The new news 24 thread

[richardmorris]

Rookie error, not checking quality of brakes before you  need them. Glad you and pooch are ok.

 

My dad was rear ended in a BX (two days old) by a new driver back in '87. He saw this guy wasn't going to stop and couldn't move out of the way so put the suspension on high and floored the throttle. BX jumped up and the fiesta had a bx shaped crease across the centre of the bonnet- no damage at all to the bx though.

 

Oh and it's also the main reason I've kept the tow bar on the 2CV - Not much but it's three extra inches of steel for them to get through.

[trigger]

I've spent the day at the Touring cars in Brands Hatch, it's been a bloody good laugh if a but wet at times.

 

 

I went into the paddocks for a while and saw these.

 

 

 

 

 

Most annoyingly was that I was in the Paddocks I missed Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden doing a tour of the cars! Bugger!

 

[vulgalour]

My dad was rear ended in a BX (two days old) by a new driver back in '87. He saw this guy wasn't going to stop and couldn't move out of the way so put the suspension on high and floored the throttle.

 

GO GO GADGET CITROEN!

[mat_the_cat]

Dont do the whiplash thing.

 

I can fully understand the temptation to claim, having been almost encouraged to do so after a motorbike accident many years ago "Nobody can prove you don't have neck pain"...

 

But I'm glad I didn't, partly because it means I can legitimately moan about the people that do

[dollywobbler]

Similarly, when my 2CV got a bashing from behind, I didn't claim. I had a slightly sore neck for a day or two. I'm not going claim money I'm not due though. 

 

Anyway, I'm hoping the timing belt/water pump change on what I hope is my new car went well this weekend. I get paid on Tuesday (the money I should have had next week) and it's about time I did something foolish. I still need to work out how to get the Rover to its new owner. He's in Cambridge, I am not. Sadly, new car is not in Cambridge, so capers aren't looking good.

[phil_lihp]

Glad you and the dog are OK, Moog.  Hope it can be sorted with minimum hassle.

 

I normally avoid emotive topics like this but I have a family member who had genuine whiplash from a 30mph rear-end shunt a couple of years ago and can fully appreciate the pain and problems it causes, in this case a significant degree of permanent neck and shoulder pain.  Given that, plus the high cost of car insurance, the idea that anyone would falsely claim for whiplash or any other injury is completely reprehensible.  It makes it all the harder for those who genuinely do have whiplash injuries to be taken seriously.

 

Sorry, rant over, happy thoughts now.

 

In better news, I dredged the CG125 out of the brambles it's been living in for the last 3 weeks and finally got around to sorting out the borked rubber cush drives.  I had no luck getting the giant circlip off the rear hub in order to get the sprocket off and was concerned about it pinging through someone's windscreen or front window if it did come off, luckily the garage at the end of my road was still open at 3:45PM on a Saturday and kindly took time out to help me, they managed to release it, although only after trying two sets of circlip pliers on it.  Wouldn't take payment either.

 

There were 4 bolts in metal sleeves for the sprocket mounted in rubber cush bushes - the rubber was hard and the bolt sleeves were slopping about in the holes they'd worn in the rubber, giving the sprocket far too much play.  Found some chunky pieces of rubber which looked like mounts for something, I have no idea what, in a toolbox.  Hacked off some pieces to the right size and stuffed them in the mounts, then hammered the bolt sleeve back in with some plumbers tape around them.  Job done, good as new* once reassembled and taken for a ride.  Definitely a bit smoother and sharper but that's not saying much.

 

Next job will be a service and possibly a new chain, I think the Volvo might jump the queue on an oil change though.

[dollywobbler]

There's no problem with people claiming who DO have whiplash!

[RobT]

I spent a few hours giving the workhorse 220 a thorough clean today as it was looking a bit manky. Did all the bumpers and trim for the first time since I'd bought it off Phil's lip. The MoT runs out mid-November but I might lob it in early just to get it done, can't see it needing much. Despite me having new Rover shite on the block, I'm still loving this old thing!

 

Bonus shot from the car park of our local Savacentre. This is the one I saw a few weeks back after our evening with Sir Roger. The mrs was embarrased I took a photo in a busy car park, whereas I have no shame.

 

[dollywobbler]

If the MOT runs out mid-November, you only need to wait a few more days before getting a 13-month MOT. Looks bloody smart. Great to see how this thing has got better and better during multiple Shiter ownership.

[phil_lihp]

Blimey Rob, that looks really good, I never got it anywhere near that clean and shiny!  Those wheeltrims came up well too, I never had the enthusiasm to clean them properly as they were so fiddly.  Really good to see it's being looked after, that car really grew on me and I'd definitely have another, it was just such a capable machine.

 

Hard to believe it's the same scruffy, dirty thing that lowered the tone at Longbridge last year. 

[r.welfare]

Tried to fix downpipe blow on the MPV with bean tin and jubilee clips. Failed, of course, so moved on to change the rear shocks. Offside fine, nearside more problematic due to captive nut spinning. Happy it was this though, I thought I had sheared the bolt.

 

Then tried to remove the two post-cat lambda sensors from the Toyota to fit some spacer thingies that are meant to keep your engine light off. They've been in for 4 years and 80k miles so might as well be welded on. One of them is now bent and the nut somewhat rounded. Will try again tomorrow after a soaking in PlusGas with a 22mm ring spanner (instead of the notched socket I used earlier) and a lump hammer.

 

Old car mojo is low right now.

[coalnotdole]

NEW car aqusition: 1965 Scimitar GT

 

A few photos from today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well the trip home with the new motor didn't go well, it overheated in traffic following an road closure on the A27.

Trying to get it going again killed the twin 6v batterys. A spare 12v was fitted and we made it another 200 yards before being struck down by an ignition problem. The rotor arm has exploded so we're now waiting for the recovery truck!

Currently sat by the roadside admiring the car and enjoying a cuban!.

[vulgalour]

CnD, you look a hell of a lot like Curly I used to go to school with.  I'm sure you're not him, but it's bloody uncanny.  Top shiting on the new plastic wonder too.

[RobT]

Blimey Rob, that looks really good, I never got it anywhere near that clean and shiny!  Those wheeltrims came up well too, I never had the enthusiasm to clean them properly as they were so fiddly.  Really good to see it's being looked after, that car really grew on me and I'd definitely have another, it was just such a capable machine.

 

Hard to believe it's the same scruffy, dirty thing that lowered the tone at Longbridge last year.

 

Cheers Phil. The paintwork comes up well on this. All I do is wash it, haven't yet got around to a polishing session. I've been reaping the rewards of all that money you chucked at it last year!

[saucedoctor]

R8 FTW.

[derskine]

I'm not known as a good photographer, so please excuse the shitness.

 

 

This is the first time it's been driven at night since 1981.

[coalnotdole]

CnD, you look a hell of a lot like Curly I used to go to school with.  I'm sure you're not him, but it's bloody uncanny.  Top shiting on the new plastic wonder too.

 

I don't usually look that rough, but thought I'd post up the photo anyway as it summed up the day... !

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Wow the old 220 is looking SHIT HOT!!! Great work guys. I guess its all dry inside still since phil_lips got the screen done too. Flipping brilliant!!!! I made a right hash of that back bumper didnt I.

[Lord Sterling]

The 220 is looking lucious. I knew cleaning the bumpers would compliment the car. It looks tasty now. I'd really like to make this car mine one day, just to take me back to the early 90s.

[tooSavvy]

Corrosion Shock in N.E. 

 

My latch spring has rusted away to nowt and yesterday, after popping the bonnet to check the oil, I couldn't slam it shut. 

 

This piccie [old skool Cortina] gives an idea of what mine looks like.....

 

That coil spring had gone.

 

 

.... I, of course, didn't have an exact swap in my 'rummage box' but have managed to get it working (likely a perm fix!)

 

The car won't alarm with anything 'open' so all this was done in the dark.... extra $hite points, perhaps??

 

 

TS

[Lacquer Peel]

Tried to fix downpipe blow on the MPV with bean tin and jubilee clips

 

I fail at bodging, bean tin and jubilee clips never work for me, but this decadent version works well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Exhaust-Pipe-Connector-Sleeve-Joiner-2-50mm-ClampOn-/320514872167

[Fat_Pirate]

I've got a new motorbicycle:

 

 

It has absolutely zero service history which has probably been discouraging other punters, but my 'shitist instincts tell me it's a disorganised previous owner rather than neglect - I'll contact him to see if he has it.

 

I need a 197bhp bike as... er... I'm a chubby middle-aged bloke.

[The Moog]

Looked at the pug in cold light of day. Bumper is damaged as below and both bumper brackets are bent.

 

Been offered replacement bumper for £75 and bumper brackets would cost about £30. Then if I fit it myself in a morning would charging £150 all in sound fair?

 

Finding parts for these can be a pain now and as it is a keeper I would rather source a bumper for it now.

[Craig the Princess]

That seems very fair.

[Pillock]

That's probably less than his excess and a tenth of what it would put his insurance up by. I'd say you're being very fair.

 

When you ask him for money, just show what you're paying out - eBay printouts or whatever. If he's got any sense, he'll pay up and add some on, or buy you a bottle or something as a thank you. If he'd have hit a bloke in a cheap suit in a 3 year old Audi he'd have been much worse off.

[RobT]

Wow the old 220 is looking SHIT HOT!!! Great work guys. I guess its all dry inside still since phil_lips got the screen done too. Flipping brilliant!!!! I made a right hash of that back bumper didnt I.

Good innit! I put new wipers on the other day and I'm a bit fastidious about keeping the nice new screen clean, Phil did well there as it's a proper replacement one with the green tint at the top, not some cheapo job. The rear bumper is fine though, all part of the charm and the big F off towbar puts off tailgaiters, I've noticed that much!

[phil_lihp]

I was dead chuffed with that windscreen, they did a cracking job for a very reasonable price and I was very surprised that the screen was such good quality.  The interior's always been dry while I had it aside from a little leak from the rear lights in heavy rain (they all do that sir, Krujoe has a good way to sort that for £0 but I never got around to it).

 

The bumper looked less tatty once I'd painted all the towbar bits etc. underneath the back end with black waxoyl/underseal as it was less obvious.  As Rob's said, it's part of the car's character now anyway so I decided I didn't want to change it anyway!

 

Good luck on the MOT, I'm sure it won't need much, the only potential stumbling block was the steering rack which my mechanic thought was a bit worn but it's not done that many miles since then so I can't think it'd be that bad.  You might, just might, get an advisory for 'Oil leak'.  That particular comment appears on every MOT certificate it's ever had for some reason.

 

By the way, if you do need any parts, a local ex-Rover dealer has an intact and fairly tidy R8 in their yard for breaking so I can probably get any non-engine specific bits,

[RobT]

Thanks Phil. I'm fully expecting an oil leak advisory as the underside of the engine is mildly moist, and a bit on top aswell. The steering seems less vague now I've had the new tyres put on so I'll wait and see on that one. There's a creaking noise coming from the rear sometimes, but I had the exact same noise in that 416 so it might be a case of they all do that. I lobbed some of that Cataclean stuff in yesterday so I'm off for a blast down the M20 in a bit to give it a good run.

[phil_lihp]

Hmm, those Dunlops were the cause then, I did wonder, they seemed good quality and had tons of tread but it felt so vague after they were fitted.

[wuvvum]

I bought a new van yesterday.  Went all the way to Northallerton for it (first class on East Coast - free sarnies ftw).  The van isn't anything particularly exciting - a 54-plate Peugeot Boxer swb with the ubiquitous 2.0 HDI 90 engine.  It actually goes better than I was expecting, although obviously nowhere near as quick as my old 2.8, and it's sensibly geared too - 60 is about 3,000 revs (the old 1.9 TD I had before was doing nearly 4,000 at the same speed - that thing went like a scalded cat off the line but ran into the rev limiter at 78 in 5th).  It appears to have done nearly 40mpg too, which isn't half bad.  It's also the first van I've had with electric windows and remote locking - very posh.

 

Minor grump was that when I picked it up the oil was on the minimum level on the dipstick, so when I stopped for diesel I bought a hugely overpriced (but still cheaper than a knackered engine) litre of Castrol GTX and tipped that in.  It was only when I got home that I found a nearly full litre bottle of oil in the tray under the passenger seat.

 

Small grin - I was on the A1M coming up behind a lorry, checked my mirrors to overtake and there was a car hooning up the middle lane.  Turned out to be a silver 13-plate Audi A3 TDi, so pretty much a textbook cuntmobile.  However, the driver of said vehicle obviously spotted that I was coming up behind the HGV and would need to overtake, so indicated (!) and pulled out into lane 3 to let me into the middle lane.  My flabber was truly gasted.