The new news 24 thread

[wuvvum]

Got a few jobs done on the fleet over the weekend.  Would have been rude not to given the weather.

Main job was to get the new driveshaft fitted on the Renault 4.  This took a while but that was mainly because of pondering how things would go back together and other faffing - the job itself wasn't that bad, and I'm pleased to say that the aftermarket driveshaft I bought from Autodoc does in fact fit fine.

It was a bit of a faff to get everything back together, as is usual when several (sometimes quite heavy) bits of car have to be simultaneously aligned, but it's all done now and a 25-mile test drive this evening confirmed that all appears to be well - although I will check tomorrow in daylight to make sure there's no leakage from the gearbox.

On the subject of gearboxes I treated the Visa to a gearbox oil change this afternoon - I had no idea when it'd last had one (if ever) and there was a bit more transmission noise than I would have liked - I thought this might be normal due to the lack of soundproofing but Six Cylinder's example is definitely quieter.  The oil that came out was quite manky so hopefully it'll be happier with nice fresh stuff - a quick spin round the block and it did seem quieter, but I'll have to take it for a longer run to make sure.

While I was buggering about with old French stuff I jacked the Renault 6 up and took the driver's side caliper off ready for the new piston to be fitted, now that the correct seal kit has arrived.  The piston is the only thing I can think of that can be causing the brake to bind on - I've cleaned and greased everything else and it all seems to be moving freely.  I'm hoping I will be able to get the piston out with the big pliers, otherwise I'll have to stick the caliper back on the car and pump it out.  The secondhand rear light lens I ordered off eBay.fr arrived on Friday and that's now fitted, and the dent in the rear wing mostly popped out, so just the bumper to sort and it'll be as good as new*.

I pulled the Volvo onto the drive this afternoon to sand down the filler I used to carry out a temporary repair to the spare wheel well, to try and stop the boot getting too damp this autumn.  Then I dug out the tin of green paint I used to paint the bottom half of the car about 15 years ago - I wasn't expecting much but in fact the paint was absolutely fine, and there's still over half a tin, so I might have to give the car a rub down and a fresh coat, if I can be arsed.  It looks marginally more respectable now anyway than it did when half the wheel well was missing.

Dug the Mobylette out of the garage and got that fired up for the first time in a couple of months.  Took it for a quick spin round the block and it was actually running fine today, although I'm increasingly convinced that the new exhaust is more restrictive than the original as it's struggling to do more than 30 at the moment.

In other fleet news - I mentioned this elsewhere but the Ampera passed its MOT on Thursday, just needed the headlight aim tweaking which they did on the ramp.  I've been running around in the TF for much of the last week, roof down obvs - it's been behaving absolutely fine, the temp gauge holding rock steady even when stuck in traffic in >30° heat.  Not sure what's going to happen with it though as the MOT runs out at the end of the month and it's going to take quite a bit of work to get through another.  I have more than enough projects as it is...

[DVee8]

What a weekend.

N01 son got his new car, he's worked hard and saved a lot for it.

A few hours before this we got a call to say my mother was very ill and we should get there soon.

Around 15 minutes after we got there she passed with me holding her hand. I was telling her we had just gotten a dachshund puppy.

 

Apart from talking to gm on Saturday afternoon, this is the first time I have mentioned it.

 

[Split_Pin]

I'm really sorry to hear this

[Markeh]

Sorry to hear. Going through a similar thing at the minute after losing my gran on Wednesday morning. Call late Tuesday night and spent the evening in the hospice. At least we all made it in time. Trying to hold the rest of the family together while we've been sorting everything out has been tiring to say the least, and there's still the eventual hurdle of clearing out the house. Back at work today despite not being anywhere near caught up on sleep.

[GeordieInExile]

3 hours ago, DVee8 said:

What a weekend.

N01 son got his new car, he's worked hard and saved a lot for it.

A few hours before this we got a call to say my mother was very ill and we should get there soon.

Around 15 minutes after we got there she passed with me holding her hand. I was telling her we had just gotten a dachshund puppy.

 

Apart from talking to gm on Saturday afternoon, this is the first time I have mentioned it.

 

I'm really sorry for your loss and I'm even gladder that you got to be there and share her final moments with her, 100% it's what she would've wanted.

[gm]

6 hours ago, DVee8 said:

What a weekend.

N01 son got his new car, he's worked hard and saved a lot for it.

A few hours before this we got a call to say my mother was very ill and we should get there soon.

Around 15 minutes after we got there she passed with me holding her hand. I was telling her we had just gotten a dachshund puppy.

 

Apart from talking to gm on Saturday afternoon, this is the first time I have mentioned it.

 

if you need anything, give me a shout - coffee, beer, taking the cars out for a blast to clear your head, i’m just round the corner. look after yourself, my friend.

 

[Yoss]

There's a line of lock up garages on my delivery (in fact there are several) in which I have never seen any doors open.

Until today. I took this picture surreptitiously from a distance.

But then, as I had to walk passed anyway I did stop and compliment him. It looked very clean from what I could see. He told me there were a couple of rusty bits but it is generally sound. Also told me he'd only had it a couple of years. Being an old man in a brown suit and indeed working on his Maestro in said brown suit you would think that he would have owned it from new. I don't think you can blame me from jumping to these conclusions, he looked every inch the Maestro owner. 

There are thousands of lock up garages across the country and I know the vast majority are just full of crap or nothing at all but the law of averages says there must be all sorts of things like this hidden away that we'll never know about.

[Stinkwheel]

On 9/10/2023 at 4:32 PM, brownnova said:

The forecast storms and weather warnings did not put me off attending the car show at Bodrhyddan Hall today. For the third or fourth year on the trot we totally forgot to go into the house and gardens! But we did see some delightful sights: 

Of course, my interest was mostly piqued by this… 

We had the only 2CV there, and got a lot of attention which was nice. It repaid me by cutting out randomly, idling like crap intermittently and popping and spluttering on the way home. I wonder if the coil was getting hot due to the very warm temperatures… 

Coil or condensor (if its still on points) - Or 123 failure (sometimes happens with those symptoms)

[Split_Pin]

Well, fuck

Mercedes doing German things in Scotland.

Thankfully it's just that bit behind the headlight, weirdly very localised. 

 

[Jazoli]

Ouch

[gm]

20 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Well, fuck

Mercedes doing German things in Scotland.

Thankfully it's just that bit behind the headlight, weirdly very localised. 

 

shit, i’d forgotten about that - sorry mate  

i discovered it not long after i’d brought it home then promptly put it out of my mind and forgot about it. it is in a wierd place, not sure what the speaker cable is doing there either ? 

everything else is good though 

[Bren]

12 hours ago, DVee8 said:

What a weekend.

N01 son got his new car, he's worked hard and saved a lot for it.

A few hours before this we got a call to say my mother was very ill and we should get there soon.

Around 15 minutes after we got there she passed with me holding her hand. I was telling her we had just gotten a dachshund puppy.

 

Apart from talking to gm on Saturday afternoon, this is the first time I have mentioned it.

 

So sorry.

[brownnova]

1 hour ago, Stinkwheel said:

Coil or condensor (if its still on points) - Or 123 failure (sometimes happens with those symptoms)

On 123… will see how we go in cooler weather… the vain hope it’s heat related!

[Popsicle]

Picked the leads up for daughter No 1's Beetle at midday.

Never heard of the brand, I'm sure someone will point out they're shit!

Got them fitted, popped the inlet manifold back on and bolted everything else back together, bloody fiddly back of the hand scraping job. Took it round the block and it seems to be running sweet. The plan was to drop it off in the works carpark and leave the keys with security to surprise our daughter, we got rumbled by one of her mates spotting us as she came back from a smoke break.

Oh well at least its a good deed done for today.

[Wibble]

18 hours ago, DVee8 said:

What a weekend.

N01 son got his new car, he's worked hard and saved a lot for it.

A few hours before this we got a call to say my mother was very ill and we should get there soon.

Around 15 minutes after we got there she passed with me holding her hand. I was telling her we had just gotten a dachshund puppy.

 

Apart from talking to gm on Saturday afternoon, this is the first time I have mentioned it.

 

So sorry for your loss.

[brownnova]

6 years today since I swapped a PCPd BMW 1-Series for a £600 Saab to adopt daily shite life. Sadly has been relegated to occasional use these days. But every time I drive it it’s like being with an old friend who you know so well. Maybe I’ll drive it to work tomorrow to celebrate. 

[Bren]

11 minutes ago, brownnova said:

6 years today since I swapped a PCPd BMW 1-Series for a £600 Saab to adopt daily shite life. Sadly has been relegated to occasional use these days. But every time I drive it it’s like being with an old friend who you know so well. Maybe I’ll drive it to work tomorrow to celebrate. 

Broughton?

[brownnova]

50 minutes ago, Bren said:

Broughton?

Yes, in hawarden airport

[Bren]

Just now, brownnova said:

Yes, in hawarden airport

I recognised the sukhoi's in the background.

[wesacosa]

[vulgalour]

But I don't want to talk about it any more.

[D.E]

Broken lamp

 

New and old

Insert new lamp

And at last, I have an illuminated info centre!

Then, I chucked in a few litres of fresh petrol and tried to start. It cranks well, got a good spark, but it won't run. I suspect the fuel pump is dead, which maybe isn't so surprising after sitting for four years. To be continued!

[Split_Pin]

I was in Upullit earlier and couldn't believe my luck when I found a completely intact 93 Aero front splitter.

 

£15.90 was the best bit!

I can't wait to paint and fit it.

 

[bunglebus]

I don't enjoy having to drive around London for work, but sometimes I do at least get a good view

[High Jetter]

Today's the day...

[vulgalour]

It's still not going to get me to go in there and spend my actual money.

[cobblers]

yup, I'd rather be sober than hand any money over the bar in a wetherspoons. And I really don't like being sober

[bunglebus]

Not even a real H van. More like an AH van

[Stinkwheel]

10 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Not even a real H van. More like an AH van

I have a real pet hate about H van catering wagons in general, real or fake plastic kits - ugh!!

Real H vans though, oh yes, driven several, owned one. I mean, like an absolute slow, noisy nightmare, but fun.

[barefoot]

On Loughborough market today. There was a Renault estaffete cheese van. Photos if it's back next week.