The new news 24 thread

[reb]

[Six-cylinder]

[DVee8]

The old and the new side by side,50 years between them..

[Daviemck2006]

And the mini is as big as the jag!

Sent from my SM-T585 using Tapatalk

[wuvvum]

Had pretty much a wasted weekend, on the fettling front at least.  This weekend's job was to try and sort out the water leak on the Scudo. 

I spent bloody ages removing the dashboard and the fuse box and loosening the blower motor assembly so I could trace the heater pipes back to the bulkhead and see where the water is leaking from.  Turns out they're not leaking at all.  The water is coming in through the air intake for the heater.  I'd previously ruled this out as a possibility as taking off the scuttle vent above the intake it was bone dry.  However further investigation revealed that the scuttle on the offside, due to a blocked drain and a stupid design, was holding an absolute fugging lake, and whenever I went round a right hand bend said lake would slosh across through the gap under the windscreen and find its way down into the cabin via the air intake.  It was slightly brown due to the accumulation of mud and dead leaves in the scuttle so I assumed it was coolant.  A quick poke around with a screwdriver unblocked the scuttle drain enough that the lake slowly dispappeared.

That still left the mystery of where the coolant was going.  I hadn't really investigated any other possibilities as I had assumed it was leaking out the heater pipes.  Turns out it's blown its head gasket.  The temp gauge sits rock steady, the heater works and there's no sign of fluids mixing, but opening the bonnet when running and up to temperature revealed a trickle of water down the side of the exmpasnion tank, and when I switched the engine off and unscrewed the cap, what can only be described as Mr. Matey poured out.

So that's that fucked.  It's a shame as in every other respect it was pretty much the perfect van for me - sensible size, quick, economical, comfortable, handles well, even has cruise control.  If it had A/C as well it'd be perfection.  As it is though it's not worth me forking out for a garage to do the work, and there's no way I can do it myself (I can barely see the fugging engine let alone work on it), so I'm going to have to start looking for another van.  When I have some money to buy one with that is.

[RobT]

Yesterday I gave the Cavalier an oil change and wash.  It'll be my weapon of choice for taking the other half to work this week (she's a key worker and I'm most definitely not).  This photo is the good side.  The other is a bit battered and full of wob.

I also awoke the Metro from its five month slumber.  I was grinning all the way home until I could smell pez, then pulled over sharpish behind the others as the fire extinguisher was in the back of the 406.

A clip on the fuel pump needed nipping up, but it's still not A1, and the fuel hose should really be replaced so I'll do that tomorrow as I've got some spare.  It was spaffing out all over the exhaust manifold...been there before in something else and that didn't catch fire either, but still.  Anal sphincter got a work out.

[puddlethumper]

5 hours ago, paulplom said:

4 or 5am is my time providing I'm up. The roads are invairiably dead with only the odd taxi knocking about.
You can be a hooligan and the only one that gets hurt if it goes tits up is you.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk
 

Sunday mornings 7ish if you want a lie in.

[simon8201]

On 3/21/2020 at 10:51 PM, holbeck said:

Paging @simon8201 for Randall and Hopkirk mini anecdote. 

Oh yes!

Almost bought this very car a few years ( 20 or more) ago from the then owner of Downton tuning. I went to see it in a barn in Norfolk and was so tempted, especially when I was told Tony Curtis drove it in The Persuaders as well as its regular role in Randall and Hopkirk.  The car was almost roadworthy at the time, needing brakes doing and it had quite a bit of surface rust. He was asking £2500 for it which at the time was about a £1000 celebrity provenance surcharge on the going rate for a mk1 mini. As I'm incapable of doing much more than changing a starter motor on a car I decided against buying. About a week later the chap contacted me and said he'd do the brakes if I bought it but I decided against, a decision I have often regretted but at the time was probably the right one.

Soon after that I bought HMB643C a similar cherry red mk1 Austin Mini which was in  much better order and cost less than BAP but i always felt it was lacking the anecdote value of having had Tony Curtis' arse sat on the very seats I was sitting on. I now content myself with my 51 year old mk2 Morris Mini and my downstairs lavatory which was previously owned by David Suchet of Poirot fame.

[reb]

I went a bit two bucket wrongun yesterday. Though largely using stuff out of dad's shed as it's only right it's done his way, at least for now. I also only used one bucket, i don't think a couple of extra swirl marks are going to make a difference given the state of some of the paint.

So far I've only done the top half of the LH doors, above the trim, I'll work away at getting the whole thing done as and when I can. The front one looks to have had a stevie wonder respray, it's like it's covered in scratches but they're part of the paint? Rear one came up lovely though:

Turns out using a product advertised as quick and easy to use by hand is even more quick and easy if you use a machine! I think it possibly says to not use it on a machine, and only on the "affected areas" bollocks to that! Worked a treat. Apparently it was meant for the Dacia, but knowing how thin their paint is I wouldn't want something this aggressive near it.

More detailing today, maybe go and do some photography. Who knows.

[rusty998]

Later today I will be doing a short collection on a wafty old hector, it's totally impractical for the current situation but I've always been a little tapped in the head so quite normal for me 

[xtriple]

Something fell in my eye on Sunday morning, spent from about 3:00am through until about 8:00pm last night with what felt like a half brick in my left eye. Tried over and over to get whatever it was and finally got it about 8:00pm. It was a SPIDER!

Yuck.

Granted a very dead spider but still. Now my eye is still watering and feels awful but not currently hurting.

[richardmorris]

Someone's priority is to get their Ferrari delivered.

 

[xtriple]

As a mate woke me up at 7:00 a.m. (by text!) and I had already had a shower, walked the dog, cleaned up after the other one (she's getting sneaky where she poos now, or possibly ashamed so keeps hiding it!) I have ust been out and washed the car, chatted to a mate not seen in ages (he likes my new car - I've had it since last September) and ust had the water bill. As I was online and doing banking stuff, I've paid it! This is definitely the first time I have ever paid the water bill on the day it arrived, let alone with 5 minutes of arrival. I wonder if I'll get a prize?

[Andyrew]

Many braided hoses achieve brakes to me home. 

[Cavcraft]

Someone is trying to scam me over my car. It's an ancient (and pretty fucking lame) way of attempting to essentially steal it, so let's see if we can turn the tables on them. 

[andy18s]

Awoke to this 

Yesterday we were sat outside having coffee with friends and 18°c sunshine

[Steve79]

Need to get the Clio and Saab out and fill them up!

Cheapest unleaded has been for years!

[xtriple]

Oh and now I have polished it, hoovered it out inside (with hopeless battery powered car vacumm Kyle bought me a couple of years ago) polished the interior and then Gummi Pflege'd  the seals for the roof and doors. Then went and put thirty quids worth of fuel in it, gauge is nearly at the top (right actually!) just in case... panic buying, me?

[MikeR]

likewise ... both cars as well !!

[junkyarddog]

Decided to wake up my Viva estate up,

Lots of niggles to sort through,nothing serious but kinda looseing enthusiasm for it though.

Seeing as everything for the foreseeable is on hold,I may just sign it off the road and let it slumber some more.

 

[stuboy]

Missus asked me too look at her mates as exhaust making noise after she hit a big puddle on the motorway, she'd bent the heat shield and was touching the exhaust and found she also pulled off the plastic guides for the brake lines

[beko1987]

5 minutes ago, stuboy said:

Missus asked me too look at her mates as exhaust making noise after she hit a big puddle on the motorway, she'd bent the heat shield and was touching the exhaust and found she also pulled off the plastic guides for the brake lines

I remember taking my xm through a big puddle very fast. I tore down the plastic cover that goes over the lhm lines front to back. 

Didn't notice really until I turned a sharp corner next, the car dove about and there was an almighty scary as fuck sounding noise! Limped it home (as one does) and feared the worst as I laid on the floor... 

 

*click* fixed! 

[Bren]

The vectra goes for it's MOT tomorrow. Not high on my list of priorities at the mo.

[wuvvum]

The Rover 45 failed its MOT today.  Only needs a steering rack boot (annoyed I didn't spot that) and the headlight aim tweaking.  So assuming the track rod end comes undone reasonably easily it should be a straightforward job - I'll nip out and get a boot tomorrow, assuming Bozza doesn't lock us down tonight.

[bramz7]

Realised today I hadn't started the 3 series in about a month. Bugger. 

Central locking worked as it should, and then it fired first turn. A slight misfire at cold (almost a slight hunt perhaps?), but it got better when it warmed up. Even the handbrake hadn't welded itself on. 

Shame it still sounds like a fart down a blunderbuss but that can wait a few months/weeks/whatever. 

[64A60]

Took the A55 Cambridge for a jaunt around the local countryside yesterday, its first decent run for a couple of months. The clutch has now been replaced (we suspect the very worn old plate was the original) and I now have a reliable Temperature Gauge thanks to a new sender unit. There's still some more jobs left to do but they can be put on hold for now until the current situation improves. I'm very pleased with the car. 

[Fat_Pirate]

Sold the Berlingo last night, to a very nice man (but then he is from this parish).  Starting to SORN the rest and leave just 1 operational - was hoping to sell one of the CLKs and an Alfa but I guess that'll be months away now.

[rwd]

4 hours ago, Steve79 said:

Need to get the Clio and Saab out and fill them up!

Cheapest unleaded has been for years!

£1.12 in the little petrol station on Bell Hill Road, St George yesterday

[Spurious]

I'd actually had a good day today. 

Braved the bedlam of Sainsbury's at 7.40 this morning. Plenty of choice just not a lot on the shelves, still got a week's shop out of it. By 8am the pensioners were let in and I soon spotted a granny with 4 packs of toilet paper despite all the announcements to only take 2 max. I hope they stopped her at the tills. The idea of segregated entry is to ensure a little bit for everyone. 

Had a nap and then decided to clean the car in the afternoon. Good wash down with a microfiber sponge and then wiped down with a towel. Some cheapo turtle wax and it doesn't look half bad. The inside got a wipe down and a hoover out.  The method probably horrified the detailers out there but hey this is Autoshite and good enough is good enough for me

Genuinely pleased with this car. It's comfortable and since the injectors were mended it's shown  dmirable service. Always happy to go. Nearly have it  6 months now, how time flies. 

I think the C5 is on fleet duty this week.  There's a few jobs lined up for it but nowt show stopping. Busy week in work lined up so the diesel economy will do well. 

[Steve79]

1 hour ago, rwd said:

£1.12 in the little petrol station on Bell Hill Road, St George yesterday

102.9 at asda in Bedminster