Ask a Shiter

[SiC]

  On 05/05/2018 at 21:00, Skizzer said:

Advice please: I’m fed up of buying shit condensers. Upgrading to electronic ignition: Powerspark or AccuSpark? Or someone else? Or neither? Or what?

If you want to stay with points, this condenser is supposed to be the muts nuts. I bought one for the MGB and I was impressed with the quality of it. As I put it on a 45D4 distributor, I cut the cheapy condenser off the points and soldered this on.

https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/condenser-lead-25d-high-quality-gsc111hq.html

 

I believe it's a Distributor Doctor sourced part.

[Stanky]

NFW - looks like it belted the pole in the right of the picture pretty hard, but survived well. Has to be something more recent that either of those surely?

 

Volvo S60 perhaps?

[NorfolkNWeigh]

  On 05/05/2018 at 21:22, bub2006 said:

Unsure on car but why does it look like a pole us sticking right through the bonnet with no bonnet forced round it?

Yeah, it does look like that, maybe it's the top bit snapped off and rating on the bonnet.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

  On 05/05/2018 at 21:24, Stanky said:

NFW - looks like it belted the pole in the right of the picture pretty hard, but survived well. Has to be something more recent that either of those surely?

 

Volvo S60 perhaps?

Yes but there don't seem to be any airbags on show , I thought maybe a Rover 400 from the back lights, but as you say , realistically it must be something newer and stronger.

[Pillock]

Mk2 Mondeo? That's quite a lot of back light.

[Jim Bergerac]

Looks like a Rover 45 to me, only got a phone screen mind. Front wing definitely looks HH-R.

[blakey79]

  On 05/05/2018 at 21:20, NorfolkNWeigh said:

What do we think this is? Apart from fucked, obviously.image.jpeg

Picture from my local paper, driver and passenger walked away, apparently, looks like it bounced off some other things before ending up here.

My first thought was a 19 Chamade or possibly a Saab CD, but now I'm sure n it's not.

Over to you lot.

Mercedes c class ?

[GrumpiusMaximus]

  On 05/05/2018 at 18:51, sierraman said:

Let me guess though you've not got a replacement plug!

 

Not a massive fan of the Pela pump idea of changing unless you are an armchair mechanic or that you are working to time, it takes no effort to drain the oil from the sump. Its not even less mess, you've still got to clean the pump out! Youve still got to get underneath the car to swap the filter. In fact on the 1.6 diesel Ford recommended against using vacuum pumps to do an oil change.

 

Which is fair enough in that instance.  In my situation though, I can't lift the car safely on my drive and my oil filter is readily accessible from the top.

[bramz7]

I've decided if I miss out on the ZX, I might be a bit silly and buy an Alfa 156. Mixed bag on eBay and Auto Trader but apparently the JTS engines aren't bad and don't suffer the oil starvation issues.

 

What else do I need to be careful with? I'm assuming brakes and wishbones...

[The Moog]

Squeaks...

Aux belt .. mine had the idler seize.

Squeaks

[GrumpiusMaximus]

They're lovely places to be.  My partner's Dad has an 02-reg 1.8 Twinspark and it's just comfortable and all the instruments are well laid out.

 

Thou shalt not covet their partner's Dad's Alfa...

[Tamworthbay]

Anyone know where I can get a 7/8 six sided ring spanner? I need to swap out the front lambda sensor on my E46 and it looks like someone has been there before me. Biggest I can find so far is 21mm.

[bramz7]

I'd found a really nice JTS on Auto Trader, however it's terminally rusty according to a recent MOT fail, so that's a no.

 

This is all purely hypothetical if I don't win the ZX of course.

I also have my eye on a very local 147 with lowish mileage and zero bids...but it's the 'dreaded' 2 litre TS with the oil pump known to kill the engine.

[320touring]

  On 06/05/2018 at 06:55, bramz7 said:

I've decided if I miss out on the ZX, I might be a bit silly and buy an Alfa 156. Mixed bag on eBay and Auto Trader but apparently the JTS engines aren't bad and don't suffer the oil starvation issues.

 

What else do I need to be careful with? I'm assuming brakes and wishbones...

The Alfa 156 is simultaneously the best and worst car.

 

I never paid more than £200 for one, so that'll likely colour my views somewhat.

 

Good

The handling - sublime down backroad or on motorway.

 

Steering lock - 2.5 turns lock to lock, excellent for spirited driving.

 

Looks - esp the pre facelift!

 

Seats I found exceedingly comfortable, plenty of adjustment.

 

Reliability ( mechanical) was good on both ones I had. One incident with an 85mph brake line failure whilst drag racing. (See Below)

 

2.4 JTD is a peach with good boost (esp if mapped) and decent economy

 

Bad

 

The handling - getting infuriated by other drivers dawdling!

 

Steering lock is shit for maneuvers/parking. I suspect supertankers can turn more easily.

 

Suspension arms squeak like buggery - extremely noticeable.

 

The 2.0 twinspark engine was not very enthralling, and liked to imbibe oil.

 

If you position the driver's seat :just so' it'll creak (as in make sounds!) the leather on the centre console:(

 

Brake lines are painted metal from the factory and rot like fuck - then they fail under heavy braking. Seems a common enough issue.

 

Myriad electrical gremlins - esp alternators draining battery via 'bulb out' warning light and the rear light clusters.

 

Rust. They could learn a thing or two from 80s Lancias re floorpan anti rust treatment.

 

 

Would I have another? Hell yes V6 busso plz:)

[spike60]

I had 2 Alfas with the 2.0 TS, a Spider with about 90k when sold and a 155 with about 80k when sold. They do like regular belts and they both had variators bu other than that no problems. No one ever told me they were dreaded.....

[bramz7]

  On 06/05/2018 at 08:22, spike60 said:

I had 2 Alfas with the 2.0 TS, a Spider with about 90k when sold and a 155 with about 80k when sold. They do like regular belts and they both had variators bu other than that no problems. No one ever told me they were dreaded.....

 

I've just been looking up the engines and such like and every 'review site's seems to suggest oil pump failure a regular occurance. Whether this is true in real life is another thing of course.

[spike60]

TS plug sets used to be expensive and fairly regular IIRC but I had no oil consumption issues, both mebby getting topped once between changes. 

The 156 2.4 140 I had on the other hand was pig, if was bolted to the engine it shat itself in the 9 months I had it.

[blackboilersuit]

  On 06/05/2018 at 08:12, Tamworthbay said:

Anyone know where I can get a 7/8 six sided ring spanner? I need to swap out the front lambda sensor on my E46 and it looks like someone has been there before me. Biggest I can find so far is 21mm.

 

I used a "lambda socket" from ebay. The one I bought is like a slotted crowsfoot socket. as per pic. Halfords sell the larger "slotted deep socket" type if you need to get something on a Sunday.

[Tamworthbay]

  On 06/05/2018 at 09:04, blackboilersuit said:

I used a "lambda socket" from ebay. The one I bought is like a slotted crowsfoot socket. as per pic. Halfords sell the larger "slotted deep socket" type if you need to get something on a Sunday.

Brilliant! Ordered one for a grand total of £6.49 off eBay. Thanks!

[Guest Hooli]

  On 05/05/2018 at 21:22, SiC said:

If you want to stay with points, this condenser is supposed to be the muts nuts. I bought one for the MGB and I was impressed with the quality of it. As I put it on a 45D4 distributor, I cut the cheapy condenser off the points and soldered this on.

https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/condenser-lead-25d-high-quality-gsc111hq.html

 

I believe it's a Distributor Doctor sourced part.

 

Handy to know as when I rebuild my Bonnie it's staying on points as I've never had an success with the normal boyer breakdown leccy ignition always suggested for bikes.

 

The useless boxes of toss replicate the original experience of riding a Brit bike by dying every 2k miles so you loose all sparks. Even points last 3k!

[bramz7]

Okay, another car viewing favour. I have decided to opt out of the ZX as it's gone a bit high now.

 

But something has popped up in Hertfordshire and I was wondering if anyone near Hemel Hempstead can view it for me? Will repay in overloads of gratitude. 

[bramz7]

^all done. Viewed it myself and agreed a purchase...

[FakeConcern]

A rhetorical question really, but why do people do this sort of thing?

 

In Brighton a tidy looking 1275GT (OK silly wheels and front bumper removed) still nice.

 

Walk around the back and see that it has Mk1 rear lights, why?

I know it's their car etc but still....

 

[Guest Hooli]

Because bellend, it ruins it doesn't it?

[mitsisigma01]

  On 06/05/2018 at 22:03, Hooli said:

Because bellend, it ruins it doesn't it?

 

Yep !

[Christine]

Does Ford Fiesta mk1 used normal dot 4 brake fluid ?    Haynes say " to Ford specifications only "  

[Dave_Q]

RE 156s, I would avoid the JTS and get a diesel, they are great engines and really not bad to drive.

 

However rust. Rust rust rust. Mine was a cheapy bought with no MOT but failed muchly for the lack of sills and floors.

 

The whole underneath of the thing was like the titanic, lots of peeling underseal and more rust underneath.

 

Either they painted it with saltwater before the underseal, or the underseal wasn't much cop.

 

Have you considered a 147 or GT? Same underneath but may rust less, at least my wife's 55 plate 147 seems very unrusty.

 

GTs are also getting temptingly cheap for moderately fucked ones and look GR12 to me.

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F202281022839

[smellypoo]

  On 07/05/2018 at 08:49, Christine said:

Does Ford Fiesta mk1 used normal dot 4 brake fluid ? Haynes say " to Ford specifications only "

 

http://www.fiesta-mk1.co.uk/magazine_articles/magazine_articles_uk/popular_motoring/technical_fiesta_service_data_01_1981_pg2.php

 

I found the fluid spec here, at the top of the page (amongst other stuff) - I hope it helps. Doesn't call it out as a dot rating though, it says SAE J1703/c or ESEA-M6C-1001A

 

Edit: turns out that means DOT3. AFAIK, you can use DOT4 instead as it has a higher boiling point but someone more knowledgeable will hopefully confirm.

[Christine]

  On 07/05/2018 at 10:25, smellypoo said:

http://www.fiesta-mk1.co.uk/magazine_articles/magazine_articles_uk/popular_motoring/technical_fiesta_service_data_01_1981_pg2.php

 

I found the fluid spec here, at the top of the page (amongst other stuff) - I hope it helps. Doesn't call it out as a dot rating though, it says SAE J1703/c or ESEA-M6C-1001A

 

Edit: turns out that means DOT3. AFAIK, you can use DOT4 instead as it has a higher boiling point but someone more knowledgeable will hopefully confirm.

Good , i was just wondering if it was like a Citroen ,having its own fluid , and because I previously used ordinary fluid was the reason the seals had failed !   Got plenty of dot 4 here anyway

[Ghosty]

  On 05/05/2018 at 23:20, Sandie said:

Looks like a Rover 45 to me, only got a phone screen mind. Front wing definitely looks HH-R.

 

Yeah, 45 saloon.