The new news 24 thread

[Twiggy]

22 hours ago, vulgalour said:

We've been on the lookout for good quality bedroom furniture to match what we've got.  Going new is prohibitively expensive for what we want, so we've been keeping an eye out locally and landed ourselves a smart old Herbert Cribbs (Edit: Herbert E Gibbs, I was misreading it) chest of drawers today for £40.  I'm guessing it's late 40s or early 50s, it's nicely built with dovetail joints on the drawers and all of the handles are present.  The only thing against it really is the finish is quite dark and the top could do with refinishing so now I've finished the other furniture projects it looks like this is my new one to get on with.

If you`re looking for free decent furniture, try your local freecycle. I`ve had some really good stuff off there.

[stuboy]

Missus decided she wanted her headlamps back on and change her airfilter while I supervised ( i changed rear bulbs to leds for reversing ) she did well, even dropping one bolt...lol

[Cavcraft]

Today's mission was a run out to see two Standard Ensigns.

One is a spares car, the other is partially restored but will keep someone busy for a while yet.

Spares car ...

 

Better* car...

 

Both are for sale (as a pair) and I can out anyone interested in direct contact with the owner if needed. He's talking about £1,000 the pair and I've a good amount of other pictures of them.

[N19]

2 hours ago, Twiggy said:

If you`re looking for free decent furniture, try your local freecycle. I`ve had some really good stuff off there.

Seconded - really useful, although obviously it depends on what is available at the time, but I find if you keep an eye out on it for a while you'll find exactly what you're looking for.

[richardmorris]

Not sure about the colour.

[vulgalour]

Are those Standards not Vanguards rather than Ensigns?

[stuboy]

Umm I was browsing impact sets on Amazon.. saw this offer and in an afternoon sleepy haze I seemed to of bought this..

[High Jetter]

But you've SAVED £26.00! What a great afternoon!

[cort16]

I went to look at an mx5. Special edition 1.8 vvt model. Advertised as needing welding and Looked nice but oh boy the rust underneath, to much for me .

In an unusual turn of events I didn’t buy it.

[wuvvum]

2 hours ago, vulgalour said:

Are those Standards not Vanguards rather than Ensigns?

I think so too - I had one of those years ago (on a Y-plate for some reason).  Hard work to drive - very heavy steering and brakes, no discernible handling ability and an awkward 3-speed column shift.  Nice looking thing though.  Also almost bought a diesel one a few years ago, but then I lost my storage so couldn't take it on.

[stuboy]

1 hour ago, High Jetter said:

But you've SAVED £26.00! What a great afternoon!

winna winna chicken dinna

[richardmorris]

Anyone near Wigan/ Golborne  able to collect a spring compressor set (he won’t post).....rick will pay for item and postage / I can collect.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/spring-coil-compressor-for-mercedes-benz-cars-and-many-others/1364487306?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_android

[Cavcraft]

2 hours ago, vulgalour said:

Are those Standards not Vanguards rather than Ensigns?

Quite possible, just went off what he said. He might well have told me they were Vanguards to be fair.

[tommotech]

My mission last weekend was to replace the cambelt, water pump and engine mounts (judder on take up of drive) on my Audi daily. Job completed without drama but I did think the alternator was noisy, one to monitor I thought. 
The ungrateful bastard decided to shit it’s alternator today, I think on the way to work as the idle speed was above 1000rpm and stop start wasn’t operating. On the way home the dash lights looked like Christmas and the power steering assistance ceased. Message on the panel stated ‘Battery not charging’ but I managed to limp it back to my storage unit. 
In other news I have an XM estate incoming..........with clutch troubles. WCPGW?

[richardmorris]

first spot of the day.

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa20/paris/lots/r0020-1971-maserati-ghibli-ss-49-coupé-by-ghia/830791

[Tadhg Tiogar]

27 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

first spot of the day.

https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa20/paris/lots/r0020-1971-maserati-ghibli-ss-49-coupé-by-ghia/830791

How the other half live....

[xtriple]

I have to report for anyone with damp interior problems that dehumidifier packs are the bollox! Inside of the car was soaked yesterday - two wet dogs, one wet me and a passengers side window left open by a moron. Two packs left in the car overnight and bone dry this morning. 1 from Halfords at £12 but huge and two from eBay for, er £12 but about half the size of the Halfords one. One is in the boot (1x small) and the boot which was also soaked because of moron is bone dry and the inside is a far more pleasant place to be without steamed up windows every time the sun shine, like this morning, but no steam.

Dave seal of approval  

[Tadhg Tiogar]

53 minutes ago, xtriple said:

.....dehumidifier packs are the bollox!.... 1 from Halfords at £12 but huge and two from eBay for, er £12 but about half the size of the Halfords one. .....

Dave seal of approval  

*makes mental note to buy a few*....

[mitsisigma01]

Whilst on the subject of condensation when it leads onto a slight smattering of mould all over the upholstery, what is the best approach to be rid of and clean up the mould, apart from a sprinkle of Unleaded and some matches ?

[Saabnut]

Oooh, my Saab suspemsion is looking a bit low this morning, wonder what is causing that?

My friend, and ex business partner called me this morning, saying he wanted rid of the workshop manuals etc that were from our workshop and he had kept, but now needed the space. These are mostly Haynes BOL but there are a fair number of factory manuals, general guises etc, mostly for older and more obscure stuff. Thinking of this place, I said I would nip up and collect them. He asked which car I was taking which should have warned me of the quantities involved......

Yes, that is the back of the car, seats folded, loaded to window level! As a bonus I also got a load of test equipment (fuel injection, water system, a code reader, a glow plug tester etc).

A few of the manuals I will want to keep, but I will photograph and list the others when I unload them and offer them here.

[Jazoli]

51 minutes ago, mitsisigma01 said:

Whilst on the subject of condensation when it leads onto a slight smattering of mould all over the upholstery, what is the best approach to be rid of and clean up the mould, apart from a sprinkle of Unleaded and some matches ?

I use a wetvac then stick a dehumidifier in the car overnight, or if you don't have one a fan heater but leave the window cracked open, mould spores are not good for you, even antibacterial wipes will help remove it.

[mitsisigma01]

Best try something dryish as in for a mot tomorrow, not a fail is it ?? but then again I don't want to harm a usually helpful mechanic and moter??

[Floatylight]

FTP in progress, awaiting Autoaid...

Swapped relays about in the Zafira, ran fine, wondered if problem was down to damp in the fuse box so thought I'd pop to a scrap yard and pick up a fuse box cover that the clips weren't bost on. Stopped at Tesco to get some cash and now wont restart.. sigh....

[Floatylight]

35 minutes ago, Floatylight said:

FTP in progress, awaiting Autoaid...

Swapped relays about in the Zafira, ran fine, wondered if problem was down to damp in the fuse box so thought I'd pop to a scrap yard and pick up a fuse box cover that the clips weren't bost on. Stopped at Tesco to get some cash and now wont restart.. sigh....

Update - A lift home...

[High Jetter]

Hope you find the cause of the problem. At least you'll save a bit on fuel going home. Not much, but 'every little helps!'

[Cavcraft]

Vauxhalls don't break down, they simply stop for a while so the drivers of lesser cars and their passengers can admire them.

[stuboy]

Ohhh new tools... me likey !!

[richardmorris]

A bit dull today, this is the only thing I've seen.

 

[Cavcraft]

The two wheeled Iv*co continues to try and bankrupt me. The crank oil seal is leaking, it needs new rings, the engine casing machining or welding, the crank is slightly off kilter, and a few other bits besides. They also found this...

 

 

Which they say explains why trying different carbs hadn't made any difference. Given that it already had what they think was a car spark plug cross threaded into the engine, it looks like the bloke I bought it off perhaps isn't the brightest. 

[clayts450]

Handed my notice in at work today. Nine years working in social housing, of which seven were spent managing customer complaints, has finally caught up with me to the point I just need to exit the job stage right as fast as possible. To be fair, it's something I should probably have done three or four months ago, but after much contemplation and navel-gazing, I decided at the weekend that I should just do it. 

My boss was totally ace, and she knows me better than I know myself most of the time, and she'd already guessed this was coming, she just didn't know when. She sent a lovely email to key people in the business telling them I was offski, and even let me scarper before she sent it, so I wouldn't get bombarded. A sneaky peek on my work email account reveals even the CEO sent me a personal message.

I do have some cash monies to tide me over for a bit (sorry to rub it in for those Shiters who learned about their respective redundancies recently  ) but the impetus to buy a van and start couriering is now strong - already declared  sole trader status with HMRC and registered for VAT, so I can get registered on some trade sites and get in with some local indies. Oh, need to buy a van first of course.... 

Some of my fleet will likely need to move on (I did an income and expenditure analysis as part of my business plan, and the amount going out for shite is ridiculous), with, very regretfully, the Accord Coupe and, the 820 the two most likely to leave, so these will be advertised here in good time of course. The 420/620 and Streetwise will definitely be staying until I'm at the stage of eating gruel for tea. The 214 can burn in hell (if there's any arsonists about it's garage 12, the one with the white door).