Bit Miffed

[Steve Kerswell]

Good weekends work spoilt by a moments carelessness, Doing some welding under the Sierra yesterday, when the wife suddenly announced some smoke in the cab. Somehow a spark from the grinder or welder sneaked in through the gearbox tunnel and smouldered away on the cloud 9 underfelt. Quickly got it under control but the toxic fumes meant leaving it to ventilate. Noticed today that the windows were a tad black and sticky, now found the whole interior is coated with a sticky, smoky probably toxic film. It has ruined the headlining, the seats and floor are all easy clean materials, but the car wreaks. Bother is the polite word. Plus the fire extinguisher didn't.

[Steve Kerswell]

To top off a good day, the postie just brought the prop shaft centre bearing. could be running tomorrow. More smiles per mile :-)

[Steve Kerswell]

Carb all repaired, and fitted, alternator brushes are here and will be fitted today, exhaust manifold is about to be removed, I love these sunny days, I feel a smile coming on. 

[James Doulton]

Bike accident? Was that recent? I'm sorry if you were hurt. Trouble is that we are not as bouncy as we once were. I gave up riding after coming off at 20mph one winter. I had more bruises and lumps than I could explain and they hung around for quite a time. That was when I decided to take up kit cars.

[Steve Kerswell]

Took the whole day away from Dutton's today. Settled down again, red mist has lifted, looking forward to Monday's adventure.

[Steve Kerswell]

I'm sulking, this not drinking is doing my head in, ( the wife has just poured herself a whisky) and dont ask what my blood pressure is doing :-))

[Steve Kerswell]

More then a bit, I'm well miffed, I've had one of those days we all hate. I should have stayed in bed and saved my energy. First, I jumped up at 7 and put my undies on back to front, I know, I should have realised then what a day I had coming. Decided seeing it was a nice day to crack on with several unfinished task, clearing out the garage(s). Had to move the Sierra out of the way, it was dead, dead as Montys parrot, discovered the alternator was cooked, getting 10 volts output. So I started it in the way welders know how, connected to my arc welder and fired it into life. Went to reverse it and a clunk, bigger then the standard clunk, let me know something was wrong, thought I had driven over something, but no the prop centre bearing has collapsed. Well thats it thats 3, ever thing comes in 3's. Dream on! The exhaust has been a bit strange lately, trying to get out from in under I grabbed the side pipe and, crack! it split on the manifold end. And the last thing is the carb started to pour petrol out of the joints, Took off the carb to find to much crud in it, the float was stuck down. Now, remember I was only moving it 50 feet so that I could tidy out the garage, its now late afternoon and I haven't got there yet! Now I have to start thinking about getting stuff off the road overnight, All wells that ends well, nope! The Sierra refuses to start again, so I will leave it out and hopefully some scroat will pinch it, thats how I feel. Dave Adams once said he spent his spare time fettling the Sierra to get him through the next week, I know how he feels, fed up with the sight of it. I dont easily give in to mechanical stuff, it cant think, its not human, but this Sierra is pushing my limits. Finally, some of you will know that I have been in negotiations on a twin cam Sierra Sapphire. The guy wants to sell the whole car not just the engine as first thought, so deal done. MOT until end of March so I can drive it around and see whats what, sell on what I dont need and keep the stuff as instructed by Dave Adams for the transplant. Today he told me he has a better offer. Can it get any worse?? I can feel another Dutton going on Ebay, unfinished project!   

[Steve Kerswell]

Quick tidy up of this post. The eBay guy came good in the end. Strange long winded story, but I've ended up with a Cosworth Sierra gearbox and the complete back axle with lsd fitted, plus the bonus being he turns out to once owning a Dutton. The Cosworth engine is now living in an escort van and looks like it was born in there.

The Dutton Sierra roof lining is no more, it stripped out and went in the bin. Have some carpet type stuff that will fit and a load of contact adhesive on stand by.

[Steve Kerswell]

I'm confused.com, same bloke just contacted me, when do you want to collect your parts??  " bit of a misunderstanding mate "

[Dave Adams]

From experience ebay will not enforce a sale. Proving the auction went to completion and you were the higest bidder is not enough. Ebay is not an auction In the legal sense. The seller is under no obligation to sell at the "winning" bid.

[Adrian Southgate]

whats the item number, feel like 'chipping in', checking the guys feedback score....