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Sept 25, 2017 11:30:04 GMT
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Anyone had one of those moments where at a mad time in mad weather you've just tackled that annoying job on your car? 9pm last night saw me heading to my mates to fit the rear lowering springs to my Vectra, in the dark and rain (and later fog), just spur of the moment, got drenched, got it done and got home just after midnight, was a laugh really. One of those moments where he said jokingly bring it round we'll get it done, not sure he was expecting a reply of ok I'm on my way  Have a pic of a level vectras instead of one with rake  |
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Sammo
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,461 
Club RR Member Number: 103
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Screw it lets do it...Sammo
@sammo
Club Retro Rides Member 103
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Sept 25, 2017 11:56:26 GMT
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About 10 years ago my Brother had a Mk2 Polo with no engine. The Club Polo rolling road day was coming up and I'd said if I got a chance I'd put together a "warm" engine for the Polo so he could take it along. I was heading up there in my van anyway so if there was no time for engine building then he was going to jump in with me. The evening before (about 7pm) I suddenly decided I was going to assemble an engine for him. Cue me standing outside in the dark with just a head torch installing the pistons, knife edged crank etc etc and getting the rest of it together. Managed to get it into the car and running by about 1am and my Brother drove it to the midlands the next day (that was it's running in period). It went onto the rolling road and with them being gentle it managed a respectable 111bhp. Haven't done anything like that since! Edited to add some pictures I found of his car when he first bought it. He parted with an entire £75 for this!    |
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Last Edit: Sept 30, 2017 7:51:26 GMT by Sammo
Follow Me On Instagram - @parttimecartinkerer
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Dr.AK
Part of things
Posts: 411
Club RR Member Number: 62
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Screw it lets do it...Dr.AK
@docak
Club Retro Rides Member 62
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Sept 25, 2017 12:58:23 GMT
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Few years back a mate was given a '76 VW Golf by a coworker. He picked it up, then picked me up as we were planning on attending a VW meet the next day, we rode around in it for a bit, then fired up the BBQ. After a beer or ten we had the brilliant idea of 'Hey, let's take the Mk1 tomorrow!' 'Yeah! Let's! But it need's a drop and wheels!' 'Let's get cracking then!' Proceeded to rip out his Scirocco's suspension, threw it on the Mk1, got his BBS RMs out the shed and slapped them on and wanted to do a test drive only to hear a loud grinding noise - the wheel was rubbing against the caliper up front. Cue us sitting in the middle of the road at 3 am with a grinder just happily grinding down the calipers so the wheels would fit.  |
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Sept 25, 2017 14:36:25 GMT
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No option. My brother and I replaced the complete suspension on the Transit the day I got married to Nicola at 2pm in a suit. I had lowered it and removed about half the leaf springs for that cool look. But moving my garage contents to the new house obviously resulted in a significant overload and it all went very droopy. Replaced with a full suspension alround. Nicola never knew till after the wedding. Think this was midway.  |
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Sept 25, 2017 21:40:14 GMT
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I replaced two rockers and a timing belt at 3 oclock in the morning in the car park of my mates motor factors on newyears eve it was minus 8 and I had to be in inverness 6 hours later..
I made it thanks to good friends and determination...
Oh and the time I looked out the wind one night (again bitter depths of winter ) to see my rather horrible nieghbour looking down at the drain becide my car..
Curiocity got the better of me and I had a look,I had a huge diesel leek which the ignorent bastards failed to inform me of.
So I'm laid in the street cutting and splicing fuel pipe freezing and covered in derv..
Thanks neighbour i must of lost at least 30 quids worth litrally down the drain...
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Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,948
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Sept 26, 2017 6:26:25 GMT
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When I built my 56 (with lots of help from a lot of people,over the years) it had a Super T10 4 speed which didnt really like being behind the BBC so saved and ordered a Doug Nash 4+1. Ordered from Summit and expected to wait a few weeks for it to arrive. It turned up the next day, a Friday. I had promised to take my nephew to his prom in it on the Saturday... Finished it at around 4am on the Saturday morning after spending way to long trying to instal the stupid C clips that hold the gear linkage in place, but finish it we did. Good times and what memories are made of. Still can't understand why I sold it.... P. |
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Last Edit: Sept 26, 2017 6:27:38 GMT by Paul Y
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Sept 26, 2017 8:02:12 GMT
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About 25 years ago, I had a Simca 1000 with a knackered engine. A friend and I wanted to go for vacation, so I reminded I was parting out a Rallye 1 a couple of years before, and the engine was sitting in another friend's mouldy basement since then. So we went to get that engine, and after some fiddling with the clutch, which ended in taking the flywheel from the old 40hp engine, we were able to get it running. So we changed oil, and the next day we headed for Italy. On our two-week-road trip we didn't encounter any problems. I ran the car for another six years, and the engine never missed a beat!  (Sorry I have only this crappy image, which was taken in front of our campground in the Grosseto vicinity) |
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njw
Part of things
Posts: 226
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Sept 28, 2017 17:43:32 GMT
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Changed the engine in a Corsa in the snow once, I can't say it was enjoyable but it was the only chance we had to do it but we got there in the end. I have on more than one occasion been settled for the night in front of the tv only for some niggly problem that I'd been putting up with for a while to start bugging me and before I know it I'm outside with the lead lamp and the spanners sorting it out, and it's late, and I should be driving the car to work in the morning.....
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Sept 28, 2017 20:41:40 GMT
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landrover rebuild in the snow, obviously. including outdoor painting  |
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Last Edit: Sept 28, 2017 20:42:12 GMT by darrenh
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Sept 28, 2017 23:36:42 GMT
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Changed the head gasket in a Skoda Felicia once on new years Eve and new years day, 3 hours each day, in snow and cold which made my fingers numb. But it needed done. I don't think I've done a single HG since.
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Screw it lets do it...fr€$h&m1nt¥
@freshandminty
Club Retro Rides Member 99
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Sept 29, 2017 7:04:05 GMT
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Not modifying wise but that’s how i ended up with my Acty. Craved a micro van for 20 years and when one came up at the right time I was having it and not giving my mind chance to think about whether I should be really buying it.
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Around 8 years ago I owned a Rover Coupe Turbo. The water pump was leaking but I'd been putting the job off for ages after being told the bolts were common for snapping.
One night I went to bed but couldn't sleep, was tossing and turning for ages before thinking sod it, got up got dressed and went and worked through the night changing the water pump.
I was in the garage so wasn't to cold and only had late night radio for company. It was nice having no interruptions though to be honest.
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I had to do a 106 clutch by the road side after a family member had to abandon it in the middle of nowhere. It wasn't that bad actually, probably the easiest car I've ever done a clutch on.
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Around 8 years ago I owned a Rover Coupe Turbo. The water pump was leaking but I'd been putting the job off for ages after being told the bolts were common for snapping. One night I went to bed but couldn't sleep, was tossing and turning for ages before thinking sod it, got up got dressed and went and worked through the night changing the water pump. I was in the garage so wasn't to cold and only had late night radio for company. It was nice having no interruptions though to be honest. I've done this sort of thing quite often, working in my barn late/early in the morning, I agree its nice being on your own, but then I don't have neighbours (serious bonus!) so grinding or cutting isn't an issue! Changed a camshaft on a mk2 cortina years ago, even got the engine back in before it was cold, overnight |
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I also have the screw it I'm doing it attitude, a good example was when my capri engine seized, I left it at home then went to a show, i left at kicking out time and there was a car meet a couple of hours later that I wanted to pop along to in it so told everyone they would see me in the capri, I popped home swapped it over at the side of the road, built it back up, had a shower and headed on out to the meet
I've done all sorts like changing a headgasket for my fil to get him out of the curse word in -5 snow and ice
I could probably write for hours on different ones
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edk83
Part of things
Posts: 849
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Will this MGTF subframe fit in this Allegro?
Screw it lets do it!
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2001 vauxhall corsa 1972 VW Beetle 1986 Ford Capri Laser1999 BMW E36 323i Touring 1991 Volvo 940 estate 2002 Mazda 323f 2.0 sport 2016 Mercedes Sprinter 1999 nissan almera 1.4 1995 lexus gs300 1995 lexus ls400 1975 bmw 1602 fiat punto 2003 ford fiesta something else... |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,194
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Screw it lets do it...ChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Winner. I've done it a few times. Mainly because I needed the car and there were no other times to really do the work. |
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My brother went to work in my Beetle one morning and noticed the clutch was slipping badly. Arranged a double dinner, drove home and we hadbtue engine out, changed the clutch, had some lunch and he still had time for a shower before going back for the afternoon.
I had a clutch fail completely in my T25 camper on the way to school one morning. Left it by the side of the road, walked the last 1/2 mile with the schoolkids, and phoned RAC to collect me at the end of the day. I didn't want to be taken home though - I got recovered to Santa Pod, where I was racing that weekend! My dad was bringing the race car over so he chucked a spare clutch in the back of his car and we changed it in the pits between rounds.
Same camper lost 2nd and 3rd gear on the way to a show at Malvern, so I limped it in, walked around the autojumble, bought a replacement gearbox and fitted it in the camping field.
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1968 Cal Look Beetle - 2007cc motor - 14.45@93mph in full street trim
1970-ish Karmann Beetle cabriolet - project soon to be re-started.
1986 Scirocco - big plans, one day!
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Few year back my A3 snapped crank in half while on holiday in europe. That was Tuesday. Wednsday courier had my spare engine on its way from UK . Late Thursday drove 300 miles to meet him so i could get it quicker. It wasn't straight swap but had it in an running by midnight on Friday just to set off for ferry Saturday morning. Could've just scrap car and catch flight everyone says...nah, screw it lets do it.
It wouldn't have happened without help from my best mate over there tho
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1984 Fiat 126 Brown - SOLD  1993 Audi 80 - work hack 1994 VW Golf 1.4 L - SOLD 1997 VW T4 Syncro pickup - looks like new project 2005 Audi A3 Sportback TDI - daily / euro trip bus |
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