Third Time's a Charm

At last. A break in the clouds and after a few mins on the fan heater the Imp started quite easily.

It needs a clean and the paint chips doing but it's looking good. A nice run around the block too - although bumpy as hell on our poor roads.

Then PM SAAB off to Harkstead for jobs.

Back again as the rain came back too.

At least we'd got the run in earlier.

Not even starting

We spent all the morning putting the soil sorter back together. I was using the socket set at least.

As we worked I was heating the Imp again ready for a run but it took so long I abandoned that. Again.

I did see the Ferrari though - still looking clean.

Instead I took the SAAB out for a wash and fill up as we were quite low. Another £103 of the good stuff - expensive - especially as the price has gone up a lot again due to the continuing war. Four weeks and counting.

Then SAAB (in the drizzle) to another Stutton birthday. Twice as I'd forgotten my camera.

ION: Global economies are stuttering as Oil is getting scarce (so that means worries about petrol and diesel) and the price of everything is going to be rising rapidly again. Oh and then don't forget the knock on to some chemicals that are needed for food or medical uses. So there is a lot of talk about 'Boots on the ground' now .That is bound to go well.

Starting was All

Bloody cold start to the day and it just got colder.

I popped out to warm and then start the Imp though in preparation for a late PM run.

Before that though we a soil sifter to snaffle. Well collect from Norwich anyway.

Actually the run and location were strangely familiar. It turned out the road behind the workshop where we went to get Chris' Rapier soft top made. However we were there to collect this:

Yep - that's a soil sifter. Spot the drum we took off it to get it into the car ? The run back was fine - if a bit slow on the A140 - with all the chops and changes in speed limit and the new roundabouts.

Then hove via Stutton for Birthday cake.

So the Riley run ? You must be bloody joking it was far to cold by then. Perhaps tomorrow.

Seeing Double

Dull day and rain on the way so SAAB run into town instead of anything else.

Looking a bit scruffy.

I did do this though - a split screen saver with both views from yesterday.

Then PM 'Harkstead Calling' with tools so SAAB again.

Was that a 'Pop' ?

Frosty start but clear blue skies. Today's first task is to pack the blue bubble away - so Ferrari out. But first wait in for the cooker engineer ... so I bit the bullet and bought the wood for shed #5 and supports to extend the car port.

The cooker was fixed by 10:30 so I backed the car out, it was a little sluggish to start (it was bloody cold) and I'm sure gave me a little 'pop' to say hi.

Here it is through the bubble door with no frame up. It took just over 30 mins and it was all down and packed away. So next was a PM wash - well wet dust.

Here it is before the wash looking good, but we produced a large bucket of very dirty water from it in the end. Next I spotted the new garage doors were out of alignment so took the Aston out to to be safe before re-setting the hinges - again.

That done the Ferrari got its run around the block (no sound effects) and was packed away again.

Finally a quick SAAB dash to pick up the MK7.

That had just got new brakes and disks.

Watching the Sunshine

So the rain came - and went - very quickly leaving a blustery day and me watching the sun shine.

Eventually I gave in ...

... and took the Ferrari around the block again. It did give me a little 'pop' while it was warming up on the drive - but it went really well. I'll have to calculate how many miles it took to fail last time.

Calculating that evening it looks like it failed both times after about 450-500 miles. 

So lets burn some rubber.

Hello Boys

A dull dark windy day - so a bit of DIY AM was about it. I did visit the garage to say hello though.

I did a bit on the Archive but that was it. Rain on the way now so we'll just be looking.

I also noticed that it is quite relaxing not having too many cars ... with places for them all to go.

Every Day's a School Day

So it's 9:00 and I'm feeling more stressed than I should be. The Talbot was a bit hard to start even after three hours on the fan heater. Still feels like no fuel.

57 mile later we were at Polson's. I had been doing 60-65 on the A14 and it seemed fine - if a bit noisy - but then the windows were shut. Discussing the starting problem John thought it might be the points - one of the few things I'd not looked at.

I had a quick look at the Talbots in the show room but they seemed huge - Ian said they were the same wheelbase as TAS but I'm not convinced. What did catch my eye though was a lovely looking Delage.

A 1937 Delage D6 3-Litre in fact. I'd seen it on the website and thought it out of my price range but I don't think it was. Shame ... although from the rear it's not a pretty as the Imp with those oddly large front and rear wings.

Run back in the works van was uneventful but I learned that the 90 at TCMW is probably nearer £150k and not £300. The look at the archive by John was a bit unfruitful - although I did find some more photos myself.

Late PM I took out the Aston to save the planet. However I missed the bottle bank in Stutton due to the school traffic and there was no where to stop in Holbrook either so it was an abortive run. 

The SAAB had to step in an hour later when the traffic had cleared. 

So now we're two cars down - mind you the weather is turning cold and wet.

Huge Turnout

It was cold but bright so 'someone' set off to the boat with tools - whereas I pottered getting ready for the first ECR Shotley event. Until ... the ladders were needed - so an early SAAB run after all.

Then later off we went to Shotley again - this time in the E-Type though. It was packed by 11:30 and I was very near the back.

Some interesting cars, but of course not really any vintage ones, unless you count the Traction Avant.

This SAAB 99 caught my eye too.

That's two in two days. Home again and it was too nice an afternoon not to get something else out. So what ? The Ferrari again I guess.

I must look up how many miles I did before the other distributers started to pack up.

MK2 Bookends the Day

I started the day heating up the Imp while I was spraying the drive - having forgotten to wash the MK2 - so ended up doing that a bit later. I started the Imp and let it warm for later though.

The Golf looks clean but generally the paintwork is getting much worse. I tried to T-Cut the bonnet and then polish and wax it and it just showed the scratches.

After lunch the Imp got its run. Harkstead for a few jobs and then the long long way home. 

I tried to video a bit of it but it is very shaky.

Then home and as the sun was still out what next ? Ferrari again I thought as a counterpoint to the Imp.

Here we are with the MK2 Golf lurking in the background. A good run (as they all are) although the traffic was oddly busy for a Saturday afternoon.

Lastly the MK2 got it's proper run - dropping books back in Stutton - and around the block.

So ended another busy day.

No Mate - it's the Steering Box

Alpine into Coltec first thing. It's a nice run but longer than it looks on the map.

Richard took one look at the movement of the steering wheel - and diagnosed it as a worn steering box. 

I installed a new one in 2010. Not that I've checked the oil ... Anyway - he also had a ratty SAAB 99 in progress.

So MK7 riding for the rest of the day, until late afternoon when I started to warm the Imp for a run.

But it was not to be. I took the dusty MK2 into town instead.

In the end I started the Imp - but just popped it back into the garage until tomorrow ...

Van'dermonium

The first job was to try to get the MK7 mirror to go down automatically when reverse is selected. I managed to put grease and then WD40 all over the car.

Better but not fixed.

After a morning of admin it was Talbot time. I played with a fun car/wine combo but it needs work.

Starting was fine - in fact with the fan heater for the 2 hours I think it might have started more easily if I had just used the hand throttle. However we went out around the block doing 60 mph a lot of the way - flying in the sunshine - and then I filled up with petrol for Monday. Well another 25 litres.

Finally the PM event. Van out, Harkstead to Shotley for a walk/motor. It really felt like Summer was here.

We then left it at Harkstead and walked home.

Which Way Round ?

Awoke to a lovely sunny but cold start to the day - but first we took the very dirty looking Mk2 down to Parker's for the MOT and rear shocks.

I checked on the Talbot when I got home and both battery chargers were "Green for go". Next was looking at the Alpine again.

I stuck on the second window strip and noticed I screwed the lower window seal on the near side door. So I did that to the drivers side too. It's not that good and rides up. However I also noticed the old window channel ones are a different profile and fit the metal edges better. I might revert then later.

Next I swapped in Tony's temperature gauge for the one in there - after cleaning the face inside and out. It seemed to make no difference although it did not over read. Then the face fell off on my test drive too.

I ended up putting my original one in again. It turned out that that gave almost no reading either. Odd.

Of course I could not remember which way round the wires went - even looking at the photo I took - but neither way round made any difference anyway. I think some more research is in order.

PM it was van time - so we walked to Stutton to collect The Beast.

Then back home I put the fan on the Talbot. Then before I could catch my breath Parkers phoned. The MK2 had passed the MOT and there were no real issues with the springs. OK then. So we collected the car and on the way back a 'quick' stop off at Harkstead for jobs took longer than expected so ...

Back home the sun was setting and it was getting cold - I decided 'enough was enough' and to start the Talbot tomorrow after all.

In the evening I looked at the pictures I had and yes the two wires go into the two prongs. I also tested the gauge by earthing the sender. That reacted properly too. So is it the sender ?

ION: Perhaps we'll not be able to afford any fuel soon though. Israel have just bombed the Iran side of the huge shared Iranian/Qatar gas field. Iran says they will retaliate across the Middle East oil and gas infrastructure. Guess what ? Oil prices rise again.

What Dots ?

So woodwork first thing - tangentially car related - as it's to store the Talbot archive.

Then Alpine pottering.

Plugs cleaned first - seemed OK though. However when I went to put them back and pop on the plug leads I found that several of the 'dots' were missing and two even had three.

After looking up the firing order I got it right first time putting them back. I then stuck the door window seal on again - which came off almost immediately. I also did one window channel which seemed to last a bit longer.

PM I gave it a quick Harkstead run for jobs in the sunshine.

Good run but I did lock the brakes once on a muddy bit. It only fluffed once on both runs - but the air was still quite cold.

After that I wondered what to do. Well the sun was still out so I started the Ferrari (which fired up easily) and backed it out.

Another block run - going well - and no smell of petrol at all. Did I over fill it ?

Finally I put the two Talbot batteries on charge. That will be out on Thursday or Friday I'd guess.

One more for Trollhättan

A SAAB day. First into town and wood yard. Spotted this Merc (as I often do) looking clean.

Mind you the sun was shining at the time. Unlike the afternoon run to Langham for the CVMC meeting.

Parking in the right spot this time.

Coventry Calling

The sun was out at last so I started by taking the two I wheeled member of the fleet on a run. Then it was time for the main event(s) - postponed from yesterday.

First the Alpine was warmed up and taken for a lap and a top up of the tank.

It was running well in the cold air and only once seemed to 'fluff' a bit at 30. Then without a heat-up the Imp - which started second go.

Again around the block and we flew to the petrol station - although the run back seemed slower - mind you we had more fuel on board and it was up hill.

Finally early PM after a warm, the E-type had a run too.

Again around the block and topped up the petrol. I passed a Capri twice on the circuit - he was doing the same. Another delightful drive and only a 'flutter' when putting my foot down too quickly at a junction. We did pop into the co-op on the return too just for an 'Inappropriate Car' moment.

Finally the (filthy) SAAB to Harkstead.

So there we are. Coventry 3 : Trollhättan 1.

More 'Muck' ing About

Or 'From Human to Horse' ?

So SAAB out with trailer to get Horse manure this morning. It was muddy and very heavy by the time we'd finished.

A full trailer load and about 15 bags later we were off. Pulling very slowly and 50-60 over the bridge to unload at the allotment. Hard work to be honest.

So PM as a reward I thought I swap the Imp for the Alpine so I can work on it next week and go for some runs. So first job was to move the Imp out to take bubble #3 down and pack it away. 

The only problem was the rain and hail ! So the MK2 had to sit outside while I put the Imp under cover.

Bubble down (always quicker) and packed away I moved the Alpine in. The thought before I put the Imp away I should pack the outdoor bubble away too - that's #4.  I was getting a bit knackered by then.

However that's another job done and as it kept raining on and off I could not get the car out.

Imp looking good but not going out due to the weather. So I double bagged it and left it there. Next week is looking better - if colder. The only bloody problem is that they are gritting again.

As to the new shed/garage I'm still in two minds what to do.

ION: We're in week 3 of the latest war and although people seem to be running out of rockets there is no let up to the misery and economic fall out.

"Get a Van, Man"

Off we went to Harkstead first thing, SAAB packed full of equipment to rod the drains and unblock the manhole. 

It needed it too, but 90 minutes later we were back home and unloading. I really should have got a van 20 years ago I thought.

Anyway - what next ? A bottle bank run to save the crumbling planet. Aston of course - a very pleasing shape still from all angles - even in the dull day.

Unlike the POS I parked near.

Apparently it is a "JAECOO 7 LUXURY PHEV AUTO" yes 'shouty' isn't it. Oh well. Getting home I thought I needed an injection of class, so the Talbot got a run in the gloom.

It started 'OK' and Polson don't think an electric pump to prime is worth it. Perhaps my expectation of starting a 93 year old car are wrong. It went well though and 60 along the backroads surprised the following moderns too.

I spoke the Ferrari dealer and £60k is probably what I'll net - so, no I don't think it is worth loosing it for that.

Finally - still daylight ... so 

Ferrari started and we shot around the block before the traffic built. I did hit a pothole (well yet another one) going up the Brantham Hill - which I'll have to watch out for. As to the car, yes it is unique/different/exciting enough to be part of the fleet - I'll just use it more - and perhaps just add cars !

Oh and I did spot a dribble down the side by the fuel tank.

Perhaps that had something to do with the smell ?