The new news 24 thread

[danthecapriman]

Today I might just of had a right result!

 

I've been after a barn or workshop type place to store and work on cars for years but either been beaten to it by others or not found places suitably priced or sized.

Well, today a mate from work whose also a petrol head and been after somewhere similar, phoned and said he'd found somewhere that might be ok and would I be interested in going halves! Fucking right I would!

 

The place is very close to home for both of us, good access in a very nice area and you'd never know it was even there so good for security, it's also surrounded by houses and gardens.

The building is 60' long x about 25' wide, very old wooden framed barn, clad in corrugated iron. It's very sturdy and dry but will need a good bit of repair work first before it's ready to take cars in.

It comes with about half an acre of land, half of which is overgrown and will need clearing. Access is good and has a good sized forecourt type area in front of the barn, so there's loads of outdoor private parking too!

Another good point is, there's several large oak trees around the site with protection orders on them and previous planning attempts to build housing have all been rejected so it's no use for developers. Good for us.

 

The thing is, it's for sale not rent, so I'll have to dig deep if we both go for it, but I'm convinced it'll be worth every penny and it's exactly what and where we both want. It'll take a fair bit of work and expense to renovate and get up to a good enough standard but I'm up for it, I think.

 

My mates making the call tomorrow to start talking numbers so fingers crossed.

[RobT]

Free GPS-based speed app for your mobile phone.

Nice idea Tayne, but my phone is a basic ye olde worlde type. I've been saying it for ages but I must buy myself a cheap smartphone.

[HMC]

^^ that new place sounds brilliant, Dan! All the space you could wish for! Can you store vehicles on the (currently) overgrown bit too?

[danthecapriman]

^^ that new place sounds brilliant, Dan! All the space you could wish for! Can you store vehicles on the (currently) overgrown bit too?

Yes it does sound brilliant. Lots of work but brilliant none the less.

It's sold as land and the building so if you buy it then yes, simple matter of clearing all the brambles and crap then do what you want on it. I think if you concreted the whole site then neighbours and council would have something to say, but the idea is to clear the overgrown rear area and gravel the centre area near the barn building for parking cars on but leave some trees and brambles/bushes etc against the neighbours fences. It might just stop the sight of rusty old cars for them!

 

I've got to buy the place yet though!

[fatharris]

This evening saw me on duty (again), meaning I couldn't get home and I decided to tackle the mobile skip that is MrsH's Rover. If you can cast your mind back to the summer, I spent an entire day cleaning, claying, polishing and waxing the old girl to an inch of her life.

 

We went out in it on the weekend and I was dismayed to find the tires were low on pressure, and the screen wash was empty. Coupled with the fact the last wash the motor received was the uber wash I gave it in summer, I decided it was worth some loving.

 

This car is "the dog car". With deep pile carpets, Archie the spaniel is not allowed in Herman, as that's bloody certifiable. So the Rover was riddled with dirt, dog hair and about a million coffee cups and dirty tissues.

 

 

 

Silver is hard to show dirt, but trust me, it was there.

 

 

 

 

The carpets looked okay from a distance but we're covered in a thin veneer of needle-like dog hair that dug deep.

 

 

After many minutes of plucking crap out, I filled a bucket of it!

 

 

Another forty minutes with a hoover and the interior was considered habitable!

 

Once dragged outside for another twilight wash, I had a chance to play with the car clubs new toy:

 

 

ERMAGHERD SNER FERM

 

 

 

This made life a lot easier - the really stubborn dirt just pressure washed away easily afterwards, leaving me with a much more palatable cleaning task.

 

The end results were cracking!

 

 

 

 

I also cleaned the engine bay and all the door shuts etc.

 

Same again in six months I guess!

[mercrocker]

Yes it does sound brilliant. Lots of work but brilliant none the less.

It's sold as land and the building so if you buy it then yes, simple matter of clearing all the brambles and crap then do what you want on it. I think if you concreted the whole site then neighbours and council would have something to say, but the idea is to clear the overgrown rear area and gravel the centre area near the barn building for parking cars on but leave some trees and brambles/bushes etc against the neighbours fences. It might just stop the sight of rusty old cars for them!

 

I've got to buy the place yet though!

 

GLWTP!  

 

Sounds like a shiter's dream - its certainly mine.   The trees only add to the appeal.

[Skizzer]

BIG SHEDZ R KOOL.

 

Shitefest 2017 venue?

[danthecapriman]

BIG SHEDZ R KOOL.

Shitefest 2017 venue?

If I get it, absolutely!

There should be plenty of 'exhibits' on site by then.

 

The building is very old, I had a wander around today and at one end it's got a little tea and wash room. There's even a brick built open fireplace in there!

At the moment there's also a wooden double garage in one corner of the forecourt area out front, but it's pretty much collapsed now, I'm half tempted to clear it and put another double garage in it's place. Even more covered storage space.

Tbh though, there's easily more space than we'd need or use so it may be an opportunity to make a little bit back by renting out some of the outdoor space or the 'new' double garage, I'm sure loads of car people could do with that sort of space, or storing a caravan etc? Another guy I work with has already asked about storing his boat and trailer there over winter!

 

There's also potential with this for me to start bringing some cars over from the US and this place would give me space to do that before selling the cars on once they're UK legal.

 

Maybe I'm getting a little carried away now.

[trigger]

 

I saw a bit of a odd one today, this A4 was parked in the local hospital car park, all the windows done in, door mirror smashed off and all the panels damaged but no glass on the floor around it.

 

The car parks also full of CCTV cameras so it's a bit of a strange one, I wonder if someone got attacked in it and drove to the hospital like it?

 

 

There was also a couple of late 205's in the car park too.

[nick]

I feel it is necessary to inform you that I have another year of Probing ahead of me.

 

[outlaw118]

Spent an enjoyable* morning rolling about under Stepdaughter's 306, changing the windscreen washer pump.

 

All was going well.....the wheel arch liner came off, the old one popped out...to reveal a rubber washer type thing that looked well past it's best.

 

Never mind eh? Fitted new pump, slipped rubber dubrey on, filled reservoir.

 

It's pissing out.

 

Half a roll of PTFE tape later, it's slowed to a drip. So more ptfe and a blob of gasket sealant.

 

Nope.

 

Thrown my tools about, cut myself and covered in brake dust and oil, i've just lumped a shitload of silicon bathroom sealant on it. 

 

Gonna give it a while to dry/cure then we'll see what happens.

 

If it's still leaking, i'll either leave it and tell SD to carry a bottle of screenwash, or set fire to the Froggy bastard.

 

And i'm now out of fizzy pop and low on fags. And my bank card disappeared on Saturday.

 

DUBBLEBALLZ.

[tooSavvy]

Spent an enjoyable* morning rolling about under Stepdaughter's 306, changing the windscreen washer pump.

 

All was going well.....the wheel arch liner came off, the old one popped out...to reveal a rubber washer type thing that looked well past it's best.

 

Never mind eh? Fitted new pump, slipped rubber dubrey on, filled reservoir.

 

It's pissing out.

 

Half a roll of PTFE tape later, it's slowed to a drip. So more ptfe and a blob of gasket sealant.

 

Nope.

 

Thrown my tools about, cut myself and covered in brake dust and oil, i've just lumped a shitload of silicon bathroom sealant on it. 

 

Gonna give it a while to dry/cure then we'll see what happens.

 

If it's still leaking, i'll either leave it and tell SD to carry a bottle of screenwash, or set fire to the Froggy bastard.

 

And i'm now out of fizzy pop and low on fags. And my bank card disappeared on Saturday.

 

DUBBLEBALLZ.

Bleach Bottle Fix.... F.T.W.

 

[/virtual high5]

 

 

TS

[dollywobbler]

In other news, BECAUSE CITROENS.

 

While the XM is much better today, the clutch will still slip at maximum torque uphill, so it got another dose of Jizer and rinse. I'm trying to improve the cold starting of the Dyane, so had a muck about with the idle mixture and speed. Of course, you have to wait a bloody long time to try another cold start, but here's hoping! Had someone contact me about buying it today, so thought I'd better try and sort it. It's absolutely fine once warm, but struggles to idle when cold. Not sure the choke is opening as much as it should either, so there may be cable manipulation to try next. Not that the 2CV ever liked full choke. Even when it was really cold.

[xtriple]

Used the dollop today. I fully expected plugs to go shooting out of the top of the bonnet but, apart from starting MUCH faster (bloody hell an added bonus - it's always liked a good churn before burbling into life, today it was really fast to start) nothing untoward has happened!

 

I was hoping it may have solved a slight occasional stumble when idling out of gear (I am one of those wonderful people that put the car into park when in traffic jams etc.... not because I give a flying fuck about the retinas of the people following, but because the brake light bulbs are probably made out of unobtanium and cost several fortunes and require dealer knowledge to get at....) and while it's better, not quite perfect, i.e. it misses a beat once a minute or so. It annoys me! Never does it in gear....

 

The worst thing is it always misses the beat out of time with whatever cd I'm playing: today it dropped the beat during Aerosmith... that will never do!

[Bobthebeard]

Am collecting my 'new' MG ZT on Sunday from Chompy. Never owned or driven one before. KV6 engine.

Any tips on ownership?

[tooSavvy]

OUCH....

 

bit of love* for these about here methinkks....?

 

 

There is a met green one around Hexham, always filthy, 04 and with a 'L' sticker on....

 

Saw it about a week ago and thought 'Corr, he likes to rack up the miles....'

 

Thisafternoon, about 15:20, I passed it with the bobbies in attendance and the front ripped off, facing the armco - just west of Hexham, A69.

 

No other vehicle to be seen. 2 passengers had unloaded their stuff onto the grass verge.

 

I wonder if they suffered a 'technical failure' in the 'directional stability' dept?? >> hardly likely to have been hammering against oncoming traffic AkA: Aldi/Bmmer drivers??

 

 

no other news to report......

 

TS

[Jazoli]

Used the dollop today. I fully expected plugs to go shooting out of the top of the bonnet but, apart from starting MUCH faster (bloody hell an added bonus - it's always liked a good churn before burbling into life, today it was really fast to start) nothing untoward has happened!

 

I was hoping it may have solved a slight occasional stumble when idling out of gear (I am one of those wonderful people that put the car into park when in traffic jams etc.... not because I give a flying fuck about the retinas of the people following, but because the brake light bulbs are probably made out of unobtanium and cost several fortunes and require dealer knowledge to get at....) and while it's better, not quite perfect, i.e. it misses a beat once a minute or so. It annoys me! Never does it in gear....

 

The worst thing is it always misses the beat out of time with whatever cd I'm playing: today it dropped the beat during Aerosmith... that will never do!

 

Just leave it in drive all the time, putting it in park just causes extra wear and tear and it'll solve your idle issue too! 

[Eddie Honda]

No, put it in Neutral, that's what it's there for.

[richardmorris]

Fixed my indicator telltale issues with the 2cv today. Got a couple of spare hazards switches from friends last night at our club meeting. Fitting a new one and zilch. Tried the other. Still zilch. Reasoning this wasn't the fault of the switch I found the fuse had blown - the car only has four! Presumably shorted when the old switch crumbled apart. Anyway, fitted a new fuse and yay! Everything works properly again. Hazards, indicators and telltales all flashing and clicking.

 

BUT, a quick check before putting the dash back together revealed no fog light or tell tale. I crimped a loose connector to the telltale which got it working, but still no lamp lit. No I have no idea if it was working before as I expect the last time it was on was for the mot last June. Anyway, checked the bulb and it's ok, but the holder is corroded. Cleaned it all up and success!

 

 

One car fixed, one to go!

[bub2006]

I always drop Volvo to neutral at lights. Doesn't feel like it's holding back that way. Friends zafira a goes into neutral automatically at idle with foot on brake. He said it's a pain on a hill as there is the second it's in neutral even though it's in drive.

[MarvinsMom]

i always (well nearly always) shift from drive into neutral or even park (if i'm stopped and not going anywhere quick, and i'll knock the engine off) when stopped in the Jaguar.

 

the first time i drove an automatic (a honda hybrid civic foreskin thing) it took off o me when in a queue of traffic in a carpark. and no matter how hard i braked the faster this friggin' thing went untill it ran up the arse of an old mark 4 XR3i. it didn't really take off, my foot had slipped off of the brake and onto the accelerator.....

 

the end result? the honda looked like a grenade had gone off in the front of it, the escort didn't have a scratch on it.

 

thats why i put the Jaguar into park or neutral when i a queue of traffic!

[BavarianRetro]

........ when idling out of gear (I am one of those wonderful people that put the car into park when in traffic jams etc...

 

 

 

Be careful. As a general rule, you shouldn't let an auto idle in "Park". The pump is usually not driven in "Park". If your user manual tells you otherwise, ignore me.

[Eddie Honda]

Never rev (or have the choke out on) a Volvo Vario in P either, as it'll toast the clutch.

[beko1987]

My old xm hated being left in D at lights with the foot on the brakes, it occasionally pumped the back up in disgust

[Barry Cade]

I am day off Monday 8am until Wed 8am. Someone twatted their new 3 series badly and it has to be in Oldham for 8am Wed. Our LDV is engineless, the other Vito has had an electrical splurge and both other drivers are off. I have not yet got my HGV licence so the Scania's oot. Gonna be a long night. Oldham here we come (after midnite)

 

4 Aero wheels procured for the Saab with v.good Hankook's, and now have icy cold aircon. Trip computer's saying 32.4 MPG too.

[Eddie Honda]

whilst cutting the grass a couple of days ago, I noticed this:



No sign of any impact. I haven't haven't touched it. Must have spontaneously shat itself. Bollocks.

[dollywobbler]

Leave autos in drive and put the hand brake on.

 

Ben

 

Ha! This is Autoshite. Most handbrakes in these parts wouldn't have a bloody chance.

[nick]

not because I give a flying fuck about the retinas of the people following

The fact that you have even acknowledged there are people following makes you a much better person than some drivers of 'quality' vehicles with LED brake lights that can be seen by Tim Peake every time they sit at a junction using their Bluetooth to arrange a pointless meeting.

[Supernaut]

I noticed in the OMGa that you can flick between drive and neutral without lifting the mechanism around the handle. It locks you out of all the other options without lifting that mechanism though.

 

I'm going to assume this is for a reason, so I flick it into neutral while stationary for more than a few seconds, then flick it back into drive and rumble away.

[Kiltox]

My shite Scenic is pretty happy with the electronic parking brake on when in D - amazingly