Dufty
Active Member
- Posts
- 443
- Location
- Uttoxeter (UK)
About 18 months ago my company car arrived, at about the same time as the big red 300 brick's MOT and tax expired. With work commitments increasing I didn't have the time to prep for an MOT so she's be SORN'd ever since.
Last week Mrs Dufty decided that at fou*cough*ty years of age it's time she passed her driving test and rather than blow a grand or so on another car I've decided it's time to get the spanners out and get my hands dirty!
Not sure what it'll take to get through the test yet but the list is already growing:
First up, and a guaranteed fail, the previously patched O/S Rear arch has detached so needs a new one. Not ideal but I can live with that.
The bonnet cable has been jammed for 12 months so I haven't even able to turn the engine over. I've tried a gazillion ways to open the bugger but tonight (having waited a couple of days for some bonnet clips to arrive) I reached the last and most drastic resort and with the help of a crowbar & lump hammer I 'persuaded' the release mechanism to do just that and it finally popped open
The good news is there's no more rust under there than when she was parked and all fluids are still at the correct level so (fingers crossed) I'll try and turn her over in a day or so, but not before the tyres have been replaced...
She's sat on the original (and bloody awful) alloys, 3 of which were knackered when I bought her and have never been able to hold air for longer than a week. The tyres were knackered and balding too and would be lucky to pass so I popped on fleabay last night to see what was out there.
Lucky me bagged a set of 16" black modulars wrapped in a set of ATs. Almost fell of my chair when the offer was accepted
Hoping to chuck the new boots on tomorrow and then have a bash at turning the engine over by the weekend then all being well that'll be enough to get me to the MOT station where I fully expect a painfully long list of repairs to get her through.
But at least that way I'll know where to start!
Last week Mrs Dufty decided that at fou*cough*ty years of age it's time she passed her driving test and rather than blow a grand or so on another car I've decided it's time to get the spanners out and get my hands dirty!
Not sure what it'll take to get through the test yet but the list is already growing:
First up, and a guaranteed fail, the previously patched O/S Rear arch has detached so needs a new one. Not ideal but I can live with that.
The bonnet cable has been jammed for 12 months so I haven't even able to turn the engine over. I've tried a gazillion ways to open the bugger but tonight (having waited a couple of days for some bonnet clips to arrive) I reached the last and most drastic resort and with the help of a crowbar & lump hammer I 'persuaded' the release mechanism to do just that and it finally popped open
The good news is there's no more rust under there than when she was parked and all fluids are still at the correct level so (fingers crossed) I'll try and turn her over in a day or so, but not before the tyres have been replaced...
She's sat on the original (and bloody awful) alloys, 3 of which were knackered when I bought her and have never been able to hold air for longer than a week. The tyres were knackered and balding too and would be lucky to pass so I popped on fleabay last night to see what was out there.
Lucky me bagged a set of 16" black modulars wrapped in a set of ATs. Almost fell of my chair when the offer was accepted
Hoping to chuck the new boots on tomorrow and then have a bash at turning the engine over by the weekend then all being well that'll be enough to get me to the MOT station where I fully expect a painfully long list of repairs to get her through.
But at least that way I'll know where to start!
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