Ask a Shiter

[SiC]

Sorry I meant that the Oxford 165/80/15 won't be too dissimilar to the stock MGB in size

[320touring]

Sorry I meant that the Oxford 165/80/15 won't be too dissimilar to the stock MGB in size

True. I like the original steels, so really want a solution that lets me buy tyres I can use now, and also after the conversion..

[Crusty Sills]

I need to change the fuel filter on Mrs sills Mazda CX5, it is behind the battery.

Looking on the font of all knowledge (YouTube) it makes a comment about memory saver or connecting to a battery

I've never used, seen or needed any kind of memory saver on a car before but obviously do not want to fuck up her car.

Do I need one or will I be fine just cracking on with the job?

[RobT]

Incoming ULEZ is going to have an odd effect on old cars in London.  Pre-78 cars are exempt so sightings will probably increase a bit as various shitters, lords of the manor etc bring the old classic into town rather than stump up 25 quid to bring their 20 year old modern* car into the zone.

 

I'm not sure what I would do in your position,  there are a wonderful variety of old cars that are exempt but few that are practical hatchbacks/estates and even less that are affordable.  I can recommend the Renault 12 estate if you can find one in the UK or perhaps a Maxi.

All of my cars are subject to the ULEZ, and I don't live far from the boundary which in my case is the south circular. So when visiting friends in places like Greenwich I'll either have to pay the charge or use public transport, which isn't an ideal prospect really as the train options are shite when travelling later in the evening and buses take an age.

 

Just have to deal with it I suppose, but much of the 80s and 90s tat will disappear off the streets when the residents discount 'sunset period' ends in October 2021, and there's still a fair bit of the latter knocking about.

[Ohdearme]

Estate, pre-78,

 

All of my cars are subject to the ULEZ, and I don't live far from the boundary which in my case is the south circular. So when visiting friends in places like Greenwich I'll either have to pay the charge or use public transport, which isn't an ideal prospect really as the train options are shite when travelling later in the evening and buses take an age.

Just have to deal with it I suppose, but much of the 80s and 90s tat will disappear off the streets when the residents discount 'sunset period' ends in October 2021, and there's still a fair bit of the latter knocking about.

 

Not exactly pennies but it's an estate, pre-78 and a bit yellow.

 

https://www.autoclassics.com/advert/56619

[MorrisItalSLX]

True. I like the original steels, so really want a solution that lets me buy tyres I can use now, and also after the conversion..

 

Banded Wheels?

 

Nothing to boy racer looking though.

[Richard]

What width are the wheels?I think Saabs (actual ones) had 3.5" rims and could wear 185/65x15 tyres without looking too silly.

[320touring]

Banded Wheels?

 

Nothing to boy racer looking though.

 

 

I'd rather not if I can avoid it - anything over 155 would be an improvement, but I want to keep it stock looking.

 

Plus additional cost and time to make them.

 

 

What width are the wheels?I think Saabs (actual ones) had 3.5" rims and could wear 185/65x15 tyres without looking too silly.

Ok, I'll try to find out the rim width

[320touring]

I've been advised that the rim width is 5.5j - so a 185 should be doable..but 195/65/15 seems to be pretty much spot on for rolling Radius.

[timolloyd]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this question but... I'm working in Swansea on 18/19 September and need somewhere to stay overnight.

Can any S Wales shiters recommend a hotel in or around Swansea with really secure parking? Hoping to take my prize K-series powered shite - the Caterham. So for obvious reasons I'm not too keen on leaving it in the near-by PCP

[meggersdog]

Estate, pre-78,

 

 

Not exactly pennies but it's an estate, pre-78 and a bit yellow.

 

https://www.autoclassics.com/advert/56619

advert date 16/04/18 so if it's still for sale it's either too dear or rotten

[sierraman]

Any verdict on whether the tools you get like a press to remove the CV joint in situ are any good?

[Lacquer Peel]

Any verdict on whether the tools you get like a press to remove the CV joint in situ are any good?

For a lot of cars you can buy a new driveshaft for buttons from J&R.

[sierraman]

Yeah I know, just trying to save the extra fuck about of topping the gearbox oil up afterwards.

[twosmoke300]

Put it this way I dont have one and have never needed one. Either knock off the joint with a good copper hammer or release the snap ring inside.

[sierraman]

Last time I did one I twatted the wing on the back swing getting the fucker off. Might well just me being a cack handed idiot.

[Richard]

Put it this way I dont have one and have never needed one. Either knock off the joint with a good copper hammer or release the snap ring inside.

 

Can you recommend a good pair of pliers for releasing the snap ring? I tried with circlip pliers but they didn't grip well enough.

[sierraman]

Those smaller type ones are better I think to release it. It’s mostly a Ford I’m working on anyway so it’s the slip ring type that twats off. Or if you’ve the puller, pulls off.

 

Appreciate it’s simpler to swap the driveshaft but I’m tight and I’m trying to avoid the mess of the gearbox oil pissing out and topping it up.

 

I don’t know how J&R do it for the money, a complete new shaft for mine was £27 and just the joint and the boot something like £15 delivered. The stretch boot kits are cheap as well only about a fiver, it’s a wonder why people fuck about with those Bailcast sticky boots.

[twosmoke300]

Good mole grips on the driveshaft and tuck them behind the strut or chassis leg to hold the shaft in while you give it a clout

[Floatylight]

Just had a Bluetooth obd doobrie delivered from the bay of e. Looking for recommendations for the best free android apps...

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[spike60]

Tonight I saw a parked car getting clamped on a residential public road by a guy with a van with DVLA logo. Presumably no tax/insurance/MOT.  Is this a new thing?  Not seen it before

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Nope.  Saw quite a few in Exmouth a while back.  They usually stick a notice on it advertising why it was clamped to deter others...

[AMC Rebel]

Anyone got any experience with carb fed motors and vapour lock/heat soak?

 

Had any luck lagging the fuel pipes?

[SiC]

Just had a Bluetooth obd doobrie delivered from the bay of e. Looking for recommendations for the best free android apps...

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

Piston. Completely free and more user friendly interface than torque.

[The Moog]

Just had a Bluetooth obd doobrie delivered from the bay of e. Looking for recommendations for the best free android apps...

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

Tend to use Torque

[DodgeRover]

Anyone got any experience with carb fed motors and vapour lock/heat soak?

 

Had any luck lagging the fuel pipes?

Do you have an insulator between the carb and inlet manifold?

[Skizzer]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this question but... I'm working in Swansea on 18/19 September and need somewhere to stay overnight.

Can any S Wales shiters recommend a hotel in or around Swansea with really secure parking? Hoping to take my prize K-series powered shite - the Caterham. So for obvious reasons I'm not too keen on leaving it in the near-by PCP

Hmm... can’t think of any central hotels with super-secure covered parking. The Village Hotel SA1 and The Towers benefit from being a bit more away from passing scrotes so worth considering.

 

The King Arthur in Reynoldston is in the middle of Gower and out of harm’s way unless the Penclawdd boys stray inland (unlikely).

 

I’d offer you shed space but I won’t be around unfortunately, and my shed isn’t very handy for anywhere.

[forddeliveryboy]

What width are the wheels?I think Saabs (actual ones) had 3.5" rims and could wear 185/65x15 tyres without looking too silly.

 

Saabs had stock 4.5" rims, if we're talking 99s and bs 900s. Their earliest cars had 4" rims, I think. That's 2cv narrow, with their 125 width tyres.

 

 

Tyres - The Oxford needs 4 new ones. It's currently shorn with 155/R15 and it was my intention to replace them with 165/80/15 as the modern, cost effective equivalent.

 

However, the acquisition of the 1800 B series could potentially see up to a 100% increase in power once complete.

 

I'm therefore considering whether I could fit a 195/65/15 of some repute to assist. Costs and overall rolling diameter are pretty much exactly the same.

 

Do we reckon the Oxford rims would take the additional width(fnar)!?

 

Screenshot_20180806-200424.png

I'd go for 165s meself, unless there's 140hp+ and stronger suspension, brakes etc. Nothing wrong at all with good quality 165x15s for a car like the Oxford, I bet it'd corner as well as on the wider tyres and be sweeter in every other respect. Bonus of a few less revs, also.

[320touring]

Saabs had stock 4.5" rims, if we're talking 99s and bs 900s. Their earliest cars had 4" rims, I think. That's 2cv narrow, with their 125 width tyres.

 

 

 

I'd go for 165s meself, unless there's 140hp+ and stronger suspension, brakes etc. Nothing wrong at all with good quality 165x15s for a car like the Oxford, I bet it'd corner as well as on the wider tyres and be sweeter in every other respect. Bonus of a few less revs, also.

I'm considering brake and suspension work too..

 

May be time to do one research on setups first..

[forddeliveryboy]

We think of a 195-65-15 as a narrowish tyre today, but that's because of the now-everywhere MacPh strut which needs wide tyres to work.

 

Back in those days before this was the case, 195 and 205 width tyres were for cars with Ferrari or Jaguar power. Cars were lighter and smaller, 100hp was shed loads - and standing water, adverse cambers, poor surfaces and slippery conditions and didn't affect things as now. Never forget road tyres should be as narrow as reasonably possible, unless you're a fashion victim.

 

Driving an old car which can't cope well with modern lower profile, wider, heavier tyres is wearing, I once had to deliver a Sierra a couple of hundred miles with this addition and it was utterly nasty. It's like making your 80 year old granny wear stilettos, no matter how fit and healthy, it'd be a struggle to make them work as intended.