The new news 24 thread

[RobT]

It's this one

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-VAUXHALL-CALIBRA-SILVER-/291367940634?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43d6e1f21a

 

Baderbox is probably why it didn't go higher, looks tidy in the pics. Located in The Arsehole of England, but for me it won't be an epic collection from the rectum that is South London.

[skattrd]

Keep me posted Rob, I may be interested if you don't want it ... I've been thinking about getting another auto for commuting duties.

[catsinthewelder]

I'm up to my eyes in cars I don't really need and that thing ticks 3 of the big no boxs (silver, auto, Vauxhall) and I'm still tempted to raid the savings and jump on the train.  That said I can always attempt the BX trick of letting Chris buy it off you first and keep it until one of mine goes pop. 

 

 

In other news I don't need to go to Scotland as the Focus is fixed already,  it appears that fuel filter changes are quite crucial on modern derv tat and the dealership that serviced it recently 'might' have forgotten* to change it.  It's still been labelled as cursed so is getting part-exed when it makes it back.

[Richard]

The fuel filter in my van is supposed to be changed at every second 20000 mile service but it lasts more like 25000 miles. It starts off by lighting the water in fuel warning then eventually the van will grind to a halt.

[RobT]

Yeah, shame about the colour, but i love the fact it's got trims and not alloys. They look a bit like those budget Miranda ones you'd get from Halfords years ago!

[Mike D]

More measuring, chopping and welding has occurred, currently sat at this:

 

 

I've also measured up for the strut top plates, they are getting laser cut through work, once they are back I should be able to finalise the shock tower design

 

Progress will slow a bit for the next few weeks as I'm away for a couple of weekends but overall it has taken 2 months from driving the mx5 into the garage to this point.

[skattrd]

That sounds like a plan Rich ... but after you it's Billy, not Ian, as it's a Vauxhall not a Citroen ok

[twosmoke300]

Richard , if your water in fuel light comes on and the vehicle stops I reckon you are getting shitty fuel from somewhere . I've seen a few cars go 70 odd thousand miles and fuel filters are still clean as a whistle

[dollywobbler]

Yes, even I find the Calibra alluring. Especially at that price.

[Richard]

Apparently it's a common problem with Transits, and presumably other modern diesel Fords. I never use supermarket fuel while the other engineer with a 13 plate Transit always does and we've both had the same issues, his is in the garage for it right now.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Apparently it's a common problem with Transits, and presumably other modern diesel Fords. I never use supermarket fuel while the other engineer with a 13 plate Transit always does and we've both had the same issues, his is in the garage for it right now.

Our Gaylander,which has a 2.2 Mondeo/Transit engine did it on the day I drove it home a couple of years ago. Not a good start , it had full LR History but my mate who diagnosed the problem over the phone and changed it reckoned it could have been the original filter at 75,000 miles.

Since then it's only had supermarket diesel and no problem yet.

[twosmoke300]

i thought the gaylander had the 2.2 hdi lump

[twosmoke300]

The 2011 freelander I looked at deffo didnt have the duratorq transit motor . I know they come in 2.0 , 2.4 and later on 2.2 guises.

[The Moog]

Stripping the blue car so I can James Brown it. Some of bits are a nightmare to get off after 20 years

 

Found my heart rate monitor which I lost months ago. Bought new one since but at least I can defend myself against missus moogs against being careless 😊

[tooSavvy]

My ABS works*

 

SWMBO has ragged my ear as she has a 'sore shoulder'.....

 

I have 2ears and don't need a bodyshop = WIN

 

n.m.f.

 

 

TS

[vulgalour]

After the long, long discussion about the Xantia and my back I determined to find out exactly what's wrong.  There are two distinct problems, the first is that the base doesn't offer knee support, jacking it all the way to the top is the best compromise for this.  The second is that after measuring where I sit comfortably and relaxed in the car with decent posture and no horrible pressure points the steering wheel is 2" too far away on it's closest setting.

 

That means I need to fit a 15" steering wheel (18" is better yet for comfort) with 2" more depth to it (making it 7" front to back rather than the current 5") and a seat with a base-tilt function.  Then this car is perfect.

 

After many discussions, getting rid really isn't an option.  I just have to modify it to suit me.

[TimothyClaypole]

Incoming:

 

[cms206]

Boss is away to Tenerife tomorrow and has left me in charge for the week...

[brickwall]

Stupid C70 window regulator.....aaarggh!!!

 

This is the worst job ever. Any tips?

[dollywobbler]

Window regulator replacement is one of the things I like least doing. Last one I did was on the silver BX. I hope Barrett is grateful. It's like trying to play Operation through the mouth of a lion.

[vulgalour]

Can someone with an XM measure their steering wheel please, I've just seen this and I might have to make it happen.  That there's a Xantia with an XM steering wheel fitted and it looks like the XM wheel has a bit more depth to it.  Minor modification to steering cowl trim and I could have an easy solution to my seating position problem that doesn't look too terrible.

 

 

Not to mention that single-spoke steering wheels are for winners.

[dollywobbler]

Can someone with an XM measure their steering wheel please, I've just seen this and I might have to make it happen.  That there's a Xantia with an XM steering wheel fitted and it looks like the XM wheel has a bit more depth to it.  Minor modification to steering cowl trim and I could have an easy solution to my seating position problem that doesn't look too terrible.

 

 

Not to mention that single-spoke steering wheels are for winners.

 

Probably not that simple. Most XMs on this here forum are Series 2s with airbags, which use pretty much the same wheel as a Xantia. Perhaps exactly the same. Certainly nowhere near as much fun as the single-spoke jobbies. Can you not simply grasp the wheel using those litter pickers? That's a perfectly safe* alternative.

[Ghosty]

More modern car madness in chez Ghosty:

 

Old Man learns of the tiptronic-esque thing in 08-11 Focuses and declares there's no point in getting one - as such, anything goes, and an older good quality car will now be considered as opposed to a newer one of average quality. 

Mother is relieved; declares she wants a Bini. I am tasked with research.

Up to '06 is CVT (!!!), '07 onwards is according to my research, torque converter auto w/Tiptronic. It turns out Old Man seemingly isn't that opposed to these. Any Bini newer than '08 is £££, and low mileage ones (insisting on sub-£50k)  are difficult to find in budget and pleasing the parents - a picture of a worn leather seat bolster put them off one, and a portacabin and gravel plot-type dealer put them off another. I have a look at absolutely anything on Auto Trader and eBay for ideas.

I show the mother a 2006 C180K coupé. 

'I like that' she says. Auto appears to be torque converter, it's in budget, mileage and so on.

How high off the ground are they (compared to a 2004 Polo)? Mum has a bad knee and back. 

The only obstacle is Old Man for this one - what will he say? His last foray into three-pointed star ownership was a lamentable one for him, involving replacing a radiator and a prop, and HGF. It was a J-reg 190E ten years ago, though.

 

edit: I forgot to tell her it's RWD...

[bub2006]

Would have thought they would have been lower due to being a relatively sporty model. Gearbox is conventional but ecu controlled I believe.

[DVee8]

The Astra is going in for some surgury this morning.

A full service, timing belt kit and a rear lombda sensor. All in £240.

[skattrd]

C class are reasonably low, however my slightly invalided relatives find mine quite painless to get in and out of for some reason

[dome]

Been offered a Merc 500SEC as a swap for my 944. I'm awaiting pictures...

[xtriple]

Check the rear parcel shelf below the back window, rots like a good 'un there and is a bugger to repair properly. Otherwise lovely cars and they go well.  I look at them frequently with a view to buying... but as with the Turbo R and all the other old crap I fancy, I bever do anything about it- when did I become so indecisive?

[Ghosty]

Old Man says NEIN, supposedly for expensive parts and "you need a computer for everything, even to change the brake pads".

Mum wants to go to the Mini dealer to look at used - they hardly ever have anything under £7500.

[dome]

Cheers, xtriple, I'd heard about the rust on the parcel shelf of the saloons, wondered if the coupes were the same.

 

It'd be tempting, although a sale for the Porsche would be ideal as my mate is selling his m3 very cheap which with a bit of work would be a cracker.