The new news 24 thread

[cort16]

I've just stuck my 166on ebay for £595, which reasonable given the 6months T&T. The gear linkage problem was the last straw as I spent 2 hours pissing about with this yesterday when I really wanted to be working on the SD. I've also been offered a mega cheap 740i.

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280807415006

[The Moog]

V40 failed MOT on both CV gaiters, Excessive corrosion to brake pipe and also both Anti Roll Bar dust covers are loose. Never heard of that being an issue before.

 

To change them you have to drop down subframe so I am going to get the garage to do it for me.

[Lankytim]

Changed the rear brake flexi's and torque rods on the Volvo this morning, all done before 11am. Pat on the back for me!

 

N/S brake still getting hot, so the brake pipe wasn't to blame. Still nice to see new stuff on an old car though.

 

Still a slight clunk from the rear end when taking up drive. That will teach me for using secondhand bushes!....well, they had only been on the donor for 6 months or so. Its much better than it was however, the clunking when pulling away caused passers by to stop and look around to see what was making the noise!

[M'coli]

This "hot brake" on the Volvo - doesn't the 240 have a drum inside the disc for the handbrake, so could it be the shoes on the handbrake binding slightly, or has this already been mentioned and I just haven't seen it?

[dollywobbler]

Took the BX for a good 30 mile drive as it hasn't had a long run for a while. That was much more fun than draining the LHM reservoir and cleaning out the filters, which is what I actually went outside to do...

 

Have applied a fresh bodge to the Peugeot's exhaust as well. I've made an exhaust bracket out of a cable tie and a hose clip. We'll see if that holds, but better support does seem to have solved the joint issue. Still ideally needs a new exhaust, but this should last for a bit.

[Negative Creep]

Fitted those wheels I bought a while ago. Need a refurb though as the lacquer is peeling off. Currently trying to find someone who can paint them a different colour

 

[Lord Sterling]

Replaced the 2 front tyres today, bashed on all-weather Dunlops on the front. Now I have Dunlops all-round (Except the spare, that will need replacing) no more wobbly steering now:

 

 

Had some old Rover 800 alloys delivered to me the other day (Cheers Brad) got to try and find a place for them in the garage as its now getting ridiculous

 

Messed about with some old hard-drives and rediscovered some pics of the old cars I've had, amongst them was a couple more pics of my old mk2 Sterling I forgot I took, whilst I still own the thing, I really do miss it:

 

 

A couple of years ago I replaced the drab-door cards with leather inserted Vitesse cards:

 

 

I really must sort this car out and get it back on the road.

[worldofceri]

This weekend I have mostly been trying to undo a seized/rounded-off bolt on my Volvo's brake caliper in order to change the discs and pads. To no avail.

 

Procedures attempted so far:

 

1. Mole grips. Makes the bolt even rounder.

 

2. Hammering a smaller socket over it (obvs). Neither a 13mm or ½in sockets will grip a rounded-off 14mm bolt, apparently.

 

c. Filing new flats on the bolt to accept a 13mm open-ended spanner. Couldn't get the leverage. Bolt rounded-off further.

 

4. Stud extractors. No space behind the bolt (it faces inwards) to get the drill in to drill a straight pilot hole. Drilled a shallow, cock-eyed hole then gave up.

 

The bolt is now comprehensively müllered and I am going to look a right dickhead when eventually I take it the the garage for them to sort it.

 

And I didn't even get to use my shiny new caliper rewind tool.

 

So I'm sulking.

[scaryoldcortina]

^ I've got three words for you - Irwin Bolt Grips

 

That is all.

[wuvvum]

Epically failed to get the gearbox filler plug out of the CX today. I bought an 8mm square drive tool but it's 3/8" drive and my 3/8" ratchet just isn't man enough, even with a long plug spanner on the end for extra leverage. I'm going to have to invest in a 1/2" to 3/8" adaptor I think and get my breaker bar on it. It doesn't look as if it's been out for a while - wonder if the previous owner was checking the fluid level with the engine off...

 

Took the Iveco for a blat this evening as it's supposedly sold on eBay (haven't heard from the buyer as yet) and I wanted to make sure everything was shipshape. It felt weird getting back into it after driving the Transit - it felt slow and the gearbox is horrible, but it does handle a lot better than the Transit. Not that the Tranny's bad as such, but today was the first time in a while that I'd driven the Iveco on a dry road with nothing in the back, and you really can throw the old thing into corners.

 

Nicked the battery off the Ducato as well, as it's nearly new and bloody huge. I stuck the taxi battery on the Ducato - the Fiat engine has glowplugs so the Metrocab battery is more than enough to start it even in freezing temperatures. The plan was to put the Fiat battery on the Transit (no preheat on a Ford DI) but it's about an inch too long. Arse. So I've stuck it on the taxi for now, which now starts a lot more easily in cold temperatures. It'll probably end up taking over jump-starting duties from my ancient JCB battery, which still holds a good charge but isn't putting out the cranking amps that it used to.

[Lacquer Peel]

worldofceri, are your mole grips a questionable brand? I was about to give up on a bolt head I ruined with cheap mole grips, but found my uber mole grips and gripped and undid easily.

[dollywobbler]

After the success of the Pug fixing, I gave the 2CV's roof another pressure wash. It's got into a bit of a state lately. I've not really cleaned it properly in 8 years... That's getting the full on Fabsil treatment tomorrow, ready for the rain that's forecast to return from Wednesday...

 

I was feeling a bit fired up then and cracked on with hydraulic fun and games with the BX. The hydraulics can be quite simple really. The PAS works by slurping fluid from the reservoir direct to the pump, then from pump to the steering. It doesn't go through any fancy regulators or 'owt. So, if it's intermittent, there isn't too much that could be wrong. There's a flow valve, that splits the pressure between steering and other stuff, but that doesn't often go wrong. Chances are that there simply isn't enough fluid getting through. Could be the pump, but it could also be that the filters are all gunked up in the reservoir. So, disconnected the pipework - discovered some gunk in the high pressure feed pipe straight away! Out comes the reservoir and one of the filters is just floating around in it rather than being clipped where it should be. Ah-ha!

 

Cleaned out the reservoir, plumbed it all back in, added several litres of fresh LHM and went for a drive. No difference at all. Oh well! Looks like the pump is probably to blame - but I'm glad I got the cleaning job done anyway. It needed doing. I have another second-hand pump, so that'll get fitted at some point yet to be agreed.

 

It's also running increasingly badly. An air leak is the suspect, so the plan is to find a clear bit of fuel pipe, plumb it in and check for bubbles. Jonathan_dyane may well win a prize* for this one if an air leak is found. He blames the fuel warming pipework (I think mine takes heat from the exhaust manifold, but the gubbins is all buried down the back of the engine. Fun!)

 

* It's the thought that counts. Prize may not actually exist.

[Lacquer Peel]

Fuel filters are usually heated by engine coolant, that sounds like a very odd setup.

 

 

Does it look like this (removed from an old 205 diesel)? The coolant heated element wouldn't cause air leaks on its own, it's just a base for the filter. It's more likely to be air ingress through the filter head.

[dollywobbler]

Nope. Hasn't got any of that stuff on the bottom of the filter. I've never dabbled and the thing I need to dabble with is out of sight down the back of the engine, so I can't really comment further until I've had a look.

[Lankytim]

This "hot brake" on the Volvo - doesn't the 240 have a drum inside the disc for the handbrake, so could it be the shoes on the handbrake binding slightly, or has this already been mentioned and I just haven't seen it?

 

Already been checked and found to be free, but then stripped and rebuilt anyway. I suspect its somehow the caliper.... but the damn thing isn't binding when I check it!

[dollywobbler]

They don't have to be binding much to generate heat. I think that's the problem with trying to identify it. The calipers on the Range Rover didn't feel like they were restricting the wheel, but heat was definitely being generated. New pistons sorted that out, though I did go through an agonising spell of thinking they were still faulty - turns out that slowing a Range Rover down when descending a hill just generates a lot of brake heat!

[Pete-M]

Bugger all. Surfing eBay looking for Mk2 Escort bits.... it's not going badly.

[Cavcraft]

Worth looking at the fuel filter housing for a leak, caused me a lot of grief on a BX yonks back. Also does your's have the 'rubber bulb' to hand pump the fuel if needed? These can perish quite alarmingly.

[dollywobbler]

Housing did have a leak. Bodged up with chemical metal and seems to be holding. I've got a new housing to go on once I'm ready to get my hands soaked in diesel again. Doesn't have the 'bulb' type primer, but the button goes rock hard instantly, so it doesn't seem to be losing fuel pressure.

[RobT]

Was bored this evening so I took the Montego out for a 70 mile romp on the M25, just to see if the mis-fire and hot starting has finally been sorted by fitting the new ECU. And apart from idling too fast and a bit uneven it drove superb, makes me realise how much I've missed it as my daily. Next task is to book it in with a place that has the necessary MEMs tuning gear just to even it out and sort the idle, patch up or replace the exhaust as the centre is blowing a bit, and sort out the slight leak from the PAS pump.

[dollywobbler]

Today, I have mainly been demonstrating the joys of good penetrating oil. The BX now has doors that open and the 2CV has a working ignition barrel again.

 

I'm now about to make the most of the sun (might be the last day of clear weather) to water-proof the 2CV's roof.

[Lord Sterling]

Was bored this evening so I took the Montego out......

 

You've got a Montego? I dont think I've ever seen it?

 

The oil light on the trip computer has been flashing/bleeping at me since I got the Sterling on the road, took the thing down to my mates in Worcester today and founf that there was hardly any oil in it I'm sure I didnt drain that much from it as I seem to remember there was too much oil at one point. Anyhow I topped it up a bit to at least at half way, but the light hasnt extinguished so I'll have to live with it but keep checking on the oil, there hasnt been any leak from anywhere, so where I checked it must have been on a slight incline or something.

 

Finally undid the coolant valve to check for any air locks, there are non, so thats alright.

[worldofceri]

worldofceri, are your mole grips a questionable brand? I was about to give up on a bolt head I ruined with cheap mole grips, but found my uber mole grips and gripped and undid easily.

 

I had some cheap ones that are pretty worn so I went out and bought some relatively expensive Stanley grips. To be honest, I can't see much to choose between them.

 

^ I've got three words for you - Irwin Bolt Grips

 

Looks like I should have spent my pennies on these instead. Thanks for the tip.

 

On reflection I think I should have got more penetrating oil in there in the first place. What's the best one to use?

[RobT]

 

You've got a Montego? I dont think I've ever seen it?

 

 

Here it is, cleanest it's ever been and doing a good job at hiding it's rust at Brooklands last March It's a 2.0 GSi automatic and needs a bit of tlc after serving me well over the last 18 months with minimal amounts of maintenance bar servicing, up until a recent mis-fire saga that is....

 

 

My original idea was to run it cheap and then throw it away after a few years, but seeing as I like driving it so much I'm tempted to throw a few quid at it later in the year to sort the rear arches and other bits of grot.

 

One day I'll probably upgrade to executive class and get an 800 (an early Sterling with duo-tone paint is my ideal), but don't think I've deep enough pockets at the moment to run one!

[Lord Sterling]

YUM!! OM NOM NOM NOM!!

 

That Monty looks tasty. You made certainly made the right decision to keep it, the 2.0 GSi specs are quite rare as I understand, even rarer in Estate form which I did once see a few times, sadly I never go pic (CuZ I iZ L4ZY)

 

One day I'll probably upgrade to executive class and get an 800 (an early Sterling with duo-tone paint is my ideal), but don't think I've deep enough pockets at the moment to run one!

 

Like this:

 

 

My old Sterling, got an identical one now, they were once pictured together, I own the one of the left now:

 

 

My old one has been scrapped as its engine imploded due to some serious bodging to the coolant system by one of the last owners, plus the body was getting worse by the day. I took a shed load of parts off it though.

 

Never tried a Monty but I have one waiting to be 'tried out' waiting in the wings courtesy of one of our members. Good luck and keep that Monty in good nick, there arent many of them left!

[warren t claim]

 

That does look mega tidy!

 

What's the story behind it? Is it still running?

[Father Ted]

Exhaust on the K11 has started making some right horrible rattling noises from around the Cat area. Not the top heatshield, but if you hold it and get the teenager to blip the throttle you can feel as well as hear the thing [cat] clattering about.

So, do I ignore it and let it develop, ignore it and contemplate fitting a straight through pipe, or grit my teeth and get dry bummed by Kwik Fit.

I should write to Nissan as clearly the Cat has not lasted the life of the car.

[Cavcraft]

C U L8ER Honda 125, welcome back to an old acquaintance that's slightly faster and not quite as economical as the CG:

 

 

In between me getting it back again the owner had twigged there was a split pipe somewhere (which he replaced) and as such it's even quicker now. Drove it like I stole it on the way home and ferk me that thing can shift.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Did my first ever welding on a car today. Went as well as could be expected and I will be trying again tomorrow.

 

Set nothing on fire, but gave myself a flash of arc light and had a cutting disc explode.

[rml2345]

Spent yesterday afternoon trying to adjust the serpentine belt on the Yaris as it's a wee bit loose. Gave up after spending 3 hours trying to loosen off the alternator pivot bolt. Not even a hammer and a smaller socket would shift it. Did however manage to shear two bolts holding the plastic wing liner/under engine thing on to the car, so at least it wasn't completely uneventful. Cable tied that back on after finding than "No Nails" doesn't work on the mocket underside of a car. I'Z A BODGER.

Will now leave the belt until I'm stranded somewhere far from home with no breakdown recovery. Or I can pay someone else with ramps and shit to do it.