CurtisRider

It is cast yeah, I ended up cleaning the crack out with a wire brush, whacking some paste on and then putting it all back together. Such an annoyingly awkward job, thank feck none of my manifold studs snapped! Well happy now as my car doesn't sound tappy like a tractor, it's gradually getting smoother and smoother. Next jobs are to fit the Dansk exhaust and try to figure out what's causing my car to start poorly

Just had my manifold off to replace a gasket and noticed a fine crack in the manifold, although there's no soot suggesting it's not blowing there. I need to get it back on ASAP so I guess some exhaust paste will do? Should I drill the ends of the cracks?

I wouldn't say perfectly good, the 924 turbo is uselessly unreliable with many parts becoming thin on the ground, the 2.5s cost a bundle to keep maintained and would cost as much as a better alternative

Drive on hydraulic ramps for the cars, super duper

As a few of you may recall I have been tinkering with the idea of going for a vag 1.8t conversion on my Porsche. Although I'm fairly sure this would be the most suitable engine I was wondering what other alternatives there were to consider, one I had in mind was the Saab 2.3t as they are damn good engines, cheap with plenty of tinkering potential. I also noticed the Mercedes 2.3 kompressor engines seemed to fit the bill but I know nothing about them. What other similar choices are there? Preferably around the 2l size, forced induction with a minimum of 150bhp stock.

My electrics are shockingly bad, Replaced quite alot of it! Now I'm back in Suffolk I have the pleasure of my workshop to play in (I really miss this place!) First jobs were to fit my new accumulator, the old one had started leaking as well as not holding pressure anyway Old v new Fitted Then my fuel pump decided it had enough and failed...luckily I had bought a new one ready! Old v new Fitted with a fresh hose fitted too as the old one was close to falling apart Car feels like it's pulling better now, not sure if it's a placebo effect or not though! Annoyingly this hasn't cured my hot start issue. I fitted a s/h WUR recently and it's been worse since that. I have another s/h WUR to try in the hope that this cures the issue. If not I am stumped...... I also fitted a different wiper stalk as mines a bit haggard. For some reason the headlight washers came on and drained the washer tank, so I fitted my old stalk and still had the issue! Just d/c the motor for now, I'll investigate tomorrow. Next jobs are to fit the new manifold gaskets, and my Dansk :cool: New ramp has made light work of getting under the car, shame they are made so damn badly....

That sucks robin! Hopefully somebody nearby can let you borrow a welder? Fitted my new accumulator today, car started and ran nicely. Went back to start the car and my fuel pump decided to die, it won't spin. I have a spare one but it uses a 15mm end rather than a 12mm. Where can I get a reducer from? I did try and make one on the lathe but the bearings are so shot on the poor thing that the results were comedy

Got my drive on hydraulic ramps from cj autos and I'm really disappointed so far. The welds are untidy, the paint finish is chipped to hell and put straight over rust, the steel is pitted to feck, some parts aren't straight, and the pump handle has a retaining clip that doesn't do its job at all and just pops out all the time. I haven't even put my car on them yet! I'm hoping to get a refund on them or at least a partial refund and then I'll grind out the key welds and redo them and give them a fresh lick of paint. On the bright side I'm back in Suffolk and this means I can play in my workshop. I have new top mounts to go on my struts, and i may give the spare springs I have a trim to see if I like it lowered before investing in proper springs. I have a new accumulator and fuel pump to go on, so hopefully my starting woes will be cured. My turbo rear valance arrived so i'll wedge that on when I replace the exhaust system to the Dansk I was given, also need to replace the exhaust manifold gaskets whilst I'm there too...

Get yourself on retrorides and ask if there is anybody local with a welder? Chances are they are cheaper and far better than most monkey mechanics anyway

Your next best trick would to be to get some wheels that don't look like they are from Halfords surely? They ruin an otherwise nice car, judging by your previous cars I would have thought that would have been a priority for you?

Robin if you want lots of toys for not much money you can have my 2004 Saab 9-3 2.2TID for £600 including the roof rack and 2 bike racks (modified to fork mount), just needs a clutch although it still drives fine unless you are lead footed in 5th which is when the slip is noticeable

Out of all of those I'd go Volvo, although the v40 has a terrible looking interior which may be off putting. The 9-5 isn't a vectra, that's the 9-3! Parts don't appear to be much of a problem, just avoid the 2.2 and 3.0 diesels as they are both fairly problematic. The 2.0 petrols are common for slugding up in the sump and blocking the oil pick up What about a jag x type? It's a Mondeo with a pretty face? Also why no BMW love? Is it for a similar reason to dull VAGness?

Could be a seized steering pump, causing the belt to snap (the smoke was probably/hopefully from the belt rubbing against the non rotating pulley). This happened to my Saab, it was a frustrating job to replace the pump! Rattling could be the exhaust/heat shields but guess it would do it other times too

Seeing as it was going to be the Mk1 Scirrocco and has a Mk1 Golf front/Super Beetle rear end I guess my Porsche 924 can go here Lows need to happen soon EDIT: Somehow forgot my T25 Doka! Only a little bit of tin worm

I may be able to do it at school, just waiting on the software to be installed on the computer.... I've been waiting since September

Yes there are locking bits, think you have to pay extra so I'll just make some. I will use axle stands too, after having a car fall on me I am pretty cautious!

Going to order these tomorrow: Been wanting something like this for a quite a while now and they seem to get good reviews. Ideally I would buy a 2 post lift but seeing as i'm rarely in my workshop these days I need something portable and compact when not used. I would make my own but I just don't have the time or inclination to bother these days and I know i'd make them stupidly overbuilt and too hefty to shift about haha

Eurgh my fuel acumulator is kaput, hence me having starting issues. I just want a bloody working car

At that price go secondhand, those £50 halfords specials are always naff

Ditch your fogs and run 2 CAFs?

Fully comp only covers windscreens I thought?

That looks ace! Not totally sure about the blue drums, those are the kinds of things you want to hide surely? Car had a wash, still got a hot start problem so i'll get out my fuel pressure testing stuff next weekend and get diagnosing. I have a feeling it is either the fuel pump non return valve or the fuel accumulator

Your pubes are well short Tom

It works but needs a wash, I guess that is a job for tomorrow! Along with treating all the leather/vinyl stuff

Apparently you need to be careful with any liquids that can combust... They won't give a polished finished, you need to actually use a polisher they literally just remove surface crap, some light rust and eventually metal plating too.