THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[Guest]

As you asked nicely! It's a K11 Micra. Very dull, very cheap, very economical.

 

It seems to drive alright and had plenty more torque than i was expecting (Maybe i'm just used to a puffed out old Peugeot)

 

Autoshite News 24:

 

Much confusion at the Minimad5 house today with alloy wheels, but they suit thy Mk1 Fiesta rather alot

Shame they didn't fit on the 309 ........ Hope you don't mind me trying them for "fit" and how they look Watanabe

 

Go for it.

 

I might lob one on the 305 just to confirm my suspicions about there not being enough room to clear the brakes, but in all honesty they would look better on the Fiesta then the Peugeot. I have some 6" 106 Rallye steels lined up for it, just so you know.

 

I also have most of the pieces now for a small service, and the timing is due to be adjusted soon. Add some Serck plates and some suitably coloured bulbs and we're halfway to completed a distinctly half arsed load carrier project.

 

And all that occurred before the landlord starting moaning.

[Tayne]

.

[Guest]

 

Top of the pile would have to be an 04 type Peugeot, probably a 404 because of their capacity for taking abject levels of abuse throughout the African continent.

I suspect a few Volvo 240s could be dusted down, too. Then you have the blue Mercedes Sprinter van from The Last Train, several models of Tatra military trucks, Woody Allen reincarnated as a VW Beetle........

 

And then yeah, I suppose a K11 Micra would be next.

 

I'm going to throw a Series Land Rover in there.

 

Not just any Series LR though.

One with ineffectual brakes, flintstone footwells, a hole in the rear crossmember you could drive a Smart car through, an Exxon Valdex - esque oil leak, one flat tyre and a bodywork patch made of an inapropriate material such as driftwood or half a plastic fuel can.

You can find this motor pulling boats out of the sea on a beach near you.

 

Land Rovers are allowed in my dystopia of shite. I am sorry for not including them in the first place.

 

Also, WTF am I doing as your avatar?

[eddyramrod]

I suspect it's your expression. It's one of those you just couldn't make up. Do you know how highly photographers prize such a natural shot?

[Tayne]

.

[barefoot]

It seems to drive alright and had plenty more torque than i was expecting

 

I've been completely blown away by the amount of torque that my Scirocco has.

In the book it says 125ft/lb at 2500rpm, but it just pulls from no revs at all.

I can drop it into top at 25mph & forget about it, I've even started to go around roundabouts in fifth.

 

I think it's because its such a contrast to the 944S which is a frantic 16 valver and although

the book says 163ft/lb at 4000rpm, below that there's nothing and above that engine speed its frantic city.

[Richard]

I'm going to throw a Series Land Rover in there.

 

Not just any Series LR though.

One with ineffectual brakes, flintstone footwells, a hole in the rear crossmember youy could drive a Smart car through, an Exxon Valdex - esque oil leak, one flat tyre and a bodywork patch made of an inapropriate material such as driftwood or half a plastic fuel can.

You can find this motor pulling boats out of the sea on a beach near you.

 

Get with the times man!

 

DSC_5368 by RichardB5, on Flickr

[meggersdog]

So this afternoon I had a spare few minutes and decided to replace the rear wheelbearing on the Fiat.When I collected the bearing it turns out to be a complete hub.Nice easy job then,eh.Fiat fit the hub to the stub axle using a 19mm allen bolt and a 32mm nut.The allen bolt goes through from the wheel side leaving the nut and thread exposed on the inside of the stub axle.Hmmm,yeah nice one Fiat.16 years worth of rust and crap on a thread that you can barely get a wire brush to.

My allen keys only go up to 17mm so I used a 19mm pipe nut with a smaller nut inside the socket leaving half the nut in the socket and half to go in the allen bolt.Although there is room for a socket on the nut there isn't room for a ratchet or breaker bar so I used a 32mm spanner.Now I've got socket on the breaker bar held onto the allen bolt with my right knee,my left foot is pressing down on the end of the breaker bar.With my right hand holding the spanner onto the nut my one remaining limb was then used to whack the end of the spanner with a lump hammer.After a while the nut became loose enough to use the battery powered bolt gun on my improvised allen key.

Oh what fun.All done now though.

[Cavcraft]

So the lad's 106 was overheating and there was no hot air. Picked him up from work in it just now and because I got bored whilst I waiting I took the expansion cap off. Much lol-age from the lads in his works as a large geyser erupted and promptly 'cleaned' the engine bay.

 

Topped the water up, 'phoned Halfords and they had a thermostat in. Set off to collect it, car stopped overheating and the interior heater got toasty hot as it should have done. Now I reckon either the thermostat has started working again or there was an airlock or something. Anyhow going to fit the 'stat in a mo and bleed the water and see what happens.

Oh, due to having a Trade Card said part went from £7.99 to £4.99 so much happiness there.

[M'coli]

A 2 litre pop bottle with the base cut off and a bit of kitchen roll wrapped around the spout makes an ideal "header tank" when bleeding 106 cooling systems.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

After market thermostats are the Devil's work.

[Lord Sterling]

Had a call from the garage yesterday, they have finally fitted the gearbox in the 827 Sterling, however for ATF they used was Dexron 2. From my understanding only Hondamatic should be used for complete refill and Dexron for top ups. I think I'll order some Hondamatic, drain the Dexron and refill with the Honda stuff.

[Cavcraft]

After market thermostats are the Devil's work.

 

Uh-oh, don't like the sound of that. I suppose (he said hopefully) that it's better than a knackered one though? I'm thinking as the heat is now back to the interior and the red light of doom has gone out that when we fit the new 'stat all should be fine.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I've had a lot of bother with after market thermostats recently, but the worst they'll do is make the engine run cool (GRminus10 for a diesel in the depths of winter)

[Cavcraft]

This is a Quentin Hazlenut job and they used to be pretty well rated. Obv. one other problem if it does run cool is Peugeot's 'ingenious' idea of having a bloody great big clock smack bang in the middle of the dashboard but no sodding temp. gauge.

[Rod/b]

Has it got a "RED LIGHT OF DEATH" like my old BX had? It came on once. And once only.

[Rusty Pelican]

T but no sodding temp. gauge.

This is getting more and more common on new stuff , My pops just bought a new Astra ( never mind its his money ) and its just got a light of doom which more than likely comes on just after the Vesuvius moment has gone by

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Peugeot 205s, apart from fancy ones, didn't have temperature gauges either. Modern shit.

 

The after market thermostats I've had bother with were Quinton Hazell branded - I'm the only person I know of who's had so much trouble with them mind you.

[theorganist]

My Renault 14 doesn't have a temperature gauge, my 1984 Renault 5 didn't either. Neither IIRC did my mark 1 Fiat Punto (although my Fiat Uno did). It seems to be quite common for older French cars not to have one?

[theorganist]

Has it got a "RED LIGHT OF DEATH" like my old BX had? It came on once.

 

The temperature warning light on the 14 comes on quite a lot in traffic in hot weather. It shows no sign of any problems associated with over heating, for example coolant loss!

[Cavcraft]

The BXs had them but they were also related to loss of LHM as I found out on a roundabout the first time it happened

It's gone off now since I removed the expansion cap so I would think it's running cooler again now. Fitting of 'stat has been delayed until tomorrow but we won't be using the car again until then anyhow.

[The Moog]

Fitted new dampers to the Micra. Sheared off one stud But will sort it out tomorrow. Still enjoyed the day playing with cars although using gravel as the work surface hurts!

 

Glad I started as the old shocks were properly knackered.

 

Saab is causing me a real pain. Fitted new ign amplifier to see that helps and no it doesnt. Not sure what to work on next.

[Negative Creep]

MR2 ended on ebay at £450

 

 

 

FOR FUCKS SAKE

[warren t claim]

MR2 ended on ebay at £450

 

 

 

FOR FUCKS SAKE

 

If it's any consolation I've been following this one on Cumtree for £550.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-moto ... k/80239084

[Negative Creep]

Luckily I put a reserve on it but what gets me is that there were 11 bids from 9 different people! Even more annoying as I've been offered replacement cars

[Pillock]

Has it got a "RED LIGHT OF DEATH" like my old BX had? It came on once. And once only.

 

Yeah, my mate's mum's 205 GTI had the big lamp of doom, proclaiming "STOP" at 115mph in the outside lane of the M5 when the head gasket went.

[wuvvum]

The RLOD in my old diesel BX came on quite a few times during my ownership, usually when towing a laden car transporter trailer uphill, and it never seemed to do it any harm. I did notice that the Citroën RLOD came on dimly to start with and got brighter the hotter the engine got, unlike the Renault version which is just on/off.

[The Moog]

Got new impact wrench and fitted rear shocks to Micra. Took a whole 20 minutes. Then when to do the troublesome front wheel. Driver got wheel nuts off but they were rusted all the way up.

 

10 minutes later stripped off strut, but no matter what I do I cant get the top nut undone. Had enough now so I am just going to get a new spring and top mounting bits from Nissan tomorrow.

[autofive]

just had a phone call offering another free-tax Scimitar

i'm very tempted, but its not cheap

[scaryoldcortina]

Obviously too tempting if the "can you collect a car this morning" email is anything to go by....