Andy's awful autos: Astra FTP

[Andyrew]

I have the power!

While i was there i decided to knock up some new battery cables. Chunkier that what was there but its what i had. 

The engine went to the inner wing, the wing to battery, i have plenty of cable so i made up a link between the two because why not eh? 

New terminals and job done.

 

[SiC]

As you said, that washer is essential as otherwise oil won't be filtered. Almost invariably lost as they get stuck to the bottom of old filters and thrown away with them without people realising.

I replaced mine on my 1100 with one from a Morris Minor. Worked perfectly. I think the filter element was from a moggie too. 

[Andyrew]

3 minutes ago, SiC said:

As you said, that washer is essential as otherwise oil won't be filtered. Almost invariably lost as they get stuck to the bottom of old filters and thrown away with them without people realising.

I replaced mine on my 1100 with one from a Morris Minor. Worked perfectly. I think the filter element was from a moggie too. 

Ive used a washer from an old shock absorber! Its slighty too small but ill get a larger one when i can next. 

[SiC]

Item 102 here:

https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/en-gb/external-engine-minor-1951-71-mm--17--05--01

Which is:

https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/en-gb/plate-oil-filter-17h846

Most likely available from other sources too and for less.

[Andyrew]

Bearing in mind

With the black Astra briefly returning before it goea out on loan to a friend for a few months. I decided to have a quick look over the car, they had been the occasional abs light and speedo dropping out. 

On these the bearing has the abs sensor built in and the N.S wheel bearing doea the speedo. With that in mind i opted to parts darts it and chuck a new one on. 

While up in the air. The oil was dumped out and new filter stuffed in, a new drive belt went on and fuel filter changed too. 

Discovered the back plates are absolutely shagged. But i dont have any new ones so back on they go. 

The C.V had corroded and appeared to have made contact with part of the old bearing. Wether this had caused the issue im only guessing. 

While the brakes were not too bad there was corrosion to the inners and  some uneven wear marks. I recently found someone on ebay selling some unused discs and pads. Only cheaper brands but at 20 quid delivered with a percentage going to charity i decided why not have them in stock. 

So With them to hand i chucked them on.

the front end got a lashing of waxseal everywhere. Tomorrow ill have a look at the handbrake, its passed the MOT but its always been a bit wooden feeling compared to the other car. 

 

 

 

[Andyrew]

With the black Astra now with my best mate for a long term loan,today with a twinkle of mojo i visited the workshop and dug out the spitfire. Having been spoilt but how nicely the vp1300 runs and drives for the past few months finally getting the spitty out and started for a run up the drive.  Id honestly forgotten how much a steaming heap of shite this thing is. 

When i parked it months ago i felt it was finally running right. However today its back to how it was, on the test drive it darts hard right so the brakes arent happy. Im setting a limit of 12 hours of tinkering to get it running right and if its not sorted ill part the thing out. 

As seen in the for sale section the blue Allegro has sold, still awaiting it to be collected, really could do with it out the way asap as ive purchased some (modern not rotten ) shite incoming this tuesday, some old BL shite to collect.

 

 

[SiC]

Sticky caliper?

Pair of new calipers are like £90 atm on eBay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165736185541

Tbh you could get the whole hydraulic brake system parts (calipers, flex lines, master and rear cylinders) for around £200 and rebuild it entirely. Even cheaper if rebuilding the calipers.

[Andyrew]

No collection to see here im affraid! A man with a nice truck is hauling the finest of exotic shite from far away-ish.

ETA- sometime in the afternoon.

I R EXCITE, 

You will be dissapointed. 

[Andyrew]

[Andyrew]

[Andyrew]

[Andyrew]

[Six-cylinder]

I was concerned that it was going to be a sort of sensible choice like a MK5 Astra! Well done the Puntos were always likeable cars.

[tooSavvy]

29 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

I was concerned that it was going to be a sort of sensible choice like a MK5 Astra! Well done the Puntos were always likeable cars.

Sensible..... ME 🤣🤣🤣

🚙💨

[juular]

That lacquer peel is truly mesmerising. It looks like it has done an orbit of the sun. Well bought.

[Andyrew]

Taking a punt-oh!

What have i got then?

Its the ex @RobT then @comfysofa punto, a rather scabby looking but seemingly good car under whats left of the paint.  With a love of bridge bound cars (the panda,astra and mx5 were all due for the crusher) for not alot of money i couldnt help myself as the days ticked by with the scrapman lurking i pinged comfy a message as i felt it seemed a waste, this thing really wouldnt have even been broken up for parts and would have been straight up bailed,its about as desirable as a kick in the plums but with just 53k on the clock Im sure the punto has one last adventure in it before its fridge-o'clock  so lets do this!

Scrapman collection booking cancelled, i arranged transport and today the little red dolop has arrived. 

From here its a quick tinker to get it MOT'd and back on the road. Then look away patina lovers this puntos getting a new look.

[juular]

What's with all the grease around the cam cover gasket?

[Andyrew]

13 minutes ago, juular said:

What's with all the grease around the cam cover gasket?

Well id guess at the time Theres the gasket you need vs the whole tube of silcone you have.

[MrsJuular]

Nice to see. This was my first ever car after I passed my test (not this exact one). I loved it and kept it for 7 or 8 years. 

[Andyrew]

Quick check over to make a to do list. 

Ermm, 3 cable ties and clocking the u bolt 90 degrees sorted the exhaust knock. 

Everything works and it must be said the underside is very clean. 

Front subframe all good

Discs and pads must have been done at the same time as the hoses, not even a hint of a  lip on the disc. 

Think we are ready for the MOT, the noise i could hear from the front end was the rotted trim rings which now rest neatly in the scrap bin. 

All the lights and electrics work, will put 2 tyres on the rear as the front and rear are odd sizes and chuck some cheapy wipers on.

[Andyrew]

While up and in my face the headlights got a quick hit with the rotary.

[richardmorris]

4 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

I was concerned that it was going to be a sort of sensible choice like a MK5 Astra! Well done the Puntos were always likeable cars.

 

[Andyrew]

Have i really bought a car that needs no repairs? 

Dont worry, normality is restored. The rear brake shoe lining fell off when i took the drums off. 

Phew. 

[RobT]

Glad to see this has been saved.  I bought it purely as a stop gap, but seemed a decent car underneath the paint.

Btw I'm the bodging tosspot who siliconed the cam cover.  It was bothering me one evening, but not enough to do a proper job and spend £1.49 or whatever on a new gasket.

[Dj_efk]

Did you just run some cutting compound on the headlamps? Nice job that.

[Andyrew]

14 hours ago, Dj_efk said:

Did you just run some cutting compound on the headlamps? Nice job that.

Yeah on a rotary/mop soon brightens them up. 

[Dj_efk]

Cheers, got to do my Audi's soon and would rather not wet sand them as they're really not bad at all, just a scratch plus some mild hazing.

[Burnside]

Good to see the Punto saved, was trying to convince my Brother to add this to his fleet of Puntos.

Although to be fair, he already got a MK1 Punto with a similar paint finish that needs saving! 

 

[Andyrew]

Friday afternoon fiat

The patchy punto needed rear shoes and a rear wheel bearing.  Fiats can be a bit wank for parts , engine number and chassis number changes. 

For the shoes and rear w.b however its as  simple as ABS or not. Simple, wrong! Turns out its got all the brakes for an ABS car including the pick up ring on the rear hub , Just no actual abs system. 

With that on hold, i had a quick look at the cambelt, system at work suggests a later car has the same belt i have waiting for mother rews panda. Sweet, ill fit that then. Wrong!  Seems its got the wee 15mm belt for the earlier engine fitted. With the very very cracked cam belt and fiat stamped aux belt all is as it left the factory. 

Okay then, tyres. The fronts were new ish but larger size. Rears miss matched and one very cracked. Pair of 2022 partworns for 45 quid delivered next day from the usual place. Now matching size all round.

[Andyrew]

All killer no . . .

Well where have you gone?

Peek a boo! 

After filling the tank this mornig i couldnt get the cap back on. The brackets that hold up the filler neck dont appear to exist anymore. A quick clean up and some big fooking cable ties have sorted it for the moment. Some chucks of arch dirt have gone in so lets hope the fuel filters ready!