Today I have been mostly...

[Adrian Southgate]

Working on the new letters for the club's 'refurb' into office from works.

Using the new logo and setting up mail merge links to the database, re-writing all the letters we commonly use in word rather than works... my eyes hurt and so does my brain. This might be easy stuff for office wallahs but its made my brain hurt, looking forward to tomorrow when it's supposed to be dry and I could possibly get a chance to do my head gasket.

Did i mention that my brain hurts?

[Adrian Southgate]

My bushes are deflex or as it's now known flo-flex too. they have SS inserts, the bolts are BZP and I have a large tub of copperease. That bits not the problem. I will try with the air saw after I've done the club post on saturday morning. I'll have a thermos of hot water to keep the bushes pliable and remember to dry em before fitting.

When I rebuilt the old dear I should have thought about stuff like this while the body was off. Back in 2007 during the rebuild I bought an 8mm pirahna bullet hitech drill, odd looking end but dam good at going through steel. I went back to homebase to see if they did 9mm which is the closest to the size i need and prices have gone up a little. For a set of 1mm - 10mm drills including the elusive 9mm (which they don't sell separately ) it is £24... £24  is cheap compared with buying each drill, the 8mm is £5.99 on its own.... Checked on ebay and can get the same set for just over a tenner... bargain. Very tough drills that do a good clean job.

[Adrian Southgate]

Sounds like a Saturday job as my Vtwin compressor is a bit noisy for evening use.

My bolts have arrived, all looking good, might need to shorten the ones near the body tub a little but I'm well satisfied for the price. Just need to source 6 yellow poly bushes and I can do both front and rear in one go. When I turned the car round at the weekend I noticed quite a clonk from the front left when it went off the curb, that'll need investigating while I am relocating the ARB mounts. Luckily I have a spare maxi ball joint, TCA etc just in case.

[Nick carlin]

I cut inside. The bolts were rusted to the bush so I couldn't tap it out took a while and a lot less swearing :)

[Adrian Southgate]

over half would be out of reach of the big grinder, top of the axle and everything gets in the way.

I do have an air saw, why the hell didn't I think of that, still need the drill to get the bolt out of the bracket or did you cut inside the bracket Nick.

[Nick carlin]

I used an air saw. Every single one was rusted in took my all afternoon to cut them :/

[Adrian Southgate]

As it's been dry I've spent the last two evenings out under the back of the legerra attempting to get my hands into very confined spaces to get the 5 link off the car for a new set of bushes. It would appear the person who fitted them originally did so without greasing the blots. I have done frustration, anger and desparation to no avail and tomorrow I am off to buy a 9mm drill bit. I have negotiated a price with an ebay seller on a set of bolts and when they arrive I will post details on here, mr g's and the DOC suppliers page as they are UNF on the 5 link and also use triumph bushes. The supplier will be listing kits of suspension bolts for our cars in due course as the 5 link and front wishbone all use the same bolts, buying them as a kit seems reasonable. I paid £14 inc postage for a set of 10 bolts 20 washers and nylocs, it works out to about £1 a set. Other sets will be available as well as individual items if reqd. I paid extra for first class post so I get them tomorrow, now all I have to do is drill the old ones out, not a pleasant job at all, its pretty mucky under my car.

[Adrian Southgate]

Following on from my minor improvements to the steering wheel on the Sierra I am going to do another one. Bit more complex this time as it will also require the centre, boss and spokes to have padding and a leather cover too. I'm also looking for old sports wheels to put covers on to re-sell, some of you must have them lying around in the shed that you don't want anymore, I'll get a courier to collect it etc so no expense involved, just dig em out and send em in. If you want one done for your car, I currently have white, coffee, tan, dark chocolate, matt black and very shiny black leather available. I can do covers for the handbrake and might be able to do gearknobs and gaiters too, not tried that bit yet. Other colours like red and blue etc might work out more expensive due to having to purchase the leather first.

So if you have any dead steering wheels that need a new home let me know.

[Adrian Southgate]

I need to remove some more sludge however i'm a little worried its going to eat the rad and bust a pipe to be honest.

Anyway, cleared some stuff over to the lockup, stripped my DA sander down to soak it in wd40 and recovered my steering wheel this weekend. Something shiny to show for the weekend's graft apart from my finger tips.

I did a build thread update on Mr G's site too.

[James Doulton]

I used some driveway cleaner in mine as it foams less. It did a good job. I was concerned that it might eat my hoses but I have had no further trouble in 6 months, so I guess it was okay.

[Adrian Southgate]

@Daryl... and don't we know it. Seems to me this rad should go in the legerra, fix both problems. Maybe I'll have a word with Carl the Capri man and see if he has another.

 

@James... I have sludge however I loosened it with fairy liquid in the water yesterday :) well they are always boasting about how it cuts through oil and grease so I stuck some in the rad, only a little bit though.