Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted June 3, 2018 Gold FFM Report Share Posted June 3, 2018 Yup -that’s correct I’m afraid to say Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted June 17, 2018 Author Gold FFM Report Share Posted June 17, 2018 TIME versus MONEY I don't have a lot of either, but SWMBO has made it quite clear that I should spend the former rather than any more of the latter. So renovation rather than new parts has become the way to go, and the results you can achieve are time consuming but really satisfying. This being the result of a few hours on my rather tatty rear top suspension links and a wire brush then a few hours soaking in metal prep. Before and after.....ready for a new coat of POR15 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted June 17, 2018 Report Share Posted June 17, 2018 Congratulations on getting the wife to clean that up, Steve. Good work, mate. 2 Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted June 17, 2018 Author Gold FFM Report Share Posted June 17, 2018 6 minutes ago, Chillidoggy said: Congratulations on getting the wife to clean that up, Steve. Good work, mate. Believe me Ian, I would love her to muck in, but she hates cars, more specifically my cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted June 17, 2018 Report Share Posted June 17, 2018 10 minutes ago, Steve V8 said: Believe me Ian, I would love her to muck in, but she hates cars, more specifically my cars. I have exactly the reverse: My missus has just chauffeured me up to Hethel in the Esprit, ready for the factory tour tomorrow. Not sure which of us is more excited. 2 Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Sparky Posted June 17, 2018 Gold FFM Report Share Posted June 17, 2018 Depends who's wearing the nurse outfit. 2 Quote British Fart to Florida, Nude to New York, Dunce to Denmark, Numpty to Newfoundland. And Shitfaced Silly Sod to Sweden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted June 17, 2018 Report Share Posted June 17, 2018 Pushing the boat out, it’s the Danny Bahar outfit tonight. Minus helicopter and champagne. Oh and minus the hair. 2 Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted June 17, 2018 Gold FFM Report Share Posted June 17, 2018 3 hours ago, Steve V8 said: TIME versus MONEY I don't have a lot of either, but SWMBO has made it quite clear that I should spend the former rather than any more of the latter. So renovation rather than new parts has become the way to go, and the results you can achieve are time consuming but really satisfying. This being the result of a few hours on my rather tatty rear top suspension links and a wire brush then a few hours soaking in metal prep. Before and after.....ready for a new coat of POR15 Would have been easier to stick it all in the dishwasher on a hot cycle?? 1 Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted July 25, 2018 Author Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 25, 2018 Daughter married off and housed, so back to some me time in the tiny garage. Someone (I think @Vanya) recommended these spring compressors last week, the gaps between the front spring windings were too narrow to get my old clamps in, so I took the advice and invested £65. What a fantastic peice of kit, it makes what can be a risky job safe simple and spreads the load so doesn't damage the spring. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve4012 Posted July 26, 2018 Report Share Posted July 26, 2018 I've got those spring compressors as well. Very heavy duty, absolutely brilliant 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted July 26, 2018 Author Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 26, 2018 They don't call me Steve Kingdom Brunel for nothing you know, off to the local engineering shop with these tomorrow, I'll be greeted with ffs what is it this time, he's usually on the phone a few hours later "all done mucker 40 quid alrite" we'll see!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted July 27, 2018 Author Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 18 hours ago, Steve V8 said: They don't call me Steve Kingdom Brunel for nothing you know, off to the local engineering shop with these tomorrow, I'll be greeted with ffs what is it this time, he's usually on the phone a few hours later "all done mucker 40 quid alrite" we'll see!! This post should really go under what made you unhappy today. I took my drawings down to the local engineers at 8 this morning to find it closed, note on the door "DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES P.A.LEAT & SONS HAS CEASED TRADING". One of the young employees then turned up, asked who I was looking for, "Clive Leat says I".... Unfortunately Clive had suddenly passed away 2 weeks ago. Clive was an old skool engineer, working lathes, pillar drills and the like the old fashioned way. His work was precise, top quality, his prices half that of the new CAD boys, and I'm sure that had he still been with us I'd have had the parts I needed in my hands within hours, not in three weeks time. He now takes those irreplaceable skills with him to the grave, and will be another fine engineer greatly missed. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swindon_alan Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 It really is a bastard Steve. RIP old chap. There are so many old school small engineering workshops around Swindon that are follow ons from the GWR works days that evaporate year on year. Today's button pressing children, including mine, are just not interested in getting their hands dirty. We're losing our heritage. 1 Quote I tempted fate...now my Esprit V8 IS in bits...(sob) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eeyoreish Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 Yes, that's sad to hear. I agree with @swindon_alan, in a generation nobody will know how to wire a plug without looking it up on YouTube first...😡 Quote Not worth starting anything now...🍺 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted July 28, 2018 Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 You won’t be allowed to wire a plug soon. Best get a professional in 👍 Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eeyoreish Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 Do you know any? Quote Not worth starting anything now...🍺 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted July 28, 2018 Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 None I’d recommend Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted August 3, 2018 Author Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 3, 2018 STUPID IS WHAT STUPID DOES, I'll be the first to admit it...what a twat. !!!!! Suspension refurb well under way it was time to get the rusty old components refinished. I've been dead nervous about trying to remove the relatively new and f**king expensive front lower arm bushes for fear of damaging them, so decided to have them blasted with bushes in place, then mask and paint. Our local sand blaster is also a powder coatings specialist, and the office was like a Santa's grotto of absolutely beautifully finished components in all shapes sizes and colours, I needed, I mean really needed powder coating. After a chat with the manager about the cost and difficulties I feared removing the bushes, he advised me of the low heat (220 degrees C) service they offered for delicate items, on line the melting point of polypropylene came back as around 265 degrees C. So should be OK shouldn't it? So we sent the LH arm to the oven for testing........... I lesson here for anyone that may be as stupid as me. Total cost four new Lotac bushes £250 (they come in sets). Worst still, since I had new ones coming I thought it just as well to try to press out the RHS, they flew out no damage, no problem. Well at least I'll get my powder coating.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted August 3, 2018 Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 3, 2018 Could you not redrill it and save it? 1 Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted August 3, 2018 Author Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 3, 2018 I've measured the hole on the inside of my roll of insulation tape, I reckon by the time I've wrapped my spring retainers it should press in there just right😆 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Popular Post Steve V8 Posted August 19, 2018 Author Gold FFM Popular Post Report Share Posted August 19, 2018 This is the best bit, putting it back together, still waiting for a few parts...and still finding more nuts and bolts to order, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfrost Posted August 20, 2018 Report Share Posted August 20, 2018 Looks awesome Steve, you will be scared to get it dirty once finished lol Spring compressor looks great and indeed will stop future brown trouser moments ! Quote A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Steve V8 Posted August 20, 2018 Author Gold FFM Report Share Posted August 20, 2018 3 hours ago, silverfrost said: Spring compressor looks great and indeed will stop future brown trouser moments ! It's a fantastic peice of kit, glued some leather onto the compression plates to avoid damage to the new springs on reassembly. Though had a near miss with the press pressing in the lower ball joint. Fired a socket across the garage at 6 tonnes of pressure narrowly missing my head before bouncing off the back wall and then into the empty engine bay. That was a lesson learned, a very brown trousers moment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfrost Posted August 20, 2018 Report Share Posted August 20, 2018 I had the old ones in the past, where one had slipped off, to leave the spring bent like a bananna ! Felt like a bomb desposal chap going back near to it, to slowly and carefully put the other one back on ! I would entertain using the old style ones with the new kit that is much safer, either that or give a local garage a drink for doing it I like my teeth the way they are and do not wish them to be removed by a coil spring moving at speed 1 Quote A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Popular Post Steve V8 Posted August 27, 2018 Author Gold FFM Popular Post Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 I've been such a good boy this weekend, done family stuff, dug the up the lawn, leveled and prepped for artificial grass, not once did I stray into garage, so tonight asked "can I bring some parts into the kitchen", Imagine my shock when SWMBO said yes. So a little bit more accomplished, and another before and after. Though she caught me using her best tea towel to clean up the copper grease, so I've been banished back to the garage... 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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