RobClubley

Got Rusty out for a quick drive after a couple of weeks sitting and it sounds like a Subaru. Looks like cylinder 1 HT lead is failing. Lumpy at idle and pulsing at low RPM but perfect above 3500. Better get a new set ordered as cylinder 4 lead failed a year ago, I'm sure they will go one by one. Managed to troubleshoot without any electric shocks this time, which is nice

Rusty has been allowed back into the garage!

Rather moist drive to Wellington and back a couple of weeks ago.

The rain finally stopped today so I went for a Sunday drive

Prepare yourselves, episode 39 is about to drop! Talk about going down a two year rabbit hole!

The story... Brake booster, freshly rebuilt by Jay Stratton in California, and back to Taranaki in Aotearoa, via Oregon! Brakes back together and working. I sussed out my intermittent brake light issue. It seems the tail light insert eventually warps a bit over time and the metal tracks lift slightly from where they’re fixed with melted plastic tabs. There are brass leaves under the tracks which connect to the bulbs. The leaves rely on the tabs holding the metal in place to make contact. I added a screw to fix it. Then clicked why there’s already a screw, someone already fixed the same issue with the indicator. Next day was the WoF Failed, with a shorter list than last time. One indicator bulb had died, the belt to the hydraulic pump was cracking, and one headlight alignment isn’t right. The same headlight I spent ages sorting out for the last WoF! Replaced the belt, need a new alternator belt too but they’re not available locally. The top bolt on the alternator needed all of the swears to get undone. Next day - WoF round 2. Everything was sorted but the WoF mechanic had gone home. Finally day 3. Got to the WoF place expecting just a quick check and sign-off and she said "The left tail light is too dim". FFS The solution was to go to Supercheap and buy some Narva LED tail light globes, which don't seem to care that one tail light cluster is only getting 10 volts. $132 for 4 tail/stop lights and 2 indicators (because why not make them all brighter?) Finally the WoF was signed off. WoF passed, just in time for the road trip event that weekend. I was really excited for that, but unfortunately non car-related issues prevented me from going.

Yay!

Not much has changed, I thought I tracked down a replacement ATE part that looks identical and was fitted to 80s inline-six E23 BMWs, but when I ordered the part, the supplier's supplier couldn't find it in their warehouse ! So I went back to plan A and sent the old one to a bloke called Jay in California, who rebuilds them. https://www.jaysbmwparts.com/contact Meanwhile I got some oil and filters, it's due for a change anyway

Tracking down my brake fluid leak and after degreasing and cleaning it all, at first I thought it was leaking from the odd one-way screw in the bottom of the brake servo, but looking at the photo it looked like it was between the servo and master cylinder. Soo good news! The master cylinder is fine. Bad news! The servo is leaking hydraulic fluid. And it’s out! As always, there was rust to clean up, and something not fitted correctly- the return spring in this case.

Very happy with these brand new door handles from EBay. Really solid and they fit perfectly

Bit of tinkering today. Added to the job list. Sorted the rusty battery tray, fixed the light issues, found out that my aerial works, but I have no idea how to make it go back in. Started removing the door handles but with the battery removed I can’t put the windows up to get to the inside. So I spent some time trying to work out exactly where brake fluid is leaking from. Still working on that!

Really enjoyed this one - what a collection!

I've borrowed a shed space to get on with the job list over Winter. Talk about shed envy!

My 92 Ford Courier ute. Doing alright on a petrol motor.

Also I wrote this https://open.substack.com/pub/inoneear/p/do-you-love-your-car?

6-monthly Warrant of Fitness didn't go so well...

I’m a little bit shocked and very happy that the EFI conversion kit I bought in January 2021 arrived recently!! It looks excellent. I’m in two minds as to whether I install as the car is running well at the moment. But it would be a cool project. As for the delay, I don’t know what happened. The first parcel was lost by UPS, remember when that ship got stuck and messed up global shipping? Then after a few months everything went quiet. The company reappeared in January 2024 and is filling all back orders.

After an hour of back-road driving therapy.

Lol there were workers but the coned area was ridiculously long. I waited 20 mins at these lights on the way up.

Sitting at a red light isn't so bad with a view like this!

Photos from Ellerslie Classic car show https://www.facebook.com/ProjectRustyquattro/posts/pfbid02qn4fHZRBNym8yEM8B5J7FnGSQnYRJ8xZ43cQRtsfPbA5w6fkN9hcXnQ4oNdemwKil

Many images from the coffee run on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ProjectRustyquattro/posts/pfbid02Pi3rMd7U6sKDPjC9E3kUbMPshmnc52EcrBthPLB9MmZ9avZdEn8qnYffR8bXG4Mel https://www.facebook.com/ProjectRustyquattro/posts/pfbid0zCEXthyvd7nX6kwPQPusBAQrxycXpkxcvJXKLY3htZNEsSxhPp5aAgdoP2YrNfjul

A long and extremely wet drive today to Auckland for Collecting Cars coffee run. Met up with John who very kindly gave me a petrol cap that keeps the petrol in!!

Not even full!