The Joy of Running an Old Shed

[egor110]

The spinner of plates said:

bearman68 said:

The spinner of plates said:

I ran an R53 for a year or two, lovely little thing.

Put small wheels on - less outright grip but they handle lovely and the car moves around more progressively.

Watch the oil level as this engine really doesn’t tolerate being run low. Reading the forums, the usage variance was huge between ‘doesn’t burn a drop’ to ‘it’s burned 1ltr per 1,000 miles from new’. Mine was nearer the latter which became tiresome after a while.

And on that point the dipstick has to do a weird 90 degree twist due to a rather torturous twisty tube route to the sump. They go brittle over time and the end can easily snap off... invest in one of these:
https://www.lohen.co.uk/cravenspeed-dipstick-gen-1...

£70 bloody quid for a dipstick? That's not proper shedding

Agreed. Seem to remember I paid less than £30 a few years ago.

I've just got a metal one off ebay for 18.99 , it's exactly the same as the one the r53 owers club shop sells ( when it's in stock)

[Captain Answer]

sebdangerfield said:

Currently running a 1.9 tdi polo which I bought at 135,000 miles 5 years ago for £600. It’s now on 180,000 and it’s been slow to start for a few months, a few weeks ago wouldn’t crank at all and as lockdown meant one car is fine for us we just shared the non shed Discovery.

Cone today, I’ve decided to take a look at the starter to either replace or fix the wiring to it and I need to remove to air box and battery box to reach it. Unfortunately the battery box bolts are totally seized and rounded through rust. Being a very basic mechanically minded boy and not averse to a bodge, what’s the recommended course? Cut out the battery box plastic? Find a way to drill out the bolts? Find a scrappy to sell the piece of st to?

You checked its not the battery at fault? That'd be my first thing to do

If you cut out the box can you still secure the battery? That is obviously the easiest way but the battery has to be secured for the MOT

[Captain Answer]

Cam belt done on the wife's Citroen shed, on starting I almost knew straight away it had been done recently and bodged. Most the engine mount bolts were chewed up, managed to get them out with too much fuss and the local fasteners luckily had replacements that would fit, found one of the bolts holding on the bottom end AUX belt pulley had been sheared and just left, managed to get that out with a left handed drill bit so didn't need the bolt extractor so got lucky there & had a bolt that would fit to replace, tensioner had ineed gone - cheap kit had been used and the retaining mech that goes over the lip on the block was bent. Water pump retaining bolt at top of the block side of the mount was a mess, half the threading was gone. managed to wind in some threaded bar then weld it in blind as no real access there then tidied off with small file and camera on phone, then just put the pump in over it, sprung washer & nut with a bit of thread locker on

All back on now and engine itself running nicely, but still crying about low oil pressure going into neutral at low speed, going to take a look at that one later. Heating also don't work, thinking either the heat exchanger is blocked or more likely it's the termostat & housing but not sure I fancy doing that job, looks a right pain

Decided It'll be in the scrap yard when she's had her time out of it, don't want to pass it off on anyone else - just see how long that actually ends up being

[bearman68]

Captain Answer said:

Cam belt done on the wife's Citroen shed, on starting I almost knew straight away it had been done recently and bodged. Most the engine mount bolts were chewed up, managed to get them out with too much fuss and the local fasteners luckily had replacements that would fit, found one of the bolts holding on the bottom end AUX belt pulley had been sheared and just left, managed to get that out with a left handed drill bit so didn't need the bolt extractor so got lucky there & had a bolt that would fit to replace, tensioner had ineed gone - cheap kit had been used and the retaining mech that goes over the lip on the block was bent. Water pump retaining bolt at top of the block side of the mount was a mess, half the threading was gone. managed to wind in some threaded bar then weld it in blind as no real access there then tidied off with small file and camera on phone, then just put the pump in over it, sprung washer & nut with a bit of thread locker on

All back on now and engine itself running nicely, but still crying about low oil pressure going into neutral at low speed, going to take a look at that one later. Heating also don't work, thinking either the heat exchanger is blocked or more likely it's the termostat & housing but not sure I fancy doing that job, looks a right pain

Decided It'll be in the scrap yard when she's had her time out of it, don't want to pass it off on anyone else - just see how long that actually ends up being

Since you've had the water pump off, it's most likely to be air in the system. There are normally a tyre cap bleed valve for the coolant system. Unscrew it, and a whole pile of air will come out, and away the heaters will go. (Usually).

[Bullet-Proof_Biscuit]

The spinner of plates said:

Watch the oil level as this engine really doesn’t tolerate being run low. Reading the forums, the usage variance was huge between ‘doesn’t burn a drop’ to ‘it’s burned 1ltr per 1,000 miles from new’. Mine was nearer the latter which became tiresome after a while.

So I've realised I need a sub £1k shed and blown mini S sounds like just the ticket. I've done due diligence of 2 hours of reading into their issues, and your/their oil loss is most likely sump gasket, front crank seal, crank sensor gasket or rocket gasket, in that order of difficulty. Rather than actual engine consumption of it. Gaskets cheap, fair bit of spannering required though. Solid bargaining point mind.
Beers.

[Captain Answer]

bearman68 said:

Since you've had the water pump off, it's most likely to be air in the system. There are normally a tyre cap bleed valve for the coolant system. Unscrew it, and a whole pile of air will come out, and away the heaters will go. (Usually).

Already bled at both points in the system unfortunately... Not worrying about it too much right now. Oil pressure warning is now sorted though!

Edited by Captain Answer on Monday 13th July 21:25

[egor110]

Bullet-Proof_Biscuit said:

The spinner of plates said:

Watch the oil level as this engine really doesn’t tolerate being run low. Reading the forums, the usage variance was huge between ‘doesn’t burn a drop’ to ‘it’s burned 1ltr per 1,000 miles from new’. Mine was nearer the latter which became tiresome after a while.

So I've realised I need a sub £1k shed and blown mini S sounds like just the ticket. I've done due diligence of 2 hours of reading into their issues, and your/their oil loss is most likely sump gasket, front crank seal, crank sensor gasket or rocket gasket, in that order of difficulty. Rather than actual engine consumption of it. Gaskets cheap, fair bit of spannering required though. Solid bargaining point mind.
Beers.

Worth bearing in mind the oil leak could be bad news but on the other hand go on the r53 owners facebook group and even they joke about minis leaking oil.

[grumpy52]

New shed incoming tomorrow
It popped up on the local FB market place and I managed to get in first .
Viewed it today done the deal and pick it up tomorrow.
It's a 2.5L petrol SVE Auto ,with leather and all the toys work , decent quality tyres, new brakes and tested till March and never had a tow bar . The seller had under valued it by about £500 ,her phone was going mad while I was viewing the car so wouldn't budge on the asking price
Less than a bag of sand .
My Focus has eaten another coil pack and the clutch has started to smell on long hills , my mate with a salvage business is having it as a runner until the clutch fails .

[STIfree]

If anyone else wants to get into LS430 ownership for £1k this has just popped up for sale in Tonbridge

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/74649107...

Looks ropey around the edges but then so did mine in the advert. Lambda sensor could be the same reason as mine, blow on the flange for the cats.

I love the wafty nature of mine and they seem to be pretty solid cars.

[TeamBigfoot]

Gents and ladies,

After some man logic i've now joined the Shed revolution

• The logic*

During a large garden overhaul I needed an extra large skip for which i was quoted £290. I hatched a plan to buy a shed big enough for many tip runs instead of the skip (the family cars are too nice to destroy), to be bought as close to £300 as possible and at the end of the tip runs i've technically got a free car!

The search was started last week on facebook marketplace and gumtree.

Last night i picked up this renault scenic 1.6vvt with a recent new clutch and MOT extended with COVID, for £325. Its a little rough around the edges but drives fine having had a new battery, front pads and front springs within the last 6 months. The e-handbrake also works perfectly (a common failure).

Please find the pic below if it works!

[ajprice]

£35 for a Scenic, top man maths

[Bumblebee7]

STIfree said:

If anyone else wants to get into LS430 ownership for £1k this has just popped up for sale in Tonbridge

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/74649107...

Looks ropey around the edges but then so did mine in the advert. Lambda sensor could be the same reason as mine, blow on the flange for the cats.

I love the wafty nature of mine and they seem to be pretty solid cars.

If that was LPG converted I'd definitely go to have a look at it. I'm driving to Cornwall from London on a weekly basis at the moment and that would do nicely, but on petrol it would drink quite a bit more than my diesel civic.

[giblet]

Sorely tempted by a LS430, loved the LS400 I briefly owned

[Khaki Suit]

Loving that LS430!

Since lockdown I've barely driven as I'm fortunate enough to be able to work from home. Anyone else feeling smug at not having car repayments each month on a motor they're not using or it just me?

[giblet]

Last time I put fuel in the car was 13th March, stuck a tank in. Fuel light finally came on again the other day so will tank it this weekend.

Probably the longest I’ve ever gone between fill ups!

[bearman68]

TeamBigfoot said:

Gents and ladies,


Last night i picked up this renault scenic 1.6vvt with a recent new clutch and MOT extended with COVID, for £325. Its a little rough around the edges but drives fine having had a new battery, front pads and front springs within the last 6 months. The e-handbrake also works perfectly (a common failure).

Please find the pic below if it works!

Uh-hum. <clears throat>, should you have trouble with the handbrake, I know a very nice man who will fix them....... Not advertising you understand, definitely not, not even a hint of it....... but feel free to pm me.

[grumpy52]

TeamBigfoot said:

Gents and ladies,

After some man logic i've now joined the Shed revolution

• The logic*

During a large garden overhaul I needed an extra large skip for which i was quoted £290. I hatched a plan to buy a shed big enough for many tip runs instead of the skip (the family cars are too nice to destroy), to be bought as close to £300 as possible and at the end of the tip runs i've technically got a free car!

The search was started last week on facebook marketplace and gumtree.

Last night i picked up this renault scenic 1.6vvt with a recent new clutch and MOT extended with COVID, for £325. Its a little rough around the edges but drives fine having had a new battery, front pads and front springs within the last 6 months. The e-handbrake also works perfectly (a common failure).

Please find the pic below if it works!

They are surprisingly competent at lugging stuff around . I had one as a work shed for lugging my work gear to and from the yard . I was often away in the truck for a week or more so had bedding ,cooking box , cool box clothes and all the electronic gizmos to make life on the road comfortable.
If you have problems with the electronic keys ignore all the bull rap on the interwebs it will be inside the key and cost £40-60 to fix by a guy that turns them around via post in a couple of days .

[Mr-B]

giblet said:

Last time I put fuel in the car was 13th March, stuck a tank in. Fuel light finally came on again the other day so will tank it this weekend.

Probably the longest I’ve ever gone between fill ups!

Ditto, I did mid February until last Friday.

All this talk of Lexi on here, makes me want to scratch that itch.

[PistonAFC]

STIfree said:

If anyone else wants to get into LS430 ownership for £1k this has just popped up for sale in Tonbridge

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/74649107...

Looks ropey around the edges but then so did mine in the advert. Lambda sensor could be the same reason as mine, blow on the flange for the cats.

I love the wafty nature of mine and they seem to be pretty solid cars.

Joined facebook a few weeks back and seen some bargains - saw a megane convertible for £500 that I really wanted - but as a new member I can't access/reply to the marketplace ads. Anyone know how long I have to wait or what I have to do or does it work after say 6 months of facebook membership.

Thanks

[bearman68]

grumpy52 said:

They are surprisingly competent at lugging stuff around . I had one as a work shed for lugging my work gear to and from the yard . I was often away in the truck for a week or more so had bedding ,cooking box , cool box clothes and all the electronic gizmos to make life on the road comfortable.
If you have problems with the electronic keys ignore all the bull rap on the interwebs it will be inside the key and cost £40-60 to fix by a guy that turns them around via post in a couple of days .

Keys are dead easy to do in these. It's literally a few minutes to code, and the cheap ones from China work fine. The keys are the least of the issues with them.
Windows prob the worst in my fairly extensive experience.