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

[Zelandeth]

Reminds me, a bit, of the XM V6 exhaust! Another incredibly complicated system for what it was and with a transverse box...

Definitely worth a stainless exhaust if it's a keeper Zel... I'm planning to get a stainless system for Bluebell when the time comes...

Do you have any good local exhaust fabricators in mind?

I've zero actual personal experience so far, but these guys over in Wolverton have been independently recommended to me by a few people so would probably be my first port of call. Both previous occasions I've been planning to use them I've wound up selling the cars on before getting as far as getting the exhaust work actually done!

[CitroJim]

Thanks Zel Hope they won't mind doing a bit of French stuff given their name!

[Zelandeth]

Today was largely spent twiddling my thumbs waiting for a transporter to materialize to collect the Cavalier - who then never appeared. Apparently 0830 tomorrow morning, we'll see I guess.

I did swap the air filter out on the R25 though as it was an easy, quick thing I could do while I was still waiting for them.



I wanted to take a closer look at the housing to investigate the crack I'd seen in the lid. Turns out it is indeed through to the clean side of the filter.



I've temporarily patched this with some aluminium tape, I'll deploy some epoxy to more permanently fix this shortly until a replacement lid turns up.

[MattBLancs]

Looking at the impression of the nut inside the lid and that bolt + penny washer+ nut arrangement on that central bracket, I can't help but wonder if that's original fitment/ why the lid is cracked?

I wouldn't expect too much leakage through the crack - depression is only due to filter media resistance (i.e. a lot different than if was post throttle body) would be tempted to "plastic weld" it back together with a soldering iron if it was mine

[MattBLancs]

Actually, are you sure it's to the clean side?

Would be very odd arrangement, but looks like in through the centre and out of the sides looking at the picture

[mickthemaverick]

I agree with Matt there. If you go for plastic welding you can use black cable ties as a filler with the iron. It works very well in most cases!!

[MattBLancs]

I agree with Matt there. If you go for plastic welding you can use black cable ties as a filler with the iron. It works very well in most cases!!

PSA tend to mark the plastic type in lots of the components, so I normally try to use the same stuff. Couldn't identify it from the codes on the picture so maybe Renault aren't as helpful.

Coat hangers (polypropylene), milk bottles (HDPE) and cable ties (nylon I think) all pressed into service under the crude fumblings of my repairs!
Definitely an outside job though, fumes not so healthy to ingest.

[CitroJim]

I just hope it's not suffering from the brittleness that develops in so much French plastic after 30 or so years...

These days I treat anything made of any sort of plastic on my cars like a priceless Ming Vase...

[Zelandeth]

Derp...of course that's the inlet side. My mistake.

It feels reasonably sturdy still, my guess is that the original fasteners seized in place during the car's 11 year slumber and the cover was damaged getting into it during the revival work. I'll figure out a proper solution in due course.

There's a rural scrap yard not far from where I used to live where stuff never leaves - it just periodically gets shoved further to the back of the yard, which had a trio of 25s last time I was there - which admittedly was a good while ago - so next time I'm in the area I'll be making a trip there to see if they're still there. If so could be a good source of silly little bits and pieces like these.

[MattBLancs]

Derp...of course that's the inlet side. My mistake.

Don't worry about it, the PSA filter that looks similar (e.g. 306 XUD) definitely flows the other way! I caught the pipework in corner of my eye and did a double take.

Be careful if you go after a scrapyard one, as treat with kid gloves (or like a Ming Vase ) as you may just discover how easily mangled the original arrangement was!

Not sure how much plastic there is to play with, but might be potential to fix (and possibly glue as well) a rivet nut into that bracket and then use a bolt down from the outside?

[CitroJim]

There's a rural scrap yard not far from where I used to live where stuff never leaves - it just periodically gets shoved further to the back of the yard

That sounds just about ripe for a visit from HubNut to record another of his rather excellent scrapyard exploration videos

In one I watched he unearthed a potentially restorable Invacar like yours...

[CitroJim]

I see HubNut has received two honourable mentions on this very forum today The other one being Husky commenting on his poorly Berlingo video...

[myglaren]

He should come back and entertain/enlighten us as he used to do.
Tempted to open a thread with his and similar video content. Like professor Tomato.

[Zelandeth]

About 22 hours later than originally scheduled, but the Cavalier headed off to its new home this morning.



I need to find out who the shipping company to make sure I don't unwittingly use them in future. The buyer had to badger them yesterday for any sort of updates - and it was about 1930 that we eventually got the "tomorrow" message... bearing in mind this was meant to have been a 1100 collection. If things were going that sideways all they had to do was tell us. Then this morning they arrived a full 32 minutes before the agreed pickup window. Not impressed.

These guys have been my go-to for vehicle transport for the last couple of years, sadly weren't available for this job.

Sad to see it go, but it's gone to a good home. The guy who's bought it is far more capable of doing their own welding/fabrication for those repairs than I am, so I reckon we'll see it back on the road pretty soon. The 25 is a far more me car though, so I think I'll get more enjoyment out of that longer term - even if it will be even more challenging in some areas, and doesn't have the advantages of being tax exempt sadly. Much as I enjoyed it, the Cavalier had always been something of a target of opportunity/being offered a good deal on it whereas the 25 has been a specific wishlist car for a long, long time.

[MattBLancs]

You can't do everything, sounds like you made the right choice there.

I presume today's ahead of schedule arrival was on the back of a similarly poor lack of any sensible communication? As you say a quick message "we're delayed" / "we'll be with you in 20 minutes" goes a long way, in the days of sat navs, Google traffic, hands free and decent mobile coverage it's a poor show keeping your customers in the dark!