The new news 24 thread

[wuvvum]

I'd been contemplating how to resolve the lack of heating in the Maxus.  One of the eBay breakers did list a blower motor assembly for sale, but he wanted £60 including delivery and the photo showed it still in the van but with the wires cut.  My request for confirmation that it had been tested as working were met with silence, and I'm not going to chuck out 60 quid on an unknown (I know I can return it and get a refund but that's a lot of hassle).

So I thought I'd try something different.  I ordered a 1500w inverter and a 240v 400w plug-in fan heater.  The inverter was delivered yesterday and the heater came today, so at lunchtime I went out to test them, and bugger me it actually works.  I was slightly dubious as some of these Chinesium inverters have comically overstated power ratings on them, but this one seems OK.  

Unfortunately the leads that came with the inverter are too short to reach from the van's battery into the cab, so for the moment I've mounted the inverter under the bonnet and I have an extension lead running down inside the front wing and into the cab, with the heater plugged into that.  It's extremely bodgy but it works, and all for about half the price of a questionable secondhand blower.  The more permanent plan is to buy and butcher a cheap set of jump leads so I can have the inverter in the cab - this will keep it cooler and also avoid having to pop the bonnet to turn it on every time, which is a pain (although still better than having no heater).  There is a fag lighter adaptor that came with the inverter, but I very much doubt that would cope with running a fan heater, especially given how shonky Maxus wiring is...

[barefoot]

Have you seen the price of Linglongs these days?

I bought a nice set of Dunlops for the T2 & thought I would replace the spare on the front panel with something humorous.

Only £120! I'll give you 'only'. Sadly, the budget wouldn't stretch that far & I went for a Landsail instead.

[wuvvum]

Funny, I would have put Landsail above Linglong in the shite Chinese tyre hierarchy.

[cobblers]

1 hour ago, barefoot said:

Have you seen the price of Linglongs these days?

I bought a nice set of Dunlops for the T2 & thought I would replace the spare on the front panel with something humorous.

Only £120! I'll give you 'only'. Sadly, the budget wouldn't stretch that far & I went for a Landsail instead.

I've never understood why people buy insanely names chinese death hoops when most of the time they're more expensive than something from a well known brand.

195/65/15 are a common size. On camskill, for £41 you can get Firestone, Toyo or Kuhmo, all with a or B ratings for fuel and wet grip.

So who are the dickheads buying these?:

[artdjones]

3 minutes ago, cobblers said:

I've never understood why people buy insanely names chinese death hoops when most of the time they're more expensive than something from a well known brand.

195/65/15 are a common size. On camskill, for £41 you can get Firestone, Toyo or Kuhmo, all with a or B ratings for fuel and wet grip.

So who are the dickheads buying these?:

Probably the Chinese Embassy.

[Sunny Jim]

Hot toad on toad action here in North Wales today, a sign that Spring is on its way?

[High Jetter]

Is that toad in the hole though?

[High Jetter]

Back today from a 2-night trip to the W. Mids so Mrs J could see her sister and other animals relations. Usual shit M-way driving was observed on the 23, 25, 42 and 6. The M40 was a comparative delight*, set the cruise right foot at 80 and everyone well behaved. On the way back today I was surprised by the large number of commercials that were conveying other wheeled things - from single-car transporters to the big ones with umpteen cars on (including one with only cop cars, not sure if old for auction or new for use) but also the transport of vans, trucks, trailers, JCB's, other plant and mobile lifts, and of course,  caravans. Best of all on a scruffy transit (I think) was a very clean looking XR2 - YLP 747X - which I now see had just been through Manor Park Classics. Anyone on here?

[Barry Cade]

Fitted a towbar to a Volvo S90 today. Was quite surprised to see "made in China" on the VIN plate....

I knew they were Chinese owned, but didn't know we were getting Chinese built ones here. Quality was very good!

[GMcD]

33 minutes ago, Barry Cade said:

Fitted a towbar to a Volvo S90 today. Was quite surprised to see "made in China" on the VIN plate....

I knew they were Chinese owned, but didn't know we were getting Chinese built ones here. Quality was very good!

China does the saloons. Sweden the estates... I think! 

[richardmorris]

From centro storico fiat . 1967, Genoa to Indonesia.

[grogee]

23 hours ago, stuboy said:

Decided I'd change the paper oil filter on the daddy wagon.. 

 

Gave up as seems the hulk has tightened it up!! Tried leather strap piller, oil filter remover on a ratchet that has a strap... nothing... so I've sacked that off and ordered a 74 mm 14 sided socket off amazon... hope I ordered the correct one..

 

 

Grrrrr

That's annoying, I think I have one you could have borrowed. Is it an Alfa?

[Spurious]

Plusgas/other penetrating fluid, leave it and then try the strap wrench with sandpaper underneath it. Sandpaper for less slippage. 

Had the same with the metal filter on the audi 100, done up by an ape probably. Completely deformed the filter getting it off but it got there in the end. 

 

[grogee]

Interesting morning at Northampton Motorsport. We're testing my semi-emoloyer's Porsche engine after some remedial work on its motor. 

Lots of interesting things in their workshop as you'd expect. 

They've been at it for a good hour but nothing's running yet, computer says no apparently. 

Saw a sad-face Mazda 121 this morning, can't be many of them left. Also, a bus with a huge plume of white smoke behind it, presumed OMGHGF. Sorry I don't know what sort of bus, whichever the Leamington outfit uses. 

[grogee]

51 minutes ago, grogee said:

That's annoying, I think I have one you could have borrowed. Is it an Alfa?

Sorry I'm lying again. 

[chodweaver]

@grogee
That's a great colour for an MR2. You didn't happen to notice if it was a Supercharger, did you?

[grogee]

1 hour ago, chodweaver said:

@grogee
That's a great colour for an MR2. You didn't happen to notice if it was a Supercharger, did you?



 

I did, and it is 👍

[grogee]

Another spot from this morning.

Verdict from Mr Rolling Road is that the racing Porsche needs bigger injectors and isn't making the 340bhp my semi-employer had hoped for. Unfortunately it still won't even with the bigger injectors. 

Clubman motor racing seems to be 90% expense and frustration, and 10% not winning a race. 

[tooSavvy]

On 09/02/2022 at 13:49, beko1987 said:

..... to say I had 2 brake lights out! 

Opened it all up and there's 5 little indicator style bulbs in there, and 1 had blown. Depsite traces running all over the shop this killed the whole thing. 

No idea how long they've been out for though 🤔

My mod (hi-line in the Swift) is from a Pikkarse. >> fitted upside down🤪

W5W LEDs.... Have to be the correct polarity installed or won't come on!

[Spurious]

Well well well. 

I've just put a deposit on a modern voiture for sensible everyday use. It's a handsome looking thing too, albiet with a dull, efficient powerplant. 

Collecting Sunday week. It'll be the most I've spent on a car but doing the figures, the fuel, insurance and lower tax seem to make the cost to change actually not that much. 

I do need the lovely former @dollywobbler Primera gone however if anyone fancies it, can't have 4 cars at Chez Spurious. Ms Spurious threatened to push it into the canal already today.... 

[camryv6]

23 hours ago, Sunny Jim said:

Hot toad on toad action here in North Wales today, a sign that Spring is on its way?

Pervert !!!!

[Sunny Jim]

12 minutes ago, camryv6 said:

Pervert !!!!

I guess it is perverted to look for signs of Spring in North Wales in early February.

[camryv6]

8 minutes ago, Sunny Jim said:

I guess it is perverted to look for signs of Spring in North Wales in early February.

A flower maybe, but not two frogs shagging

[Bren]

2 hours ago, Spurious said:

Well well well. 

I've just put a deposit on a modern voiture for sensible everyday use. It's a handsome looking thing too, albiet with a dull, efficient powerplant. 

Collecting Sunday week. It'll be the most I've spent on a car but doing the figures, the fuel, insurance and lower tax seem to make the cost to change actually not that much. 

I do need the lovely former @dollywobbler Primera gone however if anyone fancies it, can't have 4 cars at Chez Spurious. Ms Spurious threatened to push it into the canal already today.... 

Come on - do tell.

[Spurious]

8 minutes ago, Bren said:

Come on - do tell.

Renner Megane 4. With the frugal little 1.5dci, which seems to be one of the more reliable smol diesels. It's still got more than half of it's Renault warranty left so it seemed a safe bet. Was looking at the 17/18 plate ones but for not a lot more could get a 20 plate and they changed to a 5 year warranty from 3 years. Made sense. Plus Ms Spurious likes it. Which makes it easier.

Didn't pay list price got a good discount as I sneaked in that I knew it'd been sitting on the forecourt since November gone. 

[stuboy]

10 hours ago, grogee said:

Sorry I'm lying again. 

hopefully google is right as bought 74mm and 14 sides

[AnnoyingPentium]

2 hours ago, Spurious said:

Renner Megane 4. With the frugal little 1.5dci, which seems to be one of the more reliable smol diesels. It's still got more than half of it's Renault warranty left so it seemed a safe bet. Was looking at the 17/18 plate ones but for not a lot more could get a 20 plate and they changed to a 5 year warranty from 3 years. Made sense. Plus Ms Spurious likes it. Which makes it easier.

Didn't pay list price got a good discount as I sneaked in that I knew it'd been sitting on the forecourt since November gone. 

My Uncle has the estate one. A twin turbo diesel apparently. Big cars nowadays.

[Metal Guru]

On 10/02/2022 at 16:36, wuvvum said:

Funny, I would have put Landsail above Linglong in the shite Chinese tyre hierarchy.

I see a Landsail van quite often.( think it’s a Crafter).  Love to see what tyres it has.

[Split_Pin]

Other than the lovely job on the 75 sills, not much has been happening with my fleet recently, they've all been getting used though.

Civic has a bit of water ingress into the boot so I'm working through all the known sources, not found it yet but I have a fair few tricks to try. I was talking of moving it on but it's just too good at being 'an car' for the Mrs so its staying for now.

75 just keeps ticking along , this is an ace car and I can't see me having a reason to sell it any time soon. 

The Saab is also great. It runs perfectly and has been giving good service this week. There's quite a few suspension graunches over bumpy roads though so it's long term future depends on what these show up as at the MOT in May. I plan just to drive the fuck out of it until then. 

The Audi has seen sparse use this year. I've only done 600 miles since its last oil change in June 2021.  I have a NSF caliper to fit as the existing one is binding badly. More annoying is the fact that the exhaust is blowing again. After all the bother I had late last year, this has dampened my enthusiasm for it. 

I'm really missing not having an old Vauxhall on fleet so we will see what comes up.......

[grogee]

9 hours ago, stuboy said:

hopefully google is right as bought 74mm and 14 sides

It's bloody maddening. Some of them have a hex on the bottom so you can just attach a socket and turn it. But when they don't there's 15 variations on diameter, flutes etc and they all do the same feckin job. 

There's literally no point designing and tooling a new part, but they all did anyway. Bastards.