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Post by Peter on Jan 10, 2021 18:08:49 GMT
Almost hesitant to say I will be back in the shed Tuesday but I said that last time and ended up working most of last week or recovering from working. 'Just' a plug and cap to fit Monday and then I should be free but with Covid-19 killing over a thousand a day in Spain and things not getting any better we never know.
This retiring and not working, isn't working.
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Post by Peter on Jan 13, 2021 11:18:42 GMT
Little more done, got the broken LEDs in the armrest to show the 'display' LEDs are on as two broke on disassembly and to stop that happening again I installed a 4 way Tyco connector. seems I have a LOT ore connector blocks than connectors, I wonder why? Finally got the darn gear rod connected but had to rescue the square headed bolt thread as it was damaged somehow coming apart but all good now and back to a nice hard, firm change. made a few improvements along the way and now ready to install the arm rest but still have the problem of the chassis number being hidden so i need to sort that out now. Just thought that if I make the whole rear panel tip forward, amps, speakers wiring an' all, I should be able to see the number below the front of the fuel tank, couple of twist fasteners should do the trick, need to tidy up all the loose wiring in that case. Hopefully back tomorrow for few more hours and start on the consul improvements and reinstallation..
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Post by Peter on Jan 17, 2021 14:24:41 GMT
The weekly blog. Bit of a mixed bag Saturday afternoon. My son-in-law broke three of the five screws in the side case of his Harley Davidson and then the tip of a small extractor, no one told him Harley Davidson Loctite their screws in, so I had to use my drill anything bits to drill out to 6mm as he had gone off centre and I will have to plug the alloy and drill and tape to UNF when I get a tap. He did pay 30 quid for a 180 quid case so I guess he comes out ahead, (update edit, actually 4 x 0.7mm is same so going for helicoils.). Car wise; SS armrest had the 2"x3" hole for the fuse access tidied up and then I couldn't close the lid properly as a broken hinge had been epoxy glued and too far back so I cleaned off all the crap and plastic welded it with my trusty old Weller gun and that is a good fit now. Arm rest to be back on next trip but I need to sort out some way of making the chassis number visible to inspectors first, (and tidy up all the loose wiring ). Checking out the relay board for the doors and LEDs I found the doors are working perfectly but the LED control relays are not, the consul buttons are dead, even with new batterie, -It's a 4 button key fob with the buttons extended to the facia buttons- and dead as a doornail, tried to pair the key fob to the relay and the relay LED lights up but still will not pair to key fob, I can see a new 4 way latching relay on the shopping list. New bonnet stays are working a treat, just gently raises the bonnet now and holds firm, I know they will loose power over time but will still do the job. Still need to hook up the button I have on the firewall so I can turn the starter from the back but held up for want of a 6.4 piggy back connector. Restrictions here are getting serious and if our municipality reaches 500 cases a week then we will be restricted in moving between Estepona and Marbella again, at the moment Marbella/Estepona municipalities are open area but for how long we don't know. It will mean I can't get to the 'shed' again for a couple of weeks.
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Post by Peter on Jan 31, 2021 14:29:24 GMT
Well it went over the 500 and in fact hit 1100 per 100,000, so borders closed between municipalities again for two weeks, another week to go now.
Good news is mother-in-laws very old Honda civic, broken cam belt didn't do in any valves, so new belt and all good again but what a fiddle arse job to do so tight against the inner wing but did see both CV joint open and dry so new axles on the way,
hope to get to the 'shed' in a weeks time and sort out the bits and pieces that have 'evolved' over the years before the hardware goes back in.
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Post by Peter on Feb 9, 2021 12:03:31 GMT
After 14 days still waiting to get outside Estepona on "none essential business" and now told decision will be made in TEN DAYS time if to lift the travel ban. Can't even get to my bank in Gibraltar. I could risk it but the police here are not to be chanced and a 600€ fine I do not need
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Post by Peter on Apr 5, 2021 14:36:03 GMT
Travel restrictions are off so away to the 'shed' again,
Got the SS off of the trailer for the first time in 15 years and cutting up the trailer I made from an old caravan chassis 22 years ago, tyres blown, welds cracking etc and taking up a lot of aditional space. so on with the BIG angle grinder and 10" disc and chop it up into movable pieces.
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Post by chrisbailey on Apr 5, 2021 20:09:05 GMT
Does that mean your going to drive it out of the garage, never trailered again?
Hope you get some workshop time over the summer. Fingers crossed
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Graham Wood
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User name = RAM
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Location, Town please: Southport, U.K.
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Post by Graham Wood on Apr 5, 2021 20:50:36 GMT
Travel restrictions are off so away to the 'shed' again Peter, just put a hold on all those modifications you want to do, but the thing works fine now. Get it out there, or it will seize up, like mine was starting to do, especialy electrical connections, but yours is an electrical masterpiece and mainly new.
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Post by Peter on Apr 9, 2021 10:12:04 GMT
Trailer chopping was a major task as well as moving the pieces to the rubbish bin area where it sat for all of ten minuets before the 'dumpdster divers' took it all away, so I dumped the second load and that went too, the third and final load which includes the very heavy tow head, wheels and brake assembly is next. So much more space and I am finaly able to clime in and out from ground level which I can still do, suprisingly. The arm rest box had to go, I hit my elbow on it everytime I change into 2nd or 4th. making a simple cover with a pad on top, no box so I will have a velcro mounted boot bag behind the passengers seat instead for stuff like phone cable, sunglasses etc. Bodywork from the new downward looking angle is surprisingly good and will not need much doing apart from the roof area of the doors which have sunk into the hinge plate forms then a rub down and a coat of deep black acylic. After the armrest I can reassemble the console and dash parts with the door panels to be made. I am not going to be over complicated there with just some fiber glass laid flat on the table and the 'bump' added to blend in with the dash ends then rubbed down and covered. Chassis wise it is just the brakes and clutch that still need bleeding,
Three more cuts and it will fit in the boot Engine all finished and running with oil filter raised and moved inboard and fuel regulator moved to left side. Also shown is the Skoda gearchange and Volvo 245 handbrake I will be making a cover that just clears the brake and slopes to the tunnel at the rear so I can see the chassis number. I think I will move the fuse box for the amps and remote control relays to the rear right next to the relay board and change the cable so it runs in the tunnel. Handbrake to cover Engine all done- Ironicly I am going back to the original 1996 design, when it was right it was right, in wondeerful retrospect I wish I had left well enough alone and kept the Bedford Rascal seats, triple Smiths speedo, taccho and triple guage units in the center and the handbrake cover as I origanaly designed it. It will be the same shape but a little lower and cover more of the brake lever and of course matching trim to the console.
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Post by Peter on May 1, 2021 12:09:43 GMT
Been under the knife Wednesday and all good, got rid of the fungal infection in the right sinus, yesterday was NOT FUN, had to go and have the dressing removed from the sinus and cleaned up, having an endoscope, suction tube and forceps up there at the same time hurt like hell, on a scale of 1 to 10, about 12. getting over it slowly with lots of nasal sprays, antibiotics etc and feet up and telly. I thought it was getting better but it's snot. Hope to get back in the 'shed' Tuesday to continue with the armrest, fibre glass shape made but still a LONG way from anything Brett or David might make. I think using very old resin and pink stuff was a mistake and it is still a little tacky. but enough for a starting point as it is just a shell I can cut to shape to minimum clearances before beefing up and sanding smoothish before covering. came off of the plastic packing tape really easy. All the new battery leads fitted from battery though to alternator but battery (new) seems duff, fully charged all day but still only clicks solenoid on the starter even with the direct start button in the engine bay. cheap batteries do not like being left unused, don't go there!. One little thought sprung to mind, the LED sidelights are the same intensity as the fog lights and indicators but should be less so, equivalent to 5w not 21w so I will need to put a resistor in-line to bring them down.
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Post by nickyjuk on May 2, 2021 21:38:06 GMT
Ow! Having all of that up your nose can't have been fun. I hope you fully recover soon. The lights look good. Eagle made two contrasting cars with the RV and the SS. The LEDs look great with the futuristic looks of the SS, but I think less so with the retro look of the RV.
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Post by Peter on May 3, 2021 10:25:20 GMT
Thanks Nick, No, it was not fun, still hurts but managing to get a decent nights sleep, don't have money for fuel to go to 'shed' anyway at the moment due to wifies social security 'uck up four months, (2000€) with no pay and then they slap a 600€ embargo on her account for car tax not paid.
Also looking at a simple electric handbrake using a 2" actuator between the cables, if and when I get some cash spare but I also need some resin, activator and fibre glass first.
Worked out if I put a 360Ohm resistor in line on the sidelights then bridge with a 406 diode across I get the effect I need.
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Post by Peter on May 4, 2021 10:37:06 GMT
Another day stuck in doors with s***t head, I had hoped to go the 'shed' today but didn't feel up to driving 40 minuets each way,
Spending time giving unwanted advise to other members of course and trying to find a way of opening the door actuators further and faster. 8" is OK but for every 1" of travel means 2" of length.
Thinking of the best way to use the rough casting for the arm rest/ brake cover I made to get the result I want, I think cut it down the middle then offer it up to assembly, marking lever positions and the minimum I can lower it etc. before joining it together and finishing it.
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Post by Peter on May 28, 2021 11:16:43 GMT
Not a great day for the SS despite having two whole afternoons in the 'shed'.
I changed the drive shaft boot on the wife's' Corsa Sport, Right took all day as the shaft was stuck in the hub but just needed a new strap in the end to stop it leaking but the other side only took an hour including whole shaft out and new boot,grease and straps. Very little work done on the SS apart from confirming the new starter is jammed and just clicks.
Armrest is a disaster as I predicted, the fibreglass mock-up was nowhere near, 1" too high and 1" too short so I'm going to make it from 3mm ply. A lot more difficult to get the double curvature I need to get from width of brake quadrants to width of front console as well as the upwards curve at the front and the slope at the back.
Major leak on the hydraulics, one of the three compartments on the triple reservoir drained all over the floor over night so I have to find that, must be on the inlet of a master cylinders as the other side where the outlets are inside the cabin are dry.
I have to rig up a pressurised 'Esibleed' type system for the fluid as one handed bleeding is impossible without some sort of devise either pumping or sucking the fluid. the commercially available ones all come with screw on tops but mine has a twist on cap with level warning switch and CBS don't do spare caps.
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Post by Peter on Jun 1, 2021 13:45:40 GMT
Seems I am having motivation problems again, so much to do and so little inclination to do anything. Jobs on the list, so far; Change outer CV joints on mother-in-laws '88 Honda Civic. Change filter on E30 auto box. buy and fit front under-shield. Buy and change dashboard, (cracked) Rub down and spray bonnet. Sell E30; 6,000€ ONO Use money to repair or change auto box on Mercedes A170. buy and fit new side skirts. respray wife's Corsa B sport, Caribic Blue plus clear, I think that is a pro job, €€€€. finish rebuilding Suzuki An400 scooter and sell. Pay 6 to 8 year back road tax on all above. Chase up deal on Mercedes Cosworth, sold 6 years ago and he has still not changed named-owner or paid back tax (2K€)as agreed. 2 computers to repair. Loa of scuba gear to sell. SS, Make and fit armrest, install rest of interior and door trims. Tidy up paintwork, Bleed hydraulics, get road legal, €€€€ And after lunch.
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Post by nickyjuk on Jun 2, 2021 21:10:55 GMT
Ha ha, that list made me smile.. I think I have a similar one! I'd been keeping my head down and working on my Eagle, but now the jobs I'd been ignoring have become more urgent! The rattling suspension on my own car is getting so loud I may not be able to ignore it much longer. The long Bank Holiday was successfully spent fixing the electronic nonsense on the car I bought 18 months ago, and with that ticked off, perhaps I can justify a few more hours on my Eagle build... perhaps!
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Post by Peter on Jun 8, 2021 13:23:09 GMT
Continuing with more of a biog than a build diary I got the wife's Corsa B through the ITV yesterday after changing the cat', (not necessary) buying a new lambda, not fitted) it turned out to be a faulty MAF sensor, tiny little thing on the firewall connected to the intake by a 4mm pipe. It only cost 20€ from the scrapyard. 50€ all in including changing and emission testing pre ITV, CO2 now .0001
Anyone want a universal lambda sensor, unused, single wire 40€? or a Corsa B sport cat'.
The plywood shell for the handbrake cover is 'evolving'. I have decided to make it a two part unit with a base from the consul to the handbrake and a cover over that and the handbrake, a lot easier to do an work on later.
Next project to help clear the way is on the E30. having looked at the price of under trays and the availability (2 in UK but will not post) , I decided that as I had a large chunk of the original one, (one side) I would use that to model a fibre glass one using plastic covered cardboard as a 'mould' on a large plastic base. I reckon a couple of layers of cloth will do the job. .
Also I need to repair the E30 under dash panel as a bit broke off by the steering wheel, I will use resin again but with layers of stiff brown paper compressed to match the original materials then apply a grain to the surface from some leather cloth while soft and spray all black.
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Post by chrisbailey on Jun 23, 2021 18:36:19 GMT
Seems it doesnt matter how much you plan, something always gets in the way.
Ive not touched my SS this year for all the jobs on the house.
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Post by Peter on Jun 27, 2021 11:51:10 GMT
Just to add insult to injury, I got torpedoed on a car-park and left wing smashed, pushed forward from door onto tyre (that is OK) . lucky for me I had a good driver bonus of one fully comp claim so off to have a new wing and front of door tweaked, I am going to ask for the bonnet and right wing to get a coat of the same paint so it all matches. Idiot in a Mini Cooper Sd thought my left indicator was not warning enough so he decided to overtake despite the fact I was 5KPM over the limit myself. NEW OEM under tray coming from Lithuania for 208€ instead of scruffy old one on eBay for 157 quid plus shipping. good score.
mad my Mercedes A170 taken by the police as they thought it had been there parked up (with duff gearbox) for too long, cost me 136€ to get it back but free recovery thanks to the insurance. when I opened the door I saw the handbrake was off and the ashtray was out of the consuls, on checking further I found the gear selector where it connects to the cable was smashed, obviously the guy didn't know you have to have ignition on and foot break on to move the gear selector from P to D. Of course no one accepted responsibility.
Sp o plenty of 'new' work to do over the next couple of weeks now, will I ever get the SS done?
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Post by chrisbailey on Jun 27, 2021 12:59:31 GMT
Do you have dash cams in all of your cars? If not, I think you should.
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Post by Peter on Jun 28, 2021 12:00:59 GMT
Do you have dash cams in all of your cars? If not, I think you should. You are not wrong, they are only 10.00 +P&P, so no excuse really.
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Post by chrisbailey on Jun 28, 2021 13:12:07 GMT
They really are worth it. Newer ones will have the ability to switch on and record if they detect an impact. So you can even catch those who bump and drive off when you're not there.
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Post by Peter on Jun 28, 2021 14:03:19 GMT
I have a couple of these but I must admit they sit in the glove box more often that not as they keep falling off the sucker.
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Post by Peter on Sept 22, 2021 13:23:11 GMT
getting absolutely nothing done at the moment, spent all afternoon in the shed fixing my angle grinder, new carbon brushed etc, made a woodruff key and repaired the switch rod and bingo, doesn't work! So binned it and bought a new Black and Decker one Amazon for 28€ with 48hr delivery. Still need to sort out the hydraulics and starter but not much else apart from trim so getting there. Resprayed the bonnet and right wing on the BMW with the excellent 2K paint I did the left wing with but it show up all the scratches and dents I should have got rid of. hey ho. more elbow grease but at least it looks great if you don't get down to eyeball it. Certainly going that route with the deep black. Click image for larger version. Name: IMG_20210902_144421.jpg Views: 0 Size: 57.3 KB ID: 4971 All straight again, Bought a 7200L/h irrigation pump for the stables, (40 horses now) and a 18L fruit press arrived. what a pain sending it back etc. All pretty again,
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Post by Peter on Sept 25, 2021 12:15:56 GMT
Actually managed to spend time on the SS yesterday.
I had to remove the pedal box completely as the rear brake cylinder output thread was dodgy and leaked fluid all over the floor, all done now but what a hunt went on for the flaring tool adaptor. I had the main tool that flairs female ends but I couldn't find the add on that does the male or 'bubble' flair, found it after turning the 'shed' upside down and cleaned a lot of redundant and crap stuff at the same time. I had to be firm when throwing out new stuff I never used, either for the SS or outside work, new electrical switches, door fittings, wiring, paint roller, brushes,etc. not going down that route again so why keep it and no one would buy it, I gave a load of cold chisels and stuff to the Romanian guys next door who do that stuff.
Got stuck under the dash when I thought it would be better to get at the left foot well from the right seat area, wrong, took me a while to get back out and get at it from the left under the steering column, thank heaven I have a QR wheel.
Hand brake cover is proving a problem, just can't seem to get it to 'gell' with the front section. .
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Post by Peter on Sept 25, 2021 12:57:17 GMT
The Spanish Eagle SS owners are doing well. Jose Miguel de Linares and I are swapping info and I have promised the to do the 2 1/2 hour run up to see him and his red SS in Nerja soon.
Jose sent me a 24" round wall plaque he has made with the Eagle logo and "Eagle SS" around the top in gold and 'weathered' to look old, I will post a photo when my tired old brain remembers it.
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Post by Peter on Nov 10, 2021 13:25:15 GMT
Life getting in the way again, this time a cataract operation on my left eye, wondered why I had to keep cleaning my left lens. Optician said I was down to 40% on left so off to see my doctor in the health centre and 6 weeks later off to the hospital and what a lovely place the High Resolution clinic is in Benalmádena. One could actually eat off of the floor , appointment was for 09:30 and at 09:35 a nurse gave me a kit to put on after stripping. At 09:40 I was visited by the surgeon who told be what was going to happen and almost straight away I was wheeled into the nurses station for pre-op. At 10:15 I was wheeled into the immaculate operating theatre and under a LX3 unit. Half an hour later I was sitting in a chair and waiting for the nurse who gave me all the info I needed for after care and an appointment the following day at the Costa del Sol hospital. dressed and home again by 13:00 Next day at 09:30 straight in to see doc who said it was all OK and they gave me some drops and a pair of cool wrap-around 'Stevie Wonder' sunglasses. I am nor supposed to bend over, strain, lift and avoid bright lights. Back in 2 1/2 weeks on the 29th for final check up. All free of course. Compare that with NHS
On the car front. New gearbox mounts and guido for the E30 and I must get the brake pipes reconnected on the SS and the system bled, again.
Bergman 400 has the carb apart again thanks to E5 fuel and a new can of carb' cleaner has arrived, thank you Amazon.
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Post by Peter on Nov 13, 2021 12:16:40 GMT
Good news is the left eye is great after the cataract op'. still have to take it easy but soon be back on the car.
One thing leading to another in the shed, I have the SS up on axle stands with the wheels off so I can do the master cylinders and bleed the brakes but they are needed to do the gearbox mounts and guibo on the E30 so better get thing moving as I want to sell the e30 and I like to have an 'honest car' with no known problems for the new owner.
Eye is still in the convalescent mode so no crawling under cars at the moment, only have one pair of eyes.
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Post by Peter on Dec 8, 2021 13:34:53 GMT
Why have I got raging back ache? Curled up in the left front wheel arch fitting the brake lines, that's why . All fitted and made a new one for the front cylinder to 3-way as I bent the nipple and it wouldn't seal.
Of course the new set of 10-13m brake spanners arrived after I did the job but I will check all is tight with them.
Now I can get on with bleeding the bleeding brakes and then making the box to go over the assemble.
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Post by Peter on Jan 3, 2022 11:48:42 GMT
Well, Monday arrived and more proceedings regards mother in laws estate to attend to so not much chance of 'shed time' today.
I would advise anyone that is 'getting on' as am I, to de-clutter and strip possessions down to the essential, does one really need 10 pairs of trousers and 20 shirts etc? all the stuff accumulate over the last 22 years and before in the UK is horrendous and some poor bugger has to sort it all out when I pop off so I am donating a lot of stuff to charity shops and selling off most of my tools and equipment, (I really do not need a welder now, let alone 3), a simple tool kit and a couple of special tools and the rest can go for sale. When we moved out of our house to the flat there was a lot of 'stuff' left in the garage, that was 7 years ago and it is still there, that is how much we needed it.
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