What did you do in the garage yesterday?

[phazed]

Not at all.

[portzi]

s p a c e m a n said:

Battery died and the trickle charger couldn't save it, was planning on moving the battery to the boot anyway so bought some bits.. but any reasons that I can't think of why this would be a bad idea for a couple of months??

Battery out of warranty then?

[s p a c e m a n]

ta phazed.

The old battery was just a generic halfords one that came with the car 3 years or so ago and fought a noble battle before its death. The alternator started doing an impression of a catherine wheel on the way home from a car show in October, it managed the 40 miles home with the battery light on and has only ever been jump started since to move the car a few miles. Just wanted to be able to use the car this weekend and really can't be bothered to run all new cables until summer actually kicks in

[portzi]

portzi said:

s p a c e m a n said:

Battery died and the trickle charger couldn't save it, was planning on moving the battery to the boot anyway so bought some bits.. but any reasons that I can't think of why this would be a bad idea for a couple of months??

Battery out of warranty then?

Odyssey batteries are definitely worth the extra money compared to its competitors.

[Pupp]

QBee said:

What size front brakes are those?

Big enough to stop plenty quick when gripped by 4 pot calipers and good pads; small enough to keep unsprung weight sensible, allow air through-put, and leave enough space for a wheel washing brush to penetrate.

[Pupp]

Rear main crank and cruciform seals done today, sump and strainer dropped and refitted (to anyone contemplating an E-bay rubber sump gasket, just don't - after less than a year, mine was crumbly and breaking up. Complete rubbish). Flywheel back on and torqued up; spigot bearing extracted and new one soaking ready to knock in. Anyone have any experience of them needing reaming after installation?

Just need a gearbox now!

[sheel]

Changed my spigot during my rebuild,came from powers,they machined it prior to me fitting it and I believe they opened it up slightly,it was not overly tight when I pressed it in so did not reduce in size....on that note I can only assume it may possible need relieving slightly. It's a trial gearbox fit or sized mandrel to check...sorry can't be anymore helpful but the last thing you want is struggling to fit box if bush is too tight!
Rich

[portzi]

sheel said:

Changed my spigot during my rebuild,came from powers,they machined it prior to me fitting it and I believe they opened it up slightly,it was not overly tight when I pressed it in so did not reduce in size....on that note I can only assume it may possible need relieving slightly. It's a trial gearbox fit or sized mandrel to check...sorry can't be anymore helpful but the last thing you want is struggling to fit box if bush is too tight!
Rich

I am in total agreement with you sheel,there is nothing better than opening up a tight bush to relieve it

[N7GTX]

Thought I would change the plugs and smarten up the engine bay a little. The wiper motor looked a mess so cleaned and painted it. A simple job for most on here but with recent health issue and bloody awful drugs, this easy job took quite a while. Bl##dy frustrating after almost 50 years fixing cars.

[portzi]

N7GTX said:

Thought I would change the plugs and smarten up the engine bay a little. The wiper motor looked a mess so cleaned and painted it. A simple job for most on here but with recent health issue and bloody awful drugs, this easy job took quite a while. Bl##dy frustrating after almost 50 years fixing cars.

There is no such thing as a quick job on a Trevor !!! and your a skilled trained man, how do the p'heds DIY mechanics manage to get jobs done in decent time l will never know.

[Pupp]

portzi said:

There is no such thing as a quick job on a Trevor !!! and your a skilled trained man, how do the p'heds DIY mechanics manage to get jobs done in decent time l will never know.

I was pondering just this yesterday, after seeing much talk of 6 hour clutch changes - think it took me that long just to get the gearbox out!

Well done Iain for having the appetite to tinker - look forward to seeing you at Stamford in August if not before

[N7GTX]

Pupp said:

portzi said:

There is no such thing as a quick job on a Trevor !!! and your a skilled trained man, how do the p'heds DIY mechanics manage to get jobs done in decent time l will never know.

I was pondering just this yesterday, after seeing much talk of 6 hour clutch changes - think it took me that long just to get the gearbox out!

Well done Iain for having the appetite to tinker - look forward to seeing you at Stamford in August if not before

I'm already booked for Stamford! Love that car show. Are you going to Burghley? Hope to see all the improvements you've been making and maybe give me some ideas!!!

[N7GTX]

portzi said:

N7GTX said:

Thought I would change the plugs and smarten up the engine bay a little. The wiper motor looked a mess so cleaned and painted it. A simple job for most on here but with recent health issue and bloody awful drugs, this easy job took quite a while. Bl##dy frustrating after almost 50 years fixing cars.

There is no such thing as a quick job on a Trevor !!! and your a skilled trained man, how do the p'heds DIY mechanics manage to get jobs done in decent time l will never know.

Lol, so true. And I get sidetracked and start on something else so the 5 min job takes a morning.

[sheel]

N7. Figures crossed I will be at burley we will have to compare cars and our relative drugs!, am on some pretty wild things....certainly don't need any alcohol to go with them. And as you say the 5min jobs now take 2hours!!
Rich

[PhilH42]

While the sun was shining- both door cards off and coloured with furniture clinics kit, all colouring now complete. New leather door inserts fitted and cigarette lighter.Secured the new radio dash I bought as the bits of grp either side of the radio were the thickness of cocktail sticks.

Didn't have time to check why the wing mirrors don't work...again...always seem to put that one off!

Then had a quick 20 minute dash with the targa off before dark

[N7GTX]

sheel said:

N7. Figures crossed I will be at burley we will have to compare cars and our relative drugs!, am on some pretty wild things....certainly don't need any alcohol to go with them. And as you say the 5min jobs now take 2hours!!
Rich

I will look out for you (my reg no is K12 KYW - not N7GTX!)

[N7GTX]

So on Wednesday thought it a good idea to finally sort the headlights out. Forecast on Tuesday was for a nice dry week.
So had to dismantle the intercooler pipes to access the headlights and big ideas to cut an access hole in the wheel arches plus upgrade to Lupos. Old reflectors absolutely f****d and fittings knackered.
Positioned a Lupo headlight and decided my fitting skills not up to it so binned that idea. Ordered a pair of new reflectors and fitting kits from Racetech which came within 24 hours.
Worked out how to fit the new items without the need for cutting an access hole - lot of patience required - but then the rain came. And came followed by strong winds and more rain.
Another simple job that should have taken a day I guess and sat here waiting for the promised dry weather.

One thing I have learned is not to trust a weather forecaster

Update: I finally finished fitting the new reflectors on Sunday morning, just 5 days after starting the job. One of the holes in the fibreglass broke through so that meant making a bracket. All in all a pig of a job but driving home last night in heavy rain with the new reflectors and the 50% brighter bulbs was a revelation over the original units.

Edited by N7GTX on Monday 4th April 16:24

[macdeb]

More what did I do 'to' the garage.

[url][img]

http://thumbsnap.com/sc/OudYb4yk.jpg[/img]|http://t...
and with a disco theme


previously

Edited by macdeb on Saturday 16th April 19:59

[Sardonicus]

macdeb said:

More what did I do 'to' the garage.

[url][img]

http://thumbsnap.com/sc/OudYb4yk.jpg[/img]|http://t...
and with a disco theme


previously

Edited by macdeb on Saturday 16th April 19:59

Thats the garage I would expect that car to reside in Mac

[macdeb]

Sardonicus said:

hats the garage I would expect that car to reside in Mac

cheers bloke, did you spot the beer fridge? every garage should have one.