Exress to the Castle please

Another passenger ride in the BMW driven by the birthday boy - watching the speed increase to about 120 miles an hour on the de-restricted roads.

Still felt like riding on/in a laptop as we took the express to the Castle. Oh and a bus back up the hill.

Not a lot of interest car wise - the odd Porsche but then it is Germany. This was best I could do.

If you look closely it does say 'Oil' somewhere.

Back in Time

Sunday we all went off to the Mosel in the Laptop on wheels.

Even the light clusters were Sci-Fi but then again we roll in ancient tech. Talking of which I did spot a nice classic Audi (an Audi Coupe 1800 I think).

Then a Ford Edsel floated past too.

It was quite hot as well - up the 26 degrees but the BMW had a 'pre-cool' function so we were fine.

Where are we going again ?

Odd to be going to Germany - packing not a lot for the trip - and in the Golf too.

77793 says the mileage so lets see how long it is.

We set off at 7:30 and it's already 20 degrees - heat is going to be a factor in this journey. 9:30 Ashford services for quick top up at the most expensive petrol we've seen in a while. We must not use that again. By 9:50 we arrived at a very confusing terminal. Half the lanes were closed and directions were poor.

We were supposed to go strait through the flexi line and pass boarder control and then we get to the flexi lounge. We went to the busy main terminal instead looking for the lounge. Spotted a nice XK150 though so that was nice.

Eventually we just joined everyone else. French boarder control was also confusing - 'All passports ' or EU ? However there were flexi signs the other side so we followed them and found where we should have been. Nice lounge and decent food etc. Next time we will know.

We were first on though so it was probably worth it.

Off quickly and into the fast traffic. Spotted a nice number plate on the run.

MONTY - 1 on a Belgian car, then at the services where we stopped to eat our free food - Y1 on this beast.

A Dodge Charger it turns out with a Lithuanian plate.

The rest of the journey was as expected, delays around Brussels for road works and then just as we were turning off the main road the Satnav seemed to misdirect us onto a scenic run we got back on track eventually arriving about 18:45 (less the hour) after 404 miles - slightly less than the SAAB registered.

Alpine Wins

At the late month mileage count the Alpine, despite all the issues, made first place. This was closely followed by the Talbot. Talking of which the batteries are both charged so it should be ready to go next month.

Late PM SAAB and then MK7 up to Harkstead.

28 degrees too so quite hot for 5:00 pm - more to come though.

Then SAAB back again  as we'd forgotten to drop something off - still 28 degrees and now it's 6:00 pm !

Dumb Ass and Ditto

Off we go again - Alpine work first thing. However things were conspiring against me.

First the jack bends the lower seem in the rear wing. What a Dumb Ass.

I must watch that. I managed to straighten it out a bit so you have to look closely to see it now.

Then the car fell off the jack - luckily before the wheel was fully off - and me not under it. What is happening ? Some one up there does not like me today I thought - so being very careful I kept going.

Jack in a different place, wheel off and then axel stand to support the er ... axel in case the jack fails. I painted the tank a couple of times to get the mastic to stick but it should be ok for a while.

Finally I strapped the hand brake cable to the leaf spring to stop the rattle. Then a mile drive to the Dr. and back to chase for pills - but they were on the way - and some 'death' admin.

PM I cleaned the MK2 and used aqua-wax on it to try to restore some shine. It was sort of successful too but the rain suddenly arrived to I put it back into the car port for a bit.

Then I put both the Talbot batteries on charge for the break. 

When the rain stopped I took the MK2 around the block thinking it was going well but I really should sort out the rust. I stopped at the layby for a 'bridge shot' as it was empty - mind you the bridge was gridlocked with the roadworks again.

Yes I thought I really should do something for it.

Finally an evening run to Stutton to pick some things up. 

OK the rattle was still there but the car seemed to be better/worse and would 'trickle' along at 25 mpg ok at times if I was ginger with it. We'll see. The steering still needs attention though 

Oh and did I mention I locked up the rear wheel braking hard again ... no I thought not.

More Red Car 'Adventures'

Well adventures is stretching it a bit. MK2 out and about first - mid morning into town (much less traffic I was pleased to see) and street parking for dental check.

Then PM Riley to Harkstead to finish off yesterday's tasks.

It was so 'wobbly' on the rough patches of road though. Even so I decided to take the longer run home which was better. Mind you the standard of driving was worse as big cars almost pushed me out of the way or did not attempt to pull into passing places.

Evening was Mr. E's turn. 

It ran well and looked good in the dying sunlight even it it is dusty and it looks like autumn on the drive.

One well behaved Talbot

Woke to rain first thing which was a surprise so plans changed. Eventually it cleared so trusty SAAB off to shop - and of course to save the world. Traffic slow over the bridge as they are working - well the cones are out.

Then after lunch as it sun was back out I cleaned the Alpine - again mostly just dust and pollen - so that looked sparkling again.

I dried it off by a quick run for jobs at Harkstead - where else ? Seemed fine on the way there and 'ok' on the way back - but it was a lot hotter than yesterday.

Finally evening run for supplies and petrol - so weapon of choice ...

However the traffic in Ipswich was gridlocked and it took me 20 mins to do the mile to the petrol station - stop start and multiple hill starts. However the Talbot seemed to take it all in its stride and the driver was the one frazzled after all that.

195 miles and 11.5 gallons so still about 17 MPG. Fine.

ION: The Donald says 'Fuck' on live TV. Earlier he announced he'd got a a sudden ceasefire between Iran and Israel and then they both proceed to lob missiles at each other ! Bigly Bad.

Patch Me and Feed Me !

Decided to work on the Alpine first thing. Started by pumping out some fuel - well only about 5 litres. After that it would not pick any up ?

Odd - so I pushed the pipe in all the way and then still nothing pumping out. I thought I'd got the pipe stuck in the tank too as it would not come out ! Eventually with a bit of jiggling it did though - thank goodness.

I jacked the car up at the back and started to work on the split. I did wonder if the angle of the car would just make the petrol flow forward though ? Anyway - I cleaned the mastic off the tank, wire brushed and sanded it too. This was the 'weep' once I'd stripped it back. It looked suspiciously like it had had the same process applied before ...

I made up the metal/putty/filler and pushed it on the patch as much as I could and left it to cure.

Next I re-routed the fuel pipe. I'm not sure when it was routed that way now but strapping it to the hot water pipe was probably not my best idea. However I lagged a new length of pipe and routed it on the lower crossmember so it's in the cool airflow. I also added more insulation under the other weber.

Here is the non return valve - now under the car.

After packing up I had a call to help in Stutton so baby sitting was next. SAAB out there and that was the day gone.

However even though I only got home about 7 pm I decided to take the Alpine for a short test run. Well the weather was not as hot as the other day but I think the re-routing has made a difference. Much smoother all the way around the block this time. 

The wheel wobble is still there but that's another task.

Oh and no sign of a drip when I got home. We'll fill the tank again and see ...

Talbot Time

So off to Pakenham Water Mill for a vintage event. I started the Talbot first thing with almost no faff although I did use the new 'start' control. Not sure it was a proper test though.

The run up was very hot but the car shrugged it off - the oil pressure gauge fluctuated a little - wobbled more - but the car ran well and the temperature was fine. We arrived and were directed onto the end of the row of vintage cars with a Riley Special parking beside us. [I recognised the chap and he has a lovely Talbot special too]. 

We wandered around, chatted to some people and I took a few car pics. On the way out we were waved down by a nice lady asking if it was Rowlands' old car. She/they had several vintage cars but was impressed when she heard we had an Imp too.

That done ... was the car was making an odd noise on the way back ? Or was it just my fertile imagination ? I do need to grease the steering bushes etc. though soon as we've done over 1500 miles now. Oh and the new 'rattle' still comes and goes.

Finally a SAAB dash to release Harkstead resident from being trapped in the loo by a large [Stag] beetle. Honestly I kid you not.

ION: The US bombed Iran over night - just because 'The Donald' wants the Nobel Peace Prize - or just to spice things up.

I guess that puts my Alpine problems into perspective.

Running to Empty

I started the Talbot and warmed it up late morning. Again seemed harder than it was a year ago. I also found another control - is that the choke ? I'll experiment.

Then PM Alpine around the block in 30 degrees or so - very hot whatever the temperature and more to come.

It was suffering after a few miles on slow running as the fuel bubbled but fine running a higher revs. The wobble is OK too when you know what it is but something new is rattling under the car. I'll investigate next week. 

When back I re-set the mirrors again.

Lets see if that is better.

Finally SAAB off to fill with £95 of the good stuff.

So Long Suckers

5:30 start but met with a nice sunny morning on the pontoon.

We were also followed out by another boat that the Captain decided to have an informal race with - not that they knew it. 

We started ahead and then she overtook us by following a different route so we were behind for most of the way but kept pace doing a racy 7 knots most of the way.

Then the NOS kicked in - we launched the (by then untangled) cruising chute and off we went in pursuit.

We overtook then before Harwich so the Skipper was pleased.

Home a lot later after a diversion via Harkstead and that was that. Oh other than putting the Talbot batteries on charge for the weekend.

I balanced the second one on the car door frame. I'll have to watch that - as I found the unit does get hot so might damage the door.

It Starts !

Golf packed for a sail and let's see if the new batteries work.

Just a short MK7 run to the boat - obviously it started and everything was live with two bloody new heavy weight batteries. 

Managed to tangle to cruising chute again - so had to just strap it to the deck to sort out later. The highlights - dead Seal, live seal and helping stop a boat that had no power and was being towed in behind us onto the pontoon.

Oh and before that the (expensive) Fish and Chips and after it the sunset.

It needed a Run

So PM we went to drop stuff off at the boat and set the cruising chute for tomorrow. So as the MK2 had not been used for quite a while I decided to get it uncovered and use that. 

Here we are in the glorious sunshine about 5 pm.

And here we are collecting the two new batteries for the boat an hour later.

We had left the batteries on again - this time since ... so they were dead as the proverbial. We had no choice but luckily Fox's left them outside for us and we went to pick them up in the evening. Then back down to the boat to fit them.

I'm getting good at that now. Then we set-up the sail and finally drove home again. So yes the car got a 'run'. I've also got quite a collection of dead batteries now. Five I think - and three are hefty boat ones.

And Another ?

In the morning I bit the bullet and decided to investigate the poor steering on the Alpine. I used the strange platform I bought jack to get the car up in the air after using a bar in the correct place raised the car a little - I really should get a proper jack but that all worked well.

So what did I learn ? 

1. The odd perished bush but nothing that bad.

2. The nearside wheel was wobbling. Was it the bearing ? No when I took the wheel off the hub did not move - so it's the wheel/splines themselves. After 24 years.

I packed it with grease and went for a test drive. To start it was better - but then by a couple of miles it was just as bad. I'd also adjusted the shocks to hard (turned all the way to the right) but on the run I stopped in the layby to turn them back 4 clicks.

It seemed to make no difference at all.

Home again I adjusted the mirrors as best I could and inspected the leak - still slight but still there. I'll burn more fuel and get it below the split over the next few days.

While I was working Mac sent me a article from Magnito Magazine with my Alpine pictured. 

It's the shot from Wiki commons taken by someone else at Gaydon 21 July 2019.

Then I emptied more fuel with a Harkstead visit.

Finally early evening planet saving run in the Jag.

Good run around the block after that - and why not.

ION: Day 5 of the renewed shooting war between Israel and Iran and they continue to lob rockets at each other - over other counties of course as they do not have a land border - so over Jorden or Syria probably and not Saudi Arabia. Will the US give Israel enough fire power to get at the underground facilities - who knows ?

Another Brazill Bodge

So SAAB again to the allotment to do some more clearing.

Then later I looked at the Alpine leak. I found the bad patch quite easily with the wheel off.

To be honest its a tank out job again and another refurbishment - but how long would that last ? I covered it in no more nails - hoping it would set but I think the petrol will just eat it away. So I'll just have the car with less than 1/2 a tank in it for a while again.

In better news I made some more nice tyre caps - this time for the Talbot.

Anyway the drip was almost zero by the evening when we went to Shotley with this.

Yes - Martin Tyte and his 1970 Jaguar XJ 4.2. Looking splendid in the period Blue. We did have to inflate the tyre before he set off but it looked 'cool' running down the road.

We parked up at the ECR and were almost on the back row at the crowded meeting. Nice to report the sun was out and the mood was good.

I also met Rich and his Alpine - that has a fuel injected H120 Holbay engine in it and sounded quite unlike an Alpine - but looked good squeezed in the engine bay.

As to the Alpine - the steering seems to have got much worse - so that's my next most pressing task.

Now What !

So I went into the garage first thing to get the Talbot warmed up for Taxi duty - only to be met with a strong smell of petrol. Umm. Looking under he Alpine was this.

Yes a very slight petrol leak from somewhere - I'll investigate tomorrow. Will it not behave !

So I then tried to find the rattle on the Talbot.

I thought I'd traced it to the winder which was very loose again. Starting the car was still a bit of a strain and the fuel pump did not want to prime much - but works fine when the car is running - odd. I also checked the oil and it was almost at the top still.

The drive later to pick up my passengers from the station (James and Miri) seemed to confirm it was fixed. Good. At the station someone was a bit taken about by the Uber. "Now that's how to be picked up in style" she said to her friend.

It did look good - but on the way back the bloody rattle returned - odd.

Anyway finally I moved the Alpine back out of the garage and will investigate the leak next week.