Gold FFM Popular Post Alfa2Evora 709 Posted October 12, 2019 Gold FFM Popular Post Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 Last night, I pulled into Tebay Services on the M6 southbound and noticed across the other side of the relatively deserted car park, a Land Rover Freelander with a trailer carrying another car. "So what - nothing out of the ordinary there!" I hear you all say. Well, upon looking a bit closer I noticed that there were 2 large Snap-On tool chests sitting next to it, along with a collection of various automotive bits and pieces, and that the front of the Freelander was up on axle stands. As I walked past on my way to the facilities, the guy working on it slithered underneath, to re-emerge a few seconds later dragging a gearbox with him, . Now, in my time, I've changed the odd bulb, fanbelt, wheel, or even a thermostat mid-journey but I think this guy was in a whole different league. Anybody else done a major repair at the roadside? Apologies for the poor quality pics - I didn't think he'd appreciate being snapped close-up so these were taken from a 'safe' distance away. 2 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 11,394 Posted October 12, 2019 Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 That's a fairly ambitious roadside repair! 1 Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post march 833 Posted October 12, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 If you had waited half an hour you would have found someone wandering around the car park wondering where his gearbox had gone. Beats pinching catalytic converters. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky 2,862 Posted October 13, 2019 Report Share Posted October 13, 2019 Not something as crazy as a gearbox, but way back in the Ford OHC days I had in the boot everything I needed for a cambelt change. I think I did 3 at the roadside. 1 Quote British Fart to Florida, Nude to New York, Dunce to Denmark, Numpty to Newfoundland. And Shitfaced Silly Sod to Sweden. Link to post Share on other sites
Spinney 751 Posted October 13, 2019 Report Share Posted October 13, 2019 Way way back, I renewed a broken valve spring on my Cortina GT engined Anglia at the side of the road. I was miles from anywhere but luckily there was a house about 100 yds away and I was allowed to phone a mate to give him a list of bits I needed from the nearest Ford dealer, which he bought and delivered to me some 30 miles away. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GTK 682 Posted October 13, 2019 Report Share Posted October 13, 2019 Replaced an in tank pump on the doorstep of a Land Rover specialist I had it recovered to, nothing difficult but the tank had to be dropped out of the car. That ☝is just deadly! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ramjet 1,090 Posted October 13, 2019 Report Share Posted October 13, 2019 Not on the side of the road, but when I lived up in the NT, we regularly drove out to a beach called Little Bondi. All set up for camping. Surfboards loaded and food and people. It is 4WD to get there and probably took about an hour and a half once you got off the road to get there. So we were at least 2 hours from any sort of help. No mobile phones and it was a long walk out. Round a corner out of the bush to travel along the cliffs to get to Little Bondi. The Suzuki has a conniption. Engine loses all power and then the car won't start. About an hour later after having spark plugs out, distributor out, turn engine and do an in-bush retiming of everything. Car fires up on first try and away we go. Never caused an ounce of trouble again. I still don't know what happened. 1 Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky 2,862 Posted October 13, 2019 Report Share Posted October 13, 2019 Ah, just remembered my most scary one. Antigua, 1999, trying to get across the island to my family in a tropical storm in my local mate's car. Hit by a flash flood that filled the passenger cabin to our waists, almost washed out to sea, and armed with screwdriver, rags and WD40, I had to get the drenched car started on a diminishing sandbar with rain so heavy I could hardly see, and lightning grounding all around me. No shit. 1 Quote British Fart to Florida, Nude to New York, Dunce to Denmark, Numpty to Newfoundland. And Shitfaced Silly Sod to Sweden. Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Bazza 907 1,081 Posted October 13, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 13, 2019 Bit of luck on the shit front. 1 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mdavies 76 Posted October 13, 2019 Report Share Posted October 13, 2019 (edited) Can't compete with some above but changed a Cortina GT head gasket on the then Oxford bypass. Had the tools. Dispatched the good lady on foot to seek a new gasket and lots of water. Many motor factors around in those days and people usually helpful to a lady in distress: "You're looking for a whaaat?!" But she succeeded. Good that she'd managed to get a big tub of Swarfega too ........ we just made it in time to a wedding, down in Cardiff. Edited October 13, 2019 by mdavies 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ramjet 1,090 Posted October 13, 2019 Report Share Posted October 13, 2019 Aye, but you tell the kids today and they won't believe you. 2 Quote All we know is that when they stop making this, we will be properly, properly sad.Jeremy Clarkson on the Esprit. Opinions are like armpits. Everyone has them, some just stink more than others. Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM Escape 805 Posted October 14, 2019 Gold FFM Report Share Posted October 14, 2019 We changed the transfer box on the Range Rover (towing an Elan +2) on our newyears trip last year. Broke the casing while offroading (without the trailer in tow), sourced another box, used the Elan to get there and were very lucky a mate offered his driveway/front garden for us to do the swap. As to the original post, I do wonder if he had a spare gearbox in the back or one was coming his way... Either way, a big thumbs-up for doing the job! Filip 1 Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to post Share on other sites
Vulcan Grey 251 Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 I've diagnosed and replaced 4 fuel injectors in a parking lot with the Esprit about 50 miles from home, and a friend took 4 fuel injectors out of his X180-R and drove 72 miles each way to bring them to me... 1 Quote Travis Vulcan Grey 89SE My Lotus Photo and Projects Album Link to post Share on other sites
dclare 29 Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 It wasn't me but a friend with infinitely better spannering skills than me. The car was a GTM Libra kit car running a 1.4 K Series engine at a track at Zolder. The engine was buzzed and ended up bending a couple of valves. One was straightened with gentle persuasion from a little tapping stick, but the second wouldn't move up and down in the guide so it was hammered back into the head.......then the lobe of that cam was ground off (with the engine still in the car) and voila - a 15v 1.4 K Series that completed the rest of the weekend and wasn't really any slower than before! Ive also seen brake pads fashioned out of old pallet wood to get someone home after another track day....not sure I'd recommend that one though. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USAndretti42 312 Posted October 21, 2019 Report Share Posted October 21, 2019 My worst was changing a half-shaft on my A40 in Elgin while touring Scotland during my student days. Quote S4 Elan, Elan +2S, Federal-spec, World Championship Edition S2 Esprit #42, S1 Elise, Excel SE Link to post Share on other sites
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