My first Ovlov
Discussion
The metal ones often come up for sale second hand and they fold up to the roof when not in use. A worthy purchase.
Agree with the handsome comments too. There is something about the unassuming style that I personally love. They are classless imho.
Agree with the handsome comments too. There is something about the unassuming style that I personally love. They are classless imho.
Edited by S10GTA on Sunday 12th March 09:03
Roger Woods said:
Thanks, just trying to imagine how baggy that car is! Still, if it's on the original gearbox it does give one confidence in Geartronic!
Yes the dog guard in mine is the net that comes out of the seat, the pup is too large to get around it so it does the job. Also has the benefit that you can also use it when the rear seats are folded flat, in case you feel like really spoiling her for space 
I still have my old fuel pump in the shed. It works fine, just that pickup has split in an annoying place that I can't see how you'd repair nicely, was a frustrating thing to pay £200 for a replacement
The re-test is likely to be this coming Saturday, as everything was successfully swapped over last Saturday. Looking at the rust marks, the rear arm I believe had already split, and I imagine the pothole was then enough to shear it completely.
Removing the wheel presented this. A definite 'oooh, bugger' moment
Closer inspection... Yep, that's a confirmed kill.
I got all 3 sections as they came as a bundle for £35, was pleased that it was only the simplest part that needed replacing, the rest looks solid.
'New' bit fitted with new drop links too. This side was surprisingly easy to remove, the other side required an angle grinder
Getting the front shocks off was fairly simple, main worries were using a piece of string tied to the old connector for the electric control to feed it up through the engine bay, and the fact the drop link bolts were so thoroughly corroded on that, once again, we just cut the bottom bolt to get it off the anti-roll bar and left the top one connected to the old strut. Very glad I bought replacement droplinks now.
Putting the spring on the new shock:
Yes, I bought them online, not from Ovlov, they were only £325 for the pair (a pair isn't much more than a single one) so that was a result!
Everything bolted back together, quick half mile test drive with some steering, power, hard braking, lock to lock etc. and all seems much better. Next up is to order a set of rears and get it booked in to have those fitted, the 'old' PS4 fitted back to the front left and have it aligned and tested all next Saturday. Then I can finally tax the thing and send the Clio off to the scrappy.
Once on the road again it's being treated to a damn good clean and a headlight polish, should have it looking very presentable.
Oh, and my commute route won't involve that back road any more
I still have my old fuel pump in the shed. It works fine, just that pickup has split in an annoying place that I can't see how you'd repair nicely, was a frustrating thing to pay £200 for a replacement
The re-test is likely to be this coming Saturday, as everything was successfully swapped over last Saturday. Looking at the rust marks, the rear arm I believe had already split, and I imagine the pothole was then enough to shear it completely.
Removing the wheel presented this. A definite 'oooh, bugger' moment
Closer inspection... Yep, that's a confirmed kill.
I got all 3 sections as they came as a bundle for £35, was pleased that it was only the simplest part that needed replacing, the rest looks solid.
'New' bit fitted with new drop links too. This side was surprisingly easy to remove, the other side required an angle grinder
Getting the front shocks off was fairly simple, main worries were using a piece of string tied to the old connector for the electric control to feed it up through the engine bay, and the fact the drop link bolts were so thoroughly corroded on that, once again, we just cut the bottom bolt to get it off the anti-roll bar and left the top one connected to the old strut. Very glad I bought replacement droplinks now.
Putting the spring on the new shock:
Yes, I bought them online, not from Ovlov, they were only £325 for the pair (a pair isn't much more than a single one) so that was a result!
Everything bolted back together, quick half mile test drive with some steering, power, hard braking, lock to lock etc. and all seems much better. Next up is to order a set of rears and get it booked in to have those fitted, the 'old' PS4 fitted back to the front left and have it aligned and tested all next Saturday. Then I can finally tax the thing and send the Clio off to the scrappy.
Once on the road again it's being treated to a damn good clean and a headlight polish, should have it looking very presentable.
Oh, and my commute route won't involve that back road any more
smn159 said:
Your ownership experience sounds exactly like mine!
Bought unseen from eBay - check
Changed wishbones - check
Coasted to a halt with just under 1/4 of a tank left - check!
Haven't done my fuel pump yet but it's on the list
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Ah yes, it appears I commented in that thread when it popped up, gave you the list of ebay links for suspension components Bought unseen from eBay - check
Changed wishbones - check
Coasted to a halt with just under 1/4 of a tank left - check!
Haven't done my fuel pump yet but it's on the list
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
We both managed to buy the good one too, facelift with the Euro 3 D5 and a manual
Yours looks very tidy, my rack doesn't have the pulsing issue, one that I test drove did so hopefully I'm in good shape there. Also no alarm complaints yet, and radio reception doesn't seem that bad, although it's been a while since I've driven it anywhere at this point!Hopefully the 4C suspension will be a positive now that the fronts have been done, I bet it would put some buyers off as they're rumoured to be so expensive to replace. After all the fear, getting a new front pair for £325 was a relief!
. I'd have welded that and re-enforced it with a cut of square bar.Ovlov is officially MOT'd and taxed, tracking done, back in the game!
Only downside being the 6 month old PS4 from the wheel that went through the pothole was snookered. It appears they've both worn quite badly from the ridiculous tracking anyway, so once the wallet is repadded it'll be another pair of PS4s and it'll be in full health!
Garage cleared the airbag service warning too, nice place.
Apparently the driver's side strut wasn't bolted up very tightly, which is odd as we rattle gunned the hell out of both bolts, but as it was near the end of the day it's possible the gun's battery was a little low perhaps. Should've checked by hand I suppose, lesson learned and fortunately no catastrophes!
Car drives better than it probably ever has since I've owned it, which makes sense given how much suspension has been replaced
It's getting treated to a commute and a clean tomorrow, will see how it holds together, looking forward to the comfort / quiet / decent stereo after a fair few months in the Clio
Only downside being the 6 month old PS4 from the wheel that went through the pothole was snookered. It appears they've both worn quite badly from the ridiculous tracking anyway, so once the wallet is repadded it'll be another pair of PS4s and it'll be in full health!
Garage cleared the airbag service warning too, nice place.
Apparently the driver's side strut wasn't bolted up very tightly, which is odd as we rattle gunned the hell out of both bolts, but as it was near the end of the day it's possible the gun's battery was a little low perhaps. Should've checked by hand I suppose, lesson learned and fortunately no catastrophes!
Car drives better than it probably ever has since I've owned it, which makes sense given how much suspension has been replaced
It's getting treated to a commute and a clean tomorrow, will see how it holds together, looking forward to the comfort / quiet / decent stereo after a fair few months in the Clio
Well Ovlov has had a clean and the headlights polished up reasonably well given my crappy drill.
This meant it was straight back to work of course!
Next was taking down a fence ruined by Doris and transporting it to the tip. Interior will need a good hoovering now, but it's good to have the old girl back
This meant it was straight back to work of course!
Next was taking down a fence ruined by Doris and transporting it to the tip. Interior will need a good hoovering now, but it's good to have the old girl back
Well nothing else has fallen off, and after a week of the commute and a trip over to the NEC, the needle is starting to approach the bottom segments and it'll be time to finally fill the tank!
On board 'computer' has done some calculations on the back of its virtual fag packet and thinks it's averaging 53.7mpg currently, which, given part of the commute involves 8 roundabouts through Milton Keynes and the binary throttle inputs that can inspire, isn't too bad.
Obviously it'll probably actually be doing about 45, but I'll be able to find out with some degree of confidence after filling up and running it for a week, what a treat that will be
On board 'computer' has done some calculations on the back of its virtual fag packet and thinks it's averaging 53.7mpg currently, which, given part of the commute involves 8 roundabouts through Milton Keynes and the binary throttle inputs that can inspire, isn't too bad.
Obviously it'll probably actually be doing about 45, but I'll be able to find out with some degree of confidence after filling up and running it for a week, what a treat that will be
SturdyHSV said:
Well nothing else has fallen off, and after a week of the commute and a trip over to the NEC, the needle is starting to approach the bottom segments and it'll be time to finally fill the tank!
On board 'computer' has done some calculations on the back of its virtual fag packet and thinks it's averaging 53.7mpg currently, which, given part of the commute involves 8 roundabouts through Milton Keynes and the binary throttle inputs that can inspire, isn't too bad.
Obviously it'll probably actually be doing about 45, but I'll be able to find out with some degree of confidence after filling up and running it for a week, what a treat that will be
The OBC on mine over reads the MPG by >20%On board 'computer' has done some calculations on the back of its virtual fag packet and thinks it's averaging 53.7mpg currently, which, given part of the commute involves 8 roundabouts through Milton Keynes and the binary throttle inputs that can inspire, isn't too bad.
Obviously it'll probably actually be doing about 45, but I'll be able to find out with some degree of confidence after filling up and running it for a week, what a treat that will be
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