The new news 24 thread

[RobT]

It can only mean one thing.  I wouldn't choose to be on it otherwise.

[brownnova]

Oooh and you can usually pick ‘em too @RobT so this will be exciting! Bonne Chance!!! 

[New POD]

16 hours ago, Jenson Velcro said:

Not really how I wanted to spend my birthday, but have spent this morning dodging showers and stripping the head off my r50 Mini Cooper. It’s a tidy enough car that I bought pretty cheap just before lockdown and knowing it had a cooling problem. I replaced the fan resistor but it started loosing water. It has previously had a new radiator and I have replaced the thermostat housing. We pressure tested the system and found a leaking hose and replaced that. Re pressure tested and still leaking but nothing visible so assuming an internal problem. Nothing obvious with the head gasket so will pressure test the head. Ho hum but I don’t like being beaten and am determined to sort this out.

I had a look on You tube at r50 head gasket replacement, and decided it would break me. 

I would have attempted it in the past. 

4 years of University level Engineering training and 30 years as a manufacturing engineer, and I've just started to know my limitations. 

[SmokinWaffle]

Did some servicing and fixes on the BX in prep for the MOT - posted it in the thread but thought I'd post it here too for those who'd be interested:

  

On 10/24/2020 at 5:47 PM, SmokinWaffle said:

And keep you updated I will!

Apart from running it for the past two months I've not really done much apart from enjoy it (and replace a glow plug relay that wasn't in great shape). It hasn't had any issues (touch wood) with idling in around 1000 miles or so if not more (ish? I didn't count) - and I've been using it daily. It's been a very good car for me and I really do adore it.

I replaced the Hydraulic pump belt a couple weeks ago as it was slipping like nobodies business and causing the pump to squeal / stop rotating under load.  £7 from chevronics. Good thing I did as it was very perished. The mounting bolt thing was also very loose so the pump was moving 3 - 5CM back and fourth (probably didn't help) as the car moved around. Retightened it all and aligned it with the cam, happy days.

Today was a day of many little things and niggles in prep for the MOT next week - first time I've serviced one of my own cars myself (with my dads help)

Fixed the mounting bracket on the RHS for the indicator after it flew off on the motorway the other week and was lost forever (thankfully on the way to rip apart another BX which had a good one on it.) Looks like it had a chunk taken out of it / has had a front end knock at some point - probably why it never quite aligned for @vulgalour - as the headlight mounting/metal was kinked back and the paint is crazed/weird.
 

Pulled that out, made & riveted on a bit of metal to make up for the missing chunk and mounted the indicator with a new bolt:

Also lopped off the dodgy, intermittent and brittle sidelight connector and just put two connectors on it instead - you can see it in that pic. Rear view:

The other indicator was also very loose the other week and it turned out that the mounting bolt seems to have previously snapped and been repaired and was now broken again. I superglued it and it worked- but noticed it was a bit pissed today. Good thing I took it out and checked it as the superglue was holding on by the tiniest little bit and it was close to falling out and meeting a similar fate to the other indicator that went missing.

Redid it with some metal putty stuff:

Dries rock hard and can be drilled, grinded ect so that should keep it in place for a little while.

Had to make up a little drive tool to take out the sump plug as it was some weird size:

Good to have someone who is very handy and has many tools. Been a HGV mechanic all his life and always has a solution.

Gave it some new SemiSynth 10W40 and a Mann filter once we'd got it drained. It's a little more refined on the motorway now which is always nice and sounds a bit happier overall. It wasn't due a change on miles, but it's been nearly a year and a half so probably best.

Also recently had the low coolant light coming on and off randomly, it had a cable tie holding up one of the wires and I took that off and all seemed well until a week later when it came back. Took apart the plug (very cool, had a flippable bit to easily take out the contacts) and found one wire hanging on by pretty much nothing. Re cut and crimped it back in place, put it all back together and no more horrible stop light. Picture below is when the other wire basically just fell out.

Also fitted a new rear washer pump and one way valve as the previous pump gave up the ghost. Was a universal fit one but does the job lovely and fits in the gap where the old one did.

Tightened the alternator belt and it's mounting bracket as it started to squeal the other day.

Also gave it new indicator bulbs and sidelights, all ready for it's MOT next week sometime, fingers crossed.

Oh, I also fitted a bluetooth stereo with a nicely hidden microphone the other day as I'm dailying it, the old tape deck did work but gradually got quieter and quieter until it was useless:

Looks whack and too bright there - but the camera made it look weird. Actually looks quite swish and covered with the panel when not in use/I don't want to change it to keep the retro look. It's a really nice one, £95 new and I got it for a tenner, used once. Crazy.

Had to wire it into a switched live instead of a permanent one to make it come on / off with the ignition - but that was easy enough.

Wired the old one up to a spare computer PSU I had in the office with some messing around - now I just need some speakers for a cool new office radio:

I'll keep this thread updated when I do work on it/when stuff happens so I have a record, and it's fun to know what happens between different owners.

 

[richardmorris]

[hairnet]

1 hour ago, RobT said:

It can only mean one thing.  I wouldn't choose to be on it otherwise.

baaaaa baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

[Jenson Velcro]

50 minutes ago, New POD said:

I had a look on You tube at r50 head gasket replacement, and decided it would break me. 

I would have attempted it in the past. 

4 years of University level Engineering training and 30 years as a manufacturing engineer, and I've just started to know my limitations. 

I just don’t have any imagination. It was pretty straightforward following the HBOL to get it dismantled. Whether it solves the problem or ever runs again is another matter..... it would have been good to have found an obvious break in the head gasket 

[SiC]

13 hours ago, sickboy said:

Subsequent Googling revealed all 182's with this exhaust fit like this

Haha yes. You won't unsee 182 exhausts when you're behind them in traffic now. 

My exhaust mounts have had an "interesting" repair done to them by a previous owner.

 

Looking at those very crusty mounting studs, it looks like whoever changed the exhaust last decided to fuck off changing that and bodge the mount. Unfortunately the car is quite boomy at 4k+ rpm and I think that's partly down to this bodge. I dare not remove that mount though given someone else thought that too.

Probably send it to my local garage to deal with. Will be a million times easier for them on a lift and with a blue wrench to hand. 

[KitKat]

2 minutes ago, SiC said:

Haha yes. You won't unsee 182 exhausts when you're behind them in traffic now. 

My exhaust mounts have had an "interesting" repair done to them by a previous owner.

 

Looking at those very crusty mounting studs, it looks like whoever changed the exhaust last decided to fuck off changing that and bodge the mount. Unfortunately the car is quite boomy at 4k+ rpm and I think that's partly down to this bodge. I dare not remove that mount though given someone else thought that too.

Probably send it to my local garage to deal with. Will be a million times easier for them on a lift and with a blue wrench to hand. 

Interesting approach to the problem I guess. Those studs are grim!! Definitely would shear off if you try and touch them. Any idea what type of exhaust is on yours @SiC ? 

[SiC]

Interesting approach to the problem I guess. Those studs are grim!! Definitely would shear off if you try and touch them. Any idea what type of exhaust is on yours [mention=20071]SiC[/mention] ? 

Bosal I think

I'd prefer stock Reno but they're mightly expensive. Looking through the history, the cars had three back boxes in its life.

[richardmorris]

[richardmorris]

[HMC]

^ what even is that number 8 car? Looks 50’s competition (up to the wires being chromed at least)

[richardmorris]

2 minutes ago, HMC said:

^ what even is that number 8 car? Looks 50’s competition (up to the wires being chromed at least)

Not sure on the model, but the script on the rear panel was Allard. Sounded good!

 

Ah, it's new!

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/09/25/englands-allard-rises-from-62-year-slumber-to-make-continuation-cars/#slide-2266548

[Six-cylinder]

2 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Not sure on the model, but the script on the rear panel was Allard. Sounded good!

I think it was a Cadillac engine.

[HMC]

https://sportscardigest.com/allard-motor-company-returns-with-the-new-jr-continuation-series/

[RobT]

Teignmouth achieved.

I sat on the wrong side of the train for the view.  Tiredness error.  Now a walk up the hill to my steed.

[Cavcraft]

The Merc decided that because I haven't used it recently it should flatten it's battery just enough not to start.

Cleverly ignoring it for a few days, the alarm started going off and it won't open off the fob. Used the slide out key to open door, but it doesn't open the boot so can't get to the battery. Google says there's a jump point on the passenger floor.

[stuboy]

13 hours ago, SiC said:

popular mod in car scene was to fill engine mounts with tigersil/silkaflex

[SiC]

22 minutes ago, stuboy said:

popular mod in car scene was to fill engine mounts with tigersil/silkaflex

I have considered pushing out the silicon sealant and fill it with tigersil. 

[phil_lihp]

On 7/27/2020 at 11:21 PM, Coprolalia said:

@phil_lihp, I have a £30 Chinese pattern secondary air pump arriving next week. Will let you know if it's any good. I heard replacing the rivets was a bit of an arse as it can all warp and expand.

Apparently the resistor mod works, but you have to map out the EML as otherwise it throws the P0441 (or summat) code for secondary air flow out of range.

Raising this post from the deep past, how did you get on with your cheapo pump?  

[holbeck]

1 hour ago, RobT said:

I  sat on the wrong side of the train for the view.  Tiredness error.  

Let me fill in the pic of what you missed 

[holbeck]

Just seen this at a deceased estate auction.  Looks suitably grim. Starting bid is £200

[RobT]

Marm left the key under a plant pot so I could collect at my leisure.  It lumbers along well enough, so 200 miles here I come.

[HMC]

Great! “Gold-orange metallic” apparently 

Those crazy Germans!

[New POD]

3 hours ago, SiC said:

Haha yes. You won't unsee 182 exhausts when you're behind them in traffic now. 

My exhaust mounts have had an "interesting" repair done to them by a previous owner.

 

Looking at those very crusty mounting studs, it looks like whoever changed the exhaust last decided to fuck off changing that and bodge the mount. Unfortunately the car is quite boomy at 4k+ rpm and I think that's partly down to this bodge. I dare not remove that mount though given someone else thought that too.

Probably send it to my local garage to deal with. Will be a million times easier for them on a lift and with a blue wrench to hand. 

I did this with sikafix, on a Bini.  It worked.  

[dome]

1 hour ago, Cavcraft said:

The Merc decided that because I haven't used it recently it should flatten it's battery just enough not to start.

Cleverly ignoring it for a few days, the alarm started going off and it won't open off the fob. Used the slide out key to open door, but it doesn't open the boot so can't get to the battery. Google says there's a jump point on the passenger floor.

I've got £500 here, I'll take it away and you'll never have to worry about it again  

[dome]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

I have considered pushing out the silicon sealant and fill it with tigersil. 

Have a search on the forums. I cut the rubbers out of the mounts on my 182 and replaced it with a Polyflex exhaust mount for a chevette or something similar. A bit of cutting was involved to make it fit but it's a common mod. 

[Supernaut]

45 minutes ago, holbeck said:

Just seen this at a deceased estate auction.  Looks suitably grim. Starting bid is £200

Grim? Sod off! Even smoll-engined E36s are a joy to drive.

I may be biased, mind...

[holbeck]

2 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

Grim? Sod off! Even smoll-engined E36s are a joy to drive.

I may be biased, mind...

I'm sure its drives great,  but this one looks like a health hazard inside.