The new news 24 thread

[Split_Pin]

Progressing with building the Cav back up.

PAS pump belt tensioned up, radiator and intercooler buttoned together and installed, fan switch bolted in and some pipes loosely installed.

I need to work out how to safely fasten the wiring for the fan switch as its quite a bitnlonger than necessary and is quite near the PAS pulley. 

Friday, beer o'clock now.

More tomorrow.

Mrs_Pin wants to collect some planks of wood at B&Q next week and as this is currently the most practical car in the fleet, she was asking when it would be fixed. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I'll be good to go!

[stuboy]

15 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

the most practical car in the fleet,

and theres a reason not to out it!!

[Fumbler]

Much passing happened on the Micra

For ignoring the rusty patch on the sill for 3 years and 3 winters, I'm impressed. It's now the size of a 2p coin and is just under a foot away from the rear seatbelt mount. He says it'll need doing before the next MoT. I agree and will try to sort it out when I'm back from holiday, along with giving the car a general look-over and tidy up should it be needed. At least my rear wheel cylinder replacement did the trick and cured the brake faults.

[stuboy]

nothing exciting got a screenshot off one my videos... dull for you too see...but hey ho

[puddlethumper]

I got the v5 for my big yesterday. Change of keeper was only sent on Tuesday. DVLA getting their arse in gear or what.

[brownnova]

Went for a walk to pick up biscuits from the shop… this was a bonus! 

[catsinthewelder]

@Mr_Bo11ox is going to need new underwear when he sees that.

[Spottedlaurel]

Middle-aged man drove LS400 on 110-mile round trip and it went very nicely indeed shock.

For some reason I'd been wary about taking the Lexus anywhere too far, as it's a complex thing that has seen only minimal maintenance for a good few years with innumerable ways to go wrong, but the recent trip to FOTU proved that I should have more faith in it. Had to do the long trip to the main office yesterday, so decided to give it another decent run out.

I'd hoped to get away with using the remnants of the tankful of fuel that was in it from FOTU, but as it'd already done 250+ miles on that and the bottom third of the gauge drops rather rapidly I thought I'd better chuck a bit more petrol in. As it'd started off with a full tank last time I thought I'd do the same this time so I could scare myself with a brim-to-brim check on 'economy'.

Morrisons pumps said E10 for normal 95 stuff*, so I moved across to  one that did 97. In the end I squeezed-in £70's worth, which seemed a bit grim for 257 miles but a quick bit of maths showed that to be just under 24mpg, which I suppose isn't bad for a 4-litre V8 that probably needs a good service.

On my cross-Norfolk route of mostly open A-roads it was so ludicrously smooth. In some ways it's much like my RX450h, with no apparent form of propulsion much of the time - it just glides along. A few overtakes were dispatched with no drama.

Once I get the house move out of the way I need to think about how to treat it better than as cheap, disposable fun. With the likelihood being that I'll only have a couple of older things to keep going I can give it a bit more attention.

*Funny thing here is that when I got the cash desk the lady asked me why I'd moved across from the first pump, so I explained that I didn't want to use E10. She said it wasn't actually in the tank yet, so I could've saved a few bob. Ah well, it'll be interesting to see how it goes with 97 stuff.

 

In other news, the big shed clear-out has started. I've rented a 20' container at a nearby storage place and have started getting a few loads down there. There's an awful lot to contend with and I need to make a start as we could be in our last 3-4 weeks here. If the move goes belly-up then it can stay there until something does work out, or I'll bring it all back again. Shelving plans have already been worked-out for the new place, I think I'll have room for everything but I want to paint the garage walls and floor before I start filling it up - I know I'll never have the opportunity again! The storage place will be ideal to hold stuff until I can bring it all back to its new home.

[eddyramrod]

Day trip to Kendal yesterday;MrsR had a clinic appointment so we booked in at the Suzuki garage to talk about our next Motability car, which fitted neatly after the clinic.  We've ordered a new Suzuki Vitara, but he couldn't guarantee a colour.  I told him as long as it is an actual colour rather than the grey half of the paint chart, it'll be ok.

[wuvvum]

5 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

In the end I squeezed-in £70's worth, which seemed a bit grim for 257 miles but a quick bit of maths showed that to be just under 24mpg, which I suppose isn't bad for a 4-litre V8 that probably needs a good service.

Also the route SL_Jr's phone took us down was perhaps not the most ideal for a big V8 barge...

[Spottedlaurel]

21 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Also the route SL_Jr's phone took us down was perhaps not the most ideal for a big V8 barge...

But fun though! The time spent in the queue probably also had an effect......

[HMC]

15 hours ago, brownnova said:

Went for a walk to pick up biscuits from the shop… this was a bonus! 

4x4!! Looks like it  needs a petrol cap surround repair like @Mr_Bo11ox ‘S old white one, back when I were a lad.

[Split_Pin]

ALMOST finished the Cav.

Filled it with coolant and:

 

#FALLING DOWN

Got the belts back off, pulley off and slackened the water pump a touch and will let it drip down overnight as I'm not fucking about with the radiator again.

I knew the gasket wasn't on right, it was a right war to get it on but I thought it was OK. I can see it isn't sitting true with the pump face as I looked up.

Thankfully that wrong waterpump came with a gasket that does fit so I'll have another go tomorrow.

I lost the PAS top mount nut as well, it joins another bolt at the bottom of the alternator bracket. It's a solid piece so is impossible to extract so I found another nut that fits.

Beer time.

 

[anonymous user]

5 hours ago, HMC said:

4x4!! Looks like it  needs a petrol cap surround repair like @Mr_Bo11ox ‘S old white one, back when I were a lad.

Alfa Romeo petrol cap surround repair. Remove all mechanical, electrical and trim parts. Hold petrol cap, get someone to fabricate entire bodyshell, then refit mechanical, electrical and trim parts.

[Yoss]

Chrysler 180 on current Churchill ad. 

[Cord Fourteener]

The Passat is a big car, turns out the the Mondeo is bigger! On the outside anyway.

The B5 Passat is very space efficient. It's the most aerodynamic brick of its era.

[wuvvum]

I was surprised when parking the Merc next to the Rover 75 that the Merc is only about a foot and a half longer.  Feels like way more than that...

[Cord Fourteener]

10 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

I was surprised when parking the Merc next to the Rover 75 that the Merc is only about a foot and a half longer.  Feels like way more than that...

I've been using actual bricks so Wifey doesn't reverse into my Volvo every day. I can park the Passat with space to spare, the Mondeo wheel base stretches from the kerb to the bricks, a thumb length longer.

[SiC]

4 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

ALMOST finished the Cav.

Filled it with coolant and:

 

 

#FALLING DOWN

Got the belts back off, pulley off and slackened the water pump a touch and will let it drip down overnight as I'm not fucking about with the radiator again.

I knew the gasket wasn't on right, it was a right war to get it on but I thought it was OK. I can see it isn't sitting true with the pump face as I looked up.

Thankfully that wrong waterpump came with a gasket that does fit so I'll have another go tomorrow.

I lost the PAS top mount nut as well, it joins another bolt at the bottom of the alternator bracket. It's a solid piece so is impossible to extract so I found another nut that fits.

Beer time.

 

Happened to my Clio after I'd done the pump with the belts. Needed to strip it all back again and double check no coolant got on the brand new belts. 

I usually use blue hylomar on all gaskets when I put them on. Pump instructions said not to use anything, so I didn't. The replacement pump I put on (because the bolt heads rounded after I made the mistake of tightening them up more and ended up cutting the brand new pump off instead) sure did have hylomar on the gasket that time. Unsurprisingly no leaks.  

[Lankytim]

After seeing XBOLLOXs efforts polishing his aircraft carrier I was inspired to use some G3 on my Volvo.

Its had a semi OK blow over at some point and it’s hard to get a decent shine but it does look loads better, I can really picture myself cruising around in it now.  I gave the dusty engine bay a wash and used some “Cherry sheen” on the dash. 
 

Quite rewarding and made me forget about the fuck-ton of welding the body needs. The shiny roof now shows off the dents made by the POs kids walking on it that won’t quite pop out, maybe I need a sink plunger on it. 

I've found the washer pump had karked it so after digging around in the garage I found an Allegro item. The Volvo pump is built into the washer reservoir cap and after removing it I found the allegro's mounting holes lined up perfectly with the existing holes in the cap, a couple of rivets and the screen jets were back in business!

Talking of Allegro bits, the TEX wing mirrors appear to be typical BL generic items, obv the wanky bases these use have deformed so one mirror won't stay on and the other is easily knocked off. I find these soon die a death once you start messing with them so I might try and find some proper Volvo ones. 

[Split_Pin]

17 minutes ago, SiC said:

Happened to my Clio after I'd done the pump with the belts. Needed to strip it all back again and double check no coolant got on the brand new belts. 

I usually use blue hylomar on all gaskets when I put them on. Pump instructions said not to use anything, so I didn't. The replacement pump I put on (because the bolt heads rounded after I made the mistake of tightening them up more and ended up cutting the brand new pump off instead) sure did have hylomar on the gasket that time. Unsurprisingly no leaks.  

Google says I can't use Hylomar on card gaskets, is that what was on the Clio? If so, I'm using some as locating the loose gasket, bolts and pump all whilst reaching down the side of the engine is near impossible. 

I should probably have left the old pump alone but I wanted to see if it was corroded or had damaged/missing vanes, causing the overheating and the only way to rule it out was to get it off.

If I'm honest, I've seen another Corsa B that I really like. Its a 5 door which is what my first one was. I always thought I preferred the 3 door but having had both,  this one just evoked a lot of nice memories. It isn't for sale yet but I'm keeping tabs on it and have been chatting to the owner. He brought it to my house when I sold him a Tigra scuttle panel  for it and I really liked it.

[SiC]

24 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Google says I can't use Hylomar on card gaskets, is that what was on the Clio?

Yes. Just don't go too crazy that it could bung up in the water way. 

Saying that, I tend to and never had a problem 🤷

Pump will likely mash it up before it bunging up anything. No worse than crystallised coolant jamming up coolant paths. 

[Split_Pin]

I'll get some tomorrow, cheers!

[HMC]

Just passed this on my doorstep earlier…

[GrumpiusMaximus]

7 hours ago, HMC said:

Just passed this on my doorstep earlier…

I know they’re divisive but that is a beautiful colour.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Collekshun morning.  Current status.

[HillmanImp]

Went to the Banger Racing at Osdal stadium last night. Really good evening out. 

I wasn't sure if I was agreeing with the 3 wheeler race as they're a bit rare now but there were only 4 3 and a half of them racing. 

One of the drivers intentionally rolled his car at the end of each race (along with at least 1 unintentional one from of the drivers mid race) . Nowt wrong with a bit of showmanship. 

Most of the bangers seemed to be E class and a few Jags and Mondeos. Were surprised not to see more Lex-i but maybe they're harder to steal. 

Amazingly I think this Mondeo made it out for the next race. 

Mini stocks was really fast, I'm used to watching them (in Micras these days) at Angmering which is a much smaller track and with tighter turns. I bet the F1 stock cars are fucking stupid fast round here. 

Will definitely go again, great to have something like this near where I live.

[brownnova]

3 hours ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Collekshun morning.  Current status.

Looks like you’re about to do a tribute to Peter Gabriel’s ‘Sledgehammer’ video. 

[Yoss]

11 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Google says I can't use Hylomar on card gaskets, is that what was on the Clio? If so, I'm using some as locating the loose gasket, bolts and pump all whilst reaching down the side of the engine is near impossible. 

 

 

11 hours ago, SiC said:

Yes. Just don't go too crazy that it could bung up in the water way. 

Saying that, I tend to and never had a problem 🤷

Pump will likely mash it up before it bunging up anything. No worse than crystallised coolant jamming up coolant paths. 

As @SiC says. People have a tendency to squeeze it out like toothpaste then it oozes out when you tighten everything up. It then sets and bits can break off and block oil/waterways. But you just use a smear to act as a locator while you line everything up. If everything is accessible and both faces are nice and clean then yes, you probably don't need any but if you're struggling to line everything up like you seem to be then yes I'd use a smear.

But I use Wellseal. 

It's much thinner, quite runny and gets all over your fingers, my tube certainly doesn't look like that anymore, it has sticky brown stuff all over it. But it never fully sets. You just run a smear round with your finger leave it a few minutes and it sticks like the proverbial. So it's also a great locator when you're trying to line things up on a vertical surface. 

You've probably already gone out to buy some Hylomar, in which case no worries but if you haven't yet I can't recommend Wellseal enough. 

[Split_Pin]

Yeah that gasket was in perfectly*

All I could get was Granville instant gasket. It says its suitable for waterpumos and other antifreeze type environments so I just got it.

I put a wafer thin and uniform smear on the face of the pump just to help 'stick' the gasket to it and the same again on the other side. No fucking about putting it on this time and it seems to have lined up nicely.

Just waiting on it curing before I refill the coolant