Sad Times

Well, I have finally decided that it was time for the car to go - I really do not want to sell but I got it mot'd back in October and that was when I last used it. I've done more miles on my bicycle in the last two years than I have in the 6 years the car has been road legal.

So, we are, as I posted a year or two back going to get on with the extension to the house as eldest boy starts secondary school later this year and it'd be nice for him and his bro' to have their own rooms. As such, toy car will be in the way during the build and the money really is required towards the costs of building work.

It's been on ebay for the last 36 hours and has already reached reserve, so it's going regardless and the more I think about it, the more depressed I get.

While I don't use it much, it's been a big part of my life for the last nearly ten years.

Sad Times indeed.

I may or may not post in here again. Don't know yet

Another year...

Haven't actually used the car for a month or so, and havn't done any work on it either. Need to get some of the jobs done ready for the Pioneer Run in March, so...

Want it painted, and may replace the diff with a slightly lower ratio one I have at work, till I get around to chucking the bmw one on.

Time flies, so does the car...

blimey, nearly two months since the last post and yes the car is getting used, but the more I drive it, the more I think I should take it off the road to work on it:D

No, don't panic, it'll not be off the road any time soon.

I'm currently in the process of flogging a load of the old stuff I accumulated when I was building the turboed setup and hope to realise a few quid towards the next project, but hey, that's another blog....

Later

Doing the miles...

When I went for the mot last weekend, I had a full (to the top) tank of petrol - it's nearly gone:D

I reckon I've done 120 miles in the last week and only a couple of minor irritants so far. First was n/s exhaust kept leaking - turned out that where I'd made my own exhaust flange and welded pipe to it, it was no longer flat. Fixed that with the linnisher and silicon sealant.

Other thing was a progressively worsening oil leak which I had one of the guys near work look at - who found it straight away - oil pump cover nuts were loose.

So, jobs to do are - replace light switches in living/dining rooms, replace shower unit, do extension plans (well, finish them) and get them submitted, then replace bushes in coilover units as they seem a bit worn; come up with some sort of engine stabiliser or remake engine mounts using same sort of bushes used in the wishbones, get car to someone who can do corner weighting/tracking etc etc; replace inner pivots on lower front wishbones with spherical bearing (which will allow me to increase front track width to match rear. And get it painted!

Errr:D

Later

We're on the road again:)

Left work 10 minutes early yesterday so I could get home and sort the last remaing point from the mot fail; being the "hub component fouling chassis" - in effect, because the side panels now stick out further than they used to, the wheel arches rubbed the body.

Easy fix though - just snip the cable tie holder the steering rack rubber in place, slide back and screw two more jubilee clips to each side. Use two each end, but so each clips tail goes into other clip.

Anyway, got up early and got car to test station for 8.00am and had to leave it there for an hour as there were a couple of cars in front of me (though guv'nor said he'd try and get me in between the two - only a retest on the failed parts). Went home and had tea and toast, then more toast!!

At 8:50 I wandered back to shop and was advised he was doing paperwork. Two more mins I was back in car driving home. Put car on driveway, got V5/ins and new mot and drove (other car) to post office. Quarter hour later I was fitting rfl disc in car, then drove off to work, where I had a chat with the chap who'll be doing a bit of paint!!

Me happy, just need to get car set up properly!

Pics and vid to come!

Nearly there

G'day.

Since the last post, we've had a weekend away in the caravan which was good fun, but prevented me from finishing the car; which was just tough.

I've been doing bits and pieces to the car since the MOT failure and have done all the required jobs except the steering restriction - which shouldn't take long - hope to do that on Friday eve - maybe get a retest on Saturday.

Did the new exhausts over the last couple of evenings and (nearly) finished attaching them tonight (only a bit of steel to connect rear of exhaust to hanger). Naturally, had to start the car with the new cans and what a difference! It's positively civilised.

Maybe a happy post Sat pm

Fail....

....but not so bad (though it will be expensive; hope that's not too contradictory!).

In case you didn't see previous post, I finally got the car in for an MOT today, and it failed.

The deffo fail was headlight adjustment, and I was spot on with that. Already playing around with adjustment.

Another point was the o/s top balljoint having too much play - turned out to be the nut inside the upright adaptor not being tight enough. So that's already fixed, though I had to take the suspension apart.

One more small point was the drivers seat belt bolt was 90% undone, so that's fixed too.

Big thing is the noise, and it's this that's going to cost as I decided that I may as well get some proper silencers and fit them. Several reasons, but primary at the mo is the get through MOT, but will also keep me in with the neighbours, who haven't complained but could. So it'll make the car much more useable (I'll be able to go out early and come back late).

Only downside is price, but I'm hoping to haggle! Will have to do a bit of work on exhausts to make fit but hey ho

I have 10 days to get car back in for partial retest, so need to get cracka lacking!

Will post agan when all jobs done, though you may have to wait till after test:)