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Oct 23, 2020 12:31:09 GMT
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I once managed 44mpg in my 96 Golf GTi 8v on a gentle run to see the inlaws. I was driving like a nun but even so I was quite surprised.
The old SLK 230 was a thirsty beast round town. Regularly under 23mpg if I remember it correctly. But I didn't buy it for fuel economy...
My first car, a Mini 1000 gave me a shock on a 130 mile run to see a friend. I had serviced it and set it up properly beforehand and managed 53mpg. It struggled to get over 40mpg usually which showed how badly it was previously set up!
My friend once had a V8 SD1 Rover in the early 90s which needed a service. He was booting it around town a lot but even he was surprised at the dreadful 7mpg he got. He serviced it properly and it went up to 15.
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Oct 22, 2020 20:55:24 GMT
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But, if I am being more realistic, a Series 3 Landie. In Landie Blue, with a pick up cab. Note - I have no need for a Landie, nor anywhere to put it. But when did that stop us??
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Last Edit: Oct 22, 2020 20:57:14 GMT by mrbounce
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Oct 22, 2020 20:49:11 GMT
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I don't have the means at the moment, but I would LOVE one of these. A 500 SL in red, or light blue metallic.
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Oct 21, 2020 19:48:55 GMT
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My friend once bought a Wood and Pickett Laser Metro (a previous owner was 70s singer Lynsey De Paul) only to find it was rather rotten and beyond his ability and storage at the time. It was broken for spares (He still has that sumptuous interior somewhere). That whole interior was ridiculously luxurious - it's no surprise they didn't sell many as the man hours that must have gone into making it must have been HUGE.
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someone has just told me to use a metro one that has the 2 outlets on the manifold, aparently they are the ones to use? Is that whats on the 1275 also? The standard pea shooter is a single pipe - you'd need to get a separate pipe (available from Maniflow/Mini Spares) but then you'd be looking at needing a performance exhaust anyway. The standard pea shooter would most likely not be beneficial to a 1275 engine anyway. There's a reason why the original GT only had 55bhp. It was strangled half to death. I would be looking to get an RC40 or Maniflow system. Much better breathing and not much more noise. There's really no benefit to keeping the pea-shooter. I hated mine and couldn't wait to get rid of it...
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Oct 19, 2020 16:42:53 GMT
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Ever since I moved this Supra has been in the same position for almost the last 3 years. No plate, flat tyres, big wing at the back. Shame. I wonder what's wrong with it??
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Oct 16, 2020 20:59:27 GMT
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One thing I could never have the patience to do is work as a prep man in a bodyshop. The main reason? I can't lie - I hate sanding. I simply don't have the patience for it and when I do it, I often find I am not that good at it. Now granted the dashboard I am working on was in a pretty shocking state when I first got my hands on it, but every time I have a look at it I find something new that's wrong or I make a mistake. Whilst sanding the first run of filler down, I managed to find an air bubble in a modification I'd done some years ago, by sanding through the (thin) top layer of resin. So out came the P40, and I had to fill in the hole. I followed this up with two more loads of Dolphin Glaze, but I was still struggling to get it right. I then figured that because the dash was multiple different shades, it'd be far easier to manage if it was all one colour. So I sprayed it with the last of my primer and have left it to dry. Whilst it was drying I turned my attention to the 52mm rev counter I bought on eBay. I initially thought it was a Tim gauge as I had one very similar many years ago, but I then realised it's very similar but a no-name brand. It wouldn't surprise me if it was made in the same factory. For £8 I am not complaining. There was a minor issue with the surround (a couple of minor dents which I have mostly got out), and the bulb had got close to the plastic body and melted it. I had a feeling that the bulb was not in a proper holder and I was right - just a close fitting rubber grommet. Unfortunately the way it was fitted pointed the bulb up close to the plastic. I took the unit apart and simply put in a piece of of high temperature exhaust tape which should solve the problem of a hot bulb against plastic. Finally, the rev counter had no retaining bracket. I didn't have a piece of metal long enough to make one. Or so I thought. A rummage through my steel offcuts tin found the remains of the first version of the gear selector and I was able to cut a piece from that. Much Dremel-ing, hammering, use of the drill and the bench grinder saw a half decent bracket. It does need some minor adjustment - the "legs" are about 5mm too long and it needs paint, but they should be easy fixes. The a hole in my dashboard, dear Liza... ![](https://i.imgur.com/Bqnm6gD.jpg) All sanded, but there's bound to be more imperfections... ![](https://i.imgur.com/2QFnlGU.jpg) ...which a coat of primer has highlighted. More to follow. ![](https://i.imgur.com/O5wKeBn.jpg) Cheap rev counter - an eBay steal. ![](https://i.imgur.com/AE2oQQ5.jpg) It wasn't without its problems - close proximity of bulb had melted the plastic body ![](https://i.imgur.com/NlzFvKJ.jpg) A bit of exhaust tape sorted that ![](https://i.imgur.com/OlENAtu.jpg) And I fabricated a new bracket from an old bracket. Obviously. ![](https://i.imgur.com/sexPklP.jpg)
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Last Edit: Oct 16, 2020 21:03:30 GMT by mrbounce
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Oct 16, 2020 16:48:25 GMT
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Fantastic. You must be somewhat pleased 😁
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Oct 16, 2020 13:07:14 GMT
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My SLK I bought in June had non-working washers and a small bullseye to the windscreen right in front of the driver, but no mention of them in the MOT. As the testing station was right next to the garage and was done just before lockdown - the mileage read the same, I find it highly unlikely that these were not there when the test was done.
I replaced the washer pump (cost £11!!) and will sort the windscreen on an "as and when" basis. I don't think it was suspicious - more a "get these done before selling it" as it was the dealer next door. Then lockdown messed it all up before I bought it in June.
I reckon there's a lot of "next-door agreements" that go on within the Motor Trade, which are then mysteriously not fixed.
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Oct 16, 2020 12:45:11 GMT
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Actually saw this a fair few weeks ago but only remembered it today. A Colt Lancer - I believe it's a Turbo, although it doesn't have the reversed script on the front air dam. 1 of 7 left on the roads apparently.
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Last Edit: Oct 16, 2020 12:46:55 GMT by mrbounce
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Oct 15, 2020 12:22:49 GMT
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Good news. Look forward to when the steel man gets his a into g now!!
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Oct 15, 2020 10:47:12 GMT
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I'd be looking at getting a hydraulic press to help with bearings. Friend of mine has a basic Clarke one and says it has saved him SO much time and faffing. Can't help with industrial make recommendations though.
What about little things such as basic hand tools such as punches hammers etc? Can I presume that you're already well stocked?
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When I was at boarding school in the 80s my Dad always used to hire cars from the local Ford garage to take me and my brother there. It was almost always a Sierra, a Sapphire or an estate. Have very fond memories of them - including a Turbo Technics prototype turbo diesel. It was rough but went well.
You have been bookmarked!
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Superb work. That must be so much fun when someone tries to overtake. Just don't get caught
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Oct 14, 2020 22:46:23 GMT
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I have just bought a Makita. Can't fault it. My Dad has one and he can't kill it so I figured it'd be worthwhile. Can't comment on using it for what you're doing.
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Oct 14, 2020 19:19:11 GMT
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If I had the space I'd get that 924.
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Oct 12, 2020 13:04:03 GMT
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Yesterday I figured out that I had no excuse for not drilling the holes for my nice new dials, so I cracked out the measuring stick, a Sharpie and the very last of my masking tape to make sure they were in the right place. I drilled a pilot hole for each of them and got out the holesaws. Typically, I only have a 51mm or 54mm. The dial is 52mm. I used the 51mm holesaw as it much easier to make the hole slightly bigger once cut than the other way round! A small amount of relief work using the sanding drum on the Dremel and both dials fitted in nicely with a tiny amount of drag. Perfect. Once done, I did a whole load of sanding over the dash. I then set about giving the dash its first coat of filler as there were numerous low spots and the occasional hole. This will be dealt with when I get my next load of sandpaper, because I have run out off that too. Joy. Dial positions marked out ![](https://i.imgur.com/oNJ275n.jpg) And holes cut - they sit nicely. ![](https://i.imgur.com/3856vZw.jpg) Quite a lot of smoothing needed... ![](https://i.imgur.com/6WsqcwC.jpg)
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Oct 12, 2020 12:36:52 GMT
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I junked the rubbish Sharp speakers the other day as they have been replaced by a pair of Celestion 3s. Total overkill, but they sound glorious!
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Oct 10, 2020 16:07:20 GMT
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Lovely car, lovely colour. Reminds me of the Mk2 1300GL I looked at with a mate with a potential to be my first car. We walked away as the wheel bearings were shot and its doors were rather obviously stuffed full of P38 and the Clacton Gazette. I was then brought up on Minis but have always thought about the Escort that got away
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Oct 10, 2020 15:33:27 GMT
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I had a bit more time spare this afternoon so I popped in to fibreglass the new instrument pod mounts in place. I figured that the easiest way to do this was to keep the pod in place while they dried. I first of all roughed up the aluminium on the wire wheel on the bench grinder before glassing them in place. I only had the remnants of any chopped strand mat left, so it does need some tidying up. I do have a new kit on order so it will be properly sorted once this arrives. Whilst the resin was drying, I had a look at the two 2" dials for the centre of the dashboard, and I realised that the voltmeter did not have a securing bracket with it. So I had a look in the spare brackets box (yes I do have one!) and there was almost a perfect length of steel, even with the correct sized hole in the middle. One problem - it was curved and also covered in black Hammerite. I hammered it flat on the vice before attacking it with a sanding drum attached to the Dremel. I then gave it a touch of shortening and then some grinding to shape to clear the bulb housing and all was well again. It's now had some paint and is currently drying. Some of the messiest fibrglassing I've done. But they aren't going anywhere. ![](https://i.imgur.com/FdrS47V.jpg) New securing bracket made, cut to shape, and... ![](https://i.imgur.com/dFelhWi.jpg) ...painted in the last of the Satin Black I had in the can.
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