The Doctor's travels through time. Fin.

[DoctorRetro]

That'll do for now to keep the roof dry. I will do it properly soon. 

[SmokinWaffle]

5 hours ago, Andyrew said:

Have fun with it, thats all that counts. 

Well said.

Good job Doc - looks like a little cracker to me! Excited to see what you do with it.

37 minutes ago, TheDoctor said:

That'll do for now to keep the roof dry. I will do it properly soon. 

Looking good!

[Angrydicky]

Just seeing those black wheels has reminded me that someone I worked with about 10 years ago had an identical one complete with black wheels. Think it might have been a 5 door. They were getting thin on the ground even then.

[Angrydicky]

2 hours ago, TheDoctor said:

I've had a look at the sills and the original jacking points are still intact, so that must count for something. I think it's just another neglected 'old person' car that just needs a bit of care. 

I'm going to nickname it 'Scrappy Doo', as it's like a little puppy and it's a smaller version of the R8. I guess that means the Fenlander is 'Scooby Doo' 🤣

Yes, it certainly looks like it’s rusted just through being sat out in the rain for years, not through being used loads.

Roof is a tricky repair - it will want to warp very easily. Would be worth getting some of that Frosts Cold Front and having an assistant hold a copper plate underneath to help avoid it blowing through. Headlining out obviously. I’d give it a go if I owned it but not many people would.

[andy18s]

If you're going to get a bit slaphappy with the fibreglass, you may as well go big!

😁😁

[SiC]

55 minutes ago, Angrydicky said:

I’d give it a go if I owned it but not many people would.

Same. Looks a nice little welding project that one. Helps that most of the body is 80s straight edges!

[bunglebus]

OK who had 24 hours before the Poundland matt black came out? I thought it would be the weekend at the earliest 

[SRi05]

5 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

OK who had 24 hours before the Poundland matt black came out? I thought it would be the weekend at the earliest 

I'm hoping for it to come out on that bonnet tbf 

[camryv6]

1 hour ago, andy18s said:

If you're going to get a bit slaphappy with the fibreglass, you may as well go big!

😁😁

A five door 6r4, that is rare 😉

[cort1977]

On 10/6/2020 at 11:48 PM, doubleyeller said:

Have you seen the crash test videos for these? Absolute death traps!! I mean, the hole in the roof doesn't matter on a car which has no structural strength whatsoever anyway! 

Wrong forum m9.

[Cord Fourteener]

15 hours ago, andy18s said:

If you're going to get a bit slaphappy with the fibreglass, you may as well go big!

😁😁

I like the detail of the teeny tiny steely on the rear in the massive arch.

[DoctorRetro]

Last pictures of all 3 cars together. Corsa goes tonight. 

 

I've had the Fenlander parked on the road outside for a couple of days so as not to take up 3 spaces in the car park. What is my reward for being a considerate neighbour? 🙄😔

[UltraWomble]

8 minutes ago, TheDoctor said:

Last pictures of all 3 cars together. Corsa goes tonight. 

 

I've had the Fenlander parked on the road outside for a couple of days so as not to take up 3 spaces in the car park. What is my reward for being a considerate neighbour? 🙄😔

I have exactly the same problem where I live - park on the road and someone will twat both your mirrors

[New POD]

 

On 07/10/2020 at 17:30, andy18s said:

If you're going to get a bit slaphappy with the fibreglass, you may as well go big!

😁😁

I've always hated the 5 door shell. 

Always.  So much better balanced as a 3 door visually. 

I'd forgive them if they put a proper engine in and grafted in a 4x4 powertrain. 

[DoctorRetro]

Perhaps start a new thread to criticise other people's cars or talk about how many doors you prefer instead of clogging up mine? 😁 Just a thought. 😜

[theshadow]

what a tosser,on your wingmirror,any paint flecks,.

[DoctorRetro]

12 minutes ago, theshadow said:

what a tosser,on your wingmirror,any paint flecks,.

No, the body of the mirror is mostly unharmed, just the glass needs replacing. 

[DoctorRetro]

Small update - fitted a replacement indicator unit. 

[N Dentressangle]

On 10/6/2020 at 7:46 PM, sgtberbatov said:

I don't think the 1.1 litre engines suffer as badly as the others. Can't remember where I read that. I've been known to be wrong before.

Mine mixed its oil in with the water:

Easy fix and nothing to worry about.

I like the Metro. It does its job well, has a bit of character and is much better designed and built than a Mini! Occasional tickles with a welder and yours will go on forever.

[DoctorRetro]

And blasted the wheel trims with silver and popped them back on. 

 

Put a 'sporty' back box on the R8, makes it sound a bit more fuity, but it sits at a jaunty angle as I've cocked up the angles etc. I'll get some more bits and pieces to sort it, but it's functional for now. 

Littlun said 'Have you done that picture with your foot on the bumper for the beige forum yet?' 

 

[DoctorRetro]

Took the Metro to jet wash the engine bay today. Now we all know how scary a prospect that can be. So I wrapped the dizzi in a bag, and kept the engine running while I did it. It nearly went to plan, until one of the cylinders stopped firing... A little drive round the block and it dried out enough to start going again, but it was a scary moment. Thought I was going to end up stranded in Pitsea! 

Worth it though. 

Before :

After:

 

While messing with it, I noticed one of the vacuum hoses had snapped its mounting, and some of the others were a bit worse for wear. So swapped them for some hose I had in the cupboard. Unfortunately it is green, but hey, function over form. 

 

I bought some linseed oil and applied some to the Fenlander. It works a treat. 

[ProgRocker]

On 10/8/2020 at 5:08 PM, TheDoctor said:

I've had the Fenlander parked on the road outside for a couple of days so as not to take up 3 spaces in the car park. What is my reward for being a considerate neighbour? 🙄😔

What a prick. Mind, think of it this way - you have a more interesting take on cars than the culprit.

Mine got keyed down both sides on two occasions when the car park by my flat was full and tried to be equally considerate. Some passer by rather than a neighbour I think.

[danthecapriman]

I’ve not seen your thread for a while...

Love the Metro! Looks a brilliant little thing, scrubbing up really nice. Rover is looking great too.

[outlaw118]

28 minutes ago, TheDoctor said:

Thought I was going to end up stranded in Pitsea!

Fuck that.

[ETCHY]

Makes you realize what a properly small car the Metro & cars of its generation were.

I liked it when small cars were small, not some of the barges we have today.

That was a supermini, look at the size of a modern Polo !

 

[big_al_granvia]

that wee rover 100 is cute, 1st car i spannered as an apprentice was a metro, did brakes and oil change

[BL Bloke]

On 10/9/2020 at 5:04 PM, TheDoctor said:

Small update - fitted a replacement indicator unit. 

When I had my Metro back in the 90's I had to replace a few indicators due to the lenses  falling off and that was bought new. Must have been some poor quality adhesive holding them on.

Well bought by the way, it's already looking a lot better. The engine bay clean has made a big difference. 

[danthecapriman]

38 minutes ago, big_al_granvia said:

that wee rover 100 is cute, 1st car i spannered as an apprentice was a metro, did brakes and oil change

I remember doing Metro’s from my time in a garage, didn’t the rear brakes require a little spanner with a square hole instead of a normal type?

[big_al_granvia]

58 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

I remember doing Metro’s from my time in a garage, didn’t the rear brakes require a little spanner with a square hole instead of a normal type?

cant remember, the front driveshaft nut was a awkward size, 3/4 whitworth was the best fit

[DoctorRetro]

In a bad mood with myself, I managed to cock up the exhaust bodgery earlier, but got it airtight and secure*. Only for it to vibrate itself loose again on the way back from Chelmsford. Now the tip is about an inch from the ground and the pipe is resting on the anti roll bar. 🙄

Going to have to dismantle and rebuild/bodge tomorrow. 

I wish I either knew what I was doing or knew someone else who does. Just seems I go from one disaster to another. I couldn't even manage to clean the engine bay today without cutting my fingers twice. 

But hey, we do this because we love old cars eh? 😂