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Epic trip ?

GerGer
Hi All,

My Florida sourced CMC has been pretty much up and running for a while now, but due to UK paperwork complications, (Kit, imported, lhd etc etc), I just have not had the time to get it all sorted out....

So I sent it away to get all of that messy paperwork stuff sorted out by a guy who knows the system. Trouble is, he's 350 miles from me.

Long story short, I had it trailered down, took the train down and collected it yesterday. Now, this is a brand new build, zero miles, engine has no more than 2hrs running since I rebuilt it.....

With a great deal of trepidation, I set off from his place....it cut out before I got to the end of the drive....Bugger, not a good omen...Restart, popping and banging, I made some progress to the gas station. Filled up, petrol welling up thro the sender ..., ohh well mopped it up and set off, into the worst rush hour traffic...(it was 17:00 and Birmingham)

Ohh, by the way, the car has no top on just yet, and I was driving to Scotland :) The gods smiled and the weather turned out great, and even without heating, I drove the first 150miles in shirt sleeves untill the sun went down!

Cruising at 65, with a big smile !!!!!

Made it to within 3 miles on my home, then.....Alternator pulley, exploded, wrecked fanbelt and totalled the face of the alternator. So a great and quick service from the recovery guy got me home.

All in all, a fun day out !!

So, now I need to attend to the small list of items needing rectification, (Mile counter not working, gauge illum, fuel leak and get gauge working, adjust gearchange a little, few squeeks and rattles), Trim, paint and enjoy ! (anyone have a 914 Speedo gauge for sale?)

I think I'll use it as is for a while...(ohh and get the top fitted, its scotland after all !)

Cheers
Gerry

 

 

Located in Scotland 

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GerGer
Hi All,

My Florida sourced CMC has been pretty much up and running for a while now, but due to UK paperwork complications, (Kit, imported, lhd etc etc), I just have not had the time to get it all sorted out....

So I sent it away to get all of that messy paperwork stuff sorted out by a guy who knows the system. Trouble is, he's 350 miles from me.

Long story short, I had it trailered down, took the train down and collected it yesterday. Now, this is a brand new build, zero miles, engine has no more than 2hrs running since I rebuilt it.....

With a great deal of trepidation, I set off from his place....it cut out before I got to the end of the drive....Bugger, not a good omen...Restart, popping and banging, I made some progress to the gas station. Filled up, petrol welling up thro the sender ..., ohh well mopped it up and set off, into the worst rush hour traffic...(it was 17:00 and Birmingham)

Ohh, by the way, the car has no top on just yet, and I was driving to Scotland :) The gods smiled and the weather turned out great, and even without heating, I drove the first 150miles in shirt sleeves untill the sun went down!

Cruising at 65, with a big smile !!!!!

Made it to within 3 miles on my home, then.....Alternator pulley, exploded, wrecked fanbelt and totalled the face of the alternator. So a great and quick service from the recovery guy got me home.

All in all, a fun day out !!

So, now I need to attend to the small list of items needing rectification, (Mile counter not working, gauge illum, fuel leak and get gauge working, adjust gearchange a little, few squeeks and rattles), Trim, paint and enjoy ! (anyone have a 914 Speedo gauge for sale?)

I think I'll use it as is for a while...(ohh and get the top fitted, its scotland after all !)

Cheers
Gerry

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FM Former Member
Jerry, I'm very sorry to say I just laughed out loud in solidarity with your plight! Why is it always within a few miles of home? Like, if you could just make it over that rise ...

I read you post to a colleague, and he pulled on his chin for a minute before passing judgement on the situation.

"Well. That was a good, swift kick in the twig and berries, wasn't it?"

I'm sure you'll have 'er up in no time flat.
GerGer
It was amazing how many cars pulled up beside me in the traffic jamb to tell me what a nice car! It's still in gel coat and has few battle scars, primer areas etc !

Because my petrol gauge was not working I pulled in to top up 3 or 4 times, without fail, there was always a comment from the attendants :)

So far, I love it ! It's actually my first drive of an aircolled VW...though I have restored an aircolled Fiat 500, and the Speedsster shares garage space with a Citroen 2CV

Thanks For all of the comments Folks !
FM Former Member
C'mon Gordon, I was driving my mother-in-laws, Mercury Marquis (the de Sade version) and I couldn't find the electronic button INSIDE the car to open the outside gas cap door.

Did I mention it's illegal to pump your own gas is Oregon, so the attendent was patiently waiting with pump in hand?
El FrazooEl Frazoo Supporting Member
I COULD NOT find the latch, button, lever or finger notch for the gas hatch anywhere on a recent rental car. Was going to fill 'er up before returning. Asked several folks at the station, nobody could find how to open the little GD door. Even pushed on the door -- nothin' doin' . Cannot now recall the brand of car. Took it back w/out the fill-up gas -- just gave up, and had a plane to catch. asked the attendant how to open the hatch, and she goes to the back of the car and pushes gently on the hatch, and it just tilts open, easy-peasy. Felt like a dope. I did push on the hatch, but when I did I pushed on the hinge side, so nothing happened.

Also, just the other day, I went to fill up another rental car, and the freakin' gas cap is missing. WTFO?? But wait, there is a note on the filler neck: there is no gas cap. (!) Just stick the nozzle in there, fill it up, and it closes by itself when you take it out. Did not think too much of this, actually, as gas spilled on the ground during the operation -?- But there is no gas cap to lose, so this is progress . . .
GerGer
Progress you say........

Our family transport is a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso....It also has the gas cap in the "flap". It also has an electronically applied handbrake, (parking brake) .

Now in all of my previous cars the instructions for the parking brake went something like, "pull to engage, press button and push down to release" and that was that. This vehicle has .........6 PAGES in the manual for the automatic parking brake........

Both componants perform the same function, guess which will come up with the most errors, guess which one will need replaced when faulty at huge expense.....

Some technology is just not progress at all.....
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