Rust Addicts Anonymous

Into 2006.... like inanimate objects give a damn.

as the heading says - we of flesh and blood have survived the Xmas trimmings and family get togethers to head out to the garage again and start early on our New Year resolutions ( get that screen seal swapped and re-fitted etc... ). You know how keen you are to get in there and put right the wrongs in that small world known as your work-space, until you realise how damn cold it is in there! A heater was purchased and excuses vanished.

The metal objects of my desire had other ideas....... the Triumph2500 decided I'd left the sidelights on so was deader than a dead thing, with a flat tyre - just to help things along. The 2000 turned over gamely - again and again, but wouldn't start - I'll fit the electronic ignition and try again later ( when the penguins have stopped using it as a windbreak ). So Alfa it was - tried the drivers door - key solid, the lock wouldn't turn ( frozen I hear? ) - Nope, no idea why but the lock is stuffed. Round to the passenger side and opened up - opened drivers door from inside and off with the pooch to countryside - en route to Citroen DS.

A couple of hours in the snow covered grounds around the African museum and forest of Tervuren had me bright eyed - frozen stiff - but relaxed and looking forward to getting on with it.... until I got to the car, both doors refusing to open this time. Repeated attempts failing, leaving me beating the doors, praying to the god of automobiles to give me a break. He obviously has a sense of humour and the break appeared in the form of the local gendarme, who insisted on documents and a passport check etc... Of course I couldn't until I 'broke' into my own car via the boot - much to their amusement.

To top it all the dog then decided to throw up all over the back seat as we left, so home to clean that lot up........ fate sealing 2005 with a fatal kiss. Next year can't get any worse surely!

Hope you lot had a better return to all things automotive than I did!

John

posted by gtvsaviour @ 2:53 PM 0 comments

Hello drain - here's some cash.........

And so the joy ( !!! ) continues as I head into the season of goodwill. The amount of panels purchased in Dusseldorf for the DS, the electronic ignition kits for both big sixes and the purchase of a new mig welder (got sick of looking at second hand units that looked like they'd been found in the aftermath of an Afghan quake) means someone somewhere owes me a lot of goodwill along the line......

Sat 17th -Football club Xmas party - I strayed from the path and imbibed, imbibed as a newt if I remember correctly ( difficult but there are blurrs ). So this weekend was another non-event garage wise.

Week previously:

Cleaned up the DS drivers side - will cut out the old outer sill and prep for welding this week. May even get around to the other side depending on time ....... but not hopeful.

Both Triumphs were not starting - stole the coil from the Mk1 and the Mk2 showed it's gratitude. So one good from both at present. No clue with the Mk1 as it has fuel, spark and was working fine - just not anymore. I'll investigate further and whine online about it when I can.

Alfa brakes done - no mean feat as anyone wrestling with the transaxled behemoth will tell you. I do have another transaxle sitting in UK that I'll fit new discs to then have a mammoth swapping of the two units - but the other cars are on death beds so they come first. The Alfa just starts - goes (sideways if you're not careful ) and stops with that heart conquering burble I keep falling in love with every time I drive her. A friend ground 1st gear into non-existance recently whilst grasping for 3rd at stupid KMH ( euro! ) so he's panicking as I didn't tell him I found the transaxle on eb*y for £40 ( with a V6 engine thrown in! ).

Off to drive home ( the long way ) and walk the dog, sort out web service, design and set-up a web-site and try and get over to the garage....... guess which one will probably get dropped!
(mantra)
..........I love old cars......click on eb*y
..........I love old cars......click on eb*y
..........I love old cars......click on eb*y

John

posted by gtvsaviour @ 5:23 PM 0 comments