The new news 24 thread

[RoverFolkUs]

3 minutes ago, reb said:

Tried some heat, thought I'd shifted the nut but it turns out the movement was just the flats on the inner rounding off. I have new inners so it's not the end of the world, I'm just not sure how to change them.

What car is it? Usually just a simple* case of peeling off the rack boot, can usually use a pipe wrench on the rack output to unwind the inner track rod

[artdjones]

8 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Have you managed to crack the jam nut off? I'd assume not 

They can be a bastard even with oxyacetylene, so cutting off and replacing the inner maybe the only way to go 

Unless of course some wizard comes along with an alternative brilliant idea

 

If you use oxy you are ruining the track rod anyway if it gets red hot.

This kind of tool is cheap enough on Amazon.

[RoverFolkUs]

2 minutes ago, artdjones said:

If you use oxy you are ruining the track rod anyway if it gets red hot.

This kind of tool is cheap enough on Amazon.

Track rod has always been fine after being cherry red for me.

There's the "right" tools out there but a pipe wrench or adjustable spanner will usually get them off. 

That tool wouldn't be suitable with the track rod end in place anyway, as it's stuck

[artdjones]

14 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Track rod has always been fine after being cherry red for me.

There's the "right" tools out there but a pipe wrench or adjustable spanner will usually get them off. 

That tool wouldn't be suitable with the track rod end in place anyway, as it's stuck

The track rod will still work fine, you've just removed a lot of the strength.

[RoverFolkUs]

19 minutes ago, artdjones said:

The track rod will still work fine, you've just removed a lot of the strength.

Meh, possibly, it'll still be enough though unless it takes a whack in which case it would want replacing anyway

[wuvvum]

I think I may have found the source of the knocking noise on the front of the Laguna. 

[stuboy]

1 minute ago, wuvvum said:

I think I may have found the source of the knocking noise on the front of the Laguna. 

 

 

[trigger]

I'm off to view the Astra on Friday, I've managed to convince myself that I need to buy it to save it from getting a red top fitted... I'm not sure I'll keep it (if I buy it) as yet but I'll get it up to scratch, use it for a few shows and have some fun and then hopefully it will then find a home with a enthusiast.

[reb]

1 hour ago, RoverFolkUs said:

What car is it? Usually just a simple* case of peeling off the rack boot, can usually use a pipe wrench on the rack output to unwind the inner track rod

It's a 205. There's no flats or anything on the inner to wind it off.

[RoverFolkUs]

17 minutes ago, reb said:

It's a 205. There's no flats or anything on the inner to wind it off.

Ah bugger, sometimes they do have a flat or even a 6 sided surface to use a spanner. 

In that case you'd probably need a special tool as above, and angle grind the old one in half to get it over. 

Not ideal I do appreciate

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, trigger said:

I'm off to view the Astra on Friday, I've managed to convince myself that I need to buy it to save it from getting a red top fitted... I'm not sure I'll keep it (if I buy it) as yet but I'll get it up to scratch, use it for a few shows and have some fun and then hopefully it will then find a home with a enthusiast.

Luvvly jubbly, you know it makes sense! Why wait til Friday tho?

 

[stuboy]

2 hours ago, reb said:

It's a 205. There's no flats or anything on the inner to wind it off.

 

[RoverFolkUs]

12 minutes ago, stuboy said:

 

Was my thinking, but if it's tight that may prove to be a struggle

[RoverFolkUs]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

I think I may have found the source of the knocking noise on the front of the Laguna. 

 

Ermm... Oh... Interesting. At least you found it!

[adw1977]

21 hours ago, Dick Longbridge said:

There must be another story with the car being mega early spec yet registered on a Y plate. These were all on a very W plate weren't they? 

Neither the saloon body nor the basic round headlight E trim level were part of the very limited Astra range as launched.  Both were added in October 1980, but in late 1982 the saloon was dropped and the E trim level replaced by a base trim badged simply Astra, with the same headlight shape as the rest of the range.

As usual, Vauxpedia is an excellent resource if you can cope with the headache inducing colour scheme:

Vauxpedia - Mark 1 Astra

[trigger]

I spent a while on there last night reading up about them, they sound quite miserable with the Viva and presumably Chevette OHV engine but it's a real rarity in that spec. 

Look at the condition of them arches! 

[junkyarddog]

1 hour ago, trigger said:

I spent a while on there last night reading up about them, they sound quite miserable with the Viva and presumably Chevette OHV engine but it's a real rarity in that spec. 

Look at the condition of them arches! 

I think the engine in these were based on the German Opel version of the pushed engine, not the Vauxhall one.

[Fumbler]

I managed to get rid of the clunk in the steering by tightening up the steering wheel. No more slop either. This has taken the edge off of being found at fault for a small prang when coming home from work in the Micra.

[High Jetter]

Warning, abnormal movement!

This, or something very similar, is moving from Shoreham to Ninfield on Saturday. Most of it is on A roads, but we also have the pleasure* of it going through our local high-street with 2 90-degree junctions. I think that will take some time to manoeuver. https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/south-east-news/abnormal-load-movement-on-a27-and-a259-march-2022/

[Bren]

Thought I would attempt to tackle the vectra's leaking injectors. I bought no special tools because if they did'nt come out it's wasted money. I removed the leak off pipes and other clutter and got the water pump pliers out.

It came out with little persuasion. It's minging. Sprayed carb cleaner and left it to soak 

Gave the hole a clean. Carb cleaner, rags and various screwdrivers and wood drills turned by hand got rid of the shit.

Injector cleaned and new washer. It went back together ok. This was the worst one - black diesel was going everwhere and making a real mess.

The second injector refused to budge - in fact it began to unscrew so it was put back. I retightened the clamp - the leak on this is minimal - tiny bubbles around the base of the injector. It will get worse - someone else will own it by then or it will be bean cans.

I call this one a win.

[LabRat]

Been tasked with trying to find someone willing enough to scrap this heap

Apparently it was gifted to the trust I work for, but being parked for 2 years, neglect and vandals mean it's utterly fubar.

Its brakes are seized, the batteries are flat and scrotes have smashed the dash and it's based on an Iveco for bonus will it start points. 

[Dyslexic Viking]

I'm still working on the Vivaro and will be done soon. But I had thought and hoped I was done with working on vehicles outdoors in winter/early spring and in the snow.

[chaseracer]

37 minutes ago, LabRat said:

Been tasked with trying to find someone willing enough to scrap this heap

Apparently it was gifted to the trust I work for, but being parked for 2 years, neglect and vandals mean it's utterly fubar.

Its brakes are seized, the batteries are flat and scrotes have smashed the dash and it's based on an Iveco for bonus will it start points. 

http://www.pvsbuses.com

[Fumbler]

1 minute ago, HarmonicCheeseburger said:

Did you tighten the wheel bolt or the u-joint at the bottom which seems to be where mines knocking?

Ah, I should have elaborated that the steering wheel fault was on the BX. I assume with the high mileage on yours that it's the UJ that's failed.

[tommotech]

Finished off a power steering conversion using Suzuki Alto components, on a Panther Kallista over the weekend. Makes such a difference to the low speed manoeuvrability but assistance needs winding off at higher road speeds. Quite pleased with the outcome. 

 

[Minimad5]

New job induction today - Classroom based 🤯.

I genuinely don't do well in this environment,  so no idea how well (or bad) I've done, but I've not felt this out of my depth for a long time. 😬

[richardmorris]

8 minutes ago, tommotech said:

Finished off a power steering conversion using Suzuki Alto components, on a Panther Kallista over the weekend. Makes such a difference to the low speed manoeuvrability but assistance needs winding off at higher road speeds. Quite pleased with the outcome. 

 

My mechanic friend fitted one to a 1953 Citroen traction BN some years ago. Not sure what car it came off, but made parking easier.

[mitsisigma01]

2 hours ago, HarmonicCheeseburger said:

Once I've got YET ANOTHER throttle sensor, like seriously why do they die so damn fast? 

What symptoms are you getting to make you think it's the throttle sensor 🤔

[Split_Pin]

On 3/13/2022 at 12:35 AM, trigger said:

I've been offered a car today, apparently a 1 owner from new, he won it on holiday in 1982 in Scarborough whist staying at a hotel, he's owned it ever since but is now 81 and is too scared to drive it  but I must say the body work is mint. I'm not sure what it's worth or if I really have room for it? .

 

That is truly glorious.  This model is to Vauxhall what grey grilles are to Sierras. I loved spotting this variant as a lad when they were current. They weren't even that common back then though. I do recall them most frequently being seen in either being in solid yellow, red or terracotta so this nice metallic colour is a treat.

[wuvvum]

This arrived in the post today. 

Another addition to my collection of 1:43 scale Eastern Bloc cars.