The new news 24 thread

[dollywobbler]

I washed the XM today. First time it's moved since last Friday. I think that's the longest it has gone without moving since I bought it. I even got the clogged rear washer working again. Which has been bugging me for weeks. After the serenity of the e-Golf, it has further reminded me (just driving down my driveway!) that I really, really need to sort out the annoying rattle from the driver's door, which has been doing my head in since I test drove the car. I'm far too bloody lazy.

[Shep Shepherd]

Polished The Volvo today. It came up quite well, considering its paintwork is pretty terrible nowadays

 

 

Three hours after I took this photo I polished it again, because I was at a loose end

 

Pawnote: Bog-standard Turtle Wax car polish is GR12, far better in my opinion in terms of ease of application/removal and depth of shine than the likes of Mer, as well as being a lot cheaper to buy. Looking forward to putting some on The Saab.

[wuvvum]

I went to work on the Spacy today for the first time.  It seems to have coped pretty well, other than getting slightly hot and bothered on the way home when I pushed it to 60 to get past a particularly slow lorry and the dithering twats behind it who refused to overtake.  It does seem to be dripping a bit of oil when it gets hot, but nowhere near as bad as what it used to be.  I still don't think it's a long-term solution to my commuting problem though, so I'll be on the lookout for something newer and simpler (but not Chinese) at some point soon.

[Sloth in a bowl]

I went to work on the Spacy today for the first time.  It seems to have coped pretty well, other than getting slightly hot and bothered on the way home when I pushed it to 60 to get past a particularly slow lorry and the dithering twats behind it who refused to overtake.  It does seem to be dripping a bit of oil when it gets hot, but nowhere near as bad as what it used to be.  I still don't think it's a long-term solution to my commuting problem though, so I'll be on the lookout for something newer and simpler (but not Chinese) at some point soon.

 

 

Surely the answer is in the £300 Baleno thread

 

[dollywobbler]

I very nearly bought a rusty Dyane this week. To celebrate not doing that, I'm tempted to put the 2CV in for MOT to see exactly what she'll fail on. To improve my chances, I know I will have to remove the rear seat belts (she's just old enough to get away with this) though as there's corrosion all around the rear seat base, I'm wondering if I should remove that as well. After all, I'm not in the habit of carrying people in the back.

 

I do wonder how this affects 'corrosion near a suspension mount.' Now, all the suspension mounts to the chassis, which is galvo, so surely the state of the body around it is no problem?

[plasticvandan]

why would you pay for an mot knowing it will fail? always baffles me

[panhard65]

The local bailiffs have this up for sale next week. I believe it is a 1990 and has been restored with a galv chassis and many new panels. That is the complete description but it looks ok. So whats it worth ??

They also have this Vespa. Description is "Vespa 200 (Malossi 210) Scooter 1987"

Again whats it worth as I have a possible customer for it if it isn't too shagged

[dollywobbler]

If it's sound, I'd put £3000-4000 on that 2CV. If it's really tidy, perhaps a grand more. It'll upset the purists by being a non-standard colour for the age. Presumably restored, so it depends how well...

[dollywobbler]

why would you pay for an mot knowing it will fail? always baffles me

 

Because you get a window to get any repairs done. Unless it generates a failure list as long as my arm, in which case it'd be back into the garage until I have funds.

[panhard65]

Because you get a window to get any repairs done. Unless it generates a failure list as long as my arm, in which case it'd be back into the garage until I have funds.

It also gives you the testers opinion which can vary. I bunged an Espace in for a customer a few weeks ago expecting a long list as he had mentioned a few things. I was amazed when I got a pass, all be it with a great big list of advisories.

[nigel bickle]

I have one of those Dave Copper racks P65, used it to take my Suzuki Stinger down to the south of France on the back of one of my HPE's, many moons back

 

Great device, although I couldn't put anything heavier on it, recommended for a lil light bike. Enabled me to cruise at speed ( living the dream...)

 

They a both still down there, although the rack isn't!

[mrbenn]

I'm tempted to put the 2CV in for MOT to see exactly what she'll fail on.

 

Sounds like a good idea, she may even surprise you. Or at least give you a better list of issues to work from.

[beko1987]

Plus you can have one more legal drive!

[xtriple]

Just had to contact Speedwell Honda as my car is due a service (under warranty), and as we all like to whinge and moan about dealers, I'd just like to say that I have NEVER come across dealers who are so friendly, efficient and quick to do things for free!

 

Courtesy car - free and I'm welcome to put the dogs in it!

 

I asked about painting my discs as the bells are going rusty (I expected a charge) - no problem, free.

 

Discount on my service as I'm a 'good' customer! I didn't even ask for a discount and it's cheap as chips anyway!

 

They make having a modern a bloody pleasure.

[320touring]

Just had to contact Speedwell Honda as my car is due a service (under warranty), and as we all like to whinge and moan about dealers, I'd just like to say that I have NEVER come across dealers who are so friendly, efficient and quick to do things for free!

 

Courtesy car - free and I'm welcome to put the dogs in it!

 

I asked about painting my discs as the bells are going rusty (I expected a charge) - no problem, free.

 

Discount on my service as I'm a 'good' customer! I didn't even ask for a discount and it's cheap as chips anyway!

 

They make having a modern a bloody pleasure.

all too rare! maybe worth bigging them up to honda uk etc-good service often goes un noticed

[dollywobbler]

Ok. Dream over. Not much point seeking an MOT tester's view!

 

I did have a chat with my local testers, who advised on the 30cm rule. That's quite a harsh rule on a small car. This monstrosity is below the rear seat box. Sadly, that's within 30cm of many body mounts and the front seatbelt mounts. I had a similar mess sorted out on the offside for last year's test now I think about it. Unfortunately, the chap who did that seems to have vanished. Traumatised?

[oldcars]

In true autoshite fashion i was looking at clean and tidy rover 75s, then newer Vectra 1.8vvt. I may* just have bought an older keyed to feck 75 for a good price 

[Skizzer]

Ok. Dream over. Not much point seeking an MOT tester's view!

 

 

I did have a chat with my local testers, who advised on the 30cm rule. That's quite a harsh rule on a small car. This monstrosity is below the rear seat box. Sadly, that's within 30cm of many body mounts and the front seatbelt mounts. I had a similar mess sorted out on the offside for last year's test now I think about it. Unfortunately, the chap who did that seems to have vanished. Traumatised?

 

'Like' doesn't seem appropriate somehow.  Clutching at straws, at least it looks like an easy bit of tin to fabricate...

[forddeliveryboy]

Ok. Dream over. Not much point seeking an MOT tester's view!

 

I did have a chat with my local testers, who advised on the 30cm rule. That's quite a harsh rule on a small car. This monstrosity is below the rear seat box. Sadly, that's within 30cm of many body mounts and the front seatbelt mounts. I had a similar mess sorted out on the offside for last year's test now I think about it. Unfortunately, the chap who did that seems to have vanished. Traumatised?

 

If the sill to C-post joint is strong (tho' looks like it might not be), then use rivets, sheet metal and tinsnips, red-lead paint, shutz. It's a car with a chassis, innit? Remove the rear wings to make life easier, get all the accumulated mud off the inner wings at the same time and protect everything in sight. Remove the seat belts too, so your repair isn't within 30cm of belt mounts. Plug the threaded hole and deny any seatbelt-related fixing in the rear of such an old car.

 

The chances are that many a welded repair - unless done by someone who knows these cars inside and out and who does proper work - would last no longer, if as long. The entire rear bulkhead is a large structural member with internal bracing, welding up one end doesn't do much for the longevity (or structutal integrity) of the rest of it unless the internal bits are rebuilt and then very thorough internal corrosion treatment.

 

PS - if that galv chassis is the one usually advertised for the cheapest price, then its flimsiness stresses the shells up so much they rot out 10x worse than normal. You can strengthen them so that corners aren't a challenge, but they're still crap. Looks like it could be a better one, though?

[dollywobbler]

Not a bad shout. Though I should point out that the inner wing that side is absolutely f*cked. Most of it is held together with aluminium tape at the moment. I don't think the C post is too bad though. Once I've finished my brew, I'll go and have a further poke.

[meshking]

How bad was the dyane? I was tempted, but I really don't need it in my life.  Seen the photos on twitter, looks pretty rough but not scrapyard fodder.   I think I've got a new replacement panel for that section in my garage somewhere that I didn't use. But of course, to do that you need to weld it in, which would mean parting body from chassis.

[dollywobbler]

 

PS - if that galv chassis is the one usually advertised for the cheapest price, then its flimsiness stresses the shells up so much they rot out 10x worse than normal. You can strengthen them so that corners aren't a challenge, but they're still crap. Looks like it could be a better one, though?

 

Oh please. Like I'd fit that flimsy 'best price' shite! It's a very well regarded GW Fabrications chassis. 

 

 

How bad was the dyane? I was tempted, but I really don't need it in my life.  Seen the photos on twitter, looks pretty rough but not scrapyard fodder.   I think I've got a new replacement panel for that section in my garage somewhere that I didn't use. But of course, to do that you need to weld it in, which would mean parting body from chassis.

 

The Dyane was pretty bad in places, but more likely to get through an MOT with fairly minor work rather than a complete rebuild. Buying it would have made not the slightest bit of sense, so it's a good job someone else had it.

[beko1987]

Picked up atin of gungum whilst getting the coolant for the meriva. Will see if filling the holes in the ZX's exhaust makes a difference, and will enable me to go a few months before buying a new exhaust for it.

 

Only used it once and it was rubbish, but to be fair it was on a join of 2 pipes, not a hole on a solid bit (used it to 'cure' a blow between the front and rear pipe of the Puma, when what I should have done was use a clamp like I did with the XM when it was blowing in the same place.

[vulgalour]

I'm going to bravely* offer my welding services to Elly.  I know I can probably tackle the structural bits that need doing and make a good job of it.  If you can find some way to make Wales closer to Teesside I'm happy to offer my time and efforts.  I've even got a spare welding machine the RatDat generously provided which was used to weld up various of my brother's old wrecks.  I'd actually be perfectly happy to loan the welding machine to you if it helps move things along cheaper/quicker/easier.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks Vulgalour. I do have other options if I go the patchy-patchy route who are closer to home. I'd probably be better off just ripping the car apart (which I could probably do with my bare hands in places). Then I definitely can't drive her until she undergoes a full and proper overhaul. Instead of moping, I could be refurbing the suspension and rebuilding the rear brakes.

[beko1987]

Second option sounds good, rack up all the refurbished, ready to go parts for the day you get a new chassis!

[dollywobbler]

Second option sounds good, rack up all the refurbished, ready to go parts for the day you get a new chassis!

 

Ahem. New body. The chassis is fine! It's just that if the body is coming off for refurb/replacement, I could get on and tackle some of the jobs that don't get done very often.

[beko1987]

Aaah sorry. New body then. Could you not sculpt one out of fibreglass? Or get one hand made with some custom tweaks?

 

Could build in space for batterys and make it an 2CV EV, just wait for one of the electric golfs to be written off and buy it for scrap...

[Noel Tidybeard]

 

Mixed it with the yoof last night and did some polishing. I'm getting good at this. 

why on earth were you using tomato ketchup to polish an olli?

[Noel Tidybeard]

I now have a bike rack for my Rolls so the little BB can go to shows as well.

le mans 283.jpg

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le mans 285.jpg

you really are a winnar