The new news 24 thread

[barefoot]

Drove Porsche at 1**mph yesterday, I thought, "I'll just pass that Insignia device on this stretch of dual carriageway".

Well, it took off like a scalded cat & rather than argue the toss, I just followed it to see how fast it would go.

I was surprised.

Now I've not driven it fast since just after I'd bought it, when I achieved 1**mph right on the limiter.

I was disappointed by this speed until I realized that the car was in 4th rather than 5th - which was actually quite impressive.

Now some 15 years later, I was disturbed to find that the parked wipers lifted off the screen at this speed.

Do you think that I should invest in stronger springs?

Do you think that this is the beginning of the end?

Do you think I should forget about it for another 15 years?

[DSdriver]

Get a set of these:

[barefoot]

Can you really still get them?

Do they work?

Where from?

[dollywobbler]

I seem to be buying a lot of stuff lately. Recent Ebay purchases are a pair of circlip pliers (because of), BX thermostat, BX fan switch (because if the stat's actually working, there's a chance it might get hot enough to need the fan!), Maverick discs and pads, Maverick caliper, feeler gauges (as mine are rusty and I can't see the numbers anymore).

 

Expensive times. Good job HMRC didn't want as much as I expected! Question now is, will the weather be nice when all the stuff arrives and I need to fit it? I'm hoping to reclaim the garage soon, so the BX will be ok as I can work on it in there. I'm not sure the Maverick will fit through the door...

[RobT]

^^Carrying on the BX theme, mine took six cranks to start yesterday so I'd better get those glow plugs changed tomorrow. That'll teach me to leave it until the cold weather kicks in Will also bandage up the back box on the Montego whilst I'm at it.

[dollywobbler]

Good luck with that job Rob! It's a fecker* of a job. You'll need a 12mm socket for two of the plugs, and a 12mm spanner for the others. It's also VERY easy to lose the 8mm nuts and washers... Quite how they managed to put so many different bits of engine in the way I really don't know. I'd recommend NGKs. I fitted Bosch ones to the last BX and it made very little difference. I usually give it at least two bursts of plug this time of year anyway.

 

* Fecker of a job is just annoying rather than a f*cker of a job which is nigh on impossible.

[RobT]

Good luck with that job Rob! It's a fecker* of a job. You'll need a 12mm socket for two of the plugs, and a 12mm spanner for the others. It's also VERY easy to lose the 8mm nuts and washers... Quite how they managed to put so many different bits of engine in the way I really don't know. I'd recommend NGKs. I fitted Bosch ones to the last BX and it made very little difference. I usually give it at least two bursts of plug this time of year anyway.

 

* Fecker of a job is just annoying rather than a f*cker of a job which is nigh on impossible.

 

I'm ready for the challenge Ian But it does seem odd how parts that look so accessible are in fact a PITA - it's the main reason why I've left it so long. In true shite style I bought some cheap un-branded Made in Slovenia parts. Let's see how good they are...!

[Richard]

Drove Porsche at 1**mph yesterday, I thought, "I'll just pass that Insignia device on this stretch of dual carriageway".

Well, it took off like a scalded cat & rather than argue the toss, I just followed it to see how fast it would go.

I was surprised.

 

Are you sure it was an Insignia? I've never seen one doing more than 66mph.

[TimothyClaypole]

Had the day off so took some stuff for weighing in, mixed scrap - 600kg = £96.00

 

Not bad.

[cobblers]

I tried to fit the brand new great big battery I bought a while ago to my van. Too bloody tall, and now I've lost the reciept.

 

 

Anyone want to buy £97 worth of new Halfords 096 battery for £35? GR096 for big ol diesels!

[tonedepear]

Ate a mealworm. Not that nice. Probably wouldn't have another.

[Pete-M]

In negotiations to buy a Vauxhall.

 

Don't worry, I've not lost grip completely yet.

[Father Ted]

Fitted the new Caramac tyre and wheel to the Micra today. Michelin energy that I pulled off still has 4mm tread, but is starting to craze as its 10 years old.

So back to surfing ebay to find another Caramac if I can.

I'll need to paint the rim too as its black rather than silver.

[Cavcraft]

In negotiations to buy a Vauxhall.

 

Don't worry, I've not lost grip completely yet.

 

 

If it's a Lotus Carlton and you come down here in it there's two calendars FOC for you!

[Pete-M]

Unfortunately, I can't afford a Lotus Carlton.

 

Will a Senator 24v get me one free calendar?

[Cavcraft]

Take me for a whizz round the block (you driving of course) and you're on!

[Pete-M]

Here's one for ya Billy (and other Vauxhall perverts).

 

What's a J plate Senator 24v auto worth in good condition. A few small scabs on the back arches and the odd giffer mark on the front bumper. Silver with black leather, 102k on the clock, all books, keys etc, everything works including the aircon (which was replaced a couple of years ago). It is very tidy and wouldn't take much to get it "doctor" spec.

 

I've got first dibs on it but don't know how much the bloody thing is worth.

[AnthonyG]

^^ takes me back to when Witney car auctions was full of these.. all in white with holes in the dashboard, 190k on the clock and a very detailed service history...ex copper cars haven't been the same since they went over to silver BMWs that don't any look different to any other ex fleet car when they go through the ring. At least Brum based motorways group uses Jags, very traditional!

[eddyramrod]

J plate Senator 24v auto ... very tidy

Can't imagine what it's worth, but if you've still got it when I get to Barrow...

[trigger]

I drove one once and it was fab, a bit tail happy in the wet though as if that's a bad thing!, they aren't worth much though, I suspect £700 tops maybe?.

[Cavcraft]

Here's one for ya Billy (and other Vauxhall perverts).

 

What's a J plate Senator 24v auto worth in good condition. A few small scabs on the back arches and the odd giffer mark on the front bumper. Silver with black leather, 102k on the clock, all books, keys etc, everything works including the aircon (which was replaced a couple of years ago). It is very tidy and wouldn't take much to get it "doctor" spec.

 

I've got first dibs on it but don't know how much the bloody thing is worth.

 

Pretty hard to say as there's not many left and they haven't quite made it to the big(ger) money stakes yet. Or not that I'd noticed anyhow. I'd have thought £1,500 would be somewhere near if it's top drawer. That's just my opinion though and I stand to be completely wrong. Automatic-ness knocks it back a bit but they didn't make many manual ones so I'd imagine any buyer won't exactly be over-run with a choice of cars.

Have you seen it 'properly' by the way? Not trying to teach my gran to suck eggs and all that, but always worth opening the rear doors to see if there's actually any metal left on the front end of the rear arches!

[Pete-M]

It's pretty good. There is a bit of grot around the arch, but if it's worth doing I'll get it sorted properly.

 

If it was manual I wouldn't go near it, the manual box is terrible in them. I've been after this particular car for three or four years.

 

 

Hmm..

[barefoot]

Drove Porsche at 1**mph yesterday, I thought, "I'll just pass that Insignia device on this stretch of dual carriageway".

Well, it took off like a scalded cat & rather than argue the toss, I just followed it to see how fast it would go.

I was surprised.

 

Are you sure it was an Insignia? I've never seen one doing more than 66mph.

 

me either and one of those *'s may or may not have been a 2

 

it said 'ECO' on the back & I automatically thought "wanker"

but it turns out some of the wankers are 2.8 litre & can apparently do 155

[RobT]

^^Carrying on the BX theme, mine took six cranks to start yesterday so I'd better get those glow plugs changed tomorrow. That'll teach me to leave it until the cold weather kicks in Will also bandage up the back box on the Montego whilst I'm at it.

 

Managed to change all the glowplugs on the BX without any major cock-ups, but it was fiddly getting around all the pipework. Praise the Lord for ratchet spanners The one most difficult to remove was the culprit for the poor starting, one side of the plug had sheared off by about 4mm. All the others looked fine but changed them anyway.

 

The Monty's exhaust can wait as it's too bloody cold for doing non-essential maintenance.

[cort16]

I attempted to drive down to the Borders today to visit cort16 senior. The weather was pretty grim but then I hit mega OMG SNOW KAOS as it went white, then then all the road went white, then a car in front slid off the road then I slid and nearly hit a hilux pickup. The traction control even threw a wobbler as it came up "traction control error please consult manual"!

I turned around and came back up the road and within 3 miles towards Edinburgh it was all clear again.

[scooters]

Learnt this week that the health issues i have had for the last 18 months isa Type 3 Sphincter of oddi dysfunction. It's a life long condition as surgery tends to only buy temporary relief. I have constant pain which varies from a stitch to a bayonet in the ribs. I am unable to eat anymore than 5 grammes of fat at any one time. When I have a bad attack I cannot eat at all. I can expect prolonged stays in hospital and bouts of pancreaitis and pneumonia. Wife and I have to remap life now as my ability to hold down a normal job enormously compromised.......

 

Bugger!

 

At least I have shite in my life to cheer me up!

 

I'm collecting s Rover 820 Vitesse Sport on Wednesday!

[dollywobbler]

Sad news Scoots. Hope it can be worked around somehow.

 

Replaced the 'stat on the BX today. No snow at all, and some actual sunshine! Horrible job as the 'stat housing was a right mess. It was like a mineral cave in there! I'll get some pics up later. The thermostat itself was in pieces as bits had rusted off. Happily, the engine now gets up to temperate as it should. Sadly, the heater output is still rubbish. I suspect the heater matrix is also doing the 'mineral cave' thing. There is good heat with the blower off, but with the blower going (and it only works on the fastest setting at the moment) the output quickly goes cool. Still, last Tuesday, I was freezing because there was no heat even with the blower off, so an improvement! Rad fan switch is sadly the wrong one, which is very irritating and given that the thing actually gets up to temperature, is a cause for concern.

 

Off back outside now to investigate the slight binding brake issue! Make hay while the sun shines etc...

[wuvvum]

That's a fecker, Scoots, sorry to hear that.

 

In snow-related news, Subaru SVXs are GR5.87 in the snow. Reasonable traction but not a great deal of lateral grip, and like the Justy if you overcook it a bit the rear end breaks traction first - but unlike the Justy the SVX is about eight feet wide and weighs a tonne and three quarters, so needs to be caught quickly when it does decide to go sideways. Bringing it to a halt is interesting too, although the ABS does butt out under around 5mph, which helps a bit. The Rover of Doom is, predictably, utterly rubbish. Haven't taken the A3 out yet but it could be interesting. Clever TCS versus a 1.8 turbo and folically-challenged 205-section tyres - who will win?

[RoadworkUK]

...I'm collecting s Rover 820 Vitesse Sport on Wednesday!

 

Sad news Scoots. Hope it can be worked around somehow.

 

Made I larf!

[scooters]

Dear Aunt Wuvvum.

 

.I have these strange dreams about your SvX...and when I wake up my pajamas are sticky and damp....can you help me...I think there is something wrong with me.

Scooters

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