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Sept 17, 2010 20:20:33 GMT
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I once double booked a flight with easy jet and it took blooody ages to get through to customer services! Its almost as if they don't want to have any form of phone contact and do it all by nerdnet- which is a bit impersonal.
I had a toad alarm fitted to my iveco van a few years back- it cost £200 or maybe £300 fitted but one week later it saved all my makita tools from being nicked when I had forgotten to lock rear doors - alarm went off at dinner time and we raced out to find doors open with little curse word running away. No alarm would have meant no tools!
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Sept 17, 2010 20:39:54 GMT
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At the gatwick easyjet sales desk, when I told the guy that both the website and customer services had said there was this non-existant flight on Friday, he simply said 'well thats customer services for you, they don't know anything. There's nothing we can do, you'll have to talk to them again.'
I questioned him about this and said it was basically like they were two independent companies in the way that easyjet personnel have no connection, communication or shared responsibility with customer services and he just outright agreed. He wouldn't apologise on their behalf, attempt to help or anything. Anyway, I won't get started. I'll never stop!
Definitely agree a good alarm is worth the money, but would still prefer one that's just as good, but a bit cheaper because it doesn't have remote start, central locking compatibility and whatever else it might come with. £2-300 is pushing my limits, although if it wasn't for easyjet....
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Sept 17, 2010 23:08:34 GMT
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Get yourself a Toad Ai606 alarm. It's a very good Thatcham Cat 1 alarm, easy to install and is around the £100 mark. It's got many features you wont use bu some you might. I've installed a couple of them on my cars and they are dead easy to fit as the instructions are pretty good. I went to an approved installer and got them to sign my certificate once they had a scan over my installation and that cost £20 cash The Ai606 can be found on ebay and the like caraudiogiant.co.uk/shop/by-manufacturer/toad/alarms/toad-ai606-alarm/immobiliser/prod_464.htmlHTH Matt
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Sept 24, 2010 23:23:51 GMT
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Does anyone know of a trailer or dolly I could hire or borrow tomorrow, sunday or monday, in the South East near Tunbridge Wells? Or anyone around the area with a suitable trailer/dolly and towing vehicle who'll be happy do it for fuel and beer money. Ideally tomorrow but anything will help.
I've been let down and need to get my car to the body shop by Monday. Please PM me with a contact number if you know of anything.
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Last Edit: Sept 24, 2010 23:29:42 GMT by oli8925
Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Sept 26, 2010 23:08:08 GMT
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Got the transport in the end. Last company I found and tried could pick it up at 2 and through luck they knew a few guys at the body shop so had a word and made sure they'd be around for when it was delivered (they close at 2pm on Saturdays). So now she's there waiting for the work to be started tomorrow. Mum's got her driveway back so she's happy. And I've still got to finish stripping and painting the new crossmember and suspension bits so that keeps me happy. When I get her back I'll spend another few weeks stripping the suspension, cleaning and painting and reassembling with the new shocks and lowered springs. Sort out the interior and get the reverse switch wired in, then she'll be ready for the MOT And after that I'll get the body work sorted and hopefully have the other Viva so I can get the steels banded, then take out the engine and gearbox and rebuild them. So still plenty to do. Pictures on there way.
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Last Edit: Sept 27, 2010 16:43:05 GMT by oli8925
Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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craig
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,029
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Sept 27, 2010 16:27:07 GMT
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(they curse word at 2pm on Saturdays). I usually need to go about half past. What's going on the engine tuning wise then?
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Sept 27, 2010 16:53:11 GMT
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That has to be the weirdest mistake I have ever made sorry about that and sorry to the guys at Full Circle Bodyshop, they can do whatever they like when they finish work. Mods will only be a stage 3(ish) head, leccy ignition, weber 40dcoe, bottom end balanced and an oil cooler. Any more than that and the bottom end needs a fair bit of strengthening, plus parts are too hard to come by. Will stick with the standard 90 cam so it remains driveable too. All in time though, had a nasty shock yesterday when I found out I over-estimated my monies and only have £20 left hate being a student! Government money etc etc etc but to be honest I was much more at home working 5 or 6 days a week and having money to play with.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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craig
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,029
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Sept 27, 2010 17:49:18 GMT
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I had a quick look into strengthening the center bearing on my spare motor and there's not a lot of meat to play with there. I should of balanced the bottom end on mine when it was all out but didn't think. You can have a bit of meat off the flywheel if your taking it all apart too.
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pbottomley
Posted a lot
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving isnt for you
Posts: 1,135
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Sept 27, 2010 21:23:30 GMT
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The bottom end doesn't need strength it just needs a cure for end float!!! and in my case a friggin clutch that doesn't slip when I boot it OHH well Good luck with your project
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Sept 28, 2010 18:44:17 GMT
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When renewing the bushes on the top arms, do you need to take the original sleeve shown in the pictures off the arm? I.e. does the new bush assembly replace this part? I've got new superflex bushes to be specific. I can't quite tell and don't want to take the sleeves off yet just in case. In fact, taking a closer look I'm certain they do need to come out. The new bush does seem to have a new sleeve, albeit a funny looking one and there's no way the bush is going to fit into the current one. Onwards and upwards
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Last Edit: Sept 28, 2010 19:55:06 GMT by oli8925
Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Sept 29, 2010 12:08:20 GMT
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Was clearing out the phone pics and thought I'd post some up. Cleaning the vinyl door cards: Before After Will get some of the seats all cleaned up when I get the car back, and the dyed carpet when I get round to that. Had the car jacked up high at the front to do the alternator, made the back look nice and low taster of things to come (soon!) Here shows the hole between boot and rear seat. This is where I want to make a board to attach the amp and sub box to. The board shouldn't be too difficult but as you can see it's at an angle and has a big ridge in front of it. Seeing as I hate and am rubbish with woodwork, I'm really really not looking forward to trying to do that bit. Wires will be re-routed and tidied up when I do this Prep and painting of the replacement suspension parts. Bird feeder makes for an excellent stand to hang parts off for spray painting And finally the poor little thing being taken away
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Last Edit: Sept 29, 2010 21:04:21 GMT by oli8925
Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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carmad
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,000
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Sept 30, 2010 5:33:40 GMT
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Were is it being taken away too?
Did you sell it ?
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Sept 30, 2010 10:41:02 GMT
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No no! Just being taken away to the body shop for repairs. I miss it sitting outside on my driveway. Think it's got to the stage where it would take something really serious to sell it, and it would have to be in repaired condition so i get a decent enough return on it (or as little loss as possible)
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Look what I now have ;D It's in as good a condition as mine, if not better. Arches and sills are perfect, even the battery tray has the smallest amount of surface rust. Was used as a daily until 2001 when the owner got given a van from work, so it was put into a rented garage to preserve with the view of getting it really nice and back on the road. 9 years later and he's finally admitted defeated and wants to let it go as long as he knows its going to be used well. I need to arrange transport for it now but its shouldnt be more than a week or two until I have it. Unfortunately I'm now at uni 40 miles away so updates will only come at weekends. So from this one I'll be taking the engine which I'm told is a rebuilt Chevette 1256cc, the wheels which will one day be banded, and some of the nice SL trim it has around it. Then the rest will be passed on to someone who wants it. My dad has all of a sudden become very interested in it so looks like he might take it off me, or I know of someone in the Mini world who wants one to play about with. So plenty of options. Can't wait to get it home and give it a good clean, should come up very nicely
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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carmad
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,000
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fair play and good luck with it
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Got the white one back from the bodyshop today, with pics to show. Was told by the body shop it was all fixed up and would drive better than it ever had, and that all the suspension parts and crossmember were still straight and true. As I unloaded it off the trailer and drove it down the drive I was therefore quite surprised to hear a knocking/clicking. Upon closer inspection it was clear at least some of the parts were in fact bent and I'm not completely happy that it was put back together well. There seems to be larger gaps between control rod/crossmember arm and crossmember arm/chassis than there should be but I will investigate that later. Don't want to say too much at this stage as I haven't had a chance to talk to them about it yet. As for the actual repair work, it looks quite good. Nevertheless I have the new suspension parts nearly ready, crossmember needs paint and waxoyl, arms need ball joints replacing, paint and the whole lot needs rebushing. O/S Caliper is off to be rebuilt, hopefully N/S will be off tomorrow and I'll get on with dropping the crossmember off the body and engine. Still hoping for it to be done and back on the road in a few weeks. N/S Before: The N/S repairs: N/S Control rod to crossmember: Quite clearly bent here: O/S straight (hopefully) N/S bent Pictures don't really show how bent it is, but it's clearly visible when you compare the two sides. End of the day shot:
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Last Edit: Oct 10, 2010 12:06:02 GMT by oli8925
Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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carmad
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,000
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Did they damage it ?
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Oct 10, 2010 12:03:21 GMT
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No, I probably didn't explain it very well. The repairs they have done do look to a good standard. However when I picked it up I was told it was perfect and driving better than it ever had. If you remember I purchased new top and bottom arms, control rod and crossmember, thinking the old item were damaged in the accident. When I took the car in I made sure they understood that if any items were bent, I had replacements I was painting up and rebushing, and I would bring them over to be replaced. They then told me that none of the original items were damaged in anyway and were all 100% straight.
Yet when I drove it for a couple of minutes round the block and down the drive, there was a clicking or knocking sound coming from the repaired corner. Once I got the Viva in my own garage and inspected it, it's clear the nearside (damaged) hub is at an angle, completely different to offside. Looking at the pictures, see how the damper on the nearside exits the cup at quite an angle.
I am also concerned at the gap there is in the joint between the control rod and crossmember, and the crossmember and repaired section of the chassis. I believe it was this causing the clicking.
The work the bodyshop did is actually of pretty good standard. The part I'm unhappy about is that we agreed if any components were bent I would be notified and they would be replaced with the rebushed items if needed. The bodyshop told me all parts were 100% straight and it was ready for going back on the road, all distances, angles whatnot had been checked and corrected, and 'it would drive better than ever'.
This I'm afraid is simply not true, I really don't like places taking me for an idiot, lying to me and giving me a dangerous car. If they gave me exactly the same car and parts but told the truth and said I would need to replace the crossmember and arms etc, I would be quite happy with the work.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Oct 10, 2010 12:06:40 GMT
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Just realised I got N/S and O/S mixed up in the post with the pics. Corrected now
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Oct 16, 2010 22:58:45 GMT
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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