Discussion
newsatten said:
What colour was yours , manual or auto ?? Not keen on any convertible with the hood up ,most look like a pram.
Will be garaged so roof down but love the look with the hard top on just as much .
Not so much my 55 with no port holes,
Colonial White body and Top, Red Interior, Red Soft Top, no PAS, No PB Drums all round but i retro fitted a remote Servo , improved them no end.
Auto trans, the Auto's are a 3 Speed, but you can only true low by selecting low with the shifter...................they do move when i LowLow!
Still prefer the white one from "The Market" that had pas and disc brakes .Will be garaged so roof down but love the look with the hard top on just as much .
Not so much my 55 with no port holes,
Colonial White body and Top, Red Interior, Red Soft Top, no PAS, No PB Drums all round but i retro fitted a remote Servo , improved them no end.
Auto trans, the Auto's are a 3 Speed, but you can only true low by selecting low with the shifter...................they do move when i LowLow!
White with red interior ,perfect, The manual white one i drove went like stink in 2nd gear really took me back
but out of choice i couldn't live with the crashy box, even the owner was making a pigs ear of the changes,
Find out this week what's the box is like on the Le Camino,it's a Mucie so should be ok for a yank .
Beginning to think my Firebird doesn't like going out on a weekend. Last Saturday I fired it up, reversed out of the garage and spotted what I thought was a pool of coolant on the garage floor. Left it ticking over as I went in the garage to see. Nope, fuel, turned round and it was pissing out from under the engine! Ran back and switched it off. Fuel filter leaking. Stained drive and probably a tenner of Esso's finest gone. Arse. Fixed that.
This morning, fired it up, brake pedal went to the floor. Crawled underneath, visible leak front offside. Not enough time to investigate further as we were going out for lunch, so just swore at it and shut the garage door.
I didn't used to have a name for the car, but now I do. That name rhymes with 'Runt'.
This morning, fired it up, brake pedal went to the floor. Crawled underneath, visible leak front offside. Not enough time to investigate further as we were going out for lunch, so just swore at it and shut the garage door.
I didn't used to have a name for the car, but now I do. That name rhymes with 'Runt'.
LeighW said:
Beginning to think my Firebird doesn't like going out on a weekend. Last Saturday I fired it up, reversed out of the garage and spotted what I thought was a pool of coolant on the garage floor. Left it ticking over as I went in the garage to see. Nope, fuel, turned round and it was pissing out from under the engine! Ran back and switched it off. Fuel filter leaking. Stained drive and probably a tenner of Esso's finest gone. Arse. Fixed that.
This morning, fired it up, brake pedal went to the floor. Crawled underneath, visible leak front offside. Not enough time to investigate further as we were going out for lunch, so just swore at it and shut the garage door.
I didn't used to have a name for the car, but now I do. That name rhymes with 'Runt'.
Part of the joys of ownership , If they behaved like our dailys life would be boring besides This morning, fired it up, brake pedal went to the floor. Crawled underneath, visible leak front offside. Not enough time to investigate further as we were going out for lunch, so just swore at it and shut the garage door.
I didn't used to have a name for the car, but now I do. That name rhymes with 'Runt'.
we would have nothing to write about on here.
Obviously a she with a name like that and she's just showing you who is boss
LeighW said:
Beginning to think my Firebird doesn't like going out on a weekend. Last Saturday I fired it up, reversed out of the garage and spotted what I thought was a pool of coolant on the garage floor. Left it ticking over as I went in the garage to see. Nope, fuel, turned round and it was pissing out from under the engine! Ran back and switched it off. Fuel filter leaking. Stained drive and probably a tenner of Esso's finest gone. Arse. Fixed that.
This morning, fired it up, brake pedal went to the floor. Crawled underneath, visible leak front offside. Not enough time to investigate further as we were going out for lunch, so just swore at it and shut the garage door.
I didn't used to have a name for the car, but now I do. That name rhymes with 'Runt'.
Wonder what that rhymes with? - lets hope "always out in front" and not "shunt"This morning, fired it up, brake pedal went to the floor. Crawled underneath, visible leak front offside. Not enough time to investigate further as we were going out for lunch, so just swore at it and shut the garage door.
I didn't used to have a name for the car, but now I do. That name rhymes with 'Runt'.
LeighW said:
Beginning to think my Firebird doesn't like going out on a weekend. Last Saturday I fired it up, reversed out of the garage and spotted what I thought was a pool of coolant on the garage floor. Left it ticking over as I went in the garage to see. Nope, fuel, turned round and it was pissing out from under the engine! Ran back and switched it off. Fuel filter leaking. Stained drive and probably a tenner of Esso's finest gone. Arse. Fixed that.
This morning, fired it up, brake pedal went to the floor. Crawled underneath, visible leak front offside. Not enough time to investigate further as we were going out for lunch, so just swore at it and shut the garage door.
I didn't used to have a name for the car, but now I do. That name rhymes with 'Runt'.
Your now truly a part of this fabulous and now pretty exclusive club!This morning, fired it up, brake pedal went to the floor. Crawled underneath, visible leak front offside. Not enough time to investigate further as we were going out for lunch, so just swore at it and shut the garage door.
I didn't used to have a name for the car, but now I do. That name rhymes with 'Runt'.
And as I’ve said many times these old machines are very much like an older lady,
Particularly the body part being referred to,
Cough and they leak , shout and they leak, laugh and they leak ,
And like the cars we can’t do without them !
And like women they will always be able to surprise and irritate you !
And when they are going really well they will make you smile
rat rod said:
aeropilot said:
Well, I'm just about to load the car up, and head off to Pendine for the VHRA fun and games 
Good man not lazy like me ,
Did ask nipper if he wanted to go as the guy i bought
the El Camino from offered me 2 pit pass's which would make
it worth while going as he's one of the competitors.
Weather looking good ,ENJOY !!
It was first time back there in 4 years for me, as my mate didn't enter in 2019, and 2020 was Covid cancelled, and he couldn't enter last year either, so it was a bit scary to realise its been 4 years since being there, as it felt like it was only last year...!!!!
It's become a bit too serious and 'professional race build' event now, and many of the low membership numbers VHRA people (that are not running anything other than a mild flatty or a 4 banger) that did it the first few years have stopped going now because of the increasing regs being forced on VHRA.
Another classic example of an event outgrowing the original ethos of the original idea because of human nature.....pretty much what happened with SCTA on the dry lakes and at Bonneville 75 years ago.
Still a great weekend though, as still chance to catch up with people I'd not seen for 3 years or more now.
aeropilot said:
Should have taken him up on that offer, as its really only worth going if you have pit passes, although its a bloody long journey if you are only going for a day though, and not something I would do...its bad enough going for the weekend.
It was first time back there in 4 years for me, as my mate didn't enter in 2019, and 2020 was Covid cancelled, and he couldn't enter last year either, so it was a bit scary to realise its been 4 years since being there, as it felt like it was only last year...!!!!
It's become a bit too serious and 'professional race build' event now, and many of the low membership numbers VHRA people (that are not running anything other than a mild flatty or a 4 banger) that did it the first few years have stopped going now because of the increasing regs being forced on VHRA.
Another classic example of an event outgrowing the original ethos of the original idea because of human nature.....pretty much what happened with SCTA on the dry lakes and at Bonneville 75 years ago.
Still a great weekend though, as still chance to catch up with people I'd not seen for 3 years or more now.
You must be buzzing ,Sounds like it was well worth the effortIt was first time back there in 4 years for me, as my mate didn't enter in 2019, and 2020 was Covid cancelled, and he couldn't enter last year either, so it was a bit scary to realise its been 4 years since being there, as it felt like it was only last year...!!!!
It's become a bit too serious and 'professional race build' event now, and many of the low membership numbers VHRA people (that are not running anything other than a mild flatty or a 4 banger) that did it the first few years have stopped going now because of the increasing regs being forced on VHRA.
Another classic example of an event outgrowing the original ethos of the original idea because of human nature.....pretty much what happened with SCTA on the dry lakes and at Bonneville 75 years ago.
Still a great weekend though, as still chance to catch up with people I'd not seen for 3 years or more now.
That's one of the reasons i didn't go ,having made no
bookings for a overnight stop and wouldn't go that far for one day
and miss out on two days of fun .
rat rod said:
aeropilot said:
Should have taken him up on that offer, as its really only worth going if you have pit passes, although its a bloody long journey if you are only going for a day though, and not something I would do...its bad enough going for the weekend.
It was first time back there in 4 years for me, as my mate didn't enter in 2019, and 2020 was Covid cancelled, and he couldn't enter last year either, so it was a bit scary to realise its been 4 years since being there, as it felt like it was only last year...!!!!
It's become a bit too serious and 'professional race build' event now, and many of the low membership numbers VHRA people (that are not running anything other than a mild flatty or a 4 banger) that did it the first few years have stopped going now because of the increasing regs being forced on VHRA.
Another classic example of an event outgrowing the original ethos of the original idea because of human nature.....pretty much what happened with SCTA on the dry lakes and at Bonneville 75 years ago.
Still a great weekend though, as still chance to catch up with people I'd not seen for 3 years or more now.
You must be buzzing ,Sounds like it was well worth the effortIt was first time back there in 4 years for me, as my mate didn't enter in 2019, and 2020 was Covid cancelled, and he couldn't enter last year either, so it was a bit scary to realise its been 4 years since being there, as it felt like it was only last year...!!!!
It's become a bit too serious and 'professional race build' event now, and many of the low membership numbers VHRA people (that are not running anything other than a mild flatty or a 4 banger) that did it the first few years have stopped going now because of the increasing regs being forced on VHRA.
Another classic example of an event outgrowing the original ethos of the original idea because of human nature.....pretty much what happened with SCTA on the dry lakes and at Bonneville 75 years ago.
Still a great weekend though, as still chance to catch up with people I'd not seen for 3 years or more now.
That's one of the reasons i didn't go ,having made no
bookings for a overnight stop and wouldn't go that far for one day
and miss out on two days of fun .
Left Pendine at 7.15pm last night and drove straight home in one hit, and got home at 10.30pm, and had to be up at 5.45am this morning.........
And I've realised I'm not 25 anymore
I used to do the J28 M25 to Pembroke run via M4 etc to visit relatives a few years back.......such a horrible boring, tedious drive.......seemed to take forever.......(too many 'cameras' and low speed limits en-route to enjoy now).....seemed to take soooo long even travelling at UK legal speeds.
Before the A40 (like so many 'A' roads) became inundated with low speed limits) I would go M25, M40, come off for Oxford and take the A40 via Gloucester and go via Brecon Beacons. Leave early enough and with only the odd local perhaps 'in the way' en-route it was a really pleasant 'envolved' and surpringly quick drive in a 'handling' car and one could maintain surprisingly high speeds.
Before the A40 (like so many 'A' roads) became inundated with low speed limits) I would go M25, M40, come off for Oxford and take the A40 via Gloucester and go via Brecon Beacons. Leave early enough and with only the odd local perhaps 'in the way' en-route it was a really pleasant 'envolved' and surpringly quick drive in a 'handling' car and one could maintain surprisingly high speeds.
roscobbc said:
I used to do the J28 M25 to Pembroke run via M4 etc to visit relatives a few years back.......such a horrible boring, tedious drive.......seemed to take forever.......(too many 'cameras' and low speed limits en-route to enjoy now).....seemed to take soooo long even travelling at UK legal speeds.
Before the A40 (like so many 'A' roads) became inundated with low speed limits) I would go M25, M40, come off for Oxford and take the A40 via Gloucester and go via Brecon Beacons. Leave early enough and with only the odd local perhaps 'in the way' en-route it was a really pleasant 'envolved' and surpringly quick drive in a 'handling' car and one could maintain surprisingly high speeds.
In future that's what we are all going to have to do to get anywhere ,Before the A40 (like so many 'A' roads) became inundated with low speed limits) I would go M25, M40, come off for Oxford and take the A40 via Gloucester and go via Brecon Beacons. Leave early enough and with only the odd local perhaps 'in the way' en-route it was a really pleasant 'envolved' and surpringly quick drive in a 'handling' car and one could maintain surprisingly high speeds.
Just need to plan your jjourney better, if not any quicker it will be pleasurable and be on the move
missing the shear volume of traffic.
roscobbc said:
I used to do the J28 M25 to Pembroke run via M4 etc to visit relatives a few years back.......such a horrible boring, tedious drive.......seemed to take forever.......(too many 'cameras' and low speed limits en-route to enjoy now).....seemed to take soooo long even travelling at UK legal speeds.
Before the A40 (like so many 'A' roads) became inundated with low speed limits) I would go M25, M40, come off for Oxford and take the A40 via Gloucester and go via Brecon Beacons. Leave early enough and with only the odd local perhaps 'in the way' en-route it was a really pleasant 'envolved' and surpringly quick drive in a 'handling' car and one could maintain surprisingly high speeds.
Pretty much everywhere is the same ,Before the A40 (like so many 'A' roads) became inundated with low speed limits) I would go M25, M40, come off for Oxford and take the A40 via Gloucester and go via Brecon Beacons. Leave early enough and with only the odd local perhaps 'in the way' en-route it was a really pleasant 'envolved' and surpringly quick drive in a 'handling' car and one could maintain surprisingly high speeds.
Virtually all 60 mph roads down this way are 50 and 40
Just tedious to go anywhere,
We definitely had the best of it ,
Won’t be long before we’re quizzed by our cars as to whether we actually need to make this journey!
And if we do we’ll have to fill in a risk assessment
rat rod said:
Thanks, Slight problem paperwork wise ,now in the hands of the DVLA so could be a while.
Anything done online gets processed quickly, if it involves sending a form for them to process it takes months, due in no small part to the fact that lots of the staff are still working from home. If the staff are at home, who opens the post? Erm, nobody. Just the same with HMRC and Companies House who I have the 'pleasure' of dealing with regularly, and no doubt most government bodies.newsatten said:
roscobbc said:
I used to do the J28 M25 to Pembroke run via M4 etc to visit relatives a few years back.......such a horrible boring, tedious drive.......seemed to take forever.......(too many 'cameras' and low speed limits en-route to enjoy now).....seemed to take soooo long even travelling at UK legal speeds.
Before the A40 (like so many 'A' roads) became inundated with low speed limits) I would go M25, M40, come off for Oxford and take the A40 via Gloucester and go via Brecon Beacons. Leave early enough and with only the odd local perhaps 'in the way' en-route it was a really pleasant 'envolved' and surpringly quick drive in a 'handling' car and one could maintain surprisingly high speeds.
Pretty much everywhere is the same ,Before the A40 (like so many 'A' roads) became inundated with low speed limits) I would go M25, M40, come off for Oxford and take the A40 via Gloucester and go via Brecon Beacons. Leave early enough and with only the odd local perhaps 'in the way' en-route it was a really pleasant 'envolved' and surpringly quick drive in a 'handling' car and one could maintain surprisingly high speeds.
Virtually all 60 mph roads down this way are 50 and 40
Just tedious to go anywhere,
We definitely had the best of it ,
Won’t be long before we’re quizzed by our cars as to whether we actually need to make this journey!
And if we do we’ll have to fill in a risk assessment
Motorama said:
aeropilot said:
newsatten said:
Yep I hope he uses it , but he may be a voyeur?
Just likes to look and own something a tad unusual,
As I said it’s Buckinghamshire way so I guess it make the odd show etc
He's only a few miles from Motorama, and only 45mins or so from Brooklands, so he might turn up at the Yank show at Brooklands in Sept, or Blenheim for the Rally of the Giants in July, as that's only 45mins or so from where he is as well?Just likes to look and own something a tad unusual,
As I said it’s Buckinghamshire way so I guess it make the odd show etc
Same for any of the Bicester Heritage Scrambles, as that's only 45 mins or so from where it is now.
Edited by aeropilot on Wednesday 11th May 14:35
aeropilot said:
Motorama said:
aeropilot said:
newsatten said:
Yep I hope he uses it , but he may be a voyeur?
Just likes to look and own something a tad unusual,
As I said it’s Buckinghamshire way so I guess it make the odd show etc
He's only a few miles from Motorama, and only 45mins or so from Brooklands, so he might turn up at the Yank show at Brooklands in Sept, or Blenheim for the Rally of the Giants in July, as that's only 45mins or so from where he is as well?Just likes to look and own something a tad unusual,
As I said it’s Buckinghamshire way so I guess it make the odd show etc
Same for any of the Bicester Heritage Scrambles, as that's only 45 mins or so from where it is now.
'In the day' the 220 mile run thru' to the Beacons on the A40 I could generally do within 4 hours, 3 hours 20 mins perhaps on a good run, (although only if leaving home about 5:30 am).
When 'repping' and 'in the day' (late 80's, 90's and early 2000's) I could generally time myself on a 2 or 300 mile journey to within 10 to 15 minutes.
It isn't speed that is the key for quicker journeys.......it is a consistant 'average' speed. So no stops en-route (unless for a quick leak) and a GPS indicated 77/78 mph (which usually showed as 85/87 mph on speedo at all times if possible.
You'd be within a reasonable 10% over and above the national speed limit and generally unlikely to be bothered by any old bill with radar guns, you'd sensibly slow a few mph for Gatso's and gantry cameras and obvious patrol cars sitting on broidges etc (and use the same margins on other 'A' road and lower fixed limits).
Most other drivers would be travelling at a speedo indicated 70 mph (so perhaps a 'real' 64/66 mph) - effectively you were travelling at a speed perhap 12 to 15 mph faster than other traffic.......it could mean an easy 30 minute saving on a journey.
In the later years with so many driver 'push the envelope' speed wise and the enevitable fast lane queues of 90 mph vehicles up each others ass's I learnt that lane 1 was perhaps the most efficient place to be. A GPS indicted 56 mpg and space yourself well clear of HGV's up front and behind seemed to be the safest and most stress free means of getting about......ironically frequently passing the 'fast lane' queuing cars. Also a great place to be in the event of an emergency (providing your not on a Smart motorway) as there is always the hard shoulder as an emergency escape route if this goes badly wrong.
Edited by aeropilot on Wednesday 11th May 14:35[/footnote]
[footnote]Edited by roscobbc on Monday 16th May 17:04newsatten said:
LeighW said:
Beginning to think my Firebird doesn't like going out on a weekend. Last Saturday I fired it up, reversed out of the garage and spotted what I thought was a pool of coolant on the garage floor. Left it ticking over as I went in the garage to see. Nope, fuel, turned round and it was pissing out from under the engine! Ran back and switched it off. Fuel filter leaking. Stained drive and probably a tenner of Esso's finest gone. Arse. Fixed that.
This morning, fired it up, brake pedal went to the floor. Crawled underneath, visible leak front offside. Not enough time to investigate further as we were going out for lunch, so just swore at it and shut the garage door.
I didn't used to have a name for the car, but now I do. That name rhymes with 'Runt'.
Your now truly a part of this fabulous and now pretty exclusive club!This morning, fired it up, brake pedal went to the floor. Crawled underneath, visible leak front offside. Not enough time to investigate further as we were going out for lunch, so just swore at it and shut the garage door.
I didn't used to have a name for the car, but now I do. That name rhymes with 'Runt'.
And as I’ve said many times these old machines are very much like an older lady,
Particularly the body part being referred to,
Cough and they leak , shout and they leak, laugh and they leak ,
And like the cars we can’t do without them !
And like women they will always be able to surprise and irritate you !
And when they are going really well they will make you smile
Ah, now I remember, my local garage fitted my new shoes and brake hoses, no doubt they've just bazzed the wheel nuts on far too tight on with their airgun. Thanks a lot. I've only got an 18" long socket wrench, but sticking my full 14 stone weight on frees three. Last two won't budge, the bar is flexing but no dice. Absolute morons. LeighW said:
This is as good a place as any to rant and moan, so here goes. Time to find the brake fluid leak. I'm guessing it's the cylinder as it's coming from the bottom of the drum.Turned the car round and backed it into the garage because of course, the side that's leaking is against the wall. Fun fighting auto gearbox creap with sod all brakes. Righto, slacken the wheel nuts. Christ, these are tight, I didn't tighten them this much... Ah, now I remember, my local garage fitted my new shoes and brake hoses, no doubt they've just bazzed the wheel nuts on far too tight on with their airgun. Thanks a lot. I've only got an 18" long socket wrench, but sticking my full 14 stone weight on frees three. Last two won't budge, the bar is flexing but no dice. Absolute morons.
Rant away Ah, now I remember, my local garage fitted my new shoes and brake hoses, no doubt they've just bazzed the wheel nuts on far too tight on with their airgun. Thanks a lot. I've only got an 18" long socket wrench, but sticking my full 14 stone weight on frees three. Last two won't budge, the bar is flexing but no dice. Absolute morons. 
Garage numpties do this all the time, whack'em up with a rattle gun then check em with a Torque bar?????
treat yourself to a long breaker bar, and leave it in the car!
Dont mess about with kits, just replace the slave, and dont let the Master Cylinder run dry! complete b
h the bleed if it does!
Almost all yank Master Cylinder's dont have a long enough push rod to fully bottom the inner piston, so bleeding on the car is almost impossible!
treat yourself to a long breaker bar, and leave it in the car!
Dont mess about with kits, just replace the slave, and dont let the Master Cylinder run dry! complete b
h the bleed if it does! Almost all yank Master Cylinder's dont have a long enough push rod to fully bottom the inner piston, so bleeding on the car is almost impossible!
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