The Chat Thread - Do the chat thing - WC 06/02/23

Me and Phil (who needs a better username) have been helping each other to be builders again. After mixing 8 ton bags worth of concrete by hand to create a retaining wall to keep my yard from slipping into the field next door because it’s 18” higher than it, my little shed has its walls up, so I’ll be onto the roof by the end of the week.
In return his garage extension has the back wall built as of yesterday.

Unfortunately it’s all top secret work until it’s finished, then I’ll post some pics 😁
Huge visible progress is good though, and it means both of us might get around to working on some cars again sometime soon.

Having a really tough time of it at the moment (which I mentioned on one of the previous chat threads) and really needed a win. So finally did the back shocks on my 964.




I think it could come down a touch, but we'll see if they settle. Took it out for a test run and the first run of the year afterwards. I utterly love that thing.

Have to get rid of my 914 this week, though. Sad I never got it finished but sometimes stuff just doesn't work out. I need to do a thread on the 'situation', but it'll probably be a cathartic one afterwards.

Work is continuing to be insane.
But hey, I'm getting paid. But like the Jungle song, I'm Too Busy Earning. But also in the name of the movie - "Everything Everywhere All At Once"
If I don't go utterly mad and go full Raul Moat before Spring I note that the DLOC national rally is within yards of my abode this summer which means it would be utterly rude not to go. Unfortunately my Conquest Century is a Defeat Decade at the moment so I have got my plans together to try get that roadworthy etc ready for that event.
I did do a thing which I will do a post on as its interesting, involving an American chap and a Rover.
I also observe I appear to have no cars currently working properly which have a full compliment of working headlights. The Mercury has a leaking carb and if I fixed that I could drive that and all its lights work. but I'm not going to because client deadlines.

I was meant to share this Weeks ago. However, life has got in the way.

From meaning to have a quiet weekend weeks ago, it became a very busy one. Main reason was a friend has been buying a number of Mk2s. He then bought the holy grail, a Mk2 G60. Sure, it looks like it was the Alibaba features car, but there was plenty to like about it.




It was road trip time! All of the way up to Morpeth, which is very pretty to be fair.









Besides that, to investigate a foible with the Mercedes, I bought a power probe with a scope on it. It came in handy, in testing a clock I’m selling as well.

Who said KE-Jetronic/old school setups were simple to work with?

Excellent education .

Thank you for sharing.

Having Covid has slowed me right down, three days of doing zip, nada, not even leaving the house

I have had it twice according to teats, but may have had it at the early stages too as I got all the symptoms etc.

My problem is that I do not often sit and do nothing, and usually Paul Y will call or contact me as soon as the mercury hits 6’C or less to enquire if I have bought a car yet.

I need to go to nickwheeler ‘s about 10 miles from here to pick up his RivNut tool because someone managed to strip one of the RivNuts in the windscreen frame, holding the wiper motor (no, do not look at me) but I feel so rubbish that even that trip is more effort than I want to make.

The Rezin Rockit is so close to a test now.

My overriding thoughts on my T Sport were that it was an excellent engine in a less than inspiring chassis. The latter was certainly improved with some mods though and a K&N Typhoon induction kit certainly made the crossover to the "lift" cam very addictive 😁

Funny, I get that.

Sometimes, making the right choice is not making the right choice.

I seem to do it often, to keep life interesting.

Oh I do agree, facelift is a must as the pre-facelift is so subtle it looks like a non sport model 😅 putting it on 16" wheels as standard was a bit of an odd choice as well, although the compressor got 17s but they're not exactly common..



I did have fun in mine and it certainly kept up with friends in their mini cooper S' and Clio 182s. There are a couple other under the radar "hot" hatches from that era I'd like to try, I came fairly close to buying a Fiat Stilo Abarth last year which could have been interesting