Millipede Monaro (it's a bit leggy!)

Millipede Monaro (it's a bit leggy!)

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Discussion

(steven)

448 posts

214 months

Friday 22nd January 2016
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I do like this thread. For me it’s like reading a “what might have been” as I remember the advert on autotrader catching my eye a few years back.

I bought a BMW 130 instead (which I have since changed for a family friendly Mondeo estate) but it’s good to read about your ownership experience.

99t

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

209 months

Saturday 23rd January 2016
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Well I have officially gone senile!

Commuted yesterday after replacing the OSF brake caliper and right at the end of my journey home I became aware of a new rotational rubbing noise. Worse with a little left lock on and the brake pedal seemed to be getting a little long too. Made it home in one piece though.

Went to investigate today and the wheel nuts were only finger tight yikes

What an utter pillock!

Took the wheel off to check and no harm done. The outer edge of the disk had been lightly catching the stainless pressings that locate the pads, just enough to remove a little surface rust from the unswept area but otherwise all ok.

Must have been enough movement on the wheel / disk to press the pads back in a touch hence the long pedal.

All back together, torqued up and tested ok.

Not like me to be sloppy when DIYing, but must be more careful...


B'stard Child said:
Damn was quite hoping you were going to put it up for sale as I'm in the early stages looking for one......
Heh, you don't want this one, it's a bit of a shed!! A shed with character though. As long as the engine still does its thing, I don't think I'm ever likely to sell it.

steven said:
I do like this thread. For me it’s like reading a “what might have been” as I remember the advert on autotrader catching my eye a few years back.

I bought a BMW 130 instead (which I have since changed for a family friendly Mondeo estate) but it’s good to read about your ownership experience.
Thanks, always nice to know that some of the drivel I type is of interest.

R8VXF

6,788 posts

115 months

Saturday 23rd January 2016
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I love your drivel and I love your dedication to the cause, keep it up good sir <3

99t

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

209 months

Saturday 9th April 2016
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Missed a little anniversary on 23rd March, I've owned Mille for three years now!

Sitrep: all good. Mileage creeping up towards 227k and other than the ongoing decrepitness of the original exhaust, no issues to report.


Warning!! Bangernomics Bodging Content Follows!!

We spent a weekend around Grasmere recently and travelled in convey with friends around some fairly interesting roads a bit off the beaten track. It was never going to be a speed run, however!



I was aware of the odd knock from the exhaust over some rougher sections, but the fact that one of our group, a total non-petrolhead, felt the urge to comment on how much my exhaust was wobbling around suggested that all wasn't well.

Sure enough the botch weld to the rear hanger I did in August '14 had finally given up the ghost, the ends of the hanger that should be attached to the pipe had crumbled to dust. Got home with the exhaust in one piece though.

Removed the remains of the hanger from the car, and still reluctant to drop £1,200 plus on a wortec system, cut the rusted ends off it, flattened it and welded some new tabs on, which I then bent slightly to mate with the curvature of the pipe.

Quick weld and a spray of paint and I reckon it'll last another 200k now!! Maybe...





Edited by 99t on Saturday 9th April 20:25

anonymous-user

54 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
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Top bodging, and glad to hear it's still going well.

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

179 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
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This is one of my favourite cars on this site

99t

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

209 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
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Thanks Chaps! beer

I suppose I should price up a replacement exhaust from Vauxhall really, just for laughs. I bet they never sold many (any?) so perhaps they'll sell one off cheap??

I'm not about to embark on a tuning fest so a standard replacement system would be absolutely fine, even though a little more V8 audio would be nice sometimes.

99t

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

209 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
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Another year, another MOT smile

Mileage now 227,208, just under 3,500 in the last year.

Interestingly the list of advisories has gone from four to precisely zero even though I only sorted one of them during the year!!

Although I have four years no claims available to use, LV were kind enough to mirror my full NCD which meant a most agreeable renewal at just over £200.

This means, of course, that I have four years bonus not being used. Would it be stretching man-maths beyond its elastic limit to consider getting something to use it on....? wobble

Shadow R1

3,800 posts

176 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
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Great to see it still going.

That's almost logical buying a car to keep your no claims up, well compared to some of the justifications i've used. biggrin

jb2410

400 posts

111 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
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99t said:
Although I have four years no claims available to use, LV were kind enough to mirror my full NCD which meant a most agreeable renewal at just over £200.

This means, of course, that I have four years bonus not being used. Would it be stretching man-maths beyond its elastic limit to consider getting something to use it on....? wobble
Just to help the case a little more, I believe you lose ncb after two years of not using it so best to play safe and get something...

99t

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

209 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
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Well exactly biggrin

Although.... what if I get something and then LV are the cheapest by mirroring my NCD again? Return to Square One and do not collect £200!!

SirSamuelBuca

1,353 posts

157 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
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I remember you buying this and reading with delight. Great to see its still pootling on!!!

SirSamuelBuca

1,353 posts

157 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
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Also with exhaust why not mod it yourself to get it a bit louder? smile might be able to bypass backbox or something ^_^

I wrapped the pipes on my v8 m3 and it sounded truly magnificent! couple hours of work with a welder and a grinder. Oh and some heat wrap.

Dino D

1,953 posts

221 months

Friday 3rd June 2016
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SirSamuelBuca said:
Also with exhaust why not mod it youwurself to get it a bit louder? smile might be able to bypass backbox or something ^_^

I wrapped the pipes on my v8 m3 and it sounded truly magnificent! couple hours of work with a welder and a grinder. Oh and some heat wrap.
Sorry for OT but how does wrapping the pipes change the sound?

99t

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

209 months

Saturday 4th June 2016
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I said said:
Although.... what if I get something and then LV are the cheapest by mirroring my NCD again? Return to Square One and do not collect £200!!
And this has proven to be exactly the case. I feel a new Reader's Cars thread coming on shortly!! smile

Anyone want to buy 4 years NCD??!! wink

t400ble

1,804 posts

121 months

Saturday 4th June 2016
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tbc said:
if it's the one i've seen then it was around the £4000 mark

good car but that one will need a lot of work on the rust spots

and with that sort of mileage it's only a matter of time before it goes bang
Its still here :-)

Anyway, great work OP, loved the read tonight and the catch up

Great skills on the sill repair

:-)

CAPP0

19,582 posts

203 months

Saturday 4th June 2016
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I don't know if they are the same but I believe I still have a pair of back boxes from a 6.0 VXR somewhere. Think they're stainless. Willing to donate to Milli if of any use!

99t

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

209 months

Sunday 5th June 2016
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CAPP0 said:
I don't know if they are the same but I believe I still have a pair of back boxes from a 6.0 VXR somewhere. Think they're stainless. Willing to donate to Milli if of any use!
That's a very kind offer and much appreciated but if they are from a twin exit system they'll be no good for a big boot CV8 unfortunately.

Cheers though beer

CAPP0

19,582 posts

203 months

Sunday 5th June 2016
quotequote all
99t said:
CAPP0 said:
I don't know if they are the same but I believe I still have a pair of back boxes from a 6.0 VXR somewhere. Think they're stainless. Willing to donate to Milli if of any use!
That's a very kind offer and much appreciated but if they are from a twin exit system they'll be no good for a big boot CV8 unfortunately.

Cheers though beer
Ah yes, these are from the minuscule boot version!

99t

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

209 months

Friday 8th July 2016
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I said:
I suppose I should price up a replacement exhaust from Vauxhall really, just for laughs. I bet they never sold many (any?) so perhaps they'll sell one off cheap??
The last few journeys there has definitely been an increase in the accompanying V8 soundtrack - quite pleasant actually but definitely indicative of an impending end of life situation with the old exhaust!

Took my own advice and phoned a VX dealer, just for amusement value really. Bit of umming and ahhing on the other end of the phone so I'm not 100% sure that the right bits were priced up but for the centre section, two rear sections and a rear box it was looking like £3.4k rofl Plus VAT...

So a tad more than I paid for the car then!!!

I had a crawl under the car and one of the pair of boxes just in front of the rear axle is well and truly holed on top. I also discovered what I suspect is the cause of a slight tapping noise from just below the gear lever area - a sheared stud from the gearbox mount to crossmember.



Duly ordered a replacement rubber from the 'Fish. The hunt for a new exhaust starts properly now...