What A Difference A Week Makes..

168 little hours or something. So goes a song (or at least the EP version..)

 

Anyways, Where were we? Ah yes, The CX was gushing coolant, the 320i had no battery, the Skoda was deed and the Clio 172 was the sole remaining fully functioning car.

At times like this, I get wary. Being reliant on one old car is not the smartest plan. Action needed to be taken. Digits were removed from orifices and Things ™ were made to happen.

First up, a new de-aeration chamber has been ordered for the CX, and fresh coolant concentrate has been procured. As soon as the part arrives, I’ll get it on and see if I can manage a journey without steam.

I decided to be brave and put the 320i in for an MOT. A cursory glance over revealed nothing of any great import requiring attention, bar the usual e30 blocked washer jet issue.

I got up early this morning, and collected the battery I’d charged overnight. Carted it outside and fitted it. Key on:

No dash lights

Bugger.

Without a battery none of my other MOT related checks could really happen.

 

My eyes settled on the Clio. 2 mins later it had been robbed of its battery to provide some much needed power to the m20b20 in the e30.

All systems checked, I papped some fuel in, and set off for the MOT station. I gave it a good shoeing on the way – partly because it sounds great, and partly to make sure it’d have no emission or brake issues. Some left foot braking cleaned the discs up no bother.

I arrived without incident, and left the moss and leaf covered shed in the parking bay. The chap who went out to it looked slightly perturbed. Whilst the MOT was in progress, I went in vain search of a snack bar – finding it preferable to doing the “expectant dad shuffle” in the waiting room.

The result?

SUCCESS!

A PASS!

The tester said ” It looks rough as fuck up top mate, but you’ve done a fair bit underneath  – all looks good” and “that engine is lovely”.

YAAAAAAAS! So now I can tinker and get it a bit better. I’ve found a battery for it too, so the 172 is back together.

 

Which is handy, as it decided to generate a massive exhaust blow mid week.

The pops bangs and gurgles were a hoot, the drone at 3000rpm in 5th less so. It was also anti-socially loud, especially as the sound goaded you to go Fu’Gutty at every opportunity.

I didn’t have high hopes re finding and fitting a new exhaust prior to the festive season, so opted to attempt a temporary fix.

Ahh, that explains the blow then. back box no longer attached to mid section.

The middle rubber mount had snapped, and the exhaust was held only by the manifold. The back box similarly was only held by the 2 mounts almost at the rear bumper.

Next up, the back box was pulled off, and the rear mounts inspected.

Looks Good -Rubber intact.

Looks a bit rough and could be a pain to replace. Still functioning OK just now.

With the back box off, it was plain to see that the joint had failed where the back box was welded onto the mid pipe.

The axle end of this was treated to a grinder session in prep for repairs.

Time to McGyver as solution using only what I had available.

Take

1x Silencer repair kit

1x tube fire gum

2x large jubilee clips

Tin snips

Screwdriver and a hammer.

Make like the A -Team and bodge like crazy.

Silencer repair section cut to size and fitted to Back Box. Fire gum applied.

Detail pic (because I can!)

The other jubilee clip was put on the mid pipe, and the back box was re fitted. With a bit of jiggery pokery and a modicum of percussive adjustment, it all lined up and was clamped together. With a new mid rubber mount fitted, the exhaust is now fully supported and pretty much gas tight.

I’m calling it a success!

 

Speaking of successes, the third one came today from my Brother’s stable. His 328i e30 has been in the air for months waiting for the completion of the diff installation.

Earlier in the day he’d headed down to the unit to drop off the recalcitrant 335i (the least said the better) and decided to start finishing off the diff refit. His good lady was dispatched the below photo when she enquired as to his whereabouts:

ARRRRGH!

Despite having time for selfies, the steady work continued and eventually paid off:

The half shafts were re-installed, and the prop bolts tightened. The car was jacked up to allow the ramps to be pulled from the rear wheels. It was going to drive.

Prepare for landing!

We got it down and off the jack, ready for a wee trip round the unit.

It started OK, and settled down to a nice even idle as it backed out. My brother took it for “a wee run” which seemed to mainly consist of either gentle 6pot burbling, or sideways rev limit action.

 

Great to see it back in action, and I hope it’ll be on the road soon!

 

Arise, Awake. The King in Doom Blue Comes!

Hopefully the next blog will have some good news on the CX front too – then we’ll really be motoring!