THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[dollywobbler]

I gave up on the Rangie's heater and just put it back together again. I've got too much on to spend more time on it. Think I might have to let it go (any interest here?) as the Saab hasn't sold and the BX appears not to want to restore itself. Five cars is just too many!

 

Have been given an option on a Pajero project. Which appears to solve none of my 'too many projects' problems and will therefore probably join the fleet. Not before something actually sells though! Another big trip for the Saab this weekend. I've even washed it.

[Angrydicky]

I'm currently perving over a 1966 Austin 1100 with MOT until April 2012 and 1 owner (but no history). It's a bit tatty around the edges, bit of filler in the front wings but is fairly original. Seats are perfect as they've had covers on from new. However it does have an ominously damp drivers footwell, which I reckon is a rotten bulkhead.

 

Up for sale at a garage for £800, although they've had it ages. Worth a punt?

[Shep Shepherd]

  wuvvum said:

Could be worse - at least it's not a 480...

 

If it was a 480, I would have sold it or weighed it in by now...

[dollywobbler]

Driver's footwell could just be damp from windscreen/door seals. Our Mini randomly filled up with water at one point last winter, but hasn't done it again. They don't like standing! Not saying it hasn't rotted of course. They are good at that.

 

Rear subframe/mounts are very prone to rot, and front inner wings too. All structural. Probably worth a cheeky offer.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Barnsley City Council decided to offer me a lock-up garage. However, they took extra care to make sure that it is located in the furthest possible point from Sheffield- a good 25 miles from here. Still, I will get it since it's only a fiver a week and they just need a week's notice to quit in case they find something nearer or I have to move due to finding a job elsewhere. Even if I am not planning to buy anything soon, it works out cheaper than getting the Accord smashed up every couple of weeks and it may even give me the motivation required to attempt fixing the radiator, airconditioning, SRS sensors and other odd bits.

 

In other news, the FOURTH tyre/exhaust place I visited to look at the Scorpio exhaust was the first one that actually had a bit of common sense and access to a tube of exhaust putty, so the blowing seems to have mostly been sorted for now. However, this thing has made me realise that my car is unintentionally OMG SLAMT and sits rather low, so I'll probably need a pair of rear springs...and the rear tyres look like they're on the way out...Pair of brand new Contis on ebay for 130 quid fitted sounds almost too good to be true- no point going for partworn shite.

[garycox]

My Allegro leaks water into the driver's footwell when it rains hard, I can't see where it's coming from though... I've had the grill thing on top of the bulkhead off, and I can't see any blockages/rot etc in there but I haven't poked too deeply.

 

I hope it's nothing too serious, the rest of the car looks pretty rust free, but I suspect there's some bodgery lurking under the primer.

[Spottedlaurel]

Laurel passed its MoT today, seemingly without any work whatsoever (well, maybe they had to fill the washer bottle). Look forward to continue using that one whenever possible.

 

Next job is to drop the Camry Sport in there for a test, 3+ months early but I figure it’ll be an easier sale with a fresh MoT on it. Then give that one a clean-up ready for ad’s in Auto Trader or wherever. Drove it for the first time in a while today, started easy as ever and went very well. It’ll be a shame to let it go, and I’ll doubtless regret selling it, but at the moment it’s not ideal to have four cars (plus Mrs SL’s Accord) on the road.

 

Replacement HVAC control panel for the Camry V6 arrived today, purchased off eBay from a chap breaking one in Wales. Possibly some differences with mine, but so long as I can use the bit of the panel containing the buttons I’ll be OK. Used this car a bit recently, it drinks the fuel but I’m learning to like it. Getting the HVAC working will make it seem more like proper car, then it’s new tyres and ideally a bit of a service for it using funds from the Sport’s sale. One of those cars where the temperature gauge will always be the most important dial, followed by watching the fuel gauge plummet.

 

The recently-purchased estate just continues to work, doing an excellent job carting materials around and being a sensible daily. That one was an excellent buy.

[Cavcraft]

Mission complete: 1,180 miles in ten days. Reckon I averaged 30mpg with some fairly hard driving at times and plenty of twisty roads. Automatics are ace.

[Cavcraft]

Transit went tonight, now the 'proud' owner of an E36 318is coupe. Oh well, at least it's not been too 'council-d' up.

WeSellAnyEscort.com should be in operation tomorrow and fingers crossed the X-Type will be getting the old heave-ho as well.

[M'coli]

I went to take the Imp for MOT today, and a mile away from the house I riggled in the seat a bit to get comfy and the throttle cable snapped. I phoned the MOT place who were able to postpone it for an hour while I stuck a new cable on (tandem brake cable, as it happens.) I got to the MOT place left the car, and wandered off to the library. 20 minutes later they call to say that they can't find the car on the system and do I have the V5 on me... So it's rearranged for tomorrow morning, and I had time to check a few things on it out: I also found a 14" long hole in the left sill! Arse.

[Albert Ross]

That's a crappy testing station. What they need to do was "create a new record" of the vehicle, which is a total piece of cake. I've done hundreds, as I have to prepare Northern Irish registered cars for Mainland UK registration. I have also seen Cypriot, RHD German spec, and oddly Portuguese market RHD stuff.... (not many of those though... they seem a little heavier duty, like the Cypriot stuff... uprated springs and cooling systems etc)

[Volksy]

Interior of the Sera all put back together this morning, so just the mechanical bits; Cv boot and possibly a clutch and/or crank oilseal to do. Going to do the CV first, and put it on for an MOT.

A wheel bearing is grumbling on the S70 now, although it's off the road at the moment. So need to look at that, MOT is due in December, so depending what happens workwise, it may get sold on, or I'll take it to France with me.

The Renault Master is still languishing in the boat yard. Another CV boot, steering rack gaiter and the hand brake to look at. Need to pull my finger out on that one, as the storage arrangement runs out soon. That'll be up for sale, for not a lot may I add once it's mot'd.

The hiace is still sat, where it's been for a good few years, getting more and more 'Is that for sale' notes from local fray bentos door unlockers. So again something needs to be done.

[Cavcraft]

Escort AND Jag have gone.

 

I now own a Mk3 Mongdeo. The utter shame and humiliation is going to drive me to drink tonight

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

bloody hell, Cav. How do you manage to sell all them motors?

[Cavcraft]

'For every arse there's a seat'.

Would you like to buy a Mondeo?

 

*Not that the people who had the cars were arses.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I've always dreamt about owning a Mondeo*.

[ashmicro]

Due to my aged, weak and feeble frame, the GSX-R has had to go. Gutted doesn't cover it, especially as it was a birthday present from Kate, and exactly the same as the one I had when I was 19. Unfortunately I'm now twice that age and have been in a scrape or two along the intervening years. Put simply, I can't use it. I took it for a run of about 15 miles a couple of weeks ago, and when I got back home I was sweating like a marathon runner, shaking and feeling sick. The bike's just too powerful and too heavy for me these days.

 

However, a good friend has offered to lend me his TZR 250 to see how I get on with some light, two-stoke powervalve action. My two-wheeled days might not be over just yet!

[RoadworkUK]

Failing that:-

 

 

A pair of these might do the job.

[tonedepear]

  Cavette said:

'For every arse there's a seat'.

Would you like to buy a Mondeo?

 

*Not that the people who had the cars were arses.

 

What flavour Mondeo is it?

[Father Ted]

Clonks & rattles:

Micra - rattles like a bastard from the back end when cornering left and giving it some beans. Also rattles on speed bumps, or if reversing up a kerb which leaves me to believe [hope] its the exhaust.

 

C8 - has a distinctive "clonk" from the front NS when turning if you hit a pot hole or undulation in the road. Its had new drop links, wont do it on the straight, only when turning, and i can find no play in anything, slightly less of a clonk is noted when accelerating away after hard braking

[Cavcraft]

  tonedepear said:

  Cavette said:

'For every arse there's a seat'.

Would you like to buy a Mondeo?

 

*Not that the people who had the cars were arses.

 

What flavour Mondeo is it?

 

2.0 LX, slightly Barried up. It does have bloody nice leather seats though!

 

Ashmicro:

Get the TZR, everyone knows strokers are for winners.

[M'coli]

I had a proper look the hole in the Imp's sill today, the good news is it isn't 14" long, the bad news is it's 48" inches long. The base of the front and rear wings are going to have to come off to sort it out. Bollocks.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I owe my primary school teachers an apology - papier mache did come in useful.

 

Had to fix that torn gearbox cover before fitting a radio today, should reduce the amount of noise and poisonous gas in the cabin. Radio works nicely, thanks whichever of the previous seven owners drilled all those holes in the bottom of the dash - saved me a bit of time.

[Father Ted]

Did a little light off-roading today......

[tonedepear]

"police made contact with the vehicle's owner and were asked if they wanted to buy a 2.0 Mondeo with leather seats"

[Cavcraft]

 

*If that were mine there'd be no wheels or cat on it now, that's for sure.

[cort16]

I was at a little show today. Top notch as you got a free roll and sausage and a pie.

It was mostly classic car show stuff but this little HF van stood out as it looked xtra shite. I also spotted a load of old tat up the side of a building. There's an allegro estate right up the back.

 

[Angrydicky]

In the foreground is a Wolseley Six (KEEF!!!!) and behind that is a very rare 'Landlobster' Austin 3 litre! Amazing find, and they weren't even part of the show.

[RoadworkUK]

I'm well chuffed; My favourite international vehicle discussion forum / magazine / site of awesomeness, Hooniverse, has just published an article of mine.

 

About the guilty pleasure of collecting car brochures. Here if anybody's interested.

[cort16]

It was just around the corner from the show. There was a Range Rover in mid restore sitting out the front so I think the guys an active shite restorer. Further back was an MGF then at the back there was the Allegro estate, which looked intact.