As I have absolutely no skills when it comes to bodywork (too scared to even attempt it), I can't post any awe inspiring fixes/mods etc what I can do though is post my little bodges/fixes/escapades. (you delete which one you feel appropriate 
)
So after breaking down on the motorway coming back from Porlock Weir on Sunday I had to do some unplanned fixing on Monday. (car is used as my daily)
In the cars defence the first niggle was down to me misreading a fuse rating and replacing a 35amp fuse with a 3amp.
So when it came to needing to use the windscreen wipers I quickly realised that they weren't going to be of any use. Thankfully a very light shower so got away with that one.
The trip home was uneventful up until just before the Bridgewater junction the wife spotted a red light on the dash, just as well she sits in the back eh!
With no safe parking options I left the motorway and rejoined thus allowing me about 4 lanes width of private investigation area.
Only to find the remains of my fan belt scattered under the bonnet & water leaving the radiator from the cap overflow spout, I haven't had one of those moments for ages
So as the car wasn't particularly suffering with heat exhaustion, we gently began our exciting game of cat n mouse with the temp gauge and after sticking to 50mph for several miles realised it was going to be fine unless we hit traffic.
We didn't, and even trundling along the Clevedon roads at 30 the car was fine.
Water leak was partly down to a knackered cap so easy fix there, the fan belt was a bit of a pig, not helped by being supplied with the wrong length so Monday was a little wasted. (Bank Holiday shop hours not helping)
Couldn't get any fuses locally and the helpful chap at Maplins helped me out further by twisting the end off my good fuse I had used as an example. Didn't impress me much with that one I have to say as up to that point I was thinking she'd be fixed that night.
So Tuesday spent all day at work thinking how I could improve the fuse situation, got home and attacked the car proper, fan belt done in minutes mostly because the nuts were freed with wd40 all night and after me man handling them for several hours previously.
I also replaced the glass fuses with a couple of 30amp blades using a water proof holder and spade connectors, fits a treat and reversible should be I be feeling insane. (no one does 35amp blades apparently)
Whilst I was feeling happy I set about trying to understand why my indicator flashes quicker on one side to the other, should have left well alone I was thinking to myself later.
I cleaned up the earth connections removed some rust and smothered them in grease, took the bulb out the boot terminal and gave them a good clean and did the same to the front. sorted for about twenty minutes and then no flashing and only one bulb working.
Bulb at the rear wasn't blown so took the one out the front and stuck it in, it worked so put a spare in the front and no joy..What!!
Turned out the Bulb from the rear was faulty, and when I'd adjusted the fan belt I'd knocked a connector block which after some time messing around with a multimeter I found out was badly corroded inside. There was power going to the front bulb holder but the light wouldn't light? spent ages cleaning the contacts making sure the movable centre connector was clean too and touching the bulb before discovering the connector was rotten.
So cut a lot of green crusted wiring out the loom, made a new connector block and hey presto, working and at an acceptable speed too!
So test drive time to make sure any bumps ok potholes wouldn't undo my handiwork.
Only to find my horn stopped working..jesus me thinks...got back home and replaced the connector I'd knocked off oops!
So going back to the water leak which I thought I had fixed, turns out there is a dribble coming out the bottom hose connector, which after a slight nip up is better but I think the pipe & clips need replacing.
So that'll get done when I do the rest of the hoses, as speaking to my mechanic friend who suggested I do some preventative maintenance. We took the sound deadening stuff off the bulkhead and it revealed an area that requires some attention. It isn't half as bad as I feared the panel is still intact and serviceable.
So here's a pic of Geoff's new ride as a treat for reading my ramblings...
2.0 pinto powered with type 9 gearbox n 3.54 diff, it's fantastic and sits well alongside his chevy powered pop he has
Jobs left to do then in no particular order:-
Handbrake cables
Water pipes
Bulk head panel rust proof and repaint
Replace door mirrors when they finally turn up from ebay
Tracking
Replace dizzy with optical unit - anyone suggest a brand here?
Find a gear stick boot & remember to glue the gear knob on!!
Fix tripometer
Fix fuel sender as guess work is getting tedious..
)So after breaking down on the motorway coming back from Porlock Weir on Sunday I had to do some unplanned fixing on Monday. (car is used as my daily)
In the cars defence the first niggle was down to me misreading a fuse rating and replacing a 35amp fuse with a 3amp.
So when it came to needing to use the windscreen wipers I quickly realised that they weren't going to be of any use. Thankfully a very light shower so got away with that one.
The trip home was uneventful up until just before the Bridgewater junction the wife spotted a red light on the dash, just as well she sits in the back eh!
With no safe parking options I left the motorway and rejoined thus allowing me about 4 lanes width of private investigation area.
Only to find the remains of my fan belt scattered under the bonnet & water leaving the radiator from the cap overflow spout, I haven't had one of those moments for ages
So as the car wasn't particularly suffering with heat exhaustion, we gently began our exciting game of cat n mouse with the temp gauge and after sticking to 50mph for several miles realised it was going to be fine unless we hit traffic.
We didn't, and even trundling along the Clevedon roads at 30 the car was fine.
Water leak was partly down to a knackered cap so easy fix there, the fan belt was a bit of a pig, not helped by being supplied with the wrong length so Monday was a little wasted. (Bank Holiday shop hours not helping)
Couldn't get any fuses locally and the helpful chap at Maplins helped me out further by twisting the end off my good fuse I had used as an example. Didn't impress me much with that one I have to say as up to that point I was thinking she'd be fixed that night.
So Tuesday spent all day at work thinking how I could improve the fuse situation, got home and attacked the car proper, fan belt done in minutes mostly because the nuts were freed with wd40 all night and after me man handling them for several hours previously.
I also replaced the glass fuses with a couple of 30amp blades using a water proof holder and spade connectors, fits a treat and reversible should be I be feeling insane. (no one does 35amp blades apparently)
Whilst I was feeling happy I set about trying to understand why my indicator flashes quicker on one side to the other, should have left well alone I was thinking to myself later.
I cleaned up the earth connections removed some rust and smothered them in grease, took the bulb out the boot terminal and gave them a good clean and did the same to the front. sorted for about twenty minutes and then no flashing and only one bulb working.
Bulb at the rear wasn't blown so took the one out the front and stuck it in, it worked so put a spare in the front and no joy..What!!
Turned out the Bulb from the rear was faulty, and when I'd adjusted the fan belt I'd knocked a connector block which after some time messing around with a multimeter I found out was badly corroded inside. There was power going to the front bulb holder but the light wouldn't light? spent ages cleaning the contacts making sure the movable centre connector was clean too and touching the bulb before discovering the connector was rotten.
So cut a lot of green crusted wiring out the loom, made a new connector block and hey presto, working and at an acceptable speed too!
So test drive time to make sure any bumps ok potholes wouldn't undo my handiwork.
Only to find my horn stopped working..jesus me thinks...got back home and replaced the connector I'd knocked off oops!
So going back to the water leak which I thought I had fixed, turns out there is a dribble coming out the bottom hose connector, which after a slight nip up is better but I think the pipe & clips need replacing.
So that'll get done when I do the rest of the hoses, as speaking to my mechanic friend who suggested I do some preventative maintenance. We took the sound deadening stuff off the bulkhead and it revealed an area that requires some attention. It isn't half as bad as I feared the panel is still intact and serviceable.
So here's a pic of Geoff's new ride as a treat for reading my ramblings...
2.0 pinto powered with type 9 gearbox n 3.54 diff, it's fantastic and sits well alongside his chevy powered pop he has
Jobs left to do then in no particular order:-
Handbrake cables
Water pipes
Bulk head panel rust proof and repaint
Replace door mirrors when they finally turn up from ebay
Tracking
Replace dizzy with optical unit - anyone suggest a brand here?
Find a gear stick boot & remember to glue the gear knob on!!
Fix tripometer
Fix fuel sender as guess work is getting tedious..
mainly due to lack of space, a screaming child, being old and suffering cramp far too often.
