The grumpy thread

[Bren]

Been at home makes a huge difference. My mother in law asked to come home to us when she was told nothing more could be done. I would never refuse the last wish of somebody nearing the end.

 

52 is no age. My thoughts are with his friends and family.

[DVee8]

That's just awful. The kind words that you all have written are very heart warming. I haven't met the bloke, but sad just sad.

[oldcars]

Sad news indeed. Poor chap, no age at all.

[155V6]

Very sad,RIP Oldford.

[trigger]

I'm not sure if he's actually passed away yet, last night the nurse said she doubted he would last the night but I haven't heard anything today.

[trigger]

I will just leave this here though. Our Shitefest at Stonton motor museum in 2010 and the happy bunch, John's on the far right.

 

[wuvvum]

Also featuring the legendary Pogweasel.

[Cavcraft]

What a terrible shame, rest in peace, OldFord.

[warren t claim]

I will just leave this here though. Our Shitefest at Stonham motor museum in 2010 and the happy bunch, John's on the far right.

 

I was looking for the Reservoir Pogs photo earlier.

[M'coli]

^^^ I'd forgotten about that!

[RoadworkUK]

This is quite desperately sad news.

 

I'm not especially prone to saying emotional things online, but Oldford, mate, though I only met you a few times, I'm going to seriously miss you.

 

We all will. Need more chaps like you out there. All the best mate.

[Lankytim]

Bad times

[dollywobbler]

That picture came straight to my mind as well. Nice bloke. Very good of you to go and say goodbye Trig. 

[Noel Tidybeard]

195 55 15 when what I need is 195 50 15, not much of a difference but I'd rather have the right ones. I'd had the right size saved in my watch list for ages from a different supplier but when I went to buy them, they were out of stock.

 

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg4.html

this will help

[Supernaut]

HP Enterprise support.

 

"Support"

 

 

 

I had to terminate the call before I gnawed a hole through my desk. Yes, I know your system isn't accepting the serial number. The only reason I'm calling you is because your automated system on the website doesn't accept that serial number, and I'd put money on you using the same shitty database as the website.

Why do you keep telling me it's an invalid product number? Go and google J9536A and you'll see the exact piece of hardware I'm trying to log a call for.

 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! I'll have a coffee and try again.

[Captain Furious]

Cisco

[bub2006]

Echoing what has been saidesigned already but thoughts with oldfords family. I don't think I ever met him but the point is irrelevant. Top bloke for going to see him trigger.

[Lacquer Peel]

Sad to hear about oldford and reflect on posts about his illness on the open forum. 

[trigger]

I've spoken to a friend who been to see him and surprisingly he's still with us, although he's no better and still bed ridden and mostly out of It. Goes to show that the nurses don't always get it right and what a fighter he has been.

[Mally]

It's a difficult thing.

They rang me at work when my dad was in Hospital, said you had better come he won't last the day out.

He died at home 6 weeks later.

[omegod]

Cruising nicely along the M57 at 70 on the inside lane when the van in front pulls sharply into the middle lane, I'm suddenly faced with a fucking horse staring at me   , now this horse hadn't mastered the art of running backwards at 70 mph but that would have been brilliant  , no..it was staring at me from the horsebox being towed at 30 MPFH by a fat old bird in a battered discovery, cue some artful braking to prevent me being responsible for some suspiciously cheap lasagne hitting the shelves of your local Iceland.

 

Scary bit was when I eventually got past her she wasn't even watching the fucking road, scarier than that bit she was then joining the M62 

[FakeConcern]

Well reading about the various illnesses that people have posted about makes my problems pale into insignificance although as Neil Young once said "Though my problems are meaningless, that don't make them go away".

 

Anyway a couple of weeks ago the clutch thrust bearing seized on my C4 VTS, despite it being worth nothing I had it fixed with a complete new clutch. That's not the Grump though, today I was 170 miles into a trip to the Ten Of The Best car show to meet with my C4 UK group pals when the clutch started slipping badly and I turned around and came home.

 

Obviously I will take it to the mechanic who fitted the clutch to look at, but what could be wrong? Maybe a leaking crankshaft oil seal, although why that should suddenly fail now when it was fine before I don't know?

I have just heard from my mechanic and it turns out the gearbox primary shaft bearing had failed leaving the shaft flapping about & pissing oil all over the clutch. Looks like it's the end of the VTS.

[panhard65]

I have just heard from my mechanic and it turns out the gearbox primary shaft bearing had failed leaving the shaft flapping about & pissing oil all over the clutch. Looks like it's the end of the VTS.

That bearing is a pretty common fail on these boxes. It isn't that hard to repair and bearing kits are about 90 quid. I have done 4 or 5 of these now. You need a press for a couple of the bearings. I used the guys I bought the bearings off as they did it for a drink.

[Skizzer]

Truly awful news about John.  I've only met him a couple of times but he's a proper gentleman, and no age at all.  

 

Here's a picture of his blue Sierra at Shitefest 2012.  It is a credit to his skills and his quiet, unassuming passion.  It was that clean you could happily use the spare wheel well as a salad bowl, though I suspect John wouldn't let you.  

 

OldFordJohn's (immaculate) Old Ford by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Farewell sir.

 

 

 

Trig, you're a good man for going to say goodbye and share your news about the Rover.

[FakeConcern]

That bearing is a pretty common fail on these boxes. It isn't that hard to repair and bearing kits are about 90 quid. I have done 4 or 5 of these now. You need a press for a couple of the bearings. I used the guys I bought the bearings off as they did it for a drink.

Thanks for the info. The car has done 197000 miles so I really can't complain, just bad timing. I'm not sure my mechanic would be willing to rebuild the box. He had a phone around for a second hand one, but no luck or he suggested getting it rebuilt, either way, I feel I've already spent too much on the car and it's time to move on.

[Angrydicky]

Truly awful news about John. As others have said, no age at all and a thoroughly nice chap to boot. His cars were/are immaculate and the condition of his Sierra always was especially pleasing as he kept it outside, but due to the effort and maintenance he put in it always looked perfect.

[trigger]

Trig, you're a good man for going to say goodbye and share your news about the Rover.

It was the very least I could do, we had some good laughs, the first time we really met was back in 2010 when I had a crash on my way to view a car in Nottingham, he messaged me on here to offer to run me there the following day to view it in his stunning Sierra, since then we have spent a lot of time together at shows and at the club meets I run as well as all the help he gave me when I had my Cortina.

 

I took him to BL Day this time last year in my Dolomite and he took me to Gaydon in his amazing Cortina which really was the love of his life, I think it's probably the best Cortina in the country now.

 

 

I found this photo earlier from SF12 when we done the quiz, what a great laugh we had!.

 

[Timewaster]

I will just leave this here though. Our Shitefest at Stonton motor museum in 2010 and the happy bunch, John's on the far right.

 

Spookily earlier this evening I looked at the Face to Name thread and found that very picture. (I'm on the left).

 

I've followed Johns updates on his health and not once has he complained about his lot. A true gent.

May his days be peaceful and painless.

[trigger]

I didn't realise you was Tontops!

[Timewaster]

I didn't realise you was Tontops!

Busted!