Jim will try and fix it

[pbottomley]

Being an owner of a Vauxhall Viva and also being on a tight budget, it
becomes a necessary factor in the ownership of a Viva to be reluctant at
spending hard earned money on garage costs. Sometimes things are out of
our hands and we are left alone wondering why we spent all that money on a
car and it doesn’t work, luckily friends are around and some are very
gifted who seem to be able to perform miracles on dead cars and get them
running.

Why am I telling you all this? Mr London (aka PSL) is in such a situation,
he’s bought what appears to be a couple of good cars and now finds himself
with none of them working, he’s rather despondent with the cars as he has
been unable to get either running and roadworthy. One is a show winner and
PSL was looking forward to driving it (his first on the road viva in quiet
a while)

Some of us felt it was right to offer our help and organise a weekend over
at PSL’s to get at least one of the fleet running. So here are the details
of the plans we have made so far, please feel free to offer help and or
support.

The Pre fix it, look at it day: Sunday 10Th November 2007

Myself and Mazzo (others?) will descend upon PSL’s house for morning
coffee and bacon rolls, and attempt to have a more details look at the
Blue car and the Estate, with a view to see if it’s a simple loose lead
and or more serious matter. We will attempt to get a good diagnosis of the
issues on both engines, and make a decision upon which engine is best to
focus our attention upon, in an ideal world the engine in the blue car is
good and the issues are not “we need to remove the bugger”

Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th November

I, Mike, Sarah, Peter, Clara, and others, will descend upon the house and
FIX the car(s) as required.

Sounds very simple and the plans are very simple, but the small details
are the bits that need sorting out:

Accommodation will need sorting, unless you’re a die hard “I can sleep in
a tent in winter”, Food obviously, there is only so far a pack of bacon
can stretch

(That’s an idea, see who can physically stretch a bacon packet the further
than anyone else, but I digress)

Spares: We might require a whole engine who knows, it might be a gasket
leaking, it could be a spark plug, the idea is we will let everyone know
what the score is after this weekend and that gives us a few weeks to get
it sorted before the big day.

Can anyone who is interested in coming to help please email me at
paul.bottomley@annteak.com and let me know their numbers so I can get a
handle on the food, beer, curry and accommodation.

Again anyone interested in offering parts (after we know what we need) can
you also email me at paul.bottomley@annteak.com again so I can put
together a list of parts and make sure we don’t end up with 30 spark plugs
when we needed a carb!

I am aware of the following but please confirm this is still the case:

Andy … the engine (we need to get it shipped if needed)?

Peter… You’re coming down, but will need a place to crash?

Clara… you’re available for coffee duties and ST Johns duties?

Mike Stanley…. We need to see where you can slip into these plans?

Mike Bulldog… You’re square with Per? Don’t forget I will also pay towards
fuel as some toys are on the way to me as well.

Ralph…. You’re coming over to play carbs?

[Fred Dukes]

Thoughts for Sunday:
If people suspect the contents of the petrol tank - take some form of substitute petrol container whit petrol pipe feed which will connect to petrol pump or gravity feed to carburettor. this will clarify if problem is in the petrol tank feed network.
Take timing strobe light and check out ignition timing right back to basic timing mark -does it indicate No.1 cylinder top dead centre - does it match up with dizzy No 1 cylinder plug lead.
do I remember this is a replacement engine - has it been heard running properly before?
Paul - you had a Stromberg carb with manifold off me when you picked up the 1256 engine - do you still have it spare - that was working properly all be it 18 months ago.
My bet is it is timing - anyway good look on Sunday - I might be able to make the end of Nov. weekend if there is a need.
Could also consider bringing my engine crane.
Fred

[pbottomley]

Thanks for the thoughts Fred,
Those tips we will be doing as a matter of course and a few others. I have
yes a good working Carb and Manifold, a strope light a comprerssion tester
and the usual bag of good plugs, leads, caps coils etc.

We will as I say let people know what the score is from there. Alas your
good spare is now fitted to my HA, else would gift that if needed.But as
always we have eyes and ears on other lumps as and if required.

I am sure you would be welcome to assist in the "too many cooks" around
one car syndrome that will result LOL

[smoky joe]

shame you are so far i would have been up for a bit of this i would make a good supervisor not
with a bit of luck it will be something easily sorted

[Baz]

Too far for me as well, it's a four hour drive just to get to the border, but I'm up for it if there's ever one within striking distance.

[Cold Snail]

Damn timing.

The committee has got to go to Gaydon that weekend to look at new t-shirts, insurances and so on.....

[pbottomley]

Then come along this Sunday ! bring knowledge and smiles

[psl]

Melton in motion 1256 style

Im very shocked at the response my little rant has made, sorry
Yes it would seem im in need of the power of the bacon eating people, as much as i hate to admit it, damm it should be me sorting a weekend out for one of you lot

So Paul and Tracy welcome you all, to a carrol singing bible reading early xmas gathering............... My fecking *Bleep*.
Those of you in need of a room for the weekends session are more then welcome trimmings of wild bore and something hot, with a tipple of sherry me thinks should warm your *Bleep*, while the evenings entertainment shall be made up as we go along. Maybe a BBQ. A smoking area will be set aside on the driveway under the communal golf umbrella, smoking robes will need to be brought as smoking in the house is a no no.
A winters gathering for all, with lots of laughs and the odd sherry will be the order of the day, if the engine gets done then great. All very welcome. If you`ve been to billing or came to the national, then im sure this weekend will follow on from there.
If numbers could be known soon i`ll see about taking you lot out for a curry, on me in my local. As im in the heart of curry land, i`ll treat you to one. Sorry but Jelly babies wont be included
Please let me know what is needed regarding engine bits????????? i will endever to gather what is needed. [/b]

[pbottomley]

Please let me know what is needed regarding engine bits????????? i will
endever to gather what is needed.

Dont worry about that Paul, we have this in hand, and I think until Mazzo
and me (plus anyone else up for giving the car a kick) have poked the
engine in both cars on Sunday, we will have no idea what is needed.

[Clara]

Good luck with it chaps

(Clara - who seems to have lost all of her weekends this month to Saint John.)