Grizz’s OCD Awesome ASTRO Van 🚙 Megane SCENIC 1.5dci 🚙 MX5 JEEP For Sale.🚨 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 USA Road Trip

[Westbay]

The little improvements soon add up !

 

ps 114,000 run in pha ! my 1.9 diesel A4 did 457,000 miles....then I sold it !

[grizz]

1 hour ago, Westbay said:

The little improvements soon add up !

 

ps 114,000 run in pha ! my 1.9 diesel A4 did 457,000 miles....then I sold it !

Do you know if it is still on the road? 
 

 

 

 

I just gave the dog her present. 
 

 

[shampooefficient]

Oh excellent and you're welcome:D

[Westbay]

"Do you know if it is still on the road? "

 

Sadly not, the lad it was sold to didn't look after it and it died when it ran dry of oil ....  I only learned the story after it went to the scrapyard .... would have bought if back if I could have  {sigh}
 

[grizz]

Not much happened this week. 

 

But I was asked by Aaron my one current lodger if I could take him and another guy to Rochester for their Christmas party. 

 

Thankfully I had not got rid of the small jump seats yet, so refitted one and ran them to town. 

 

Function over form wins this time. 

 

 

When I got back, George was waiting for me. Tucked up like a hovercraft. 

Impressive whiskers for sure. 

 

It is coming up for two years that he has lived here. 

 

Still thankful he chose this house to move into. 

 

 

First time we met 

 

https://youtu.be/n0mWn5PbP-M?si=43dcmBIMRCJzfuT1

 

 

This morning we had another great sunrise. 

 

Looking out of the kitchen window, the van again made me chuckle, just because it is a nice and good looking thing. (Till the next pretty lady rolls into view. Long roof V8 Americans look out) 

 

 

Peugeot 206 CC went into the garage yesterday to have cambelt and waterpump replaced as well as a general look over for any issues. 

 

I need to find a sensibly priced source for some 195/55 16 tyres to fit on the Caddy’s alloys that are still waiting to be fitted. 

 

And just like that it’s almost Christmas. 

 

 

[Westbay]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195564152460?fits=Rim+Diameter%3A16|Tyre+Width%3A195|Aspect+Ratio%3A55&hash=item2d8888268c:g:F4oAAOSww~1jyWrg&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4LKwkpKofhqMp2dzWvy8%2F75f1EYcTX8FmMpxXp5ol%2FEtF5skLQDr3BEY%2BpWO623z%2B25NrhWreNq3fewhdm9pJlFnPvu3nQUE4r7Zmfbhp%2Ftfvh99VBpWmFaimnK3LicFy9xCs82%2FFEdrLzy0Yy5s3x%2FuQPwocIVhShFrMM36adq2CmmVDrGEdc7bZRMao90EiOnGNxGzeWaeqR8EymSEf71Yt1A4d0PY5L05mCESfWTbVtPNXem1bboY82c1uCubNlbr0U%2Bg%2BKxY8aNs5is1o83NUnkaLzfWl8XbI2mkB4ID|tkp%3ABk9SR47V6e-QYw

[grizz]

On 20/12/2023 at 11:31, Westbay said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195564152460?fits=Rim+Diameter%3A16|Tyre+Width%3A195|Aspect+Ratio%3A55&hash=item2d8888268c:g:F4oAAOSww~1jyWrg&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4LKwkpKofhqMp2dzWvy8%2F75f1EYcTX8FmMpxXp5ol%2FEtF5skLQDr3BEY%2BpWO623z%2B25NrhWreNq3fewhdm9pJlFnPvu3nQUE4r7Zmfbhp%2Ftfvh99VBpWmFaimnK3LicFy9xCs82%2FFEdrLzy0Yy5s3x%2FuQPwocIVhShFrMM36adq2CmmVDrGEdc7bZRMao90EiOnGNxGzeWaeqR8EymSEf71Yt1A4d0PY5L05mCESfWTbVtPNXem1bboY82c1uCubNlbr0U%2Bg%2BKxY8aNs5is1o83NUnkaLzfWl8XbI2mkB4ID|tkp%3ABk9SR47V6e-QYw

 

Thank you Tony

[grizz]

I do feel at times that I am spending more cash than I should. 

 

At 104k miles or 167k km there is no recorded history of the Peugeot 206 ever having had a cambelt or waterpump replaced. 

 

So in order to protect what still is a nice car, I took the chance on driving it home a month ago on 25th November and pretty much parking it out back till the 20th which was the earliest day I could get it booked in for a going over and service. 

 

So I took it to Cliffs 

 

They have been there a very long time 

 

From this building 

 

 

To a modern workshop he had built a few years ago. 

 

 

So next job of course dismantling and replacing parts. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original plastic waterpump and cambelt looked good but seem to be original. 

 

 

 

 

Underside looking surprisingly good for a 21 year old. 

 

I will try get myself motivated to clean up a d treat the underside with some rust restraining/preventing type gloop. 

 

 

 

 

Coolant, antifreeze drained and replaced as well. 

 

Collected from Cliffs and parked up at home on SORN till 2024 as a convertible for Christmas just makes no sense to me. 

 

Pleased its done now for peace of mind. 

 

Next up. 

 

VW Caddy alloys and new tyres. 

[Westbay]

👍

[grizz]

So at 17.45 tonight we had our 2023 Medway Christmas Tractor Parade. 

Windy and around 11’C or 52’F outside. Not bad for beyond mid December. 

Unlike USA automotive parades, there was no Candy thrown out at the kids along the route like I saw at Eureka Springs in September this year. 

I heard 45 vehicles took part. Count them if you want and let me know. 

Enjoy a bit of English Paradeing. 

https://youtu.be/mgSN0BH4Q2Q?si=BVNFNDhyVp0EmhdV

AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THE EUREKA SPRINGS PARADE. 

ENJOY. 

https://youtu.be/lG5UW0XIoMU?si=fRp9VhhDjlKR25Bv

MORE REPORTING LATER. 

[grizz]

Final part of the prize puzzle……..

 

Ooooofffffftastic with sweetpotatofries.

 

And a taaaaallll a Bacardi and Pepsi Max.

 

 

 

Sweet potato fries with loads of mayonnaise  

 

 

 

 

And a Bacardi and Pepsi Max.

 

Merry Christmas all.

]

[Joey spud]

3 hours ago, grizz said:

So at 17.45 tonight we had our 2023 Medway Christmas Tractor Parade. 

Windy and around 11’C or 52’F outside. Not bad for beyond mid December. 

Unlike USA automotive parades, there was no Candy thrown out at the kids along the route like I saw at Eureka Springs in September this year. 

I heard 45 vehicles took part. Count them if you want and let me know. 

Enjoy a bit of English Paradeing. 

https://youtu.be/mgSN0BH4Q2Q?si=BVNFNDhyVp0EmhdV

AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THE EUREKA SPRINGS PARADE. 

ENJOY. 

https://youtu.be/lG5UW0XIoMU?si=fRp9VhhDjlKR25Bv

MORE REPORTING LATER. 

I was loitering outside the Five Bells earlier enjoying a hoppy beverage watching the parade pass by and Santa piloting the little '55 Dennis Fire Engine stole the show for me.

[grizz]

6 hours ago, Joey spud said:

I was loitering outside the Five Bells earlier enjoying a hoppy beverage watching the parade pass by and Santa piloting the little '55 Dennis Fire Engine stole the show for me.

Pity they went by so fast. 
 

But they had been redirected at road work. 
 

Guess they had a schedule. 
 

Terrible pic. 
 

I have seen the fire tender at Cliffe before. 

[grizz]

Peugeot video 

 

Slightly out of sync. 

 

https://youtu.be/fcFWqhQJLUA?si=61dcSx1HmdX11JXs

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Grizzmas to all the readers and followers. 

 

And a special thank you to everyone who takes the time to contribute and write actual replies on the thread or YouTube channel. 

 

Here’s to a great 2024 for all of us. 

 

 

 

 .

[Westbay]

Merry GRIZZmas !

[Rustybullethole]

There's many things very right about that Astro van Grizz. Looks fantastic in the sunset there. 

Do enjoy the level of detail you poor onto a mixed array of vehicles. Great to see the pug getting some love. Its found a good home. 

[grizz]

18 hours ago, Rustybullethole said:

There's many things very right about that Astro van Grizz. Looks fantastic in the sunset there. 

Do enjoy the level of detail you poor onto a mixed array of vehicles. Great to see the pug getting some love. Its found a good home. 

Thank you. 
 

I do like quirky stuff and unusual challenges. 
 

So all my cars are not quite “another Fiesta, Corsa, Polo” 

 

The Astro is really awesome  but like all my cars it is for sale at the drop of a handful of cash  

 

There are many other cars that I would love to buy  

 

I do enjoy fixing stuff and the hunt for bits   
 

 

 

[grizz]

Three AUTOSHITE cars on my driveway. 
 

i doubt I am a record holder but they all make me grin. 
 

Almost Happy New Year too  

 

Here’s to a good 2024 for us all  

 

 

 

[Captain Mainwaring]

That Astro van really is a thing of beauty.

All the best to you Grizz!

[Westbay]

Yup, another vote for the Astro ... {sigh}

 

Happy New Year Rian ...

[grizz]

10 hours ago, Westbay said:

Yup, another vote for the Astro ... {sigh}

 

Happy New Year Rian ...

Thank Tony

 

And for you guys as well. 
 

Astro is like a pretty girl. Not nailed down. 

[grizz]

10 hours ago, Captain Mainwaring said:

That Astro van really is a thing of beauty.

All the best to you Grizz!

Thank you mate. 
 

Astro is pretty nice. 
 

I like it. But….. if anything I like came up….. Whooosh.  

[grizz]

Not done much the last few days. 
 

But today I made a sticker with a Sharpie for the cambelt etc. 

 

Really wanted to use a printed style sticker that would look better. 
 

 

Still good to keep records. 

[grizz]

Morning all.
 

May 2024 bring us all, what we need and also some of what we want. 

 

May we all be kinder than expected and receive much more kindness than we need. 

 

Life will be good. 

[grizz]

So 2024…….

 

So 2024 has started?? 

 

The Caddy has proved to being back to 100% reliable as expected with the ECU replacement. 

It is actually a pleasure to drive and at Christmas became a convenient 4 seater for delivering and collecting people as a “designated drivers car” so my lodgers and myself and Sally could go out.  

Usually Sally drives and I can have a drink if I want but this year I was happy to drive. 

 

Like “Prozac” the Citroen Berlingo a few years ago, this is an amazing tool for lugging stuff and people about. 

Shopping is great, open the rear door and just put the bags of food straight into the car. The rear doors split asymmetrically, which means that one is wider than the other.

 

Deceptively small as well, despite it’s ability to swallow huge loads. Load volume is a creditable 2.9 cubic metres. Load length is 1,728mm, load height is 1,279mm and load width is 1,530mm. And maximum payload is said to be 625kg so over half a ton in a VW Polo based van. Pretty sure many were abused with a lot more than that. 

 

Note the size compared to other small cars parked in the Morrisons car park. 

 

 

One of the jobs I held off on was fitting two new tyres and getting the fast slow leak sorted until I could get the reliability back to standard. 

 

With the van performing faultlessly I took it in for two new 195/55-16 tyres and to get the puncture sorted. 

Slow leak was due to extreme corrosion on the bead edge of the wheel and cost me £25.00 to repair. 

Along with the tyres, total bill for swapping wheels, tyres, puncture repair etc was £191.00 

 

 

Old, really good and hardly used  tyres and steels with centre caps  in the rear. 

 

 

Fitted

 

 

Driving back home with the extra wheels in the rear it became apparent that the wider tyres and wheels were rubbing on the relocated rear shocks going around tight bends at speed. 

 

So next stop is a pair of 10mm spacers. 

That should be more than enough to push the wheels out a bit. 

Handling feels great as well. 

 

Back home I added the centre caps. 

 

 

Personally I am absolutely 50/50 on the steels vs alloys. 

 

So before vs after. 

 

 

 

Over the Christmas season Bonnie spent more time than usual with Sally and indoors. 

She also discovered wildlife television. 

Amazingly focused on animal programs. Interacting at times. 

 

 

Having had a pretty wet, cloudy winter but without too much extreme cold, George spends most of the time indoors. Sleeping. 

Last week while washing the cars during some better days, George came out as well. 

He loves the sun. 

Mr Feral. 

 

Only a sliver of sun needed. 

 

 

More later 

[bezzabsa]

still think those alloys would suit my Bini better LOL

[grizz]

23 hours ago, bezzabsa said:

still think those alloys would suit my Bini better LOL

4x100?

 

They are quite masculine. 

[grizz]

Doorbell rings…..

 

Courier delivery 

 

Cold chain box. 

 

 

Opening it, a note at the top of a sealed foil pack. 

 

 

Opening the foil bag……

 

A whole selection of pasties. 

 

 

So I unpacked them into the refrigerator. 

 

Later I zapped one in the microwave. Oven heating would be better. 

I added a bit of Sweet Cider Chutney. 

 

 

So….? 

 

Who would send me a load of amazing pasties?

Mate Steve, another one of those guys whose actions speak louder than words. 

Kindness. 

Thank you very much mate. 

 

Life is good. 

[Westbay]

Why the BIG font ? 

[grizz]

1 hour ago, Westbay said:

Why the BIG font ? 

Because…….
 

Copy and paste from Notes. 
 

On my iPhone