THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[dollywobbler]

Nice one Billy. I think we should all make it our mission to buy chav-mobiles and return them to standard. Well, as long as you can demonstrate that this is the route to OMG PROFIT! Got the chavy bits on the bay yet?

[Cavcraft]

I think the Lexus lights are worth the square root of knob all to be honest as happily it seems they're desperately out of fashion now. I do have a plan though involving ebay and a hammer.

Alloys should make about fifty quid and if they don't I'll pull the two or three good tyres then weigh the wheels in. Stupid chrome number plate surrounds I'll probably give to one of the drivers at work as some of them seem to have a bling competition with their trucks.

There's a fair bit to go yet, all the above mentioned to sort out then a pre-MOT if I get the chance. I remain convinced there's still a reasonable drink to be made out of it but I need to keep an eye on the budget as the seats runners, pre-tensioners, seatbelt clips and rear lights cost 40% of the cost of the car itself!

 

In other news I've come to realise it's time to ebay the Merc with (probably) no reserve as it's taking up valuable garage space and I don't want to leave the Cortina outside for various reasons.

[dollywobbler]

Good point. Some anti-theft stuff on the Cortina as well as a garage probably isn't a bad shout at all!

[BMC Dan]

Had a phone call this morning from a "low mileage 70's car collector" from round Oxford way who's very interested in buying the VDP. Hmmm...

[Angrydicky]

The Doctor??

[pogweasel]

Make sure you apply some DOCTOR TAX.

[Pillock]

 

The details are here, there are two senders.

 

Hmm, according to something I've read and lost the link to, the oil pressure sender circuit relies on a feed from the rev counter to work properly, the rev counter is GASSED at the moment.

 

Could be. There's a link from the rev counter to the warning system, as over 2000rpm + low pressure = BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.

[barefoot]

Finally sorted out the heavy clutch on the Scirocco.

 

Amazingly it was just the cable.

Reading the (masses of) service history that came with this, it was taken to a garage to sort out a heavy clutch.

They diagnosed and replaced the clutch cable

which failed to achieve anything so they then replaced the clutch

which left it with a ... heavy clutch

 

I suspected a manky cheap clutch cable

GSF & similar could supply cheap cables at £20ish, but it had already got one of those

'Big Boys Toys' who are reputed to be complete wankers could apparently come up with proper NOS.

Well it took them a couple of months & £53, but its an original cable and it works.

 

And I have a lovely light clutch, like its supposed to be.

[skattrd]

I've agreed to buy another car (Alfa 155 on lpg) now I need to get some other cars fixed and sold so I've got somewhere to put it ... Anyone fancy a Saab 900 T16s and a slightly broken Avanzato?

[wuvvum]

The Innocenti rolled over 50,000 km tonight on the way home.

 

 

It had done 36,000 when I bought it, so I've managed to do 14,000 km in a year and a half in a car that was meant to be an occasional toy. It's just so bloody economical it's become my default daily.

[Father Ted]

Its going to be a hot day.

My itinerary today includes:

Bamber Bridge

Blackpool

Nether Kellett

Over Kellett

Capenwray

Fullwood

 

All in a Nissan frigging Micra laden with paving slabs, gas cylinders and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (read by Jim Dale)

[Shep Shepherd]

TV2's MOT is tomorrow morning. All I can see that will stop it from passing the test is a rather feral-looking nearside outer CV boot. I'll get the garage to change both it and its opposite number beforehand, as I have no time to do the job myself. Come to think of it, I don't have the knowledge to do it, either

[Angrydicky]

I'll see if I spot it when I drive past Sun Motors tomorrow

[dollywobbler]

2CV has passed its MOT. Just. I'm glad the tester was in a good mood. I'll need to get a kingpin replace before too long, and I'll have to do something about the rot. There's suddenly rather a lot of it.

[michiel]

Yay and ah...

[BMC Dan]

Been offered this bit of twin SU, BL RWD (late model 1500 like) action as a possible part exchange for the VDP

 

[dollywobbler]

Nice. Beware the bottom end knock of doom!

[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.