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28th June 2008.....Took the car over to Dave Wheatley's new workshop for the stripe to be painted on. This was a day I'd been looking forward to for some time as I would consider her 'done' once they were on. I had a very heavy cold so needed loads of tissue's, all of which went before I got there. I arrived at about 9:30 to find Dave tidying up. After a look round his new premises and a chat I had a tour of the current cars in stock. A 1956 Chevy race car, a 1934 Alvis, an old blue Opel, probably about 1930's and a 1956 Porche 911 shell. Plus, of course the Willy Coupe which has progressed a little. A write up of the stripe day is in the galley section, (click here), so I won't go into to many details here but what I will say is that I'm chuffed. To mask up one side took over two hours, then three minutes to spray. I also wouldn't have said a stripe could make so much difference. It totally changed the look of the car. Her whole body shape seemed to change. Still she's now ready for Billing in all her glory. Roll on the 11th of July.
21st June 2008.....I've now finished the rear brakes. I've removed the braided hose, which were only left on the rear and put my nickel/copper pipes on. I broke my second brake flaring kit so asked Alan from Motorway Belts if I could use his kit. I went up there Saturday morning and it was so easy. He has this thing that you clamp in a vice, put your pipe in, tighten it up then just pull a handle across. Job done! I had three ends to make and it took about three minutes. I put them on when I got home and have now gone back to the GT's original set-up by removing my three way splitter. I've got no leaks now and the brakes are excellant again. That's it with the car for now really, as I've now got to concentrate on the garden for the summer and I can't see you wanting to hear about me moving my fishpond. Yes that's right....she wants the pond moved! Who in their right mind moves a bloody pond! I say that but next Saturday I'm going to Dave's to have the stripes painted on and the following Sunday I'm up to Mike Stanley's, (hopefully), to get a rear floorpan for SHW, then we have Billing. The insurance is sorted, the MOT's done so that just leaves the free tax disc to get. What am I going to do with myself.
17th June 2008.....DHR passed the MOT!!! Now as always with me this is a long story and involves moments that show my mechanical incompetence at it's very best, so brace yourself. I couldn't spend the weekend in the garage as I'd promised my Dad that I would build the base for his conservatory. (Something I can do right). So late Sunday night, because I had Viva withdrawal syndrome, I went up the garage to weld the metal strips to the front sub frame to hold the brake pipe in place. (An idea I'd had). I did this okay, no problems. At about 9 I drove the car out of the garage to turn her round...for no real reason other than the fact that I hadn't driven her for a while. I put my foot on the brake only to discover that the pedal hit the floor and I was about to hit the garage opposite. Bugger! Back in the garage carefully, put her up on axle stands and left her. The MOT was booked for Tuesday so it only left Monday night to fix her. Monday came and I eventually found that it wasn't a leak at the front end where I'd been working, it was leaking from one of the braided hoses that I'd left on her at the back. I took it off and made up new ends, then screwed it back on. This was about 8:30. When I screwed the pipe to the wheel cylinder I only went and cross threaded it. Bugger, bugger! Off it came again, then wrapped in PTFE tape I put it in the best I could and got Joanne to help me bleed the brakes. We got a pedal eventually but it was still dripping slowly from the braided pipe; both ends. I left it and would see how much fluid had gone in the morning. Tuesday morning and there was just a small puddle on the garage floor so I took a chance. I drove her down the test centre at 1:30, very gently and went down the smallest hill. (We live on quite a steep hill). I was hoping to drive her on the test ramp as that's down a big slope at the garage, but the bloke wanted to do it. I had my fingers crossed behind my back incase she didn't stop on the ramp and he went straight through the wall. He was only checking my lower nearside ball joint and the newly welded clips. Trouble was his young assistant started looking at the rear end where the leak was. I really thought he'd spotted it as he stood staring at that wheel for what seemed like ages. Anyway the tester dropped the ramp and the assistant jumped out of the way and didn't say anything so she passed. Two years in a row I've had leaking brakes and managed to get her through the MOT...what's the chances of that happening. Anyway she's back in the garage now with the braided pipes removed and I'm making up proper solid pipes. The joys of classic cars.
12th June 2008.....I've fitted my 'screen aerial' to the bottom of the rear screen and run the power wire and coax under the seat and carpet and up into the console. (The screen aerial is an amplified one which requires power). I've put a speaker in the bottom of the centre console and connected that to the radio. I've then fitted the clock and oil temperature gauges back in. For the radio power I've used the two wire that were meant for the c igarette lighter. I powered the lighter with new wires and in-line fuse then remembered that the wires were already there in a Viva, but didn't bother changing it back. These work from fuse 3, which powers only when the ignition is on, or you turn the key to the auxiliary position. With the radio's now up and working so I've also started to fit an immobilser while I can't use her. I tried it and it works, but I just ran out of time tonight. I've made up a plate to mount the switch in, so once the paints dry I'll fit it tomorrow night. Great nights electrical work and the bonus is I didn't set the car alight.
11th June 2008.....All fixed! It took me about an hour and a half. I will totally agree with the MOT tester that the ball joint had gone. There was a lot of play in it. I had a 'new' type one, without the 'castle' nut and split pin, so have put that on. The seatbelt is a slightly different matter. I have put the one from SHW on for now and I've checked it over and that's fine. I still say DHR's original is not a failure. He was right about the brake pipe as well, there were no clips holing it in place, although where it was going to move to I don't know, just nit picking really. Only down side is I can't drive her over the weekend as the failure over-rides her existing MOT and they can't re-test until Tuesday. So I've now taken the centre console out and will fit the radio and my immobiliser.
10th June 2008.....I am hanging my head in shame. DHR failed her MOT. Can you believe that. They had the nerve to fail DHR, my baby. Three things, THREE bloody things. 1. A frayed drivers seatbelt; now I've done about 700 miles since the last MOT and I've obviously been rubbing my belt like mad because they passed it fine last year. 2. He wants another clip put on the front brake pipe that goes along the bottom on the front subframe. I haven't changed this from last year; 3. Excessive play in the front nearside lower suspension joint. On this I think he means the lower balljoint. I'll let him have this one as it maybe could do with tightening. I'll sort this over the next two evenings but what a bummer. The only good thing is that if I sort it within ten days the re-test is free. That's big of them! My only slight problem might be a replacement seat belt. Hmmmm!
8th June 2008.....Flod, as usual, was up early and made enough noise to wake Deon and me. So we were up packed and ready for the off before 8. We parked up at Luton and I got the tea going straight away. Soon people started arriving and the talking and banter began. Paul Bottomley parked up with us this year and there were a few other 'new' faces as well. 17 cars in total so a good turn out again. Dave Wheatley parked with us and I had a chat about getting the stripe put on DHR, hopefully within the next few weeks. Although both Flod and Spot had kindly given me their spare wipers, I managed to get a complete set at Luton, so that solves the MOT worry. Gregor Marshall's race car was on the DSG stand next door so he must have it road legal at last. I didn't get the chance to chat with him so will have to catch up by mail. As you know with me there's usually a laugh at my expense and this time is no different. The only good thing for me is that it didn't show till I got home. As it was breezy I hadn't noticed how hot it really was at Luton and when Joanne came up to bring me a cuppa in the garage at 6, she fell about laughing and told me to look in a mirror. My face was bright red apart from where I'd been wearing my sunglasses. Bugger! I looked like a strawberry faced panda! I'm really going to get the crap ripped out of me now.
7th June 2008.....Well boys the ladies are a pretty devious lot aren't they? My missus knew that because I wanted to get away to the Compasses, I'd have to be in a helpful mood. She managed to get me to wash both the Astra and Focus and get the oil off the crazy paving that the Viva dropped during the week. She knew I could hardly refuse. I did all this before lunch and spent the next four hours cleaning and packing DHR ready for the Luton show. I'm thinking that soon I will need a trailer as the boot is completely full. I even remembered all Spot's stuff, but did forget the CD for Tony. (Well I always forget something). I got to the compasses at 3 minutes past 5 and only Tony was there, which was handy because he then bought me a pint of Guinness. While we were waiting for the Guinness his luck went from bad to worse, because he got caught for a drink by Flod and Deon. The only other people to turn up were Steve and John. I tried to put my tent up again this year but broke one of the pole legs, so threw the hammer down and went to buy another drink. (I always use a hammer to put a tent up!). By the time I got back they had mended the leg and put the tent up. (I knew they would). After a couple of burgers and chips it was only Flod, Deon and me camping so we retired to chat by the tents. After getting bitten to death by fly's, we retired for the night, early and sober!
6th June 2008.....I finally finished the Peugeot last night. I was quite pleased with myself because you will know from my restorations that I'm not naturally blessed when it comes to cars. I drove it for a good hour without it over-heating or any warning light coming on. I had to bleed the system again and clean out the temperature sensor, but at last my beloved is back where she belongs - tucked up under her blanket in HER garage. Now it leaves me Saturday to clean and polish DHR, pack her up and get up to the Compasses for five, to get some much needed intellectual conversation with like minded people and Flod.
4th June 2008.....Well I bet you've all missed me. The site has been down for some time due to a fire in a computer centre in Texas, in the good old U.S of A. You didn't know I was international did you. No, neither did I until Paul told me Monday morning. Well you haven't missed anything worth while as nothing has been done on any Viva. The weekend was spent helping build a conservatory for my Mum and Dad and helping my daughter with flat improvements. Then Sunday afternoon I spent a wonderful 6 hours stripping down my boys Peugeot 106. His head gasket had gone so he's kindly left it with me while he's away on holiday for a week. What a sod of a job. I hate working on modern cars and this ones not even my own. By Monday night I'd totally lost interest and it took Joanne to make me see that the sooner it's done, the sooner DHR can have her garage back. And as most of you will know DHR has been out in the monsoon rains we've been having since Sunday. I've been using her for work as the Astra and Focus had to go for their MOT's and the Astra needed a bit of welding on the rear of the sills. I have let the garage fix this as it's a bit near the petrol tank for my liking and I haven't the time at the moment. Then DHR lost a wiper on the way to work on Tuesday. It flew over the top of the car and was crushed by a following artic. Bugger! Still the Luton Festival of Transport this weekend and the boys from the blackstuff are down, camping at the Compasses again, so that should cheer me up.
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