Topic: Look what I just bought!  (Read 15372 times)

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James_Smith

  • Guest
Look what I just bought!
« on: May 20, 2004, 02:06:13 pm »
 Sweet!!!

Oh yes. Completely unsuitable for someone on a student budget with Britain's petrol prices, but I just don't care....  

Sirgod

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2004, 02:09:10 pm »
£460.00  Wow. Great deal for It to begin with, and yes th Prces for Petrol are high, But that's a steal. You can hardly find those New in the US anymore.

I'm Happy for you James.

Stephen

Stormbringer

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2004, 02:09:55 pm »
It's always good to have wheels.

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2004, 03:31:07 pm »
Cheers Stephen, Storm. That auction got very panicky towards the end - I think I had around 25secs to go when I put the final bid in. Thank god my computer stayed running long enough to complete it, damn thing crashed about 10 mins after!

Hopefully, me and Dad can have some fun with this lump. Dad needs something to move equipment out to places (he works with environmental monitoring equipment and software, so needs to transport dust gauges and sampling equipment around quite a bit), and I need something huge to have fun with on the roads!

Sten

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #4 on: May 20, 2004, 03:47:14 pm »
Good god man you will be driving a battlestar with wheels!

J. Carney

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2004, 03:53:09 pm »
LOL, where I'm from, fathers CRINGE when a Land Ship like that pulls up in the driveway... especially one with a 'properly equipped cargo area.'

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2004, 03:59:09 pm »
Quote:

LOL, where I'm from, fathers CRINGE when a Land Ship like that pulls up in the driveway... especially one with a 'properly equipped cargo area.'  




Heheheheheheheheheheh


 

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2004, 04:22:00 pm »
Got yourself a "Yank Tank".  The "B" roads are gonna be fun, let alone the "A" routes.

When I was stationed at RAF Croughton, one of the guys had brought a '80 Dodge Ram Charger over (I just bought a Brit car with the right hand drive).  Just becareful passing, you won't be able to se around the car in front of you.


Mike
   

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #8 on: May 20, 2004, 04:26:44 pm »
Yep. Going to have to learn to drive all over again (first time LHD, first time autobox, first time trying to drive something 219 inches  long!)

Kmelew

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #9 on: May 20, 2004, 04:49:46 pm »
Woohoo!!  A battlewagon!!

BTW, where does one buy parts for it in the UK?  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #10 on: May 20, 2004, 04:58:15 pm »
Quote:

Woohoo!!  A battlewagon!!

BTW, where does one buy parts for it in the UK?  




US Automotive. And various other places. Mechanically it's all GM parts-bin stuff, so it's pretty easy to get parts for the engine and trans. The body may get more difficult though, and considering its in Britain the good ol' tinworm should be settling in now.

Dogmatix!

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #11 on: May 20, 2004, 05:29:30 pm »
Quote:

Got yourself a "Yank Tank".  The "B" roads are gonna be fun, let alone the "A" routes.

When I was stationed at RAF Croughton, one of the guys had brought a '80 Dodge Ram Charger over (I just bought a Brit car with the right hand drive).  Just becareful passing, you won't be able to se around the car in front of you.


Mike
     





lol...I was thinking the same thing...heheh.

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #12 on: May 20, 2004, 06:15:00 pm »
You might try around RAF Lakenheath or up to Menwith Hill..lots of American GI's...Probably some forums over there with some places, too.

Mike
 

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #13 on: May 20, 2004, 08:40:27 pm »
If you fill the gas tank up, the car will double in value!    

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #14 on: May 20, 2004, 08:45:17 pm »
Quote:

If you fill the gas tank up, the car will double in value!    




You joke, but I reckon 22 US gals won't be far off that kind of money if our government keep raising duty on petrol!

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #15 on: May 21, 2004, 07:15:42 pm »
I am not kidding! Petrol prices in the UK are outrageous! (that's gasoline for us Yanks)  

TheShadow

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #16 on: May 21, 2004, 08:22:43 pm »
 That wagon is probably older than you are. Remember most 83's were made in 82. Throw some padding in the back and...    

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #17 on: May 22, 2004, 09:01:19 am »
Quote:

 That wagon is probably older than you are. Remember most 83's were made in 82. Throw some padding in the back and...    




LOL!


Went to Halfords today to try and find a belt that I need to get the car moving. Any of my fellow Brits here on the forum realise that Halfords don't know what size belts they stock? And that the sizes aren't quoted on the packaging?

It took me an HOUR to find two that may or may not work. I know US and Euro teeth on v-belts are different, so there's a good chance the belt will come off at moderate revs. May end up going the old fashioned route here - a pair of tights/stockings ought to hold for 120 miles....either way, I know that I'm now going to have to go to US Autos in Bedford to get parts for it - nowhere else in Blighty will stock parts that will work.

On the plus side, I now know for definite  that the engine is a 307ci/5 litre one (can't be anything else according to US Auto). I have a plan for the future involving a 455ci motor, a pair of 4-bbl Holleys and 600 horsepower - but that may have to wait a while    When all's said and done, I want this car to be faster than my mate's '73 Aussie Charger. Now, if I can just find an insurer who will even give me a quote...

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #18 on: May 22, 2004, 09:03:01 am »
Quote:

I am not kidding! Petrol prices in the UK are outrageous! (that's gasoline for us Yanks)  




I'm glad one of you guys over there recognises just how lucky you lot are paying those prices that you b*tch about constantly

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #19 on: May 22, 2004, 10:55:33 am »
Yeah, I thought the price was high until I realized the price was for a LITER of petrol, not a gallon!    

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #20 on: May 22, 2004, 11:09:41 am »
Quote:

Yeah, I thought the price was high until I realized the price was for a LITER of petrol, not a gallon!    




The cheapest I've paid for petrol recently was £0.76 per litre. On average it costs near enough £25 to fill the tank up on a car that I used to be able to fill for under £20 a short time ago, a fair old jump considering how small my current car is. I remember being in a car with my dad when I was much younger, pulling up to a petrol station thinking that £0.60 per litre was expensive...10 years down the line, and now look what I'm paying for fuel. I have just got to get out of this country.

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #21 on: May 22, 2004, 11:17:24 am »
Ahhh the days of my youth..when I was first married ('75), my wife and I would joke on how you could say " put $5.00 in" when we were driving a Beetle (gas was under $.45 a gallon then)..10 gallon tank..you do the math..

Mike


P.S.  when I as in the UK in 85-88..petrol averaged 3.25 quid to the Imperial gallon...quite a shock if I ran out of gas rations for the BX..

   

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #22 on: May 22, 2004, 11:56:20 am »
While I really like England, I can't figure out how people live there! I know petrol is expensive, but have you ever ordered a pint of beer in a bar? It is good stuff, but ouch!

How do English soccer fans buy enough beer to get drunk anyway? A home equity loan perhaps?  

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #23 on: May 22, 2004, 12:02:12 pm »
The Dole set's out how much per week is for "Pub Entertainment"...pull down the form UB42 (yes, it's the name of a rock band..named after the form)...the biggest problems American's have, is what it generally costs in dollars (not across the board), costs the same in pounds...but then add in the exchange rate.. a $20 toy @ WalMart will cost 20 quid in Oxford.  then there is the VAT (Value Added Tax)..I don't want to go there...


Mike
   

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #24 on: May 22, 2004, 12:14:37 pm »
How much does a pint of the good stuff cost over there now? I seem to remember 5 to 6 pounds and that does not include a tip!

   

Stormbringer

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #25 on: May 22, 2004, 12:22:39 pm »
Geez! and to think I was thinking of catching a MAC flight to England to goof around for a bit!  

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #26 on: May 22, 2004, 12:28:53 pm »
I suggest you carry a lot of beer in your carry on luggage!  

Stormbringer

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #27 on: May 22, 2004, 12:43:28 pm »
 I mean if bear is that much then the other necessities will be more expensive still ; things like hotel rooms and food. I think England is off my list for now.  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #28 on: May 22, 2004, 01:03:09 pm »
Heh.

A pint of Marston's Pedigree in my local is £2.05, Fosters and Carlsberg £2.10, £2.30 for Strongbow, Stella, Kronenburg and Guiness. Thanks to the US laws on buying alcohol (Pussy Law # 216 ) I've not bought a pint in the States, how do the prices compare?

J. Carney

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #29 on: May 22, 2004, 02:22:33 pm »
Ok, when I exchanged the last of the Pounds that I used to aquire 'beverages' from our wonderful, thoughtful, NON-DRY cousins in the Royal Navy the going rate was about $1.50 per £1.00. So...

Over here you can buy FOUR pints of Guiness for $6.50, which will come out to roughly £4.50, in a beer store- it's about $3.00 a pint  in the local bar, so that's about £2.00 even. Fosters is about $5.00 a sixpack (6x12 oz.) so that would be 4.5 pints for £3.35 in the beer store and about $2.50 or £1.60 in the bar.

I don't know of any bars around here that do any of the others on your list.

P.S.- Thanks for your support in Iraq- Her Majesty's Armed Forces have saved the sanity of many a thirsty G.I.!

digi

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #30 on: May 22, 2004, 05:11:12 pm »
Iam bound to see you driving round this area in that automobile.  Nice buy JS!!

ferretlxix

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #31 on: May 22, 2004, 05:57:48 pm »
Aloha and poing James form a mustalid in Hawaii!
Being the friendly Yank I am.
If you need help with looking for parts on your mobile landship,
I'll be more than happy to help.
Do you have any Literature (Like a Chiltons) on your vehicle?
Contact me via PM or e mail and I'll see if I can hook you up.  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 pm by ferretlxix »

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #32 on: May 22, 2004, 06:16:15 pm »
Quote:

Aloha and poing James form a mustalid in Hawaii!
Being the friendly Yank I am.
If you need help with looking for parts on your mobile landship,
I'll be more than happy to help.
Do you have any Literature (Like a Chiltons) on your vehicle?
Contact me via PM or e mail and I'll see if I can hook you up.  




You are a star of the first order ferret! When I pick the car up tomorrow I'll find out what manuals/paperwork come with it, and get back to you.

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #33 on: May 23, 2004, 07:05:14 am »
Right, off to pick the car up. Hope we can get her home under her own power!

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #34 on: May 23, 2004, 06:50:20 pm »
Well, she made it home, over 120 miles from where she set off, under her own power.

She's beautiful.

She's also suffering from pretty bad tin worm in a few spots (hey, it's Britain), the alternator is shot, she overheats quickly when standing but not at all when moving (fan might be having some issues, or the water pump, or both), the electrics in time-honoured old car tradition are going to require surgery, and she's chewing through fuel because the emissions control setup isn't working right. Bought 30 litres of fuel on the way home for nearly £25....the tank fitted holds much more.

Good points - steering is nicely weighted with plenty of feel for an assisted setup, gears change smoothly, engine also runs smoothly. And she's beautiful.

I'm now hunting for a workshop manual so I can find what connects to where. Oh, and if anyone's ever tried changing the drive belts on an Olds Custom Cruiser or Delta 88 of 1983 vintage - how the hell do you do it properly? There's nothing to adjust or slack off, no tensioners, you have to take components off to get the belts onto them, then re-attach the components! Which moron came up with that stroke of brilliance?! If any Olds designer wants to admit they were responsible for that, I would really like to meet them...

CaptStumpy

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #35 on: May 23, 2004, 07:05:04 pm »
Quote:

Oh, and if anyone's ever tried changing the drive belts on an Olds Custom Cruiser or Delta 88 of 1983 vintage - how the hell do you do it properly? There's nothing to adjust or slack off, no tensioners, you have to take components off to get the belts onto them, then re-attach the components! Which moron came up with that stroke of brilliance?! If any Olds designer wants to admit they were responsible for that, I would really like to meet them...  




You should be able to change belts by loosening components. For example the alternator should have a sliding bracket with a bolt that you can loosen but not completely remove and push the alternator toward the engine to remove. It should pivot. When you tighten just use a lever to get the right tension and tighten the bolt. Be careful to not overtighten, you might wear out the bearings in the alternator.  

ferretlxix

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #36 on: May 24, 2004, 03:16:07 am »
Quote:

Quote:

Aloha and poing James form a mustalid in Hawaii!
Being the friendly Yank I am.
If you need help with looking for parts on your mobile landship,
I'll be more than happy to help.
Do you have any Literature (Like a Chiltons) on your vehicle?
Contact me via PM or e mail and I'll see if I can hook you up.  




You are a star of the first order ferret! When I pick the car up tomorrow I'll find out what manuals/paperwork come with it, and get back to you.  



Got your PM and I replied to ya
Hope those Links I sent ya help out but, let me know if you would like me to do a bit of foot work.
by the way, here are those links again.
 Chiltons
 Haynes
Good luck with your new LAND BB!!  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #37 on: May 24, 2004, 05:48:57 am »
Thanks ferret. Just been looking at some parts today for her....some sensible stuff, some vital stuff.

Oh, and a 555ci 850hp crate motor. Hey, a guy can dream right?  

ferretlxix

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #38 on: May 25, 2004, 01:03:51 am »
Quote:

Thanks ferret. Just been looking at some parts today for her....some sensible stuff, some vital stuff.

Oh, and a 555ci 850hp crate motor. Hey, a guy can dream right?    



Yeha and in your area too, a fellow can dream of cheap petrol!

Hope the links I sent ya helps out. Let me know if you want me to look for some stuff for ya!  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #39 on: May 25, 2004, 10:25:49 am »
Quote:

Quote:

Thanks ferret. Just been looking at some parts today for her....some sensible stuff, some vital stuff.

Oh, and a 555ci 850hp crate motor. Hey, a guy can dream right?    



Yeha and in your area too, a fellow can dream of cheap petrol!

Hope the links I sent ya helps out. Let me know if you want me to look for some stuff for ya!  




 

Thanks again for the links ferret. I'm going to be pulling bits off the car this weekend to find out what the score is. One thing we did notice when getting a drive-belt attached to the engine - a few of the bolts have been replaced with the wrong kind, so I'm now having to juggle between 9/16 and 5/8 sockets, and a fairly dumb 15mm one for the few 15mm bolts that some [bleep] stuck on there. One of them on the alternator has pretty much welded itself in place...guess I'm going to have to break out the nig hammer for that one!

TB613

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #40 on: May 25, 2004, 03:55:04 pm »
 
Quote:

 One thing we did notice when getting a drive-belt attached to the engine - a few of the bolts have been replaced with the wrong kind, so I'm now having to juggle between 9/16 and 5/8 sockets, and a fairly dumb 15mm one for the few 15mm bolts that some [bleep] stuck on there. One of them on the alternator has pretty much welded itself in place...guess I'm going to have to break out the nig hammer for that one!




The SAE/Metric mix may have come from the factory, GM has been mixing standards in the US for quite some time which drives anyone trying to work on them nuts.  

ActiveX

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #41 on: May 25, 2004, 05:44:10 pm »
Quote:

Heh.

A pint of Marston's Pedigree in my local is £2.05, Fosters and Carlsberg £2.10, £2.30 for Strongbow, Stella, Kronenburg and Guiness. Thanks to the US laws on buying alcohol (Pussy Law # 216 ) I've not bought a pint in the States, how do the prices compare?  




Sheeit, just drink the damn petrol

TheShadow

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #42 on: May 26, 2004, 05:36:47 am »
Quote:

 
Quote:

 One thing we did notice when getting a drive-belt attached to the engine - a few of the bolts have been replaced with the wrong kind, so I'm now having to juggle between 9/16 and 5/8 sockets, and a fairly dumb 15mm one for the few 15mm bolts that some [bleep] stuck on there. One of them on the alternator has pretty much welded itself in place...guess I'm going to have to break out the nig hammer for that one!




The SAE/Metric mix may have come from the factory, GM has been mixing standards in the US for quite some time which drives anyone trying to work on them nuts.  




 The Automobile Industry has been in league with tool manufacturers to make us buy standard and metric tools. Its a conspiracy I tell you...a conspiracy! Now where did I put my meds?      

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #43 on: May 26, 2004, 08:26:19 am »
Quote:

 The Automobile Industry has been in league with tool manufacturers to make us buy standard and metric tools. Its a conspiracy I tell you...a conspiracy! Now where did I put my meds?      




Hehehehe. You may be right there.....

V. annoying though. I usually only work in inches, apart from when the Uni forces me to accept the existence of millimetres.

James_Smith

  • Guest
Look what I just bought!
« Reply #44 on: May 20, 2004, 02:06:13 pm »
 Sweet!!!

Oh yes. Completely unsuitable for someone on a student budget with Britain's petrol prices, but I just don't care....  

Sirgod

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #45 on: May 20, 2004, 02:09:10 pm »
£460.00  Wow. Great deal for It to begin with, and yes th Prces for Petrol are high, But that's a steal. You can hardly find those New in the US anymore.

I'm Happy for you James.

Stephen

Stormbringer

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #46 on: May 20, 2004, 02:09:55 pm »
It's always good to have wheels.

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #47 on: May 20, 2004, 03:31:07 pm »
Cheers Stephen, Storm. That auction got very panicky towards the end - I think I had around 25secs to go when I put the final bid in. Thank god my computer stayed running long enough to complete it, damn thing crashed about 10 mins after!

Hopefully, me and Dad can have some fun with this lump. Dad needs something to move equipment out to places (he works with environmental monitoring equipment and software, so needs to transport dust gauges and sampling equipment around quite a bit), and I need something huge to have fun with on the roads!

Sten

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #48 on: May 20, 2004, 03:47:14 pm »
Good god man you will be driving a battlestar with wheels!

J. Carney

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #49 on: May 20, 2004, 03:53:09 pm »
LOL, where I'm from, fathers CRINGE when a Land Ship like that pulls up in the driveway... especially one with a 'properly equipped cargo area.'

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #50 on: May 20, 2004, 03:59:09 pm »
Quote:

LOL, where I'm from, fathers CRINGE when a Land Ship like that pulls up in the driveway... especially one with a 'properly equipped cargo area.'  




Heheheheheheheheheheh


 

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #51 on: May 20, 2004, 04:22:00 pm »
Got yourself a "Yank Tank".  The "B" roads are gonna be fun, let alone the "A" routes.

When I was stationed at RAF Croughton, one of the guys had brought a '80 Dodge Ram Charger over (I just bought a Brit car with the right hand drive).  Just becareful passing, you won't be able to se around the car in front of you.


Mike
   

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #52 on: May 20, 2004, 04:26:44 pm »
Yep. Going to have to learn to drive all over again (first time LHD, first time autobox, first time trying to drive something 219 inches  long!)

Kmelew

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #53 on: May 20, 2004, 04:49:46 pm »
Woohoo!!  A battlewagon!!

BTW, where does one buy parts for it in the UK?  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #54 on: May 20, 2004, 04:58:15 pm »
Quote:

Woohoo!!  A battlewagon!!

BTW, where does one buy parts for it in the UK?  




US Automotive. And various other places. Mechanically it's all GM parts-bin stuff, so it's pretty easy to get parts for the engine and trans. The body may get more difficult though, and considering its in Britain the good ol' tinworm should be settling in now.

Dogmatix!

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #55 on: May 20, 2004, 05:29:30 pm »
Quote:

Got yourself a "Yank Tank".  The "B" roads are gonna be fun, let alone the "A" routes.

When I was stationed at RAF Croughton, one of the guys had brought a '80 Dodge Ram Charger over (I just bought a Brit car with the right hand drive).  Just becareful passing, you won't be able to se around the car in front of you.


Mike
     





lol...I was thinking the same thing...heheh.

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #56 on: May 20, 2004, 06:15:00 pm »
You might try around RAF Lakenheath or up to Menwith Hill..lots of American GI's...Probably some forums over there with some places, too.

Mike
 

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #57 on: May 20, 2004, 08:40:27 pm »
If you fill the gas tank up, the car will double in value!    

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #58 on: May 20, 2004, 08:45:17 pm »
Quote:

If you fill the gas tank up, the car will double in value!    




You joke, but I reckon 22 US gals won't be far off that kind of money if our government keep raising duty on petrol!

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #59 on: May 21, 2004, 07:15:42 pm »
I am not kidding! Petrol prices in the UK are outrageous! (that's gasoline for us Yanks)  

TheShadow

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #60 on: May 21, 2004, 08:22:43 pm »
 That wagon is probably older than you are. Remember most 83's were made in 82. Throw some padding in the back and...    

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #61 on: May 22, 2004, 09:01:19 am »
Quote:

 That wagon is probably older than you are. Remember most 83's were made in 82. Throw some padding in the back and...    




LOL!


Went to Halfords today to try and find a belt that I need to get the car moving. Any of my fellow Brits here on the forum realise that Halfords don't know what size belts they stock? And that the sizes aren't quoted on the packaging?

It took me an HOUR to find two that may or may not work. I know US and Euro teeth on v-belts are different, so there's a good chance the belt will come off at moderate revs. May end up going the old fashioned route here - a pair of tights/stockings ought to hold for 120 miles....either way, I know that I'm now going to have to go to US Autos in Bedford to get parts for it - nowhere else in Blighty will stock parts that will work.

On the plus side, I now know for definite  that the engine is a 307ci/5 litre one (can't be anything else according to US Auto). I have a plan for the future involving a 455ci motor, a pair of 4-bbl Holleys and 600 horsepower - but that may have to wait a while    When all's said and done, I want this car to be faster than my mate's '73 Aussie Charger. Now, if I can just find an insurer who will even give me a quote...

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #62 on: May 22, 2004, 09:03:01 am »
Quote:

I am not kidding! Petrol prices in the UK are outrageous! (that's gasoline for us Yanks)  




I'm glad one of you guys over there recognises just how lucky you lot are paying those prices that you b*tch about constantly

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #63 on: May 22, 2004, 10:55:33 am »
Yeah, I thought the price was high until I realized the price was for a LITER of petrol, not a gallon!    

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #64 on: May 22, 2004, 11:09:41 am »
Quote:

Yeah, I thought the price was high until I realized the price was for a LITER of petrol, not a gallon!    




The cheapest I've paid for petrol recently was £0.76 per litre. On average it costs near enough £25 to fill the tank up on a car that I used to be able to fill for under £20 a short time ago, a fair old jump considering how small my current car is. I remember being in a car with my dad when I was much younger, pulling up to a petrol station thinking that £0.60 per litre was expensive...10 years down the line, and now look what I'm paying for fuel. I have just got to get out of this country.

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #65 on: May 22, 2004, 11:17:24 am »
Ahhh the days of my youth..when I was first married ('75), my wife and I would joke on how you could say " put $5.00 in" when we were driving a Beetle (gas was under $.45 a gallon then)..10 gallon tank..you do the math..

Mike


P.S.  when I as in the UK in 85-88..petrol averaged 3.25 quid to the Imperial gallon...quite a shock if I ran out of gas rations for the BX..

   

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #66 on: May 22, 2004, 11:56:20 am »
While I really like England, I can't figure out how people live there! I know petrol is expensive, but have you ever ordered a pint of beer in a bar? It is good stuff, but ouch!

How do English soccer fans buy enough beer to get drunk anyway? A home equity loan perhaps?  

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #67 on: May 22, 2004, 12:02:12 pm »
The Dole set's out how much per week is for "Pub Entertainment"...pull down the form UB42 (yes, it's the name of a rock band..named after the form)...the biggest problems American's have, is what it generally costs in dollars (not across the board), costs the same in pounds...but then add in the exchange rate.. a $20 toy @ WalMart will cost 20 quid in Oxford.  then there is the VAT (Value Added Tax)..I don't want to go there...


Mike
   

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #68 on: May 22, 2004, 12:14:37 pm »
How much does a pint of the good stuff cost over there now? I seem to remember 5 to 6 pounds and that does not include a tip!

   

Stormbringer

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #69 on: May 22, 2004, 12:22:39 pm »
Geez! and to think I was thinking of catching a MAC flight to England to goof around for a bit!  

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #70 on: May 22, 2004, 12:28:53 pm »
I suggest you carry a lot of beer in your carry on luggage!  

Stormbringer

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #71 on: May 22, 2004, 12:43:28 pm »
 I mean if bear is that much then the other necessities will be more expensive still ; things like hotel rooms and food. I think England is off my list for now.  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #72 on: May 22, 2004, 01:03:09 pm »
Heh.

A pint of Marston's Pedigree in my local is £2.05, Fosters and Carlsberg £2.10, £2.30 for Strongbow, Stella, Kronenburg and Guiness. Thanks to the US laws on buying alcohol (Pussy Law # 216 ) I've not bought a pint in the States, how do the prices compare?

J. Carney

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #73 on: May 22, 2004, 02:22:33 pm »
Ok, when I exchanged the last of the Pounds that I used to aquire 'beverages' from our wonderful, thoughtful, NON-DRY cousins in the Royal Navy the going rate was about $1.50 per £1.00. So...

Over here you can buy FOUR pints of Guiness for $6.50, which will come out to roughly £4.50, in a beer store- it's about $3.00 a pint  in the local bar, so that's about £2.00 even. Fosters is about $5.00 a sixpack (6x12 oz.) so that would be 4.5 pints for £3.35 in the beer store and about $2.50 or £1.60 in the bar.

I don't know of any bars around here that do any of the others on your list.

P.S.- Thanks for your support in Iraq- Her Majesty's Armed Forces have saved the sanity of many a thirsty G.I.!

digi

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #74 on: May 22, 2004, 05:11:12 pm »
Iam bound to see you driving round this area in that automobile.  Nice buy JS!!

ferretlxix

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #75 on: May 22, 2004, 05:57:48 pm »
Aloha and poing James form a mustalid in Hawaii!
Being the friendly Yank I am.
If you need help with looking for parts on your mobile landship,
I'll be more than happy to help.
Do you have any Literature (Like a Chiltons) on your vehicle?
Contact me via PM or e mail and I'll see if I can hook you up.  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 pm by ferretlxix »

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #76 on: May 22, 2004, 06:16:15 pm »
Quote:

Aloha and poing James form a mustalid in Hawaii!
Being the friendly Yank I am.
If you need help with looking for parts on your mobile landship,
I'll be more than happy to help.
Do you have any Literature (Like a Chiltons) on your vehicle?
Contact me via PM or e mail and I'll see if I can hook you up.  




You are a star of the first order ferret! When I pick the car up tomorrow I'll find out what manuals/paperwork come with it, and get back to you.

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #77 on: May 23, 2004, 07:05:14 am »
Right, off to pick the car up. Hope we can get her home under her own power!

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #78 on: May 23, 2004, 06:50:20 pm »
Well, she made it home, over 120 miles from where she set off, under her own power.

She's beautiful.

She's also suffering from pretty bad tin worm in a few spots (hey, it's Britain), the alternator is shot, she overheats quickly when standing but not at all when moving (fan might be having some issues, or the water pump, or both), the electrics in time-honoured old car tradition are going to require surgery, and she's chewing through fuel because the emissions control setup isn't working right. Bought 30 litres of fuel on the way home for nearly £25....the tank fitted holds much more.

Good points - steering is nicely weighted with plenty of feel for an assisted setup, gears change smoothly, engine also runs smoothly. And she's beautiful.

I'm now hunting for a workshop manual so I can find what connects to where. Oh, and if anyone's ever tried changing the drive belts on an Olds Custom Cruiser or Delta 88 of 1983 vintage - how the hell do you do it properly? There's nothing to adjust or slack off, no tensioners, you have to take components off to get the belts onto them, then re-attach the components! Which moron came up with that stroke of brilliance?! If any Olds designer wants to admit they were responsible for that, I would really like to meet them...

CaptStumpy

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #79 on: May 23, 2004, 07:05:04 pm »
Quote:

Oh, and if anyone's ever tried changing the drive belts on an Olds Custom Cruiser or Delta 88 of 1983 vintage - how the hell do you do it properly? There's nothing to adjust or slack off, no tensioners, you have to take components off to get the belts onto them, then re-attach the components! Which moron came up with that stroke of brilliance?! If any Olds designer wants to admit they were responsible for that, I would really like to meet them...  




You should be able to change belts by loosening components. For example the alternator should have a sliding bracket with a bolt that you can loosen but not completely remove and push the alternator toward the engine to remove. It should pivot. When you tighten just use a lever to get the right tension and tighten the bolt. Be careful to not overtighten, you might wear out the bearings in the alternator.  

ferretlxix

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #80 on: May 24, 2004, 03:16:07 am »
Quote:

Quote:

Aloha and poing James form a mustalid in Hawaii!
Being the friendly Yank I am.
If you need help with looking for parts on your mobile landship,
I'll be more than happy to help.
Do you have any Literature (Like a Chiltons) on your vehicle?
Contact me via PM or e mail and I'll see if I can hook you up.  




You are a star of the first order ferret! When I pick the car up tomorrow I'll find out what manuals/paperwork come with it, and get back to you.  



Got your PM and I replied to ya
Hope those Links I sent ya help out but, let me know if you would like me to do a bit of foot work.
by the way, here are those links again.
 Chiltons
 Haynes
Good luck with your new LAND BB!!  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #81 on: May 24, 2004, 05:48:57 am »
Thanks ferret. Just been looking at some parts today for her....some sensible stuff, some vital stuff.

Oh, and a 555ci 850hp crate motor. Hey, a guy can dream right?  

ferretlxix

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #82 on: May 25, 2004, 01:03:51 am »
Quote:

Thanks ferret. Just been looking at some parts today for her....some sensible stuff, some vital stuff.

Oh, and a 555ci 850hp crate motor. Hey, a guy can dream right?    



Yeha and in your area too, a fellow can dream of cheap petrol!

Hope the links I sent ya helps out. Let me know if you want me to look for some stuff for ya!  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #83 on: May 25, 2004, 10:25:49 am »
Quote:

Quote:

Thanks ferret. Just been looking at some parts today for her....some sensible stuff, some vital stuff.

Oh, and a 555ci 850hp crate motor. Hey, a guy can dream right?    



Yeha and in your area too, a fellow can dream of cheap petrol!

Hope the links I sent ya helps out. Let me know if you want me to look for some stuff for ya!  




 

Thanks again for the links ferret. I'm going to be pulling bits off the car this weekend to find out what the score is. One thing we did notice when getting a drive-belt attached to the engine - a few of the bolts have been replaced with the wrong kind, so I'm now having to juggle between 9/16 and 5/8 sockets, and a fairly dumb 15mm one for the few 15mm bolts that some [bleep] stuck on there. One of them on the alternator has pretty much welded itself in place...guess I'm going to have to break out the nig hammer for that one!

TB613

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #84 on: May 25, 2004, 03:55:04 pm »
 
Quote:

 One thing we did notice when getting a drive-belt attached to the engine - a few of the bolts have been replaced with the wrong kind, so I'm now having to juggle between 9/16 and 5/8 sockets, and a fairly dumb 15mm one for the few 15mm bolts that some [bleep] stuck on there. One of them on the alternator has pretty much welded itself in place...guess I'm going to have to break out the nig hammer for that one!




The SAE/Metric mix may have come from the factory, GM has been mixing standards in the US for quite some time which drives anyone trying to work on them nuts.  

ActiveX

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #85 on: May 25, 2004, 05:44:10 pm »
Quote:

Heh.

A pint of Marston's Pedigree in my local is £2.05, Fosters and Carlsberg £2.10, £2.30 for Strongbow, Stella, Kronenburg and Guiness. Thanks to the US laws on buying alcohol (Pussy Law # 216 ) I've not bought a pint in the States, how do the prices compare?  




Sheeit, just drink the damn petrol

TheShadow

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #86 on: May 26, 2004, 05:36:47 am »
Quote:

 
Quote:

 One thing we did notice when getting a drive-belt attached to the engine - a few of the bolts have been replaced with the wrong kind, so I'm now having to juggle between 9/16 and 5/8 sockets, and a fairly dumb 15mm one for the few 15mm bolts that some [bleep] stuck on there. One of them on the alternator has pretty much welded itself in place...guess I'm going to have to break out the nig hammer for that one!




The SAE/Metric mix may have come from the factory, GM has been mixing standards in the US for quite some time which drives anyone trying to work on them nuts.  




 The Automobile Industry has been in league with tool manufacturers to make us buy standard and metric tools. Its a conspiracy I tell you...a conspiracy! Now where did I put my meds?      

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #87 on: May 26, 2004, 08:26:19 am »
Quote:

 The Automobile Industry has been in league with tool manufacturers to make us buy standard and metric tools. Its a conspiracy I tell you...a conspiracy! Now where did I put my meds?      




Hehehehe. You may be right there.....

V. annoying though. I usually only work in inches, apart from when the Uni forces me to accept the existence of millimetres.

James_Smith

  • Guest
Look what I just bought!
« Reply #88 on: May 20, 2004, 02:06:13 pm »
 Sweet!!!

Oh yes. Completely unsuitable for someone on a student budget with Britain's petrol prices, but I just don't care....  

Sirgod

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #89 on: May 20, 2004, 02:09:10 pm »
£460.00  Wow. Great deal for It to begin with, and yes th Prces for Petrol are high, But that's a steal. You can hardly find those New in the US anymore.

I'm Happy for you James.

Stephen

Stormbringer

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #90 on: May 20, 2004, 02:09:55 pm »
It's always good to have wheels.

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #91 on: May 20, 2004, 03:31:07 pm »
Cheers Stephen, Storm. That auction got very panicky towards the end - I think I had around 25secs to go when I put the final bid in. Thank god my computer stayed running long enough to complete it, damn thing crashed about 10 mins after!

Hopefully, me and Dad can have some fun with this lump. Dad needs something to move equipment out to places (he works with environmental monitoring equipment and software, so needs to transport dust gauges and sampling equipment around quite a bit), and I need something huge to have fun with on the roads!

Sten

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #92 on: May 20, 2004, 03:47:14 pm »
Good god man you will be driving a battlestar with wheels!

J. Carney

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #93 on: May 20, 2004, 03:53:09 pm »
LOL, where I'm from, fathers CRINGE when a Land Ship like that pulls up in the driveway... especially one with a 'properly equipped cargo area.'

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #94 on: May 20, 2004, 03:59:09 pm »
Quote:

LOL, where I'm from, fathers CRINGE when a Land Ship like that pulls up in the driveway... especially one with a 'properly equipped cargo area.'  




Heheheheheheheheheheh


 

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #95 on: May 20, 2004, 04:22:00 pm »
Got yourself a "Yank Tank".  The "B" roads are gonna be fun, let alone the "A" routes.

When I was stationed at RAF Croughton, one of the guys had brought a '80 Dodge Ram Charger over (I just bought a Brit car with the right hand drive).  Just becareful passing, you won't be able to se around the car in front of you.


Mike
   

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #96 on: May 20, 2004, 04:26:44 pm »
Yep. Going to have to learn to drive all over again (first time LHD, first time autobox, first time trying to drive something 219 inches  long!)

Kmelew

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #97 on: May 20, 2004, 04:49:46 pm »
Woohoo!!  A battlewagon!!

BTW, where does one buy parts for it in the UK?  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #98 on: May 20, 2004, 04:58:15 pm »
Quote:

Woohoo!!  A battlewagon!!

BTW, where does one buy parts for it in the UK?  




US Automotive. And various other places. Mechanically it's all GM parts-bin stuff, so it's pretty easy to get parts for the engine and trans. The body may get more difficult though, and considering its in Britain the good ol' tinworm should be settling in now.

Dogmatix!

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #99 on: May 20, 2004, 05:29:30 pm »
Quote:

Got yourself a "Yank Tank".  The "B" roads are gonna be fun, let alone the "A" routes.

When I was stationed at RAF Croughton, one of the guys had brought a '80 Dodge Ram Charger over (I just bought a Brit car with the right hand drive).  Just becareful passing, you won't be able to se around the car in front of you.


Mike
     





lol...I was thinking the same thing...heheh.

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #100 on: May 20, 2004, 06:15:00 pm »
You might try around RAF Lakenheath or up to Menwith Hill..lots of American GI's...Probably some forums over there with some places, too.

Mike
 

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #101 on: May 20, 2004, 08:40:27 pm »
If you fill the gas tank up, the car will double in value!    

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #102 on: May 20, 2004, 08:45:17 pm »
Quote:

If you fill the gas tank up, the car will double in value!    




You joke, but I reckon 22 US gals won't be far off that kind of money if our government keep raising duty on petrol!

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #103 on: May 21, 2004, 07:15:42 pm »
I am not kidding! Petrol prices in the UK are outrageous! (that's gasoline for us Yanks)  

TheShadow

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #104 on: May 21, 2004, 08:22:43 pm »
 That wagon is probably older than you are. Remember most 83's were made in 82. Throw some padding in the back and...    

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #105 on: May 22, 2004, 09:01:19 am »
Quote:

 That wagon is probably older than you are. Remember most 83's were made in 82. Throw some padding in the back and...    




LOL!


Went to Halfords today to try and find a belt that I need to get the car moving. Any of my fellow Brits here on the forum realise that Halfords don't know what size belts they stock? And that the sizes aren't quoted on the packaging?

It took me an HOUR to find two that may or may not work. I know US and Euro teeth on v-belts are different, so there's a good chance the belt will come off at moderate revs. May end up going the old fashioned route here - a pair of tights/stockings ought to hold for 120 miles....either way, I know that I'm now going to have to go to US Autos in Bedford to get parts for it - nowhere else in Blighty will stock parts that will work.

On the plus side, I now know for definite  that the engine is a 307ci/5 litre one (can't be anything else according to US Auto). I have a plan for the future involving a 455ci motor, a pair of 4-bbl Holleys and 600 horsepower - but that may have to wait a while    When all's said and done, I want this car to be faster than my mate's '73 Aussie Charger. Now, if I can just find an insurer who will even give me a quote...

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #106 on: May 22, 2004, 09:03:01 am »
Quote:

I am not kidding! Petrol prices in the UK are outrageous! (that's gasoline for us Yanks)  




I'm glad one of you guys over there recognises just how lucky you lot are paying those prices that you b*tch about constantly

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #107 on: May 22, 2004, 10:55:33 am »
Yeah, I thought the price was high until I realized the price was for a LITER of petrol, not a gallon!    

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #108 on: May 22, 2004, 11:09:41 am »
Quote:

Yeah, I thought the price was high until I realized the price was for a LITER of petrol, not a gallon!    




The cheapest I've paid for petrol recently was £0.76 per litre. On average it costs near enough £25 to fill the tank up on a car that I used to be able to fill for under £20 a short time ago, a fair old jump considering how small my current car is. I remember being in a car with my dad when I was much younger, pulling up to a petrol station thinking that £0.60 per litre was expensive...10 years down the line, and now look what I'm paying for fuel. I have just got to get out of this country.

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #109 on: May 22, 2004, 11:17:24 am »
Ahhh the days of my youth..when I was first married ('75), my wife and I would joke on how you could say " put $5.00 in" when we were driving a Beetle (gas was under $.45 a gallon then)..10 gallon tank..you do the math..

Mike


P.S.  when I as in the UK in 85-88..petrol averaged 3.25 quid to the Imperial gallon...quite a shock if I ran out of gas rations for the BX..

   

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #110 on: May 22, 2004, 11:56:20 am »
While I really like England, I can't figure out how people live there! I know petrol is expensive, but have you ever ordered a pint of beer in a bar? It is good stuff, but ouch!

How do English soccer fans buy enough beer to get drunk anyway? A home equity loan perhaps?  

Capt. Mike

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #111 on: May 22, 2004, 12:02:12 pm »
The Dole set's out how much per week is for "Pub Entertainment"...pull down the form UB42 (yes, it's the name of a rock band..named after the form)...the biggest problems American's have, is what it generally costs in dollars (not across the board), costs the same in pounds...but then add in the exchange rate.. a $20 toy @ WalMart will cost 20 quid in Oxford.  then there is the VAT (Value Added Tax)..I don't want to go there...


Mike
   

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #112 on: May 22, 2004, 12:14:37 pm »
How much does a pint of the good stuff cost over there now? I seem to remember 5 to 6 pounds and that does not include a tip!

   

Stormbringer

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #113 on: May 22, 2004, 12:22:39 pm »
Geez! and to think I was thinking of catching a MAC flight to England to goof around for a bit!  

IndyShark

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #114 on: May 22, 2004, 12:28:53 pm »
I suggest you carry a lot of beer in your carry on luggage!  

Stormbringer

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #115 on: May 22, 2004, 12:43:28 pm »
 I mean if bear is that much then the other necessities will be more expensive still ; things like hotel rooms and food. I think England is off my list for now.  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #116 on: May 22, 2004, 01:03:09 pm »
Heh.

A pint of Marston's Pedigree in my local is £2.05, Fosters and Carlsberg £2.10, £2.30 for Strongbow, Stella, Kronenburg and Guiness. Thanks to the US laws on buying alcohol (Pussy Law # 216 ) I've not bought a pint in the States, how do the prices compare?

J. Carney

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #117 on: May 22, 2004, 02:22:33 pm »
Ok, when I exchanged the last of the Pounds that I used to aquire 'beverages' from our wonderful, thoughtful, NON-DRY cousins in the Royal Navy the going rate was about $1.50 per £1.00. So...

Over here you can buy FOUR pints of Guiness for $6.50, which will come out to roughly £4.50, in a beer store- it's about $3.00 a pint  in the local bar, so that's about £2.00 even. Fosters is about $5.00 a sixpack (6x12 oz.) so that would be 4.5 pints for £3.35 in the beer store and about $2.50 or £1.60 in the bar.

I don't know of any bars around here that do any of the others on your list.

P.S.- Thanks for your support in Iraq- Her Majesty's Armed Forces have saved the sanity of many a thirsty G.I.!

digi

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #118 on: May 22, 2004, 05:11:12 pm »
Iam bound to see you driving round this area in that automobile.  Nice buy JS!!

ferretlxix

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #119 on: May 22, 2004, 05:57:48 pm »
Aloha and poing James form a mustalid in Hawaii!
Being the friendly Yank I am.
If you need help with looking for parts on your mobile landship,
I'll be more than happy to help.
Do you have any Literature (Like a Chiltons) on your vehicle?
Contact me via PM or e mail and I'll see if I can hook you up.  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 pm by ferretlxix »

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #120 on: May 22, 2004, 06:16:15 pm »
Quote:

Aloha and poing James form a mustalid in Hawaii!
Being the friendly Yank I am.
If you need help with looking for parts on your mobile landship,
I'll be more than happy to help.
Do you have any Literature (Like a Chiltons) on your vehicle?
Contact me via PM or e mail and I'll see if I can hook you up.  




You are a star of the first order ferret! When I pick the car up tomorrow I'll find out what manuals/paperwork come with it, and get back to you.

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #121 on: May 23, 2004, 07:05:14 am »
Right, off to pick the car up. Hope we can get her home under her own power!

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #122 on: May 23, 2004, 06:50:20 pm »
Well, she made it home, over 120 miles from where she set off, under her own power.

She's beautiful.

She's also suffering from pretty bad tin worm in a few spots (hey, it's Britain), the alternator is shot, she overheats quickly when standing but not at all when moving (fan might be having some issues, or the water pump, or both), the electrics in time-honoured old car tradition are going to require surgery, and she's chewing through fuel because the emissions control setup isn't working right. Bought 30 litres of fuel on the way home for nearly £25....the tank fitted holds much more.

Good points - steering is nicely weighted with plenty of feel for an assisted setup, gears change smoothly, engine also runs smoothly. And she's beautiful.

I'm now hunting for a workshop manual so I can find what connects to where. Oh, and if anyone's ever tried changing the drive belts on an Olds Custom Cruiser or Delta 88 of 1983 vintage - how the hell do you do it properly? There's nothing to adjust or slack off, no tensioners, you have to take components off to get the belts onto them, then re-attach the components! Which moron came up with that stroke of brilliance?! If any Olds designer wants to admit they were responsible for that, I would really like to meet them...

CaptStumpy

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #123 on: May 23, 2004, 07:05:04 pm »
Quote:

Oh, and if anyone's ever tried changing the drive belts on an Olds Custom Cruiser or Delta 88 of 1983 vintage - how the hell do you do it properly? There's nothing to adjust or slack off, no tensioners, you have to take components off to get the belts onto them, then re-attach the components! Which moron came up with that stroke of brilliance?! If any Olds designer wants to admit they were responsible for that, I would really like to meet them...  




You should be able to change belts by loosening components. For example the alternator should have a sliding bracket with a bolt that you can loosen but not completely remove and push the alternator toward the engine to remove. It should pivot. When you tighten just use a lever to get the right tension and tighten the bolt. Be careful to not overtighten, you might wear out the bearings in the alternator.  

ferretlxix

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #124 on: May 24, 2004, 03:16:07 am »
Quote:

Quote:

Aloha and poing James form a mustalid in Hawaii!
Being the friendly Yank I am.
If you need help with looking for parts on your mobile landship,
I'll be more than happy to help.
Do you have any Literature (Like a Chiltons) on your vehicle?
Contact me via PM or e mail and I'll see if I can hook you up.  




You are a star of the first order ferret! When I pick the car up tomorrow I'll find out what manuals/paperwork come with it, and get back to you.  



Got your PM and I replied to ya
Hope those Links I sent ya help out but, let me know if you would like me to do a bit of foot work.
by the way, here are those links again.
 Chiltons
 Haynes
Good luck with your new LAND BB!!  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #125 on: May 24, 2004, 05:48:57 am »
Thanks ferret. Just been looking at some parts today for her....some sensible stuff, some vital stuff.

Oh, and a 555ci 850hp crate motor. Hey, a guy can dream right?  

ferretlxix

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #126 on: May 25, 2004, 01:03:51 am »
Quote:

Thanks ferret. Just been looking at some parts today for her....some sensible stuff, some vital stuff.

Oh, and a 555ci 850hp crate motor. Hey, a guy can dream right?    



Yeha and in your area too, a fellow can dream of cheap petrol!

Hope the links I sent ya helps out. Let me know if you want me to look for some stuff for ya!  

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #127 on: May 25, 2004, 10:25:49 am »
Quote:

Quote:

Thanks ferret. Just been looking at some parts today for her....some sensible stuff, some vital stuff.

Oh, and a 555ci 850hp crate motor. Hey, a guy can dream right?    



Yeha and in your area too, a fellow can dream of cheap petrol!

Hope the links I sent ya helps out. Let me know if you want me to look for some stuff for ya!  




 

Thanks again for the links ferret. I'm going to be pulling bits off the car this weekend to find out what the score is. One thing we did notice when getting a drive-belt attached to the engine - a few of the bolts have been replaced with the wrong kind, so I'm now having to juggle between 9/16 and 5/8 sockets, and a fairly dumb 15mm one for the few 15mm bolts that some [bleep] stuck on there. One of them on the alternator has pretty much welded itself in place...guess I'm going to have to break out the nig hammer for that one!

TB613

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #128 on: May 25, 2004, 03:55:04 pm »
 
Quote:

 One thing we did notice when getting a drive-belt attached to the engine - a few of the bolts have been replaced with the wrong kind, so I'm now having to juggle between 9/16 and 5/8 sockets, and a fairly dumb 15mm one for the few 15mm bolts that some [bleep] stuck on there. One of them on the alternator has pretty much welded itself in place...guess I'm going to have to break out the nig hammer for that one!




The SAE/Metric mix may have come from the factory, GM has been mixing standards in the US for quite some time which drives anyone trying to work on them nuts.  

ActiveX

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #129 on: May 25, 2004, 05:44:10 pm »
Quote:

Heh.

A pint of Marston's Pedigree in my local is £2.05, Fosters and Carlsberg £2.10, £2.30 for Strongbow, Stella, Kronenburg and Guiness. Thanks to the US laws on buying alcohol (Pussy Law # 216 ) I've not bought a pint in the States, how do the prices compare?  




Sheeit, just drink the damn petrol

TheShadow

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #130 on: May 26, 2004, 05:36:47 am »
Quote:

 
Quote:

 One thing we did notice when getting a drive-belt attached to the engine - a few of the bolts have been replaced with the wrong kind, so I'm now having to juggle between 9/16 and 5/8 sockets, and a fairly dumb 15mm one for the few 15mm bolts that some [bleep] stuck on there. One of them on the alternator has pretty much welded itself in place...guess I'm going to have to break out the nig hammer for that one!




The SAE/Metric mix may have come from the factory, GM has been mixing standards in the US for quite some time which drives anyone trying to work on them nuts.  




 The Automobile Industry has been in league with tool manufacturers to make us buy standard and metric tools. Its a conspiracy I tell you...a conspiracy! Now where did I put my meds?      

James_Smith

  • Guest
Re: Look what I just bought!
« Reply #131 on: May 26, 2004, 08:26:19 am »
Quote:

 The Automobile Industry has been in league with tool manufacturers to make us buy standard and metric tools. Its a conspiracy I tell you...a conspiracy! Now where did I put my meds?      




Hehehehe. You may be right there.....

V. annoying though. I usually only work in inches, apart from when the Uni forces me to accept the existence of millimetres.