THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[ashmicro]

I've lobbed the whole handbook on RapidShare

 

https://rapidshare.com/files/386568535/ ... ndbook.pdf

 

New-ish version of Acrobat Reader required.

[myglaren]

We have a handbook, naturally not in the car and as she is moving house it is anyone's guess where it might be now, and will probably never be seen again, so the online version will be a godsend.

[M'coli]

I've been doing a bit of welding on a mate's Dolomite of late, the rear suspension brackets need replacing but today things didn't go as expected. He lifted the carpet in the rear footwell when on firewatch duties, and says "Bloody hell - there's a big lump of filler in the centre of this floor!" So we knocked it out with a hammer, and then he went in to put a brew on. I had a further look and found more filler between the floorpan and the sill, in a strip of about 14" long, right under the seatbelt anchor point. He's only had the car 15 years or so, and never had to lift the carpets before! I'll be doing a little more welding than we first planned.

[mk2_craig]

Fresh plates for my Sierra

 

Before and after:

 

Another happy Dealerplates customer.

 

Craig, could you possibly write up a tutorial on how that was done? Fantastic stuff!

 

In essence e-mailed bloke with scan of front plate, sent £25 by Paypal and received pair of plates in post a few days later.

 

I have no idea how he does them. Presumably replicates the dealer logos via some kind of graphic design software then lobs them into a number plate making program which can still do the wider 57mm font. Bet he's doing quite nicely out of it.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

They make a big difference.

 

 

Today I have been enjoying the sunshine pulling wet, mouldy carpeting and soundproofing from the Mini. I only bought it last year, that'll teach me to spend money prettifying the damn thing. The floor looks horrific, I need to get some of the god damned bitumen coating off to see how healthy the metal is.

[TagoraSX]

Not a good day today.

 

Went to wake the 100 5E from is slumber to find a wet front passenger footwell, nice.

Lifted the carpet, took out the soaking wet foam underneath and dried the floor with a hair dryer. The fluid was running down the transmission tunnel behind the centre console so I'm assuming the heater matrix has gone.

 

So I took the Fiat for a small run to cheer me up, It didn't. I got a slight whiff from behind the right rear wheel, I think I has brake trouble.

 

B@stard cars

[RoadworkUK]

We had a delectable XJ6 in as p/x for £hardly any, this one:-

 

 

I had been hoping that one of the technicians would snap it up, one showed a fervent interest but couldn't insure it. So it's gone to BCA Enfield.

 

I bloody loved it. Wrote about it at length here, first time I've done anything on my blog for a while.

[autofive]

Just kicked off Retro Rides for a year because I had the temerity to ask (by PM!) the Moderators why they trashed me in their self-titled "Haters Not Required" thread. So, NBFD, except if you wish to PM me, please just email me directly. As obv I cannot access my RR PM account until July 2012.

 

Please note for the record: The suspension was not the result of a post. It was the result of a POLITE inquiry by PM! FFS, ridiculous, just ridiculous. And they wonder why the post count and quality of the threads have declined in the last couple years. Pffft! Try to help them by PM, and you get suspended.

 

That's building a quality community alright.

 

Anyway, please use my email: [email protected] for anything I can coordinate for you. Always happy to help fellow hobbyists, and that's not confined to selling anything. But straight up plain old help, like a friend would offer another friend. I'd even help the Mods at RR (and have several times)..... crazy feckers....

 

Norm

 

hidemyass.com + gmail account + new RR membership = many happy hours annoying el duce and VIP

[cort16]

Non shite related but I got my popcorn maker working today and even managed to craft a couple of new handles for it. Fuck know what I'm going to do with it like other than use it to stuff my fat face with popcorn.

[Guest]

Just kicked off Retro Rides for a year because I had the temerity to ask (by PM!) the Moderators why they trashed me in their self-titled "Haters Not Required" thread. So, NBFD, except if you wish to PM me, please just email me directly. As obv I cannot access my RR PM account until July 2012.

 

Please note for the record: The suspension was not the result of a post. It was the result of a POLITE inquiry by PM! FFS, ridiculous, just ridiculous. And they wonder why the post count and quality of the threads have declined in the last couple years. Pffft! Try to help them by PM, and you get suspended.

 

That's building a quality community alright.

 

Anyway, please use my email: [email protected] for anything I can coordinate for you. Always happy to help fellow hobbyists, and that's not confined to selling anything. But straight up plain old help, like a friend would offer another friend. I'd even help the Mods at RR (and have several times)..... crazy feckers....

 

Norm

 

Norm, if it's any consolation I was disgusted by the whole thing.

 

In other news, the 305 is running again after a SCTSH_ANDY supertune \ swearfest. The carbs were fouled to fuck and the 'new' dizzy cap looks to have done 30k on closer inspection. New HT leads undoubtedly helped as well. The other carb I bought is now on, but doesn't seem entirely trustworthy. After running through the HBOL it seems that the 'new' carb is actually a 32 \ 35 CISAC rather than a 32 \ 34 Z1, and the former doesn't have a fuel return feed. The auto choke mechanism's a load of crap and will not idle the engine at less than 1200 RPM even with the screw backed right off. There's some funny shit occurring with the cooling as well, which is no doubt connected.

 

Also, the efforts of the SOE (Scouse Team of Excellence) have not gone unnoticed. Much thanks to Pete-M, MM5 and Warren T Claim in this regard. Even if he and MM5 did take my Citroen on a random joyride around Stockport after getting 'lost' getting some McDonalds. The correct Rallye wheel studs are also in place now, too.

 

The brakes are still crap and it still smells like a decorator's armpit. The blower is still shitting out bits of the scenery despite being left on for a clearout for over 30 minutes. I still need to bin the BNP number plates. It has a better battery fitted now, replacing the fucking woeful 063 it had in situ.

[Guest]

Ain't forgot the pics, Watty. Just been incredibly bizzy, today was fabricate monoleafs day for a couple of Capri racers. It's like 100F here, and between the banging and the clamping and furnace and the sparks and the beer and the urethane and the tubing work on the eyes, I'm wasted, Babba.

 

No bother Mr M. In your own time la.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Non shite related but I got my popcorn maker working today and even managed to craft a couple of new handles for it. Fuck know what I'm going to do with it like other than use it to stuff my fat face with popcorn.

 

Ha, I was still expecting one of those little plastic dome popcorn makers even when I was looking at those massive bits of metal. I don't need any more excuses to stuff my fat face with food, but that's an essential addition to any kitchen in my book.

[Negative Creep]

Went to the South West Motor Show today, which was a right old mix of nice, shit and some random shite thrown in. You'll be pleased to know I have my eye on something that is complete and utter bollocks, hopefully going to look at it this week...........

[junior44]

i have just bought this beauty £150 + my x-box. no MOT but all it needs is two tyres(which come with it)

I only bought it as a favour for a friend so he can buy a 214.

[dollywobbler]

Um, might need side indicators and a mirror (actually, not sure on that one?) fitting as well. Obviously top marks for swapping some modern electrical crap for a crap-coloured Metro! I've got an Xbox here somewhere, so might try it myself.

[junior44]

Um, might need side indicators and a mirror (actually, not sure on that one?) fitting as well.

Thats an old picture and has had some work done since but there may be some hidden supprises. It would of ended up getting thrashed in the woods if i never saved it so sacraficing a xbox for a metro was a no brainer for my warped mind.

[M'coli]

i have just bought this beauty £150 + my x-box. no MOT but all it needs is two tyres(which come with it)

I only bought it as a favour for a friend so he can buy a 214.

At F-reg you probably will need side repeaters. Furryboots in the heilans are you?

[Guest]

 

The 305 is still running like shit. Anyone got an XU adaptor plate and a manual choke Weber?

 

I had the temerity to take it on a 10 mile drive and it cut out twice before borking on the access road to the unit. Bollocks.

[wuvvum]

Got home at 2.45am this morning having driven non-stop (bar a pez'n'piss stop in Minehead) from Martinhoe in North Devon where my parents are staying. Ended up taking the Stagea - drove down on Friday night straight from work. 720 miles in a weekend and never missed a beat.

 

It seems to have averaged 28mpg - not overly brilliant for a long run, especially as I mostly stuck to the speed limits, but I think the last 50 or so miles along the A39 were what killed it - that road is almost comically narrow and hilly for an A-road, with several 1:4 hills - a wide-ratio 3-speed overdrive autobox is not ideal for persuading a tonne and three quarters of Nissan up a near-vertical hill, it either grinds up in second just about holding its speed or with a touch more throttle it kicks down into first and buggers off up the hill in a flurry of wheelspin.

 

Still, 28mpg is not hideously bad, and it seems to be a pretty comfortable long-distance car, although the exhaust is a bit boomy at certain speeds and it could do with a Euro-spec stereo to give me the option of something other than Radio 2.

[ashmicro]

720 miles in a weekend! That's more than I drive in about 4 months!

[mk1_4dr]

720 miles in a weekend! That's more than I drive in about 4 months!

 

SRSLY?

 

Do you work from home I take it.

 

Ive got 1000miles to do in 3days in escRot. 320 of them (Helston to Ashford) to be done in 6hours on a Friday afternoon. INTENSE.

[ashmicro]

Yeah, I can do about 70% of my work from home. Remote login FTW. If I have to go to Belfast I go on the train, and the powerplant where I work is only 16 miles away should I have to be there in person.

[Rocket88]

Not a good day today.

 

Went to wake the 100 5E from is slumber to find a wet front passenger footwell, nice.

Lifted the carpet, took out the soaking wet foam underneath and dried the floor with a hair dryer. The fluid was running down the transmission tunnel behind the centre console so I'm assuming the heater matrix has gone.

 

So I took the Fiat for a small run to cheer me up, It didn't. I got a slight whiff from behind the right rear wheel, I think I has brake trouble.

 

B@stard cars

 

Not necessarily. If these are like most VAG stuff, there's two grommets in the bulhead tray that get blocked, and the resultant pond ends up in the footwells.

[nigel bickle]

Good week I only cover 1000 miles, my wifes office is 120 miles away -so she covers 240 miles each & every day!

[mk1_4dr]

Good week I only cover 1000 miles, my wifes office is 120 miles away -so she covers 240 miles each & every day!

 

240mile commute? That must equate to, what, like 5hours per day in the car. Sod that, lifes too short.

 

Must cost a fortune in juice too.

[mk1_4dr]

Respekt to Mk14dr on the 6 hours in his classic. This the one with fresh paint? I didn't know it was your main means of transport. 2x Respekt.

 

Yeah, its been painted (not a full-on paint job, as Im 1) not rich enough and in a rush and wanted it back post haste). Its not my only means of transportation, Ive still got the Prelude at the moment.

Once escRot is MOT'd and taxed I might think about parting company with the Honda....

[barefoot]

Went to Flamborough Head saturday, I've never been there before - I think that the word 'Bleak' about sums it up.

Scirocco ran nicely, but 1st & 2nd gears have been getting a little awkward to select for a while & felt like a Maxi's 'wrestler' box on some roundabouts.

So this morning, got a linkage kit thing from GSF - 2 grommets - £6 and now I have a very short throw gearlever that works like a bolt action rifle.

Presumably this is how it felt when new, all those years ago.

It's quite disturbing, I was used to stirring porridge & having to select 2nd, before I could even find 1st.

[mk1_4dr]

Went to Flamborough Head saturday, I've never been there before - I think that the word 'Bleak' about sums it up.

Scirocco ran nicely, but 1st & 2nd gears have been getting a little awkward to select for a while & felt like a Maxi's 'wrestler' box on some roundabouts.

So this morning, got a linkage kit thing from GSF - 2 grommets - £6 and now I have a very short throw gearlever that works like a bolt action rifle.

Presumably this is how it felt when new, all those years ago.

It's quite disturbing, I was used to stirring porridge & having to select 2nd, before I could even find 1st.

 

I remember doing the gear linkage bushes in my Mk2 Golf. The difference is ham-azing. Pretty easy to replace too.

 

And Flamborough aint too bad, although I suppose it depends what you like....

[dollywobbler]

Have had another spell of off-road action in the Rangie. It's becoming addictive stuff. Almost got it stuck twice, but careful footwork (ie don't just nail it and hope for the best) got me out. Really, very impressive. Certainly much more impressive than watching it swallow £90 of fuel. Looking forward to seeing how many miles that gets me... (first full tank, so will have to wait to work out mpg).

 

I think I'm going to have to sort out the front right caliper though. I thought I'd get away with just a bit of lube having had the pads out, but it's still binding. It's a four pot caliper though, so I'm now pondering whether to spend about £20 on a rebuild kit, or just try and track down a new/reconditioned caliper, which is a lot less hassle and likely to be £60-80. Not really that expensive and saves a lot of faffing about.

[Captain Mainwaring]

The Three Fotty has sprung it's first attack on me. Drove it home from work today and heard a weird sort of muffled bang (for want of a better word). Anyway, a small fuel pipe has perished. Continually squirts out in tiny little drops when the engine is at idle. Why this produced a bang I've no idea. So a bit worried, but I've tape-bodged the pipe for now. Looks like a trip to the motor factors' tomorrow.

 

Other than this, a duff trip-counter, and intermittent intermittent wipers, she's all good and doing me proud.

 

Oh, and the tank leaks if filled above the three-quarters or so mark.