Sunny Jim's Hearse: The Grim Sleeper - bushfucker trials

[Marshall2810]

Wasn't expecting this, well done and perfect pope mobile for your dog! 

Really enjoyed your thread and hope you both get home safe and sound in your new ride

[Laney]

Job iawn. Can't wait to see this around the local area.

[beko1987]

Ultimate mobile sleep pod conversion? You need to get a nodding dog thing now but a skeletal dog one 

[mat_the_cat]

1 hour ago, Sunny Jim said:

Only going as far as Somerset tonight cos I'm getting hungry.

Are you going to stretch out and kip in the back? I can just imagine the sight of this in a layby, as you awake and sit up in the morning!

[wuvvum]

Fantastic!  That's going to be fun to get up the road to your house...

[108]

Fair play. It’s still only January but this thread is well up there for Entertaining Thread of the Year!

 

Brilliant stuff, and best of luck with the Camper Sunroom. 

[Jim Bell]

Oh wow a taxi. 

Sat nav favourites menu- 

Crematorium, Crematorium, Cemetery, McDonald's, Crematorium, KFC, Morgue, IKEA. 

[beko1987]

23 minutes ago, Jim Bell said:

Oh wow a taxi. 

Sat nav favourites menu- 

Crematorium, Crematorium, Cemetery, McDonald's, Crematorium, KFC, Morgue, IKEA. 

And that's just the morning shift

Are the ashtrays empty? 

[captain_70s]

An entire fleet where the car can be used accommodation? Winning.

[Sunny Jim]

It's himself again. It's been quite a week and a long day. On Monday I had an arthroscopy on my left shoulder to do a sub-acromial decompression (shave off bits of bone which were pressing on nerves and tendons). Turned out I had also torn my supraspinatus muscle so they've repaired that as well while they were in there.

My C15 is manual and doesn't have PAS so I won't be able to drive it for a while. Obviously I needed* a cheap, small automatic with power steering which wasn't too far away.

It's definitely been worth spending a day on the train to come and get this. If you've got to drive an auto it might as well be big and wafty. You plant your right foot and there's a slight pause as it kicks down, squats a bit and then launches you towards the horizon on a wall of torque with the minimum of kerfuffle.

My co-pilot has had his treats and is lying beside me on the sofa. Thanks all especially @Weird Car for sharing our adventure.

[Sunny Jim]

On 18/01/2025 at 08:28, Jim Bell said:

Hat trick on the todds. That's good numbers so early in the day.  The pc is gonna be impressive once the numbers are tallied at close of play. 

PC Finally Tally at Close of Play:

Travelling Whippet = 5

Human                            = 0*

*following a Steward's Enquiry the human was found to have the banned substance Co-codamol in his bloodstream. Once again he blamed his hurty shoulder  - the decision of the IPCC** is binding*** and can not be appealed 

**International Poo Count Committee 

***like the human's bowels

[Laney]

Up you get!

It's like waking the dead....😉

[Cavcraft]

What a brilliant thread, love your dog!

[Sunny Jim]

Drove this 240 miles from Somerset to North Wales today, a lovely run up the A470. It's possibly the most comfortable car I've ever driven. I'm one of the small percentage of people who doesn't find Saab seats comfortable whereas the Daimler's were just right for me, the lumbar support was perfect.

Initial impressions? It's long! Got caught out leaving the car park at some services and had to do a shunt to make it round a turn - the turning circle is huge. The other thing that surprised me was the amount of wind noise, especially over 50mph. I guess that's because of the conversion; the windscreen is taller and so are the windows in the doors - the top of the door frame is made by the converters rather than at the factory and the seal isn't the best.

When I've driven vans this long the wing mirrors have been bigger and often incorporated a blind spot lens. The hearse retains the XJ mirrors. Unfortunately the electric adjust is MIA so I can't dip them to see curbs when I'm parking. I might investigate some blind spot mirrors to clip onto the wing mirrors.

The temp gauge didn't get above a quarter and the vents only blew lukewarm so a thermostat change and a flush of the matrix are on the cards as well as an oil change.

On 18/01/2025 at 19:41, wuvvum said:

Fantastic!  That's going to be fun to get up the road to your house..

Your words came back to haunt me. Because of the way cars were parked at the bottom of the lane I couldn't make the right turn into the lane. Shitting it that I'd bought a car I couldn't bring home I drove down the hill to the village and turned round. Fortunately I could make it into the lane turning left! It was extremely tight and I was extremely clenched for the first 100 yards but it got wider and easier and I made it home without incident.

Quietly smitten already. I think this will stick around for a while even after I can drive manuals again. I did spend a lot of today's drive plotting a camper conversion. Watch this space.

[brownnova]

Llongyfarchiadau ar eich car newydd! Dewis gwych!!

Think we need to do another Shitesteddfod soon (not just so I can get a look at this!) 

[hairnet]

man in wales cannot handle gravel or tight lanes

recind nationality

[N Dentressangle]

On 19/01/2025 at 10:59, Cavcraft said:

What a brilliant thread, love your dog!

I don't even like dogs, but I like yours.

Brilliant.

[666jjp]

1 hour ago, Sunny Jim said:

 The other thing that surprised me was the amount of wind noise, especially over 50mph.

 

That may be the wreath rails as well, similar to a roof rack.

[danthecapriman]

Glad everything went well for you Jim!

Even more glad you managed to get it down the lane. I can imagine that would have been most irritating to go all that way only fail at the last few yards!😄

I can imagine something like this becoming extremely useful tbh. Estate car/van/camper/cruiser/hearse… it does it all!

[tooSavvy]

How much weight comes off it if the glass is removed/lexan upgrade 🤔

Such an in your face contraption should benefit proper/vanworthy door mirror mod✔️

Suits black 😉

🚙💨

[yes oui si]

13 hours ago, Sunny Jim said:

 It was extremely tight and I was extremely clenched but it got wider and easier 

😮

 

[Sunny Jim]

Observations on driving a hearse in North Wales: ran a few errands today in the hearse. I happened to be wearing a black coat and dark cap. Everybody gave way to me!

I'm getting the hang of piloting it up my lane though I still have to do a shunt to turn into it: 

 

 

[N Dentressangle]

Plus free parking outside any church you like!

[Sunny Jim]

And the crem!

[beko1987]

It's going to be ideal for big tip runs and buying lots of wood 😂

[yes oui si]

That's a proper lane

[comfortablynumb]

33 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

It's going to be ideal for big tip runs and buying lots of wood 😂

If it was our local tip they'd probably claim it was a commercial vehicle 🤦

[junkyarddog]

That is tight!!😮

[bunglebus]

I was a bit gutted after I saw the force hale/sold thread as it appeared to be a mega bargain. I need a hearse in my life at some point so I'll be watching with interest!

[Sunny Jim]

A friend just sent me this clip from an episode of Minder featuring a Daimler* Hearse (and two Princess Limousines).

I might nick that line and quote it at any given opportunity.

*they refer to it as a Daimler but it looks like a Granada when Arthur drives it