Ask a Shiter

[daveb47]

 

Nubbins on the back are to locate the sealed beam bulb into the holder correctly, that makes sense.  But why do they have nubbins on the front?  There's usually three and I've never figured out what they're for.

 

Beam setting by machine.

[scaryoldcortina]

I thought they were to help centralize the chrome trim on the front.

[cobblers]

Yeah, some old beam testers hung off the prongs and had a spirit level or something in them

[warren t claim]

Although I have absolutely no intentions of ever owning a Daimler DS420 and have only ever travelled in them at funerals I would love to have a drive of one. I was wondering if any shiters have had the pleasure and are they as slow and squashy to drive as I expect?

 

Is it worth having a 'cars I'd love to drive but never want to own' thread?

[xtriple]

I think they are the same mechanically as MK10 Jaguars? I have never driven one but nearly bought a hearse one once - it was non-runner hence no drive. If so, I expect they go reasonably well, my old MK10 certainly did

[Asimo]

 

Nubbins on the back are to locate the sealed beam bulb into the holder correctly, that makes sense.  But why do they have nubbins on the front?  There's usually three and I've never figured out what they're for.

 

They are made out of two halves, fused together.

 

Some outside feature is required to orientate both the lens half and the reflector half correctly in the machine that squeezes the two (hot) parts together. 

[vulgalour]

Thanks for all the answers on that one, it has been bugging me for ages.

[Bobthebeard]

If someone* needed to actually road test a (taxed and insured) car to check if a repair was successful before taking the car for an MOT, then drive it home again, but the car had no MOT, would that person be likely to get stopped/fined/have insurance invalidated/be irresponsible? Of course if the repair was successful then the car would be booked in for an MOT straight away.

Just wondering...

[cobblers]

If you are really scared, Book an MOT at garage you don't like much. Drive car "in that direction" to test it. Cancel test when you get home.

 

That said the penalty for no MOT is fairly small (£60 IMO) and it has no bearing on your insurance or owt so if it's just a quick razz round the block then it's not harming anyone really.

[Bobthebeard]

If you are really scared, Book an MOT at garage you don't like much. Drive car "in that direction" to test it. Cancel test when you get home.

 

That said the penalty for no MOT is fairly small (£60 IMO) and it has no bearing on your insurance or owt so if it's just a quick razz round the block then it's not harming anyone really.

Thanks! I will pass the information on... (Ahem. Yes... Just a quick razz round the block)

😄

[loserone]

Does anyone happen to know where the windscreen washer relay might be on a pride? Have proved today that the pump works when it's given +12v only on the +ive connector, rather than both +ive and -ive regardless of switch position..

[Station]

What/why is a sealed beam?

[PhillipM]

A headlamp that the bulb is physically sealed inside - you can't replace the bulb, have to change the whole lamp.

[Eddie Honda]

I think this should be a compulsory part of the curriculum:

 

 

Especially the first edition.

[Eddie Honda]

As well as answering questions as to "What is a sealed beam?" - well I think it does - it also tells you how to fit some electric screen washers to your old chod, how to drive your toy Cortina Mk1 in fake toy snow and how to bodge-up the sills of your crusty Jag with some chicken wire and plop.

 

Available at all good charradee shops and church hall book sales.

[gordonbennet]

If I had a time machine - apart from the usual stuff with lottery results, mkI Escorts, shares in Apple and stuff like that, I would buy up a few Halfords 1.5 ton trolley jacks from about 20 years ago. Mine is indestructible and has outlived many "replacements" by several years. Only some extreme abuse with a laden LWB Transit stuck in a ditch caused it any harm, sadly twisting its chassis slightly, making it a bit unstable.

 

I am sorely tempted by one of the wide alloy race jacks or this sort of thing....

http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?gotonode=ViewProduct&method=mViewProduct&productid=17511&productdescription=&productcode=&category=1&catgroup=354&catmicrogroup=1233&analysiscode=&requiredresults=16

but its a fearsome amount of money for something that I might find rather disappointing.

 

I bought a new Weber for a similar amount of cash a couple years ago, replaced a Sealey (i think) which cost about £120 and served me well for near enough 30 years, including my kerbside cowboy years, and now enjoys semi retirement with my son.

 

The Weber is very very well made in the EU pro jobbie, its steel wheels have a rubber insert running round the middle so makes dragging them over concrete a quiet easy affair, but where it scores is that the lever, not screw, release mechanism is easily and infinitely controllable via twisting the substantial handle (as the old Sealey which never gave a moments cause for concern), its the screw release mechanisms that usually let the Chinese made stuff down cos they tend to drop suddenly.

 

Coo, PTE online (where i bought mine) have a new model Weber (WTE-2) on special offer at the moment, doesn't lift quite as high as my WDK20, but its £100 off @ £195 at present which is seriously cheap for a proper jack.

 

 

Trolley jack to me is one of the most important tools you will ever buy, it amazes me what cheap toy shit people will use to lift a vehicle and then scrabble underneath to put axle stands under putting their very lives up for ending.

[Station]

How much would I get for this lot?

 

 

No engine, car is rammed full of metal, including Starion body cut up into sections, loads of other stuff.

No idea what scrap is worth at the moment. Fella next door says it's 'on it's arse',  and then offered to buy the whole lot off me. 

[wuvvum]

Fine for no MOT is now £100.

 

And scrap is indeed on its arse at the moment.

[D Spares & Tyres]

How much would I get for this lot?

 

 

No engine, car is rammed full of metal, including Starion body cut up into sections, loads of other stuff.

No idea what scrap is worth at the moment. Fella next door says it's 'on it's arse',  and then offered to buy the whole lot off me. 

£40 a ton at moment.... Vauxhall cats are good price though but even cat prices have fallen a fair bit

[Skizzer]

Numbers 23 and 47 please.

[mercrocker]

I'll have 50, please....

[loserone]

I think this should be a compulsory part of the curriculum

 

Whilst I don't disagree with your reading recommendation, this is the SQA..

[AlabamaShrimp]

How hard is it to change a clutch in a mk4 Fiesta?

[twosmoke300]

As clutches go a piece of cake but if you haven't done one before and you are working on your drive etc it will be a struggle .

[cort16]

Anyone got any experience of insuring grey import stuff ? There's a Datsun my fair lady (350z) for sale near by I quite fancy but I hear insurance on imports can be a bit nippy.

I've obviously spotted it last minute without a chance to do any research, get any quotes or physically go to see the car. Finishes tomorrow morning,

 

 

 

[cort16]

Or mentioned it to my wife

[skattrd]

FJ & PJ don't particularly care about grey imports, I've got 2 or 3 on my policy atm, and no difference to insuring a UK car.

 

Other insurers I don't know, but shirley they won't be too bad by now, there's tons of grey imports on the roads nowadays.

[cort16]

Thanks, it's good to know it's not a huge object an insurance company will use to beat me over the head with. 

[AlabamaShrimp]

As clutches go a piece of cake but if you haven't done one before and you are working on your drive etc it will be a struggle .

Good but I haven't and I would be so think I'll forget about it for now

[FakeConcern]

Not sure if this is right for this thread, but anyway............. Mrs Concern's Mk1 Clio (1996) has a problem with main beam headlamps. When all lights are off, main beam can be flashed. When dipped beam is on, main beam won't flash & won't come on. The left & right main beam bulbs have separate fuses (both fine). There doesn't seem to be a relay for main beam. Need to fix this as her eyesight is scary enough in the dark as it is.