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Skizzer’s thread: Honda Aerodeck repairs


Skizzer

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Huge thanks to arch-shiters and all-round scholars and gentlemen  @Vantman and @anonymous user  for cheering me up in a chilly and rather difficult week.

These arrived today and both made me smile a lot: Honda stickers and the mk1 Espace book of words’n’pictures.

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Thanks chaps. I’ll get a pint in when I see you next.

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  • 3 weeks later...

It’s glorious spring weather here today and would be perfect for taking the Lotus for a blast — except the batflu lockdown and the Elite itself both have other ideas.  Soon though.

Pic from a couple of months back, cos we love a photo.

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Meanwhile, overdue by a couple of weeks because life got badly in the way, the latest episode of Grand Thrift Auto is live.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have just watched the Lotus Elite fuel pump updates, I am looking forward to the road test. I think I will need to repair or replace the fuel pump on my SD1 and also on the Volvo 740 when I get a chance.

I really enjoy watching your video’s , please keep us updated when more are released.

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6 hours ago, Shite Ron said:

I have just watched the Lotus Elite fuel pump updates, I am looking forward to the road test. I think I will need to repair or replace the fuel pump on my SD1 and also on the Volvo 740 when I get a chance.

I really enjoy watching your video’s , please keep us updated when more are released.

Thanks!

I was very much hoping to do the road test today but of course the Lotus isn’t playing ball and won’t start at all after last weekend’s triumph. Soon I hope.

I think the Royale’s issues may be fuel pump related too. I might as well rename the channel GrandFuktFuelPump.

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  • Skizzer changed the title to Skizzer’s GrandThriftAuto shed life

Thanks chaps!

15 minutes ago, spartacus said:

How do you get the camera to move, first looking at you then panning round to look out of the windscreen? Or do you just have a small, willing, quiet helper?

It’s a genuine miracle of modern technology - the in-car footage is shot on an Insta360 360 degree camera and then positioned  in post-production.  I just drag the view around in an app on my phone and then export the result as normal HD video. It’s amazingly easy and looks like I’ve got an actual camera person, who has the presence of mind to point at things like the collapsing glovebox.

I also sometimes use an iPhone on a DJI Osmo Mobile gimbal/tripod, which swivels the phone around to track a subject such as me or (in this case) a car driving out of a shed.

When I can persuade the Lotus to stretch its duty cycle beyond 20 minutes I’ll do a proper road test with some external shots too.

Maybe one day I’ll do a ‘making of’ video, if that would be interesting to anyone?

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1 hour ago, spartacus said:

So you could potentially make one of those trippy films where you can watch on your phone and as you move and tilt, so does the picture? I had vaguely wondered how that works.

Yes, you can, just by uploading the raw 360degree footage. I plan to try this soon, just as a ‘virtual passenger ride’ - just needs a day with less direct sunlight and being allowed/able to visit a more scenic road.

 Thanks for watching and hope you enjoy the back catalogue! Won’t take long, I’m still  just starting out really.

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24 minutes ago, spartacus said:

Just watched again with Mrs Spart, she was intrigued by the camera work when I explained it. I don't know if you've thought about it but she felt she was trying to look over the dash all the time, ie, could the camera go slightly higher, or is there a reason why not?

Ah, yes, there is a very good technical reason — I fucked up 😁

It’s on a suction mount stuck to the window, so fully adjustable.  I just mounted it too low, aligned with the headrest which is really more of a neck rest, and didn’t check it.  Lesson learned for next time.  

Apols to Mrs Spartacus for giving her neck ache!

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50 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

There's one thing that's puzzling me about this video.  When you dropped it into third and put your foot down at 3:05, you then shifted up into fourth, but it then sounds like you shifted up again at 3:12 without moving the gear lever?

Hollywood, innit?

The 5 speed Mustang in Bullitt and the 17 speed Charger in Fast & Furious 👍

Cracking work, chief!

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7 hours ago, wuvvum said:

There's one thing that's puzzling me about this video.  When you dropped it into third and put your foot down at 3:05, you then shifted up into fourth, but it then sounds like you shifted up again at 3:12 without moving the gear lever?

@garethj has it right, the 503 spec includes  the Hollywood gearbox option.

Also I was so excited at driving the car that forgot to clap to make it easier to synch the video and audio tracks. Oops.

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Quick fleet update.

The XJ-S is back from my local Jaguar specialist (Mister Matic) with a fresh MOT.

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It was misfiring, which they traced to a split vacuum hose to the ECU, but the plugs needed cleaning as a result of overfuelling. You can see which bank wasn’t well.

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It’s running much better after the work so I took it for a run.  When I gave it a proper shove it started hesitating at higher revs though. Hmm.  It’s driveable but I’ll put it back in after Easter for some further de-snagging.

 

If you’ve watched the movie you’ll know the Lotus was running hot. Having checked the expansion tank today it turns out to be low on coolant — but I’m sure it was ok the other week when I first resurrected it. Either I was mistaken or it’s lost some somewhere.

There’s no puddle but also no obvious sign of HGF, so that’s a mystery. I’ll give it a flush and refill it, and we’ll see what happens.

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The Honda Accord continues just to work.  
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@RobT has done more good things to improve the Espace, but I’ll let him report on those himself.  I need to visit London for various legitimate reasons next month and hope to swing by and visit the Matra-Renault of my dreams.

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22 minutes ago, Skizzer said:

It was misfiring, which they traced to a split vacuum hose to the ECU, but the plugs needed cleaning as a result of overfuelling. You can see which bank wasn’t well.

When I had an XJS I remember reading that one of the plugs was directly under part of the aircon components so they were rarely changed.  It’s very difficult to tell the difference between a V12 and a V11 when it’s running.

If lockdown ever lifts and I’m back in Wales to visit family, I’ll shake you by the hand for your heroism, Skiz👍

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9 minutes ago, garethj said:

When I had an XJS I remember reading that one of the plugs was directly under part of the aircon components so they were rarely changed.  It’s very difficult to tell the difference between a V12 and a V11 when it’s running.

If lockdown ever lifts and I’m back in Wales to visit family, I’ll shake you by the hand for your heroism, Skiz👍


You’re right - it runs pretty well as a V11, and was entirely driveable on the way to its MOT as a V10. Just a little less smooth.

I trust these guys to have done the plugs but you’re right - the back ones are under the scuttle and the front ones are under the aircon.  In fact everything is under something else in that Death Star engine bay.

I’m not very heroic, I farm out almost all the work on this one. It gives me the fear. You’re welcome to come round though!

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1 hour ago, wuvvum said:

Dangel conversion?

Ha, that was me trying to keep it level when changing the gearbox oil.

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The old stuff looked like toffee, and this was my attempt at improving the gear change.  But ultimately it needed a new clutch, so with Skizzer's wallet considerably lighter I collected it this week from a local clutch specialist.  Oh my, that was worth spending someone else's money on.  It's a joy to drive now!

Next up, tyres fitted on Friday.

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Ride and tracking improved as it was pulling to the left a bit, so yet another win.

Hopefully the final big job for a while is a new radiator.  The current one has a slight leak from the base, and considering it had HGF in 2016 I'm not sure it's worth taking the risk of leaving it.  Having Simca stamped on the side denotes it's probably the original one.

I thought it'd be a complete arse of a job, but six bolts and the slam panel is off giving access, and we've found a new replacement for £bearable so that's good.

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I make sure I take my time when working on this, not just because I'm merely the temporary custodian, but the fear of unobtainium is never far from my mind...

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More news on the Espace.  The new radiator went in yesterday.

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And yes, those are pieces of cardboard either side.  I think it's running a touch cooler now, but I'll only know fully when I take it for a run.  The coolant that came out looked good, blue and not rust coloured, so that's encouraging.

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4 hours ago, RobT said:

More news on the Espace.  The new radiator went in yesterday.

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And yes, those are pieces of cardboard either side.  I think it's running a touch cooler now, but I'll only know fully when I take it for a run.  The coolant that came out looked good, blue and not rust coloured, so that's encouraging.

I really should abandon cars outside @RobT’s  house more often!

 

6 hours ago, brownnova said:

Just watched your last couple of videos, have to say I’m really enjoying them. Loving the stop motion bits they are fascinating to see bits taken apart, and the close working videos work really well! 

Thanks a lot, very glad you’re enjoying them 😊 There’ll be another out shortly, probably  tomorrow. 

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