jgra1 blog

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 21 Nov 2008, 12:57

Could be snowy tonight and tomorrow

Jim I dont supose you have an exhaust flange bolt spare? the really annoying ones that hold frontpipe to manifiold?
I thought I had one but could not find it last night..

No idea what happened to the original (will be taking the exhaust system off to check its not gone inside

)

Unread post by **myglaren** » 21 Nov 2008, 20:45

jgra1 wrote:Could be snowy tonight and tomorrow

Jim I dont supose you have an exhaust flange bolt spare? the really annoying ones that hold frontpipe to manifiold?
I thought I had one but could not find it last night..

No idea what happened to the original (will be taking the exhaust system off to check its not gone inside )

Snowed here this morning - there was quite a bit up Stanley way. Soon went though.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 21 Nov 2008, 21:04

myglaren wrote: Snowed here this morning

That won't stop me

I'm planning to set off pretty early tomorrow morning for the journey up.

Have the kettle on for about 10'ish Steve

Will I get to see the Angel of the North Steve? Really intrigued to see it..

Unread post by **myglaren** » 21 Nov 2008, 21:14

10ish? Don't you know it is out of season now?

Yes, you pass within ¼ mile of the rusthea... Angel

If you want to go over the Tyne Bridge there is a layby you can stop in and walk around and admire it.

ETA - bring your brains with you as I need to pick them on a point or two (won't hurt a bit, trust me.)

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 21 Nov 2008, 21:23

Excellent stuff. Must bring my camera 8) (and spare batteries

)

myglaren wrote: ETA - bring your brains with you as I need to pick them on a point or two (won't hurt a bit, trust me.)

I'll put them by the car keys so I don't forget them...

Unread post by **myglaren** » 21 Nov 2008, 21:52

Sorry Jim, re-reading that it is a load of cobblers.

What I meant was that if you intend going over the Tyne Bridge, that that route takes you closer to The Angel and offers an opportunity to view it at close quarters, not that you can go and look at the bridge - which you could if you wished, but that is a separate subject.

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 22 Nov 2008, 01:50

7 hours drive, pretty much non stop , 350 miles and the tank still reads a fraction above half

weather was all scaremongering, tonight

Jim, take your time! take lots of photos from every angle...

I may wobble into the garage at 9 but wont be on all 4 cylinders until 11

plan is
head on
belt on
compression check for good (or bad) measure
manifolds and fuel filter on
engine in
driveshafts, wires, cables, pipes on

champagne

or something like that, its late..

Dad has some relations over, and he seems a bit worse for wear !....

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 22 Nov 2008, 10:20

jgra1 wrote:Jim I dont supose you have an exhaust flange bolt spare? the really annoying ones that hold frontpipe to manifiold?
I thought I had one but could not find it last night

The exhaust fitting kit comes with a choice of two sets so I have a pair unused. They're slightly longer than the ones fitted on the 1,9TD. Would they do?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 23 Nov 2008, 04:02

Hi John,

Got home all safe and sound at 02.50

Great journey, the 2.1TD excelled itself and turned over 100,000 miles passing the Angel 8) I'll always remember that!

Fanstastic day, excellent. Enjoyed every minute

My Tom Tom started working as soon as it warmed up, poor thing was frozen

All the best with your endeavours tomorrow and a safe journey home 8)

Off to get a few hours sleep now. It's almost 24 hours since I have

reblack68 · Unread post by **reblack68** » 23 Nov 2008, 09:40

citrojim wrote:I fitted a Witter on my 1.9TD John and my box trailer sits very high on it, just like yours. Caravan is fine though. Same with the Witter on my Estate although the design is totally different. On normal suspension setting, the caravan sits absolutely dead level on both cars.

The standard for towbar height was changed at some time in the 1980s. Our 1983 caravan sits at a funny angle. It's made worse by the self levelling, a lesser car would at least sit down a bit with the caravan on.

It's illegal to use a drop plate on a post 1998 car, or at least it's illegal to use towing equipment that isn't type approved for the car but I think you'd have to be unlucky to come across a policeman who A) knows that and B) cares.

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 24 Nov 2008, 10:19

hi all,

Jim many thanks from Dad and I, we worked flat out yesterday from 9, but by 3 there were still a few loose ends and i needed breakfast and to get on the road.. shame, I think another hour or two would have done it. At least I have my 'heavy plant' crane back for the V6 and the Zetec SE engine changes

I managed without any warning to 'do' another fuel filter, at Grantham. One flick of the engine light and a couple of miles of bad running and that was that! very different from last time (200 miles before it stopped finallly)
Anyway, 20 seconds with a torx bit and threw another filter in and all was fine from then on.

Steve, KP very sorry as I wanted to catch up with you both

I am not tied to driving up there next time, so may get a cheap rail ticket before they go up in price.

some approximate figures :
full tank and motorways, half loaded, but travelling at 60-70mph
636 miles

Full tank and enthusiastic lane driving, car unloaded, for 2 weeks,
464 miles

Full tank and driving as fast as I dare, exact same journey as the first one
570 miles

Journey from here to dads and back, via the A1 - 700 miles almost exactly

back later (our company has been taken over, and today is the sad day we loose all internet useage

- until I bring a laptop in

)

John

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 06 Dec 2008, 10:55

MikeT wrote:
jgra1 wrote:Jim I dont supose you have an exhaust flange bolt spare? the really annoying ones that hold frontpipe to manifiold?
I thought I had one but could not find it last night
The exhaust fitting kit comes with a choice of two sets so I have a pair unused. They're slightly longer than the ones fitted on the 1,9TD. Would they do?

Bump

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 08 Dec 2008, 09:08

hello Mike

its ok, the original bolt turned up

I didn't post a followup to the visit to dads as have been short of time and also cant access FCF from work anymore

will work on it

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 08 Dec 2008, 11:08

John,

When are you planning to go back up to your Dad's?

I was thinking and remembered something, now the engine has a Bosch in place of the Lucas pump, the original Lucas connector won't fit to activate the stop solenoid. It'll be necessary to pick up an ignition-switched feed for the stop solenoid. It does not have to be a beefy supply as there is very little current involoved. The replacement Bosch came with a plug for the stop solenoid wiring but with very short wires on it. If you look at the remains of the loom on the other engine, you'll find a similar plug with much longer wires on it and this'll be the better one to use.

Depending on when, I may well be able to come up again. I'd like to as I'd love to be there when the car rolls out of the garage under its own steam again

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 08 Dec 2008, 13:54

Jim would be great if you could come back up so we can see it roll out

there is so little time at the moment

I think I have had 2 weekends at home since August

I thought of getting a cheap train up there, you could hop on at peterborough or grantham? or I train too either of these and we could go up in your estate

I just cant face that journey again from here by car...

but I am away 20/21 and most of xmas ...

and i have loads on at home with the V6 and other stuff.. what a nightmare..

have you any hols left to take this year? like a friday off... could go up Friday morning back Sat morning?

dunno really, he is silly for moving so far away