Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

There’s only shit jobs left.

(I have a list, but I seem to keep finding two to add for every one I cross off - there are millions of fiddly things)

Today’s:

Door bars (I am going to need to take up yoga)
Sump
Brackets for the hard top.

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Figured ut I work better on others cars as I haven't got to deal with the car not being ready.

When is the first outing?

I feel your door bar pain.

I decided I’d have to get a quick release steering wheel

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Alex got his P1800 Shooting Brake back to Brisbane, I think it looks stunning... He says there's a bit of work left to do but it isn't too bad...

What a beauty... That's Roxy BTW, she's Facebook famous... 🐶

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two beauties right there. love that colour

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324059300945

Wonder if the volvo is a scandanavian one or a south african one?

That Volvo is lovely, good for another 50 years in that 'stralian weather.

I saw a badass bicycle transportation unit this morning, a 5th generation 1977 Chevrolet El Camino.

^ Love that. Hope the owner's name is Earl.
Why do UK plates always look so hideous on American cars?

Just picked up an issue of 911 & Porsche world from 1998, RUF Yellowbird for £64k anyone?

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So much want...

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/vw/golf/1990/685644

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Turbo on my vw caddy just exploded in a plume of white smoke and sounded like an industrial sewing machine. Been recovered and we’re home now but I’m not looking forward to what the mechanic and my boss(it’s a fleet van)come back to me with. Not a good day.

Replacement turbo, but why did the turbo fail? Not as if you did anything.

I have seen for sale adverts for a mk1 cab body with all the MK2 syncro running gear. Seen a few at shows, often wondered how capable the car is off road.

In Noisy Nissan news, replaced the original nissan water pump as the pump had play that you could feel. Pump was replaced with an aftermarket airtex pump, I know they are landrover oe but looks like poor feedback on the internet, well it is guaranteed for three years. Not an o ring fitment but an instant gasket stick on job. Not sure if I like that. The pump was cheap for a pump, £19 and was the only pump that I could get easily. Local factor couldn't get any others within 4 days, but doubt if he tried. So this weekend I replaced the pump.

So took both alternator and water pump belts off and started the car, and the suspect noise went away. Replaced the water pump, and refilled the coolant. Didn't flush the coolant system as the coolant came out clean and bright pink, and the old pump looked clean inside. But you can feel movement in the pump that you can't feel in the new pump. So reassembled everything....and the loud noise is still there.

So today I shall replace the belts and see if that helps. If not it is the alternator....

EDIT New dayco belts have exposed cords as if the belts have been badly trimmed, supposed to be made in Italy and Poland so back to gsf tomorrow. FFS.

Oil level was a bit high after last mot which could have contributed to the fail. The smoke when it went bang was def bright white, not black tho.

The limiting factor off-road with the T25 Syncro was that there was no selectable low range final drive on the gearbox so you had 1st gear and that was mostly it. So I was told years ago anyway.

How much of an over fill?

At a guess the intercooler, if it has one, is also full of oil.

Friend has one that someone replaced the engine with the diesel engine out of a passat, engine died as the gearing didn't match the engine so the engine was over revving alot. Now has a passat 4x4 diesel engine and gearbox fitted on a subframe...so far has taken 10 or so years and was bought to go camping in with his then young wife and child.

Think I have slept in it, whilst on the drive, more than them.

In my quest to see what the hell I can afford as a new driver with no years no-claims. Turns out a Skoda Fabia costs about as much to insure as a 2010 3 series touring, I don't understand how that works but I could fit loads more bikes in the BMW

Buy the alfa.

It is the alternator making the noise.

Ordered another one from ebay, tempted to squirt wd40/gt85 in the old one to see if anything happens

The hunt for a sensible car continues.
Seems like a good deal, slightly suspicious about the low mileage but servicing seems on point. What do you lot think?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202001236489120

Diesel?

Those kinda cars are often used as a town runarounds or just the weekend grocery run so milage could very well be honest. It can be quite hard miles though, always cold starts, engine never properly heats up, etc.

The Saab 95 we have had a long life of short trips before we bought it. A good thing I thought, but quite the opposite. Think it's worse over here though with cold winter starts, but still something worth considering.