rickvw72 fleet: One lady owner Ford specialist

[rickvw72]

Bug was registered New Year’s Day, 1972. Think it would have been one of the First K plates as I’m sure they changed Jan1st back then. Wonder if original owners of both cars were a few people apart in the queue at registration office? 

[bunglebus]

Used to be Jan-Dec until 1967 when it changed to Sep-Aug. E Registrations only ran for 8 months.

You have some very nice VWs in your fleet BTW

[Ben_O]

Same welder as me.

Quality bit of kit

[rickvw72]

In a most un Honda like occasion, the Accord went on the two poster today.

Its always been a little lacking in steering feel, but lately I’ve had a mysterious clonk, and you could feel it through the wheel, plus a bit of shake through the wheel when hitting a bump at speed. I put the steeering down to being a modern motor, and decided that the old mk2 has warped my expectations of how a car should turn in.

So today, another check over all ball joints, bushes etc. All good. Felt a little play in the rack, put it down to power steering pump not running. 

Kicking my heels, I wondered about steering rack play, and a quick google showed it’s adjustable.The highlighted bit near the pinion is the adjustable thingy.

So, crack the 40mm locknut, wind adjuster all the way in, torque to 4nm, then back it out 20 degrees or eighth of a turn. Lock up locknut and done.

I did it with a protractor for accuracy, as I’m now a lecturer and not a standard spanner monkey with a buzz gun. Marked it before I moved anything, and the adjuster ended up about 90 degrees further in than before I started, so the adjuster should and now is be 20 degrees loosened from tight, before I started it was 110 degrees.

The result: steers like new, instantly felt less assisted almost, and on the way home at 70mph +vat, it goes in a straight line with your hands off the wheel. 
 

2 things to take from today.
 

1.Honda steering is adjustable if a bit wobbly.

2. This is as exciting  as Honda Accord ownership gets.

 

 

 

 

[rickvw72]

Honda repairs are the flavour of the month. I thought Jap stuff was invincible, but the old VWs are sitting there with a grin on their faces.

Civic: Finally fitted a replacement gearbox, and new clutch. Doable In about 5 hours with a ramp, so went well. Now you can hear a small whine when accelerating. Think it’s fan belt area, it’s probably been doing it for ever, but couldn’t hear over rattling gearbox. New set of tyres needed for this, to get rid of the crap budgets, and service of the brakes, and it should be sorted. 
 

Accord: Much better with the steering rack adjustment, although the offside compliance bush in the wishbone is now knocking. I’ve got the parts, so need to get on this.

Fourtrak: Still going on the welding, and may never get to the end. I’m sure the bits I’ve welded will need doing again, by the time it’s all done. 
 

Mk2 Golf: needs an mot in August, so developed a knock from underside last time I went out. split exhaust rubber. These seem to be made from stringy cheese these days. It goes through them like front tyres.

T25: Still doing T25 things, like being awesome, drinking fuel, and quietly rusting. 
 

So, the teenage Hondas are demanding attention, and the 30 year old VWs are getting on with it. Funny old world.

[rickvw72]

Accord passed its MoT, the second one in my ownership, both clean passes. Currently on 206,000 miles and returns around 47mpg. This is a great car, would 1000 percent recommend.

Only recent work has been a rear caliper rebuild, and brake fluid change. 
 

Did however notice on the MoT that both front fogs are smashed, so I’ll see what eBay has on offer to celebrate its test pass.

 

Rest of fleet update.

Civic. 1000 miles since the gearbox and clutch change and all’s good. Mild squeek on acceleration has stopped now, and it’s a peaceful thing to ride in. A little bit of CV knock is now developing, and my partner starts a new job with longer commute soon, so I’ll be needing new tyres all round and a driveshaft in the very near future. It’s on 155,000 now, and returns about 37 mpg (1.8 petrol)

Golf

Clutch is getting a bit long in the tooth, and the dizzy seals leaking oil. Will be off to bed for winter soon, so I’m looking to do a few repairs, and fit my bilstein shocks. This will probably end in suspension and steering rebuild. It’s awesome though, so I don’t care. 
Averages 25mpg. 160 odd thousand on it now. Although it’s on engine no 3.

T25

took us all round Wales earlier in the summer. And the New Forest.

Will be in the workshop this winter, a few jobs are looming.

Fourtrak

Well it’s a bit rusty.

rear inner arch is fabricated and fitted.

working on the floors this side now.  In this pic the inner sills, floor strenthener, and most of what you see of the rear bulkhead is new. 
Ill update its thread soon, as I’m nearly done on the drivers side.

Passenger side looks better, but needs the sills and floors sorting. I’d like to be done welding on this by December, so hopefully I’ll get a few hours in on it soon. Might bite the bullet and order a new fuel tank, as these seem to be appreciating a bit now. I paid £400 for it (was robbed) with an MoT, seems them says are gone now!

 

[rickvw72]

Winter 2021 update:

With all the old stuff in bed for winter, the Hondas are the only wagons on the road now.

Accord: it’s a Honda Accord. I changed the wishbone bushes a couple of months ago. Ermmm

Civic: still needs tyres, and a cv joint. Slight rattle over bumps (possible drop link methinks) has developed, as the MoT looms. Reaching top of the queue now for a bit of fettling.

T25: In the Worksop now. Despite another years use and no issues, some of the jobs need to be sorted over winter. Clutch Judder, oil leak, rear suspension bushes and rear wheel bearing is going noisy. 
Just done a compression test and got 100, 105, 95 and 120 psi on the cylinders. Which is great news.

Also snapped the bumper in a little trailer incident. Quite a bit to do then, and it needs to be back on the road for May. 
 

Fourtrak: Actually reaching the end of the tunnel. Floors, inner arches, inner sills etc are all done, welded the passenger sill on yesterday.

Parked next to the Van now. Bush winter ahead!!

Mk2: Hibernating. Will service it around may time, and possibly fit the new shocks. Planning a suspension and subframe overhaul for next winter, when the Daihatsu and Bus are done. Don’t wanna get bored! 
 

[rickvw72]

Spring update time:

T25 engine out. 
This is actually to remove the exhaust. It’s an exhaust so crusty, that it’s basically dust. I’ve been unashamedly bodging this through the last seven MOT tests, but the sands of time have run out for it.

ooh nice!

This escapade has been a full on war, 5 of the exhaust studs disintegrated on the heads, which has led to many hours of amusement with oxy acetylene, induction heaters, drills, taps the works. Got the last stud out today so the engine can be built up again over Easter holidays. We plan to camp in the van may bank holiday!

Civic. Not much happening. Driveshaft still knocking and new one here. Should get done over Easter. Could do with a brake fluid change / coolant change too.

Accord. The high miler daily finally cost some ££ to repair when the crank pulley failed this week. Cost £200 for new pulley and belt. Has developed a sporadic fault with rear central locking mech too, but an eBay replacement just £15 delivered. Gonna fix it over Easter.

Mk2. Still in bed. With Vpower at near 2 quid a litre, it’s gonna be an expensive month. Gonna get it out over Easter i hope.

Fourtrak. Despite what my partner says, has definitely not become a restoration project. 

So my Easter looks a bit like this:

This may be the first time ever a Daihatsu Fourtrak and a mig welder have ever been spotted together.

There’s also the bug and zafira. I don’t even know why I own a Zafira? These ain’t moved an inch in over 12 months. Might change if I get round to it over Easter.

[rickvw72]

T25 engine update. 
After my compression tester read 95-100 on another car, i tested it again with a mates snap on tool and got 160ish on all cylinders. Great news.

So I took out the engine.

Few wires, 4 bolts, a throttle cable and 4 bolts and she’s out. Revealing the worlds most borked exhaust system.

Exhaust removal wasn’t smooth. Ended up cutting it to bits, and having to replace all the studs in the cylinder heads. (Took 2 weeks of spare time!)

Whilst out though I cleaned up the engine.replaced all the pushrod tubes. One had a serious leak.

Painted up pulleys, covers and engine mount bar, new water pump, rebuilt rockers, new gaskets and a very expensive thermostat and housing went on. Also all new engine mounts.

put it back in

Prepped and painted the silver tray thingy. Looks great! This pic is under the rear of the van looking up.

Plumbed and wired up.

Should get it going next time. Need to put the exhaust on, fill it up with oil and coolant and a few small jobs.

Other fleet news: Civic suspension clonking, Accord needs a service. Mk2 back out, but gear linkage is acting up. Fourtrak is awaiting a bit more welding…

[Asimo]

That’s a whole lot of work!

[rickvw72]

Progress achieved!

T25 engine in and running. Whizzed it past my mates unit, and he mistook the engine tune for a Subaru. So that’s an improvement over its old brick in a washing machine tone!

It’s basically a beetle engine with water in.

Old van cleaned up well. MoT Wednesday, Santa Pod Friday is the plan!

In other fleet news:

Civic driveshaft and top mount replaced. Sounds simple, but wasn’t. Had to eventually cut the old driveshaft in half and press it out the hub, on the hottest day. Right laugh.

Accord needs a service. It’s on about 212k now. 
 

The old Mk2 is out now. Shouting at modern traffic. Hilarious fun.

Unlike present Vpower prices. Coupled with the above is a different type of hilarity. 
 

Fourtrak. Obviously needs a bit more welding. Been on back burner for a while but I’ll crack on soon.

[rickvw72]

Two new arrivals from a manufacturer I don’t normally buy.

Purchase number 1:

2009 Ford Fiesta 1.4tdci

Not a bad looking thing

Good spec with cruise, digital climate etc.

clean interior and 103k on the clock.

Managed 64mpg but does have a troublesome injector.

Unusually, it’s a one lady owner car, previous owner 10 years, Full history, used car bingo full house. (It’s spare key never been used.

 

A few weeks later:

”I’ve got an old Focus for scrap” says a customer. I agree a price and collection, turning up to find this:

1.0 EcoBoom.

Runs sweet. Has averaged 51mpg with previous owner over 7 years.

 did I mention was an older lady, had it years, Full history, with an unused spare key.

Like new inside, the. Focus had three days MoT left…

In a quandary now, as these pair are only £20 tax each, and could be 50 mpg daily drivers.

Has anyone sensible ever replaced a pair of Hondas with Peugeot engined fiesta, and a 1.0 grenade special focus? 
 

Fourtraks still dodging the scrapyard by the way (evidence in photos)