Whatever next? Or am I just Old?

oilyspanner · Post by **oilyspanner** » 07 Dec 2004, 00:31

Memory lane......pressing the kill button on my sports moped....ho ho a loud bang resulted when you let it go, until the baffles shot out and rolled under a speeding milkfloat!
Stewart

Robin · Post by **Robin** » 07 Dec 2004, 01:36

Any one remember Autocar magazine and the section called 'Disconnected Jottings'?
There was once a piece on the benefit or otherwise of the 'Go Faster Stripe'
One chap fitted them to his 1950 Prefect and could not understand why it had not helped with increasing performance. The general consensus was that the increased frontal area due to the width and thickness of the tape in addition to the weight countered the aerodynamic benefit of fitting the tape in the first place. It did however conceal the rust patch I think.
In another example of pointless mods back then I pulled into a garage alongside a Ford Escort Mk 11 with flared arches, lowered suspension, wide wheels, big exhaust and enough instruments to equip Concord and under the bonnet --------- the original 1300cc cross flow. Nuff said. R

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 07 Dec 2004, 02:12

Ahhh but that also works in reverse. A friend of mine had a transit van with a mid-mounted v8. Looks like a tranny, goes like a rocket.
I think 'sleepers' are the way to really upset the Chav'ed up brigade.

ACTIVE8 · Post by **ACTIVE8** » 07 Dec 2004, 18:31

I agree "sleepers" are the best, as I would rather have a wolf in sheeps' clothing, instead of the usual "Chavs" sheep in wolves' clothing, as they are all talk/front, and no action!
Perhaps they should have another magazine called LAX POWER!![:D][:D]

dan.2cv · Post by **dan.2cv** » 08 Dec 2004, 03:43

Yeah well my xantia looks like a sheep and goes like a sheep

oh to own an HDi

uhn113x · Post by **uhn113x** » 08 Dec 2004, 12:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dan.2cv

Yeah well my xantia looks like a sheep and goes like a sheep

oh to own an HDi
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Fit it with a ramjet, Dan? [;)]

Robin · Post by **Robin** » 08 Dec 2004, 14:12

Back in the late sixties I owned a Ford Anglia Super with a Lotus 1556 running Webers, Corsair gearbox and rev counter. Discs on the front and very slightly lowered suspension. The exhaust was from an MGB and it had Cortina estate wheels which were slightly wider. No other external changes whatsoever. It was good for about 110 mph which equated to half full on the fuel gauge! the needles used to fight for dominence and it sure gave the Jag owners a fright on the still new M6.
It finally met with the scrap yard in the sky through metal fatigue, I converted intentionally to a soft top, have a picture somewhere me thinks. Reg was 270 LEW. I really liked that car.
Yes, I love sleepers. R

dan.2cv · Post by **dan.2cv** » 08 Dec 2004, 21:09

ok, now I'm being a sheep. Is that an air filter? I just thought they went that slow as punishment for buying a french auto. Im about to change the box oil to see if it makes any difference. mind you it is well up on the leg and once it's moving it's ok - the sport button makes a big difference on the country lanes surprisingly. I digress.

Post by **martyhopkirk** » 09 Dec 2004, 00:37

Citroen AX Diesel - Looks like a fish, moves like a fish, steers like a cow.....
There is a bloke near me (well he must be somewhere round here as he was in the local paper, for local people) has a C15 van fitted with some turbo nutter ex volvo engine. Apparently it shifts like dung off a teflon coated shovel, whilst looking for all the world like a half knackered builders van.

oilyspanner · Post by **oilyspanner** » 09 Dec 2004, 01:04

I have the original 1.7TD motor from my BX in the garage looking for something like a C15 van, that would probably upset the local Corsa driving chavs almost as much as the BX upsets VW bora drivers.
Stewart

vanny · Post by **vanny** » 10 Dec 2004, 02:19

nargh, your all wrong!
The best thing i've seen in a C15 is a BX 16v engine! So powerful it has to have regular trye changes, but is used as a plumbers van, and most importantly it has hydraulic rear suspension!
It's one to drool over, joined the BX16v lot at FCS 2003

ACTIVE8 · Post by **ACTIVE8** » 11 Dec 2004, 16:15

I know a nice subtle sleeper.
The car is an old 1953 Ford Popular.
Now from the outside when you drive alongside the car it appears to be a good condition classic car, until you look closely with a technically trained eye.
The owner mentioned recently about a driver of a Porsche that pulled up alongside him at the traffic lights.
Reving the engine constantly the 911 driver was trying to impress with his car.
So when the lights changed the driver of the Ford watched him accelerate away. The Porsche driver was about to have his ego deflated.[^]
This was because the driver of the Ford now opened up the big block V8, and decided to show the other driver his wolf in sheeps clothing, and did it growl or what! [:D][8D][:D]

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 11 Dec 2004, 16:31

yes 'sleepers' are fun - reminds me of many years ago when I had a base model 1500 Hillman Hunter (minx) fitted with the 1725 alloy headed engine which with the low 1500 axle accelerated very well. I didn't think much about this till I realised that quite often elderly gents in Singer gazelles (same thing 1500) and hunters were pulling alongside at lights and trying to burn me off presumably because m=ine was scruffy. Answer was simple - let them get a little ahead, put it in second with foot flat down and blow them off then settle down to the speed limit or a little above. few seconds later - yes without fail they'd roar past!
Used to get a similar thing when i had an XJ6 series 3. If I was cruising along at the speed limit GTI's and things would just have to overtake. What I used to do was wait until I came to a roundabout, take the other lane and brake late, going alongside, then about 2/3 rds way to the exit, knock it down to second manually and boot it and steer and leave the roundabout ahead. Sure enough a few seconds later the Gti would roar past me at enormous speed, unable to understand how this large car could possibly out corner them!
can do a similar thing in out ZX 1.9D! - perfecting the line at the moment!
Jeremy

Stuart McB · Post by **Stuart McB** » 11 Dec 2004, 21:10

ZX TD 1.9 Avantage, battered panels, looks tatty. Goes like the wind. Surprised many a golf up the Hagley Mile by me on a moring.

Post by **martyhopkirk** » 11 Dec 2004, 21:28

Have to admit that the ZX has brought many a grin to my face upon cornering like a nutter with my foot down, its almost as sticky as my old 84 Mini Sprite with 1275 Austin GT engine (from an old 1300 GT - TC). That used to have me wearing a permenant smile - mind you I blame it for my hearing loss - fast enough, infinatly chuckable and made more noise than an angry wasp - standard exhaust though.
Have a photo somewhere... hang on.....((((Rummage))))