The new news 24 thread

[320touring]

I dunno. Half-arsed banger rally cars seem to find their way to me for de-twatting, so they're not all bad.

But do you love them and cherish them?do you, do you?

 

Or do you shack up with that french floozie, whispering sweet welding nothings in her ear?

 

[skattrd]

My Lancia is an ex banger rally car. It was bought for 500 quid then driven several thousand miles around Europe, apparently it only broke down 25 times

 

Here's a link of the exploits of the PO http://www.jamjee.co.uk/scott/scottwallis/monkeyrun/2010_run.html

[Lord Sterling]

Banger rallies can FRO IMO. Unless is a "proper" one like Plymouth-Dakar or the Mongol rally...you know...a real adventure. Buying a '98 Vectra from auction, covering it in Astroturf and driving it to Prague is not an adventure. Even if you are dressed like The Blues Brothers...

Lol, this reminds me years ago when someone here said the same thing about a so-called banger rally for some charity organised by some car dealer magazine.

 

Believe it or not, the banger rally didn't even leave Britain, they bought some 10+ year old cars (I seem to remember a Calibra and a Mk2 Mondeo was amongst the purchases) and went something like 400 or 500 miles in land "for charity" the way it was written you'd have thought they'd bought an Allegro and drove to India or something. At the time I owned a 1989 Rover 827Si and had a debate with them about what was so special about driving some fairly modern cars, newer than what I owned just to drive them a few hundred miles.

[Wackeldackel]

Booked a lift for 2 hours on friday so I can spray some cavity wax inside my newly welded, stonechipped and german MOT approved sills. Might really go to town with the rust killer and black rubberised schutz paint. Also going to get a professional opinion (e.g. someone who knows what he's doing with that stethoscope) on a tick-tick-tick sound, both idling and whilst driving.

 

I've had a listen through a screwdriver handle and it sounds to me like top end...worn cam or knackered valve lifters. It could also (crossed fingers here) be something really daft like the shock absorber on the fan belt of course. I'm hoping against all hopes that it isn't anything timing chain or tensioner related, as neither of which had been touched in 25 years. Also gave myself a shock when I converted the kilometres on the odometer to miles, with me being an englander abroad, 247, 000 km is 153, 000 miles, perhaps I should look into some timing chain tensioners and a new chain.

[320touring]

Whilst looking at my hodilay snaps I found this one.

Have a free Woollard:)

[barefoot]

My mother, who gave up driving when she was 73, has at the age of 76 decided she gave up too soon and has nipped out today and bought herself a 13,000 mile Peugeot 107. Apparently she likes it apart from the A pillars/mirror is too big and she can't see out and the gearshift gate is too narrow and she keeps changing 1 - 4.

Inspires confidence doesn't it?

[Cavcraft]

I'm not a fan of these 'jolly japes' banger rally people, but I managed to maintain my two faces when I sold my Omega 3.0 to one of them.

[wuvvum]

Over the last couple of days I've been turning out the cupboard under the stairs (for the first time in over 6 years) to try and find the Renault 6 rear light lenses I bought years ago but have managed to lose.  Didn't find the lenses, but I did dig out the old BBC Micro that my dad bought in about 1987.  I plugged it in to see what would happen - the computer fired straight up, but the monitor started making buzzing noises and chucking out smoke, so I turned it off pronto.  So my dreams of an evening sat at the dining room table playing Repton 3 went up in smoke (do you see what I did there?)

 

It wasn't entirely wasted though - I did dig out a few gems, among which the bottle of Blue Stratos that my mum bought me when I was about 11 and decided I wanted to start smelling nice.  Not much left in the bottle, but that classy* smell was still there.

[vulgalour]

There's definitely something wrong with me.  I got to sit in a very nice Lancia Fulvia tonight and while it was lovely and everything, it didn't do anything for me, I couldn't get excited by it.  It's like I have the same attitude towards very expensive, very lovely cars as other people have towards the hopeless dogs of rust and wob that get my pulse racing.

 

I do hope a well meaning relative/friend/person never gets me one of those 'drive a supercar' weekend event things.  I'd have to ask if I could trade it in for something more exciting, like offroading in a Dyane or glamping in a Maxi.

[Bren]

I'm not a fan of these 'jolly japes' banger rally people, but I managed to maintain my two faces when I sold my Omega 3.0 to one of them.

Some of these banger challenges remind me of the episode of blackadder where they decide to go on an expedition.

 

Red beard rum (Tom Baker) admits he knows fuck all about exploring, and that he just sails around the isle of Wight a few times.

[dollywobbler]

There's definitely something wrong with me.  I got to sit in a very nice Lancia Fulvia tonight and while it was lovely and everything, it didn't do anything for me, I couldn't get excited by it.  It's like I have the same attitude towards very expensive, very lovely cars as other people have towards the hopeless dogs of rust and wob that get my pulse racing.

 

I do hope a well meaning relative/friend/person never gets me one of those 'drive a supercar' weekend event things.  I'd have to ask if I could trade it in for something more exciting, like offroading in a Dyane or glamping in a Maxi.

 

To be honest, sitting in cars bores me rigid. It's like trying to tell whether a woman is 'the one' or a complete psycho by merely fondling her arse. Lancia Fulvias are wonderful machines. They have that 'properly engineered' feel that Fiat steadily tried to remove from the company. Proper Lancias are truly great. 

 

Supercar driving experiences are great too. I did one way back in 2001 or something - mainly as I was trying to get over my fear of cornering caused by binning a Subaru Impreza. I can honestly say that a Lotus Exige pushing the limits of grip cured me. And the Noble was fun too. And the Dodge Viper was an astonishingly fast lorry. Porche 996 911s are really very nice. Maserati 3200GTs remain a dream car. Red lining one in third gear had me gibbering like a child. 

 

I like to have a frame of reference when I tell the world I choose a 2CV over pretty much anything else. 

[AlabamaShrimp]

Nothing car related pop into hospital to have a knee arthroscopy... Well I was...

 

No driving for minimum 7days

I've had this done on my right knee. Can still hurt 2 years later but but glad I had it done.

 

They kept asking how I damaged my knee and expecting someone mega heroic story..... I twisted it getting in the car with my son so he could play at driving

[Stixy]

I bought a 2004 Magentis V6  in the summer for £100  to sort out as a bit of winter project but what with everything else going on all i have done is move it about in my yard  . anyway i was walking past it yesterday and noticed a puddle of oil on the floor  so today i got it in to have a look and found a rusty leaking oil  filter   so phoned the motor factors for an oil filter expecting a) what is it again  b ) no havent got one or   c) might be able to get one but its expensive , but no they said " yes we have one on the shelf and its £2.40+vat ! "  so fitted it and job done   

 

Just brake pipes and cam belt to replace now .

[Lord Sterling]

Visited the Auld_boy Hyden today who owns the Grey Sterling in this picture:

 

 

He has been having trouble with his door drivers-side handle which broke but just about opened the door. Obviously being an old boy this concerns him so I manged to get my hands on a drivers door handle, however, France came a callin' and we both couldn't find the time to get it on before I left, I did however try my best but my limited tools, space and time meant I really couldn't get the handle on.

 

A couple of weeks ago I met up again with Hayden, we went to Summit Garage to try anf get it booked in, but they complained that the door handle wasn't complete and brand-new or summat, so we went and got his car booked in at my mates place in Cradley Heath, then today we went to get the door handle fitted on.

 

Door handle was on within something like 15, maybe 20 mins, (I didn't see it get put on as I was dragged into some other jobs, like helping with a Renault Scenic electric handbrake)

 

Whilst we were there I decided to try and pull out the fusebox and get some point soldered. Seriously, I am ABSOLUTELY SHIT at soldering, I didn't manage get any solder anywhere, I've just never got on with it, I really don't know why. I was great at arc welding which is sort of like a bigger, hotter, firey version of soldering. However, I must have done something right as his windows, sunroof and seats started working again!

 

We didn't have time to get his car cleaned out and hoovered but that's for another day. He offered me money but I refused as I like to see someone happy and another Sterling given a bit of TLC.

 

Also, it was nice on this rare occasion to get home and not see chav wankers kicking footballs all about the place and hanging about on next-doors wall.

[Skizzer]

Mo, you are Batman for Rover 800s - swooping out of the sky to right wrongs then flitting back with a cheery wave to your mysterious cave.  I love it.

 

The Sterling Koop looks proper bo, too.

[philibusmo]

Renault! FFS!

 

Why go to all the trouble of building Avantimes with genuine hot-dip Galvanised base units, Plastic body panels and Aluminium roof frames, ie as rust proof as it gets, and then spoil it all with bits of Lancia Beta for sills!

 

NNGgggg!

 

I don't know why I was optimistic about the condition of the same area on the drivers side. Turns out it was just made of slightly harder rust and is if anything slightly worse. I've spent the last two evenings grinding it out and cleaning the area around it ready to weld in the new half box section tomorrow evening.

[Cavcraft]

It's like trying to tell whether a woman is 'the one' or a complete psycho by merely fondling her arse.

 

You mean there's another way? What strange habits you have in Wales.

[wuvvum]

I bought a car today.  This could almost be in the grump thread - it's a Volvo S40 T4, but it seems to be suffering from an almost complete lack of boost, so my visions of duelling with VAG drivers on the M11 came to naught.  Still, it didn't overheat, so that's an improvement on my last purchase.  It also, to my surprise, has ice cold aircon, which was handy when I got stuck in a 5-mile queue for the Dartford tunnel on what was a ridiculously hot day for the arse end of September.

 

Here's a picture.  It's a bit battered at the front, bless it (a tree fell on it not too long ago), but apart from the lack of power and a bad judder under braking from high speed, it drives fine.  Obviously I could have done without another car that needs attention, but then it was 250 quid so I don't mind spending a bit of time on it to get it back on Audi-nomming form.

 

 

Pulling out of Birchanger Green services, I also spotted this bit of hot A-framing action:

 

 

 

 

 

[dollywobbler]

Fleet reduction going well then? 

[stuboy]

Thought I'd remove the bandages and change the plasters... They stung a bit..lol

[michael1703]

^

What's the story with the knee looking like my cats starfish?

[stuboy]

^

What's the story with the knee looking like my cats starfish?

Arthroscopy

[michael1703]

I know that, but what were they looking for/fixing?

[wuvvum]

Fleet reduction going well then? 

Yup!

 

To be fair, the purchase of something amusingly quick was always on the cards once I'd got rid of a couple.  It just wasn't supposed to be yet another project.  Serves me right for buying the cheapest one on eBay I suppose.

[vulgalour]

Gear knobs.

 

I don't mind the original Princess offering, but I hanker after a sparkly purple ball instead of the black wand of vagueness.  It'll finish off the interior very nicely when the new dash I've nearly completed goes in.  I can find sparkly purple ball gear knobs but they're £60+ before P&P and most seem to be in the USA with no UK postage (not that I'm going to spend £60+ on a gear knob, I hasten to add!).

 

I don't want something anodised, or one of those hideous dildo types, I don't want something wooden and I don't want a snooker/pool ball which really doesn't leave me much option.

 

I might just see if I have a spare Princess gear knob and repaint it to match the dash, at least that'll be cheap.

[beko1987]

I don't think I've seen 4am for years! Not even collecting a car!

[AlabamaShrimp]

Arthroscopy

You know they said no driving for 7 days. Make that about 3 weeks and you're more in the right area. I had to wear my leg brace for weeks too

[Largactil]

Changed all four boots on the LNA yesterday - T-minus 17 days till MOT, so trying to fit in jobs when I can.

 

After 2 weeks sat dormant on a steep drive, it was reluctant to start - Recalling the minor issues Wuvv had, I pulled off the bottom hose from the (mechanical) fuel pump and there was petrol there - Re-attached and it fired first turn of the key, and has done since?!

 

Anyhow, the existing tyres had plenty of tread, but a date code of Feb 1988 and circumferential cracks all round - My MOT man's a reasonable chap, but there's no way he'll pass it with these bad boys.

 

 

 

 

Tyre leader provided Uniroyal Rain Experts in slightly larger 145 (rather than 135) flavour - Local garage fitted but couldn't balance them on account of the centre bore being too small for their tyre balancing machine. (Must be a common issue - the wheels didn't have any weights on them when he took them off!)

 

 

Only charged £20 to fit all four due to the above 

 

(And all seems fine - Wound it up to 60 on the way home and it felt okay; slightly more planted on its wider rubber).

 

x4 quality tyres fitted for £137.16 - Happy with that...    

[andy18s]

My local tyre fitter used to have a sit on balancing machine for using whilst the wheel was still on the car

Great for old Strada's and such with no centre hole

Not seen it for a while tho.

H+S went into meltdown I guess.

[Rocket88]

Gear knobs.

 

I don't mind the original Princess offering, but I hanker after a sparkly purple ball instead of the black wand of vagueness.  It'll finish off the interior very nicely when the new dash I've nearly completed goes in.  I can find sparkly purple ball gear knobs but they're £60+ before P&P and most seem to be in the USA with no UK postage (not that I'm going to spend £60+ on a gear knob, I hasten to add!).

 

I don't want something anodised, or one of those hideous dildo types, I don't want something wooden and I don't want a snooker/pool ball which really doesn't leave me much option.

 

I might just see if I have a spare Princess gear knob and repaint it to match the dash, at least that'll be cheap.

 

 

Old Xmas tree baubles are a good substitute . Carefully remove top where the tree hanging bits go, and fill with glass fibre resin...............