Why so high?

[aeropilot]

LeighW said:

newsatten 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!

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

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.

Oh so typical of just about every tyre shop/garage in the UK, who's moron staff seem totally incapable of adjusting their air-tools to the correct torque setting.
Its why I invested in the £25 for a 900mm breaker bar for removing the wheels nuts fitted by said morons. I did once have to use a bit of scaffold pole over the end of the 900mm breaker bar for some extra lever arm to shift one nut, but only the once.

I got in the habit of as soon as I'd got home from any work done by a garage, or any tyre fitment etc., I would break the nuts slack, and then retighten with a torque wrench to the correct torque.

[LeighW]

Thanks for the sympathy fellas.

Dropped into Halfords after work, the biggest breaker bar they had was 24", but I bought one anyway. Jesus the nuts were tight, but I managed to free them. Sure enough, the cylinder is leaking. It looked perfectly ok on first glance, but I popped the rubber end cap/seal off, and it's wet inside. Ordered a pair from Rockauto as I figure the other side might not be far behind, and to be honest I'm feeling lucky that the pedal sunk to the floor when I pressed it in my garage rather than a few days earlier when I was out for a blat - that could have ended badly!

£14 for two Delco cylinders, plus VAT and shipping came to £45.

[aeropilot]

LeighW said:

Dropped into Halfords after work, the biggest breaker bar they had was 24", but I bought one anyway.

If you still want a 900mm for that just in case situation (and keep the 600mm one in the car) you can get them at Machine Mart.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-pro230-1-2-...

[LeighW]

aeropilot said:

If you still want a 900mm for that just in case situation (and keep the 600mm one in the car) you can get them at Machine Mart.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-pro230-1-2-...

Thanks for that.

[newsatten]

Mr Birds TA made 28200, on Evil bay last night,
So not to shabby, think I’m starting to get over my wobbles
which hopefully will continue

Hopefully there will be a continuous decline in prices and I may be able to get something to play with,
However not holding my breath

Just been told no export licence has been issued for the rifles I’m waiting on, so they ain’t going to be here anytime soon!
Factor in proof and it could be Christmas!
Ces’t la vie

[roscobbc]

LeighW said:

aeropilot said:

If you still want a 900mm for that just in case situation (and keep the 600mm one in the car) you can get them at Machine Mart.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-pro230-1-2-...

Thanks for that.

I have a telescopic braker bar that conveniently fits in the rear cubby hole in the back od the Vette - don't ask what make it is - I found it in the kerb years ago.........

Edited by roscobbc on Wednesday 18th May 11:45

[aeropilot]

newsatten said:

Just been told no export licence has been issued for the rifles I’m waiting on, so they ain’t going to be here anytime soon!
Factor in proof and it could be Christmas!
Ces’t la vie

Especially if they go to London, as London is a lot slower than Birmingham.

Will keep fingers crossed that don't take that long to get here, and get proofed.

[some bloke]

aeropilot said:

If you still want a 900mm for that just in case situation (and keep the 600mm one in the car) you can get them at Machine Mart.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-pro230-1-2-...

I got one of them when I couldn't undo my Boxster wheel nuts - I haven't lost an argument with a nut since.

[newsatten]

aeropilot said:

newsatten said:

Just been told no export licence has been issued for the rifles I’m waiting on, so they ain’t going to be here anytime soon!
Factor in proof and it could be Christmas!
Ces’t la vie

Especially if they go to London, as London is a lot slower than Birmingham.

Will keep fingers crossed that don't take that long to get here, and get proofed.

Yeah I was kinda hoping that they would be here by now,
Then I would have paid a substantial deposit and would have then committed to buy, so I’d no longer have the funds for a replacement motor!

So to ease any temptation I’l completely disregard any car that’s a Auto!
Has to a be a Stick or nothing

[LeighW]

newsatten said:

So to ease any temptation I’l completely disregard any car that’s a Auto!
Has to a be a Stick or nothing

Here you go, '73 TA with a manual box, £30k. Quite erm, eye catching.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304456418126?hash=item4...

[newsatten]

Yeah nice ……..
And thanks son for helping me to avoid buying another yank !

[LeighW]

newsatten said:

Yeah nice ……..
And thanks son for helping me to avoid buying another yank !

You're welcome.

[newsatten]

Cleaned the oil stains off me garage floor tonight,
And strange not to smell petrol!
Old cars do have an aroma about them !

[rat rod]

newsatten said:

Mr Birds TA made 28200, on Evil bay last night,
So not to shabby, think I’m starting to get over my wobbles
which hopefully will continue

Hopefully there will be a continuous decline in prices and I may be able to get something to play with,
However not holding my breath

Just been told no export licence has been issued for the rifles I’m waiting on, so they ain’t going to be here anytime soon!
Factor in proof and it could be Christmas!
Ces’t la vie

So much for the £60K plus these early T/A's were suppose to be worth'

To be fair nobody has seen budgie's car, it could full of pudding ,i dare say a genuine mint

T/A could be worth £60K plus still a bargain compared to most 67/68 Mustang fastbacks which we

now see regularly at £69K/£89K.

How you getting on with the manual yellow Duster, noticed it's down my way .

Not a problem if you want me to have a quick look around it before you make the trip down here.

[newsatten]

rat rod said:

newsatten said:

Mr Birds TA made 28200, on Evil bay last night,
So not to shabby, think I’m starting to get over my wobbles
which hopefully will continue

Hopefully there will be a continuous decline in prices and I may be able to get something to play with,
However not holding my breath

Just been told no export licence has been issued for the rifles I’m waiting on, so they ain’t going to be here anytime soon!
Factor in proof and it could be Christmas!
Ces’t la vie

So much for the 60K plus these early T/A's were suppose to be worth'

To be fair nobody has seen budgie's car, it could full of pudding ,i dare say a genuine mint

T/A could be worth 60K plus still a bargain compared to most 67/68 Mustang fastbacks which we

now see regularly at 69K/ 89K.

How you getting on with the manual yellow Duster, noticed it's down my way .

Not a problem if you want me to have a quick look around it before you make the trip down here.

Thanks appreciate that ,
At this time it’s on the back burner, we’re a good couple of grand apart still,
It’s to expensive for an A body,
It’s been for sale for a long time, almost certainly as it’s just to much money,

I’ve got plenty of house related stuff to get in with so having an empty garage is nice at the moment,
Factor in the roads are just mad now here again with all the summer visitors, il not miss sitting in jams!

[newsatten]

We’re down in Lyndhurst in a few weeks time
If the Dusters still for sale I’ll make a arrangement to have a look,
As I said it’s been on sale now since last September so I’m guessing there’s not a lot of people actually interested in buying it!
But it would suit me as it’s a bit smaller and a fair bit lighter,
I believe they are also a post car so will have a less wobbly shell!

To be honest I’d prefer something a bit more Turdy , then it could live outside through the summer,
Something just to rag around from time to time
Having said that I’m really not sure I’d be able to leave it ratty!
And I definitely don’t want another restoration jobbie !!

[rat rod]

newsatten said:

We’re down in Lyndhurst in a few weeks time
If the Dusters still for sale I’ll make a arrangement to have a look,
As I said it’s been on sale now since last September so I’m guessing there’s not a lot of people actually interested in buying it!
But it would suit me as it’s a bit smaller and a fair bit lighter,
I believe they are also a post car so will have a less wobbly shell!

To be honest I’d prefer something a bit more Turdy , then it could live outside through the summer,
Something just to rag around from time to time
Having said that I’m really not sure I’d be able to leave it ratty!
And I definitely don’t want another restoration jobbie !!

Didn't realise the Duster been for sale so long

Notice a number of cars have been on the market a while.

Some disappear thinking they have been sold only for them to reappear a few months later

for sale with the same seller.

I think you guys need to get a place down here ,

just think of all the money you will save on petrol and holidays

[newsatten]

I love the forest, Lyndhurst and Lymington are special,
Just nice to to get a break away for a few days

Yeah the Duster seems to be a case of finding the car !
Then finding maybe it’s not what you wanted after all!

So who knows, whatever it’s still 5k over priced

[rat rod]

Anyone going to Retro Rides Weekender at Goodwood circuit,

Weather looks good and the track is open on Saterday and show and shine on Sunday,

As well as yanks,Rods there will be some eclectic mix of serious race and custom cars there,

My 4th visit and i think this show and Players are the best moving retro car shows out there .

No i'm not on commission

[rat rod]

Just got back from collecting; the El Camino,forgot exactly how big they are both in length and width,

the 65 one i had felt so much smaller and a lot narrower mind yon it had Hotchkis everything

which made it feel smaller and more agile.

The previous owner has spent a fortune on this 59 , uprated steering ,sway bars,coilovers and

then left the 17" Torque Thrusts on it which do nothing for the car , needs them binning and a set

of 15" fitting.The cars to big and heavy for those 17's ,bloody awful ,Love the Muncie box though

quite lgiht and precise for a yank box.

Need to get up early tomorrow and give it a good valet before going to the Retro show ,

Going to give North Hants a call see what a set of 15" plus lettered Goodrich cost these days

so is there anyone looking to buy a used set of 17" Torque Thrusts out there

Edited by rat rod on Friday 20th May 17:22