Workshop/Project car going ons. With some Sparkly stick action.

[JMotor]

55 minutes ago, Matty said:

you'll have to keep it forever.

Total cost hasn't been that bad. Ah well, it's more me correcting the shit I've uncovered. 

More time and lack of use that is annoying me. I want something back for my efforts if you know what I mean.

[Matty]

3 minutes ago, JMotor said:

Total cost hasn't been that bad. Ah well, it's more me correcting the shit I've uncovered. 

More time and lack of use that is annoying me. I want something back for my efforts if you know what I mean.

Yer but that'll come. Mines been an absolute fuck on as well.

[Noel Tidybeard]

rear arb fitted to mg maestro & montego turbot & raver 200 bubble

[JMotor]

Been dicking about with the top mounts on the Maestro.

I'd like to put this here as someone may find this useful info for theirs.

Later MK3 Golf ones DO NOT fit. Even after sanding the utter crap out of it. So gave up on that idea.

The 6N Polo ones that came with the car also don't fit without modification. Plus the top caps just sit on top. So they don't clamp down to hold the top of the shock and the top of the struts move about when the car is jacked up. No bueno pal.

Looking at MK2 Polo ones. They look damn close to fitting according to the Febi Bilstein catalogue. 

Yes the joke is bolting VAG parts on. Yet again. That's the only choice now.

This is starting to annoy me. As I have other projects I desperately want to get cracked on with. So I will finish this, as it annoys me more I'm being beaten by something daft.

[grogee]

[JMotor]

I have a winner.

A pal messaged me to say he found a VW top mount donut thingy.

That and an M14 washer. The donut fits perfectly into the strut tower.

Gone from this gap when it's on the floor with 6N top mounts.

To this.

Just need to buy two and that's it done. Nice!

[grogee]

Can you share the part no details please? Good work, Agent JMotor. 

[JMotor]

No probs.

These can be bought for about £7 each. It was superceded to this mount which will also work if you ditch that plate with the bearing in it. This mount has the bearing and plate all as one. About £12 for those off eBay.

[JMotor]

Parts delivered. Fitted tonight.

Front suspension is finished. Threw the wheel trims on just to see how it'll look. Feels right seeing it raised back up.

Rear bump stops, small coolant leak and reset of the handbrake mechanism should be all it needs now. 

[Matty]

BL cars. They get under your skin (and fingernails, hair, clothes etc etc) 😄

[IronStar]

I absolutely love the irony of the fact that every time we run into NLA parts for our VW-direct-competitor cars, something, somewhere, in VW parts bin will fit, albeit with some modifications. It’s as if all of them started by taking apart then-current Golf or Polo, and every time they were in doubt, copied their solution, but changed it just enough so you can’t bolt VW part right up to keep their aftermarket parts arm in business. 

[JMotor]

I agree and you nail it with their thinking.

Glad it does. Because as you'll understand it's a pain to find the OE gear now. Understandably no-one cared enough to keep the parts in production and the stock that was left has now been consumed.

I was surprised by your Florida that it used (albeit slightly modified) MK2 Golf rear dampers! I honestly thought it used Tipo components for the chassis.

[IronStar]

40 minutes ago, JMotor said:

I agree and you nail it with their thinking.

Glad it does. Because as you'll understand it's a pain to find the OE gear now. Understandably no-one cared enough to keep the parts in production and the stock that was left has now been consumed.

I was surprised by your Florida that it used (albeit slightly modified) MK2 Golf rear dampers! I honestly thought it used Tipo components for the chassis.

Yeah, I’m really glad they did. Without VW and dubbers, we’d be SOL or stuck building bespoke solutions at €€€€. I was honestly pondering going all in if I didn’t get the parts, and going for a custom air lift suspension, which would probably be a sight to behold, but take quite a bit of saving to do. 😄

As for the stock, it’s still there, in a garage of someone who got a bunch of leftovers that no one wanted, but getting to that stock is becoming a huge challenge, despite owner’s clubs, Facebook, and all other things.

Florida is genuinely designed for and by Zastava, not a badge engineered Fiat with slightly different body. They seeming used the same school of car development - take contemporary Ritmo and Golf apart, and wherever unsure copy the solution they had.  They had no previous experience of designing the suspension, so they helped themselves to most of mk2 Golf’s rear suspension, and general design of Ritmo’s front. 

[JMotor]

Some mucking about today with the Maestro.

I like picking away at small details that does help the function of the car. 

Rear dampers are fitted with new bump stops and dust covers. This also includes my next favourite/hateful past time. Part number crunching. I WILL find a suitable alternative.

Corsa D rear dampers use something I can make work. I threw them in as is and will refine them if they need modification. Cheap too at about 15 of the pounds to my doorstep. 

Insurance sorted. Tax to do next, nowt to be fussing with. As the car has current test I wanna use that time to bed stuff in.

I also ripped on the handbrake on a section near by that was of loose material. Tells you straight away which brake works or not. A handy tip I was given by an MOT tester years ago. Just wish I could remember my own mobile number as well 😆. Appears after my fiddling with the mechanism, the car now has a handbrake and seems to lock both rear wheels. I cannie move either one by hand. So I call that done for now.

Tomorrow I hope to fix my previous bodge fix on the heater matrix pipes and replace the front brake pads.

This is a stupid amount of buggering about for a very unloved car. Reason is, I will be using this car again and it's a small pet hate of mine having stuff that should work not work. 

More of the same nonsense will be updated tomorrow.

[Matty]

21 hours ago, JMotor said:

This is a stupid amount of buggering about for a very unloved car

Don't believe this statement. You well like this car and everyone knows it 🫡

[JMotor]

Yeah, you got me 😆.

I do like this thing.

So much so....

It's now back on the road. Taxed it this evening and have gone for a run to the town to see how everything is. So far it's ok.

MOT booked for the 20th. Good chance to bed new parts in. 

[Matty]

Me Uncle sent me its Grandad earlier. No space on the deck for me but looks like good cheap fun for not much north of a grand!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186773921257?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=VONCJbnCQFC&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=svwv9r4orxa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[JMotor]

7 minutes ago, Matty said:

Me Uncle sent me its Grandad earlier. No space on the deck for me but looks like good cheap fun for not much north of a grand!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186773921257?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=VONCJbnCQFC&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=svwv9r4orxa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

That looks really tidy and no that's not expensive considering it's complete and looks solid. 

[Matty]

Yeah I mean I don't want an Allegro myself but it proves there's are inexpensive ways for younger lads to get into an old car. Needs a visit from the pumpy up robot mind. 

[JMotor]

It is and also yeah the A40 is enough I'd say. Multiple projects is just pain.

I also bet it's soddin' easier to buy parts for an Allegro too!

😭

 

[grogee]

1 hour ago, JMotor said:

Yeah, you got me 😆.

I do like this thing.

So much so....

It's now back on the road. Taxed it this evening and have gone for a run to the town to see how everything is. So far it's ok.

MOT booked for the 20th. Good chance to bed new parts in. 

Fuck yeah! Nice work. I can hear the knicker elastic snapping from here. 

Now we're motoring. 

[grogee]

How bloody annoying is this. 

Also just spotted a pair of nos rear shocks... Sorry @JMotor! 

[JMotor]

You know what's more annoying.

That's the fella I bought the original set of shocks off of.

He said he only had one top mount! 

[JMotor]

Also no need to apologise @grogee.

It's just typical really. Plus, I can't find anything wrong with the Polo ones I used.

Saw those shocks too. Portugal of all places! Fortunately all of mine are now new. But if I had searched for "struts" I could of got a pair front shocks a lot easier and cheaper!

Ach. The car is now sorted and working. Took it to work yesterday for a run. 

Pretty happy with the ride height now, looks level.

Edit - To be fair to the lad. He did help me massively with getting me sorted with the original set of suspension to cobble the parts I needed from. So I shall not complain!

[grogee]

1 hour ago, JMotor said:

Also no need to apologise @grogee.

It's just typical really. Plus, I can't find anything wrong with the Polo ones I used.

Saw those shocks too. Portugal of all places! Fortunately all of mine are now new. But if I had searched for "struts" I could of got a pair front shocks a lot easier and cheaper!

Ach. The car is now sorted and working. Took it to work yesterday for a run. 

Pretty happy with the ride height now, looks level.

Edit - To be fair to the lad. He did help me massively with getting me sorted with the original set of suspension to cobble the parts I needed from. So I shall not complain!

I got a few bits off him, he's alright. 

Glad you're motoring in style. I hope it stays behaving itself. 

[JMotor]

A pal messaged me if I was up for heading out for lunch and some photos of his Golf and the Maestro.

I totally jumped at the chance! 

Then another friend decided to join in with his car.

We were only out for a couple of hours at most. Yet it was very enjoyable. Think we'll have to do this again when the weather isn't as shite/cold!

Maestro is running a little better every time is out and about. May need the carb or fuel system looked at as it does stutter going up the revs. Does rev up. Just could be smoother at it. 

Haven't checked to see if there was any oil in the dash pot yet. A refresh kit and a new fuel filter will be on the cards soon.

More work to do tomorrow. My matrix pipes fix wasn't enough to sort my issue. Have an idea to refix the fix.

[Matty]

Smooth and a series. Does not compute kidder 😆

 

(Probs just dashpot as you said)

[JMotor]

MOT day for the Maestro.

This thing wants to live!

Bugger! I promised it I'd fix the back arches if it passed. Well that will be when the better weather comes in again next year.

Also have a few days off for this week. Think an overdue clean out of my bay is in order. 

 

[JMotor]

Matrix pipes burst this evening. My bodge fix only lasted a week. 

That's terribly inconvenient.

Great another NLA part fucked. I'll either have to make all new ones OR pray someone has a decent/less shit set that they might part with.

[IronStar]

40 minutes ago, JMotor said:

Matrix pipes burst this evening. My bodge fix only lasted a week. 

That's terribly inconvenient.

Great another NLA part fucked. I'll either have to make all new ones OR pray someone has a decent/less shit set that they might part with.

Would some sort of a VW part work? Even if it means replacing the matrix with VW one?