:: Diary - October 2017 ::

:: Sunday, October 8, 2017 ::

Well that's a year since I bought this thing - it's different, it's beautiful, and it certainly seems to be popular. I go out for a wee celebration drive. The new spark plugs seem to be holding out well, there's no signs of misfire, even after sitting in heavy traffic in the city, and there's no wheel covers flying off either! It's getting there!

:: Saturday, October 14, 2017 ::

It's a nice day, so I go out for a wee cruise. First stop - fuel!

As I am getting out of the car, this guy walks up who has seen me driving in, and starts asking me about the car. Then the wee lad in the car on the other side (the Nissan) starts telling his mum that it looks like "Flo" from the Pixar film "Cars." When I've filled up, I let him have a look inside (you can just see him at the edge of the door).

This is "Flo".

While that's going on, the woman in the Punto comes over - she wants a look as well (she's at the back with the purple warmer on). She has a sit inside, all very pleasant!

It's a year today since I first brought this car into this fuel station and got a similar reaction!

In case you're wondering, the photo was taken by a random guy in a van parked beside the shop, who put it on his Facebook, where it was seen by a friend of my son, who pointed me to it!

:: Saturday, October 21, 2017 ::

Buy, buy some chips and some pie
Drove my Chevy down to Morrisons because it's quite dry
The gen light came on, and I can't figure why
Could this be the day that it dies?

Yeah, ignition warning light came on while it was driving. Now this is the first time I've seen it, it normally doesn't come on at all, even when you turn the ignition to start up.

It has a "one-wire" alternator, with all the "field" and "exciting" wiring internally - easy way to replace a dynamo, but not as good as a 3-wire alternator. For a start, apparently, it means the ignition light doesn't work on start-up. I knew that.

But why is it coming on now? A check with my trusty old voltmeter suggests it's kicking out nearly 15V - too high in my opinion, should be 14.5V max. Maybe the internal regulator is knackered? I can get a new alternator for £145, but I need to be sure that's it.

While I am doing this, my neighbour comes over. He works in electronics and he has a fandabby meter, that says the voltage is only 14.4V, while mine is reading just under 15V. My trusty voltmeter isn't so trusty after all!

I order a new one, for delivery tomorrow.

:: Sunday, October 22, 2017 ::

New meter arrived today, just after I had spent 3 hours under the TVR. The Chevy battery is at 12.8V standing, 14.4V running, with no voltage drop between the alternator and the battery post. And the ignition light is off! God knows what was wrong yesterday, but it seems to be ok today.

Old cars are like women - you never know what today will bring, because yesterday is no indicator, and tomorrow will be different again.

This meter has a temperature sensor, so I spend 15 minutes playing with that, just seeing how quickly the radiator and exhausts heat up, etc.

:: Friday, October 28, 2017 ::

A new experience - I saw on face-a-gram or whatever it is, that there is a "Halloween Cruise" tonight, about 5 minutes from my house. Not really my scene, since it's bound to be full of riced-up Subarus and Corsas etc, and guys trying to make as much noise as possible. What the hell, it's only 5 minutes away, let's have a look!

By the time I arrive (fashionably late) the car park is full of cars and people. I finally manage to find a big enough parking space.

To be fair, people do take an interest in the car, and I end up talking to quite a few lads who just want to see it, and hear it running. The guy in the maxed-out BMW beside me isn't too happy because nobody is paying attention to his car.

I also have a wander around, and find this very nice rod...

and the "Bat-Hearse" that I also saw in the shopping centre car park last week. The guy bought it for banger racing (he has another 4, he says) but thought he would have a bit of fun with it first.

I also find this - a Ford Escort RS3500 - yes it has a Rover V8 engine in it.

After an hour or so, people are starting to get silly, screaming engines and setting off fireworks, and tear-arsing up and down the road outside. At this point, your Reporter made his excuses and left.