1051 replies to this topic

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

Can't polish a turd

no.. but you can roll it in glitter!

[davemate]

At what point do you accept the fact that a shed is dead and you cannot bodge anything else on it? Is it when it's running on 1 cyl and you can see the road through the footwell or is it simply that it'll cost more to get through an MOT than it will cost to buy a new shed?

usually when the mot test fee is worth more than the car
my old ford granada would triple in value when it had a tank of fuel in it!

[G-Bob]

So here's the question then..... Do you fix little cosmetic\mechanical things and look after your shed or do you simply run it till it breaks and then turn the stereo up so that you can't hear the broken bit. for example, would you sort the following: 1. missing wheel trim 2. Tracking out/steering wheel offset 3. replace 2 tyres if one punctured or just the one 4. rattles 5. Major rust 6. wheel balancing 7. slightly blowing exhaust 8. leaking shock 9. very slowly leaking radiator (or would you just top it up every couple of weeks)

[2.2_na]

Can't polish a turd

[davemate]

1. missing wheel trim
2. Tracking out/steering wheel offset
3. replace 2 tyres if one punctured or just the one
4. rattles
5. Major rust
6. wheel balancing
7. slightly blowing exhaust
8. leaking shock
9. very slowly leaking radiator (or would you just top it up every couple of weeks)

1. nope
2. yes, if tracking is out, its 15 quid and would probably end up costing in fuel and excell tyre wear
3. i often go to a scrappy for proper sheds, so usually buy a pair if possible (the local scrappy does a wheel and tyre for a tenner, so i just take a good hunt around for a good one, then spend a couple of quid to get it balanced after i know it doesnt have a slow puncture.
4. often fixed with a hammer, or duct tape or just removing the offending piece of trim.
5. depends where it is, strip it, fill it rattle can it forget it. mostly depends on if i am getting wet or not!
6. as 3.
7. take up up for a few quid, you can get little kits from halfords that do an ok job. better than getting pulled and being forced to buy a whole new exh, or again, visit scrappy.
8. more worrying, i tend to want a good mechanical car, even if it is a shed. explaining that you have endangered yourself because you didnt change bits like this is quite difficult to justify.
9. crack an egg in it or rad weld. slow leaks are the same as a fluid change

[G-Bob]

1. missing wheel trim
2. Tracking out/steering wheel offset
3. replace 2 tyres if one punctured or just the one
4. rattles
5. Major rust
6. wheel balancing
7. slightly blowing exhaust
8. leaking shock
9. very slowly leaking radiator (or would you just top it up every couple of weeks)

1. nope
2. yes, if tracking is out, its 15 quid and would probably end up costing in fuel and excell tyre wear
3. i often go to a scrappy for proper sheds, so usually buy a pair if possible (the local scrappy does a wheel and tyre for a tenner, so i just take a good hunt around for a good one, then spend a couple of quid to get it balanced after i know it doesnt have a slow puncture.
4. often fixed with a hammer, or duct tape or just removing the offending piece of trim.
5. depends where it is, strip it, fill it rattle can it forget it. mostly depends on if i am getting wet or not!
6. as 3.
7. take up up for a few quid, you can get little kits from halfords that do an ok job. better than getting pulled and being forced to buy a whole new exh, or again, visit scrappy.
8. more worrying, i tend to want a good mechanical car, even if it is a shed. explaining that you have endangered yourself because you didnt change bits like this is quite difficult to justify.
9. crack an egg in it or rad weld. slow leaks are the same as a fluid change

Yup, my local scrappy will fit and balance a tyre bought from them on a rim for £2. My shock has been squeeking for about 6 months and I can't be arsed to get it fixed!

[G-Bob]

Just thought I'd revive this thread for the newbies. Get showing off your hacks. Definition of a shed: An old, falling apart car that you keep running on exhaust putty, cable ties and gaffer tape. Mend bodywork with a hammer and cosmetic stuff is done with a rattle can from halfords. Basically "That'll-do" mechanics Cost of a shed is less than a grand, preferably under £500. In the shed world, getting a car for as cheap as possible or repairing something for pennies gives you extra kudos!

Edited by gbobm, 04 October 2011 - 10:30 AM.

[JG]

i still miss the corsas.

[TheRealVXed]

Will get some pictures of my shed up later. BMW E34 518i, with beige (read faded biscuit) leather interior. Rust as standard. The exhaust dropped off after the cat three weeks ago (rusted through just behind cat £1200 to fix....) Haven't fixed it yet but my neighbour with a welder and me with an angle grinder armed with a section of straight through pipe long enough should be able to fix it for a tenner. Emmissions may be an issue but as there are no Lambdas on the exhaust can't see what it does anyway... Seat squeaks, rear windows don't work, bit of the bumper is hanging off (except for a for couple of days after I kick it back on....). However all other electrics work, as does the self levelling suspension (why would you order that on a 518?! Must of cost 10% of the car! Engine and drivetrain is tip top. It is bloody slow, but the most comfortable car I have ever been in. Cost me £500 and has done 150k miles. Averages 23mpg though and it's MASSIVE! Shed tastic

[G-Bob]

bit of the bumper is hanging off (except for a for couple of days after I kick it back on....).

SHED TASTIC!!!

Get a couple of self tapping wood screws to hold that on after you kick it into place!

[TheRealVXed]

bit of the bumper is hanging off (except for a for couple of days after I kick it back on....).

Get a couple of self tapping wood screws to hold that on after you kick it into place!

Good shout! Might even paint the screw heads black too.

The reson is because I ran into a pillar in my work car park The pillar came off worse though....

[G-Bob]

Good shout! Might even paint the screw heads black too.

sounds like something I'd do!

Even cheaper, get a black marker and colour them in.
I've been tempted to take a red marker to my stonechips on the vx.