1051 replies to this topic

[CocoPops]

I might not need a shed now Fingers crossed..

[JG]

You will always need a shed!

[JG]

oops

[JG]

The problem with corsas 1.5td is that they require 5k miles services. I'm running at a service every 2 months at the moment! lucky it only costs £10 (and i'm nice and give it semi-sythetic oil)

Edited by JG, 05 November 2007 - 02:49 PM.

[JG]

Mr Pops, i know you aren't looking anymore, but this looks like a steal.

Clicky

...so long as you barter down to around £650

[Victor Xray]

In my new Astra (Y-plate 2 litre DTi SXi) I've been getting about 570-580 miles to a 50 litre tankful, just over 50 to the gallon I think. Does anyone know how I would know if the cam belt has been changed when it should've been? Other than service history that is. Thanks!

[JG]

Its imposible to tell from looking at the belt.

[benw]

Did you know that most forecourt fuel already includes about 5% ethanol? And that Ethanol has a lower calorific value than petrol - ie. you need more of it to get the same results. That it is very cheap and conveniently has a high octane rating so can be mixed with 'weaker' petrol to produce the normal 95/97 fuel. And that it is hygroscopic so it will attract water and hold it in suspension ready to be drawn in to your engine. And that it is highly acidic so will attack engine components made from materials such as rubber and aluminium therefore most car warrantees are invalidated when more than 5% ethanol is used. Oh, and the government plan to increase the ethanol content in petrol by 10-15% over the coming decade.

[Victor Xray]

Its imposible to tell from looking at the belt.

Thats what I was thinking James, thanks for that. I think (hope) it has been done, but its not usually worth taking the risk is it? I had a Peugeot 309 and the belt went on it, major engine damage.

I, unlike a lot of you guys on here, know very little aboutengines and how to maintain them, etc. I'd love to be able to know how to do some maintenance, change oil/plugs, etc myself. What would be the best car to learn on do you think? What is the best way of learning do you think?

Simon

[Shep]

Change of circumstances means my shed has got to go. Anyone interested?
[/quote]

[JG]

Its imposible to tell from looking at the belt.

Thats what I was thinking James, thanks for that. I think (hope) it has been done, but its not usually worth taking the risk is it? I had a Peugeot 309 and the belt went on it, major engine damage.

I, unlike a lot of you guys on here, know very little aboutengines and how to maintain them, etc. I'd love to be able to know how to do some maintenance, change oil/plugs, etc myself. What would be the best car to learn on do you think? What is the best way of learning do you think?

Simon

Hi Simon,

It really isn't difficult, its a bit like Lego only dirty and oily.
Anything little and cheap is good to learn on. I wouldn't chose french (citroen in paticular) of japanese simply because they use less common fixings. vauxhalls are nice and easy.

I would go out and buy yourself a full set of spanners (*2 if you can) and a ratchet set. Also get a set of screw drivers (a really big flat head to use as a lever ), a set of allen keys ( you might also need Torx these days too) , a spark plug socket (both sizes) and a oil filter grip (not the chain variety, the more you spend here the less swearing later on). You'll need a troley jack and at least 2 axle stands. Thats all you really need to start up

Haynes manuals are a bit rubbish, but will give you direction. remember everything is reversible (sort of)
so you shouldn't go too far wrong.

Last bit of advice, buying broken alfas can sometimes be more effort than it is worth.

Edited by JG, 12 November 2007 - 01:11 PM.

[Garethj]

Its imposible to tell from looking at the belt.

Thats what I was thinking James, thanks for that. I think (hope) it has been done, but its not usually worth taking the risk is it? I had a Peugeot 309 and the belt went on it, major engine damage.

I, unlike a lot of you guys on here, know very little aboutengines and how to maintain them, etc. I'd love to be able to know how to do some maintenance, change oil/plugs, etc myself. What would be the best car to learn on do you think? What is the best way of learning do you think?

Simon

I am in the same boat as Simon, I love my cars but my knowledge of engines and exactly how they work is pretty limited . Without trying to sound like a complete noob is there decent book which will outline the basics of how engines work? I asusme there is one that the mechanics in training use?

[JG]

David Vizard's book on Minis is fabulous! It was writen quite a long time ago, last update was in the 80s i think. But it really has all the basics and will explain basic A series tunning (which hasn't really chaged). It also goes into detail such as the benifits of negative and positives camber, toe in toe out. different suspension setups. Its all very tranferable stuff. I copied his rear subframe design for my mini to use a live axle. It details why this is better etc etc etc In fact i've just persuaded myself to go and have a look at it.

[Victor Xray]

James, Thanks for the advice. Would you recommend going to some sort of course/evening motor mechanics or something similar? If there is such a thing. Or would you just advise giving it a go by yourself. Buy a Nova for £20 off E-bay that needs some work and giving it a go? What have I lost if fail I suppose?! Gareth, Perhaps we could persuade Mr JG into running some sort of course for us? Surely there must be more people out there who could benefit from this?! Say Saturday morning's round at your house?! Or maybe an intensive summer-school class next year.... Simon

[JG]

here you go

[Stampy 21]

just got my shed MOTd today brought it about 2 weeks ago and it passed 450 pound it cost i have put a new diff in it and new windscreen and brakes front and rear owes me about 520 pound all together might just put it on e bay

[Victor Xray]

Wow mate! That looks like a lot of fun! I bet you'd get quite a bit more than £520 on E-bay if you did put it on. Imagine all of the 4x4's bidding on that! Interesting choice of Shed. Is it a deisel?

[JG]

ermm, i'm sure courses exist. I did a welding one once.

I have to say i'm no expert. But i am inquisitive and enjoy taking things apart (and putting them back together sometimes ) and thats all you need really.

I think i was lucky in that my father spent a lot of time with me when i was younger playing with cars.
This is a really old picture (which was damaged then scanned) of the buggy we built with him and my brother when we were little. It started life with a 2cv engine, but as we didn't like to change gears (i was 10 and my brother 8) we blew it up pretty quickly ( a short life of 6000rpm ). So a few iterations later and it had double wishbone suspension all round and a 2L renault sport engine. It really used to fly. The red mini in the picture has a 2.4L volvo engine driving the rear wheels. I'll be honest i think i ruined it It was fun doing it though.

None of these were road legal though and when i was 17 my father bought me a car for £400 and said that he had spend long enough teaching me, if i couldn't fix i wouldn't drive it. You soon learn.

[Victor Xray]

Wow, that buggy looks like a whole world of fun!!! And I bet the Mini was with that engine too! Thanks for the advice though mate, I really feel the need to learn. I might well keep an eye out on E-bay for a local shed I can bring back to my house, and then bring back to life! I really enjoyed reading about your Alfa project by the way! You seemed frustrated at times, to say the least! I really admired you for sticking with it though. I guess that would've been about a year ago?