The new news 24 thread

[phil_lihp]

Don't be silly, he'll close the boot.

[Lukas]

Muahahaha!!!!!!!1

[Luckythirteen]

Late to the party I know (fashionably late, natch!), but coinciding with the talk of buying an old Merc, the W123 280 I posted in the Lazy Spotter's Thread a while back is up for sale.

If anyone's interested, I could try and track it down? It appears in some places I go to, sometimes, although I don't know where exactly it lives.

[Wackeldackel]

 

Today's diggershite, new in 2008, 4500 hours on the clock and missing more nipples than a stripper at a cannibals stag night. It's an absolute heap of turd to drive, all the check valves are shot so the arm sinks rapidly downwards making grading a pain in the arse, and to make things more fun I've been using a toothed bucket that is designed for a machine three times the size of this one, fitted with a bodged adaptor for the quick hitch. Turn to the side with the arm more than two thirds extended? Chances of keeping both tracks on the ground are ZERO. Centre of gravity FAIL.

[Wackeldackel]

 

AIR CONDISHONING M8

 

Oh wait, its windy and drizzling.

[Geep]

After 10 days and a prompt, Monroe have dispatched the new rear shocks for the Fronty. ETA Monday...maybe...

[Parky]

Went to see mates BMW 2002's at his unit. He has two there and one at home, so no need to state that he is a fan.

 

All he needs is his family to grow up and his business to succeed so he can get round to fixing them up!

[richardmorris]

Used the merc. for the first time for a week today. It seems to have developed what I would only describe as a heart murmur. When cold this morning the idle was a little uneven but it sometimes is until it's up to temp, but on the way home revs were fluctuating at idle. Under power was fine and the problem seemed to go away if put into N or P.

[dollywobbler]

Drove the 2CV to Wiltshire. Traffic was disgraceful thanks to an accident on the M4. 2CV is going well though, as is my mission to get it to 200,000 miles before April. Now on 197,600!

[Bobthebeard]

Used the merc. for the first time for a week today. It seems to have developed what I would only describe as a heart murmur. When cold this morning the idle was a little uneven but it sometimes is until it's up to temp, but on the way home revs were fluctuating at idle. Under power was fine and the problem seemed to go away if put into N or P.

Simple solution, just drive it in Neutral or Park!

[vulgalour]

You may have seen this Alfa Romeo GTV lightweight special before, I'm not sure, but it's back in for a nose-to-tail refurb and detail before going up for sale after being used for a good six months at shows and stuff.

 

 

 

It's not really Autoshite, but I'm sure you'll appreciate seeing it.  Additionally, the Spider is nearing completion now, it's down to the last 10% or so which as we all know takes FOREVER and is the most frustrating part of the build.  This also isn't Autoshite, but again very nice to look at.

 

[loserone]

I'm not totally sure V, but you appear to have found your dream job.  

[Luckythirteen]

I'm amazed at the money people spend on classics, but I don't suppose you're complaining V!

Spider very pretty though. Nice colour.

[vulgalour]

Dream job muchly it be.  I'm as happy as a round pink thing in squidgy brown stuff.

[dieselnutjob]

604 failed MOT on Thursday; cut in rear tyre.  Two new (very old) rear tyres put on on Friday. Passed MOT no advisories.

 

The old tyre was split all the way round the sidewall on the inside (so I didn't see it).  I wouldn't have driven it at 90mph if I had known that.

 

MOTs are a good thing.

 

Off to Peugeot owners club meet tomorrow.

[richardmorris]

Simple solution, just drive it in Neutral or Park!

 

 

Doesn't tend to go that quickly then though.

 

Have just spent a few hours fiddling with the cars- fitted Robri trims to the rear wings of the 2CV (will hide some marks and match the other shiny things). While lying under the car decided I'd better wire brush and underseal the more obvious rusty looking patches.

 

 

 

 

 

Then did the same with the merc (rusty looking patches not robri trims) before having a good look at how to remove the a/c condenser. The guy I asked back in June (who did come straight away but then said I needed a new pipe and condenser) has finally made an appointment to start work.  It's going to be a bit of a faff though - I can't see the best way forward with it yet - from the front there's not much play in the steering fluid cooling pipes, and from the rear not much room twixt the rad.

[Wackeldackel]

Used the merc. for the first time for a week today. It seems to have developed what I would only describe as a heart murmur. When cold this morning the idle was a little uneven but it sometimes is until it's up to temp, but on the way home revs were fluctuating at idle. Under power was fine and the problem seemed to go away if put into N or P.

Could be lots of things, idle control valve may need a clean, most likely cause as if its only idling wobbly in N or P then that's when the idle valve is supposed to work, try turning on your heated rear screen as the car's idling, the idle should momentarily drop then the idle control valve should immediately bring it up a touch to cope with the extra current draw of the heated screen. Or perhaps take your OVP relay out and clean the terminals. After that its probably a vacuum leak somewhere, brake cleaner in the engine bay time for a more exact diagnosis.

 

Funnily enough I spent this afternoon chasing a few vacuum and electrical gremlins. Probably only placebo maintenence (I.e. the car probably doesn't run any different to before but after lightening my wallet to the tune of €50 then I imagine that it does), new OVP relay and 6 new sealing rings around the plastic holders the fuel injectors slide into. The new sealing rings may have made the seal around the injectors marginally better, no noticeable change in engine running when I sprayed all 6 in turn with brake cleaner. Just a shame that the bloody cold running regulator (a modification to get cheaper tax on an old gas guzzler) will always be an air leak, but now the car has two years TÜV I might sneakily de-modify it to see if the idle smooths out.

[richardmorris]

Could be lots of things, idle control valve may need a clean, most likely cause as if its only idling wobbly in N or P then that's when the idle valve is supposed to work, try turning on your heated rear screen as the car's idling, the idle should momentarily drop then the idle control valve should immediately bring it up a touch to cope with the extra current draw of the heated screen. Or perhaps take your OVP relay out and clean the terminals. After that its probably a vacuum leak somewhere, brake cleaner in the engine bay time for a more exact diagnosis.

 

Funnily enough I spent this afternoon chasing a few vacuum and electrical gremlins. Probably only placebo maintenence (I.e. the car probably doesn't run any different to before but after lightening my wallet to the tune of €50 then I imagine that it does), new OVP relay and 6 new sealing rings around the plastic holders the fuel injectors slide into. The new sealing rings may have made the seal around the injectors marginally better, no noticeable change in engine running when I sprayed all 6 in turn with brake cleaner. Just a shame that the bloody cold running regulator (a modification to get cheaper tax on an old gas guzzler) will always be an air leak, but now the car has two years TÜV I might sneakily de-modify it to see if the idle smooths out.

 

 

 

Ah, the rear screen is something else not working now - usual coupe delaminated screen. I was thinking about the idle control valve though (and the dreaded loom).  I have sent an email off to my local specialist. Was doing it again this morning on the way to the supermarket, but oddly not on the way back.

 

While I'm thinking about it. The only thing I need for the interior is a new trim panel that covers the side of the seatbelt butler. I can't find one in the uk, would you know what the german name is so I can search on ebay.de?

[vulgalour]

Can anyone find me a good example of BMC Mirage?  I'm struggling to find a picture to illustrate this colour and if anyone can help me, you guys can.  Normally seen on one particular Allegro and Morris Minors.

[barrett]

 

Four hour round trip to look at a slightly shonky Citroen in the new Dyna today. Its much quicker than the steel car, but the exhaust is also full of holes and it makes a deafening racket. Will sit at 80-85 no bother though which is good going by 1955 standards, even if it does have a later engine.

[vulgalour]

Hnnggg... so much want in one picture!

[Wackeldackel]

RichardMorris, Something like this?

 

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=131270200663&alt=web

 

 

You would be looking for a Gurtbringer or Gurtgeber. Try either of those plus Abdeckung or Verkleidung , both of which mean cover or panel. Or even better if you look up the part number off online parts catalogue and put that in the ebay search box.

[Craig the Princess]

Can anyone find me a good example of BMC Mirage?  I'm struggling to find a picture to illustrate this colour and if anyone can help me, you guys can.  Normally seen on one particular Allegro and Morris Minors.

 

 

This sort of shows the purple-ish-ness of it.

[Asimo]

Changed the oil on the Insight today. first time I have done this myself for years. 0W30 @£10 / litre! Nice sensible drain plug needs a 17mm spanner not some doomed, useless little square key.

 

Excepting my (then) 24 year old Morris Minor, this is the oldest car I have had in 39 years of car ownership. I don't understand why I didn't buy one ten years ago.

[richardmorris]

RichardMorris, Something like this?

 

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=131270200663&alt=web

 

 

You would be looking for a Gurtbringer or Gurtgeber. Try either of those plus Abdeckung or Verkleidung , both of which mean cover or panel. Or even better if you look up the part number off online parts catalogue and put that in the ebay search box.

 

 

Not really the one in the link; that's for the rear, what I'm after is the triangular shaped thing in the photo between the seatbelt bump and side window. Mine has a chunk out of it. Thanks for the words though - I'll try them out.

 

A few interior panels show up with those words, but no sign of the one of interest yet. Have added it to my saved searches though.  I have just been out though to look at the back of the panel and get the part number.

[richardmorris]

IMG_20140913_154926.jpg

 

Four hour round trip to look at a slightly shonky Citroen in the new Dyna today. Its much quicker than the steel car, but the exhaust is also full of holes and it makes a deafening racket. Will sit at 80-85 no bother though which is good going by 1955 standards, even if it does have a later engine.

 

 

What was the ami like?

[barrett]

Pretty much as expected really. Obviously well loved but showing its age after 12 years in an open fronted car port. Chap has done 75,000km in that time though including solo trips to Sweden and it seems mechanically perfect. Lots of ugly welding underneath but it all seems solid. We'll have a punt at what I reckon it's worth if we can find some money, but I won't lose any sleep I it goes for silly money to somebody who didn't bother having a look. We'll see

[richardmorris]

Pretty much as expected really. Obviously well loved but showing its age after 12 years in an open fronted car port. Chap has done 75,000km in that time though including solo trips to Sweden and it seems mechanically perfect. Lots of ugly welding underneath but it all seems solid. We'll have a punt at what I reckon it's worth if we can find some money, but I won't lose any sleep I it goes for silly money to somebody who didn't bother having a look. We'll see

 

 

I went to see a Traction Avant like that - looked good and interior was nice, but it hadn't run in 15years. I took along my citroen mechanic friend who has four of them and gave it a good going over and made a list. The price on ebay at the time was about £2700 which we thought was ok and priced up all the work and parts needed (sills, bit of floor, fuel tank, tyres, bearings, brakes, full exhaust, etc) to be about £3500. So set a limit of £3500 for the bidding. Eventually sold for £6500 to someone who hadn't been to see it. The reg. hasn't appeared back on the traction owners club yet either, and this was about four years ago.

[ShiteRider]

A quick patch on the right rear jacking point isn't going well so far........

Bear in mind i've got to drive this home in a couple of hours.

[dollywobbler]

I really REALLY want an early Ami like that. 

 

Anyway, the 2CV impressed me this weekend. It spent a lot of Friday like this.

 

A feeble economy car that can be driven flat out for hour after hour. Wonderful. It will go faster than that - I was trying to actually cruise. In reality, that's probably 62mph...

 

Today, we drove back on largely small roads. Much more pleasant. Well, apart from the idiot motorcyclist who decided to cut a blind bend on a mountain road. He came VERY close to hitting us. Twat. Also, Harley owners. Your bikes sound shit. Please fit an actual exhaust. This conclusion was drawn at a very pretty picnic spot on the A44.