RetroMat
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Well that video explains the could of smoke I saw whilst wandering round the show stands! concertocharlie: your Concerto looks awesome, not a car I;ve ever even given a second glance too great work! ECR had a good turn out I should really get to the next ECR meet. Just looking back through my pics, does anyone have any info on this 300c on the RR stand? It looked great out on track and seemed to be storming past every thing!
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RetroMat
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Posts: 3,442
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May 31, 2015 19:06:26 GMT
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Last Edit: May 31, 2015 19:08:16 GMT by RetroMat
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RetroMat
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May 13, 2015 20:01:25 GMT
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Last Edit: May 13, 2015 20:02:00 GMT by RetroMat
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RetroMat
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Apr 26, 2015 18:30:01 GMT
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Thats a Cool little truck you have there, I'm looking forward to seeing your progress!
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RetroMat
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Apr 22, 2015 18:35:58 GMT
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Cheers all, turned out it was the regulator. charge Light was on and off for a few weeks, then the alt decided it didn't want to charge at all. Auto electrician couldn't get hold of a new regulator so a new alt was fitted.
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RetroMat
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Cheers chaps.
I shall have a look at wheel options, I quite like the wheels that are on it! I'd just prefer BBS like the ones on the coupe in your sig Lowering wise, nice ride is priority and improved handling. It is an estate so I don't want to lose any practicality! It will get used for parts hauling! I don't want to slam it just improve whats already there.
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RetroMat
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Not quite retro but i;ve noticed a few E36's popping up on here so I thought I would post this up for those who are interested! So for the last 5 years my 1986 Saab 900 has been a fantastic and very reliable daily driver. I've clocked up nearly 50k in it but recently I've been fancying a bit of a change for my daily driver. I'd like to give the Saab a bit of a rest and put it on a limited millage classic insurance policy. I started looking around at slightly more modern dailys, I looked at a few newer GM saabs which didn't do much for me! My neighbor mentioned to me that he was getting rid of his 328i touring. A car I hadn't really considered but after a bit of a look around and check all the usual stuff I made him a cheeky offer of £300 which was agreed so long as I also undersealed his new car (a 2000's suzuki blob!). As purchased: Problems well for £300 there were a few problems. The car as mot til the end of the year but has been losing coolant for quite some time and had started to run hot. My not very mechanically minded neighbor decided that he wanted out before it cost him to much money. A bit of googleing reveled that these 2.8is don't like getting hot so first port of call was a compression check which revealed all the compressions to be nice and even. Next look for the water loss which appeared to be coming from the water pump. So I ordered a pile of bits from various places. So removed and flushed the radiator, flushed the heater matrix and block. Removed the heater valve thing which was seized up so no heater! Unseized it and cleaned it up and its all good again. I fitted a new thermostat + new aluminum housing, new water pump. Filled with fresh antifreeze and the engine runs at the correct temp and the heater works! Fitted a new Rocker cover gasket and gave it a bit of a service. Also replaced both the aux belts and replaced most of the idlers. Spent some time getting the bumpers to fit properly and daft things like fitting a screw or clip in all the undersheld fixings that were missing. With it running nicely I decided to have a go at detailing! I got my self a clay bar and actually used the various polishes I have sitting on a shelf in the garage gathering dust! Came up pretty well I think. Current expenditure is sub £500 including all the parts and a couple of partworn tyres! I'm not sure where to go with it now use it as a standard daily or get it lower to the ground with some BBS cross spoke wheels!?
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Last Edit: Apr 9, 2015 20:04:13 GMT by RetroMat
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RetroMat
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Petrol tank out today, time to start cutting and welding on the rear side window Glad this was brought back up top and you have updates. It was nice to see at RRG14 and was telling my mate how I prefer things like this to VW vans just because they're much rarer in the UK and why I wanted an Elgrand rather than a VW T5. Also just spotted the reg, pretty cool - I read it as Why CJ lost? Don't know who CJ is but anyway ignore my ramblings... Rare J-vans are great but I am certainly envious of the VW vans parts availability, especially body panels! The Elgrand is a pretty funky looking thing The vans nickname has been lost since the first trip I went on in it, its very apt for me and my sense of direction! I suppose I could sell it to a CJ Jeep owner?
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Last Edit: Apr 9, 2015 19:24:11 GMT by RetroMat
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RetroMat
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RetroMat
Posted a lot
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Posts: 3,442
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Mar 31, 2015 22:44:26 GMT
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^ For that reason sourcing a Ford caliper (or similar) Would be better, you would probably end up with better brakes that would fit under the 14"s. The 900 brake pads are pretty tiny.
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RetroMat
Posted a lot
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Mar 31, 2015 18:25:25 GMT
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Ah got you!, I don't know if the later axle is narrower but as I've got a earlier axle i'm refurbing for my 900 in the garage I can tell you from hub to hub the pre 1987 axle is 1570mm. Maybe some one can help with the measurement of a later axle if you decide to go down that route. Front Caliper spacing appears to be 89mm, after a quick google Lots of Fords (sierras etc) and some VWs use a 90mm caliper slider bracket. Could be food for thought!
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RetroMat
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Posts: 3,442
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Mar 31, 2015 17:43:01 GMT
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Last Edit: Mar 31, 2015 18:03:25 GMT by RetroMat
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RetroMat
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Posts: 3,442
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Mar 30, 2015 20:32:11 GMT
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SO my mums got a 1999/2000 Mazda mx5, which has been a awesomely reliable little car but last it it picked up its first glitch! My mum said she was driving at the battery light flickered a few times then came on permanently. When you start the car it comes on after a couple of mins. So I did the usual, check the belt is still there/ good nick and correctly tighten. Checked all the alternator and battery connections, Checked the battery voltage 12.6vish, did a drop test on it all ok. Started the car battery is being charged at 14.6ish volts. . which all Indicates every thing is good and working, but still the light is on! Any one got and clues suggestions? I've going to invest in a workshop manual for it its been so reliable I;ve never bothered before.
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Last Edit: Mar 30, 2015 20:36:11 GMT by RetroMat
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RetroMat
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Mar 30, 2015 20:18:49 GMT
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Cheers Glad you like it! It should be at RRG15, although its currently in bits again. Which means I should really update this thread a bit.. So 2014, The van got used quite a bit about 2000miles! which is more than any other year i've had the van. went to RRG14 Drove home from RRG the long way, (some where near iron bridge) on top of the Peak District North Norfolk Then back home to Essex. I used the van for a month or so after RRG then I decided I should really look at a few more of the body work issues. I've started to look at the rear door, i;d repaired the door bottom earlier in this thread, but my welding and fabrication has improved a bit since then So I wanted to have another crack at it. But the worst of my worries was the rear screen surround which had always looked rather frilly and wasn't going to get any better. Rear door off glass out as usual with this van, some one has been there before me!Lots of filler and odd little patches. So I invested in one of these: cut out the rot, made up some bits I couldn't make this in one bit sadly, the metal folder at my work just isnt big enough! Door bottom wasnt great, time to start again and do it hopefully alot better! thats a bit better: my da sanding set up So thats about as far as i've got, i hoping to get some more done on the van no the days are getting longer.
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RetroMat
Posted a lot
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Posts: 3,442
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Mar 27, 2015 18:31:20 GMT
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We built this Rolls Royce silver dawn for the Peking to Paris at work, 4X4 tyres, heavy duty under sheilds, uprated front springs extra leafs in the rear springs. Sparco seats etc! Its is since been on the Safari and Burma endurance rallys. It would be pretty cheap to get to the look on a Minor! Raise the torsion bars for extra height?
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Last Edit: Mar 27, 2015 18:33:06 GMT by RetroMat
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RetroMat
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Mar 15, 2015 17:21:12 GMT
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I would take a look at www.toymods.org.au/forums/forum.phpLots of 70'a toyotas with engine swaps on there. I'd guess the Corona shares just about every thing mechanical with a Celica of similar vintage I was always under the impression these axles were pretty strong!
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RetroMat
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Feb 18, 2015 21:39:12 GMT
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Watching with interest, i'm looking forward to seeing this project evolve. Inspired choice on the wheels!
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RetroMat
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Feb 18, 2015 17:48:38 GMT
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I purchased a BMW E36 328i Touring for £300 and did a little bit of welding on the rear door of my Hiace camper
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RetroMat
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Feb 13, 2015 19:50:33 GMT
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subtle
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Last Edit: Feb 13, 2015 19:51:06 GMT by RetroMat
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RetroMat
Posted a lot
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Posts: 3,442
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Feb 13, 2015 18:46:27 GMT
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