The new news 24 thread

[Split_Pin]

I thought I wouldn't be able to get a gasket for the Cavalier's thermostat housing but @Eddie Honda has shown me I need to up my searching game as he found one for me. However it wouldn't be delivered until 2nd September so tonight I made my own.

I drew round the housing and measured the thickness of the walls and around the bolt holes. Drew it on paper first and cut it out. Test fit showed the prototype was acceptable.

I then transferred this onto gasket paper of a similar thickness to that on the thermostat cap and cut it out with a Stanley knife.

Not bad!

The housing on the car has about 8 different pipes coming out of it. I had to cut some off as they were fused on but the replacement housing comes with all the pipes anyway.

Hopefully I'll get this all sewn up by some time next week.

[trigger]

I decided to bite the bullet and order a set of number plates from that 'Retroplates' fella of Instagram on Monday, Tuesday he had already drafted up a set on his computer. 

And by Thursday they were sat on my door mat. 

I have to say I was very impressed, yes they are bloody expensive really, more than DMB cost (£60 delivered) but they look so much better than the wanky modern scene tit ones I had before. 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Unfortunately I've no idea which dealer supplied my CX when new. But I bet it's closed down.

[SiC]

Went to my parents house today and watched a few planes at the Sidmouth Airshow.

Wildcat display


Pitts

Spitfires


And the Red Arrows

Also picked up my Grandads Christmas scene that I'll refurbish. My parents very nearly threw this out too! They don't really do sentimental. It's about the only thing of substance that we've got left to remember him when he does pass away.


Done about 7 hours of driving over two days and a good 500 miles. Tomorrow going to Northampton to see my Grandad (first time in 2 years). That'll be another 6 hours and 300 miles. May be further as probably detour through the Cotswolds to pick up a Morris Minor boot lid.

A4 soaks up the miles pretty well but still tiring. Think I'll have a rest from driving on Sunday!

Finally, have a picture of an old lamppost in Sidmouth.

[High Jetter]

10 minutes ago, SiC said:

A4 soaks up the miles pretty well but still tiring. Think I'll have a rest from driving on Sunday!

Do you have a tame Osteopath?

[SiC]

5 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Do you have a tame Osteopath?

No, why?

[Fumbler]

I had the tracking done. A good thing too because it was 10 degrees out!

[Angrydicky]

Number plates look great Trig, a huge improvement! You just need to sort out that suspension now, I'm guessing the usual muppet has fitted coilovers?

Must ride horribly if so.

[Ohdearme]

Weekend road trip ahoy so I finally gave the big bus a wash for the first time since purchase in April (well, I payed the locals to do it).

I’d found a clay bar kit in the garage I hadn’t used so decided to give her a going over with that. I realised the enormity of the task once I’d started, it was like giving Bella Emberg a sponge bath but at least she’s looking respectable enough for the wife to be seen in now.

Also Hoovered out the palatial inside ready for the kids to filthy it up again.

 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

25 minutes ago, Ohdearme said:

..., it was like giving Bella Emberg a sponge bath ...

Miriam Margolyes, surely?

[Cord Fourteener]

So Wifey used my Passat for her night shift then list my only car key.

So I've had to travel to Glasgow Clwyd to rescue her (good old Volvo to the rescue).

Thanks to @Dave_Q who is cutting a spare for me after a visit to his a week or two ago I am expecting a spare in the post for mere pennies! Well, pounds but definitely not what VW would want, that's for sure. 

I was waiting to having an the keys arrive before worrying a review, but it turns out he's rescuing me in an emergency just now, so I'll say it now, 

Top bloke, highly recommend for spare keys.

[wuvvum]

3 hours ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Miriam Margolyes, surely?

Nah.  She's rotund but she's only about 4' tall.

[Cord Fourteener]

49 minutes ago, Cord Fourteener said:

So Wifey used my Passat for her night shift then list my only car key.

So I've had to travel to Glasgow Clwyd to rescue her (good old Volvo to the rescue).

Thanks to @Dave_Q who is cutting a spare for me after a visit to his a week or two ago I am expecting a spare in the post for mere pennies! Well, pounds but definitely not what VW would want, that's for sure. 

I was waiting to having an the keys arrive before worrying a review, but it turns out he's rescuing me in an emergency just now, so I'll say it now, 

Top bloke, highly recommend for spare keys.

I rescued Wifey, left my Passat locked up at Glan Clwyd then as we got home she found the keys in her spare scrubs 🤦‍♂️

Night shifts, eh?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

44 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

Nah.  She's rotund but she's only about 4' tall.

Bella Emberg not exactly a giant either. 

[artdjones]

Not much point giving Bella Emberg a sponge bath, she died of alcohol poisoning 3 years ago.

[artdjones]

I finally got around to changing the water pump on my mother-in-law's Corolla. It's been whining all the time she's had it, since Christmas last year, but with lockdowns and everything else that's only around 2000 Kms. I just wish all cars were as easy to work on and well engineered.

[Split_Pin]

I got the thermostat housing out the Cavalier today.

Its markedly different.

Its also a bit taller.

It has an additional coolant outlet.

I also found out why a normal thermostat wasn't fitting.

This big flange inside was stopping it sitting flush. You need the original twin thermostat like this to clear it.

At least when I tested it I confirmed it was fucked, stuck firmly shut.

The tops are slightly different but the new one fits the original housing, which is actually in good condition on inspection.  I'll make a good one out of the two.

Ive ordered a twin one now, don't even ask me all the things I had to type I to find it, they involved Suzuki and Kia. It doesn't come until 8th September.  MOT is on 14th, I could just run it up there without a thermostat in it but that might affect the emissions.

Excuse me one moment

#silences mouth with towel

FUUUCCCCKKK OOOFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!!

 

[brownnova]

Went for a walk through the next village and saw a little notice in the parish noticeboard saying that a classic car run will be passing through next weekend.

Interesting I though, so I looked it up to see what it entails… I got to the £2750 entry fee and that was far enough!!! That doesn’t even include accommodation!!!!

😳😳😳

[nomiST]

18 hours ago, SiC said:

Went to my parents house today and watched a few planes at the Sidmouth Airshow.


 

 

 

Hang on, you're near Claverham? - I "grew" up in Congresbury.  

Your parents are in Sidmouth? - I'm in Sidbury!

 

That's some coincidences there 😳

[Tadhg Tiogar]

1 minute ago, brownnova said:

Went for a walk through the next village and saw a little notice in the parish noticeboard saying that a classic car run will be passing through next weekend.

Interesting I though, so I looked it up to see what it entails… I got to the £2750 entry fee and that was far enough!!! That doesn’t even include accommodation!!!!

😳😳😳

How the other half live....

[captain_70s]

34 minutes ago, brownnova said:

Went for a walk through the next village and saw a little notice in the parish noticeboard saying that a classic car run will be passing through next weekend.

Interesting I though, so I looked it up to see what it entails… I got to the £2750 entry fee and that was far enough!!! That doesn’t even include accommodation!!!!

😳😳😳

I cam across this one while on holiday in 2018, doubt the Acclaim would have been welcomed!

[Angrydicky]

1 hour ago, brownnova said:

Went for a walk through the next village and saw a little notice in the parish noticeboard saying that a classic car run will be passing through next weekend.

Interesting I though, so I looked it up to see what it entails… I got to the £2750 entry fee and that was far enough!!! That doesn’t even include accommodation!!!!

😳😳😳

Got to keep the riff-raff out!

[brownnova]

15 minutes ago, Angrydicky said:

Got to keep the riff-raff out!

Looking at the entrants list there’s an MG Maestro… so they weren’t successful in that endeavour! 😂

[Cord Fourteener]

Good news here. Passat keys exist but car is at the wrong place; at Glan Clwyd hospital. Wifey normally works at Wrexham so we'll have to go on a drive out to recover it some day soon.

Mondeo is now behaving itself again after a good talking to by Forscan. No lights, no smoke, no smells. Just good running. All isn't perfect, some electric gremlins in a wheel sensor and the like but for now it's fine. 

Volvo has a strange slightly oily damp patch in the driver's foot well. No idea if that's run-off, drip in, or leak from, if its water mixed with carpet oily goo or something else. It doesn't smell, I know that much. And it's taking its time to dry out. 

Otherwise it's perfect. Mostly. 

[Stanky]

11 minutes ago, Cord Fourteener said:

Good news here. Passat keys exist but car is at the wrong place; at Glan Clwyd hospital. Wifey normally works at Wrexham so we'll have to go on a drive out to recover it some day soon.

Mondeo is now behaving itself again after a good talking to by Forscan. No lights, no smoke, no smells. Just good running. All isn't perfect, some electric gremlins in a wheel sensor and the like but for now it's fine. 

Volvo has a strange slightly oily damp patch in the driver's foot well. No idea if that's run-off, drip in, or leak from, if its water mixed with carpet oily goo or something else. It doesn't smell, I know that much. And it's taking its time to dry out. 

Otherwise it's perfect. Mostly. 

On the Volvo leak - might it be coolant from a leaky heater matrix? I had this years ago on a Mk3 golf and ended up bypassing the heater matrix on the engine side of the bulkhead because I lived in fear of the matrix bursting and giving me a 90c face, hand and foot wash.

oily and wet and in the footwell does sound a bit like it might be the issue... Wipe your fingers on it and give them a good sniff, coolant has a distinctive smell

[stuboy]

Got hoodwinked by missus today, we off to see friends ,oh and whilst they go out for walk/play park i can change rear pads and discs, thank love, my friend garry assisted me, he changed the air filter, and noticed air box pipe was split, so taped it up..whilst I was busy he thought he'd add a little personal touch on the sunstrip. 

[Crackers]

Of all the things a person could choose to barry... a Fusion? Really?

[SiC]

4 hours ago, nomiST said:

Hang on, you're near Claverham? - I "grew" up in Congresbury.  

Your parents are in Sidmouth? - I'm in Sidbury!

 

That's some coincidences there 😳

We've covered this before. The other coincidence is that we're both called Simon too 🤣

https://autoshite.com/topic/34511-ebay-tat-volume-3/?do=findComment&comment=2239981

 

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Crackers said:

Of all the things a person could choose to barry... a Fusion? Really?

Yea, must be northern 

[High Jetter]

5 hours ago, brownnova said:

Went for a walk through the next village and saw a little notice in the parish noticeboard saying that a classic car run will be passing through next weekend.

Interesting I though, so I looked it up to see what it entails… I got to the £2750 entry fee and that was far enough!!! That doesn’t even include accommodation!!!!

😳😳😳

Sure there's no full-stop between the 7 & 5?