The new news 24 thread

[wuvvum]

Shiny new alternator and tensioner pulleys fitted to the Merc.

 

The tensioner pulley actually wasn't that bad but there was a bit of a tight spot as it spun so given that I'd already bought a replacement I thought I'd stick it on there anyway.  It's not quite ready to go back together yet as the upper idler pulley is also making a row so that's going to need replacing as well.  The lower pulley isn't as bad but it's starting to make a bit of noise so I'll replace both given what a pain in the arse it is to get to the ancillaries.  Water pump and PAS pump felt fine, so that's good.

On Saturday I went to the ACA classic auction in King's Lynn - was a bit of a washout due to the weather but there were a few interesting cars (although lots seemed to be left over from last time), including a rough but running and driving (ish) Austin 10 which went for 1500 quid and a Rover 75 estate in an unusual spec (1.8 turbo Kettle with an auto 'box) which I thought was very optimistically priced at £3K-4K estimate but actually made just over £3K in the end, so maybe 75s are finally on the way up.  Bargain of the day for me though was a very presentable Morris 8 Series E which only made £2,200.

On the way home, pulling up the hill on the A47 from the Easton roundabout when it becomes dual carriageway, the Getz was out-accelerated by a 15 plate Mégane dCi coupe, which I was not happy about.  We were neck and neck up to 70, but then the Renault's extra power, additional gears and better aerodynamics started to show and by the time we got to 100 he was a car length in front I stopped accelerating because that is the speed limit.  Now I'm once again feeling the need to get it remapped, but I need to sort out the bloody EGR valve before I do that - I spent far too long on Sunday trying to get the bloody thing off, I even attacked the crimp nut at the turbo end of the pipe with a dremel, but I still couldn't get the bastard thing undone - partly because there's so little clearance that the only socket I could get on there was a thin 12-point job and that was just rounding the (brass) nut off.  So I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that at the moment.

Got the second horn fitted to the BMW, so it now makes a noise more befitting the car's status rather than the feeble parp it was emitting before.  My steering "fix" still appears to be working - in fact the only job the car really needs at the moment is a pair of front brake discs as it's still a bit juddery when braking from high speed.

The Toyota still isn't MOT'd as the garage was closed all last week.  So it's now going to need a full retest, which is slightly annoying.  Then once that's done it'll be time to book the Ampera in again.  🎵 The ciiiircle of liiiife... 🎵

 

[IronStar]

On 20/08/2024 at 19:30, LightBulbFun said:

funnily enough I was just thinking about this the other day, in that I was wondering if could you run every registration mark between REV1R to REV999R? it would be interesting to know if any other REV-R's of any sort of vehicle survive at all?  

the only other REV-R I have ever actually seen is REV690R this Ford Capri 

Have some data! Filtered by SORN or Taxed

Obligatory Invacar content

As for REV 690R Ford Capri, the tax expired on 1993-06-01 so that's probably dead now.

Thanks @beko1987 for the API key.

I can run any other bulk queries of this type if someone wants to nerd out on DVLA data. This data set is also available as CSV in case someone cares. 

[LightBulbFun]

37 minutes ago, IronStar said:

Have some data! Filtered by SORN or Taxed

 

very interesting! only 7 REV's left taxed! also I wonder WTF is going on with REV963R! in that, its Tax expired, is on the 2nd of the Month? thats not right! 

also very interesting "Date of Last V5c (logbook) issued" is "Not Available" tells me that this vehicle is still likely on its original 1976 logbook (V5c's where only dated from 1979 onwards) which is very impressive in its own right

unless its only *just* been resurrected and the vehicle was taxed at the post office with the old logbook having been sent off to change to the historic taxation class, that sort of thing will make a vehicle appear as taxed with the old logbook util the new logbook is issued

but the whole "2nd of September" thing makes me think theres more than meets the eye with this one, its registered as a Crane for what thats worth, (ill cc @quicksilver in on this ) 

 

again very interesting to see the data thanks for gathering that up  its fun to see there where some Wales and Edwards Rangemaster Milk floats in the REV-R series, it would be fun to find one to go along with REV  

[SiC]

3 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

2nd of September

1st September is a Sunday. I don't think any Post Offices are open on a Sunday. 

Yes it can be done online but that's in addition to the shops. If online doesn't work then it's to the post office. But Sunday isn't a working day. (Saturday is)

[LightBulbFun]

11 minutes ago, SiC said:

1st September is a Sunday. I don't think any Post Offices are open on a Sunday. 

Yes it can be done online but that's in addition to the shops. If online doesn't work then it's to the post office. But Sunday isn't a working day. (Saturday is)

technically tax expires on the last day of the month, hence the "tax due 1st of the next month" old tax disks used to display "31st of etc etc" for example as their expiry,

and it is always like that, I have never seen any exceptions made for Sundays, (also according to my calendar 1st of September of 2025 is a Monday I think?)

so yeah its all still a bit baffling! 

[SiC]

17 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

technically tax expires on the last day of the month, hence the "tax due 1st of the next month" old tax disks used to display "31st of etc etc" for example as their expiry,

and it is always like that, I have never seen any exceptions made for Sundays, (also according to my calendar 1st of September of 2025 is a Monday I think?)

so yeah its all still a bit baffling! 

Dunno then. I was referring to the 1st September 2024.

Anyway it's down as a Leyland Engine manufactured in 1958 but registered in 1976. It has a 600cc diesel engine.

So try finding a Leyland diesel vehicle made in 1958 with only a 600cc diesel...

I have no idea of one but almost sounds to me that it's a small powered utility cart thing.

Edit: "DoorPlanLiteral": "CRANE"

[LightBulbFun]

46 minutes ago, SiC said:

Dunno then. I was referring to the 1st September 2024.

Anyway it's down as a Leyland Engine manufactured in 1958 but registered in 1976. It has a 600cc diesel engine.

So try finding a Leyland diesel vehicle made in 1958 with only a 600cc diesel...

I have no idea of one but almost sounds to me that it's a small powered utility cart thing.

I would not read too much into the engine size, many older and more oddball or commercial vehicles have complete bollocks down for engine size, hence why I mention that its registered as Crane  

[somewhatfoolish]

Leyland 6/98s are more or less 6 litres.

[Lord Sterling]

The Jag met it's grandad, in Belgium of all places, you'd think this'd happen in Warwickshire or the UK at least.

Nice old thing.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Lord Sterling said:

Nice old thing.

Series 1 XJ coupes are a rare thing indeed, very nice to see.

[Yoss]

3 hours ago, SiC said:

Dunno then. I was referring to the 1st September 2024.

Anyway it's down as a Leyland Engine manufactured in 1958 but registered in 1976. It has a 600cc diesel engine.

So try finding a Leyland diesel vehicle made in 1958 with only a 600cc diesel...

I have no idea of one but almost sounds to me that it's a small powered utility cart thing.

Edit: "DoorPlanLiteral": "CRANE"

 

2 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

I would not read too much into the engine size, many older and more oddball or commercial vehicles have complete bollocks down for engine size, hence why I mention that its registered as Crane  

I saw that and wondered if it was a Leyland O600, a common enough commercial vehicle engine at the time. The 600 bit relates to the engine size in cubic inches which equates to about 9.8 litres. Which makes more sense than a 600cc diesel. 

[Lord Sterling]

1 hour ago, High Jetter said:

Series 1 XJ coupes are a rare thing indeed, very nice to see.

Yep, all Jag XJs s1/2 and especially 3 are particular favourites of mine.

[Popsicle]

3 hours ago, Lord Sterling said:

The Jag met it's grandad, in Belgium of all places, you'd think this'd happen in Warwickshire or the UK at least.

Nice old thing.

That looks lovely, as does yours.

Of all the cars I've owned the one I regret selling the most is a 1977 Daimler Sovereign Coupe (XJ6C equivalent), old english white with oxblood leather interior, the way the rear electric windows open and close is a thing of beauty.

[stuboy]

MOT due in next 2 weeks for the mondeo, im expecting a fail on few bits, started eyeing up replacement, even though not been put in for a test and could be repaired without too much moola, nearly swayed to a v8 s type auto jag, and even gone hhmmm... on a v6 ford maverick.... 

 

really need to sort few minor bits and get the bloody thing in for a test.

[grogee]

Sad to miss @HMC today. We'd arranged to pop in and see him before visiting Mother Grogee. Unfortunately Tavistock traffic had other ideas. I'm not certain what the problem was but having circumnavigated all the LOCALS ONLY roads it seemed to be twats clearing the drains with temp traffic lights both left on green. Anyway I've never seen Tavi that bad, it was like a slice of London was transplanted into sleepy south west. Hope things are back to normal tomorrow. 

[EyesWeldedShut]

57 minutes ago, grogee said:

Sad to miss @HMC today. We'd arranged to pop in and see him before visiting Mother Grogee. Unfortunately Tavistock traffic had other ideas. I'm not certain what the problem was but having circumnavigated all the LOCALS ONLY roads it seemed to be twats clearing the drains with temp traffic lights both left on green. Anyway I've never seen Tavi that bad, it was like a slice of London was transplanted into sleepy south west. Hope things are back to normal tomorrow. 

I’d blame our Sproglette - she was tootling around in her granny’s 06 plated, badermatic 206 hatch. Bude > Newton Abbot then long way around Dartmoor back to Bude. Could have been visiting her chum in Tavistock in the afternoon. She has an inverse Midas touch with all things mechanical and even just being in the same county she can cause traffic lights to screw up.

The car is silver but carries a lot of green algae as it’s not done more than a couple of trips this year as the MiL is rather poorly. I think you’re safe now until Saturday whenTeam Pansy Potter will be going Bude to Exeter in a CLK - you’ll be lucky to see that as it seems to go rather quickly for child bride and offspring.

[Ghosty]

Might sell the Golf.

[reb]

44 minutes ago, Ghosty said:

Might sell the Golf.

Didn't* see that coming

[High Jetter]

4 hours ago, Lord Sterling said:

Yep, all Jag XJs s1/2 and especially 3 are particular favourites of mine.

For me, like music, the original is usually the best. S2 ok, nice looks, but....(I worked at a Jag dealer 1980 ish)

[quicksilver]

22 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

very interesting! only 7 REV's left taxed! also I wonder WTF is going on with REV963R! in that, its Tax expired, is on the 2nd of the Month? thats not right! 

also very interesting "Date of Last V5c (logbook) issued" is "Not Available" tells me that this vehicle is still likely on its original 1976 logbook (V5c's where only dated from 1979 onwards) which is very impressive in its own right

unless its only *just* been resurrected and the vehicle was taxed at the post office with the old logbook having been sent off to change to the historic taxation class, that sort of thing will make a vehicle appear as taxed with the old logbook util the new logbook is issued

but the whole "2nd of September" thing makes me think theres more than meets the eye with this one, its registered as a Crane for what thats worth, (ill cc @quicksilver in on this ) 

 

again very interesting to see the data thanks for gathering that up  its fun to see there where some Wales and Edwards Rangemaster Milk floats in the REV-R series, it would be fun to find one to go along with REV  

That's a weird one and I haven't the faintest idea why its tax expires then, but I suspect being a crane it's been used off-road and untaxed for years. A question for the expert Mr Del Mar perhaps. As for what the vehicle actually is, I reckon it has a Leyland O.600 engine and someone has misinterpreted the model number as the engine size.

[Bren]

My eldest who is 19 passed his driving test today.

[HarmonicCheeseburger]

Swirl flap arm link fell off again. Cleaned it up and reading on this being a problem, the actuator and flaps work nicely just the arm is being a pain, new genuine one from Volvo en route. 

[comfortablynumb]

2 hours ago, Bren said:

My eldest who is 19 passed his driving test today.

Dad, can I borrow the car, and can you put fuel in it 😁

[Bren]

17 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Dad, can I borrow the car, and can you put fuel in it 😁

I waiting for him to ask me to buy him one. He can have my insignia. No doubt he will say " I thought you loved me...."

[Spottedlaurel]

Anyone had experience of anything like BreakerLink to get hold of panels for a modern-ish car? Or recommend an alternative service?

Did something foolish today at very low speed which has the potential to cost me lots of money and/or grief.....

[richardmorris]

Four and a quarter hours to drive back from n wales to Surrey via a quick stop in oxford. So a slower average speed than the x1/9 which did 59mph av. although the x1/9 also couldn’t fit a small filing cabinet in the boot which is what I stopped in Oxford for.

[dozeydustman]

Found a period correct car next to which I could park

[Lord Sterling]

When I arrived to Belgium, I brought some apparent "16" VW wheels trims with me for Fatha_Sterling's Passat B7, as alluded to in the grumpy thread, they didn't fit, so they are being sent back (when I get back to England).

When Fatha_Sterling bought his Passat, he got given a set of summer tyres on steelies if which he went and bought the cheapest nastiest wheel trims that looked like this:

They literally were the cheapest and nastiest things my Dad could find.

So I set up an eBay account for the Fatha_Sterling in Belgium and we purchased a genuine VW set for about the same price as what I paid for incorrectly sized ones.

They arrived today, earlier than advertised, then I set about fitting them and took his car for a way overdue clean, it literally was grim. However now it's looking more like a proper looked after Passat. 

[Kiltox]

Randomly saw this on Twitter earlier, don’t even follow her, but it seems pudding shagger has disappeared again 

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

15 minutes ago, Kiltox said:

Randomly saw this on Twitter earlier, don’t even follow her, but it seems pudding shagger has disappeared again 

 

He vanished from Twitter (again) around the same time. I read that he'd started a new job a couple of weeks previous to that and after the initial 'it's all good' posts, things went very quiet. 

Can't see it'll end well for the bloke, long-term.