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

that place on lower richmond road?

No I meant where the picture is taken

oh right no, harrods village barnes

Where's Lynx? Is he busy vacuuming the Veyron, re-boring the RS500, fettling with the F40 or just simply maintaining the Metro 6R4?

When have I mentioned owning any of those?

I've often fancied getting a heritage shell, deseaming the side seams and getting the whole shell galvanised to make the ideal project mini.

No idea what that would cost though, with paint and everything. Or even if it's possible.

Dip galzanising (hot?) distorts the panels, believe its something to do with the coating process and how the zinc coating 'grows' on the shell. Also doesn't coat the inside of box sections. Remeber a chap doing a Fiat 500, but he owned the comapny doing the galvanising and that was quite a job many man hours and the panels were all not that straight.

Have had a lot of luck hiding rust with galzanising spray then spray filler making sure not to reveal any galvanising paint in the prep for spraying.

Its fast, so fast.
Drove it back from peterborough.
Going tomorrow to get a clifford alarm with central locking, and new waxoyl and underseal on the chassis. Also new disc and pads.
The add was correct too, no rust at all. Checked everywhere with a magnet, no bog nothing. Original sills.
What would you mini owners recommend I get fitted?

Amused by the no rust comment, speaking as someone who replaced the front wings and sills on a mates Mini and 1 or 2nyears later they bubbled.

Don't use waxoil, either get the dinitrol (can't remeber which one but the one with the rust inhibitor built in) and get it redone every couple of years. Or Shell Ensis fluid (my fav as its cheaper and comes in 25l tins) get the one used for north sea oil rig application (salt water spray).

The under seal, just keep it clean. Coating the car again iswrong as you will trap moisure against metal. Best keep it in an area where the is a through put of air keeping the car 'dry'

Oh by the look in the picture replace the rubber spheres too that will make the ride nicer (smoother and increase ride hieght for about 2 years ish then replace once more.

Minifinity web site was good (I was told), someone mini i worked on was a mod on the forum i think.

Adjusting the waste gate actuator on his XJ220 I think.

Don't own a 20 year old jag.

He's over on the fighter planes thread, just returned from a quick sortie in the Foxbat.

Never even been to that thread, its on ignore (had to check) why even say that? You just make yourself look like a child who joins in as others do something so its clever.

Am amused that am away for a few days as I have better thing to do with cars and motorbikes or bricks and it seem to be open season.

Can bet most of you are tools than know how to use them correctly. Or even understand how to use tools, I especially love the recent torque wrench discussions on crabon bikes. You lot seem to follow what others do yet never come up with any ideas or inovations. Most of you see something on a forum/mag and then give your money over to someone else to create this pastiche. Having owned lots of cars as I love cars and have done since an early age. Having been lucky enough to have a parent that showed me how to wield a spanner.

Remember a time working for a car company with people who had never driven anything beyond the standard eurobox. Having bought and sold lots of cars, as I enjoy spannering as it gives me a real sense of achievement of turning a 'banger' in to something worthwhile.

Actually a better idea in this thread is go to goolge images / pistonheads or any plethora or car fora and copy the photo links here.

PS Am looking at altering the angle on the lancia V4 engine from the 60's (as Lancia race department did) to see if its possible to make it reliable when automotive technology has moved on 50 years.

Says the man who has only ever been seen driving a shit box Renault.

Never even been to that thread, its on ignore (had to check) why even say that? You just make yourself look like a child who joins in as others do something so its clever.

Am amused that am away for a few days as I have better thing to do with cars and motorbikes or bricks and it seem to be open season.

Can bet most of you are tools than know how to use them correctly. Or even understand how to use tools, I especially love the recent torque wrench discussions on crabon bikes. You lot seem to follow what others do yet never come up with any ideas or inovations. Most of you see something on a forum/mag and then give your money over to someone else to create this pastiche. Having owned lots of cars as I love cars and have done since an early age. Having been lucky enough to have a parent that showed me how to wield a spanner.

Remember a time working for a car company with people who had never driven anything beyond the standard eurobox. Having bought and sold lots of cars, as I enjoy spannering as it gives me a real sense of achievement of turning a 'banger' in to something worthwhile.

Actually a better idea in this thread is go to goolge images / pistonheads or any plethora or car fora and copy the photo links here.

PS Am looking at altering the angle on the lancia V4 engine from the 60's (as Lancia race department did) to see if its possible to make it reliable when automotive technology has moved on 50 years.

adds to ignore. again

Says the man who has only ever been seen driving a shit box Renault.

Ah, so no mention of the ropey MX5, or the battle scarred vauxhall astra, none of the motorbikes, the ford Ka.

Oh and where did the van comment come from, as it was before the hire van whilst stopping in to help someone then leaving?

Oh and Renoir fitted a purpose if you ever smelt it running. It was the perfect London car.

adds to ignore. again

As you'll never read this, I have not made any 'funny' comments about you but you have which triggers open season which others seem to see as justification to start. As seen earlier.

I've got a mate who's pretty handy- he replaced his Landy Chassis, and did a serious amount of other swapping on that car.

It's always something I've wanted to learn, but time, space and the most important part- money- tend to be elusive.

I keep seeing this one mini in Nottingham which is perfect- and that is what is currently driving my desire to own one. BUT- I should really hold off on it, because the next 3 years are crazy.

Landy is a big mecano set and very straight forward. Been around for years so lots of knowledgeable people and parts from projects people have started.

I like projects but I'm not a welder and most classic car projects need heavy welding.

I'd love to buy a rolling shell and fit everything though, but then that's just building a kit car which is something I've always wanted to do.

Welding takes time and practice, also some where weather tight and well lit and the ability to get round the vehicle and weld comfortably makes it so much easier than on a drive or on the road.

Also with things like gas, tig, mig and stick (mma) you need the right one for the job and then a decent machine set up to give a constant heat, wire feed current etc. Its also a matter of being able to set the machine up properly and great prep.

Oh and flame proof overalls.

Ah, so no mention of the ropey MX5, or the battle scarred vauxhall astra, none of the motorbikes, the ford Ka.

Oh and where did the van comment come from, as it was before the hire van whilst stopping in to help someone then leaving?

Oh and Renoir fitted a purpose if you ever smelt it running. It was the perfect London car.

No, I never saw any of those, only the Renault. Oh, and the motorbike held together with Gaffa tape.

I think the point that you are missing here is that things do not match- you claim to have owned/do own/are working on a variety of limited run, desirable cars- which are an expensive proposition.

You then turn up in a variety of filthy beaters such as the Renault, or on that 90's Raleigh hybrid.

If this were Pistonheads then the howls of "Custard" would have been heard a long, long time ago.

LOL. Rust proof a Mini...

Waxoyl the shit out of the underneath of it. In winter, jet wash the salt, grit, and grime off it regularly - twice a week if possible, in summer once a week will suffice.

I never liked preasure washing as it forces water in to places you don't want it, hose and elbow grease makes a fun weekend.

Also too much waxoil blocks the water escaping such as in the doors so make sure that water holes are unblocked. Also cleaning it if there is a repair to be welded it can be a pain.

I've also not been averse to attacking the underside and wheel arch areas with an angle grinder and wirebrush attachment then the hammerrite smooth rite paint.

Lynx is right, don't block drainage holes, it's important to find them all and ensure mud and grime don't block them either.

Sills have important drainage holes.

No, I never saw any of those, only the Renault. Oh, and the motorbike held together with Gaffa tape.

I think the point that you are missing here is that things do not match- you claim to have owned/do own/are working on a variety of limited run, desirable cars- which are an expensive proposition.

You then turn up in a variety of filthy beaters such as the Renault, or on that 90's Raleigh hybrid.

If this were Pistonheads then the howls of "Custard" would have been heard a long, long time ago.

Hybrid no idea? Three speeds and mixte bikes or even a tandem, none of them were beaters only 501 tubed converstion...oh and lets not forget the pashley that ruined my favourite tweed suit :(

Lynx is right, don't block drainage holes, it's important to find them all and ensure mud and grime don't block them either.

Sills have important drainage holes.

There is a guy in London, that comes to you and dinitrols the car think he charges £150 odd quid to do it and takes a couple of hours.........can't remember where I saw it. Haven't used him myself so no idea how good he is.

All of them were beaters.

And wagon does not have a double G, you cretin.

C'mon chaps, let's keep this thread about cars rather than willy waving / keyboard warriorism...

How about a half hour of Itali-american worship? Have a Bizzarrini to get started.

To me that would be perfect as an every day car, showing the scars of its life and one that look liked it had a real story to tell.

I dream of having a car like that.....I dream of a facel vega and enjoy the power to drive down to the south of france in a time warp back to the fifties and be there with the stars of the day.......