Ask a Shiter

[rml2345]

Why is a Luton bodied van called a Luton?

Hats. The first bodies built with a box or "Luton head" above the cab were built in Luton to transport straw hats in boxes for one of the local milliners. Hat boxes are bulky but not heavy and more could be carried. The idea caught on and since it originated in Luton, the name Luton van stuck.

[Jim Bell]

Hats. The first bodies built with a box or "Luton head" above the cab were built in Luton to transport straw hats in boxes for one of the local milliners. Hat boxes are bulky but not heavy and more could be carried. The idea caught on and since it originated in Luton, the name Luton van stuck.

 

AND it looks like a little hat for the cab.

[outlaw118]

***modern shite question****

Stepdaughters 106 1.1 "Zest" has just failed the MoT on a few bits - none of which are expensive part-wise, but possibly labour intensive, and I neither have the time/inclination/health to do the repairs. So, she's now considering either another cheapo shitter (Red 206 Estate details have been emailed to her) or strapping herself in for some finance.

Dacia Sandero boggo spec is available for £69pm or summat ridiculous, so the main point of this rambly old bollocks is:

How shit is it, compared to the 106? 106 has keep fit windows, no powah steering, no alloys, no central locking, but I reckon it's a proper laugh to throw about. Is the Dacia gonna be shitter?

[Richard]

I thought Luton bodied extending over the cab were a fairly recent thing, I'm sure I remember them being just a big box up until the late 80s.

[saucedoctor]

@outlaw

 

I papped this Sandero in mid-November.

 

 

Dunno what it's like to drive, but I thought it a totally miserable looking shitbox, devoid of any imagination. Paint wasn't all that, either, very orange-peely. Looked like fuck all squared inside. All black.

[Jim Bergerac]

Personally, I'd go for the Puglet. Will be better kitted, a bit less grim and cheaper in the long run.

 

The base spec Sandero is proper poverty spec. Manual windows, only available in white and I think a stereo is on the options list. Not seen them commended for the driving experience either.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Is there any particular reason electrical fittings (sockets and mounting boxes) are made of that crazy brittle material? Isn't there any plastic which insulates without shattering because you over tightened a screw by half a turn?

[cort16]

Are there any generic wheel trims out there that don't look complete wank?

[Spiny Norman]

What's the best (cheapest) way of removing lots of  big oily smudges/stains from car paint? The Volvo's front end all round the bonnet and door handles are manky. The normal car wash stuff I use isn't touching it, neither is washing up liquid.

I've been digging around t'internet and seen 20 different answers, mostly for products that A) aren't sold in this country, and cost a bomb.

 

Someone said WD40, which I can see the logic behind, or engine degreaser (yes, I realise I'll have to rinse it thoroughly and wax it again, I'll be doing that anyway but I need to get it clean first) or even T-Cut.

 

Any suggestions?

[NorfolkNWeigh]

What's the best (cheapest) way of removing lots of  big oily smudges/stains from car paint? The Volvo's front end all round the bonnet and door handles are manky. The normal car wash stuff I use isn't touching it, neither is washing up liquid.

I've been digging around t'internet and seen 20 different answers, mostly for products that A) aren't sold in this country, and cost a bomb.

 

Someone said WD40, which I can see the logic behind, or engine degreaser (yes, I realise I'll have to rinse it thoroughly and wax it again, I'll be doing that anyway but I need to get it clean first) or even T-Cut.

 

Any suggestions?

I keep a tin of lighter fluid in my cleaning box( yes I know it's sad) and it's great for this sort of thing, it can make some plastics go white though.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Are there any generic wheel trims out there that don't look complete wank?

No.

[Spiny Norman]

I keep a tin of lighter fluid in my cleaning box( yes I know it's sad) and it's great for this sort of thing, it can make some plastics go white though.

 

I wondered about that, or neat alcohol. With that in mind, and I fully realise the BOOM implications, but would normal unleaded not do the same job so long as it gets properly rinsed off afterwards?

Lighter fluid is all very well but it's dearer than malt scotch.

[cort16]

I'd recon petrol will do just fine as it's a good degreaser. Just don't do it while smoking a cuban cigar.

[wackywacerwill]

***modern shite question****

 

I've no idea what they are like though have noticed that someone local has got shot of their ageing purple Felica and now has a base spec Sandero sitting outside which seems like a natural progression.

I would imagine that it feel more luxurious than the 106 though will be unlikely to match it in driving 'Zest', probably.

[MrDuke]

What's the best (cheapest) way of removing lots of  big oily smudges/stains from car paint? The Volvo's front end all round the bonnet and door handles are manky. The normal car wash stuff I use isn't touching it, neither is washing up liquid.

 

Have you tried claying it, using a big lump of white-tac and plain water? Failing that, T-cut should bring it up OK.

[saucedoctor]

I bought something on eBay for cheap cheap ( I was the only bidder). The seller has just contacted me to say that he "woefully underestimated the cost of posting it," and that he needs another £6.92. The item was advertised as free postage. Do I tell him to suck it up, that's the chance you take in a no-reserve auction, pay him, or report him to eBay?

Cheers all.

[Mr Livered]

Well it depends doesn't it? Is £6.92 a lot of money in relation to the cost of the item or not? If I was paying a tenner for something I'd be pretty cross about an extra seven quid, but if it was £100 then I probably wouldn't care.

 

To be honest, if it was me I'd also base my response on a "first impressions" evaluation of whether the vendor is a dickhead or not. If they came across as a nice person I'd be inclined to be more free with my £6.92.

[TimothyClaypole]

I'd go with their selling history, if nothing recently then they've been molested by the Royal price fiddles.  adjustments.

 

Been there done it myself, just sucked it up and moved on, it's only money. 

 

I've some peasant on Ebay moaning over me quoting £10.00 to TNT some metal kitchen baskets, telling me I can use Joe's Parcels for 2 Shillings and drop them at the local take away etc.  I use 1st class recorded or TNT and still get poor stars over price and delivery times never mind something taking a week to get there in an uninsured Ford Galaxy. 

[saucedoctor]

The £6.92 is more than the item itself was, but in fairness I won the auction at a very cheap price. I reckon you're right: he apologised a couple of times in his email, so I paid it a couple of minutes ago. I think he reckoned he'd get far more money for the item, and hadn't considered that there might be a limited market for a slightly rogered Cisco router.

I feel really bad now that I'd even considered giving him a hard time!  Dunno what I was thinking. £6.92 won't even buy you 20 smokes these days.

 

Cheers, Livered.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I've received items where the postage price on the label was in excess of what I paid for the whole item + postage. I feel bad for the seller, but you've really got to figure out postage before you list now. Previously if you underestimated the weight a bit it might be a few pence more, but now if you find your item isn't a small parcel but a medium (or whatever) the cost can double. 

[barefoot]

The headlights in my T2 are a bit dull and yellow.

Is there a simple upgrade?

Big fuck off bulbs that just fit and are still legal,

Something like that please?

[skattrd]

The headlights in my T2 are a bit dull and yellow.

Is there a simple upgrade?

Big fuck off bulbs that just fit and are still legal,

Something like that please?

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/15486-lights-blinding-lights/

[cobblers]

The headlights in my T2 are a bit dull and yellow.

Is there a simple upgrade?

Big fuck off bulbs that just fit and are still legal,

Something like that please?

 

 

Sort the wiring out with a relay kit so the bulbs get a full 13.odd volts, that will definitely help no end on a T2 with old worn wiring, connectors and switches (not to mention the battery all the way in the back and blade fuses!!!!!)

That will get your lights to the "normal" level of a mk2 golf or T25 or MX% or anything else that uses 7" Halogens, providing your reflectors and lenses are in OK condition.

 

If you want more, you can get 100/80w "rally bulbs" from 'frauds that are quite cheap and genuinely offer more light than a normal bulb, unlike all other stock wattage ones which may* increase light output by up to* 100%*.

 

Don't put the rally bulbs in without sorting the wiring out first.

[catsinthewelder]

Is there any particular reason electrical fittings (sockets and mounting boxes) are made of that crazy brittle material? Isn't there any plastic which insulates without shattering because you over tightened a screw by half a turn?

 

From memory and without checking, electrical fittings are made from thermo-setting plastic which won't melt if it gets hot.

[skattrd]

Where is a good place to buy a smallish block of stainless steel?

I'm looking for a piece 75mm square and 10mm thick.

[Richard]

Are there any machining/fabrication workshops near you? You could probably get a bit that size as an offcut. You could also try a friendly scrap merchant.

[wackywacerwill]

Where is a good place to buy a smallish block of stainless steel?

I'm looking for a piece 75mm square and 10mm thick.

 

Got access to some cutlery and a furnace? Probably not but you never know.

[cobblers]

There's a few decent ebay sellers for "bits of metal" but they obv charge for the stuff, I got a similar lump a bit back for about £8 or something.

[skattrd]

How difficult is it to weld stainless steel?

Would a normal garage be able to do a small job with it or does it require different equipment to the usual MOT type welding?

[cort16]

You need stainless welding wire which I doubt a garage will have. Id try a stainless exhaust maker they'll have the mig Or tig gear to do it.