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Depressed? You Bet!
Yesterday, for the third time in as many months, the person who was coming with a trailer and the money to buy the A352 mysteriously didn't appear. They'd texted me the day before: 'See you tomorrow'. I seem to be a muppet magnet, attracting gutless dreamers who can't pick up the 'phone to say they've changed their minds.
After six months TT this latest incident drove me to drink. Whatever happened to honesty and integrity? Regards, Mick |
Sorry to hear this. If you have given out your address I would just make sure you have good security on the car. I only tend to give out my full address at the last minute. Just a thought. Regards.
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Update. Yesterday was the fourth time in three months. Despair. Regards, Mick |
Sorry to hear they are still messing you about.
If I were you ask them for a deposit of 20% or so payable by the end of this week. If they don't pay tell them its back on the market. |
Sorry to hear this Mick, from what you said on Saturday it seemed like a sure deal, have to agree with other posts you need to get a deposit from them. The way its been going you would have been quids in by now
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Ups and Downs
Yet another 'buyer' dropped out yesterday, but at least this one had the courtesy to tell me. I'm somewhat relieved as he wanted to paint it dark green and put RAF roundels on it. Sacrilege, in his words!
I'll let the advert die and maybe try again in the spring with a full MOT. Third time lucky? Who knows. I may take her up to Bromyard for tomorrow morning's meeting. The forecast is good although my heated vest might well be needed. Regards, Mick |
I'll be going over to Bromyard in the morning, see you there. BTW, its the out of town Leggs café, not the one in the town used during the Speed Festival !
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Autumn Blat
Over the last week my battery died (it had lasted over five years, no complaints) so yesterday I bought and fitted a new one. I took her out for a spin to ensure that all was well and decided (between imaginings that I was Ron Flockhart or Ivor Bueb on the Mulsanne Straight in '57) that I'd be an idiot to sell such a great car. The Lotus will have to go instead.
Last year I took my daughter's boyfriend out in it over the same route: he filmed it hand held with this shaky and wind noisy result. Regards, Mick |
Great news Mick, glad you are keeping it
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Which Lotus?
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https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9da7c34f_b.jpg Regards, Mick |
Ah I can see why there has been a dilemma
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Happy New Year 2020
In anticipation of a crisp dry sunny new year's day, I this morning booked a place at the Classic Motor Hub for the A352. Let's hope that the weather gods smile!
Regards, Mick |
For anyone down South, I can highly recommend the Brooklands New Years day meeting. Very well attended and of course you get to look around the quirky museum and planes. If you take a classic or similar you get to park on the original section of banking.
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Utility Vehicle
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https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cf36a977_b.jpg Regards, Mick |
Merry Christmas
Today's sortie in the A352 was simply a lunchtime spin in the glorious weather. I took my usual route over Painswick Beacon, round the town (where random pedestrians waved and clapped :), and back. I stopped for a photo' call in the lay by at the top with fabulous views over the Severn; the Malvern Hills; the Forest of Dean; and (just, in the slight haze) Wales. The car performed faultlessly, even managing to spin her wheels in second on the damp surface back in Gloucester.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...47ab22dd_b.jpg Season's Greetings to all :) Mick |
Oil Woes
Two weeks ago, when covering over the beast after its regular warm up run on a rare sunny day, I noticed a thin streak of oil on the ground where I'd reversed onto my parking place on my daughter's front (we live next door to each other). A quick inspection revealed the leak was from my adaptor sump plug where the sender for my capillary oil temperature gauge is fitted. The builder working on my daughter's house had a skip blocking access to the concrete area, so I've had to wait until its removal to start work.
My lovely Polish neighbour on the other side went back through force of circumstance but kindly left me some useful kit including his home made wooden ramps, which don't skid along the ground like metal ones. Excellent! https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...524b96c0_b.jpg With the great access these provide I was able to remove both the sender bulb and adaptor plug, and drain the oil. Whilst I was at it, I also removed the oil filter and ordered a new one. Examination of the plug and sender didn't give a clue as to which was faulty, but the mere three litres of drained oil told that I was very lucky to have spotted the leak in time! Further progress will await delivery of the new filter. I'll initially fit the regular sump plug as first trial and error step in finding the guilty component. Regards, Mick |
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Don't like that overhang though, mine are solid all the way. Good luck tracking down the dribble. |
Probably teaching you to suck eggs, but try winding PTFE tape around the threads on both when you put them back in. That usually works for me.
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At last...
Firstly, thanks for all the advice. When I removed the adaptor plug and sender the PTFE tape I'd used was very stringy which I'm supposing was due to the heat - on a hot day the oil temp. gauge shows 60-70°C. I think the leak was due partly to this and partly the thinning of the oil which was due a mileage change. Anyway, I made sure everything was super clean and reassembled with PTFE.
Yesterday was the first opportunity I've had to go for a blast and on return, with water at 75°C and oil 60°C, the plug area was dry :). Its MOT is due on the 29th so next job is the annual handbrake fettling. I remove the drums, emery the swept surfaces, adjust the shoes, and make sure that the cables etc. are greased. Even with this attention immediately before the test it barely scrapes through. I think I'll advertise it again at Easter (Ebay classified) and hope that it's third time lucky. If it sells I'll be down to three cars from five this time last year. I think I have 'Car Owner Virus'... Regards, Mick |
Congratulations on fixing the problem. :cool:
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Well played. :icon_wink: |
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It's £40k now. Regards, Mick |
I was once given this advice by a business guru about marketing artworks - keep doubling the price until it sells.
Someone with deep pockets will probably buy it when it reaches £80k. |
Wow! A motoring event...
Yesterday's sortie in the A352 was to the Classics Day at The Cotswold Wildlife Park at Burford. If memory serves, this is the first motoring event I've attended this year. I've been attending this event since the first one in '91 when the organiser hoped to get 100 Specials - he 'only' got 99. One of my favourites from the 90s was the visually uninspiring but historically important Austin Seven based Lotus Mk2, the earliest survivor of ACBC's creations.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...14ac730e_c.jpg It's about 40 miles from home but the destination lends itself to a very scenic cross country route. The A352 behaved itself impeccably although I noticed that my oil temperature gauge has packed up, investigation required. On arrival I was directed to the not so special parking area away from the retro gems, amongst which some cheeky monkey had parked an inappropriate Q reg. Nova. Naughty, and not worth a picture. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8ffdfe02_b.jpg I'd seen nearly everything on display in previous years with the exception of this glorious racing Tornado Talisman in not quite Ecurie Ecosse blue. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...66a0922e_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f7924e57_b.jpg Its pristine engine bay sported a pre-crossflow Ford mill on twin sidedraughts, proper eye candy. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...05164bbf_b.jpg A really good day out at long last! Regards, Mick |
Strange Days.
Back in March, I had just given the A352 the once over for its MOT when, on the 25th, came the announcement of the six month moratorium. As quarantining (I loath the Yankspeak 'L' word) had begun nine days earlier, like the good citizen that I am, I decided to not press ahead.
Fast forward to yesterday when I logged on to the DVLA site with my V11Z to hand to 'tax' the beast. WTF? I can't do it unless I declare it to be MOT exempt? A little investigation revealed that the moratorium wasn't effective until 30 March, my due date being the 29th. Silly me, learning four and a bit months late that I'd passed up on my 15 day infection spreading window. Why have one date when you can have three? Anyway, armed with the knowledge that I needed a test, (and that I'd been here there and everywhere without one) I got on the blower to my ever helpful test station who said "Bring it down now (0845), leave it, and we'll do it today". Brilliant, except that the forecast showed a high percentage chance of heavy showers PM. I took my reading glasses and (recommendation alert) China Mieville's award winning 'Kraken' with me, explained my weather concerns to the boss, parked on the verge opposite in the blazing heat and read for about an hour when said boss took pity and told me to come back at 1230 prompt. On punctual return a new (to me, and very complimentary) tester did the honours straight away and I'm now legal. Moral of the story? Read the small print! Regards, Mick |
Well done, legal again for 12 months.
Most of us only read the small print or instructions when all goes wrong!!!! |
T35 & D-Type Evocations
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In last week's Classic Car Weekly there is similar for sale for only £16,750. It's described as 'Ally bodied', 'Front Engine' and 'The only one of its kind'. Its plate is visible in the thumbnail and DVLA has it as a Marina Buggatti (sic) Rep, tested to 17.12.20. Seems a snip, as it has those eight flat spoked wheels and is a correct-ish blue. On the 15th of August I received an e-mail asking if the A352 had sold. My reply to the negative (including a comprehensive whinge re. being jerked around ad nauseum) elicited a request the next day for more info./pictures which I provided by return, i.e. a month ago today. Nothing heard since. A trawl back through last year's queries revealed that this guy had been in touch then and had been waiting on the sale of his T35 Evocation for 'D-Type' funds... Last Saturday a similar request arrived, from La Belle France, to which I simply relied 'Oui'. Today Monsieur requested pictures+video with engine running which, I've sent. Will I be holding my breath? Yeah, right. Regatfs, Mick |
Was it this one Mick, it was ended early on ebay a week or so back.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bugatti-T...53.m1438.l2649 If it was the one and it did sell, it might be a genuine enquiry, perhaps ! The car did look the part, it wasn't a Teal but a hand made from scratch example. |
Help!!!
Having been messing about with old British car engines for well over five decades, I thought I could fix about anything. However, I'm now completely stumped :(.
On my way back from the Specials Day on 10 August I was a few miles from home, the car having run perfectly, when there was a sudden loss of power. Gentle use of the throttle enabled me to get home, but it felt as though I only had about 500cc under the bonnet. My first checks were on the ignition system, but the points were gapped correctly; the pip in the cap was secure and its spring functioning; the leads were all secure both ends; the coil connections firm. Next port of call was the in line fuel filter, checked out OK. Disconnected the fuel feed at the carb's, ignition and fuel pump on - gusher! Right, I thought, it has to be the pesky Strombergs, AKA carb's from hell. Bought new air filters, fitted same, no different. Removed carb's (I can do this blindfold now), dismantled them and reassembled after yet more cleaning of pistons, checking components, lubing linkages and cables etc. and resetting as per book. No different. This weekend I went through the whole rigmarole yet again. No different. The symptoms are: on starting, it performs perfectly for two or three hundred yards then reverts to 500cc mode. Despair. What say you? Regards, Mick |
Hi Mick- I know how you feel. I was having ignition problems when I revived my Fury (Ford crossflow). Having tried all the usual suspects I ditched the points distributor (an Aldon special) and went electronic. I once had a problem on another crossflow where the points would stay open when warmed up. Cooled down they worked again for a while. When you are in limp mode- are all plugs firing? I have a nifty device that you touch against a lead- it's neon flashes if the lead is live. Could also check exhaust manifold heat- does a drip of oil on each pipe evaporate at the same rate. Does disconnectiing each pair of plug leads (per carb) make any difference- just in case the diaphragm on one carb has a hole.
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Morning Mick, I would suspect the coil. Do you have one you can swap in? As you probably know, if they are on their way out they can become eratic when they get warm. Makes it difficult to diagnose because everything is honky dory when the engine starts.
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Anyway, back to yesterday. Refreshed from a quick blast in the Lotus I was full of hope for a result. Stupid boy! No change :(. I'll try the condenser next, but how I feel at the moment I'm tempted to put her on eBay auction 'Spares or Repair' if I don't get a result. Regards, Mick |
Don't give up Mick ! It will be something simple, condenser is quite likely. You've checked the basics to look for a spark etc ?
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It's A Mystery
Tried a known good condenser - no change.
Tried a known good coil to distributor lead - no change. Can't think of anything else it could be? Where can I buy some anti-gremlin spray? Regards, Mick |
I know you checked the fuel pump but for how long ? If it runs ok but for a short distance perhaps the pump isn't keeping up ?
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I had a similar problem once caused by a blocked fuel line. On my Lotus Seven S1 I had a tank made with a reserve section. Some Red Hermetite that I'd used to seal the outlets had got into the tank. It would run for a varying number of miles before stopping. It made journeys of any distance a bit frustrating. I fitted mesh filters over the pickup pipes as to remove the tank would have meant back axle and roll cage out. That worked OK. When in limp mode- does the fuel pump still deliver a gusher? When I was refurbing my Fury, there were bits of rust floating around in the fuel tank. After I'd swilled them out, I dropped a few neodymium magnets into the tank before refitting the sender unit. Even if rust particles form, the magnets will catch them hopefully before they clog the pump or filter.
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