Seriously?

[loki_the_glt]

Originally Posted by Othen

This one looks like it may go for sensible money if you fancy some risk:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174943865...53.m1438.l2649

... it will only have 5 days worth of MoT test left at the end of the auction, but if it fails to make a grand (which I suspect it might) then that may be worth the risk.

It looks like the seller has neglected the maintenance a bit - presenting it for MoT every year without preparation, and then just fixing the minimum to get it through the re-test, so that might be a challenge (why would you not want a challenge if buying a 34 year old car). It looks like it may need a bit of welding at the back.

:-)

That one's got the B230K engine so the timing belt is critical: if it goes it takes valves with it and replacement heads are rarer than honest politicians so you need to see proof that the belt's been changed timeously and re-tensioned.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

That looks like it Dave - maybe the price has increased a little (I thought it had been about a fiver last time I bought one - but that may just be my memory failing).

I have found with B&Q that sometimes the item may be in stock, even though the click and collect button doesn't work. This seems to be particularly true with low cost/high turnover items. It might be worth dropping in to a nearby store if you happen to be passing - there might just be a stack on the shelf that don't show up on the computer.

Alan

I wondered the same Alan but it also offered the option to check stock at nearby stores, then it said next to it that this item isn't avilable for that service at the moment. Kind of suggests that as the price of sheet metal has shot up recently that they're showing it as a stock item but can't sell at that price so aren't selling it until the price drops again.

[Juular]

Wickes also do small sections of mild steel. Cheaper than B&Q, still expensive for what it is, but it has dug me out of a hole several times when I just needed a little bit.

[Bob Meadows]

Your local car paint supplier should carry stocks of metal sheet/angle section:~
I also purchase some via ebay particularly stainless steel.

For larger sheets (full size) annoy your local metal supplier/stockist, these are mainly for the trade but I used to purchase the same (generally the top sheet off the pile as it was mildly damaged) ideal for larger restoration jobs and cheap.
Regards Bob.

Just used this company https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292716296...r=591510816001 with excellent service & looking for support.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Juular

Wickes also do small sections of mild steel. Cheaper than B&Q, still expensive for what it is, but it has dug me out of a hole several times when I just needed a little bit.

Thanks for that, after a bit of investigation it's a similar story to B&Q, i suspect they'll all be the same but i'll try Toolstation and Screwfix as well - nearest town that has all 4 stores is about 12 miles away so it's as broad as it is long about where i buy it, as long as they have it!

Just tried the usual online suspects, while most of them appear to have mild steel/Zintec sheet in stock, most can't deliver until next week unless i pay a stupid amount for an overnight courier! Even tried Amazon to make use of the free Prime trial they're offering, guess what, the best deal wasn't fulfilled by Amazon so back to square one again!

[Othen]

Originally Posted by loki_the_glt

That one's got the B230K engine so the timing belt is critical: if it goes it takes valves with it and replacement heads are rarer than honest politicians so you need to see proof that the belt's been changed timeously and re-tensioned.

I get a feeling this one isn't going to come with any proof of anything Loki. It looks (from the MoT history) that the owner has let the maintenance slip over the past 5 years, each time it fails the MoT and gets patched up for another year with the same advisory faults. This time it is being sold for whatever residual value it has with only 5 days MoT remaining, so I rather suspect the owner is expecting it to fail.

The 5 days worth of MoT should be enough for a buyer to get it home without a trailer. If the cam belt doesn't break on the way it would be a good idea to change it the next morn, then take it for a MoT test to find out what is wrong. There is probably a lot of rust at the back which the current owner gave a good coat of underseal when it first started appearing.

This motor car is probably near the top of the 'rough cars' part of the price guide, so at about £750 it would be worth the risk to someone. It won't qualify as an historic car until 2028, so that isn't much of a mitigating factor. It is just an old car that someone has almost squeezed dry, but for perhaps a few hundred pounds and a bit of home welding on patches (from B&Q) it could live on a bit longer :-)

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

I get a feeling this one isn't going to come with any proof of anything Loki. It looks (from the MoT history) that the owner has let the maintenance slip over the past 5 years, each time it fails the MoT and gets patched up for another year with the same advisory faults. This time it is being sold for whatever residual value it has with only 5 days MoT remaining, so I rather suspect the owner is expecting it to fail.

The 5 days worth of MoT should be enough for a buyer to get it home without a trailer. If the cam belt doesn't break on the way it would be a good idea to change it the next morn, then take it for a MoT test to find out what is wrong. There is probably a lot of rust at the back which the current owner gave a good coat of underseal when it first started appearing.

This motor car is probably near the top of the 'rough cars' part of the price guide, so at about £750 it would be worth the risk to someone. It won't qualify as an historic car until 2028, so that isn't much of a mitigating factor. It is just an old car that someone has almost squeezed dry, but for perhaps a few hundred pounds and a bit of home welding on patches (from B&Q) it could live on a bit longer :-)

This bit made me laugh about this silver animal Alan :

“Decent condition for the age but, as with most 240s, there is slight corrosion around a couple of the wheel arches. Minor MOT advisories on the front suspension arms but still passes (see gov.uk history). Air con needs some attention.”

What air con? It hasn't got any!

Maybe he means the PulsAir system (those strange bellows affairs on the exhaust manifold) which i don't know much about other than it squirts air into the exhaust manifold to make the emissions appear cleaner. If it's not working properly it could seriously confuse the emissions!

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

This bit made me laugh about this silver animal Alan :

“Decent condition for the age but, as with most 240s, there is slight corrosion around a couple of the wheel arches. Minor MOT advisories on the front suspension arms but still passes (see gov.uk history). Air con needs some attention.”

What air con? It hasn't got any!

Maybe he means the PulsAir system (those strange bellows affairs on the exhaust manifold) which i don't know much about other than it squirts air into the exhaust manifold to make the emissions appear cleaner. If it's not working properly it could seriously confuse the emissions!

I always thought those cars had 4 air conditioners Dave... a glass one at the top of each door :-)

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

I always thought those cars had 4 air conditioners Dave... a glass one at the top of each door :-)

Yep, roll it down, stick your head out!

[Othen]

Surely this can't be the going rate - £295 for a 244/245 instrument cluster:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304155159...YAAOSwtHJhSdkd

... !