Millipede Monaro (it's a bit leggy!)
Discussion
99t said:
Right, well I did say a new career as a sound recordist doesn't beckon, reckon the same applies to video maker!!
Anyway, grabbed a quick vid on the way home, again the sound isn't great...
Monaro with stainless cat back
My thoughts?
Fit and workmanship look superb, not had a proper crawl underneath but where the factory system had all sorts of restrictive humps and flattened bits to ensure sufficient clearances within the tolerances of mass production, this looks to fit beautifully.
Pipes are just a tad larger than standard without being too OTT I think.
Angled faces and offset of the pipes follows the curve of the rear valance perfectly
In terms of sound, overall I'm happy. There is no droning at all, just a deep growl when applying larger throttle openings. It is surprisingly quiet at idle and when trickling around town on a light throttle.
To be honest they have given me EXACTLY what I asked for - I said it is a relaxed GT type cruiser and I've outgrown all that overly noisy boy-racer stuff. Also we have very good neighbours and I leave rather early some mornings so consideration is due. So yes, overall very happy and it'll be easy to live with and do the occasional long run in.
My inner teenage chav however, is ever so slightly sad at the loss of some of the naughty nascar noises the blown exhaust had been making near the end!!
Who did the exhaust?Anyway, grabbed a quick vid on the way home, again the sound isn't great...
Monaro with stainless cat back
My thoughts?
Fit and workmanship look superb, not had a proper crawl underneath but where the factory system had all sorts of restrictive humps and flattened bits to ensure sufficient clearances within the tolerances of mass production, this looks to fit beautifully.
Pipes are just a tad larger than standard without being too OTT I think.
Angled faces and offset of the pipes follows the curve of the rear valance perfectly
In terms of sound, overall I'm happy. There is no droning at all, just a deep growl when applying larger throttle openings. It is surprisingly quiet at idle and when trickling around town on a light throttle.
To be honest they have given me EXACTLY what I asked for - I said it is a relaxed GT type cruiser and I've outgrown all that overly noisy boy-racer stuff. Also we have very good neighbours and I leave rather early some mornings so consideration is due. So yes, overall very happy and it'll be easy to live with and do the occasional long run in.
My inner teenage chav however, is ever so slightly sad at the loss of some of the naughty nascar noises the blown exhaust had been making near the end!!
So 6000 miles (and almost exactly two years) since the last oil change, the time has come for another one, 228,800-ish now. Needed just the one litre of oil at the start of this year between the changes and was still on max today strangely!
Anyway, just an oil and filter change, how hard can it be? Unfortunately, very, when the numpties you've ordered the filter from supersede the correct filter with one that doesn't bloody fit!!
Which meant as of this evening the old girl was still sitting like this
With a big note on the steering wheel just in case of total brain failure
(Yes I could have re-used the old filter - and have in fact re-fitted it temporarily to seal the hole up, but the Fish will have one here early next week and I don't actually need to use her before then so might as well be patient and do the job properly!!)
Anyway, just an oil and filter change, how hard can it be? Unfortunately, very, when the numpties you've ordered the filter from supersede the correct filter with one that doesn't bloody fit!!
Which meant as of this evening the old girl was still sitting like this
With a big note on the steering wheel just in case of total brain failure
(Yes I could have re-used the old filter - and have in fact re-fitted it temporarily to seal the hole up, but the Fish will have one here early next week and I don't actually need to use her before then so might as well be patient and do the job properly!!)
Oil filter issue resolved, the mileage continues to creep up without any real issues other than some artistic redecoration performed by a passing skip wagon during a recent site visit...
Might have passed the 230k this weekend but my semi-regular check of the tyres / pressures revealed a nice egg on a front sidewall (and the photo shows the tyre to be more perished than I had realised too)
I do recollect crashing over a pothole a few days ago but given the state of the roads around here it didn't feel anything that out of the ordinary tbh.
Anyway, time to refurb the last remaining scruffy wheel and put a pair of decent tyres on the front...
Might have passed the 230k this weekend but my semi-regular check of the tyres / pressures revealed a nice egg on a front sidewall (and the photo shows the tyre to be more perished than I had realised too)
I do recollect crashing over a pothole a few days ago but given the state of the roads around here it didn't feel anything that out of the ordinary tbh.
Anyway, time to refurb the last remaining scruffy wheel and put a pair of decent tyres on the front...
Four years of Monaro ownership today! Most recent trip was up to the Lake District for a bit of (rather murky) walking around Thirlmere.
The only unexpected bill this year was for the gearbox mount at £35. I can't really consider the £600 spent replacing the exhaust as unexpected since I've put off doing that almost since buying the car!
Two tyres and an oil and filter change complete the annual expenditure list.
Still not quite ticked past the 230k yet, although within a hundred miles or so now. I barely managed my 3,000 miles this year as I used my Saab 9-3 'vert quite a bit when the weather was better and took that on holiday last year when I might otherwise have taken the Monaro.
The pair of Rainsports I fitted to the front have improved my confidence in the front end significantly in the wet. Cornering speeds are higher and drift mode is definitely easier to activate
Plans for the next year? Get the old girl through the MOT in June and keep on driving. There is a small job list growing however.
One exhaust manifold stud has snapped and occasionally I'm getting a slight tick-tick at idle from the area which I suspect is a little blow. Removing the stud remains isn't a job I'm relishing so I may put that one off until it really sounds like a tractor!
The power steering cooler loop is looking incredibly crusty and is surely going to let go sooner or later. Really I should replace it now before it leaves me at the roadside but where's the fun in that? Live a little dangerously I say!
The HD Moog GTO drop links I fitted a couple of years ago have developed a little play in the rubber bushes where they attach to the bar itself but none at the lower ball joint. The rubber just looks to have compressed and isn't perished so I'll see if I can pack them out a touch with washers to take up the slack before condemning them.
The previous MOT advised on corroded fuel lines (although strangely not last year) so I could do with checking these out and treating them before they get too bad. A new fuel filter probably wouldn't hurt at the same time.
Finally, the spark plugs have done an unknown mileage. I looked through the paperwork but couldn't find a mention of replacement. No running issues at all though so "if it ain't broke"...
All things considered though, not so bad.
The only unexpected bill this year was for the gearbox mount at £35. I can't really consider the £600 spent replacing the exhaust as unexpected since I've put off doing that almost since buying the car!
Two tyres and an oil and filter change complete the annual expenditure list.
Still not quite ticked past the 230k yet, although within a hundred miles or so now. I barely managed my 3,000 miles this year as I used my Saab 9-3 'vert quite a bit when the weather was better and took that on holiday last year when I might otherwise have taken the Monaro.
The pair of Rainsports I fitted to the front have improved my confidence in the front end significantly in the wet. Cornering speeds are higher and drift mode is definitely easier to activate
Plans for the next year? Get the old girl through the MOT in June and keep on driving. There is a small job list growing however.
One exhaust manifold stud has snapped and occasionally I'm getting a slight tick-tick at idle from the area which I suspect is a little blow. Removing the stud remains isn't a job I'm relishing so I may put that one off until it really sounds like a tractor!
The power steering cooler loop is looking incredibly crusty and is surely going to let go sooner or later. Really I should replace it now before it leaves me at the roadside but where's the fun in that? Live a little dangerously I say!
The HD Moog GTO drop links I fitted a couple of years ago have developed a little play in the rubber bushes where they attach to the bar itself but none at the lower ball joint. The rubber just looks to have compressed and isn't perished so I'll see if I can pack them out a touch with washers to take up the slack before condemning them.
The previous MOT advised on corroded fuel lines (although strangely not last year) so I could do with checking these out and treating them before they get too bad. A new fuel filter probably wouldn't hurt at the same time.
Finally, the spark plugs have done an unknown mileage. I looked through the paperwork but couldn't find a mention of replacement. No running issues at all though so "if it ain't broke"...
All things considered though, not so bad.
Mileometer finally clicked over the next 10k last week.
No rest for the wicked however, instead some fairly hard driving up to Wasdale Head was Millie's reward.
Took in the Wrynose and Hardknott passes of course, both were interesting and fairly brutal in places! Between those and the single track road alongside Wastwater, I hadn't realised how hard I'd been concentrating until we got to the inn and I had an impromptu early evening nap!!
Coming home we turned off the A595 over Corney Fell, the sun came out and wow! What a great road and some stunning views.
No rest for the wicked however, instead some fairly hard driving up to Wasdale Head was Millie's reward.
Took in the Wrynose and Hardknott passes of course, both were interesting and fairly brutal in places! Between those and the single track road alongside Wastwater, I hadn't realised how hard I'd been concentrating until we got to the inn and I had an impromptu early evening nap!!
Coming home we turned off the A595 over Corney Fell, the sun came out and wow! What a great road and some stunning views.
shalmaneser said:
I enjoy these types of threads, please keep updating although it seems very little noteworthy actually happens as the old girl is so reliable!
Yeah, sorry about that!No tales of mechanical carnage just now I'm afraid (that's not a complaint obviously).
Best I can offer is.... (scratches head), erm, one of the wiper blades has gone a bit streaky!!
99t said:
Mileometer finally clicked over the next 10k last week.
No rest for the wicked however, instead some fairly hard driving up to Wasdale Head was Millie's reward.
Took in the Wrynose and Hardknott passes of course, both were interesting and fairly brutal in places! Between those and the single track road alongside Wastwater, I hadn't realised how hard I'd been concentrating until we got to the inn and I had an impromptu early evening nap!!
Coming home we turned off the A595 over Corney Fell, the sun came out and wow! What a great road and some stunning views.
I'm pretty sure you and I were doing the exact same routes in our big blue cars at the exact same time! Amazing we didn't pass each other at least once (I would have noticed you!)No rest for the wicked however, instead some fairly hard driving up to Wasdale Head was Millie's reward.
Took in the Wrynose and Hardknott passes of course, both were interesting and fairly brutal in places! Between those and the single track road alongside Wastwater, I hadn't realised how hard I'd been concentrating until we got to the inn and I had an impromptu early evening nap!!
Coming home we turned off the A595 over Corney Fell, the sun came out and wow! What a great road and some stunning views.
My thread here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Absolutely love Millie - can't believe I missed a chance to see her in person
Edited by MDifficult on Thursday 13th April 15:06
MDifficult said:
I'm pretty sure you and I were doing the exact same routes in our big blue cars at the exact same time! Amazing we didn't pass each other at least once (I would have noticed you!)
Lovely M5 you've got. As an ex-M5 owner I still have a pretty keen eye for ///M cars when I'm out and about so I'm sure I would have noticed if I'd seen you.How was the M5 on some of the tighter hairpins? I had a bit of a smokey inside wheel a couple of times which suggests the LSD in the Monaro isn't limiting slip quite as well as it once did!!
I was following a young lady in a small Citroen over the Corney Pass and she was absolutely flying!
I can only assume (hope!) she knew the road like the back of her hand, I was having to use my power advantage on the straights and uphill sections in order to keep up!!
Twenty five years ago I would have flagged her down to compliment her on her driving, but I don't think Mrs-99t would have been too amused if I'd done that on Wednesday!
She had her hands over her eyes and was making squeaking noises over much of that section as it was, bless!!
99t said:
How was the M5 on some of the tighter hairpins? I had a bit of a smokey inside wheel a couple of times which suggests the LSD in the Monaro isn't limiting slip quite as well as it once did!!
On the ups it was veeeeery tight and you could feel a rear lift, spin then lock-up, but the chassis is so stiff it was eventually completely off the ground! On the downs... absolutely terrifying. The bonnet is so long and I sit so low that I couldn't see the road edges at all, just bonnet, hills and sky! Had to creep and hope!
99t said:
I was following a young lady in a small Citroen over the Corney Pass and she was absolutely flying!
I can only assume (hope!) she knew the road like the back of her hand, I was having to use my power advantage on the straights and uphill sections in order to keep up!!
Twenty five years ago I would have flagged her down to compliment her on her driving, but I don't think Mrs-99t would have been too amused if I'd done that on Wednesday!
She had her hands over her eyes and was making squeaking noises over much of that section as it was, bless!!
I had a guy in a rusty old 4x4 pickup behind me who was clearly very confident on the road, I pulled over as soon as I could and then marvelled as he overtook and rocketed off like Sebastian Loeb! Amazing what experience + crapbox does for your speed I can only assume (hope!) she knew the road like the back of her hand, I was having to use my power advantage on the straights and uphill sections in order to keep up!!
Twenty five years ago I would have flagged her down to compliment her on her driving, but I don't think Mrs-99t would have been too amused if I'd done that on Wednesday!
She had her hands over her eyes and was making squeaking noises over much of that section as it was, bless!!
Spent some time fettling at the weekend.
Cleaned and treated a few brake pipes that were looking a little rusty, adjusted the handbrake and removed, greased and refitted the front drop links with an extra washer to take up the compression in the rubber bushes that was giving a little play.
Also tweaked a heat shield that was just touching the exhaust ever so slightly - just enough to give a little rattle now and then. Suspect the exhaust rubbers had settled slightly since fitting. A touch of percussive adjustment soon resolved that!
A fresh 12 months ticket duly obtained today, just one advisory for front to rear brake pipe corrosion, so I obviously missed that one!
Not advised on the MOT, but the rear tyres I fitted in July '14 are starting to get close to the wear indicators now, probably another 1k or so left in them. This means they will have lasted 10k miles in total - not bad for one hundred and eight pounds worth of Ovation VI388's!
Will probably replace with the same as I've had zero issues with them, noise, grip, balance, wear or otherwise, despite the TC button being off as often as it is on!!
Cleaned and treated a few brake pipes that were looking a little rusty, adjusted the handbrake and removed, greased and refitted the front drop links with an extra washer to take up the compression in the rubber bushes that was giving a little play.
Also tweaked a heat shield that was just touching the exhaust ever so slightly - just enough to give a little rattle now and then. Suspect the exhaust rubbers had settled slightly since fitting. A touch of percussive adjustment soon resolved that!
A fresh 12 months ticket duly obtained today, just one advisory for front to rear brake pipe corrosion, so I obviously missed that one!
Not advised on the MOT, but the rear tyres I fitted in July '14 are starting to get close to the wear indicators now, probably another 1k or so left in them. This means they will have lasted 10k miles in total - not bad for one hundred and eight pounds worth of Ovation VI388's!
Will probably replace with the same as I've had zero issues with them, noise, grip, balance, wear or otherwise, despite the TC button being off as often as it is on!!
Yes it's going well, thanks.
Commuted today and it's amazing how much difference two small washers to tighten up the front droplinks and a bit of a tweak to a heat shield can make.
I wasn't really aware of any tapping or knocking from the front and the rattle from the heat shield was only occasional, but honestly it feels so much tighter and quieter today, it's like it's done 100k less!
Commuted today and it's amazing how much difference two small washers to tighten up the front droplinks and a bit of a tweak to a heat shield can make.
I wasn't really aware of any tapping or knocking from the front and the rattle from the heat shield was only occasional, but honestly it feels so much tighter and quieter today, it's like it's done 100k less!
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