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Oct 21, 2018 13:24:02 GMT
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The 2018 RRG grand tour is now over ( via Shropshire - where they still have peasants roaming the countryside  )  and some spectacular views on the way into the Churchstretton.  Camping at Abersoch with an almost empty campsite to myself, and surfboarding at Porth Newl which was a new experience   |
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Oct 21, 2018 13:56:04 GMT
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The car is now mot exempt, but I decided to mot it just for peace of mind (and to save potential grief from my insurers, and to give the authorities 1 less reason to carry our random inspections of the car  ). Taking to others with 60s / 70s cars at RRG, I'm not the only one who is concerned that making use of the mot-exemption may cause problems in the future. Time will tell My local garage did the mot as normal, but they have a different chap testing now. He failed the mot for 1 small welding patch (a fair point), but also picked up a few items "due to new mot rules"  * he insisted I tape up the factory wiring (headlights wiring etc was never taped from new) as loose wire are now a fail * the engine is often oily (it's a 70s motor - is anyone surprised??), he wanted the underside cleaned / wiped over as oil leaks are now an mot fail for "environmenal polution". Odd there's no consideration that scrapping the car and manufacturing a new one will create a *lot* more polution than any oil leaks from an existing old car * the oil filler cap had been removed (and a basic filter fitted) to reduce backpressure and cut down oil leaks - he warned the missing cap would be an advisory item if it wasn't on for the retest. Choices - do I want a fail due to possible oil leaks from backpressure, or should I remove the filter (and backpressure) and risk an mot advistory Life update : Work will be busy for me starting just after the New Year, but I'm open to offers / suggestions for the rest of this year  |
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Last Edit: Sept 12, 2019 17:06:39 GMT by nomad
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djefk
Part of things
Posts: 844
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Oct 21, 2018 23:40:44 GMT
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Time to find a new garage to carry out MOTs then - or else find someone you trust to look over the car at least as thoroughly as MOT standard and then allow the new rules on exemption to work for you.
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Oct 22, 2018 11:56:30 GMT
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Hi djefk - I normally get the car up on ramps at a mates garage for a check-over before the real MOT ( he is a qualified mot tester - but his garage isn't / wasn't equipped so he did the mots at someone elses mot station). I've never asked him to mot the Hunter as it's "odd" compared to the cars he is used to The issue this year is I've been asked to modify factory standard wiring (by taping it up), but my modification to reduce backpressure & leaks isn't allowed so I need to put the car back to factory standard. Getting the car up to mot standards isn't the point (I fix problems as I notice them), it's that I'm geting mixed message and that makes me uncomfortable. Plenty of time to review options, I'd like to keep it mot'd but going mot exempt might be the easiest choice. I wonder how many other classic cars will stop being mot'd due the the recent mot "improvements" ? |
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djefk
Part of things
Posts: 844
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Oct 22, 2018 22:54:11 GMT
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Hi Nomad, yes actually we have the same point, your car IS up to MOT standards on all safety points, but now having to MOT it at a place that is convenient for you is becoming a chore - in fact you need to find somewhere else that you trust if you intend to continue, from what you’ve written - my point is, you don’t need to reverse your breather mod (and I wouldn’t if it works as you intended, although as a side note, didn’t you rebuild the engine? If so why do you need to reduce back pressure?).
Btw, the wiring being loose and hence an advisory is pure bo11ox. It’s been like that since new, no MOT rule should be interpretated as “what was on the car from new is no longer legal” (the only exception being if the car is pre-60’s and didn’t have windscreen washers fitted when new - but here that’s obviously not relevant).
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Rebel
Part of things
Posts: 343 
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I like the idea of MOT exemption, it allows me to work the rule to my convenience. As an example I replaced all the brake components and upgraded to discs at the front of my charger in September 2017 and had it MOTd. Everything that it could fail on was either as new condition or replaced / upgraded with new parts, so when the MOT expired last month, it would obviously pass again with no issues. So for me it means I don’t have to panic about the MOT running out and finding time to have it retested, I can just retest it at my convenience now
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1968 Dodge Charger
1985 Chevrolet Camaro
1993 Toyota Hilux Surf
2001 Ford Mondeo
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Oct 23, 2018 17:45:56 GMT
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djefk - it all makes sense, and I'd agree the rewiring wasn't needed but I didn't want to upset the chap doing my mot For info - the backpressure is a mix of decades of wear on a 60s design (no oilseals or PCV system etc), and the the bores were worn but within spec so it *just* got a full set of new pistons (I found std sizes in a clearance sale). A rebore + oversize (expensive!) pistons would have more than doubled the cost  Rebel - hello stranger  Out of curiosity, would I need to advise my insurer if I decide to keep driving it when the mot expires?
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Oct 23, 2018 20:10:01 GMT
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The mot requirement is a 75mm dia pool of oil in 5 mins of idling, I'm guessing if your oil leak was that bad you would have fixed it long ago, sounds like he doesent understand the new regs himself.
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Oct 23, 2018 21:03:06 GMT
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Thanks folks That's 2 of you* who think the new mot chap doesn't understand the recent mot changes, guess I'm taking it somewhere else next time * As it's an English car, 75mm works out as 3". No way it's that bad - I couldn't afford to run it if I was having to put that much oil in it every 5 mins  |
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Rebel
Part of things
Posts: 343
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Rebel - hello stranger Out of curiosity, would I need to advise my insurer if I decide to keep driving it when the mot expires? Been busy dealing some personal stuff that I’d really rather not have thrown at me, trying to pick up the pieces etc, so haven’t been around for a while. I haven’t informed my insurance companies that I’m driving two of my cars with no MOT ( they’re both exempt now ). The one that was taxed and MOTd, when the MOT ran out, I just went online and SORNd it, then relaxed it and it came up saying it was MOT exempt. So it’s now registered as MOT exempt. Ive only heard of one person that has been advised by their insurance company that without a valid MOT they won’t insure a vehicle, don’t know if it was a vicious rumour or not. But no one else seems to be having any problems driving when MOT exempt with no MOT |
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1968 Dodge Charger
1985 Chevrolet Camaro
1993 Toyota Hilux Surf
2001 Ford Mondeo
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Oct 24, 2018 18:43:28 GMT
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The car is now mot exempt, but I decided to mot it just for peace of mind (and to save potential grief from my insurers, and to give the authorities 1 less reason to carry our random inspections of the car ). Taking to others with 60s / 70s cars at RRG, I'm not the only one who is concerned that making use of the mot-exemption may cause problems in the future. Time will tell My local garage did the mot as normal, but they have a different chap testing now. He failed the mot for 1 small welding patch (a fair point), but also picked up a few items "due to new mot rules" * he insisted I tape up the factory wiring (headlights wiring etc was never taped from new) as loose wire are now a fail * the engine is often oily (it's a 70s motor - is anyone surprised??), he wanted the underside cleaned / wiped over as oil leaks are now an mot fail for "environmenal polution". Odd there's no consideration that scrapping the car and manufacturing a new one will create a *lot* more polution than any oil leaks from an existing old car * the oil filler cap had been removed (and a basic filter fitted) to reduce backpressure and cut down oil leaks - he warned the missing cap would be an advisory item if it wasn't on for the retest. Choices - do I want a fail due to possible oil leaks from backpressure, or should I remove the filter (and backpressure) and risk an mot advistory Life update : It looks like I'll be relocating to Wales sometime (currently in North West Wales, looking for somewhere permenant - very possibly Newport). If anyone has any advice ( s1105117 ?) - especially about the Newport area - can you let me know as I'd appreciate a chat Work will be busy for me starting just after the New Year, but I'm open to offers / suggestions for the rest of this year MOT tester is being over eager and interpreting rules to suit them not how they are written in the regulations. He needs to read the regulations re oil leaks and the puddle size it must leave to be a fail, same with existing wiring poss advise if dangerous or likely to catch on something but if thats how it left the factory no requirement for it to be taped. Should have taken it into Scary Old Cortina MOT services whilst up Vulgalores way for a proper test by a MOT man used to dealing with older stuff. |
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Oct 26, 2018 16:45:31 GMT
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Spotted this today hiding in a remote North Walian village  I've got that area back on my round now so will keep an eye out |
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Last Edit: Oct 26, 2018 17:48:55 GMT by astranaut
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brc76
RR Helper
Posts: 1,108
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I used to live in Newport, about 13 years ago. Not sure how current my knowledge is, but still have some friends in Bassaleg and Rogerstone. What do you want to know?
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Last Edit: Oct 27, 2018 3:13:51 GMT by brc76
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Oct 27, 2018 10:42:10 GMT
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brc76 - it's appreciated, PM sent. I'm looking around Newport so if anyone else knows that area can you let me know. Thanks folks
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Nov 17, 2018 17:04:01 GMT
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There's nothing major happening recently, but a few "nice-to-get-done-sometime" jobs have been ticked off The old carb had a habit of dripping fuel occasionally, not ideal as it was near the exhaust and directly above the engine mounting. I suspect the fuel is what killed the near-new engine mount Some folk might say removing the cylinder head just to fit an engine mount might be a bit of overkill, but it does improve access  Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (possibly Tyneside sometime before RRG15 ), I put aside a set of new plugleads. They are now fitted   The engine feels the same, but it looks neater with the over-length leads removed, and it's another thing out of my "parts waiting to be fitted" box When I was trying to find the cause of the overheating, I removed a reconditioned cylinder head and fitted a spare standard one. The head swap made no difference (the problem has since been identified as a partially blocked rad), so I was glad when I got the chance to get the reconditioned head back on the engine |
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Jan 19, 2019 16:06:50 GMT
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I called into Aldon Automotive www.aldonauto.co.uk/ when I was in the Midlands and picked up a new coil and fuel pump They get top marks for good service, fair (but not cheap) prices, and being ledgendary suppliers of automotive bling & performance goodies for several decades The parts are fitted now - under bonnet looks have improved but the engine still has a "flat" feel to it, I'm sure there's something simple that's holding back the rebuilt engine but I'm not sure what the problem is The good news is the new pump has slightly improved tickover oil pressure when hot - result (my theory is the old failling pump was letting neat fuel into the oil system, both thinning the oil and dragging MPG down. A petrol smell on the dipstick was a useful clue) It's always interesting exploring new places and finding out about local customs I now know Devon has surfing competitions, and have discovered they have naked ladies at the seaside even in mid winter It's not what I'm used to, but I like it  In other news, the car is still chugging along happily, but a new quirk is I occasionally get a flat tyre if I park it with the balance weights at the bottom (maybe some dirt or corrosion on the rim?) |
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Last Edit: Sept 18, 2019 6:39:43 GMT by nomad
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You'll want to find a road away from people you like for this one, but try running the car without the exhaust on just to make sure one of the silencers hasn't collapsed and caused a partial blockage which is choking the engine, giving you that 'flat' feeling. A long shot, but you've replaced everything else that it might be James |
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Too many projects, not enough time.
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Sept 11, 2019 1:16:24 GMT
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Last Edit: Sept 11, 2019 1:17:19 GMT by nomad
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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1972 Hillman Hunter EstateDavenger
@dminifreak
Club Retro Rides Member 140
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Sept 17, 2019 17:26:16 GMT
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Pete.
You saw what happened to my Avenger a few years back.
It can be fixed, it's only money
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Nov 28, 2019 14:16:57 GMT
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Thanks everyone for the feedback and positive vibes ! To update our regualr readers (both of them), the car has moved to a new home and is in the process of being put back on the road (the new keeper is aware of this thread and will hopefully pick up where I left off) I'll use the thread above to share my experiences with the insurance company to keep this as a clean "build" thread, feel free to ask questions on the other thread. Next question : Does anyone have space / know where I can store a couple of motorbikes for a while? I'm hopefully getting a permanant garage but things are moving slowly Background : I may be taking a short-term job abroad for a while and will be loosing my temporary storage while I'm away. Ideal locations would be Midlands or Wales (North or South) but I'm open to suggestions Any help appreciated ! |
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)
). 
Out of curiosity, would I need to advise my insurer if I decide to keep driving it when the mot expires? 
I've got that area back on my round now so will keep an eye out 
