THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[Guest]

I never bother buying tyres from local joints when I want new ones, I just got on Mytyres.co.uk and then I can pick what I want. They do 155/80/13s starting from £28 delivered for a Maxxis, though I'd personally go for the £32.70 Uniroyals. Dunno what's up with your fitting prices, I pay a fiver a corner for a balancing, new valve and disposal of the old tyre.

 

I do this because I'm a bit snobby and like to look at all the different sidewall designs.

[mnde]

Hello shiters,

 

A quick update on the non-charging BX as I was finally able to spend some time working on it earlier. First of all I replaced that dodgy negative terminal to match the positive one I did during the winter.

 

 

I had to undo the neg lead at the other end and reroute it so it would reach properly. So I took time to clean up this and all the other earthing points. I had to replace a ring connector to one of the leads earthing at the inner wing when the original fell off while undoing the earthing bolt.

 

After all that, and checking/cleaning the alternator and starter/solenoid leads, the alternator still wasn't charging the battery. I then noticed the battery warning light wasn't coming on with the ignition..., so I had a butchers at the alternator brushes.

 

 

 

Aha! So they need replacing. But after I sanded the dulled surface of the short one and reassembled..... Voila - the battery warning light on with ignition and..

 

 

So it's all good for now but I'll get me some new brushes as it's an easy swap.

 

Mark.

 

EDIT: And to further improve my mood - when I was out for a spin, I was followed for a short time by a lovely gold T-reg Cortina

[trigger]

I need to get a 155/80/13 tire for my Escort as one of the front ones are still the original.

 

Further to this, I popped to my local scrappy earlier, I managed to bag a pair of decent Toyo's on Mk4 Escort rims for £15!, They wanted £10 each but i only had £15 so they accept it, Result!

[Shep Shepherd]

Due to my complete inability so far to find a replacement (new or used) headlamp glass for The Volvo, I bought one of those lens repair kits from my local DIY tat shop and had a go at covering the stone hole in the existing glass with it, as I wasn't convinced that the Sellotape 'repair' I made was going to work long-term:

 

 

It looks pretty dire, rather like I've glued a piece of the bottom of a plastic strawberry punnet to the glass, but hopefully it will pass muster at the MOT in June and keep the weather away from the reflector until I can source a replacement glass. Can anyone help?

 

In other news, I went over the car's tailgate and rear pillars with the Meguiars kit and they came up as well as the front wings did. Weather permitting, I plan to do the rest of the car tomorrow. As good a way of avoiding the royal wedding coverage as any, methinks

[Pillock]

Got the Leon home - it still smells a bit oily, but I guess that's to be expected after it threw half a sumpful down the exhaust.

 

 

Job list: Remove tints. Balance front wheels. Wire the stereo in properly so it doesn't constantly lost it's memory. Cry when it breaks again (I've lost a lot of faith in it, and my car buying talents, to be honest!)

[trigger]

It looks nice though, I those Leons in that dark blue, I nearly bought a Cupra in that colour once. How much did it cost you if you don't mind me asking?.

[Pillock]

£1300 which isn't really shite money, and then another £400 today on a shiny new turbo for it. But still £1700 is strong money for a 2001 TDI, it's not the bargain it was but with the rest of the engine work it's had (head, cambelt, waterpump) it should be pretty solid for a while yet. I'm still getting emails about higher mileage, older ones for £2k plus.

 

Drives nicely, quite relaxed but I found on the way home my speed had slid into three figures without me even paying much attention. 80mph is 2500rpm which is pretty low for a five-speed, it was about 3500rpm in the BMW. Has just taken £70 worth of devilfuel though so we'll see how it goes....!

[Lord Sterling]

Today I planned to tie up a few loose ends and get some stuff sorted, unfortunately more 820e power-steering drama put paid to that. Whilst popping out this morning the flexi pipe decided to pop-off once again, this time from the otherside. A call to my mechanic mate and trip down to his garage steering a big car without power-steering was called for.

 

Pipe this morning

 

Pipe now:

 

Like the other metal pipe, the pipe on the otherside was manipulated and grooved to give the jubilee clips something to hold on to, the new p/s pipes were also brough in closer to the flexi pipe less chance of trying to pop-off again. Pipes reattached and P/S fluid topped up again + some engine oil as it was running low cost me £NIL

 

Decided to take the car for a bit of a wash and brush up, called in on a mate who works at once of those IMO/ARC car washes, chucked £5 at him for a top wash, but all the dirt disappeared only to remind me of the poor paintwork underneath. Once home I splashed on a bit of tyre-shine, but the paintwork was screaming for a T-Cut and Polish, so out it was with the T-Cut, Mer Polish and a £20 Halfords buffer, an hour or so of elbow grease, some WD40 to the Black plastic work saw nicer cleaner looking car:

 

 

Dont be fooled though, the paintwork is still pretty poor and will need to be sorted by a professional (or at least some who knows what they're doing) though is much brighter and cleaner than before.

 

The car is still a bit juddery and grumbly sometimes, mostly just after being started and driven it'll misfire and lose power and on occasions even stall while warming up. It badly needs a service, engine cleaner and some sort of unblocking somewhere as it doesnt really run right.

[trigger]

£1300 which isn't really shite money

 

That was very cheap!, even at £1700 you'd get your money back without much fuss I'd say!

[Pillock]

Yeah, that's why I didn't cry too hard when the turbo let go on the A159 outside Scunthorpe. After 35 miles of ownership.

[nigel bickle]

Bit of a fire in the engine bay of my Peugeot 204 today. Got it out pretty quick ( thanks to a fire extinguisher in the boot) . Most of the paintworks Ok -although I think the bonnets going to need paint, butd under the bonnet is an unholy mess.

 

I've already rewired the starter, replaced all the fuel lines, wiring, dist cap, leads etc & it spins over oK on trhe key now. Brake & clutch reservoirs next (need replacement) ,carb & cables need replacing/sorting then it should be back up/running.

 

I'm in Belgium -and its a right pain in the ass at the mo.

[Richard]

Due to my complete inability so far to find a replacement (new or used) headlamp glass for The Volvo, I bought one of those lens repair kits from my local DIY tat shop and had a go at covering the stone hole in the existing glass with it, as I wasn't convinced that the Sellotape 'repair' I made was going to work long-term:

 

It looks pretty dire, rather like I've glued a piece of the bottom of a plastic strawberry punnet to the glass, but hopefully it will pass muster at the MOT in June and keep the weather away from the reflector until I can source a replacement glass. Can anyone help?

 

I do have a spare glass (a whole headlight actually) but it's a passenger side one, for a 940, and I'm keeping it.

 

I do know where there's a massive pile of lights for various early noughties scrapyard fodder though, next time I get a chance I'll rummage through it and see if I can help.

[HMC]

The tax was due on the e320, so in some idle e-bay trawling saw what 12 months tax and a bit extra would buy me. I could do with a few bits for my estate and a few other parts, so I ended up bidding on a w124 200 estate with a reasonable amount of tax and test, the plan being to smoke around it it for a bit and then maybe take off the usefull bits and weigh it in (Im rubbish at seeing this through as I rarely break cars when something bought as a runaround/for the bits turns out be better than expected in some way) I liked the look of this one as it had original plates and what looks like the original blaupunkt, Wasnt so sure about the colour. Or the mileage. Won the auction, turns out to be a citroen main dealer getting shot of a p/x. Now am planning a cycling/train and collecting merc road trip, For the weekend. Must remember to pack the AA card. The wife was not best pleased. See what you guys think

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT

[Mr_Bo11ox]

That looks like a winner wagon, wait till your mrs has valeted it and buffed the paintwork up, she'll love it then.

[dollywobbler]

You have my sympathy Nigel, though it must the The Autoshite Way to describe a car fire as a mere Pain in the Arse.

[KruJoe]

That's the best colour for 'em!

And whatever you end up doing with it, it'd move on for decent coin being a seven seater. Do these get exported I wonder?

 

N_Bickle: That's a mega bummer, that is. Lucky you were equipped. I do hope it lives to fight again.

 

Re. my suspension woes, I put a thread on the BX forum where they have been very helpful and informative. The correct parts have been ordered at a good price, fingers crossed I'll have 'em Sat morning, and I'll have a look at the job. Work's mega busy up to Cholmondeley day, so I may be leaving it with a man who can next week.

And so the LHM fun begins...

 

[TimothyClaypole]

My day off so with some help from my dad (keeps him busy) I have brakes on my Astra Estate for a change. New discs and pads fitted

 

 

They were a bit low on pad material.

 

Note the one pad showing from the passenger side is much thicker. That's because the front wheel on the driver's side was stuck on and I ended up angle grinder it off the other week.

So the previous time they were done by another owner they obviously didn't bother changing that side due to not being able to get the wheel off. Great for if you ever had a puncture.

 

Also bits of the brakes line that were getting a bit rusty rubbed down and made nice and a fiddle with the adjuster and I have a working handbrake that doesn't need 17 clicks.

[Craig the Princess]

Mot time for my Applejack Allegro

 

Failed on rear fog lamp (which was working last week when I checked it ), Hydrocarbons (1267 ppm so 67 over the limit) and one windscreen wiper. Can't complain at that.

 

Also making use of tis beauty of an allegro

which I got back for free of the friend I sold it to three years ago. It's no longer metallic blue, more generic hand painted marine pain light blue. Now in handpained colour!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I overhauled the front brakes on my Argenta tonight. After doing them i cable tied the french plates back on and took it for a quick late-night blezz up some abandoned cheshire back roads. Its the fookin bo11ox!!!! Drives mega well, I love it. Its not a million miles off an MOT either, just check the rear brakes and chuck some headlamp beam deflectors on and we should be good to go. Also I burned my thumb on the exhaust.

[wuvvum]

Nice one Bo11ox. Must be gratifying to finally get to drive it after all the arsing about.

[Craig the Princess]

I overhauled the front brakes on my Argenta tonight. After doing them i cable tied the french plates back on and took it for a quick late-night blezz up some abandoned cheshire back roads. Its the fookin bo11ox!!!! Drives mega well, I love it.

 

Not a lot better than that feeling is there?

[Guest]

FaO Mr BoLLoX

 

I hAvE YOuR HiGH poWEr SySTeM

 

DeLiVeR tHe MoNeY to ViCsMiTh

 

2aM tOMMoRoW

 

rOUnD ThE BAcK oF MaUGhANs HoMeBAkE

 

uNMarKEd BiLLs

 

Do NOt TRiFLe WiTh mE

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

If Hirst's coded message is about what I think it is, great work.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

HOW DID YOU GET IT. I WaNt to SEe prOOf Or i WlLL NoT PAy

[Guest]

I'll send you the funny little backpack-style clasp off the book pack, how's that?

 

 

Now begins a deadly game of cat and mouse, which begins with you wearing a sandwich board in Heckmondwike. Hurry up!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Hirst: Hirst says, Bo11ox and the Samaritan will go to the subway station at 72nd and Broadway. I will call you in 15 minutes on the payphone outside the station. No Police. Failure to answer will constitute noncompliance. Do you understand me, Bolx?

Bo11ox: Oh, yes, I understand. I understand that you're a fuckin' wacko who likes to play kids' games. That's what I understand.

Hirst: Hardly.

Bo11ox: [imitating Hirst] Hahdly? Well, then, who are you? Somebody I sent up? What'd you do? Shoplifting? Purse-snatching?

[pauses and puts hand over the receiver]

Bo11ox: Cross-dressing? What?

Hirst: You c-c-c-couldn't catch me if I stole your ch-ch-chair with you in it!

Bo11ox: My ch-ch-ch-chair with me in it? That's very exciting. Let me ask you a question, bonehead. Why are you trying to k-k-k-k-kill me?

[wuvvum]

[Shep Shepherd]

To avoid the royal wedding drilge (I really don't do populist events), I spent a couple of hours applying three-stage slop to The Volvo, meaning that it almost looks like a ten-yard car again:

 

 

As you might be able to tell, I haven't yet done the bonnet and roof, as the sun came out and made the panels too hot to put polish/wax on. I'll see if I can give them a going-over at some point over the weekend when it isn't sunny (a given) and give the bumpers and trim an application of Autoglym Bumper Care at the same time. I'll probably have to T-Cut the bonnet first, though, as it's a bit grim...

[Guest]

Why are you trying to k-k-k-k-kill me?

"It's a Pony 1200, it's built for economy - not speed!"

 

Yeah it's a nice motor, has some things which want doing, but nothing which should see it stalled that long. Hoping to have it on the road fairly soon to be honest.

 

N.B. For people who don't follow all the above, I've bought an old Integra EX16 which used to belong to Bollox in 2007 or something.

[cort16]

I haz been royal welding. Still got plenty to do on this but but I recon I'm more than half way there.

 

From

 

to