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Many years ago, my first car was a Lada 1300. I managed to jam the wiper linkage and cook the motor with a bottle of tippex.
I'd been faffing with the timing and used it on the marks on the pulley. Once done I chucked it in the tray under the scuttle where the wipers lived and forgot about it.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Oct 22, 2023 15:01:14 GMT
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I suspect that the majority of people on this forum are more interested in the oily bits of car shows than contrived buying and selling scenarios.
Taking TG as an example, on another forum I no longer frequent (because it's full of muddle aged men whining about EVs and ULEZ and calling anyone who disagrees woke) they had views different to mine.
They wanted comparison tests of ordinary cars. I don't. I couldn't give a curse word if the Corsa is better than the Fiesta or whatever. They wanted more supercar tests. Again, I don't. That the latest Lambo is point 2 of a second quicker round the track is of very limited interest.
I always enjoyed the cheap car challenges. Taking some knackered old car on a final glory run seemed like fun. Even that lost its way when they started destroying nice desirable cars. The least said about the Patagonia special the better.
I like a lot of Mototrend content because they are messing with old cars because it's what they enjoy. I like Bangers and Cash for the nostalgia. I like B&G Restoring classics because it puts paid to the idea that you can buy a car, pay someone to restore it, and sell it for more money.
Ultimately, if terrestrial channels made content that RR users liked, nobody else would watch it.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Oct 19, 2023 12:13:19 GMT
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I've had mixed results with services where you request a part. Sometimes they come back with what you need at a sensible prices. Sometimes, they don’t know what it's worth and you get a bargain. (Hot tip, if you ever need a boot lock mechanism for a CRV, don’t ask a Honda breaker.) Other times, they want daft money for stuff of relatively little value because they know you are too idle to trawl the actual yards in person.
It costs nowt to try though.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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I used to think it was only facilities and time that stopped me doing this sort of thing. When you see what actually goes into building something from the ground up, it's really quite something. The skill, vision, and determination leave me in awe.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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I've read all of this over the last couple of days. Absolutely brilliant.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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....and a Mini I haven't been on here in a while, don't know why really. When I was last here I'd just bought my 9-3 convertible I think. Since then it's had a change of wheels, a remap, a lot of the suspension replaced, and I put a big dent in the side. A remap is essential on 1.8t 9-3s. It totally transforms them. If anyone can recommend a bodyshop in Bury/Bolton/Salford ish I'd be very grateful. A couple of years ago, we decided to put my wife's ancient leggy CRV into semi-retirement. We got a wee puppy in the form of an R56 Mini. The CRV thanked us by failing its MoT on a lot of rust. It was a sad day all round. Two years later, the Mini has passed 100,000 miles. It's brilliant to drive, everything seems to mostly work, and it hasn't gone wrong too much. Though don't ask what a replacement clutch cost. And no, it's not gold, it's sparkling silver. My kids are grown up now so I don't need four seats that often. However, we had a week in Scotland planned, and we were taking the dog. Somewhat surprisingly, management approval for a third car was obtained. I really fancied a BMW but you try finding a 2000s 4-door one with a six pot for sensible money. In the end, I went with what I know and bought another 9-3. It's a 1.8t like my other one and Saabnoob aka Karl has worked his magic, turning 150bhp into 220bhp. I like everything about except the a/c, which needs a compressor and a condenser. Oh, and the wheels. Unfortunately, I have several of these wheels with decent tyres, so they are staying for now. I really want some 17" steel wheels but I've yet to come across any of the right offset and pcd.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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A lot of this is interesting stuff to me. I currently have two 9-3s, a saloon and a soft top, both 1.8ts that Saabnoob has fettled. Prior to that I had a 1.8t estate that had a Hirsch remap when it was new. Karl's remap offers slightly more power.
Oddly, my soft top has a big ding in the quarter panel that still needs fixing too.
The difference the bigger wheels make to the looks is incredible. My saloon is still on the 16s because I have 8 of the things with decent tyres.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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I wonder how many 90s cars were lost to the first scrappage scheme.
They probably also reached a point where nobody was willing to spring for a timing belt change.
It is a bit strange. In 1989 I had a 1979 Escort which was really quite rotten. In 2023, the newest car on my drive is 15 years old. It's done more miles than the Escort has but I don't think about rust at all.
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Last Edit: Oct 3, 2023 21:01:02 GMT by keithyboy
Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Sept 28, 2023 19:15:12 GMT
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I changed the shocks and springs on my 9-3 recently. The fronts are pigtails and my type 1 compressors nearly took my fingers off when they slipped.
I ended up getting the garage that do my MoTs to do it when I'd taken the struts off. Using a floor standing hydraulic one, it probably took 5 minutes for each one.
I'd be interested to learn if anyone has tried the cheapish hydraulic ones on ebay.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Sept 27, 2023 14:55:30 GMT
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There's never a point where I don't hate doing mac strut springs. I put new shocks and springs on my 9-3 conv recently. After nearly taking my fingers off with the compressors, I gave up and got a professional involved. He did both in about 5 minutes for the price of a couple of pints.
The desire for a proper hydraulic compressor is strong.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Mar 21, 2022 20:47:31 GMT
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It's a dreadful failing on my part that Three Sisters is about 10 miles away and I've never made it to a Retrobeutes event there.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Jan 29, 2022 17:45:49 GMT
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Jan 26, 2022 17:52:30 GMT
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Jan 19, 2022 18:13:10 GMT
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The wheels are on. The only things left are the seat, steering, and pedals. I'm going with the standard seat because the one I made looked rubbish. Hopefully it will look stained and worn because I've used about 10 different colours from black to light grey. I've also put the running boards and a few other bits on the Beetle.
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Last Edit: Jan 19, 2022 18:13:58 GMT by keithyboy
Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Jan 13, 2022 21:15:33 GMT
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Axles are on and I've put the wheels on temporarily. I'm not sure about the white tyres but they are all I have. I may try and get them a bit dirty. You might just be able to make out my side exit exhaust.
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Last Edit: Jan 13, 2022 21:17:25 GMT by keithyboy
Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Jan 10, 2022 17:56:58 GMT
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Things are progressing nicely. The body and chassis are brush painted matt black. Initially it looked a bit to good so I've gone over a few bits to rough it up slightly. I want it to look as though someone found grandpa's Model T in the barn, tore off everything they didn't need, and went racing. Metallic gold was far too bright for the grille shell so I added a bit of black to get a sort of dirty brass effect. I originally planned to run four straight pipes out of the head for an exhaust but there isn't space for a rear one. Instead I cut the exhaust ahead of the silencer and reshaped it over a tealight into a side exit.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Body and chassis united. Still considering seat options. I'm thinking make a seat something like a Kirkey stock car seat or maybe cut a section out of the stock seat and put sides on to make a sort of old time bucket seat. It's interesting that the kit is difficulty level 5. I reckon if you chuck everything bar the drive train and body tub away, it's probably a 2.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Dec 31, 2021 15:49:33 GMT
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Tips, hints and suggestions are always welcome. Even if I was aware of something, others looking in may not be. I decided that finishing the Beetle was boring so I've made a start. The plan for the body is matt black brush painted with the sanding marks left as is. The only thing I'm wondering about is the seat. A Chesterfield style bench might not be in keeping. A bit of research is needed I think.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Dec 29, 2021 11:58:26 GMT
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This project got parked in April because of a gardening/summerhouse project for my wife's 50th. The garden is finished but the Beetle has just sat on the shelf. My kids got me a Stratos and a Model T to build for Christmas so I really need to crack on. To that end the headlights and hubcaps are on. Only the wipers and tail lights are needed. Model T is next. My plan is to lose all of the brass and the wings and build a TROG racer.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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