The Chat Thread - Is it autumn yet? - WC 09/10/23

I rewarded myself for not dying, and quitting smoking, with some nice seats that will hopefully be the start of a nice interior.

I don't follow modern car news anymore, I just can't be bothered, so yesterday my wife really surprised me, when she said that after the current vw bus there will be no more!

At least no self developped vw bus, only a rebadged transit built in turkey.

Sounded like an aprils fool to me, I would have never believed that an iconic car like the volksbus could be cancelled only to be replaced by a rebadged competitor product!

I guess I need to do a LTD build thread. I picked up a pair of the very desirable high performance heads - these were 1968 high compression, high flow beasties. The machine shop is looking at them shortly.

I've been away up t'North for work this week which is most unusual. Obviously took the most sensible car for the 500+ mile round trip.

Used the tr7v8 for a couple of days work this week, tweaks to the timing and mixture have got it running better than it ever has, now pulls smmoothly from 700rpm in top gear and sounds great.

Finally got the correct oil filter for the Maestro. Externally the dimensions can be the same for the 1300 A+ engine, but there's two different screw threads and if you don't know about it you can get caught out. Mine takes the smaller thread, the less commonly listed one for this car for some reason.


I also finally sorted out the seat base diaphragms on the Princess, a part that isn't available so I had to get creative with tailoring and upholstery skills. New fix seems to work quite well and the seats feel a lot less saggy than they did even before the original seat diaphragms failed.




Not a job I fancy doing again, fitting the springs was a great way to lose the skin off my knuckles.

Except I didn’t. Basically the vendor didn’t get back to me as promised, idly scrolling through FB Marketplace (that glistening doyen of online selling….NOT) and found this little gem just eight miles up the road that had been listed some 15 minutes previous. Some of you know me and my penchant for Gallic chod (nine Peugeots and ten Citroens over the years) so it’s probably no surprise to learn that it’s a 23 year-old Peugeot 306D.






Two owners, full history, 68500 miles from new. Never failed an MOT, never had as much an advisory. It’s a DW8 lump so 0-60 comes up in minutes, but once you’re up to motorway speeds she’ll sit there at 80 all day long and do 50mpg. For me (I’ve been in the motor trade for the last 6 years so often use new VAG product to come home in) the ideal commuter. Especially since it’s cost me less than a week’s wages! Winner winner chicken dinner.

No plans for it other than keep it tidy/watered/oiled and enjoy it.

Back in the game!

Nice purchase.