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May 27, 2020 10:16:48 GMT
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This car’s going to fight me all the way, I can feel it! The week before lockdown I visited the farm to get a bit done, stone chip and paint the boot floor etc. I bought a door and ignition lock set as I didn’t have a key for the doors, so while the Stone chip was drying I thought I’d change the ignition lock. I did a bit of research on this the day before and it didn’t seem too complicated, so off I went. Wheel off, indicator assembly loosened, barrel out. We’re flying! Put the new one in, turned it - except I didn’t. Ignition wouldn’t turn, couldn’t get it out of park. Chewed on for five minutes jiggling things (Ooh-err missus) but no joy. No problem, I thought, I’ll put the old one back in. Which I did. And that didn’t work now either. The column’s fairly complicated, with various mechanical switches and lockouts, all of which I checked in case they were jammed or sticking. After I’d swapped the switches twelvty times I thought that the easiest way might be to remove the column so I could play with it at home. First job, disconnect the shifter linkage - which was half buried under the servo and wiper motor. It had what booked like a nail holding it together, and I managed to get myself contorted enough to be able to get some pliers on it. Of course, it promptly snapped. I now can’t get at it without removing the aforementioned wiper motor and servo. FML springs to mind. Going to drive up next week, just to test my eyesight like, and try and whip the column off so I can bring it home. Worst comes to worst I know where there’s three Oldsmobiles of a similar era being broken so can always get a new one. I’ve decided on wheels, although I know that’s well down the list. Going for the steel Rallye wheel look, but bigger:  Insignia 17s, the right look and PCD, just need a bit of banding action to look more like this:  Bought one on Fleabay and gave it a quick flash of rallye silver:  Which has decided me on gloss black, both for the wheels and the car. This is how I want it to look eventually, but with the deep-dish steels:  |
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May 27, 2020 11:48:27 GMT
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You might have some form of electrical ign lockout. It wont let you turn ign on in drive, or similar.
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May 27, 2020 16:00:48 GMT
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It’s got an electrical neutral safety setup Blackpop, and a mechanical setup so you’ve got to stand on the brakes to change out of park. I’m going to disconnect the shifter linkage before I pull the column out to see if it’s the linkage that’s messing everything up or not 👍
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May 27, 2020 20:37:14 GMT
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That sounds like its probably the culprit.
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Jun 29, 2020 21:39:49 GMT
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Everyone needs an Alan - it’s a fact. Finally managed to remove the steering column without dismantling the whole engine bay, but even with everything disconnected couldn’t turn the ignition or get it out of park. Rats!  Found a steering column in the States so was about to push the button on that when my friend Alan asked if he could have a look at it. He had the column for a couple of hours and got it freed up! It does need some broken parts changing but it’s well on the way to being sorted. While I was at the farm I got the boot floor finished off...   ...and also tried the Insignia wheel for size:  Going up there tomorrow to get stuck into the brakes! |
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Jun 30, 2020 12:15:55 GMT
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So what was the culprit?
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Jun 30, 2020 21:15:22 GMT
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It’s what’s called the driveshaft on column diagrams - the rotatey bit that the lock cylinder slots into. It’s damaged so there’s a possibility it’ll jam up again. I put a cheeky bid in on a non-tilt floor shift GM column last night so hopefully it’ll provide the necessary bit. It’s also got a black two spoke wheel on it and the horn contacts on mine are knackered so fingers crossed that’ll swap on as well! |
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First, a quote from my favourite film of all time (Christine): “Look how cockeyed he works Pepper! Brand new windshield wipers...for a busted windshield.” That’s me, that is. Always has been. The car has no steering column, although it is fixed now, and the brakes need doing. What did I do today? Straightened out and painted the rear number plate mount.  In the plus side it means I can have at least one number plate fitted. Speaking of - I know a lot of yank owners run American style plates, but there’s always been something I liked about U.K. black and silvers. The last LeMans had acrylic plates but this time I thought I’d go proper old school with pressed plates.  I bought an early 70s Firebird steering column for my mate Alan to cannibalise to fix mine, and that arrived yesterday. He motored on last night and got the column finished off, including fitting the natty black two spoke Firebird steering wheel.  I’ll get that fitted and the battery charged up next week so I can at least get the flipping thing started  Anth |
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Where did you get the plate made?
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ToolsnTrack
Posted a lot
Homebrew Raconteur
Posts: 4,128
Club RR Member Number: 134
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I’ll get that fitted and the battery charged up next week so I can at least get the flipping thing started Anth Tell me that Holborn is due to go on too.... |
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time
Part of things
Posts: 152
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Good project and Cool car 👍 Don’t know why but it reminded me of this scene from Reservoir Dogs think it’s the same make and model  |
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Last Edit: Jul 9, 2020 17:11:51 GMT by time
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Where did you get the plate made? I got them made through a local motor factor, 30 quid for the pair - can’t be robbed can you? |
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I’ll get that fitted and the battery charged up next week so I can at least get the flipping thing started Anth Tell me that Holborn is due to go on too.... Ha, I wish! That’s Alan’s, don’t know what’s happening with it yet! |
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Good project and Cool car 👍 Don’t know why but it reminded me of this scene from Reservoir Dogs think it’s the same make and model It certainly is! It’s a 71-72, which has a nicer front end than my 70 in my eyes. |
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Dr.AK
Part of things
Posts: 427
Club RR Member Number: 62
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What a beautiful car this is. Certainly going to be interesting on the Insignia wheels, can't really imagine it at the moment, but I'm sure you'll pull it off!
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I think they’ll look a lot like a bigger version of these by the time they’re banded:  Had this a few years ago and love the Rallyes but they were just too small! The Insignias are just right at 17”. Slight change of plan anyway at the moment, getting the mechanical work done and running it as-is for a bit to iron any issues out before I start faffing on! |
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First, a quote from my favourite film of all time (Christine): “Look how cockeyed he works Pepper! Brand new windshield wipers...for a busted windshield.” Same here! Christine is also my most favourite film of all time......period! I first saw the movie whilst at my best mates house when I was 13. His mum recorded it on VHS the week before, knowing that we'd both be interested in watching it. Little did she know at the time how much that movie would captivate us both. We subsequently watched Christine nearly every weekend after for months. I'm 43 now and I've kept count of the amount of times I've seen the movie......its 83 times to date. I can never get bored of Christine! Plus......his mum recorded The Duel straight after Christine.......another cracking movie. |
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Ah, Christine...owned this for 11 years:  Oh, and this!  I very nearly ended up with a four door sedan before this ‘70 came to my attention! Lost count of the times I’ve read the book and watched the film many years ago. To give you an idea though, once when driving down to Tamworth for an NASC show with two fellow Christine nutters, we recited the film pretty much word for word 😁 |
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Ah, Christine...owned this for 11 years: Oh, and this! I very nearly ended up with a four door sedan before this ‘70 came to my attention! Lost count of the times I’ve read the book and watched the film many years ago. To give you an idea though, once when driving down to Tamworth for an NASC show with two fellow Christine nutters, we recited the film pretty much word for word 😁 Woooooooow.........I'm not jealous......honest 🤤🤤🤤. That genuinely is my dream car right there. I quite often tell myself that if I'd not spent all that time and money on all the cars I've had over the years, I'd have one of those by now! Thing is, I always thought that it was well out of my reach. But looking back, I now realise that It wouldn't of been so impossible. Still......you live and learn. Put the movie Christine to one side for moment......and the Plymouth Fury would still be my all time favourite car. Theres a lot of cars I really like, but I can pick holes in something about them. But for me, the Fury is perfect in every way ( despite never having sat in one.....let alone drive one ). Thanks for sharing the pictures 👍 Regards Dan This my screen saver by the way..........  |
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Opel Commodore A Coupe
Opel Rekord C Coupe
Opel Rekord C Saloon
Vauxhall Magnum Coupe V8 (Magnumania)
Mk1 Scirocco GLS
Mk1 Scirocco GLS (early chrome bumper)
Corrado G60
Mk1 Cortina 2 door Pre Airflow
Mk2 Escort 1300 2 Door
VW LT35 Tipper Truck
BMW 320D E91 Tourer
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Jul 10, 2020 19:19:10 GMT
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I’ve owned 70-odd cars over the years but there are three that I wish I hadn’t sold - the Plymouth, my ‘70 LeMans, and a really nice Mk1 Cavalier coupe. Plymouths have gone mental price wise...if a V8 coupe’s costing you any less than 25k it’s probably knackered. Mine cost £2850 shipped from California in 1998! At least I’ve got another LeMans now, my old one’s in the middle of being back halfed. And the Cav - £800 in 2002. Could I bring myself to pay £6k+ for a similar car now? Probably not 😁
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