Happy wedge day to me.
Discussion
I finally got over to Stu to pick up his beautiful and rare 280i 2+2. Super friendly chap, but ye know that already. I got the grand tour, saw his newly powder coated Taimar chassis which is sexy as hell even though it is just a chassis! Then it was time to bring my wedge home 
Giddy as a school kid, I fired her up, that sound!!!!!
I forgot to ask Stu where reverse gear was but found it quick enough trying to find second coming up to a junction, oops!
Then on to the open road grinning like an idiot.
Everything was going great until I stopped to get some petrol in London. She wouldn't start again, got a push and she roared into life with whoops and cheers from the two blokes giving me a hand.
Keep driving into London and the strangest thing happens, my iphone that I'm using as sat nav drops its signal and refused to get it back. I drive around aimlessly trying to find a signal again, this distracts me and I stall at the lights. Arse.
I'm lost, can't get my wedge to start, it's getting quite late. Time to call the AA.
The AA guy arrives in 20 minutes and reckons its the starter. He gives the starter a knock with a pole, I turn the key and bingo! The AA chap lives near where I'm headed in London so I can follow him, my luck is changing
While he's filling out the paperwork, steam starts pumping out from under the bonnet. Lift the lid and its coming from the overflow on the top of the rad. He reckons its the thermostat and a tow job for me. I get to my destination at 4am
Up at 8:30 and start looking for a mechanic. I have a guy come to pick up the car at 2 and she starts first time! Oil starts pissing out the engine, the aa chap must have knocked the oil pressure sensor.
I call to the garage the next day to check progress. New starter, new thermostat, new oil sensor, she starts every time but keeps cutting out. After many hours he thinks the fuel pipe is being squeezed by the handbrake??????
5:30 and I'm on the road in the London rush hour. I eventually get clear of London and my clutch leg is about to fall off so I pull into the services for a break. When I stop the engine there's a whoosh and steam, lots of steam!!!! I start her up again and the steam subsides. So now I let her cool for 5 minutes before shutting off the engine and all is good.
I cruise along from motorway to motorway, I start to relax and enjoy the car. I wind my way across north Wales an arrive in good time for the 2:30 ferry.
We dock in Ireland at 6am, I head straight for the dublin port tunnel, I'm on home soil, I wind down the windows, drop the hammer, she growls and roars through the tunnel and I fall in love
Giddy as a school kid, I fired her up, that sound!!!!!
I forgot to ask Stu where reverse gear was but found it quick enough trying to find second coming up to a junction, oops!
Then on to the open road grinning like an idiot.
Everything was going great until I stopped to get some petrol in London. She wouldn't start again, got a push and she roared into life with whoops and cheers from the two blokes giving me a hand.
Keep driving into London and the strangest thing happens, my iphone that I'm using as sat nav drops its signal and refused to get it back. I drive around aimlessly trying to find a signal again, this distracts me and I stall at the lights. Arse.
I'm lost, can't get my wedge to start, it's getting quite late. Time to call the AA.
The AA guy arrives in 20 minutes and reckons its the starter. He gives the starter a knock with a pole, I turn the key and bingo! The AA chap lives near where I'm headed in London so I can follow him, my luck is changing
While he's filling out the paperwork, steam starts pumping out from under the bonnet. Lift the lid and its coming from the overflow on the top of the rad. He reckons its the thermostat and a tow job for me. I get to my destination at 4am
Up at 8:30 and start looking for a mechanic. I have a guy come to pick up the car at 2 and she starts first time! Oil starts pissing out the engine, the aa chap must have knocked the oil pressure sensor.
I call to the garage the next day to check progress. New starter, new thermostat, new oil sensor, she starts every time but keeps cutting out. After many hours he thinks the fuel pipe is being squeezed by the handbrake??????
5:30 and I'm on the road in the London rush hour. I eventually get clear of London and my clutch leg is about to fall off so I pull into the services for a break. When I stop the engine there's a whoosh and steam, lots of steam!!!! I start her up again and the steam subsides. So now I let her cool for 5 minutes before shutting off the engine and all is good.
I cruise along from motorway to motorway, I start to relax and enjoy the car. I wind my way across north Wales an arrive in good time for the 2:30 ferry.
We dock in Ireland at 6am, I head straight for the dublin port tunnel, I'm on home soil, I wind down the windows, drop the hammer, she growls and roars through the tunnel and I fall in love
Hi Mate and welcome to the wonderful world of wedges..Sounds like the start of a beautiful relationship, It will however sometimes be a trying time but we are here to help..Not sure what stu had done to his but in effect the rads are stepped and its a good idea to get them refurbed and made the same thickness all the way through and also fit an electronic fan with a thermostatic control..The starters are quite hardy, They are a ford capri mk3 unit, Just make sure that the battery is in tip top condition as the 280 needs around 450CA for starting.
The handbrake cable is no where near the fuel lines, The main feed from the pump runs up the N/S and is cable tied to the chassis, You will see it if you look under there...It could be that the car has just sat for a bit which they dont like doing and needs driving but as said any issues just post em up and we will be of assistance..Happy wedgeing...Cheers...Ziga
The handbrake cable is no where near the fuel lines, The main feed from the pump runs up the N/S and is cable tied to the chassis, You will see it if you look under there...It could be that the car has just sat for a bit which they dont like doing and needs driving but as said any issues just post em up and we will be of assistance..Happy wedgeing...Cheers...Ziga
Thanks for the welcome and the info I'm putting together a wee list of questions but I'll pop them up in a separate post. I got my son up a bit early to show him the car before I went to work and when I sat in he'd even before I turned the key I was getting goose pimples. In work now but my mind is elsewhere. I'm really looking forward to getting to know all the nuts and bolts and getting my hands dirty. Unfortunately I'm off to Spain in the morning and I'd rather spend the time with mg wedge shaped bit on the side.
On the upside I'll be in Kerry in a few weeks so I'm going to try get down early and have a spin around the Conor pass.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/_mobile/cars/news/...
I'm putting together a wee list of questions but I'll pop them up in a separate post. I got my son up a bit early to show him the car before I went to work and when I sat in he'd even before I turned the key I was getting goose pimples. In work now but my mind is elsewhere. I'm really looking forward to getting to know all the nuts and bolts and getting my hands dirty. Unfortunately I'm off to Spain in the morning and I'd rather spend the time with mg wedge shaped bit on the side. On the upside I'll be in Kerry in a few weeks so I'm going to try get down early and have a spin around the Conor pass.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/_mobile/cars/news/...
I may as well pop the questions up here
First up my new wedge deserves an oil change, what's the best stuff for a 280?
Does anyone know where I can get a set of original wing mirrors? The ones on the car are utterly hopeless.
Stu recommended that I re torque the heads, anyone know what I need to torque them to? Also after the long run she sounds very tappety, anyone know the depth settings off hand?
Has anyone got a copy of the wedge bible they would like to sell?
My headlining has been re-covered but its in the boot. Is silicone good for sticking it up?
I've been googling images of 280i interiors and the all seem to have a black momo steering wheel! Is that really the original wheel?
Please bear in mind I'm a complete noob. Thanks in advance, it's great to have a bunch of mad wedge heads to turn to.
First up my new wedge deserves an oil change, what's the best stuff for a 280?
Does anyone know where I can get a set of original wing mirrors? The ones on the car are utterly hopeless.
Stu recommended that I re torque the heads, anyone know what I need to torque them to? Also after the long run she sounds very tappety, anyone know the depth settings off hand?
Has anyone got a copy of the wedge bible they would like to sell?
My headlining has been re-covered but its in the boot. Is silicone good for sticking it up?
I've been googling images of 280i interiors and the all seem to have a black momo steering wheel! Is that really the original wheel?
Please bear in mind I'm a complete noob. Thanks in advance, it's great to have a bunch of mad wedge heads to turn to.
In my 280 I use Valvoline VR1 20W50, and get if from Euro Car Parts when they have one of their frequent offers or discounts on.
As for wing mirrors, several have tried to find replacements and have had to go with different ones to the original ones as they seem to be rather hard to find. Couple of threads that may help here..
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=109...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
As for wing mirrors, several have tried to find replacements and have had to go with different ones to the original ones as they seem to be rather hard to find. Couple of threads that may help here..
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=109...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Hi Mate..You can also use halfords classic 20/50w..Here are the torque settings and valve adjustment, I think you have stage 3 heads on there so make sure you do the right figures..It might be worth getting yourself a haynes manual for the capri mk3 2.8i as this will cover most things engine related...Cheers..Ziga
Head torque and valve setting
If the headlinning is being stuck to the fibreglass then a good contact adhesive will do the job but it leaves little room for error, The steering wheels were indeed momo or mountney 3 spoke 13" semi-dished.
Head torque and valve setting
If the headlinning is being stuck to the fibreglass then a good contact adhesive will do the job but it leaves little room for error, The steering wheels were indeed momo or mountney 3 spoke 13" semi-dished.
Lads ye are a mine of information, I'll order that haynes manual now so I'll have it when I get back from Spain. I'll have her purring like a kitten, well like a tiger anyway in no time
I just recently sold a saab, wish I'd kept the mirrors. I like the look of the ones on the rimmer bros site they're proper retro 80s looking. Remind me of cars when I were a lad.
I just recently sold a saab, wish I'd kept the mirrors. I like the look of the ones on the rimmer bros site they're proper retro 80s looking. Remind me of cars when I were a lad.
Glad you enjoyed the ride home...... eventually!!
I stopped on the bridge to see and hear her off, had a ltttle tear too, but onwards and upwards as they say.
Gutted about the starter mate, and the thermostat is fairly new, but it has been sat for a while so may need changing or a good whack if its stuck!
If you do change it be very careful with the rear housing, they are alloy and can strip out the threads if you are to heavy handed with them, and they are like rocking horse poo.
It has got Valvoline 20/50 in it at the moment, and only about 800 miles old, so it should be fine.
some adheseive silicone type stuff was what was used to keep the roof board up when I removed it, should be quite simple t do.
Keep asking the questions, we are all here to help.
Stu
I stopped on the bridge to see and hear her off, had a ltttle tear too, but onwards and upwards as they say.
Gutted about the starter mate, and the thermostat is fairly new, but it has been sat for a while so may need changing or a good whack if its stuck!
If you do change it be very careful with the rear housing, they are alloy and can strip out the threads if you are to heavy handed with them, and they are like rocking horse poo.
It has got Valvoline 20/50 in it at the moment, and only about 800 miles old, so it should be fine.
some adheseive silicone type stuff was what was used to keep the roof board up when I removed it, should be quite simple t do.
Keep asking the questions, we are all here to help.
Stu
Stog said:
I finally got over to Stu to pick up his beautiful and rare 280i 2+2. Super friendly chap, but ye know that already. I got the grand tour, saw his newly powder coated Taimar chassis which is sexy as hell even though it is just a chassis! Then it was time to bring my wedge home
Giddy as a school kid, I fired her up, that sound!!!!!
I forgot to ask Stu where reverse gear was but found it quick enough trying to find second coming up to a junction, oops!
Then on to the open road grinning like an idiot.
Everything was going great until I stopped to get some petrol in London. She wouldn't start again, got a push and she roared into life with whoops and cheers from the two blokes giving me a hand.
Keep driving into London and the strangest thing happens, my iphone that I'm using as sat nav drops its signal and refused to get it back. I drive around aimlessly trying to find a signal again, this distracts me and I stall at the lights. Arse.
I'm lost, can't get my wedge to start, it's getting quite late. Time to call the AA.
The AA guy arrives in 20 minutes and reckons its the starter. He gives the starter a knock with a pole, I turn the key and bingo! The AA chap lives near where I'm headed in London so I can follow him, my luck is changing
While he's filling out the paperwork, steam starts pumping out from under the bonnet. Lift the lid and its coming from the overflow on the top of the rad. He reckons its the thermostat and a tow job for me. I get to my destination at 4am
Up at 8:30 and start looking for a mechanic. I have a guy come to pick up the car at 2 and she starts first time! Oil starts pissing out the engine, the aa chap must have knocked the oil pressure sensor.
I call to the garage the next day to check progress. New starter, new thermostat, new oil sensor, she starts every time but keeps cutting out. After many hours he thinks the fuel pipe is being squeezed by the handbrake??????
5:30 and I'm on the road in the London rush hour. I eventually get clear of London and my clutch leg is about to fall off so I pull into the services for a break. When I stop the engine there's a whoosh and steam, lots of steam!!!! I start her up again and the steam subsides. So now I let her cool for 5 minutes before shutting off the engine and all is good.
I cruise along from motorway to motorway, I start to relax and enjoy the car. I wind my way across north Wales an arrive in good time for the 2:30 ferry.
We dock in Ireland at 6am, I head straight for the dublin port tunnel, I'm on home soil, I wind down the windows, drop the hammer, she growls and roars through the tunnel and I fall in love
sounds like a good tvr day out that all of us has had good luckGiddy as a school kid, I fired her up, that sound!!!!!
I forgot to ask Stu where reverse gear was but found it quick enough trying to find second coming up to a junction, oops!
Then on to the open road grinning like an idiot.
Everything was going great until I stopped to get some petrol in London. She wouldn't start again, got a push and she roared into life with whoops and cheers from the two blokes giving me a hand.
Keep driving into London and the strangest thing happens, my iphone that I'm using as sat nav drops its signal and refused to get it back. I drive around aimlessly trying to find a signal again, this distracts me and I stall at the lights. Arse.
I'm lost, can't get my wedge to start, it's getting quite late. Time to call the AA.
The AA guy arrives in 20 minutes and reckons its the starter. He gives the starter a knock with a pole, I turn the key and bingo! The AA chap lives near where I'm headed in London so I can follow him, my luck is changing
While he's filling out the paperwork, steam starts pumping out from under the bonnet. Lift the lid and its coming from the overflow on the top of the rad. He reckons its the thermostat and a tow job for me. I get to my destination at 4am
Up at 8:30 and start looking for a mechanic. I have a guy come to pick up the car at 2 and she starts first time! Oil starts pissing out the engine, the aa chap must have knocked the oil pressure sensor.
I call to the garage the next day to check progress. New starter, new thermostat, new oil sensor, she starts every time but keeps cutting out. After many hours he thinks the fuel pipe is being squeezed by the handbrake??????
5:30 and I'm on the road in the London rush hour. I eventually get clear of London and my clutch leg is about to fall off so I pull into the services for a break. When I stop the engine there's a whoosh and steam, lots of steam!!!! I start her up again and the steam subsides. So now I let her cool for 5 minutes before shutting off the engine and all is good.
I cruise along from motorway to motorway, I start to relax and enjoy the car. I wind my way across north Wales an arrive in good time for the 2:30 ferry.
We dock in Ireland at 6am, I head straight for the dublin port tunnel, I'm on home soil, I wind down the windows, drop the hammer, she growls and roars through the tunnel and I fall in love
Don't worry Stu, she's gone to a good home. She'll be we'll pampered. In fairness I was being a bit optimistic driving that distance in a car that had been sat for a while but then again they do call the wedge forum the mad house don't they
As far as reliability goes I have a renault I bought when it was only 4 years old and it's needed ridiculous amounts of attention ( never buy a renault) and that's why I bought a wedge as a runaround, it really can't possibly be less reliable than the cheese eating surrender mobile. (Never buy a renault). It also provides way more spg (smiles per gallon). Honestly my friends 35 year old 911 is more reliable. Did I mention never to buy a renault?
As far as reliability goes I have a renault I bought when it was only 4 years old and it's needed ridiculous amounts of attention ( never buy a renault) and that's why I bought a wedge as a runaround, it really can't possibly be less reliable than the cheese eating surrender mobile. (Never buy a renault). It also provides way more spg (smiles per gallon). Honestly my friends 35 year old 911 is more reliable. Did I mention never to buy a renault?
I have some nos mirrors that I bought for my 280i (before it died) sling me a pm if u are interested
Edited to add
Congratulations on joining the wedge fold, we are a mad bunch but you will get some cracking advice and support on here.
Ps I don't know if Stu changed them but my advice would be to replace the fuel pipes especially in the engine bay
) sling me a pm if u are interestedEdited to add
Congratulations on joining the wedge fold, we are a mad bunch but you will get some cracking advice and support on here.
Ps I don't know if Stu changed them but my advice would be to replace the fuel pipes especially in the engine bay
Edited by gog440 on Friday 6th September 16:35
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