I remember when motor cars were simple to fix.

[tyred]

Never transplant a motor you haven't heard running, it might be knackered.

I know someone who made this mistake quite recently with a Toyota Celica and changing the engine in the final generation Celica is tad more time consuming and involved than in a Cortina....

I had suggested buying a crashed Celica and robbing the engine but it was apparently cheaper to buy an engine from some bloke down the pub whose mate's sister's boyfriend's cousin had one lying around the garage...

 

[raleighnut]

By the way this blog

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjyyqH2n9zXAhWRJ-wKHTe4Dh4QFgg0MAI&url=https://saabvsscepticism.co.uk/tag/malcolm-miles/&usg=AOvVaw3chgLfAyrhqJIBYZ8ndjcl

has some photos of the workshop I get to play in, Malc was my old next door neighbour and Service Manager at the garage I started working at in March of 76 (I'd just turned 14 and it was legally OK for me to do 8hrs on a Saturday. I also worked all through the summer of 76 there 8hrs a day for 6 days a week at 50p an hour (Tax Free), I was rich.

EDIT - BTW Jason is Malcs son, I've known him since he was a toddler.

 

[Dave7]

I don't necessarily think modern cars are more reliable. It depends on what you're comparing them to. MK1 and MK2 Golfs can easily clock up intergalactic mileage with only basic maintenance and even if you need to work on it, it's child's play and easily within the scope of the DIY mechanic. They were great to drive too. I find modern cars feel very detached from the road.

I think we're reaching a point where cars are becoming the same as a fridge or other white goods in that they work well for the duration of the warranty period and then need to be thrown away.

My Bros Ford Focus has over 180K on the clock and (until last night) drives lovely.
clutch went last night and it's going to that scrap heap in the sky..............but after many years and 180K it owes him nothing.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

When I were a nipper our neighbour bought a Vauxhall Victor brand new. I remember him pointing out to my dad the rust starting to appear round a rear wheel arch, this being on the day he brought it home. He did not appear overly concerned as rusting was a process that began in the showroom back then, there being no attempt to proof against it on anything bar the most expensive cars.

 

[Brandane]

I had an old KA, the first time I blew a bulb I changed it myself, the second time I took it to Halfords. Whilst I was there I heard them telling the driver of a large 4x4 he'd have to take it to the dealer they couldn't change the bulb for him.

I was in Halfords a few hours ago, buying a brake light bulb for the Toyota. On paying for them, the cashier asked if I would like to have them fitted (presumably for a disproportionate extra charge). I replied YES; that would be nice! She seemed quite pleased that someone had actually been stupid enough to fall for the scam, and the potential commission to her. Until, that is, that I explained that my car was actually 25 miles away and I was wondering how they were going to go about sending someone to my car. I was sorely tempted to take things a step further and wait until she sent a "fitter" out into the car park to fit my bulb before breaking the news to them. The fact that I was dressed in cycling gear should really have been a clue.....

 

[Brandane]

When I were a nipper our neighbour bought a Vauxhall Victor brand new. I remember him pointing out to my dad the rust starting to appear round a rear wheel arch, this being on the day he brought it home. He did not appear overly concerned as rusting was a process that began in the showroom back then, there being no attempt to proof against it on anything bar the most expensive cars.

My oldest brother, who is quite fussy about cleaning and polishing his cars, bought an AlfaSud brand new in 1978. Despite a lot of TLC (bro was a quality control engineer on Rolls Royce aero engines at the time so knew his stuff) in 1981 he had to strip the car down to it's shell and replace rusted parts of bodywork. The car was completely re-sprayed and given some kind of rust proofing treatment at the same time. It lasted another 3 years before it was needing done again. He gave up and it was scrapped...

 

[jongooligan]

I was in Halfords a few hours ago, buying a brake light bulb for the Toyota. On paying for them, the cashier asked if I would like to have them fitted (presumably for a disproportionate extra charge).

Think they're quite reasonable. Remember blowing a bulbin an old Mondeo when on holiday in Dorset. Couldn't get to my tools without taking all the holiday luggage out of the car so got them to fit it for an extra £2.95. That's a bargain even fifteen years ago.

 

[Levo-Lon]

My oldest brother, who is quite fussy about cleaning and polishing his cars, bought an AlfaSud brand new in 1978. Despite a lot of TLC (bro was a quality control engineer on Rolls Royce aero engines at the time so knew his stuff) in 1981 he had to strip the car down to it's shell and replace rusted parts of bodywork. The car was completely re-sprayed and given some kind of rust proofing treatment at the same time. It lasted another 3 years before it was needing done again. He gave up and it was scrapped...

I started my working life in a body shop in 82
Holy rust buckets Bat Man..

Im still good mates with the panel beater i met back then.
He had a Lancia Fulvia ,lovely car but he used to be removing rust constantly.
I too longed for a Sud but was talked out of it by my Golf gti mk1 owning friends.
I loved the little Alpha but i did as i was told, i wanted a Gtv and a Gulietta..
I had a super Mirafiori tho..great car but erm rust on rust

 

[Lee_M]

Have you run the engine at night in the dark with the bonnet open so that you can see anything amiss. Seems odd but just sometimes you can see sparks of flashes where there should not be any.

It is justs something we used to do often in the trade back in those long ago years.

Yep I have. Nothing out of the ordinary. Sadly only seems to happen under load on the road (doesn't happen on a dyno eithrr)

 

[screenman]

Yep I have. Nothing out of the ordinary. Sadly only seems to happen under load on the road (doesn't happen on a dyno eithrr)

Points or electronic ignition?

 

[midlife]

Yep I have. Nothing out of the ordinary. Sadly only seems to happen under load on the road (doesn't happen on a dyno eithrr)

Does it have the equivalent of coil packs? Dodgy coil packs give misfires under load at times.

 

[NickNick]

[QUOTE 5056564, member: 9609"]battery is as big as the engine

and what is the big black canister thing above the carb?[/QUOTE]

Some sort of air intake/filter would be my guess but its hard to see where its connected to on small screen.

 

[BoldonLad]

[QUOTE 5056564, member: 9609"]

what is the big black canister thing above the carb?[/QUOTE]

Air Filter?

 

[raleighnut]

[QUOTE 5056567, member: 9609"]that was my dream car as a lad - never did get to own or drive one
was it 1600RS or a two litre ?[/QUOTE]
The engine to have was the 1800 BDA, a mate had one in his Escort van along with a chromed Jag IRS. When it was nicked the Police eventually found it and told Andy it had been 'stripped' he informed his insurance and they paid out the 'agreed value' of it and allowed him to keep the remains. Eventually the Police finished with it and Andy was allowed to collect the van, they'd nicked the Wheels, Recaro seats, Stereo, 1 piece rear door and the bonnet with airscoop fitted but had left the Engine, 5 speed Gearbox and the Back Axle in the shell (that's where all the money was)

 

[NickNick]

[QUOTE 5056605, member: 9609"]yes it must be, can't really be anything else, it seems to have a breather to the rocker cover, a small white pipe down to the carb? but how is the air getting to the engine?[/QUOTE]
That's the bit I can't work out/see on this screen, can see a pipe coming off it from either side and what looks a very wide one underneath it, but that's about it...