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Bored of close-ups of radiators yet? There's a few more to go! While sorting the leaks out, I started noticing more and more. This one was a tiny dent with literally a pinhole - but a hole nonetheless. Last resort, time to crack out the JB Weld: A good slathering of it put liberally over all the areas that were cut/crimped/folded: As well as a big blob of it over all the cleaned up pinholes. I then refitted the radiator back in to the hole. Plumbed up the AT pipes and coolant pipes: Checked the AT fluid level (luckily only a teeny bit was lost in the constant rad swaps> Because I had plenty of time to kill while the JB Weld was setting, I decided to make a new thermostat gasket from some gasket paper (courtesy of Vilerug) Can you tell I was really killing time? All ^that^ was done during the day and into early evening. I then had a few hours kip in the back of the Dodge before getting up around 4am to put the coolant into the radiator. Why so early? Because I wanted to try and drive the car to the beach party...which started in a few hours. I really, really wanted this to work! After a good few litres of water, I heard a splashing noise and looked under the car. I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised, but it didn't stop me being just a bit pi$$ed off. All that work to stop the leaks, all that effort and time. After checking the radiator over, it would appear that all the leaks I'd spotted and sorted were still holding good. What I hadn't spotted were all the leaks right inside the cores, buried deep in a mass of super fragile copper pipework. Basically, it was borked. Completely and utterly borked. As least I'd given it my best shot. I wasn't going to be taking the Daimler to the beach so I closed the bonnet, packed away the tools, turned the lights off and headed home.
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Winding the clock back a good few months (trying to play a bit of catch-up here), this is the 'good' replacement radiator I was sent. As you can see, the fins are in a pretty bad way. What was even more concerning was the amount of debris inside the radiator itself. It was like this in the top and bottom tanks! I carefully picked out what I could of the mouse nests, making quite a sizeable pile. This shot is just what I could reach from one end of the header... Once I'd picked, poked and pulled as much as I could out, I made a small adapter for the vacuum cleaner and tried to remove as much as I could. The amount I could hear coming out was incredible. I think there was quite a rodent palace in there! I then turned my attention to the AT cooler at the bottom of the rad. I could see, just in the tiny part that's visible, that there was a fair bit of debris in there too. Time to flush it all through. This was the dirt that came out after the third flush through. I wish I'd photographed what came out on the first! I'm so glad I didn't just fit this radiator, I could see it causing some long erm damage to the gearbox had that dirt worked its way in there. Once I was happy that the radiator and cooler were as clean as I could get them, I filled the radiator up with water to see if it was good as I had been told. Guess what? Yep, it was leaking good and proper! Brilliant. See that small dented area? Well, that's one of the places the water was appearing from. I cleaned it up and the split became quite apparent. Not being a radiator expert, I looked up the best way to repair this and most answers pointed towards soldering. Nice and easy, I'm not bad with a soldering iron so this should be fairly straightforward. NOT SO! As soon as any kind of heat went near the cores, they just melted. Fragile? VERY! Well, that put a spanner in the works, it would seem that the radiatior is made from mega fine copper bordering on tissue paper. I now had a big hole to deal with. It seemed logical to try and cut/fold/crimp the ends to help it seal. I did just that.... ...in a number of places where the splits were. Fingers crossed this will work?
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I somehow managed to miss this when you first got it but read the whole thread through last night. The car is not only stunning but perfectly inline with ideas I'd had for one but have never had the opportunity to do. I do hope the mojo returns as reading your threads is always inspiration to the rest of us as you show what is possible with a little imagination and a lot of hard work! Thanks Dude, the mojo is certainly getting a bit better. Maybe some way to go before it fully returns, but it's definitely on the up. I think that was a well timed bump, Stig I was just thinking the same thing. Update imminent:D really nice story and thread MM. really do enjoy reading your progress on the various projects. Many thanks, I really appreciate the comments. I've been really bad at photographing any of the more recent work on any of my cars, so there are quite a few gaps and missing bits, but I'll do what I can to fill in some of the blanks. one of the best threads for ages guys..on one of the pictures, theres abedford j type cab? looks like one any-how, would that be for sale? Kind Regards Thanks for the kind comments. The truck cab you're thinking of is, I'm pretty sure, a Bedford J Type as you say. I'm afraid it isn't for sale. Many people have asked to buy it, but the owner isn't willing to part with it. I don't know if he's got any plans to restore it, but I do know he's keeping it. Sorry about that.
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SO glad you've got this back on the road. I've got a whole lot of love for the sounds of V8's, I've got a whole lot of love for wedges, I've got a whole lot of love for anything 80's. Mix that all together and multiply exponentially and you're getting somewhere near the whole lot of love I have for this car. I can't wait to see it, or hear it. I bet you're beside yourself with being able to drive it again?
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Bangs. Head. Against. Wall.
I give up.
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Contact this seller, he does all colours, and will do any make/model. To be honest, they look curse word compared to the originals. I know most people will probably be happy with them, but they are just a plain font with a few lines cut out of them. The originals have a proper graduated 'fade' and a much nicer 80's font in itallics. Looking through the sellers other items, it would seem they just stick in any plain (and usually curse word) font and make a sticker out of it. Like word-art with vinyl cutters. Fair play if they sell lots, but I'd certainly not consider buying anything from them. Even if I didn't have my own cutter. There was a guy on here (UD UK or something like that?) who was making them. They weren't 100% accurate, but they were certainly a billionty times better than the eBay ones. [edit] found the thread - personally, I'd buy them from this guy if you want something remotely authentic looking: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/83159 [/edit]
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You can dress it up, spin it many ways and convince yourself it's all above board, but in answer to the OP's original question, the only real way to do this legitimately is to either source a brand new, previosuly unregistered *genuine* shell from Porsche (or a heritage shell, but I don't think you can get them for Porsches?) OR buy a good second hand shell with a correct V5 AND enough components to make up eight points before you bolt any of your own parts on.
Of course you can just stick the complete running gear from the original car in and no one will be any the wiser....but (as said very cleary) this does not make it legal. It really is that simple.
And in answer to Joem83's comment, yes, there are probably many thousands of restored cars out there that shouldn't *technically* be on their 'original' plates. Some pretty eye wateringly expensive cars too. Not to mention, quite possibly, the majority of road registered historic rally cars.
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I can see you've got an Escort in your avatar, but apart from that, this thread appears to have absolutely zero details on your car and zero photos of it.
Unless I'm missing something?
You might want to think about adding some details and maybe some photos? I'm sure you'll get a lot more interest because from your avatar, there's nothing else to go on.
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Hi Mat, please can I provisionally reserve one on behalf of a friend? I'm just going to ring him now to let him know....
Scrap that, I've just got hold of him literally minutes after he's sorted himself out with a ticket.
I hope you find a buyer soon enough, I'm sure you will?
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MikeyMK, VIP is correct....if you want to keep the ID of the donor shell then it must also retain enough of the original parts to keep it within eight points. Five points for the unmodified shell (monococque) and then three points retained from any combination of suspension/steering/axles etc...from THE SAME car.
Sure, if you were to buy a Boxster bodyshell with a V5c and retro fit everything from your own nigh on identical car into it, then it's unlikely that anyone can tell just by looking (bar things with specific identities like the engine), but it doesn't make it legal, whichever way you spin it.
The law is there to stop people making newer cars look older (free road tax) or older cars look newer (more valuable cars) but it's still the law.
I would happily do a 'bodyswap' with a complete set of mechanical parts from another identical car and keep the ID of the new shell if it warranted it. Engine number and possible colour change aside, no one would ever know (unless I made it public) but that wouldn't make it legal. I have actually done this with a friend, a complete driving, mechanically perfect car with lots & lots of rot, driven into my unit and stripped 100% back to a bare shell. The mint 'donor' car then driven into the unit and also stripped to a bare shell before fitting literally everything (bar the windscreen) from the original car. All done from start to finish in a weekend. To make it strictly legal, the steering and suspension would have to have been retained, but my friend wanted the whole lot swapped, so I helped him do it.
Like I say, no one will ever know if they look at the car, but that doesn't mean it's 100% legal with regards to retaining the ID of the shell. And that's a fact, not just speculation regardless of how many times people have done it over the years.
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Actually have a free weekend this play weekend, but the punto still hasnt sold so cant insure e30 There's always a next time Dude. Keep an eye out for the September dates....it'll be the 4th anniversary of the Playweekend so it should be a real good one! I can't believe we're entering out fifth year of mayhem at the unit. It was nice to meet you lads friday, have a router-smashing-good weekend Bop, it was great to meet you and your friends and you're certainly welcome back anytime. I hope you made good progress on the car over the weekend? I look forward to seeing you back at the unit sometime in the near future. So, another weekend come and gone. It was a fairly quiet one by 'normal' standards but then most people are readying themeselves for the Gathering, so it comes as no surprise. We did have fun though and it was a very productive weekend. it was especially exciting for me - all will become obvious very soon. The Daimler with its new ride height (raised! LONG story), James' Imp and Mark's Sigma. After adjusting the ride height of the Simga, Mark moves it outside for a quick photo. We went for 'sensible/period' lows with a touch of rake rather than slamming it. This thing just looks 'so right' in the flesh. 15" slots, decent profile tyres, a smattering of lows, that lovely 70's shade of brown and a red beacon. Perfect. Mark letting Jon know that he didn't really want to be photographed polishing his slotmags. Most people said the car looked perfect as it was and that polishing the slots would ruin the cool looks. I nagged and nagged Mark into giving them a polish (not mirror polish finish) and he finally gave in. I can be such an annoying ba$tard some most of the time! I reckon in this photo he's cursing me for breaking his will. I was a proper lazy sod during the weekend. I fell asleep in the chair on Satuday afternoon (I had been working flat out on cars up to this point, honestly) and I also had a nap in the back of the Dodge on Sunday afternoon, but that was more thanks to a mammoth headache that I just couldn't seem to shake. When I awoke, the slots were done and looking SOOO much better. I know I'm a nag, but every now and then even I can be right about something. The car looked inifinitely better with the wheels looking like this: This is a very, very special shot for me. My car actually running better than ever. James (to the right in the photo) had rebuilt my carbs for me. They were knackered and pouring so much fuel into the engine, it was pretty much coming out neat the other end. I ordered two gasket/seal sets, jet assemblies and jet bearings (nigh on £100 just for those bits!) and James worked his magic on them. Boy did the car run better after this. Many thanks jrevillug for your awesome work! It might not look it, but I was beside myself with excitement when this shot was taken! We then headed out in a convoy. One of the very rare occasions that we venture away from the unit during a weekender. I had a plan.....the start of something new and we were going to go and try it out. It was a cool convoy I can tell you that! We arrived at The Tube Diner for our Saturday night food. I am looking to start a monthly car meet somewhere in Bristol, somewhere cool to gather, chat, eat and relax. I'd already met Charlie, the owner of the diner, and he'd agreed that he would consider opening specifically on a Sunday if I could get something together. I figured if we drop in on a Saturday night and give him a 'taster' of the sort of thing I'm planning, he would be even more keen on the idea. We all got a run out in the cars, we got to do something different, we ate some GREAT food and thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. As we pulled up to the Diner, literally everyone came out to have a look at the cars. Even Charlie (a car fanatic himself) stepped out from the kitchen to have a browse at the cars lined up along the road. While some of us sat outside (gratefully making the most of the dry spell during an otherwise very wet weekend) the others sat in the cool Airstream while they awaited their food. When I say cool airstream, there are actually two of them. One is the kitchen and the other is the diner, with a number of tables and chairs spread around outside. You can keep your McDondalds and Burger Kings....THIS is how to enjoy a burger (and I think it's safe to say everyone thought the burgers were up there with the best they've ever had!) While we were chilling, chatting and finishing off our meals, another car pulled up to join our line-up. This DS was beautiful. Very, very far from councours, but stunning in its 'used' look. Very tidy, but definitely used. The owner, Tom, was just dropping by to grab some food before heading off to Stuttgart in the car, "Oh, I take it all over Europe. I go everywhere in it". We chatted for a while, listened to some of his stories then said our goodbyes as he headed off for his food. Top bloke, top car. Suffice to say, we all LOVED the diner...the place, the food, the people. Charlie LOVED having us over and I'm now having more serious discussions about setting up a monthly meet there and he's really up for it. Watch this space! All of these photos were courtesy of Dave ( Butterz) but he wasn't around on Friday night or Sunday so missed a lot of the other stuff that went on, including Ben working on and lowering his Volvo, James tinkering on and fitting Citroen BX GTi seats to his Imp and Rich doing lots of cool things to his MG. Hopefully RobinJI and jonovlov will be along shortly with more photos that cover the whole weekend? It was a cracker. Nowhere near the normal numbers, but very busy and productive all the same. Next stop...THE GATHERING!!
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'Omar'
But you already know what I really think you should be doing to this motor....
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Calling kevfromwales - your contract stipulates you still haven't fulfilled your quota of shonky old Prairies yet...
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Thanks Dude and sorry you can't make it this weekend.
I might see if someone is able to bring it up to the Gathering from your neck of the woods if that's OK? if you PM me your address I'll send you over the stickers, the money and the chocolate (it's all about the chocolate!)
Cheers for now....
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Double Decker's were never really my thang. But a Boost, or even a Fuse (remember those?) and we're talking. I am sure I could substitute a Double Decker with a Boost if it seals a deal You're more than welcome to come on over anytime...there's a weekender starting in about 3 hours if you're free?
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The tax on any E34 5 series is the same as on any MX5. No saving to be made there.
I'd say my big estate is far more economical than either of the MX5's I had, they aren't actually that great on fuel considering they are a light roadster. Don't get me wrong, they are brilliant fun, but when looking at one as a daily, I'd take the 5 (or a Volvo) any day.
The engines are pretty much bombproof as long as you keep up on the servicing. The only issue mine has is a slight diesel leak from the top of the pump and one of the leak off pipes to injector #2. I'm picking up a new (genuine Bosch) pump seal this afternoon along with a meter of leak off pipe. Total cost: £6.55. I also replaced the lower front arm bushes the other week. Cost for a pair: £26 from GSF.
Parts are easy to get and as cheap as any other car I've ever owned. My only regret with the E34 so far is wishing I'd just got one a lot sooner. Such a great all rounder....
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The wiring for the rear wash/wipe is a relatively easy fix (as long as you can solder). It's probably the most common problem on E34 Tourings, but an hour or two max and you can not only have the rear wiper working again, but also that lovely glass hatch - such a cool feature. Mine has the twin sunroof. It doesn't work and I don't even want to start working out how to fix it....as long as it's closed properly, just leave well alone and pretend it's not there. It doesn't leak and doesn't cause any problems. It would be great if it did work though.... Also, more than most cars of the era, these things have the capability to swallow huge wheels! I've got 9" wide alloys on the back of mine PLUS 20mm spacers and I could still go wider if I needed to. 10" wide wheels not a problem. On standard, unrolled arches.
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E34 520i. Touring for your bike in the boot. I'm going to second this suggestion, but change the 520i bit to a 525TDS. You'll easily get one within your budget. The engine is over your 2.0 criteria but probably more economical than the 2.0 petrol..plus a lovely bit of power too. Cruising on the motorway in complete comfort and silence at 85mph @2,000 rpm is an absolute joy. Masses of space in the back and generally one of the nicest cars I've ever driven, they have real road presence too. Mine was free (well, actually better than free) but you can easily pick them up for less than £1k. If I ever replace mine, it'll only be for another 5 series TDS Touring. I've had a few MX5's, they are cracking cars but if I had to choose.....
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