The new news 24 thread

[vulgalour]

Knowing french cars there'll be one motor per arm and a complicated set of arms to link to a third motor to regulate the first two that then runs via several different electrical circuits at the back of the car before returning to the column/dashboard where the wiper switch lives.

[vulgalour]

Busy day with the grinder and plasma cutter today...

 

[picture of exciting looking Bug project]

 

What are you doing for ventilation up front? I've been trying (and failing) to figure out how you're going to keep it looking stock without cutting holes in the bonnet.

[wuvvum]

I stuck two of the mopeds on Gumtree earlier on.  Could do with the moneyz, plus it might force me to pull my finger out and get the Spacy fettled and ready for commuting duties.  Already had one offer of half my asking price, two incomprehensible messages from eastern Europeans and an offer of a swap for an XBox 360 and a mini moto.  I'm going to ignore the messages tonight, and check them again in the morning in the hope that at least one sensible person might be interested in one of them.

 

I've stuck the Vel Satis on there as well, but I don't hold out much hope.

[Mike D]

What are you doing for ventilation up front? I've been trying (and failing) to figure out how you're going to keep it looking stock without cutting holes in the bonnet.

I'm going to punch some more holes in the front valance, duct to the rad and then a big 'leccy fan on the back of it

[meshking]

 

Had to call breakdown yesterday after the modern family bus failed to proceed. It started fine in the morning but battery was totally flat by the time we had finished our ikea shop.

 

Never had a battery just fail like that. It jumped ok, and was charging at 14v once going but by the time we got home it would not restart. Or lock doors on cl. Halfords wouldn't attempt to replace on way home because it looked too hard to get at the battery . Luckily I didn't stall it.

[catsinthewelder]

I stuck two of the mopeds on Gumtree earlier on.

 

 

Dave the Forum wizard posted up yesterday that he was after some sort of step-through in the vicinity of Essex.

[spike60]

I'm going to punch some more holes in the front valance, duct to the rad and then a big 'leccy fan on the back of it

 

if you don't want holes in the front would possible to scoop air from under and behind the front panel? Corvette C4's cool well enough with no obvious intake and a 5.7 V8. More work I guess but you don't seem shy of that!

 

[Mike D]

You shouldnt really see the holes at first glance as the bumper should visually hide them a bit, the radiator will have to sit fairly far forward so i cant really put a hidden duct in. Good idea though ☺

[steve_earwig]

Had to call breakdown yesterday after the modern family bus failed to proceed. It started fine in the morning but battery was totally flat by the time we had finished our ikea shop.

 

Never had a battery just fail like that. It jumped ok, and was charging at 14v once going but by the time we got home it would not restart. Or lock doors on cl. Halfords wouldn't attempt to replace on way home because it looked too hard to get at the battery . Luckily I didn't stall it.

Modern batteries R shite. That seem to be the way of it these days, none of this dying off for months "I'll need a new battery soon but it'll do for now" nonsense, one moment it's a battery, the next it's a paperweight. The one in my old 406 did this, when I drove it into the shed it was fine but when I tried to move it again 5 minutes later all I got was a click.

[phil_lihp]

Shortly heading east on the train to stay with a friend for the weekend, not really news in itself but he does live a mere hour from a 'shiter of good standing who's agreed to sell me a car. That means a collection on Sunday morning of a 25 year old car with no MOT that hasn't run in 3 months for a 4hr 20m journey home to a pre-booked test. I shall be armed with a collection of tools and spare parts and can foresee absolutely no problems whatsoever.

Live Update: currently sat at Fratton train station waiting for a train to Hove and then eventually on to Lewes. Weighed down with tools, spares and a feeling of unremitting optimism.

[fairkens]

I stuck two of the mopeds on Gumtree earlier on. Could do with the moneyz, plus it might force me to pull my finger out and get the Spacy fettled and ready for commuting duties. Already had one offer of half my asking price, two incomprehensible messages from eastern Europeans and an offer of a swap for an XBox 360 and a mini moto. I'm going to ignore the messages tonight, and check them again in the morning in the hope that at least one sensible person might be interested in one of them.

 

I've stuck the Vel Satis on there as well, but I don't hold out much hope.

Are the peds shiteworthy? Link?

[meshking]

Modern batteries R shite. That seem to be the way of it these days, none of this dying off for months "I'll need a new battery soon but it'll do for now" nonsense, one moment it's a battery, the next it's a paperweight. The one in my old 406 did this, when I drove it into the shed it was fine but when I tried to move it again 5 minutes later all I got was a click.

Thanks, that's reassuring. Put a smart charger on it, it went to 100% in about 15mins from 25%. That's wrong, it took 4hrs to reach max on my lotus.

 

New battery from car parts 4less with 15 voucher code for 86, so not too bad.

[dollywobbler]

There's definitely something going on with batteries. Neighbour has lost two out of his four cars this winter, and I've had plenty of friends suffer instant battery death too. Oh, and one of our minibuses had a battery go down this week.

[Pillock]

Beetle front valances with slots in are a "thing", US Beetles with air conditioning had them so whilst it would look a bit different to UK spec models, you could do it with stock parts.

[Mike D]

I always thought the slotted valances were 1303 / super beetle style?

[Pillock]

I was convinced both types had them, for when the super Beetle died a death and the world went back to buying flat screen Beetles. Or rather Golfs, by that point.

 

However Google fails me here and only shows strutty slotted fronts, so perhaps I'm wrong. Again.

[darkfour]

Took me 5 hours to change a water pump on the '67 Dart today. The 6 bolts were so corroded and gummed in that I had to take the radiator out, remove the fan and cut one of the heater pipes to get proper access. Only snapped one bolt, do had to drill and retap that. Got it all back together but ran out of time before I could flush the old antifreeze out and put the new stuff in.

 

While it was all apart I took the time to find and mark TDC on the crankshaft pulley. It was no where near the old mark. Now I can get on with a Pertronix electronic ignition upgrade, new coil and plugs that's sitting on my bench for the past 2 years.

 

Also worked on the '50 Plymouth and have managed to drill and tap the spindles to accept the disc brake conversion kit. The headlight wiring loom with relays is nearly done and now starting on one to add indicators using 4 relays.

[cort1977]

EFA !

 

All shitters should read Tim Moore's "Travels Through Unloved Britain" and be inspired by it !

Top tip. In truth I do like a bit of a shite town. Top of my list is workington closely followed by Middlesbrough and margate.

[oldcars]

Mate asked me to look at some old chod with him, a wee k11 micra. Was ok, sellers name was Bridget   Could it be an omen??

[320touring]

I'm on a train heading north, but I'm not picking up a car...

 

DOES NOT COMPUTE

[Sigmund Fraud]

My fleet reduction plan has FAILED and I shall be collecting some classy, IOE-engined shite in the near future... Will I ever learn ?

[steve_earwig]

You should see a psychiatrist about that. No, hold on...

[barefoot]

News - booked T2 in for MOT

Had a bit of a drive around avoiding ANPR and tickled down to garage.

Chap says, 'it's not due for another 2 months'

So I drove home again.

It needed a bit of a run.

 

The letter of the law was observed, although not the spirit!

[dollywobbler]

Did some work as an extra for Hinterland today. Sadly the 2CV wasn't to be a star, but she did meet up with my old Maverick in the car park.

 

Good fun, if rather cold.

[scruff]

My fleet reduction plan has FAILED and I shall be collecting some classy, IOE-engined shite in the near future... Will I ever learn ?

 

A Meteor Works product I hope?

[Daniel R25]

Ok,
Laguna is a dirty word. So I had to buy a new one. What do I win? Some kind of Darwin award?
 

 

It's kind of beige, a 2.0 16V on LPG, dealer serviced with heaps of expensive bills. S

Daniel

p.s. My old one ate its ECU, only firing on two cylinders. I know I have the required spare set of ECUs and keys... but where?

[fordperv]

saw a truck on its side at the britannia stadium roundabout on the a50, hope the drivers ok

 

[320touring]

Ok,

Laguna is a dirty word. So I had to buy a new one. What do I win? Some kind of Darwin award?

 

 

 

 

It's kind of beige, a 2.0 16V on LPG, dealer serviced with heaps of expensive bills. S

 

Daniel

 

p.s. My old one ate its ECU, only firing on two cylinders. I know I have the required spare set of ECUs and keys... but where?

You win a wooden spoon! "NO DCI" fail!

 

Seriously though-enjoy and good luck

[vulgalour]

With the carpets draining into a bucket there's more water to come out of the Xantia to add to the 8 pints already removed!  Happily, it looks like the leak has been found and resolved, just got to wait for everything to dry out.

[Sigmund Fraud]

A Meteor Works product I hope?

 

Proudly constructed in pre-plughole Meteor Works !