The new news 24 thread

[wuvvum]

A few highlights from last week's trip to Ireland in the allegro

 

 

Wow, you even made it across to Craggy Island!  I'm impressed!

[cobblers]

A few highlights from last week's trip to Ireland in the allegro

 

 

 

Calendar shot etc etc etc. Lovely stuff!

[vulgalour]

That house is much smaller than I remember.

[RobT]

Small.....

 

 

Faaaar away

[DS20]

No, Ted, you've lost me. I still don't get it.

 

[/Dougal]

[trigger]

That photo 100% needs to be in the calendar or I won't be buying it!

[stuboy]

not much ive hoovered out polished inside the borrowed rover 75

[rml2345]

Another vote for Craggy Island Allegro in the calendar.

[Micrashed]

The MicraShed lives for another year with just minor tickling from the welding stick needed on the NS sill (cant say I noticed it myself, but then cant say I actually looked). £80 and a fresh ticket with no other advisories.

Not bad for a 15 year old motor that really isnt looked after all that well. If it stops pissing it down in Preston I'll fit the winter tyres.

[The Moog]

I can see clearly now the rain has gone...

 

(put on in between shower)

[vulgalour]

Are they the same as you put in the Xantia?  Still can't get over how good they are, driving a Citroen I can actually see things with at night is really amazing.

[richardmorris]

I can see clearly now the rain has gone...

 

(put on in between shower)

what bulbs are those? I could do with an upgrade in the merc.

[The Moog]

Yep Osram night breakers. Makes huge difference. Got a set for the Saab as well.

 

Best place is upgrade bulbs in ebay. £13 delivered.

[Craig the Princess]

Thanks all, the allegro worked perfectly for all 1,650 miles (apart from me locking the keys in the car with the engine running at Holyhead), the 1100 also completed the journey with just a loose battery connection needing a quick fix.

[TagoraSX]

3D printing.

 

Anyone in the biz or know the costs involved of having a bonnet moulding scanned and printed?

[dollywobbler]

Can I have a 2CV bodyshell please?

[andy18s]

Wouldn't a plastic shell be stiffer and heavier tho?

[dollywobbler]

I'm not sure I much care as long as it doesn't sodding rust.

[Bren]

Having new fascis fitted.

 

Should have started yesterday, but rain stopped play.

 

Started today, but had to stop at lunchtime due to the rain.

 

We've had driest September on record, now we'll have the wettest October because I'm having work done.

[richardmorris]

Yep Osram night breakers. Makes huge difference. Got a set for the Saab as well.

 

Best place is upgrade bulbs in ebay. £13 delivered.

Thanks. Just ordered a pair.

[vulgalour]

I think the best way to solve the 2CV problem is to get yourself some Fairy liquid bottles, sticky back plastic, safety scissors and a pair of 1970s responsible adults to supervise you.  Paint the whole thing with poster paints when you're done and claim your Blue Peter badge at the same time.

[dollywobbler]

Rover has sold over the interwebz. Chap isn't in a rush but is going to send over a deposit. Good that he isn't in a rush as I'm now waiting for the V5. Hopefully some new collection capers can be planned!

[Cavcraft]

MOT results:

 

Vectra: £240

 

Zafira: £130

 

306: £350, I think.

 

 

The latter has been there yonks, and as I can't afford to pay for two tests and two virtual tax discs, I'll get the Zafira out first. Probably. 

[Angrydicky]

Somerset fixed! I can't remember how much of the story I told, but basically I converted back to points and condenser, but still couldn't get a spark. After a lot of head scratching I realised I'd fitted the two small plastic washers incorrectly so I was actually insulating the points from receiving any power. While tightening up the coil connections for the millioneth time, I turned the spanner too far and managed to crack the plastic end of my brand new gold Lucas coil. This soon started leaking all its oil over the dynamo, so I swapped to a recent "Intermotor" coil which turned out to be faulty. The car idled fine but as soon as I blipped the throttle it would backfire and try to cut out. Went back to one of my old points ignition coils and it started up and ran well. So in the end, it was a faulty electronic ignition module that caused the initial breakdown, and repairs were complicated by me being an idiot with the points and a crap, faulty modern coil.

 

So yes, modern ignition components SUCK and I won't be making that mistake again. Going to build up a stock of NOS points, condensers and rotor arms to keep in the boot as spares.

 

Just got to sort out the blowing exhaust which was caused by the backfiring that resulted from the old points coil overheating because of the electronic ignition. Last time I remade this joint it was a pain in the arse, with two out of three sheared bolts and I ended up unbolting the carb and manifold from the engine to get a decent joint. Since the coil episode it's been blowing badly and also vibrating at idle. I took it to a local garage who put it on the ramp before announcing that the exhaust was knocking on one of the redundant engine mountings (this car has a B series conversion) and it would need modification, would be expensive etc etc. So tomorrow I'm going to give it a bash myself. I'm hoping with the carb removed and the three bolts slackened right off I can get a load of fresh exhaust paste in there and tighten the bolts back up while leavering the downpipe away from the troublesome engine mounting. I know it was tight before, but there was definitely a gap then, so the thing's obviously shifted slightly. It doesn't fit that well as the previous owner bodged it a bit when fitting the B series engine, he chopped the lower half off the new SU manifold and the top half off the original Zenith manifold and welded the two together so he could keep the old exhaust. Which is admittedly a bit of a peashooter for the bigger engine! A new custom exhaust, cutting off the troublesome engine mounting on the chassis and a complete SU manifold is the long term answer, but unfortunately I can't afford that at the moment.

[dollywobbler]

What you need is transistorised ignition - like what was used on the Metro A+ engines. That's what my 2CV uses. Less fancy than full electronic ignition, but more reliable than basic points and condenser (as it reduces the voltage across the points). 

[oman5]

New über shite acquired! Thread to follow when I collect it.

[plasticvandan]

What dizzy does the zummerzet use dicky? I had a problem with modern points in my minor,the plastic heels wore quick and contacts burnt,old boy gave me a bag of nos tufnol heeled Lucas points,and they lasted forever,might still have some.

[Angrydicky]

23D I think? It's definitely the same as a Minor one! Would definitely be interested if you've got some decent points.

[ruffgeezer]

I spent Sunday morning working on this;

 

 

It was a bloody nice change from working on the modern crap during the week, however it still won't run, but give it time!

 

Finally got back to this a few weekends ago, as always life conspires to keep me busy.

 

Since I attended last, at least two other "I'll get that running for you mate" types had stuck an oar or two in. The first half hour was spent re-attaching wires, hoses and anything else they'd seen to disconnect. The starter solenoid now has buggered threads from an auto electrician repeatedly shorting the terminals, so that now needs sorting as well.

 

This time I took a large boost/charger with me, and with a load of diesel dumped into the bores and turning the lazy 6 over by hand, we thought we should give the starter a try.

 

This time we had about a quarter of a turn and then nothing, a further attempt produced a puff of smoke from the starter, so I made my way under the car's shambling hulk and set to work removing it, it's quite like a modern in that I had to remove a load of other stuff to get to the bit I wanted to work on.

 

I took the starter to work and stripped it, cleared out the dust, checked the brushes and most importantly re-oiled the brass bushings, it's fair to say the starter is a lot quieter and a lot more lively now.

 

So some time in the next 12 months I shall have to go and re-attach it and see what if any difference it has made.

[Angrydicky]

I love that old Conquest! Always fancied one of those, or the Lanchester 14 version.