The new news 24 thread

[phil_lihp]

That's got to be a pretty rare beast now.  You'll have to see if it really 'handles like a Porsche' on those windy mountain roads!

[dollywobbler]

Problem is, we think it's the very last rear-engined Skoda ever built (it's definitely the last Rapid and saloon production ended first) so I feel very precious about it! Sadly I'm still working. Gorgeous sunny day and I've got a Skoda to play with and I can't go for a drive!

[Angrydicky]

The slope of chod. Doesn't seem that long ago I was parking an FE Victor on there

[r.welfare]

Problem is, we think it's the very last rear-engined Skoda ever built (it's definitely the last Rapid and saloon production ended first) so I feel very precious about it! Sadly I'm still working. Gorgeous sunny day and I've got a Skoda to play with and I can't go for a drive!

 

I remember reading about that in an issue of the Skoda Owners Club newsletter, when we found a pile of them clearing out my late father-in-law's stuff.  IIRC, Earl (or Lord) Strathcarron was the first owner.

 

It might have been the last built, but there were definitely some registered later (on J prefixes).  I remember reading about one in Jalopy.  It's a 135 RiC, right?

[dollywobbler]

Yup. 135RiC, so fuel injection and a catalyst. Drives really well. The coach drivers amongst us will know what the gearchange is like. Second gear is almost on the back seat. I shall prepare a short Blog on it. Especially as I'm stuck waiting for an hour for someone to call me back for actual work.

[Pete-M]

Jaaag has new front discs and pads and I've balanced the front wheels.

[J-T]

Did the rear disks and pads on the subaru today. I wasn't relishing the thought of doing this as everything looked pretty corroded and so it proved to be! Maybe it wasn't a good omen when I could barely get the locking nut key on because the sides of the locking nuts have corroded. Then the wheel was welded to the hub. And so it continued, the caliper carrier bolts weren't the most accessable and were nicely rusted in. Then I finally got it all stripped down only to find out I'd been supplied with the wrong discs. So that meant a trip to Rochdale and back (got them mail order from Brakes International), although to be fair they did give me some brake cleaner and brake grease for free to say sorry.

 

This is also the 1st time I've dealt with one of those drum inside the disk handbrakes. Quite a neat idea except mine had managed to get a wear lip on the drum so getting them off was an ABSOLUTE MARE!!! By the time I'd finished bashing the living frig out of them I had a 3" pile of rust under each disc.

 

I'd also say that this is the worst state I've ever seen a pair of discs and pads in. The pads had literally no material left. The discs each had about a 10mm area of effectiveness.

 

 

 

Still, they're on now, and the pedal feels a lot better now the rear caliper pistons aren't almost popping out each time it's pressed!

 

[coalnotdole]

The tickets are printed and I'm ready for 2 days at the Beaulieu International Autojumble, fingers crossed it will be less expensive than last year... We're going on both the saturday and the sunday this time as we struggled to see everything in one day last year!

 

Any shitters going may spot my ropey rebel or red scimitar somewhere amongst the main car parks.

 

 

[TimothyClaypole]

Did my photo licence renewal on the Gov. website, everything went though ok so will see if it turns up.

 

I have a chip and pin passport but it's over 5 years old which I'm sure was mentioned when I asked the other week but they didn't reject it or anything, took the £20.00 off my bank card etc.

[vulgalour]

Has anyone noticed just how many cheap** interesting and even road legal chod can be got in that there London?  Is this something to do with LEZ or just Southerners not putting much value on 15+ year old cars?

 

**we're talking under £500 with T&T here

[Shep Shepherd]

^

I think it's the latter, as I don't think the LEZ affects passenger cars yet.

 

Good news for people like me who favour cars over 15 years old

[Angrydicky]

Firstly, higher population density so more cars sold here new in the 70's and 80's. Secondly, the dryer, warmer climate down here keeps older cars going longer. Thirdly, London still has a lot of old money types who like to keep their cars going for as long as possible, and they have the cash to maintain them.

[cort16]

I finally got the welding on the Cortina (well on this side) finished. Not too pretty but solid and once there's a load of seam sealer and under seal on it, it'll look fine.

I'd like to make special mention of my welder, which jammed, gave inconsitant wire feed and generally acted like a complete wanker during the ordeal.

A welder is a pretty basic machine. A spool of wire is fed through a tube and comes out the end and magic happens. So how can a basic machine that still costs 400 fucking quid still be shit at it's one and only job. I'm not proud to say I did administor it a heald kick up the arse at one point.

 

image by cort16, on Flickr

[dollywobbler]

Not exactly Autoshite reading material, but I've been quoted in The Telegraph in an article about owning old shitheaps. Kudos to PetrolBlog's MajorGav for getting it published! My old Saab 9000 makes an appearance too. Might actually have to buy a copy.

 

In other news, I'm experimenting today with publishing one tweet road tests. https://twitter.com/hashtag/1tweettest?src=hash

[richardmorris]

Not exactly Autoshite reading material, but I've been quoted in The Telegraph in an article about owning old shitheaps. Kudos to PetrolBlog's MajorGav for getting it published! My old Saab 9000 makes an appearance too. Might actually have to buy a copy.

 

In other news, I'm experimenting today with publishing one tweet road tests. https://twitter.com/hashtag/1tweettest?src=hash

 

Is it on the website?

[dollywobbler]

Nope. Doesn't seem to be.

[RobT]

In readiness for winter I got two Uniroyal Rainexperts put on the front of the 220 this morning. I wanted Rainsports but these were on the shelf so job done. I also got the tracking checked which was spot on apparently and they didn't charge me for that, which is nice. The difference was immediate and I'm hoping the wheel wobble and wandereness at speed is sorted. I can now CORNER WITH CONFIDENCE!

 

Next up is an oil change and fiddle with the handbrake which is shit. I've done 1500 miles in it in the last few weeks and the car just laps it up, bloody awesome thing.

[dollywobbler]

IR HAZ ENVIES. I'm starting to think that the Honda engine really was the weakest in the line-up. Mildly quicker than a K-series, but vastly more thirsty. Still puffs out the odd embarrassing cloud of blue smoke too. Maybe I can upgrade to another one at some point. Then I can keep my tyres.

[RobT]

I think so too after having both. The T-series just makes for a better all round car basically, although I bet the K-series ones are perky enough. Must have a go at owning all three. There was a 420 Tourer on gumtree recently if you fancy upgrading Ian! The 220's MoT is due in November and I've already decided it's worth lobbing money at if need be, but apart from the handbrake I can't see much wrong with it.

[twosmoke300]

418 sld turbo ftw . 1769 xud turbo . Gotta be the best engine in the r8 range ? shirley?

[dave21478]

...

A welder is a pretty basic machine. A spool of wire is fed through a tube and comes out the end and magic happens. So how can a basic machine that still costs 400 fucking quid still be shit at it's one and only job. I'm not proud to say I did administor it a heald kick up the arse at one point.

 

 

If its a SIP or Cosmo, they literally all do that, Sir.

There are mods you can make to the wire feed of a SIP to help it a little - see http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/  there is an entire sub forum devoted to SIP welder problems.

 

I had two of the bastards over the years (i am a slow learner) but eventually got the lesson and sacked it off for a Clarke.

[twosmoke300]

Cebora / snap on welders are Shit too

[cort16]

It's a sealey power mig. I previous had an issue with it auto tightening the spring clutch thing on the spool, which slowed the wire feed down as you used it to the point the spool wouldn't turn. Now it can't seem to pull the wire through the feed the little wheel thing just spins and the wire comes out it bursts, which is fucking hopeless for welding.

I guess given their price their must be due to 1 expensive component as the price you pay doesn't relate to the build quality, which on my welder seems about the same as a soviet block out house .

[dave21478]

hmm, Sealey are normally pretty decent. I wonder if a new torch liner would help it?

[cort16]

It probably would it does feel like it's dragging. It's only maybe 3 years old and isn't used all that much.

[HillmanImp]

I 2nd the liner call. I had similar problems with mine. New liner made a big difference.

[stuboy]

Not much driving the rover 75 and trailer to return a sofa bed back to work...

And pick a much better cooker from work to replace the rusty one in my rented house..

[spike60]

I finally got the welding on the Cortina (well on this side) finished. Not too pretty but solid and once there's a load of seam sealer and under seal on it, it'll look fine.

I'd like to make special mention of my welder, which jammed, gave inconsitant wire feed and generally acted like a complete wanker during the ordeal.

A welder is a pretty basic machine. A spool of wire is fed through a tube and comes out the end and magic happens. So how can a basic machine that still costs 400 fucking quid still be shit at it's one and only job. I'm not proud to say I did administor it a heald kick up the arse at one point.

 

image by cort16, on Flickr

Where is the welder and wire stored? surface corrosion on the wire will cause grief, try getting shot to the top couple of layers off the spool see if improves. Does the liner etc no favours either

[cort16]

It's a brand new spool BUT I did attempt to use a rust spool and ran about 10 meters through it trying to clear it up so I wonder if it's clagged up the liner?

[nacho man]

 

Did the air, fuel oil filter and oil on the old dizzler which is soldering on nicely. These old buses take like 15 mins max to do a quick service which is nice, 14 mins of that is getting the tools in and out the garage cos of a stupid immobile clio in there.

 

I got talking to a bloke across the street who has a 08 zafira dizzler of some sort and it has just had a dpf clean, dmf, Cambelt and a rad, service and a air con sort out and the bill was 1800 odd quid. I said a few swear words when he told me. All vauxhalls r shit etc etc.

 

This year my 306 has needed a starter £40 new from ecp, this service max £40, a wheel bearing and a ball joint for it's mot parts £40 and not test £45.

 

Shame my missus MUST have a new car which I said we have to keep till the next Ice age to get our money's worth.