with a heater and a dehumidifier to begin with, and add some sealant around leaky seals.

 

[adw1977]

Just back from a 2 week holiday, so of course one (boring modern) car has a flat battery.  Would have been much more of a nuisance if they were both flat, though!

[Kiltox]

Looks like @beko1987 has some competition https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-merseyside-51244155/meet-the-teenager-who-collects-vacuum-cleaners

[Eyersey1234]

3 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Out and about. I need to bodge some repairs over the next few days because the water ingress has increased, and the mould has become rampant. 

Gonna stick it inside for a while with a heater and a dehumidifier to begin with, and add some sealant around leaky seals.

 

Nice to see the bASe being used @BorniteIdentity

[Volksy]

The Jag has had a slight rumble from the NSF Wheel Bearing for a couple of month. Last Saturday I hit a pothole, which finished it off. 

I booked it into my local Jag Specialist - Tasker and Lacy; who quoted me 'around £200 all in' to replace it. 

It needs special tools, a press and the ABS ring taking off (which are pretty much unobtainium) .

They had it done in a morning, genuine Jag bearing and a final bill of £246.00 inc VAT. 

 

Seems steep for a bearing, but its under warranty and after chatting to the garage owner for half an hour when i picked it up, he said he has just got one like mine in for scrap, which for a few beer tokens I can raid for all the trim parts mine needs. Sadly not the same colour, but should yeald some vital bits.

 

 

 

 

[Sunny Jim]

Am I doing this right? I joined the forum 10 days ago and have enjoyed reading your tales of trials, tribulations and occasional triumphs and resolved to get some shite in my life. So today I paid £300 for an 18 year old Alfa - what could possibly go wrong?

[beko1987]

1 hour ago, Kiltox said:

Looks like @beko1987 has some competition https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-merseyside-51244155/meet-the-teenager-who-collects-vacuum-cleaners

Ha, he's no competition.

He's one of the nasty rude collectors who thinks his vacs are the best, cries when they break and is trying to be a 'social media influencer' which means he'll suck up to anyone who gives him free stuff

I'm quite pally with people high up in Sebo and was told they gave him a Felix Rose just to shut him up last year, Stu who runs Manchestervacs had to tell him to fuck off before as well, after pestering him for a freebie in exchange for 'influencing' Whenever I piss off a company he 'represents' by posting myth busting posts or calling bullshit he is always straight on it. Again Sebo gave him a dressing down last autumn, I made a sarcastic but funny comment on a picture they posted on instantgrams, which got binned and he told me how and why... I don't think he knew that I'm quite good pals with Sebo's head of UK marketing so a few PM's later, and a promise from my pal that he'll tell the social media team to maybe not be such pussies (I set them up for a proper good reply, laughs all round etc) and I took great delight in telling Matt, who then spent 3 days demanding i tell him who i spoke to, which I ignored

 

Of course despite all this im the first person he messages when he gets a new toy or something breaks and he needs fixing. We're all just hoping he grows up one day. I have given him the advice of 'you don't want to go saying how much money you make' without declaring it all, when he turns 18 he's going to be in for a shock unless he keeps it low down like me and just becomes a random saddo who likes vacuums

[Kiltox]

Don’t think he would need to wait til 18 for the taxman to ream him - 16 will do....

People that try to pester for freebies because they’re “influencers” can GTF. 

[beko1987]

I got given a free vacuum last year, and the company havent spoken to me after my first video where I said how amazing it was (it is bloody good) but why x y and z fatal flaw means I cant recommend... It's the main reason i bought my own dyson v11, and got it on launch day before all the free influencer ones made it out. Used to get asked so much if it was free, and people were surprised when I said no im paying for it.

Boosted my channel loads, with people searching for the current new shiny thing

[New POD]

Income tax is required at any age.  NI STARTS AT 16. 

IF HE MAKES 12500 quid profit, he needs to pay tax. 

[New POD]

14 minutes ago, Sunny Jim said:

Am I doing this right? I joined the forum 10 days ago and have enjoyed reading your tales of trials, tribulations and occasional triumphs and resolved to get some shite in my life. So today I paid £300 for an 18 year old Alfa - what could possibly go wrong?

Lovely. Beige Leather. And a price which is a bargain. 

[Kiltox]

3 minutes ago, New POD said:

Income tax is required at any age.  NI STARTS AT 16. 

IF HE MAKES 12500 quid profit, he needs to pay tax. 

I stand corrected, thanks!

[beko1987]

5 minutes ago, New POD said:

Income tax is required at any age.  NI STARTS AT 16. 

IF HE MAKES 12500 quid profit, he needs to pay tax. 

No idea how much he makes, but all the articles he's linked to have the headline of making loads of money... I was very careful to not mention money at all in my 23 seconds of fame.

[BorniteIdentity]

17 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

he'll suck up

Pun intended. 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

8 minutes ago, New POD said:

Income tax is required at any age.  NI STARTS AT 16. 

IF HE MAKES 12500 quid profit, he needs to pay 

I wonder if the eejit might be hit for Capital Gains as well.....?

[320touring]

The Clio exhaust hanger really needs the Backbox off and the car in the air so I can build things to bolt too.

Have it bodged so it doesn't rattle.
Engine sounds much happier after an oil change and shiny new purflux filter.

No a bad day skiddling on corrs, but it's cold damp and dark now, so game over for today

[Jamie]

1 hour ago, Sunny Jim said:

Am I doing this right? I joined the forum 10 days ago and have enjoyed reading your tales of trials, tribulations and occasional triumphs and resolved to get some shite in my life. So today I paid £300 for an 18 year old Alfa - what could possibly go wrong?

Wooo I bought a 3 door alfa 147 yesterday aswell! 

[Sunny Jim]

Mine's a 5 door.

I wish you all the best with yours - hope it's an antidote to your crap experience with the mondeo.

[Jamie]

2 minutes ago, Sunny Jim said:

Mines a 5 door.

I wish you all the best with yours - hope it's an antidote to your crap experience with the mondeo.

Ah so it is! 

 

Thank you, they are really fun to drive aren't they? Handle well 

[egg]

@Sunny Jim - welcome! That's a good way to start...

[Sunny Jim]

My test drive around private land didn't allow me out of second gear but yeah seems a nice steer. Pick it up next week.

[meggersdog]

Went to King's Lynn today . I did a buy.

This charming little fellow is now in my workshop

Speedo doesn't work but hey other than that it's a cracker. Bland as bland can be and that front end is a bit erm but it has a certain charm.

[Split_Pin]

Ooft nice, doest that have the smol V6?

[Jimbob McGregor]

I had the pleasure of Loserone this afternoon for a spot of light limecrete slab mixing/laying in our old house in Upper Weardale. Some old house experience/skill swapping about to take place. 
As an Autoshite link, here’s Loserone having to push-assist my shonky old Belle Maxi mixer that makes dodgy noises and has a slipping belt:

 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

18 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Ooft nice, doest that have the smol V6?

What,  the Alfa or the Nissan?

If the Nissan, that never had a V6. It may be the Mazda MX-3 you're thinking of....