The new news 24 thread

[wuvvum]

Topped the CX gearbox up with liquid unobtainium this morning. Surprise surprise, it's made absolutely f*** all difference to the gearchange. This could get expensive...

[dollywobbler]

Citroen 'joy' in the far west as well. Have been trying to get the BX running more cleanly. Changed the fuel filter housing, as I didn't entirely trust the chemical metal bodge. Struggled to get it all primed and overall, I think it's slightly worse than when I started. The 'typical' problem area is tucked right down the back of the engine. Sod it. Lunch time.

 

I'm still trying to decide which 4x4 I want next as well. Getting no closer to deciding, but I s'pose that's ok as the bloomin' Peugeot isn't shifting and I've been banned from adding to the fleet until it's gone. I have been told that I can't give it away either! How do women manage this sensible thinking lark? Doesn't seem like any sort of fun to me.

[Pete-M]

 

 

It's getting there......

[M'coli]

That does look nice.

[cort16]

I fitted the new wing and indicator to the Volvo today. It was harder than I thought as wheel liner is rivetted on for some reason so I had to drill them all out then tackle the bumper clips, which required 5 hands with 8 fingers each to unclip. Luckily for me I had an expert on standby so it all went smoothly in the end.

Thoughts on the car? It's ace! I really like it. The interior's really nice and the ride's soooo smooth compared to the Audi. It also has a silky autobox which goes really well with the 2.9 straight six. GR9 for lighting up the front tyres.

 

I washed it today but it needs a mop and polish as it looks like small persons jam covered hands have burn't into the paint on the doors.

 

s80 by cort16, on Flickr

[eddyramrod]

2.9 straight six.

 

s80 by cort16, on Flickr

 

REALLY????? I feel a sudden urge!

[cort16]

The T6 S80 is this 2.9 straight six but with twin turbos! All through the front wheels of course.

[eddyramrod]

Hmm, yes, you said the magic words there... "all through the front wheels." That's as good as a cold shower. Or... is there a 4wd option?

[R9UKE]

Those Volvos are on my list. Well cheap now as well, lovely cars.

 

I had the pleasure of racking up 200 miles in a Renault Safrane 2.5 Executive today. WHAT A CAR!!! Felt like Jacques Chirac powering up the M1

[cort16]

Hmm, yes, you said the magic words there... "all through the front wheels." That's as good as a cold shower. Or... is there a 4wd option?

 

I don't think so. It's not really car4driftin anyway. It feels pretty good actually unlike my 166, which had brutal torque steer.

[Richard]

One of only three transverse straight-6 engined cars ever I believe.

[ashmicro]

Crab, Wedge and That Ovlov? Can't think of any more

[Negative Creep]

Aside from the Yugo, which will either turn out to be the most inspire or stupidest purchase I've yet made, the Mazda has gone. Guy paid last week, then switched his phone off leaving me wondering what was going on. Turned up and collected in without me even knowing. That car was a complete waste of time, but it's not as if lightning strikes twice is it?

[dollywobbler]

That car was a complete waste of time, but it's not as if lightning strikes twice is it?

 

Ha ha ha haaa ha ha ha haaaaa hooooo ha ha hahaaa.

 

Sorry, that's the maniacal laugh of experience...

 

Seriously though, I hope the Yugo proves a good move. They're funky little things.

[Lacquer Peel]

One of only three transverse straight-6 engined cars ever I believe.

Crab, Wedge and That Ovlov? Can't think of any more

 

Chevrolet Epica had a transverse straight six (designated 'XK', probably no coincedence), as does the Land Rover Freelander 2, and various other Volvos with the same engine.

[Lankytim]

I seem to remember Volvo saying the S80 was the first transverse straight 6 car, which is correct if you class the crab as a sea creature and not a car.

[ashmicro]

Speaking of Scandawegians, I was talking to a friend and former colleague during the week. He works for Siemens Medical Blood and Guts in Chermany, and he got a run in a Spyker C8 Lavoilette. Apparently, it's as bonkers as it looks, but a very tasty machine all the same, and has a charm all of its own.

 

Ever the constructive person, I said "Harrumph! See that interior? Rover 200 BRM development hack"

 

He said "What mate?"

 

Too much time on MacDroitwich!

[wuvvum]

More Citroën-related fun and games this afternoon.

 

With the CX firmly in my bad books, I decided to dump it at my garage and bring the DS home for some fettling. DS hadn't been started for a while but fired up first time, so I pulled the Metrocab out of the way and set off to drive the 15 miles home.

 

2 1/2 hours later I pulled the DS into my driveway. Before you ask, yes it did pull in under its own steam. In fact it got the whole way home under its own steam. Only problem was, it did it in a series of half mile chunks, with a 5-10 minute wait between each chunk. It would then start straight up again, pootle up to about 50 then stay there for a few hundred yards before it would start missfiring and grind to a halt again. As it was dark by the time I got home I haven't had the chance to investigate properly yet, but the fact that the coil was too hot to touch suggests that it's an ignition issue - whether it's the coil itself on its way out or something else that's affecting it I don't know as yet, but I might try borrowing the coil off the Scimitar to see whether it helps.

 

I was also offered two cars this evening, both quite interesting and both at a price I couldn't turn down, but neither is on the road and one is a non-runner at the moment so I would have to find somewhere to stash them. I'm not sure if either will come to fruition, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[dollywobbler]

Condenser would be my first port of call to be honest. Hope it's a quick fix!

[Cavcraft]

Finally got the coolant temp. sensor housing off the Audi: I'd managed to break it when changing the sensor, so I'll blazz down to the local VAG dealer this week and get another one. Then we'll have to change the thermostat as it's supect, sort another numberplate bulb out, give it an Italian tune up and take it for an MOT.

 

Had a look at the Frontera and it's crap running problem whilst we were there. Removed (very heavy) air filter, fired it back up and lumpiness has gone. Gave the plugs a clean at the same time then had to remove the recovery beacons and spots from the roof (both were on roof bars so fairly easy) to test if the car would fit in the garage. Happy to report that it did with room to spare so now it's less likely to succumb to pikey bastards trying to steal stuff off it.

Due to a recent clear out there was also room in the other garage to get my lad's Corsa in so in the event of more frost, ice or snow we won't have to piss about at some unGodly hour defrosting it before heading for work.

[dollywobbler]

How did I miss that you'd got a Frun-terror? Is there a thread about it? I'm quite tempted by one myself. They're cheap and under-rated and a little bit crap, which makes them weapons-grade shite in my book.

[Cavcraft]

I got it for my lad's 18th birthday (July last year) but we've not really turned a wheel in anger in it yet

I have to say the LWB versions (which is what we have) do seem more troublesome than the SWB Sport but I reckon we'll have this cracked shortly.

[cort16]

Well I've just bought another car. Like I need another one! It's an E38 740i with 268k on it, fulls years mot, mega service history, mint interior with the telly and all that. There's a few scabby bits on it but given what I'm paying for it I'm not bovard. My mate swapped his Isuzu Trooper for it as he wanted the wheels.

I need some wheels.

[wuvvum]

The DS has been causing something of a stir among the neighbours - even though they are used to seeing unusual tat turn up on my driveway on a fairly regular basis. It has to be said it really is quite an unusual looking thing - it's longer than I thought too, I had in my mind that it was a lot shorter than the CX but judging by how much driveway it takes up there's only about 8" in it. I've taken the condenser off so will be popping in to Wilco tomorrow to see if they can find something to match it. Then next weekend, if it's dry and slightly less windy than it was today, I'll start tackling some of the rust. It's had some appalling repairs to the driver's sill in the past which will probably need to be redone before its next MoT. I also fixed the screenwash - someone had plumbed the pump in the wrong way round so it was a 30-second job. If only the rest of my Citroën-related issues could be fixed that easily...

 

This afternoon I went to have another look at one of the non-runners I've agreed to purchase. After a bit of fiddling it appears that the wiring to the fuel pump is dodgy so it isn't priming - hopefully a length of wire from a live down to the pump should get it working for long enough to get the car started and onto my towing dolly. I'm thinking I might take the live from one of the rear lights, so I can control the pump by switching the lights on and off. Then once it's home and not parked on wet grass any more I can get under the car and try to fix it properly. Which should be fun - I hate Italian wiring.

 

That's a job for the weekend after next though, 'cos next weekend I've got to pick up the other non-runner, which might be more fun as the engine is seized through standing so I'm not sure yet how I'm going to get it on the dolly. I might have to bite the bullet and hire a trailer with a winch to move that one. Hopefully it'll be worth it though - it's tax exempt and not too rusty for what it is, and it is cheap. More info and photos in due course, providing everything goes to plan.

[dollywobbler]

I've just had my first 'bid blind' experience since the Mini in 2006. Didn't win, much to the relief of the wife!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160719685482

 

£571.10 seems pretty good value, though I guess there was a higher bid than that on the table. It was more than I was willing to pay without an eyeball check. Still got plenty more 4x4s on the watch list though.

[eddyramrod]

Breath duly bated, Wuv! Hooks tentered. State of suspense entered. Any or all of those...

[eddyramrod]

Still got plenty more 4x4s on the watch list though.

 

Ian, have you considered Pete-M's "Heep?" Not far enough away from you to be a nightmare trip, and it's coming from a known source...

[dollywobbler]

Yeah, has been considered. LPG tank would be a pain though. The Rangie proved very useful for shuttling stuff about.

[Pete-M]

Yeah, has been considered. LPG tank would be a pain though. The Rangie proved very useful for shuttling stuff about.

 

So That's what the deleted PM was about.....

[dollywobbler]

Aye! Sorry. Mind you, you hadn't read it despite being on here several times!

 

The shite 4x4 search continues.