The new news 24 thread

[Bren]

14 minutes ago, Joey spud said:

I'm off to Manston airport for some drag racing shenanigans today.

What is it running?

[richardmorris]

@Three Speed

[Split_Pin]

I'm in Bowness just now and looks like I've found @NorthernMonkeys eponymous Public House 

 

[NorthernMonkey]

We’re out in sunny Barlick today…

[richardmorris]

In one step forward two steps back achievements, I managed to tighten a wobbly headlamp with a long 21mm socket on a very long extension. Then found that i hadn’t been imagining the coolant dropping , but it’s not the radiator but the lower coolant hose that is past its best and perished and weeping.

i suppose it makes sense to change both as they’re £15 each, four new clamps and a new radiator cap seal is another £6. Should be able to pick them up Monday.

 

[chadders]

22 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I'm in Bowness just now and looks like I've found @NorthernMonkeys eponymous Public House 

 

Is the parking still appalling there?

[Split_Pin]

3 hours ago, chadders said:

Is the parking still appalling there?

No there's a huge overflow car park about 5 minutes walk up the road.

[richardmorris]

4 hours ago, richardmorris said:

In one step forward two steps back achievements, I managed to tighten a wobbly headlamp with a long 21mm socket on a very long extension. Then found that i hadn’t been imagining the coolant dropping , but it’s not the radiator but the lower coolant hose that is past its best and perished and weeping.

i suppose it makes sense to change both as they’re £15 each, four new clamps and a new radiator cap seal is another £6. Should be able to pick them up Monday.

 

Oh and hilarious discovery earlier was looking at the fire extinguisher that came with the car and finding the expiry date was 1998! Powder one - the label  said check to check the pressure gauge on the base. It said 0. So I tried it out in the grass and absolutely nothing. Have swapped it for a good one that I had in the kitchen for now.

 

It is at least providing me with something to tinker with .

[Split_Pin]

Our wee tour of the Lakes done, back home today. 

We stayed at Ullswater Heights lodges, just outside Penrith, highly recommended.

Saab went well and took the 3 of us plus luggage no bother. A great all rounder thats enjoying a new lease of life.

 

[EspenO]

On 17/04/2026 at 19:16, richardmorris said:

French ( not just Citroen) car morning at blackbushe airport tomorrow.

Today I learnt about the Peugeot Hoggar! Fun and possibly even practical little thing. 
 

 

[Dyslexic Viking]

The Mercedes got its first drive of the year today.

[JJ0063]

Fitted the other window yesterday to Mrs JJ’s Transit, then gave it a wash today. Pleased with the progress considering we’ve only had it 3 weeks

 

[richardmorris]

1 hour ago, EspenO said:

Today I learnt about the Peugeot Hoggar! Fun and possibly even practical little thing. 
 

 

I parked the 2cv next to it last month. I’ve not seen one before!

[richardmorris]

The coolant from the traction is going drip, drip, drip at the moment. I’ve put a large tray under it. I think it’s all coming from the perished pipe not the rad, fingers crossed! 
I’ve just ordered coolant from opie oils and a 6v indicator wiring kit and some small led motorcycle indicators from auto electric supplies.

[Barry Cade]

Much better!

[doug]

Wee car meet in Cumnock today.

 

[Marshall2810]

Front exhaust and fitting kit arrived for the suzuki so will be fitted soon on the ex @loserone mates alto

Noticed the front brakes were binding quite badly so stripped them down for a check and........

Yeah, shagged

New stuff on and loads better, sliders sliding and caliper pistons polished and (just about) moving. Even managed to crack off the bleed nipple after some heat persuasion and use of a 9mm socket so they're on order.

Still a very slight bind so may end up with calipers too but I'll see how it goes, they're cheap enough 

[Sigmund Fraud]

After days weeks months of procrastination, and increasingly jealous of @Angrydicky's Austin escapades, I decided to take this scruffy old beast out for a proper drive today.

I did around 35 miles, which seems trivial but is the longest journey it has completed since it was taken off the road in the early 1980s.

Needless to say, it performed admirably and is immense fun to drive !

[Sunny Jim]

Ducks give zero fucks.

 

 

[Lonestar]

4 hours ago, doug said:

That's a very early one. Don't often see many from that end of the production run.

[IronStar]

Special order delivered from wherever the hell they ordered it and needed a week to arrive.

@Tommyboy12 did I remember correctly that this is the one that lasts longer than 15 minutes? 

[Tommyboy12]

1 hour ago, IronStar said:

Special order delivered from wherever the hell they ordered it and needed a week to arrive.

@Tommyboy12 did I remember correctly that this is the one that lasts longer than 15 minutes? 

Yes that's the gasket you want!

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

On 19/04/2026 at 18:57, Sunny Jim said:

Ducks give zero fucks.

 

 

Don't blame em. Mrs Duck "You can fuck right off with ya big stupid hearse when I'm out with my brood!"

[Snake Charmer]

"Dear customer,  your 20yr old Honda Jizz ain't worth a wank now I've been at it with the toffee hammer."

[Bren]

I heard this morning Rimmers is offloading it's SD1 stock.

[richardmorris]

Just replaced the coolant hoses,  and in the nick of time. Coolant draining out was a good colour though. 

[richardmorris]

23 hours ago, Snake Charmer said:

"Dear customer,  your 20yr old Honda Jizz ain't worth a wank now I've been at it with the toffee hammer."

Yellow crayon too?

[richardmorris]

28 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Just replaced the coolant hoses,  and in the nick of time. Coolant draining out was a good colour though. 

It’s a lot easier to work on than the x1/9!

[Zelandeth]

1 hour ago, richardmorris said:

It’s a lot easier to work on than the x1/9!

From what I remember, working on the bloody space shuttle while blindfolded is easier than working on an X1/9!

Edit: I should qualify that with the fact that I love them and would love to own one if I had space.  However I remember swearing a LOT whenever I helped a friend work on the one they had.  I was the skinny one with long arms so used to get roped into the hard to get to jobs.  Which seemed to be all of them.  I can't remember whether it was the water pump or thermostat, but I remember changing it took years off my life it felt like!

[richardmorris]

Costs for the traction so far….145km….

£300 from Citroen classics, ( hub cap nut and bolt,  mirrors, rubber seals and drains and fuel filler cap with new seal and a badge, then the coolant hoses and clamps).

£40 wiring for indicators from auto electric supplies,

£130 for actual indicators From vintage supplies. 

£25 5l millars coolant from opie oils.

£50 for new bottle of lanoguard for rustproofing.

£8 can of high temp upholstery spray adhesive.

£3 brass upholstery gimp pins.

£22 car phone holder for mph sat nav and £8 from retrospec parts for a cup / bottle holder.

 

perhaps I’ll win the premium bonds next month? To be fair , the only thing the car desperately needed was the coolant hoses( £13+vat each with club discount). And I think that’s because it’s done 1000km since April 2019, 200 of which were this month.