THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[KruJoe]

Full ticket on the Dolly, Wobbler! Nice one. It's a good feeling.

Shame about the tinworm though. Get it nipped in the bud before she dissolves.

 

The BX has performed well on its first day of daily duties. The alternator was whining a bit this morning (the car has stood doing nothing for a week or two), but it soon quietened down. The 1.4 is plenty fast enough really, but relaxing, comfy and spacious. People treat me nicer in this than the Subaru, that's for sure. Anyone fancy an Impreza Sport?

[Pete-M]

Just got back from Czech Republic today. If all goes well, the Escort should be finished for the end of July, beginning of August.

 

Just needs a bit of organising. Should be easy enough.

 

Going to go and see how the 604 is getting on tomorrow.

[KruJoe]

Er... £/hr (?!)

[Pete-M]

Three main reasons.

 

1) The lad who's doing it is a good friend and a perfectionist.

2) I bought the car in Germany, and Czech is a lot nearer to there so it made sense to put the two together

3) it's cheaper to do it there, and storing it there means it is a lot less likely to be stolen.

 

I should really have brought it here, but going to get it and then do all the work here would have required a big initial budget I didn't have, and I could see that Mk2 values were rising rapidly so this one wasn't going to hang around for long.

 

I go to Czech twice a year anyway, so it's just an excuse for a holiday really.

[Shep Shepherd]

TV2 passed its MOT this morning. It did need its outer CV boots replacing beforehand, but apart from that, it was fine. I'm picking it up at midday

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

The motherfuckingcocksuckingdoghumpinghitlerlovingmotfailing exhaust manifold/downpipe seal has failed on the Mini AGAIN. Its so loud I can't hear the radio anymore. THREE separate garages have attempted and failed to fix this damn thing now. Although the last garage did the best job (lasted a few months).

 

Also can't bleed the brakes on my car because my Gunson's Eeeezibleeed has a broken cap and no amount of gluing will fix it. Seeings as it's just a bottle with two holes for the pipes, I'll probably try to make one out of a jam jar and end up showering the car with broken glass and brake fluid before handing over the £15 for a new kit.

[HMC]

Just packing the w123 estate in readiness for the return leg of our trip to Germany. German E-bay meant that I had as usual snaffled up various w123/w124 bits to pack as well, which had been waiting for me since they were posted. A few moments of panic (serve me right for being greedy and ordering a new rad each for the w124 coupe and estate) but it all went in in the end. Die panzerwagen has being going well, same cannot be said for the owner, who has got some bug or other and is not feeling too great at the moment!

[Rocket88]

The motherfuckingcocksuckingdoghumpinghitlerlovingmotfailing exhaust manifold/downpipe seal has failed on the Mini AGAIN. Its so loud I can't hear the radio anymore. THREE separate garages have attempted and failed to fix this damn thing now. Although the last garage did the best job (lasted a few months).

 

I know it's stateing the bleedin' obvious, but have you checked the top engine "steady" mount? If these are a bit nadgered, ye olde A series can leap about like a good 'un, and will fracture the exhaust.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I know it's stateing the bleedin' obvious, but have you checked the top engine "steady" mount? If these are a bit nadgered, ye olde A series can leap about like a good 'un, and will fracture the exhaust.

 

Yeah, it's present and correct It all started when the original downpipe rusted and fell off, the replacement has never sealed properly.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Helpful info, thanks! I think it's time to pull the whole exhaust off and start again.

[M'coli]

Also, does it have the bottom exhaust steady that goes from just above the bend to the gearbox? I didn't refit the one on my Metro until the second time I re-attached the downpipe.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I haven't checked, but of those three garages the first was a Mini specialist, the second a Rover specialist and the last knew Minis well enough to check that stabiliser when I told him what the problem was, so my money's on the joint simply not joining well enough. Minispares sell a double sided clamp which might be worth trying.

[KruJoe]

Pete, just bang on a nice LCB.

 

(Long Centre Branch)

So many benefits, and you won't regret it. Also an excuse for a better intake manifold.

[Lankytim]

The motherfuckingcocksuckingdoghumpinghitlerlovingmotfailing exhaust manifold/downpipe seal has failed on the Mini AGAIN. Its so loud I can't hear the radio anymore. THREE separate garages have attempted and failed to fix this damn thing now. Although the last garage did the best job (lasted a few months).

 

Mega daft question. Is the clamp on upside down? I had similar with the Allegro, sealed exhaust for a few weeks till it started blowing again, turns out i'd put the two clamp sections on the wrong way up!

[boobydoo]

Frickin 'ell! Just when you think you are on top of everything, it all goes bum-tits up!!

 

After resolutely failing to start since its lay up over winter, the Chrysler 2 Litre was back on the road this week thanks to a new fuel pump and filter..plus a set of brand new tyres all round.....so off I tootle to get a quote to just get some scratches on the boot and bonnet sorted. Drives lovely...I'm happy as a pig in s**t.....arrive at destination...talk through the work needed on the Alpine....looks like it might be a goer after all....drive two minutes down the road and the Chrysler cuts out...will not start! Hmmm, the fuel filter seems a bit crud laden and rather dry so I reckon it could be dirty fuel not helping matters but a bit flummoxed as to why the new pump isn't doing its job.

 

Here's the sod broken down looking all innocent....

 

 

Call out RAC...who take 90 minutes to arrive but do manage to get her started with a manual pump and kindly follow me the 15 miles back home in case it happens again...which it does 3 times. More manual pumping of fuel gets me going again and the last five miles she runs lovely . I check the fuel quality and it seems clean now...but as I reverse into garage ...cuts out, wont start. As you know I'm not a tech minded person so I'm a bit stymied as to what the problem is. I had all the tank cleaned out last November but there is obviously still some muck in there.

 

Arrived home three hours later than planned and still had to mow the lawn. I'm knackered now.

 

So at the moment, the white Tagora is the only car up and running...the Simca ran out of MOT last week so Ive SORNED it for the time being, the red Tagora is still waiting an exhaust, the Alpine is at bodyshop......

 

 

Tagora living the high life on a night out a couple of weeks ago.!!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Hmm, will check that, Tim

 

Pete, just bang on a nice LCB.

 

(Long Centre Branch)

So many benefits, and you won't regret it. Also an excuse for a better intake manifold.

Ah that I could. It's still my mum's car - I'm promised it when my parents move south or mum gives up driving. This promise was made a fair few years ago, I hope it doesn't dissolve if my dad ever finds out what Minis go for nowadays

[M'coli]

^^^1275 posts, Peter! Anyway, I have a Minisport LCB in the garage if you need it - where abouts are you? (You mention "south"!)

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I've peen arsing around with my Argenta this evening, i have fully interrogated the injection wiring and can find absolutley nowt wrong with it, so can only conclude the ECU is pappered. One last test to do with my new NOID LIGHT after which i will have to find someone who can test/repair the ECU.

[Cavcraft]

Took the Corsa dash out this evening to see how many bulbs the last owner had had off. I think there was only three left in it and the mingebag had even had some of the bastarding bulb holders off too. Scrapyard beckons I think and I'll also have to get the screws he left out as well

Oh well, I started T-cutting a bit more of it and once I'd put the newly charged up battery on it it started first turn of the key.

 

Discovered (thankfully) that Vespa+Merc=fit in the same garage which means the Cortina is safely (or as safely as can be) parked up in my other lock-up.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

^^^1275 posts, Peter! Anyway, I have a Minisport LCB in the garage if you need it - where abouts are you? (You mention "south"!)

Onwards to 1380! I'm in Manchester. Thanks for the offer, but I reckon it'll be a few years before my name's on the V5. Until then I'll play with my Herald, while the poor Mini does 2 miles a day with the choke out the whole way.

[pogweasel]

Tomorrow I am going to view a car that is Sensible.

You know, a proper car like normal people drive.

 

I am not sure that I want to be doing this.

[M'coli]

Steady now - keep taking the tablets. I must admit, I suffered cold shivers down my spine and revulsion at the thought of this.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Hey, we all drive proper sensible cars normal people drive.

 

We just lag two or three decades behind, that's all.

[Twiggy]

Frickin 'ell! Just when you think you are on top of everything, it all goes bum-tits up!!

 

Have you checked that the vent on the fuel cap is clear ? If it is blocked, then a vacuum is created in the tank which the pump can`t overcome, giving the symptons you describe. When it happens again, remove the filler cap and listen - see if you can hear air rushing into the tank - if you can, that`s the problem. Solve it by making sure the hole in the filler cap is clear.

[Pillock]

Tomorrow I am going to view a car that is Sensible.

You know, a proper car like normal people drive.

 

I am not sure that I want to be doing this.

 

Pfft. I'm looking at Mk4 Golfs at the moment.

I've even seem some weird stuff with too many letters and not enough numbers in the registration. This confuses me.

[wuvvum]

Boobydoo, I suspect that there are many on here who would give at least one of their testicles to have that white Tagora as their only useable car, so don't complain too much.

[pogweasel]

Well amazingly* the car that was advertised was no longer available (despite us arriving 5mins after they opened).

 

Would sir care for the petrol version? Not really.

 

Or how about this lovely* 09-reg Coarser 1.3CDTi at just £6741.... let me think, oh yes, I would rather stick my head in the oven...

 

what a waste of chops.

[wuvvum]

I think there's a moral to that story somewhere. Sensible cars are a waste of time. Or something.

[boobydoo]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I shall look into it and report back! the re-usable filter sounds a good idea too!

 

Regards,

 

boobs

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I have boshed my Chavalier on eBay, no res. its gotta go!

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110672574993