Old man with Montego vanden plas needs your help(pics added)

[Cavcraft]

Fuck shit with a baseball bat, that is rough. What size tyres does it have? I have a couple of very good 175/65/14s. Although iirc they had 185/65/14s as standard, the two I have could pair up on one axle.

[Minimad5]

If you can get a shock absorber i might aswell fit that while i am there too Shame we couldn't adapt a Mk3 fiesta shockie to fit.If anyone could donate any bits of sheet metal that would be nice tooI have bits from a new Nissan Sill, so i will bring that.

[Mr Lobster]

Have to say I'm inclined to agree with Trigger here. I think your efforts are extremely commendable and you are doing a great job trying to help. But, if the rest of the car ain't that great and combined with the fact that it does need a lot of work then its probably best to call it a day with the car and try and find an enthusiast who can at least use some parts. Make the best of a bad situation if you will.

[Minimad5]

Hopefully me and ifc63 will go up and view it propperlyIf the old guy lets me, i wanna pull the complete interior out and have a real good look.Fingers crossed and all that !

[Pete-M]

Two words.It's fucked.Forget about fixing that thing up, you'd be there all year and it'd still be fucked. Getting the engine through the emissions is the least of its worries, that'd be a piece of piss compared to actually rebuilding the shell.If there are any good bits on it, save 'em, but that is about 4 times as bad as my Escort was, it's built out of Brummie tin, and Montegos always rotted at the seams anyway.. it was a design feature..

[trigger]

MinimadWithout meaning to upset you and as nice as your offer is, I think you'd be mad to try and get involved in fixing it, As me and Pete said the other day, You can't take every project on you see as you'll never get anything done, You still have your Fiesta and Rebel to finish.I can't imagine the car is very local to you and that's a lot of work even if you can repair it, More then a couple of days worth i would said so it will cost you to go and fix it, which i would suspect you'll be doing for free.I know it's all good practice for you but you can't help everyone as kind as your offer is.

[Minimad5]

Fully understook Trigger All i intend to do for now, is go and have a look.No need to fix a fiesta it's doneAgree'd with RebelI won't be spending any money on travel as Ian has kindly offered to pick me up.Might aswell go and have a look, even if it is to just be shocked at the amounts of rust

[ifc63]

Provisionally we're going to have a look Friday pm.I'm under no illusion it's past it's best but a 2nd/3rd opinion will help convince the old guy to that way of thinking.It will also then open up the chances of it being a donor car rather than just a crushed cube.

[Cavcraft]

What time are you going Friday and is it in Wrexham somewhere?

[Minimad5]

Around afternooon's (12 - 1)Whats your plan Billy ?

[Cavcraft]

To bring a bin bag, dustpan and brush for the moment you breath within 20 foot of the bodywork.Nah, might come and have a shufty if I get chance but won't be out of work until about 13.45.

[Minimad5]

Hopefully the old geezer doesn't feel intimidated by our rust seeking presence

[ifc63]

Hopefully the old geezer doesn't feel intimidated by our rust seeking presence

I think he'll be alright with me there as I known him quite a few years now Might be different if some screwdriver-wielding strangers turned up on his doorstep

[Guest]

Suppose it depends how you look at it, it doesn't look like an attractive prospect to sort the rot properly, but I'm sure it could be welded up to the extent where it'll pass an MOT. It'll be a scruffy old nail with loads of patches all over the place, but it might give it the chance to gasp out another couple of years before it all rots through again. If he likes it but doesn't want to fork out for what is close to a restoration, it'd be a better compromise than it just being weighed in.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Urgh, gotta be honest that looks a bloody nightmare, i wouldnt fancy trying to coax that through another ticket or two. When they get that bad, patching them up for another year ends up being pretty much as labour-intensive as chopping out sills and floor sections and replacing them properly, and is utterly depressing - you spend hours doing it knowing that its all gonna be fooked again in a years time.The emissions shouldnt be too much of an issue though - change the oil, air filter, check/clean the breathers, stick a bottle of injector cleaner through it and cane it up the motorway for an hour or so in 4th and i bet it will sail through.

[M'coli]

Two words.It's fucked.

Indeed. It's as rotten as the only factory built MG estate was when I saw it last year - and that got scrapped, I believe, despite its extreme rarity.

[Father Ted]

TBH, if we are having a whip round for him it would be better put towards buying him another car. Im actually amazed he put it through a test in that condition as he may as well just have set light to his money.If he is really sentimental about the car, chop the front end off and turn into a BBQ, remove the seats and turn into living room furniture and sweep the rest up and take down the knackers yard.

[Lankytim]

it's built out of Brummie tin..

They were built in Abingdon in Oxfordshire IIRC.P.S that Montego has had its day im afraid. Its finished!

[Lord Sterling]

What a shame its got that bad. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Montegos. I saw a similar mint conditioned GSi Estate in Birmingham not so long. Seems to have dissapeared.

[Mr H Sceptre]

Wonder if there are any Montego Estates currently on E-gay??

[retro80sboy]

Im quite amazed about the response to this thread to be honest! - seems many people would like to help the old boy out - but I think Lanky Tims last comment kind of sums the car up really.Its a shame, but he would be a lot better sticking with the 'new' rover he has and maybe selling the Montego for parts to an enthusaist or someone looking for parts for theirs.

[Parky]

I have to admit that the corrosion looks worst than I first thought. But let Minimad have a look as he might fancy his chances with it. Looking forward to an update/summary once you've had a look Minimad.

[Minimad5]

Thanks ParkyI will try steal my mates camera for the day and take aload of pictures(Fingers crossed he lends me it ..... again)Edit ..I have camera

[Parky]

I got a response from Practical Classics basically thanking me for getting in touch and saying they will forward the info to their Technical Editor to see what he says. Not sure what if anything will happen but you never know - if you dont ask, you dont get........

[Minimad5]

Great man !Fingers crossed i get loads of decent pictures ... the pressure is on

[retro80sboy]

I got a response from Practical Classics basically thanking me for getting in touch and saying they will forward the info to their Technical Editor to see what he says. Not sure what if anything will happen but you never know - if you dont ask, you dont get........

thats cool. well done.although I feel 'Pimp My ride' may be a better option!

[Minimad5]

Firstly i would like to say a big thanks to Ian for picking me up, taking me all the way to Duncan or Douglas's house (His name begins with "D" anyway) .. and then bringing me back home

 

Ian's trusty old steed:

 

We then headed for Wrexham and spotted afew things ..

(Bedford CF)

(Series 1 Land Rover ?)

 

Anyway after alot of chatting and mile munching we got to Montego Mans house (Douglas or Duncan)

Basically this is what we seen ..

As you can see the bottom of the sill seems to be solid (Well it stood upto the prod test with a key)

Rear floor / inner sill

Boot..

Can you see Ian's finger ?

"Why is that plastic there ?"

"ooh that's why"

Dissapointed that this picture came out crap, basically there is some "stuff" keeping the instrument cluster in place

Water, water everywhere ..

more rust and holes

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160796.jpg

Autoshite Headlining skillz

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160797.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160798.jpg

So good i took lots of pictures ...

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160812.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160809.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160811.jpg

Look no rust !

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160808.jpg

Leather is in "okay" nick, it could do with alot of work though

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160806.jpg

Sunroof garden..

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160813.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160814.jpg

More >>>

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160815.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160816.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160818.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160819.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160820.jpg

BL "Go Faster" stripe ..

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160821.jpg

 

Me and Ian both agree that he should just use this ..

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160822.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160826.jpg

And after 25 minutes of Ian being VERY patient and showing him how to use the alarm and start the car ... i think Douncan Douglas man is coming round to the idea of using it too.

 

And on the journey back ..

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160830.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160831.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160832.jpg

Bit of Bus action

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160833.jpg

Bit more of EE (E being the Engine and the E standing for the Chassis Corolla )

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160829.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160784.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt93/minimad5/Duncans%20Dungeon%20Of%20Doom/P1160823.jpg

 

Anyway we came to the conclusion / decision, that it would not be best to sort out the problems as ..

Douglas / Duncan already has a perfectly usable car, that he brought from his sister. And he admitted that the Montego had started to have trouble running propperly after afew miles (Lack of power or something he explained).

He then went onto explain that certain doors would not open, then a week later they would, then windows would do the same ... and so on and so on.

It is fixable, you just have to have the time and money for it, that rear strut piece would take me a complete day to clean up the area, then fabricate alone.

Then from there it "should" be simple.

 

As of yet we don't know the plans for the Montego, but i am sure ifc63 / Ian will keep us informed, as there are alot of usable parts and it even seems to run okay.

I will upload the video of it running that i have some time soon.

And fingers crossed Montego man lets someone have it for parts - (Dib's on the Radio )

[trigger]

I can't believe he even wasted his money putting it for test like that, you'd be better of just weighing it in.

[Cheggers]

Great effort in getting yourselves there and taking a proper look, but in my distinctly amateur opinion, that Montego is right royally rogered

[warren t claim]

I'm concerned that it passed an MOT less than two years ago!