Car D.I.Y.

[Deleted member 26715]

Like a silly person I stripped down a Rover K series VVC head, now I can't find good instructions on how to put it back together to get the cams to line up properly

 

[Drago]

I took one look at the FZR head and promptly sent it to a specialist engineer to redo the valves and set the clearances. I could have done it, but would have been such a ball ache I reckon the expense was justified.

 

[gbb]

I took one look at the FZR head and promptly sent it to a specialist engineer to redo the valves and set the clearances. I could have done it, but would have been such a ball ache I reckon the expense was justified.

We have a maintenance engineer here who is very proficient on cars and does a lot of work from home, there's not much that phases him. He send the heads out when he does top ends, leaking head gaskets etc. He reckons its not excessively costly, someone else does the donkey work and he knows it will be 100% when it gets back. No brainer he reckons.

 

[gbb]

Like a silly person I stripped down a Rover K series VVC head, now I can't find good instructions on how to put it back together to get the cams to line up properly

And the same guy i mentioned in the post above stripped a Beemer head then realised he couldnt work out how it went back (the one time he bit off more than he could chew by his own admission), VVT was complex to say the least. He went to a scrappers and stripped one down to see how it went back together

 

[Cavalol]

It's hardly cutting edge mechanical genius, but after finally clearing all the spares out of the back of the Lada, I got the rear seats back up. Noticed the steering wheel was a bit loose, too, plus the passenger and driver seats, so tightened them up.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Back in the late 70's possibly very early 80's had a Ford Cortina MK3 1600 GT 2 door, 1972 (I think) rare even back then, hens teeth I would imagine today. But it failed MOT on the front top arm wishbone bushes, it's a bolt 15-18 inch long that goes from one side to the other through a tube obviously no grease points in it. It had seized, we ended up with 2 blow torches & a sledge hammer to try to get it out, not a F'ing chance, we ended up bending the subframe. Had to go to the scrapyard & get a full front subframe & suspension of of one in there to get it through the test. This was a car that was less than 10 years old, young uns of today don't know they're born with cars these days.

I changed the front springs on a MK3 Corrina.

Haynes, undo top shock bolt and slide out.
About 3hrs with a oxy torch and hammer.

Rear bushes similar.

Starter motor on a V6 Scimatar
Rear bumpers on a Sherpa van

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Yesterday afternoon & today I've been re-wiring the rear clamshell of the GTM, soldered & heatshrunk joints where needed, all wrapped up, didn't have any wrapping tape so just used insulation tape, then I thought Mmmm maybe I should have tested it all before I wrapped it up. But luckily the 1 fault was a bulb not making a good connection in the holder. Just need a couple of 1" grommets & a couple of 1.5" grommets & some more fixings to hold the wires in place.

 

[simon the viking]

I changed a thermostat once.. (I do more complicated stuff) then girlfriend wanted to go somewhere quite quickly... I said don't worry it's only 3 bolts won't be a tick.... car didn't move for a week while I located a replacement thermostat housing... snapped a bolt in the alloy...

Another time Car over heated (old mgb)... I put a blanket over the rad cap and turned slowly... the cap hit the garage roof... the blanket blew out my hand and I was lucky the scolding didn't put me in hospital... the irony was... I did know better.. I just thought I would be quicker than the super heated steam....

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

It's hardly cutting edge mechanical genius, but after finally clearing all the spares out of the back of the Lada, I got the rear seats back up. Noticed the steering wheel was a bit loose, too, plus the passenger and driver seats, so tightened them up.

View attachment 513955

I like that!!!!

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Rear-wiper not working on my Octavia estate
(as it's not being for a while)

Eventually had a look at it
For the past few days, the splined(?) shaft on the motor has been soaked in penetrating oil, in an attempt to remove the wiper arm
No such luck, I know 'wiper arm pullers' are available

I took the interior trim off, taking several finger-nails too!!

No voltage registering at the multipin plug, yes, with the lid closed, & from inside the car (so no 'cut-out' operating)

So..... could it really be my previous diagnosis of a fractured wire, as it was working (last summer) on really hot days

 

[cosmicbike]

Volvo again. Adjusted the detent plate which will hopefully assist with the 1st and reverse gear selection. Also fitted a gear knob which is nice.
In other news, no way I'm going to get the gearbox fill plug out. When the current crisis has calmed I'll take it to my local and see if they can do it on the ramps.
Also broke out the MIG welder to have a bit of practice. It's been 20+ years since I last welded, and I've never used gasless MIG before. I think I need more practice...
Capri, I had a new parcel shelf delivered, pattern part of course, so started removing the fittings from the destroyed original.

 

[Adam4868]

Volvo again. Adjusted the detent plate which will hopefully assist with the 1st and reverse gear selection. Also fitted a gear knob which is nice.
In other news, no way I'm going to get the gearbox fill plug out. When the current crisis has calmed I'll take it to my local and see if they can do it on the ramps.
Also broke out the MIG welder to have a bit of practice. It's been 20+ years since I last welded, and I've never used gasless MIG before. I think I need more practice...
Capri, I had a new parcel shelf delivered, pattern part of course, so started removing the fittings from the destroyed original.

Gasless....not that I've actually done that much but I've had a go with gasless.Remember you weld similar to arc/stick and drag the weld the opposite of gas mig which you push.
I'm sure you know what your doing anyway !

 

[keithmac]

If there's slag you drag!.

I've had good results with gasless, you just have to take your time.

Seen a bloke using gasless wire WITH gas and he did some stunning welds with that combo.

 

[Adam4868]

Ok boring I know...got my arc welder out yesterday and messed about.Made a burner out of a old gas bottle and bits and pieces.Just got to get a bit of pipe for a chimney.
For neat I like oxy/acet welding or Tig.
For ease and strength if go arc
Mig wasn't around as much when I was young so I sort of missed it out.Id sometimes use it at a garage for a bit of sheetmetal/sills but I never really like it.Seems temperamental to me ! Or I'm just sh1te at it probally.

 

[keithmac]

I like acetylene welding and brazing but it's an expensive way of doing it at home with the bottles!.