Ask a Shiter

[HillmanImp]

DVLA. How long does it take to update a new photo onto my licence and is there a way to express the service?

 

Apparently they can do it online with your passport photo if it is valid (passport, not the photo).

[DSdriver]

Peugeot 206 with 1.4 petrol engine: Does the cooling system have to be bled? Taking it in today for an argument with the people who did the head gasket and it would help if it seemed as though I knew what I was talking about.

 

If its the same XU block as in the 205s it probably will. Guessing by the nose down shape of the 206 the radiator and expansion tank are likely to be below the heater matrix IMHO, so it wil need bleeding.

Google to check!

 

After rigorous testing the diagnosis is that there is a slight leak from the water pump. Hopefully this will be found to be correct when a new pump is fitted tomorrow.

Thanks all for your help.

[Morgan84]

When was the headgasket replaced , and how many miles has the car done since ?

[DSdriver]

Last November, about a thousand. Less than 30K on the clock W reg. MIL's handmedown.

[beko1987]

What oil will I need for the XM? 2.0 tct petrol jobbie. Euro car parts list every fucking oil type under a search, and I can't find the user manual to check that... Anyone know off their head?

[cort16]

Have S3 XJ6 Jags got inboard rear brakes?

[Formula Autos]

Have S3 XJ6 Jags got inboard rear brakes?

 

Have a look:

It seems that they do.

 

http://www.autowp.ru/picture/vvc5wy

You can zoom in if you click on the picture on the website.

[Cavcraft]

Yes. Holes cut into the rear floor area then rewelded up after were a common 'quick' way to get at them.

[cort16]

Flaps. There's a slightly crusty one for sale with white walls and brown leather interior for sale here but it's been sitting a while. I don't fancy getting involved with that inboard brake bollocks.

[Cavcraft]

Brakes will be the least of your worries, finding anything resembling metal underneath will be a bigger challenge.

 

I reckon they're sleeping giants in the money stakes though so if it's cheap and do-able it might be worth the effort. I don't suppose it's C797 RKA is it?

[cort16]

'Tis this one but because of my internet image embargo that stops me seeing gumtree images I can't see the reg but I'm pretty sure it has a weird irish plate on it.

That light silver is a great colour and the brown leather interior is fantastic. I've perved over it for years as it's parked in the local Yacht Marina (not that I have a yacht obvz).

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/jaguar-42-auto-silver-75000-miles-1983/1015588376

[Cavcraft]

The interior is absolutely GOPPING. I can't believe anyone would spec a new car up with that in it!

 

Anyhow for £400 I would think it'd be hard to go too far wrong. The wings don't look to bad and I bet you'd get a few bits off the car to sell then flog the rest to a racer for more than the asking price.

Obv. you'd have one car too many then though so best bet there would be to bring your Astra coupe to Chumley, sell it to me for £150 then get a lift back with CMS or something.

[cort16]

Don't frown at the brown. Hold on was that not a film I watched on the internet? Anyway I love that interior.

Thanks for your offer billy but I think I'm platting my nose hair that day. I'm quite taken by that astra. OMG all vauxhalls R not shit!

[Lacquer Peel]

The interior is absolutely GOPPING. I can't believe anyone would spec a new car up with that in it!

 

What's wrong with it?

[messerschmitt owner]

What oil will I need for the XM? 2.0 tct petrol jobbie. Euro car parts list every fucking oil type under a search, and I can't find the user manual to check that... Anyone know off their head?

Fully synthetic for your Tct. Semi synthetic for the 2.1td.

[Cavcraft]

The interior is absolutely GOPPING. I can't believe anyone would spec a new car up with that in it!

 

What's wrong with it?

 

The colour. It's vile.

Comfort wise those seats are pretty much unbeatable, a hundred miles feels like a trip to the local shops, they're brilliant. But not in that colour.

[Wilko220]

Anyone happen to know whether wheels that fit a Rootes Arrow series car would also fit an MGB, and vice versa?

[Rocket88]

Anyone happen to know whether wheels that fit a Rootes Arrow series car would also fit an MGB, and vice versa?

 

Hunter pcd; 4x108

MGB pcd; 4x114

 

MGB pcd is a bit odd, Rootes one far more common

[Wilko220]

Thanks mate

[KruJoe]

Many Ford/PSA wheels will fit the Hunter.

Many Japanese wheels will fit the MGB.

http://www.carlsalter.com/wheel_fitments_by_pcd.html

 

However, don't forget to check the centre bore and offset (et) are compatible:

http://www.carlsalter.com/wheel_fitments.html

[face]

Engine size versus number of cylinders.

 

Is there a magic rule?

 

Could you produce a 1 litre V6?

 

A 2 litre twin?

[catsinthewelder]

It has a lot to do with with how smooth the engine needs to be at speed, a dumper truck on a building site could well have a dirty great single cylinder diesel engine or your 2 litre twin. Ships and generators run even slower so end up with massive great pistons.

 

Motorbikes tend to rev high so generally have smaller pistons, Honda did a six cylinder 1000cc bike and a 250cc four.

[M'coli]

Yes, well, cylinder numbers v. capacity, anything is possible if the desire or need is there...Honda produced a 5-cylinder 125cc race bike in the 1960 - its sound is extraordinary - and I'm sure there are also 1600cc V-twins on the market.

 

There was also a guy in the late 80s who took 3 50cc moped engines and mounted the cylinders on a common crankcase to make a 150cc triple - he called it a "Gilette" but I can't remember correctly the mix of parts - possibly a Gilera frame and Mobylette cylinders?

[face]

Yes, well, cylinder numbers v. capacity, anything is possible if the desire or need is there.

 

That sums it up I guess.

 

Cheers

[dollywobbler]

The main thing that stops small multi-cylinder engines is the basic rule that more cylinders equals more fuel use - so a 1.8-litre Mazda V6 is seen as a not ideal as it's as thirsty as a larger engine, but not as powerful due to its small size. Shame as I'd really like a 1-litre V8. I'm not fussed about performance - I just want an economy car that sounds nice.

[cort16]

Either BMW or Audi are now putting an engine sound through the stereo to enhance the driving experience or some bollocks. If you could wire something up to your throttle you could have a big block v8 rumble while driving along in your 2CV.

 

Old Ferrari's have got some odd engine combo's, which probably comes from the motors are race derived. The Ferrari 250 has a 3 litre v12.

[Cavcraft]

I'm not fussed about performance - I just want an economy car that sounds nice.

 

corsa clothespegaa by Cavlover1, on Flickr

[Junkman]

V8 sound in shite? Step right this way, gentlemen:

 

http://www.soundracer.se/?p=98

 

Which reminds me, shouldn't we open a shite accessories thread?

[Junkman]

Yeah, but my own stupid question is awaiting an answer still.

[willswitchengage]

Engine size versus number of cylinders.

 

Is there a magic rule?

 

In diesels it doesn't really matter - single cc hobby grade engines to 1000L/cylinder marine two strokes. That's because in diesels (or compression ignition as they should really be called) heat addition is instantaneous at the point of injection.

 

It petrols, gasolines or "spark injection" engines; heat addition is via a flame, which moves at a finite and relatively slow speed (an easy way to understand this is via sound - a diesel's "knock" is the fuel all burning very briefly at TDCish, petrols sounds smooth as the burn is distributed over the whole expansion stoke). Smaller cylinders means that the all of the fuel-air mixture burns quicker as the flame has to travel a shorter distance. In larger cylinders, the flame just isn't quick enough to burn all of the mixture, hence why the biggest petrol engines generally are the "large spark ignition" type found in fork lifts etc, at about 1L/cyl.

 

EDIT:

 

Oh, yeah, there's a lot to do with balance & simplicity too.

 

For instance, most HGV manufacturers went for a V8 for their flagship engine as smaller cylinders mean it can rotate faster, therefore produce more power etc. Volvo however kept the basic 6cyl for their 16L - this not only removed the need for a balancing shaft (straight sixes are naturally balanced, almost all other engines are not), plus removes the manufacturing & packaging complications of multiple cylinder banks, etc... Inline is always inherently the best engine design from an engineering perspective, but is almost always impractical above 4/6cyl in non-stationary applications.