The new news 24 thread

[michael t]

Finally managed to get the Fiesta NCT'd (Irish MOT) yesterday. Turned up for the retest after spending €350 on welding only to be told it still had 2 holes that needed fixing (my fault as I forgot the fail sheet when I turned up at the welders  ) So I flew into work, booked the day off, bombed it to the garage and got the remaining 2 holes welded, hopped on the motorway and was then told at the test centre that I'd have to wait 2 hours (until 9pm) to get it re-re-tested. Finally got it done at about 9:15pm. Overall I've spent €607 on getting it through the NCT, If it remains mechanically straight then that means about €11 a week until its in for the test again this time next year - which aint too bad

 

 

 

The sills and floor where actually in a fairly poor state, 6 or 7 holes all of which were outright test failures and needed addressing. Shame the bodies on these MK5 Fiesta's rot so well as mechanically they're very straight.

 

 

 

You Beauty!!

[danthecapriman]

I've had my Capri and Granada out from under cover, first time since about October.

Both started up easily and ran perfectly. Didn't expect anything less!

I've been giving the Capri a bit of a look over today too, it's getting a bit grotty in a few places and the paint isn't good either. I've thought about it a few times over the last few years, but I think this year is the time to do something with it.

Over the last few years I've not gone any further than routine maintenance and the odd bit of welding as needed. However, now I've found a good classic car specialist maybe now is the right time to stump up the cash and get the car back into original condition (and colour) before it starts deteriorating further, which would make any repairs or restoration more costly.

It's going to cost a lot (I'd expect in the region of what I payed getting the Mercury sorted) but to me the car is well worth it.

Should I go for it though? I've already spent a lot on the Mercury this year!

  

 

Go for it if you've got the cash. If you leave it till next year that's a year less with it sorted.

I'm going to give the place a ring on Monday I think. I'll get it booked in for a pre resto inspection, which was thier suggestion when I went to pick up the Mercury and got talking to them about the Capri.

I have a really good idea what the car will need doing to it, but they might (and probably will) find more once they cast thier eye over it.

 

I know it needs a full respray, front wings (got a pair of brand new Ford ones), repairs to front floors, front of the sills and lower A post, windscreen surround area, and various small rusty bits around the car.

I've done loads to it myself over the years I've had it but I think it really wants stripping well down and doing properly this time around. Something I just can't do on the drive at home!

On the up side, it's a good car mechanically, very solid and unwelded chassis, it's perfect around spring hangers etc. the front strut tops are original (still have chassis number stamped around it) so I'm confident it's worth doing.

 

It's just never nice knowing that it'll be another big bill!

[Eddie Honda]

Overall I've spent €607 on getting it through the NCT

And for those living in the land of ridiculously cheap chod, that's still cheaper than the vehicle registration tax on an import in quite a chunk of cases. If you want autoshite here, you have to pay for it.

[oldcars]

Needs some paint on those sills to stop the rust coming back

[forddeliveryboy]

Rescued midnite's Shalaxy from somewhere so far beyond that London the air smelt fresh, people looked happy and drivers were courteous. I was seriously impressed by the whole thing - it ate up miles and the engine seemed barely less potent than the same one in something weighing half a ton less. Miles less tiring being able to see so much more of the road ahead - the faster you go, the more noticeable this is. After 600 miles my head was still clear and fresh.

 

Last time I drove that sort of distance in something so high up was in a late 80s RangeRover, which tended to make up for the visibility thing by having steering like a ship's rudder and acceleration above 80 on a par with a Renault 9.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Don't do it. This cunt will be laughing.

 

Great photo. The Hawkins Motors top he's wearing is my local Pugrot dealership, which for years had the slogan,

'Such nice people to deal with'. Proper misnomer, especially when hearing stories from a mate who worked for them for years. Wonder what the story behind the photo was?

[320touring]

Successful day at the Auctions.

 

Now swift scrannery in the supershabby Horn.

[skattrd]

It's good to see some people from Englandshire heading North to visit the land of Volvos.

[Tickman]

Successful day at the Auctions.

Does this mean what it should mean?

[Richard]

I hope nobody tried to drive after eating there.

[Eddie Honda]

The Hawkins Motors top he's wearing is my local Pugrot dealership, which for years had the slogan,

'Such nice people to deal with'. Proper misnomer, especially when hearing stories from a mate who worked for them for years. Wonder what the story behind the photo was?

 

General Election 2015 from the Torygraph, y'know the usual electioneering photo ops...

 

Like when you pretend to be one of the lads

 

 

and when you start fucking around with vacuum cleaners bearing your fake name...

 

 

before popping over to Britvics to add the Winner's Sauce to the J2O...

 

[RobT]

Had another go at removing the stubborn ABS/speed sensor from the Cavalier today. I tried drilling the bugger out but didn't get far, and snapped a drill bit in the process. So I popped the wheel back on thinking I'll get the garage to do it. Started to move off and it's making some unpleasant noises, lots of squeaking and rubbing sounds. I'm wondering now if I rested the axle stand on the lower arm rather than the subframe....bollocks.

 

It's got me thinking though. As much as I like it, the jobs on the To Do list are stacking up, and I noticed the other day the front carpets are soaked, and I'm not sure if it's just a dodgy door seal or something, or whether the heater matrix has started to leak. I'm wondering whether it's time to bail on this one and replace it with another Cav in better nick. It's been a dependable old thing despite my attempts at killing it, so I'm tinged with guilt but needs must!

[vulgalour]

I don't know what the captions are with any of those photographs because my brain could only see a c-unit on repeat.

[purplebargeken]

I was going to post something but got distracted by the soggy Cav. Now I can't remember what I was going to post. Thanks RobT.

[purplebargeken]

Oh yes. Did buyage occur at the auction?

[barrett]

Just agreed to buy the Panhard replacement. It's very old (Vintage, in fact), it's the other end of the country and it has no interior. And it's been in a barn for 50 years.

[The Moog]

 

Potentially bargainous....

[320touring]

Does this mean what it should mean?

Nup, like wounded rhino they doth charge

[Noel Tidybeard]

 The Maestro is supposed to be my 'modern' daily, but I simply haven't been using it recently as the heater is bypassed and the autochoke is rubbish from cold. It always starts easily but then splutters and holds back when you try to move off.

 

 Oh, and it needs a radio and the new ariel cable running down the screen pillar in some way (which is apparently impossible).

1. heater- matrix can be taken out with dash in place from under glovebox
2. spluttering- fule shut off on side of carb this is a TADTS
3. ariel- no it is not impossible i fitted mine "blind" cos i didnt think to tie a string on the old one before removing- the kick panel comes off and gives access to where ariel comes down pilar

[Lacquer Peel]

2004 VW, sorry, not exactly shite central, but it's about to roll over to 170k and I'm quite chuffed with it apart from the goofy styling and badge on the front (INVERSE SNOBBERY ALERT).

 

I pumped up all the tyres, one of the back ones was really low but didn't show it because there's not much weight in the back. The roly-poly handling is gone and it handles really well for an older small van - makes up for the jittery ride.

 

It's well built but light, so the 90bhp TDI makes it quite zippy - an ECU remap would make it rapid, 130bhp and circa 200lb/ft in a van that weighs around a ton. It averages 45-50MPG no matter how you drive it or what's in the fuel tank.

 

It needs a few bits for the MOT test including wishbone bushes and a handbrake cable. I'd like to touch up the rusty bits, de-rust the wheels and spray them silver but Miss_Peel is murmuring about getting an estate car again.

SWAP 4 405/406/XANTIA TD ESTATE anyone?

 

[320touring]

swap 4 alfa rumayo m9?

[The Moog]

I am likely to be moving on the Autoshite slag estate veg mobile in the not too distant future.

[Lacquer Peel]

swap 4 alfa rumayo m9?

If you swap the twin spark out and put an old Fiat/Alfa 1.9 TD in it.

 

I am likely to be moving on the Autoshite slag estate veg mobile in the not too distant future.

DIBS.

[skattrd]

I am likely to be moving on the Autoshite slag estate veg mobile in the not too distant future.

 

It's deja vu all over again.

[skattrd]

My Tipo TD (pompe Bosch) should be up for grabs shortly ... but consider it a road legal project or a car with a few eccentricities.

[The Moog]

It's deja vu all over again.

Well can't keep all the pleasure to myself.

 

Will use up all the veg I have and if the Volvo isn't too bad I reckon it will be up for grabs at end of the month.

[MarvinsMom]

Just agreed to buy the Panhard replacement. It's very old (Vintage, in fact), it's the other end of the country and it has no interior. And it's been in a barn for 50 years.

it'll be fine, some fresh petrol and a new battery, it'll be fine!

 

honest,

 

 possibly,

 

or not even... good luck anyways!

[Lacquer Peel]

Well can't keep all the pleasure to myself.

 

Will use up all the veg I have and if the Volvo isn't too bad I reckon it will be up for grabs at end of the month.

The end of the month is only two days away, if you mean next month it might be epic collection time for me.

[trigger]

I won't bore you all with details but at long last I have proper working brakes on the Dolomite, after replacing the rear wheel cylinder, rebuilding both the brake servo and master cylinder, pluging the brake BIAS valve with a bolt and washer and doing away with the switch and bleed the full system again.

Next job will be to replace the rear wheel bearing (I've bought a hub pulley of eBay today at great expense  ) and then it's head gasket time. Tomorrow I'll give it a good road test and see if there's any leaks.

[Lacquer Peel]

My Tipo TD (pompe Bosch) should be up for grabs shortly ... but consider it a road legal project or a car with a few eccentricities.

I love the Tipo but it's too small for us.