Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Tell us your ongoing tales and experiences with your French car here. Post pictures of your car here as well.
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 28716
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
x 5672

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by myglaren »

The dash is also the same as my dad's 1100, the first in Whitby and one of the first in the country.
302 CVN.
He loved the registration as he worked in the 302 building of the Fylingdales BMEWS.
OIP-3363600872.jpg
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 55093
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
x 8395

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by CitroJim »

myglaren wrote: 10 Oct 2026, 09:40 He loved the registration as he worked in the 302 building of the Fylingdales BMEWS.
Bet he needed a big driver when playing with those big golf balls :wink: :lol:
Jim

A bit of a Citroen AX fan...
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 28716
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
x 5672

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by myglaren »

All gone now.
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 55093
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
x 8395

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by CitroJim »

myglaren wrote: 11 Oct 2026, 09:38 All gone now.
Buried under houses?

That seems to be about par for the course these days :roll:
Jim

A bit of a Citroen AX fan...
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 28716
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
x 5672

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by myglaren »

Replaced with a phased array radar.
RAF_Fylingdales_Radar.jpeg
Haven't been to this one but did work at the former one for a bit. Had a tour of it too. The antennas were huge, the size of a football field, and would 'swish' back and forth very quickly and silently, very impressive. As was the blue 'flame' that could be seen through the observation ports in the waveguides.

Less impressive was almost getting taken out by a golf ball -a real one - when entering one of the support buildings, the communications centre with America. Yanks playing indoor golf there, lethal.

This one was notable for its effect on a Subaru that was owned by a Whitby shop owner who lived in Malton. As she passed it, the car would die and she would call the AA to rescue her.
They couldn't find a fault and having removed it from the vicinity of the radar, it would be perfectly OK. She had to use an alternative route until she changed cars.

I imagine it is redundant now, superseded by satellite technology.
User avatar
mickthemaverick
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 21167
Joined: 11 May 2019, 17:56
x 8123

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

myglaren wrote: 12 Oct 2026, 09:42 This one was notable for its effect on a Subaru that was owned by a Whitby shop owner who lived in Malton. As she passed it, the car would die and she would call the AA to rescue her.
They couldn't find a fault and having removed it from the vicinity of the radar, it would be perfectly OK. She had to use an alternative route until she changed cars.
Next time I come up there Steve I must do a drive by and see if all is well!! :-D
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 28716
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
x 5672

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by myglaren »

Haven't heard of anything similar recently.
User avatar
Zelandeth
Donor 2024
Posts: 5315
Joined: 16 Nov 2014, 23:36
x 1603

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by Zelandeth »

The Morris had a pretty horrible miss when it arrived here. It felt to me like fuelling so I did the right thing and immediately looked at the ignition system.

Mmm...crusty.

Image

This much oxide gunk was removed just by hand.

Image

That definitely won't have been helping anything.

Took it inside and gave the terminals a going over with the little brass brush attachment on the Dremel. Nae perfect, but a million times better than they were.

Image

Not having about 1/16" of solid crust on should help. Pretty standard stuff for a car that's not in daily use and sits around for long periods.

The points were similarly crusty so got cleaned as well. Didn't mess with the gap as it looks reasonable and getting to the feeler gauges would involve moving three cars and I just didn't have time.

Only had a brief run round the block, but definitely feels like it's running smoother and is just more willing.

Hoping to use the car for tomorrow's local errands so will get a better idea of if it's now running as it should be again then.

Really does feel like with the state of the roads these days that a Hydrolastic sprung car (or oleopneumatic Citroen) really is the answer to comfort. Yes the body control is sometimes a little... interesting, and it can be bouncy on the wrong surface - but I'll take that occasional lack of composure over smashing the fillings out of my teeth any day of the week.
Current fleet:
07 Volvo V70 SE D5, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 73 AC Model 70, 62 Rover 110.
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 55093
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
x 8395

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by CitroJim »

Good work Zel 😊

I must say that new phased radar array is nowhere near as easy on the eye as the radomes were...
Jim

A bit of a Citroen AX fan...
User avatar
Zelandeth
Donor 2024
Posts: 5315
Joined: 16 Nov 2014, 23:36
x 1603

Re: Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

Unread post by Zelandeth »

Oh joy. Apparently I'm going to need to go find some black market solder now.
Screenshot_20261012-212337.png
Have lead free stuff in stock already and it's generally used for new applications - but it and leaded solder really don't mix well and about 90% of the kit I work on already has leaded stuff in it. So for repair work I'm not interested in having to totally desolder and redo every joint I touch.
Current fleet:
07 Volvo V70 SE D5, 85 Sinclair C5, 84 Trabant 601S, 73 AC Model 70, 62 Rover 110.