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What a day yesterday!
Left the house at 5am and had a nice icy 3 mile walk to the train station (imagine 3 miles on a sloping ice skating rink!
)
6hrs and 3 trains later I arrive here:
The weather was the total opposite to what we had in Bristol!! (it was the other side of the country mind you
)
1hr later I am crusing in the new MM parts carrier....a 7seater 24V 3.0V6 Camry of 1996 vintage. Subtle Uber Luxo Barge
Within 5 miles of collecting the thing, I see smoke coming from the rear arches!! I pull over to find the rear calipers seized!! I hadn't noticed before - but then a lot of torque easily disguises a little bit of friction. 5 miles with a little friction = lots of heat! This does not bode well for the 300+ mile journey ahead
I now have 2 options - make a call, wait a few hours and spend the rest of the day being couriered all the way home in a yellow transporter with the car on the back OR try and fix it!!
With the basic jack, wheelbrace and the two 'standard' spanners I have the caliper apart to find the piston seized......but I still want to get 300+ miles home under my own steam.
Some creative work with the wheel brace and I somehow manage to free up the piston! HOORAH!!! I do the other side and all seems well. 5 more miles down the road and the rear wheels aren't roasting hot like before. Things are looking good for billy bodger and his roadside repairs ;D
From Norwich to Gt Yarmouth next to pick up some seats I'd won on eBay. Would the AA man have made a 1hr detour to do this for me? Doubt it! Boy am I glad the brakes are now free....
Next stop - a 4hr drive to Winchester. It's getting dark but the new motor is proving to be a good mile muncher. 215 miles dispensed with ease with a nice sunset en-route:
So why Winchester and not head straight back to Bristol?? Because I went to have a look at the potential new 'home' for the engine in my parts carrier....a sweet 2 owner from new MR2 T-bar in Mica Blue. Sweet indeed - always garaged and very genuine car. Needs a new front wing but otherwise solid.
The deal is done and deposit paid. I now have the engine and car for project MR2 V6. I head home a happy chap!
16hrs on the road (and rail) from leaving to getting home - a new car to tool around in for a month or so, a new project car to play with, a mini road-trip and a few little challenges along the way....now that's what it's all about!
It's gonna be a shame to rip the engine out of this - the car is near mint and drives lovely.....
But then the end result will hopefully be well worth the sacrifice ;D
Left the house at 5am and had a nice icy 3 mile walk to the train station (imagine 3 miles on a sloping ice skating rink!
)6hrs and 3 trains later I arrive here:
The weather was the total opposite to what we had in Bristol!! (it was the other side of the country mind you
)1hr later I am crusing in the new MM parts carrier....a 7seater 24V 3.0V6 Camry of 1996 vintage. Subtle Uber Luxo Barge
Within 5 miles of collecting the thing, I see smoke coming from the rear arches!! I pull over to find the rear calipers seized!! I hadn't noticed before - but then a lot of torque easily disguises a little bit of friction. 5 miles with a little friction = lots of heat! This does not bode well for the 300+ mile journey ahead
I now have 2 options - make a call, wait a few hours and spend the rest of the day being couriered all the way home in a yellow transporter with the car on the back OR try and fix it!!
With the basic jack, wheelbrace and the two 'standard' spanners I have the caliper apart to find the piston seized......but I still want to get 300+ miles home under my own steam.
Some creative work with the wheel brace and I somehow manage to free up the piston! HOORAH!!! I do the other side and all seems well. 5 more miles down the road and the rear wheels aren't roasting hot like before. Things are looking good for billy bodger and his roadside repairs ;D
From Norwich to Gt Yarmouth next to pick up some seats I'd won on eBay. Would the AA man have made a 1hr detour to do this for me? Doubt it! Boy am I glad the brakes are now free....
Next stop - a 4hr drive to Winchester. It's getting dark but the new motor is proving to be a good mile muncher. 215 miles dispensed with ease with a nice sunset en-route:
So why Winchester and not head straight back to Bristol?? Because I went to have a look at the potential new 'home' for the engine in my parts carrier....a sweet 2 owner from new MR2 T-bar in Mica Blue. Sweet indeed - always garaged and very genuine car. Needs a new front wing but otherwise solid.
The deal is done and deposit paid. I now have the engine and car for project MR2 V6. I head home a happy chap!
16hrs on the road (and rail) from leaving to getting home - a new car to tool around in for a month or so, a new project car to play with, a mini road-trip and a few little challenges along the way....now that's what it's all about!
It's gonna be a shame to rip the engine out of this - the car is near mint and drives lovely.....
But then the end result will hopefully be well worth the sacrifice ;D
Anyway all very exciting, two hot MR2s! we really can't top that! 
