Iain's (Delta Racing Car) Builder's Tea Break 2015

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by grantp

Max,

It's Mongbiot.



Whatever he used to enjoy for recreational purposes when younger has clearly created a most interesting mental ability that science should probably study.

Suspect you've been trying them out as well, that was Gary not me

My comments were in response to the salt-of-the-earth Northern charmers on Jeremy Vine, FB, Twitter et al who claimed the floods would not have been allowed to happen down here in the South (totally ignoring the flooding of the Somerset Levels and the Thames a couple of years back).

Enough chips on their shoulders to go with the free fish that they must have received into their houses by now.

[gary396]

Agreed Max. All this north-south divide / funding talk is nonsense - it floods where it rains (or downhill from there).

[Mike Bell]

Seem to remember a lot of mention when Somerset Levels flooded of cutbacks on river maintenance. Think the EA was the whipping boy for that, and could be for some of the current problems as well....

On a completely different subject, on way home from w/shop in dusk yesterday, came up behind an early Stag (ro-style w/trims), cruising at 70, hood down, no smoke. Respect!

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

On a completely different subject, on way home from w/shop in dusk yesterday, came up behind an early Stag (ro-style w/trims), cruising at 70, hood down, no smoke. Respect!

I wonder how many head gaskets it's consumed in it's life

[grantp]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Suspect you've been trying them out as well, that was Gary not me

Whoops!

Sorry.

I suppose I should have addressed it to Gordon.

The message is still the same though. Except that I read that Mongbiot has now left Wales and moved back to Oxford. Which, of course, is where he studied for his degree.

So far as I can tell trawling through history (and Pathe News films on line) bad weather, in particular flooding that results from it, has been common, in some places regular and very widespread for one reason or another (rain or tidal driven by storms, melting snow and ice) throughout the country since any sort of historic records began and, presumably, before.

Quite why so many supposedly highly educated politicians and civil servants seem to think it's all new is something to wonder at. Especially as most of them likely studied subject that one might imagine should have observed such effects - through history, literature or, perhaps, geography.

Even politics - "Never take on special roles such as "Minister for Drought" or "Minister for Floods". Would that not have informed them?

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Seem to remember a lot of mention when Somerset Levels flooded of cutbacks on river maintenance. Think the EA was the whipping boy for that, and could be for some of the current problems as well....

On a completely different subject, on way home from w/shop in dusk yesterday, came up behind an early Stag (ro-style w/trims), cruising at 70, hood down, no smoke. Respect!

You were on your newly fettled bike I assume Mike?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I wonder how many head gaskets it's consumed in it's life

Could have a Rover V8 in it, of course!

Here's a question for you, Gordon- my 2007 V50 is basically a Focus underneath, but who's 2 litre diesel does it use? It's not the Mondeo / transit lump, PSA maybe?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by grantp

You were on your newly fettled bike I assume Mike?

I'm not that quick on it, especially as it would have been a head wind! And I wouldn't ride a bicycle on the A11 if you paid me......

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Could have a Rover V8 in it, of course!

Here's a question for you, Gordon- my 2007 V50 is basically a Focus underneath, but who's 2 litre diesel does it use? It's not the Mondeo / transit lump, PSA maybe?

A quick Google suggests Ford/PSA developed HDi with build either at a Ford/Volvo factory or a dedicated Volvo location.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I'm not that quick on it, especially as it would have been a head wind! And I wouldn't ride a bicycle on the A11 if you paid me......

Well, I though you had to be on your bike Mike since otherwise you would not, of course, have "come up behind" a car cruising at 70. Would you?

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Here's a question for you, Gordon- my 2007 V50 is basically a Focus underneath, but who's 2 litre diesel does it use? It's not the Mondeo / transit lump, PSA maybe?

I thought it was made by Ford, but a mate that works for Volvo tells me that it is made in Wales at the Bridgend factory so I don't know, but it ain't made in Mojacar I know that much

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I thought it was made by Ford, but a mate that works for Volvo tells me that it is made in Wales at the Bridgend factory so I don't know, but it ain't made in Mojacar I know that much

Definely not Mojacar! Grant was on right lines, after more research- The engine is basically a PSA DW10 derivative, made by Ford and Volvo as well as PSA- Volvo only for Swedish market cars. The Ghent Volvos we got used Focus spec made by Ford in UK. All this curiosity as wondered if ever need spares, I could get from Ford dealer. No idea if cheaper, but it happens with some parts. Remember a friend who had a Jag V8 petrol Disco buying engine parts from Jag dealer as loads cheaper than Land Rover branded items!

All different now as Volvo have developed own unique motors...

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

All different now as Volvo have developed own unique motors...

Made in China?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by grantp

Made in China?

Certainly not! Skovde, which of course could be in China but apparently is in Sweden, or so I am told...

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Certainly not! Skovde, which of course could be in China but apparently is in Sweden, or so I am told...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sk%C3%B6vde

Near the top one can listen to the official pronunciation of the name - which may not be what one imagined.


In an unexpected way the entire article is quite interesting especially in terms of an historic perception and guidance as to what life must have been like pre 20th century industrialisation. (Assuming it has changed that much post the industrialisation ..... )

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

: Remember a friend who had a Jag V8 petrol Disco buying engine parts from Jag dealer as loads cheaper than Land Rover branded items!

.

I remember when Rover were in existence all the electrical parts in the stores were boxed "Genuine Rover Parts" but when you opened the package there was another box inside with "Lucas" written on it and the part number, if you got it from Lucas it was considerably cheaper !

[Mike Bell]

And when we were rallying Peugeot 205 & 309s, if there was a common part shared with Citroen, buying it from a dealer for the latter was always cheaper....

[Cliff Ryan]

When I ran a Jensen Interceptor as my daily waft in the late 80s I had a book which told you the origin of all the parts, so you could buy a sidelight glass for a Triumph Herald, engine service parts for a Dodge 440 etc rather than for a Jensen Interceptor at much lower cost.

[Lancsbreaker]

Remember the rally Mk1 Escorts were often fitted with special sidelight/indicator units when the headlamps were swapped for Biodes......megabucks to buy, unless you knew they were Hillman Imp units......

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Cliff Ryan

When I ran a Jensen Interceptor as my daily waft in the late 80s I had a book which told you the origin of all the parts, so you could buy a sidelight glass for a Triumph Herald, engine service parts for a Dodge 440 etc rather than for a Jensen Interceptor at much lower cost.

I'm guessing Jensen didn't provide the book with the car from new!

Richard, it used to make me laugh on fleabay when sellers put stupid values on 'Ford Escort Mk1 works side/indicator units'. As you say, just source some old Imp ones......

While looking on RCD to get a handle on placing an ad, came across this- https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/De...t-sports-sedan

If we can get an HTP for that it could ruffle a few feathers in P.A. or MRL touring cars....

[Peter Mallett]

Without wishing to bring the conversation down. The sidelights and indicators on the 70'same Aston Martin Vantage are erm....... MGB units.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Without wishing to bring the conversation down. The sidelights and indicators on the 70'same Aston Martin Vantage are erm....... MGB units.

Shock horror! How jolly well dare they... Bet the units didn't have a BL part number....

I think to be fair to Ford, from memory the Esky works units were sourced from Lucas, but just happened same were fitted to Imps.

Some 'borrowed' front and rear lamps are obvious, like Mk1 Cortina rears, for instance. Others though are not so easy to identify, like A40 Farina rears- as fitted to Sabre and Gilbern GT. Latter also uses A40 fronts, but also the front wing shape, which they must have incorporated into the mould!

[GORDON STREETER]

Lotus cars were probably one of the first for using lamps and fittings off of just about anything that they could buy in bulk cheaply at the time.
Some are almost impossible to get hold of as I found out with a rebuild I am doing on an S2 Elan, it would appear that the rear lamps weren't all the same even on the same dated models and the ones I wanted were Vauxhall Velox.
I saw a couple on Ebay that had already got to over 300 quid and they were in Turkey ! I decided to make up new backing plates and bulb holders as the lenses and the chrome surrounds were useable, also you don't know what's going to turn up in a parcel especially from Turkey !

[Cliff Ryan]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I'm guessing Jensen didn't provide the book with the car from new!

Correct, it was put together by the owners club to try & keep them running.

Funny thing was I saw it advertised some years later as a restoration project, with one of the selling points being that it was previously an accountants folly with a 3'' thick file of invoices detailing all the money lavished on it in my 10 year ownership!

Another one I should have kept.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I saw a couple on Ebay that had already got to over 300 quid and they were in Turkey ! I decided to make up new backing plates and bulb holders as the lenses and the chrome surrounds were useable, also you don't know what's going to turn up in a parcel especially from Turkey !

Talking of rare parts, found these- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MK2-ESCORT...MAAOSwl9BWHPIg

Those obscure bits of bent tin are what converts a 2 headlamp Mk2 Escort front panel into a 4 headlamp RS2 one. All held on with a few self tappers through slotted holes to give some adjustment- and of course all exposed to the elements so they got bent or rotted away in the blink of an eye! Try rebuilding a car without them, though. Darn near impossible. Luckily a few years ago when getting my RS2 shell restored, a contact offered me a damaged pair for a few quid, and in good enough condition to be straightened and rebuilt! The originals were scrap, but still got them in a box in case....