THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[scaryoldcortina]

Norm, it's "that" capri...

 

I got a message from speedbird on saturday - since mongolia he has lost his job, his wife left and his house is being reposessed today*. Hopefully, Fred and co will manage to extract the capri for me before the building society take the keys back I'm waiting to hear how it went. Assuming all is to plan, I'm going down south for it with the truck later this week.

 

 

*There is a rumour that he is considering writing lyrics for country and western music.....

[dollywobbler]

Thanks Scary. You've just made me and the wife laugh with your country music comment!

[scaryoldcortina]

Potential spanner in the works Fred's mate had his spec lift stolen last night, and the beavertail damaged so no capri collecting! Last I heard they were trying to find out exactly how much time we have (it's unlikely that the building society want a 1980 capri in the garage). AAAAgh!

[theorganist]

Sold the Allegro last night, the buyer actually paid the full amount via Paypal within five minutes of the auction ending (not sure if that is some kind of record).

 

So looking for something similar that will not need anything major doing to it whilst I concentrate on the 14 this Spring.

[Cheggers]

Just had the Porsche's "new" part-worn rear tyres delivered, supa-fast service considering I hit "Buy it Now" on Sunday night

 

Just need to get 'em fitted, fit new number plates, get the ABS light reset and replace a sheared wheel stud (can't shift the hub nut, so one for a professional I fear) and she's ready for the MOT

[scaryoldcortina]

Fred 'phoned this afternoon, capri is saved! I'm heading south for it on Thursday (probably)

[Lord Sterling]

Bloody 'ell, Rovers............

 

Been poncing about the 820e for the past couple weeks, its been a great car to drive and managed to transport me in relative comfort and speed when needs be, and it hasnt been too bad on fuel either.

 

Last week I had to attend a 'CSCS card' course at some college near the city centre. The day before the course I noticed that the college had omitted to include a form which must be signed by the Job Centre. I phoned up the college and was asked me to go down, fetch the form, get it stamped and signed by the J-C and bring it with me so I could start the course.

 

As I was trundling around the Digbeth in the 820e looking for this college I startes to notice that the steering got very whiney. Eventually I found the college and whilst parking up the steering whine got quite loud, getting out of the car I then noticed a huge pool of black fluid on the floor. Great. I checked the power-steering reservoir and saw that the fluid level was very low and bubbling.

 

After getting the form from the college I limped the car to some back street garage to purchase some P/S fluid to top up the fluid to at least see me home safely, I didnt want to damage the power steering pump or anything else.

 

A couple of days later I managed to get the car in for an MOT and P/S leakage investigation. Miraculously it passed the MOT with a couple of minor advisories. The P/S leakage was then traced to a hose that had a bit of a cut in it. How/where/why this happend is beyond me.

 

My mechanic mate set about securing the hose with 'hose tape' which apparently stems the flow of leaks from pipes temporarily whilst I got a quote for new pipe + fittage. I spoke to my mate who owns the car (As he has lent me the car) and he was happy with quote and for the work to be done, so I got the car booked in. I then treated it to wash and scrub down.

 

Since I've had the car I've hoovered the interior including under the back seat bench, its obviously never been hoovered properly until I got my hands on it. I threw in some deep-pile Sterling mats for the time being until I give the car back. I replaced the radio for a similar one I had lying around, the original radio turned out to have a blown fuse, so I replaced the fuse but couldnt find the code, when I did eventually find it, I replaced the original radio back in, as one of my cassettes managed to get stuck in my radio

 

I removed the grille out of interest to see if was a case of just replacing it with a mk1 grille and badge, sadly the bonnet has had 4 big holes drilled in to it to secure the newer grille. As I dont have an original mk1 grille lying about to protect the radiator from flying stones, I put the grille back on.

 

I had a peak at the cambelt and it does need changing soon, as does it need a service. I also found in the documents that one of the first owners were "News Group Newspapers" which appears to publish shitty tabloids. Lovely.

 

 

Anyway, have some pics of it parked in Neasdon:

By the way, if anyone has a 14' Rover wheel trim similar to the one on the back wheel I'd be interested in purchasing one to replace the one on the front.

 

Removing grille

 

Interior, pre-mats and pre-clean, looks better now.

[tonedepear]

God it looks *COMFY*. No fucker ever lends me cars. Bastards.

[seth]

I totally ignored all the budget tyre/part worn advice in that thread and got a set of new rubber rings for the Heralds alloys earlier this week. Having looked up prices on line to get a feel, I first paid a visit to the place I have used quite a bit in the past as they'd decently sent me a 20% discount voucher in the post. They wanted £215 (minus the 20%) for a set of Marrangonis which are mid range/reasonably respectable. Bore that in mind and took a trip to Wembley Tyres who aren't in Wembley but actually in Willesden. Quoted me four Firestones for £170 so I went for it there and then. The (pleasant, European) tyre monkeys got straight on the job and at one point there were three of my wheels on balancing machines at once. Took about 5 minutes to do the set. Much interest in the Hillman too. The same tyres would have cost about that from mytyres not including fittng.

 

I'm happier buying new as the tyres will only be used in summer months and therefore age may play a part before they wear out. I've not driven on them yet, will be interesting to see how they feel as they're replacing a set of Kwik Fit ArrowSpeeds with about 3mm left (which I've kept in the hope that Mr_B does his how to tyre changing post and I can make another set of wheels I have road legal)

 

[Lukas]

The 2002 Opel Astra 2.0DTI my girlfriend owns since 3 years is a german car at it´s best. It has 85.000km on the clock and the steering gear needs changing, the light-switch for the headlights is broken, there are strange warning lights appearing and disappearing everywhere once or twice, the interieur-light fell of, the plastic parts on the sills have disappeared long ago, the ride is bumpy and uncomfortable, the engine is rough and loud, the second gear scratches everytime you shift into it, it is absolutely horrible!

 

My Legacy though has 240.000km on the clock and I know the two former owners well, it never needed a repair other than the normal brakes/clutch/exhaust. That´s why I drive japanese cars and that´s why I am proud of my two cars made in Japan!

[cort16]

I've just had a shot of a Nissan a new Nissan 370Z, went sideways on the first corner, shat it, drove home at 40mph.

[dollywobbler]

I almost crashed twice in the 2CV in the space of a mile. The locals seem to think that 'might is right' around here, so a red/white 2CV comes way down the pecking order. I shall attempt to re-educate them, but perhaps not with my wife in the car...

[Father Ted]

I CAN HAZ BUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

[pogweasel]

GR8 4 going into limp mode

[Father Ted]

GR8 4 going into limp mode

Non FAP 2.0 HDi

No Limp Mode FTW! Unlike the bag of shite Zafira that I chopped against it. What it does have is randomly opperating rear electric sliding doors. NFTW.

[pogweasel]

Those doors are GR12 in principle. However given that THE FRENCH cannot be trusted to do stuff properly, could be entertaining* later.

 

We looked at a few of those.

They were all fucked.

[M'coli]

However given that THE FRENCH cannot be trusted to do stuff properly

I dunno, they seemed to manage to look after their domestic manufacturers alright...

[Timewaster]

However given that THE FRENCH cannot be trusted to do stuff properly

I dunno, they seemed to have domestic manufacturers alright...

 

EFA

[myglaren]

GR8 4 going into limp mode

Non FAP 2.0 HDi

No Limp Mode FTW! Unlike the bag of shite Zafira that I chopped against it. What it does have is randomly opperating rear electric sliding doors. NFTW.

 

They can still go into limp mode.

My C5 has been doing it for ages now. Haven't discovered why but changed the battery and it seemed to have cured it - until today

[scaryoldcortina]

meh, closest I've got to a "limp mode" is cranking the bastard in gear to get it out of the way of traffic! Having said that, someone I know had a similar age megane convertable... It was all "no, they are really nice, no problem at all, not as bad as they make out etc..." until the day an electrical fault made it redline itself and refuse to swich off until the timing belt failed. (ps, it was a petrol one )

 

My news, we have a new capri! Had a good look today, I think it's going to live. I have pics, but can't find a USB A to mini B lead for the camera (card reader needs same lead )

[Lord Sterling]

I finally got the Rover 820e back from the garage after it took 2 and half days to get the correct p/s pipe delivered and fitted, even then the correct pipe had to have some modifications done. As I used to work at the garage I ended being 'borrowed' and spending most of the days shifting cars about.

 

The other morning my neighbour had the passenger side window put through on his Vauxhall Agila, he came and asked if I could help him replace the window as its assumed i'm 'good with cars' as I'm often seen with my head under the bonnet.

Thanksfully it was simple and straight forward apart from where the runner had been knocked out of place, we eventually got the runner back in place, new window fitted and bolted up to runner and replaced the trim.

[worldofceri]

My ebayed Scenic was collected today... Seller was due at the station at 10:10 where I'd agreed to meet her. GR9 I thought; Plenty of time to run down to Leamington to collect the towbar I've bought for the Volvo.

 

'Course, nothing in my life can ever go to plan. Rolling into Leamington I notice the battery light comes on when idling. Crap.

 

Deal is duly sealed on the towbar but by the time I get half way home I run out of electricity. The AA are swiftly called and arrive reasonably quickly and remarkably punctually - at 10:10, ironically.

 

Mr AA man charges the battery and pronounces the alternator borked. Terrific. He helpfully offers to follow me home to ensure I don't conk out again. I nip to my friendly local garage who determine that the best price for a new alternator they can get is £130 + VAT. And it's quoted as 1.9 hours labour! 'Hmm... I'm pretty sure you can't get it out without removing the driveshaft,' explains my mechanic.

 

I eventually arrive at the station an hour late and explain the situation to the buyer. I offer to reduce the price to £450 (perhaps a little hastily, not sure now). She agrees and gamely sets off - for Llangollen! I haven't heard anything back so I hope she made it...

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

The other morning my neighbour had the passenger side window put through on his Vauxhall Agila, he came and asked if I could help him replace the window as its assumed i'm 'good with cars' as I'm often seen with my head under the bonnet.

One of my neighbours once asked me to fix his plasma television on the basis that he'd seen me tampering with the engine in my Fiesta.

[Cavcraft]

Hmm. Sort of missed out on my (current) ideal shiter as I couldn't be arsed travelling the seven miles to go and see it when I had the chance to get it for a reasonable price and now it's fetching decent money on eBaY.

 

The Beemer is surprisingly me nicely. It's not fantastic on fuel but not too bad either. On top of that it's actually GR9 for driving a long at my normal rate (i.e quite slowly and within the legal limits) but also a bloody good laugh if you welly it. It starts picking up quite early on in the rev range then goes a bit mental but in a sort of controlled manor if that makes sense?

I'm now eying up an E46 coupe as I think the shape of them is rather nice, though the obvious downside to a two door when you've had two fastly growing kids doesn't make one an easy choice.

Pretty much given up trying to find a decent (and non-silver) CLK320 that isn't being sold by some complete fucking idiot/grabber/con-man/bellend.

 

Oh, looks like my son's first 'proper' (i.e chosen for and mostly paid for by him) is going to be a very tidy looking Pugrat 106 which a bloke at his work is selling.

[trigger]

After weeks of waiting for my V5 came back from the DVLA for the Bora it arrived this morning

 

My insurance company managed to write it off by mistake last year instead of my Passat after my car crash due to the personalised plate i had on it, Anyway I've got it all sorted now and cleared from the HPi register so I got the Turks at the pub-cum-car wash to give it a clean this afternoon and popped it on ebay as a classified ad.

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... RK:MESE:IT

 

The phone had literally not rang of the hook yet although i have been offered a Cat D BMW 325 Estate as a swap for it...

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/bmw-325-touring-e ... 27b9cce925

[oman5]

I use an ex-mailvan J4 clubman (sherpa/ldv 200 thing) as an everyday hack, and offered to help my mate move house. the steering's always been a bit shite, but after loading it up and taking his stuff to the new place it was a struggle to keep it in a straight line at anything over 40 mph. got it jacked up, discovered n/s kingpin is totally twatted. arse.

everyone reckons its a nasty job so its getting parked up for now and I'll resort to bancrupting myself with petrol costs in the old faithful ovlov 740.

moral? don't put a ton of workshop junk in a 18 year old piece of leyland shite.

been told its about 300 quid for a garage to do it (yeah right) and I don't have a press to get the old kingpin out. any ideas, bearing in mind i'm skint? don't wanna scrap it, its a neat veg oil burner

[Richard]

Is there any way you can strip it yourself and take the bit that needs a press to a garage?

[Mr Lobster]

Today I am mostly very disillusioned with old cars. My day started well...

 

 

but went wrong a couple of hours later....

 

 

 

There are days when I reckon giving up on old cars would be a good idea. Today is one of them

 

CBA resizing pictures in Photobook either at the moment

[Pillock]

Well LOBSTA, I can't see any fire damage, pools of oil under it, twisted body panels or severed limbs so what's up with it?

I often share your sentiments, and quite often this also happens when sat on the hard shoulder posting pictures of a knackered car on Facebook.

[Lankytim]

Today I am mostly very disillusioned with old cars. My day started well...

 

 

 

There are days when I reckon giving up on old cars would be a good idea. Today is one of them

 

CBA resizing pictures in Photobook either at the moment

 

Ha! See the matrix sign further along the Motorway? We had a blowout in the Allegro and ended up parked underneath it. No spare so had to be recovered! :(

 

In other news I have fitted an uprated Powerflex front engine mount to the Astra, the old one was knackered and was allowing far too much movement, apparently this is a mega weak spot on Mk4 astras. The Powerflex slides into the old one and stiffens everything up. Seems to have done the trick with jerky gearchanges from 1st into 2nd!