The new news 24 thread

[ruffgeezer]

It is complete as far as the big bits go, we may even have the screen. The requested price is laalaa land, however I suspect an offer backed by real intent would work.

[crapcarcollector]

Spotted these today,not really worthy of a thread so....

This was in the local Sainsburys

 

And these are at a garage in the town

 

and around the back

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 21 is a Turbo Quadra i believe..

And then saw this on the way home

The yellow Alfa sue next to the escort is my mates. Big story with that one. I'll tell you all about it one day.

[320touring]

This is the definition of winning:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/renault/laguna-black-1.8/1098446624

 

 

 

Renault Black Laguna.
Woman owner..90700 miles.
1.8 engine.
Ive changed to a chrysler cruiser so now meed this car gone.

[Lord Sterling]

LS, those 2.8 and 3.2 merc 124s have a viscous cooling fan, may be worth checking its working. I seem to remember from being on merc forums when I had one there was much talk of 'carrot tests' where you would shove a carrot to the blade when the car was running hot- if the carrot got sliced the coupling was said to be still working properly apparently.

 

EDIT just remembered I think I still have have an OEM behr radiator for these (assume yours is an auto?) If you end up needing one let me know you can have it for free.

Hey cool Brooks! Thank you, mine is indeed an auto (that's why I loved driving the Rover Sterling that Brad bought from you a few years ago) Might take you up on that offer, but I'll get the "carrot test" sorted, sounds like a right laugh, especially when the lads at the garage see half a carrot in my engine bay.

[rml2345]

And then saw this on the way home

It's utterly dreadful but I really like that...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Its inexcusably shite

[dollywobbler]

If it's a front fog, I don't believe they're part of the MOT test anyway. I'm also watching Hydrogen with interest. Seems you can either run an engine on the stuff, or go fuel-cell electric. 

[Asimo]

Siphoning oil from an overfilled sump would be much quicker in the summer with a hot engine than it has been today. It will be three hours by the time that bottle is full. Vac. cleaner just used to get the siphon going.

 

[holbeck]

Arghh!

 

Mid week Citroen collection capers.

 

Looks like it's going to be a night drive back to Devon as the Seller isn't available until after 6pm (after all, why would he be - It's only idiots like me that have their Saturday on a Wednesday).

[danthecapriman]

Siphoning oil from an overfilled sump would be much quicker in the summer with a hot engine than it has been today. It will be three hours by the time that bottle is full. Vac. cleaner just used to get the siphon going.

image.jpg

I did this myself using a very large plastic syringe and some lengths of screen wash piping. It was on an auto box but I couldn't be arsed waiting for the car to cool down after it was driven. As you can imagine the plastic piping didn't take we'll to hot ATF being pumped through it! It melted and the red ATF went all over the driveway!

 

 

Anyway, I decided to uncover the Mercury for the first time since the start of November. Connected the battery up, cranked it over and fired straight up, then settled to a sweet idle! Let it get nice and hot then if drove it up and down the drive - breaks all seem ok, no binding or seizing on, all good. Then I made the mistake of setting everything electric running (just to exercise it all!) all fine, except the passenger front window! It went down fine and then got stuck at its lowest travel, inside the door. Got it raised in the end by connecting a car battery directly onto the motor terminals and up it went, after having to totally strip the door down! Must be the switch playing up. Fucking electric, it's a nice theory but just doesn't work in practice!

[Lacquer Peel]

I'm thinking about getting a Pela pump to change the engine and automatic gearbox oil on the Volvo, are they worth it?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pela-6000-Oil-Fluid-Extractor-Vacuum-Pump-Extraction-Boat-Car-6ltr-Free-Gloves-/141440490690

[beko1987]

Help me @FPB7 you're my only hope;

 

IMAG3079.jpg

 

23k non turbo diesel, some assembly required.

You appear to have an Electrolux hose end of 1970s vintage on your numatic nv250...dusting brush is the correct one though.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I'm thinking about getting a Pela pump to change the engine and automatic gearbox oil on the Volvo, are they worth it?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pela-6000-Oil-Fluid-Extractor-Vacuum-Pump-Extraction-Boat-Car-6ltr-Free-Gloves-/141440490690

Worth every penny, I'm sure my work cars engines have benefitted from having a Pela. I'm a lazy fucker and at this time of year would just not change the oil rather than lie in puddles and mess about with undertrays etc.

just make sure you get one big enough for your sump capacity, mines only 5l, the Chrysler was 9litres and my BMW is 8, real pain in the arse having to empty halfway through and restart the process.

[dollywobbler]

I've already concluded that the only way to keep my 2CV going is to re-body it. I was planning to just find a 2CV donor, but a friend has just suggested turning it into a Mehari. You can buy a complete body for around £900, though you also need a spaceframe to go underneath - this is another £1100 or so, but is galvanised. So, you end up with a rustrproof 2CV jeep thing. Like this.

 

 

Yes, that is me at the wheel. It was a long time ago (2004 in fact). 

 

I have to say, I'm pretty tempted by this plan. I could even get a white body and paint bits (like the doors) red to keep the theme going. Sure, Meharis aren't massively good at keeping the weather outside, but that's less of an issue if there's nowt to rot. It isn't like my 2CV is watertight. Or even my XM.

[dave21478]

Meharis are for winners. Since a Mini Moke is completely out of my budget by a factor of ten nowadays, I would happily have one and if I spot one in budget it will get snapped up. Getting rare over here though.

[cms206]

The dashboard tell-tail warning system has been cheerfully telling that a light-bulb is out. So, off I went to buy some bulbs, and much faffing about its still cheerfully telling me that a bulb is out. I've checked all of the lights and they seem fine. Bloody thing.

 

If it's anything like Volvos Mo you need to replace the bulbs in pairs or the system thinks the circuit is incomplete 'cos the bulbs won't register the same resistance.

 

That said I've not got a warning on and the 940's got a sidelight out, but it happily informs me of the occasionslly duff connection in the offside rear tail light.

[Inspector Morose]

GO MEHARI! GO MEHARI! Stuff it, I'd even come down and help with the swap!

[chaseracer]

Me too!!  Allow extra time!

 

[plasticvandan]

I had the pleasure of having a go in one of the very last meharis ever built,a d reg "pop" special edition,also had a go in a knock off kit called a canjito or something like that.

[dollywobbler]

Aye. Canjito is an aftermarket kit. I quite like them, but very few were made. The odd driving position of the Mehari is a slight concern - the seat is much lower than in a 2CV. Also, the only glass is the windscreen. Everything else is plastic. I wonder how practical that actually is. I'll give it some thought though, as it'd be an interesting way to keep (very little) of my 2CV going (mainly because the engine, gearbox, chassis and half of the suspension have already been replaced at various points!).

[Sigmund Fraud]

I've already concluded that the only way to keep my 2CV going is to re-body it. I was planning to just find a 2CV donor, but a friend has just suggested turning it into a Mehari. You can buy a complete body for around £900, though you also need a spaceframe to go underneath - this is another £1100 or so, but is galvanised. So, you end up with a rustrproof 2CV jeep thing.

 

You do realise that £2K can buy you a LOT of MIG wire, zintec sheet and tins of galvafroid ?

[richardmorris]

Hey cool Brooks! Thank you, mine is indeed an auto (that's why I loved driving the Rover Sterling that Brad bought from you a few years ago) Might take you up on that offer, but I'll get the "carrot test" sorted, sounds like a right laugh, especially when the lads at the garage see half a carrot in my engine bay.

 

Mine gets hotter than that. In the queue to beaulieu last May it pretty much went over 100. A/c wasn't working then so no help from the electric fans. It has concerned me somewhat! I am not convinced that the rad is working properly as the top o/s is almost cold compared to the top n/s. The viscose fan is fully working, chopping carrots away like nobody's business.

[catsinthewelder]

LS,  On you're bulb warning light issue check that the replacement bulb is the same size (not just wattage) as the old one.  I know it sounds daft but fitting physically bigger bulbs that matched the originals sorted out two of our citroen vans that were flashing up bulb warnings and worrying the customers.

 

DW Go Mehari go

 

and in other news the Vito of doom passed it's MOT retest today so I can hand back the keys and never go near it again.

[Sloth in a bowl]

Have you forgotten that you live in Wales?

 

 

Sorted

 

[dollywobbler]

Have you forgotten that you live in Wales?

 

My 2CV only vaguely pretends to be waterproof. I still have to be very careful about choice of footwear on a wet day. In fact, owning cars that are meant to be watertight but aren't is perhaps more annoying than owning something that isn't meant to be watertight at all. It's only conceptual thinking at this stage. May still go for re-shell. May not. Who knows. Depends whether I distract myself with an Ami before getting the 2CV sorted.

[trigger]

Just bought a Type 9 5 speed gearbox for the Cortina so that I can use it for longer distances without my ears bleeding or wallet being sucked dry. Not cheap though at £150 for the box, then I'll have to buy a new clutch and a gear lever, thankfully it came with a speedo cable.

 

Fitting that will be a job for March time.

[Pillock]

I'm thinking about getting a Pela pump to change the engine and automatic gearbox oil on the Volvo, are they worth it?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pela-6000-Oil-Fluid-Extractor-Vacuum-Pump-Extraction-Boat-Car-6ltr-Free-Gloves-/141440490690

I'd say so. I've used mine a few times, easy on an engine as you just stick it down the dipstick hole until you feel the bottom of the sump, pull it back a smidge and pump away. You get a feel of where it is, and once it's got a vacuum you can wiggle the hose to slurp it all.

 

Also gets the last drops out of a filter housing if you have that type.

 

Never tried it on a gearbox, can't comment. Do they have dipsticks or are you thinking of sucking out through the fill hole? As long as you can get the pipe to the bottom it'll be fine, but it's the same stuff as bike brake sheath (coiled wire with a plastic coating) so not mega-flexible.

[320touring]

got to play at fuel efficient driving at work today:)

 

all me forts are here
https://fuguttycars.wordpress.com/2015/02/02/fugutty-gets-fuelgood-feeling/

[320touring]

Does the company pay?

Or the carbon trust people?

The 8 folk who did it today were free:)

[wuvvum]

trigger, on 02 Feb 2015 - 9:31 PM, said:

Just bought a Type 9 5 speed gearbox for the Cortina so that I can use it for longer distances without my ears bleeding or wallet being sucked dry. Not cheap though at £150 for the box, then I'll have to buy a new clutch and a gear lever, thankfully it came with a speedo cable.

 

Fitting that will be a job for March time.

Good thinking Trig.  Now all you need is a 2.3 diesel from a Sierra for truly wallet-friendly classic motoring.