Two by Two

Cleaned the E-Type and put it away in the bubble. No more evidence of a water leak ?

Then swapped the cars around. 2 by 2. Caterham out first - then went for a great drive in the cold.

 

Golf just got  move around the drive.

 

Then Alpine off to do jobs.



Dodging Showers

Alpine out for a dash round the block as the rain started - so came back in and cleaned it off using the water.

Mayo

Yes some mayonnaise on the Golf Mk2 oil filler cap.

Topped it up with oil and did the tyres. Not much needed really but it shows the water loss is probably through the head gasket.

Then turned my attention to the Jag.

E-type light went out on choke as it was warm. Might be the solution after all.

No water dripped out either after 20 mins on the road but I did notice the wire frame protecting the radiator was loose. Probably that pidgin four years ago.

Forgot to say the car goes really very verr verrry well at the moment too.

Did not set foot in a car

Not even a visit to the garage.

Checked though and the Dynamator needs a higher revs to start charging - one it is running it's fine though. Like the Ferrari.

Dreary Drives

Aero for load lugging - rain and wet weather stopped any other fun.

Red light on and then off again

Spent time fitting a new connection to the dynamator. New wire spliced in, new terminal and shrink wrapped ends.

Light still on for a few seconds and then with a rev it goes out.

Oh and she's definitely leaking water from somewhere.

Nice 'toy car' pic on the drive - again.

Just like the Ferrari I thought ?

Must ask why - take it out tomorrow if dry - needs a clean and then put away for the winter.

Afternoon Golf Mk7 run and then finished off with Aero and Trailer to deliver more to Oli's new house.

Load after Load

Aero and Golf Mk7 as work horses and transport.

Also glad to hear Mk2 start at 6:30 this morning.

More loads and lugging and Brakedown Service

Three boot loads - plus trailer loads as well.

Mix of stuff too - from wood to sinks.

The late evening jaunt to start the Mk2 - lights left on in station car park.

 

Highlight is the 3 page spread in Low Flying though.

Slogging through drizel

Aero out again - wanted the warmth and comfort to an Alpine meeting.

No one else brought their cars and there was nothing worth a pic in the car park either.

Red light back on

Started the E-type to see ... and yes it's back on. Cleaned the wire and after a few revs it went out again. Perhaps it need a longer run to bed the bushed in ?

Two Golf Mk7 trips late pm. Nice to drive a new car. Still feels like a treat.

A 4 Jobs - C 4 News

Aero again - wimped out on the classics due to the cold.

But got the latest Low flying with my three page spread !

It's Golf Time

Needed to get insurance pictures of the Golf Mk2 - so had it washed and then did the usual shots.

Followed up by some more atmospheric ones on the drive.

Aero to dump and then jaunt just carrying boxes.

Red Light Back

Started the E-Type hoping for the result I wanted, but expecting the result I got. The red ignition warning light was back on.

Looked at the warning light connection on the control box and no fiddling changed anything. However taking the wire off the dynamo and reconnecting it had the desired effect. The light went out.

Ran for a few miles with headlights and wipers on - charged well about 1500 rpm (35 mph) - not sure it's better than the old dynamo to be honest.

I'll measure the output and clean up the connections when I can.

Car into bubble for now - a bit dirty though.

Aero and Mk7 had utility runs too in the afternoon.

Sort of ... fixed itself

Fitted the Dynator to the E-type.

Harder than I thought as the new belt seemed fat too short to get the unit in place. The old split belt was fine (stretched ?) and luckily so was the back-up one I had in the boot. The packet said 1010 mm so I'll look for another one as well as a proper spare.

New one (right) is definitely lighter, but did not work when I first started it up. Red charging light went out after a bit of revving. Like the new electrons needed to flush out the old ones...

The pulley is also now in no danger of hitting the frame.

Rain stopped me doing a test drive so that will have to wait - time will tell if it's a permanent fix.

Earlier Aero utility run - an no sign of 'clonking'.

SAAB back

Collected Aero and it's big bill - should keep us going for a few years. Looked good on the drive. 

Dynamo arrived after dark so will for tomorrow.

Alpine Nights

Ran the Alpine full of tools for jobs as AERO is still in the garage.

Returned in the dark - at 5:30 - I guess it's Winter.

Back to Black

Well a dark metallic grey anyway.

Speedo still seems to be acting oddly. Also the alarm needed resetting again.

Aero in

And the verdict is that it needs new rear bushes, a tire, brakes and disks. That means we'll have to keep it longer - as it was the plan anyway that's not a problem.

Nice small Alfa in there too as well as a 900 being worked on.

Luxury Crusuing

Run out in the XJS strait 6. Drove well quiet and goes faster than it feels, although leans a bit.

Rides like an updated E-Type I guess.

Saw some interesting Lancia cars on the way back. One I'd never seen before - below a Lancia Prisma Symbol.

Above a pair of Delta Integrale.


Then headed back in the MK7. 50 mpg bettered.

Last thing I started the MK2 just to check it works - it does fine.

Vauxhal Van

Riding around in Steve's Zafira people carrier. No many flash cars up t' North.

Oh for the space like this - and even a chance to sort it out !

Can you count them ?

G2N

MK7 up to the North. Made the journey easier with adaptive cruse control.

... And cheaper with 50 mpg (if you are careful).

Meeting Mr A

Took Caterham out in the sun - showed it off to previous Martin.

Did look fine in the sunshine too.

G2R again

Run to boat. Then back. 

More jobs and stuff

Golf out and into town for a run. Went well too, although the radio has lost one side of the speakers.

Followed up with the usual Aero run for jobs.

Big guns out

Aston to shops and Aero for jobs.

Still liking the darker wheels.

Looks like the petrol gauge might be playing up though  - seems to go down too quickly after 50%.

Oh and Alarm needed re-setting after iPhone upgrade.

More walking

Less driving. 

Two at the car show

End of year car meet at Shotley.

I took the Caterham ...

and Jana the Alpine.

Great selection of cars there as normal.

Then nighttime Alpine run too.

Walking and snapping

Jaunt in the Golf Mk7 then walk.

Past a very red Merc 280E...

 and then a very black Defender in the car park of the pub.

Winter Part 2

Fitted the hardtop on the Alpine after dropping the Ferrari off for the service and MOT. I'd forgotten I had to take several things off before it would fit and forgotten how to get it out of the roof.

SAAB keeps nagging me for a service too.

And I got another front cover.

Garage at least

Not much car action but fitted the old bumper and spotlights to the Alpine for Winter. Will add the hardtop later this week.

And more

Lots of rain. So more pottering - shops and local. 

And this app keeps crashing - thanks IOS 10. 

More Aero pottering

Tools in the back - there and back.

By foot

5 miles ... ish by foot only 

G2R

Run in Mk7 to boat. 

Then caterham refuIing run - did 180 miles. Went well - Oli had warmed it up.

Then final evening run in the Alpine. 

Pull the other one

Started the upgrade for the Dynator this morning in the cold. Fan heater soon warmed the garage up though. I took off the old knackered Dynamo - the tick is to keep it resting on the location bar so it takes the weight.

New unit arrived at 11:30 and by 11:45 I knew I'd got the wrong one.

The new one (top) had a 'V' pulley and not a grooved 'W' one. It went back in the post by 12:30 but that's another week I'll have to wait for them to change them over.

Updated the control box in preparation, using the old Lucas case anyway - oh well.

You can't park there

In fact we could.

The village car park was a lonely place for the MK7.

Earlier trip in MK2 parked behind a nice white Series III Land Rover.

Also saw the first gritting lorry on the A12 !

Autumn is officially here now

Predicated by the bi-annual Aston Tyre Swap. 

Seems I'm not the only one with the same idea. 

30 feet

Aero across the drive in prep for tomorrow. That's about it. 

A couple of Aero trips

Weather getting more autumnal, so I wimped out and took the SAAB into town.

A few more miles

Approx 200 - in the Golf Mk7.

Lots of interesting cars on the London streets. MG, Mercs etc.

This one had at least 2 flat tires.

Pizza buss was interesting too.

But liked the reg best.

Golf Meets Triumph

Went to see a Dolomite to loan Nigel the Golf's car cover as it was going to sit outside.

Fabulous original condition - including a half eaten conker in the engine bay and Mann Egerton dealer stickers. Drive really well too.

Apparently the cars with three number of the same are dealer demonstrators.

Earlier - an obligatory run in Aero for 20 big bits of wood.

I'd better get her fixed

Cleaned up Aero from yesterday.

Golf earning it's keep again off to the bottle bank and shops.

Also the new wipers sounded odd - turns out that the metal was hitting the screen a bit - vice and hammer sorted that but it's a bit bashed now...

I also won the SNG photo competition prize. I guess that means I need to fix the car now.

Lugging more around

Aero took 12 builders bags to the dump - 4 per load. Now needs a good clean - again. 

Using the Golf fuel up

Ran the Mk2 along to the Alpine meeting.

60+ miles - went well although it's noisy and seemed to wander a bit ?

Two runs

Off in the Caterham in the early sunshine. 

Ghen Golf for James' last run to the station as a live-in son.

How quickly those exhausts rusted. 

Cleanin up

Gave the Aston a clean first thing before the sun came round. Cool morning. Needed it after the Kent jaunt and quite dirty as well.

Then Aero running for jobs etc.

Team Turnout

Packed up in the early October sunshine with my new boot looking splendid especially with the addition of the retro suitcase.

Good selection of Alpines for the Sunday run too. Nine in all.

Run of about 100 miles I think but hard to tell as we got lost. Tiring anyway through the back roads, but the sun was kind and it only rained a little.

Saw nice 3.4 Jaguar MK2 at the airfield too.

Van Time Again

More runs in the long suffering Aero.

First thing with tools to finish a job off at Mum's.

Secondly loaded with 20 x 2.4m lengths of wood for Oli.

Looks like the suspension will need a re-build this MOT.