Ask a Shiter

[cort16]

It seems to be. About 40% of the wings on my p6 are made out of it.

[cort16]

Does anyone have an idea of the time and likely garage costs of getting the head gaskets on my v8 P6 Rover done?

it didn't sell, i'm not going to do it myself and I don't want to give it away for buttons.

 

I'll get it dip tested before splashing the cash but don't really know what's involved in it.

[Alan_Green]

Who was the traffic light expert?  I have a semi-interesting Youtube project in mind comparing well synchronised UK traffic lights with appallingly unsynchronised lights in a certain 3rd world country. Someone on here did it for a job. Perhaps PM me.

[Richard]

Synchronised lights in the UK? I thought that idea had been sacked off years ago.

[cort16]

With reduced drinking when you get older do you get sensible with this age and learning or just get put off by the increasingly awful hangovers ?

[bub2006]

Bub / Cameron... is it likely that my A-frame will be coming back to Yorkshire this weekend?

 

There's a good chance it many have a job this Saturday...

Pm me please, i camt message you!

[Kiltox]

Who was the traffic light expert?  I have a semi-interesting Youtube project in mind comparing well synchronised UK traffic lights with appallingly unsynchronised lights in a certain 3rd world country. Someone on here did it for a job. Perhaps PM me.

SiC knows his stuff in this regard, don't think he does it any more but will know plenty who do

[HH-R]

They seem to be deliberately unsynced here to slow you down, piss you off and make your life more irritating by the day.

[scaryoldcortina]

There are a few sets around here (all recent installs) that can see you coming, turn red out of spite then when you have stopped change back without giving the side turn a go. This is a twatty thing to do, and it can only be to slow traffic down. Problem is people are learning to ignore it and run the red, but sometimes there is traffic waiting to cross so it really is an accident waiting to happen.

[HH-R]

GR8 4 urban pollution.

[HH-R]

With reduced drinking when you get older do you get sensible with this age and learning or just get put off by the increasingly awful hangovers ?

I think the latter

[cort16]

I researched this thoroughly last night and can confirm its the later

[LC Torana]

I researched this thoroughly last night and can confirm its the later

 

You were just trying to blow your own head gasket in sympathy with your Rover.

[Matt]

Did Citroen offer the Xantia in Exclusive trim, estate shape, diesel engine with a manual box? Haven been given a lift in my sisters company Pug 307 and her MK2 Clio I've realised how god awfully tinny my Swift really is (I haven't been in anything else for ages). I'd quite like to try a Xantia and that's be my ideal one but not sure if they even exist like that. The XM has wetted my appetite for floaty French things and I think a Xantia would be a safer bet than fixing the XM.

[bub2006]

According to parkers the exclusive estate was available with 1.9 td auto, 2.1 td manual and hdi manual

[Matt]

According to parkers the exclusive estate was available with 1.9 td auto, 2.1 td manual and hdi manual

 

Neat, I'll keep an eye out for one (although it's not a prerequisite).

[Dave_Q]

Bead/sand/shot blasting.

 

I've got a set of wheels for my Subaru that I need to get round to painting.

 

 

I've had a small attempt at removing some of the old paint by hand, but the black stuff in particular isn't really shifting, it's very thick and also I can't be arsed.

 

Have had a quote for getting them blasted @ £30 a wheel.

 

Shirley I can get myself a blasting set-up for less than this.

 

Any tips? 

 

Is this going to be as shite as it looks?

 

I do have a compressor if that helps.

[wuvvum]

What's the best way to remove the residue from the vinyl lettering that used to be on the Transit?  I've tried white spirit (useless) and T Cut scratch remover (gets there eventually, but fucking hard work).  There must be an easier way surely?

[skattrd]

I've used autoglym tar remover to get rid of sticker residue from cars before.

[Captain Furious]

Hair dryer

 

Well, that's a guess really, but it was quite effective at removing residue from sticky number plate pads, so I would say the same principle applies

 

Soften up the glue and peel/rub off

[Guest Hooli]

What's the best way to remove the residue from the vinyl lettering that used to be on the Transit?  I've tried white spirit (useless) and T Cut scratch remover (gets there eventually, but fucking hard work).  There must be an easier way surely?

4" brush & dulux over the top

[rainagain]

What's the best way to remove the residue from the vinyl lettering that used to be on the Transit?  I've tried white spirit (useless) and T Cut scratch remover (gets there eventually, but fucking hard work).  There must be an easier way surely?

ipa (isopropyl alcohol) seems to shift most sticky stuff without affecting paintwork

[Lacquer Peel]

Will renewing the front suspension on my van make it comfier to drive? It seems to crash into pot holes rather than riding over them, I'm sure it's getting worse.

 

Will changing the gearbox oil make third easier to get into? It needs a bit of care if you're accelerating.

[Kiltox]

Will renewing the front suspension on my van make it comfier to drive? It seems to crash into pot holes rather than riding over them, I'm sure it's getting worse.

 

Will changing the gearbox oil make third easier to get into? It needs a bit of care if you're accelerating.

Guessing the shocks have had it - tried the bounce test?

 

Gearbox oil should help a crunchy change yes

[skattrd]

Will renewing the front suspension on my van make it comfier to drive? It seems to crash into pot holes rather than riding over them, I'm sure it's getting worse.

 

Will changing the gearbox oil make third easier to get into? It needs a bit of care if you're accelerating.

 

Possibly to both.

 

On older VAG 020 gearboxes I use redline MTL, which can improve changes. It's a little more expensive than std gear oil, but I like it.

Check the gear cables are set properly on your gearbox, it's quite easy to do if it's the same type as the later mk4 Golfs, plenty videos on youtube or ukmkivs showing how to do this

[Lacquer Peel]

I've tried the bounce test and it seems fine, I think the front suspension is set up quite firmly anyway but it's probably on the original 175k shocks and springs.

 

The gearbox seems spot on apart from the occasionally crunchy 3rd gear.

[Kiltox]

Sounds stupid but have you checked the tyre pressures recently?

[Lacquer Peel]

Yes, but the free to use Sainsbury's compressor might not be totally accurate,

[Jazoli]

Bead/sand/shot blasting.

 

I've got a set of wheels for my Subaru that I need to get round to painting.

 

2016-05-23 14.58.27.jpg

 

I've had a small attempt at removing some of the old paint by hand, but the black stuff in particular isn't really shifting, it's very thick and also I can't be arsed.

 

Have had a quote for getting them blasted @ £30 a wheel.

 

Shirley I can get myself a blasting set-up for less than this.

 

Any tips? 

 

Is this going to be as shite as it looks?

 

I do have a compressor if that helps.

 

You could make a homemade soda blaster,

 

http://caferacersunited.com/how-to-make-your-own-soda-blaster-for-a-few-bucks/

 

I want to make one but have never needed to!

[philibusmo]

Is there any brands of clutches to avoid like the plague, for example borg and beck, valeo or national?

 

On a related note, how hard is a clutch change on a 1.4 k series metro likely to be and does anyone have a spare clutch for one hanging round that they might like to send to me in New Zealand?