The new news 24 thread

[Wibble]

44 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Try breaking stuff down into smaller jobs @Wibble.

I've been struggling myself recently, mojo has completely vanished. I need to basically rebuild the range rover of too many wheels because rust has really taken a hold, but I haven't really done anything.

Then I remembered what Billy Gibbons said, do one thing, Even if it's just polishing a door handle.

He's right, I've now actually got the wings and inner wings off, the dashboard and heater removed, engine and box out ( although MK1 son was instrumental in that) and been parts collecting, still a long way to go, but if you do one small thing, sometimes it leads you into something else, and so on 

New a post and screen pillar showed up today, and I'm going to have a go at making my own kickpanels.

Fitzees fabrication strikes again!

Good luck mate🙏

Thanks mate, that makes sense. I think I’ll force myself to clean the Skoda next week and it’s overdue a service and then it will be MOT time. Good luck to you too.

[goosey]

Escort cold start issue sorted-

removed and cleaned starter motor and fitted a shorter fuel pipe from pump to carb with a smaller filter, only have a pic of the top of the engine bay the fuel filter is next to the rocker cover 

[comfortablynumb]

Love a crossflow, one of the best engines ever built 👍

[Paul-l]

Not sure if I should be allowed the internet, or mobile banking.

todays delivery:

 

[comfortablynumb]

This place definitely seems to be the opposite to life in general.

Someone said there was a lack of interest in prewar vehicles now.

The number on this site seems to be steadily increasing.

Well bought @Paul-l👍

[Paul-l]

Have to say I wasn’t as brave as @Barry Cade and didn’t drive it 200+ miles home on New Year’s Eve!

it’s a whole new driving experience, and much more pleasant than the 50s Land Rover it replaced. I’m finding the pre-war stuff more interesting than 50s cars - neither of which I was around for when they were new - there was such rapid development and so many odd ( from today’s perspective ) ideas of the way to do stuff.

[richardmorris]

Spotted this morning when on the sandstone trail near bickerton.

[doug]

Half price sale at Halfords.

Selt oot locally and 5 next nearest branches.

[cort1977]

Just spent quite a few hours over the last two days trying to replace the EGR cooler on the modern berlingo.

It's buried at the back of the engine which is ideal for something prone to leaks. 

Being a professional mechanic must be an absolute ball ache these days.

[IronStar]

11 minutes ago, cort1977 said:

Just spent quite a few hours over the last two days trying to replace the EGR cooler on the modern berlingo.

It's buried at the back of the engine which is ideal for something prone to leaks. 

Being a professional mechanic must be an absolute ball ache these days.

Designed by people with 0 hours spent with a wrench in hand. 
We need more enthusiasts with engineering degrees designing the layouts, rather than people who just want things to fit in, and treat them as if they’re integrated electronics that don’t need to be repaired. 

[stuboy]

30 minutes ago, IronStar said:

Designed by people with 0 hours spent with a wrench in hand.

toom true............................. asshats

[Sunny Jim]

Went to check on the Grim Sleeper today.

I mean, if you get the opportunity to do doughnuts in hearse you have to take it right?

[Heidel_Kakao]

@Sunny Jim Does it have an LSD? If so I am jealous.

[Sunny Jim]

@Heidel_Kakao no LSD so one tyre fire but still...

[comfortablynumb]

Re shelled by Alibaba??

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/opinion/368608/cheap-alibaba-classic-cars-could-be-answer-enthusiasts-budget

[Rustybullethole]

On 01/01/2026 at 19:01, cort1977 said:

Just spent quite a few hours over the last two days trying to replace the EGR cooler on the modern berlingo.

It's buried at the back of the engine which is ideal for something prone to leaks. 

Being a professional mechanic must be an absolute ball ache these days.

Where is the engine you speak of? 

Sure looks a bit more of an arse to work in than the older model.

 

 

[chadders]

17 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Re shelled by Alibaba??

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/opinion/368608/cheap-alibaba-classic-cars-could-be-answer-enthusiasts-budget

Isn't there a firm in somewhere like Sri Lanka that does complete cars to order relatively cheaply, well by replica standards that is?

[Cord Fourteener]

While I've been wondering whether to buy cheap alloys so i can use my decent tyres on the Volvo or just buy some fresh 18 inch tyres for the Audi I had a flat due to the front offside tyre being shitter than I had realised. 

So I ended being stuck with the kids and the spare also being too shit to use therefore Autoaid refused to pick me up without paying. 

So car is abandoned (after my mum rescued us) so I'll have to go sort out tyres Monday morning! I guess I'm taking the 18 inch wheel to the garage and buying 18 inch tyres then, for the extra premium that entails. 

[Momentary Lapse Of Reason]

1 hour ago, comfortablynumb said:

Re shelled by Alibaba??

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/opinion/368608/cheap-alibaba-classic-cars-could-be-answer-enthusiasts-budget

Anyone got any links to these Alibaba shells?

[comfortablynumb]

Just now, Momentary Lapse Of Reason said:

Anyone got any links to these Alibaba shells?

Don't know, but the article came from Google news if that's any help?

[D.E]

8 minutes ago, Momentary Lapse Of Reason said:

Anyone got any links to these Alibaba shells?

I see several suppliers. For example:

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/High-Quality-Classic-Car-Body-Shell_1600865696396.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.normal_offer.d_image.6a7213a0xfrq9b&priceId=ae5cb7e626ba49838e3bebbc79abf090

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Factory-Direct-Presell-Classic-Mini-Car_1600865841877.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.normal_offer.d_image.659a13a0uNkWDy&priceId=aee9c81aa90744058e800df78b809fa0

Edit: quality*...

[stuboy]

Nothing exciting.. but hopefully this car will enlighten me..lol

 

 

[andy18s]

49 minutes ago, Momentary Lapse Of Reason said:

Anyone got any links to these Alibaba shells?

Some good YouTube video by the company knocking them out, showing pretty much the whole build up. The Toyota FJ shell looks pretty good.

I guess it's all down to the quality of the steel used but anyone could always bang in a load more spot welds to stiffen things up a bit

[Popsicle]

I really need to get my ears syringed again. 

I was booked for a delivery to BL25, so somewhere Bolton way. Went to collect it this morning and it turns out it was PL25, St Austell, in Cornwall, 300 miles away!

Ah well, I had nothing else planned and it's a good start to the month after nearly 2 weeks off scoffing selection boxes.

[Cord Fourteener]

5 hours ago, Sunny Jim said:

Went to check on the Grim Sleeper today.

I mean, if you get the opportunity to do doughnuts in hearse you have to take it right?

So this week, before my tyre shredding incident I have managed to get my quattro to slip all four tyres but not at the same time. 

I am aiming to do 4 tyre fire, and if it is indeed possible I'm sure refrozen snow and ice is the right time to try!

[Cord Fourteener]

3 minutes ago, Popsicle said:

I really need to get my ears syringed again. 

I was booked for a delivery to BL25, so somewhere Bolton way. Went to collect it this morning and it turns out it was PL25, St Austell, in Cornwall, 300 miles away!

Ah well, I had nothing else planned and it's a good start to the month after nearly 2 weeks off scoffing selection boxes.

That's a bit of the wrong way, by quite a bit!

Where's your start, near Chesterfield?

[Popsicle]

7 minutes ago, Cord Fourteener said:

That's a bit of the wrong way, by quite a bit!

Where's your start, near Chesterfield?

Yea I thought that, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

Collection points a bit further south than Chesterfield, its Huthwaite, just off J28 M1.

[Split_Pin]

4 hours ago, Cord Fourteener said:

While I've been wondering whether to buy cheap alloys so i can use my decent tyres on the Volvo or just buy some fresh 18 inch tyres for the Audi I had a flat due to the front offside tyre being shitter than I had realised. 

So I ended being stuck with the kids and the spare also being too shit to use therefore Autoaid refused to pick me up without paying. 

So car is abandoned (after my mum rescued us) so I'll have to go sort out tyres Monday morning! I guess I'm taking the 18 inch wheel to the garage and buying 18 inch tyres then, for the extra premium that entails. 

Always S line 18s with good tyres going on Marketplace, eBay etc.

[comfortablynumb]

11 hours ago, andy18s said:

Some good YouTube video by the company knocking them out, showing pretty much the whole build up. The Toyota FJ shell looks pretty good.

I guess it's all down to the quality of the steel used but anyone could always bang in a load more spot welds to stiffen things up a bit

Apparently according to the Irish rally boys, the MK2 'Escort' shells knocked out by the far east were better than the originals 🤣

[artdjones]

28 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Apparently according to the Irish rally boys, the MK2 'Escort' shells knocked out by the far east were better than the originals 🤣

Not a surprise if you've ever owned a genuine Mk2 Escort.