Poor lights and what they lead too!
Discussion
Back in the springtime I was looking at improving the lights on my Griff, a `99 500 that I have owned for 3 years now. Some new wire, a couple of relays and a pair of improved output bulbs made a huge difference to night time visibility.
While I had my head in the wheel arches, torch and screwdriver in hand, I poked around at the top of the outriggers that couldn’t be seen from underneath. It all felt a bit crusty, particularly on the NS. I realised that winter was going to benefit from a garage project. Body off, new outriggers, chassis refurb and general tarting up would be in order. Factor in rebuilding the engine, oil leak issues rather than power loss problems, exhaust manifold gasket ticking from cold, power steering leak and some tatty looking heatshields around the engine bay were the main extras that joined the “to do” list, a list headed by a massive question, “ how do I get this approved by SWMBO?”
Thoughts were, just get on and do it, apply man maths and try explaining increasing prices and sell on value (not that selling was ever a consideration, obviously), or simply ask if I could spend a few quid on that bl**dy car, as it was frequently referred too. Or could it be that something a little more devious and underhand may be order of the day. This was something that would require plenty of thought and planning.
Come the end of September, the road tax, MOT and insurance would be due, seemed like as good a time as any to make a start. Forward thinking isn’t normally an attribute of mine but I really impressed myself this time, I put her in for an MOT just too see what comes up, quick fixes only hopefully, so as when the time comes all that is needed is a phone call to the insurance company and an on line tax application, no waiting for good weather to book an MOT test. And guess what? It passed, just advisory that a front tyre was wearing on the outer edge and there was a slight exhaust blow. Nothing I wasn’t already aware of. Nothing of seriously corroded outriggers and, as it turned out, seat belt attachment points! Living proof that what the eye can’t see, the MOT man can’t fail.
The only remaining problem was the wife, I don't know what it's going to cost, with the VAT, or how long it's going to take, to the hour, unlike she does with the garden, obviously. Another bit of planning was needed here.
I booked a cruise for next summer, 17 nights around the Med and Adriatic should do the trick, she wanted to go back to Venice, so I thought the rebuild could drop into conversation the following Sunday over lunch in the pub with friends. Then a massive stroke of luck…..said friends fancied a cruise but didn’t like the idea of going it alone. They knew that we have been a few times before and suggested joining us, well Jeff likes a beer at lunchtime, a gin and tonic in the afternoon sunshine, wine with dinner, and obviously port with the cheese and biscuits, so no reason not to. P&O found a cabin just 2 doors away from ours and all was plain sailing, (no pun intended) from there on in.
Insurance renewal arranged as a laid-up policy, tax reminder returned as SORN and a new MOT certificate in the file, work started as September passed us by. A Sunday morning breakfast run with a few of the regions regulars was the last journey for a while then, returning home and reversing into the garage was the point of no turning back, game on!
More to follow soon …….
While I had my head in the wheel arches, torch and screwdriver in hand, I poked around at the top of the outriggers that couldn’t be seen from underneath. It all felt a bit crusty, particularly on the NS. I realised that winter was going to benefit from a garage project. Body off, new outriggers, chassis refurb and general tarting up would be in order. Factor in rebuilding the engine, oil leak issues rather than power loss problems, exhaust manifold gasket ticking from cold, power steering leak and some tatty looking heatshields around the engine bay were the main extras that joined the “to do” list, a list headed by a massive question, “ how do I get this approved by SWMBO?”
Thoughts were, just get on and do it, apply man maths and try explaining increasing prices and sell on value (not that selling was ever a consideration, obviously), or simply ask if I could spend a few quid on that bl**dy car, as it was frequently referred too. Or could it be that something a little more devious and underhand may be order of the day. This was something that would require plenty of thought and planning.
Come the end of September, the road tax, MOT and insurance would be due, seemed like as good a time as any to make a start. Forward thinking isn’t normally an attribute of mine but I really impressed myself this time, I put her in for an MOT just too see what comes up, quick fixes only hopefully, so as when the time comes all that is needed is a phone call to the insurance company and an on line tax application, no waiting for good weather to book an MOT test. And guess what? It passed, just advisory that a front tyre was wearing on the outer edge and there was a slight exhaust blow. Nothing I wasn’t already aware of. Nothing of seriously corroded outriggers and, as it turned out, seat belt attachment points! Living proof that what the eye can’t see, the MOT man can’t fail.
The only remaining problem was the wife, I don't know what it's going to cost, with the VAT, or how long it's going to take, to the hour, unlike she does with the garden, obviously. Another bit of planning was needed here.
I booked a cruise for next summer, 17 nights around the Med and Adriatic should do the trick, she wanted to go back to Venice, so I thought the rebuild could drop into conversation the following Sunday over lunch in the pub with friends. Then a massive stroke of luck…..said friends fancied a cruise but didn’t like the idea of going it alone. They knew that we have been a few times before and suggested joining us, well Jeff likes a beer at lunchtime, a gin and tonic in the afternoon sunshine, wine with dinner, and obviously port with the cheese and biscuits, so no reason not to. P&O found a cabin just 2 doors away from ours and all was plain sailing, (no pun intended) from there on in.
Insurance renewal arranged as a laid-up policy, tax reminder returned as SORN and a new MOT certificate in the file, work started as September passed us by. A Sunday morning breakfast run with a few of the regions regulars was the last journey for a while then, returning home and reversing into the garage was the point of no turning back, game on!
More to follow soon …….
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff