PeteH

To Me, It looks vaugely as if the Body shape is that of a Herald. But with 4 doors?. Co-incidently, During March/May 1976. I was on a Vessel trading the Indian coastal ports including Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. What I remember Most was the vast numbers of "Hindustans" as Taxi`s. Local made/asembled Morris MO`s, I believe.? Pete

If you have a couple of weeks, and a Post as long as--------------forever. I could talk you through the "joys" of demolition, and replacement with a ground up self build. Short version:- It "only" took 2+ years, from moving on site to moving in and I did the vast majority of the work single handed beyond the facing brickwork, roofing and the basic timber frame which was custom built. But what a roller coaster ride. Starting with something called "running sand", which required reinforced foundations = 16 x 9 Metre Piles and a reinforced ring beam. 11 grand underground @ 1998 prices, before we even put a brick above!. 2 winters, one very wet, one similar to this, In which come Mid January, we just shut the site down and went to Spain `till Easter in the R-V. We lived in that, on site and a 26ft Static as Office come Utility/storage space. What we finished up with was "ours" right down to the last nail and screw. But 10 years later the whole plot (circa 1/3acre) and 2000sq ft on 1-1/2 floors, was deemed too much and we downsized to what SWMBO, describes as "her dolls house". Dealing with, Planning (bunch of maddening barstewards), Building reg`s, Great Bloke, went out of his way to make sure it was right, without getting too "jobsworth". Power, Gas, Water they all had countless acres of paper, and inspections to satisfy!. AND the VAT!. What you can claim for, what you can`t claim for, the final assessment filled two big lever arch files!!, which I had to take to Stockport!. But we got back all but a few quid of what we claimed. Pete

This one intrigued me. Pete

I STILL have scars from doing that, not because the spanner failed in fact It worked perfectly. It was the speed and violence of the spanners owner, (the fitter with whom I was working), who decided that an apprentice who abused his tools deserved instant retribution. That was when I was taken by the ear and introduced the the "flogging spanner", designed for use with a hammer, not one of his prized Chrome "King Dick" set!!. Pete

MIne is similar to j_D`s. Just slightly larger. When I do use it It runs for a while and when the garage get too hot so I switch it off. Since "lockdown" the price of Propane has nearly doubled. I used to pay under 20quid exchange for a 19kg propane. it`s now closer to 36quid. Flogas, 6Kg was £14 (ish) currently £25.75. Calor is even more expensive @ £31.50. The way the Eberspacher, and Chinese clones work, the combustion gasses are vented separately. The heated air is ducted separately from the exhaust. So theoretically, if you conduct the exhaust to the outside of the building, there is no access to the "flame" or any other source of ignition. In this manner they are used universally as "night heaters" in Trucks, and we sometimes slept with them running too!. If we turned them off, it was more for the noise than any danger. Most come with timers so you can set start and stop times. There is an Ebespacher fitted to the current Motorhome, Merc; Spinter base, It functions as a heater booster to quicken the warm-up from cold, brilliant on a cold morning or to demist the windscreen quickly. Pete

Repairing (welding) Fuel tanks is generally frowned upon largely due to the ignorance of many who have attempted it in the past, and the sometimes Lethal effect!. I gas brazed the seam joint of Norton Motorcycle tank back in the 60`s, By sealing the filler and filling the tank with HOT water effectively reducing the volume of the tank, making the job less (potentially) hazardous. Steam cleaning has also been used, especially on large LPG vessels where there is access. (it removes the "hazard" but the "Stench" remains), If I examined one for Calor. `er indoors made me strip in the garage before I came indoors to shower!!☹️ and all the "gear" went straight in the wash machine!. Pete

Cannot comment on the latest Chinese ones except to say plenty are getting retrofitted to Motorhomes currently. Many years back I rescued an eberspacher from o scrap BT van and fitted that to an R V with decent results. I have an lpg heater for the garage at present but it’s quite expensive to run even on gas from the cheapest sources. AND, they make a lot of moisture/condensation too. I’m on the lookout for a multi fuel stove, burn all the workshop crap in it and convert to burn old engine oil. Pete

Halfords, did have a “lifetiMe” warranty at one point. I have a now over 20year or more 3/8 drive set. And 1/4 drive set of similar vintage. Both having had a hard life but still survive. Along with my 1960’s Gedore 1/2” drive set. The ratchet driver of which got lost in a sewage plant and never recovered. It’s replacement is a Swedish Baco, as are my 3 adjustables. Pete

If you want to keep going?, F-G the pinole in the other tank neck?, Get`s you out of bother in the short term?. Pete

There is obviously some disagreement about this. And I appreciate there are a limted number of vehicles not suitable. But in my case, I am happy with over 25years, and many thousands of miles flat towing a variety of vehicles. Hundreds of others have done it too. In the USA, virtually all R-V users, especially the larger ones, Flat tow, and there is a large pool of vehicles that have been proven over many thousand miles, some even with "auto" boxes. The minority vehicle damage has mostly been down to operator error, not faults with the transmission. My 13/60 box is out at the moment, well has been since 2015!. I`ll take a look and check on that, as I am considering prepping the Herald for flat tow. Thanks for the heads up! it`s appreciated.👍. Pete

When you are towing, the propshaft is turning the gears, in much the same way as when being driven, As a gearbox relies on splash lubrication, then provided there is sufficient quantity of oil in the `box no harm will occur, Hundreds of thousands of miles every year are covered by those who do, including myself. With the events that do occur unrelated to the towing, more often forgetting to put the `box in Neutral, or more likely, leaving the handbrake engaged!. The U-S Tacoma, was an Auto too, the difference there was that with the Transfer box put into neutral all the rest rotated without any prospect of damage to the Gearbox, as it and the Engine where not in the "loop". Even the likes of semi Auto`s, basically auto clutch, including my P-107 are flat towed regularly and for hundreds of miles too without any issue`s. Slush box auto`s are a different thing altogether. That is a no no-no. DSG `boxes are not advised, although some have been towed without problems, it depends on the design, with some US dealers even fitting approved specialist "kits" to allow it. Pete

Nice. I quite liked them, Had 2 in quick succession (base model repmobiles) back in the day. They handled well, didn`t have the plethora of unwanted "gizmo`s" we have to-day, and even the bread and butter ones where quick(ish), Best of all, they had not by then gone so far into the "electronic age" they could not be looked after with a few tools and some basic knowledge. Shrewed move as well, in a few years it will be Tax, MOT and LEZ exempt!. Yet still a usable motor. In my view, Any Solid car of an age is going to become more than just the sum of it`s parts. Strangely the one I would have back. Is my BX diesel Eastate. That was a Versatile and yet still drivable vehicle, and those HUD derived diesels ran forever. Pete

No Heat on the feet?, (Cold air). Blocked or Airlocked heater Matrix, Control valve, OR the Engine is being Overcooled, in which case start with the Thermostat. An IR thermometer, as suggested, would be useful. No Blown air would suggest the Control flap is not functioning, or even debris in Matrix Air side. Took an Escort one apart once it was full of old crap, bit of paper, fluff bird feathers. A P-O had removed the filter screen. Pete

Been doing it with a variety of cars since about 2000. With the exception of the Smart. I have yet to experience problems. In the USA over a 5 year period I did 20,000 miles. 90% of which was towing a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. Which after we sold the R-V my grandson and then his sister continued to use. As did we, on our occasional Visits too. When my son traded it for a bigger truck it made near as much as I paid for it in 2009. Peter

9+tonne, V`s 900kg?. Not much of a contest. I wrecked the Engine and Gearbox of a Smart Car, virtually the same manner behind My R-V. In that case the Smart showed a "False" Neutral on the indicator, when it was actually still in a gear. S-H gearbox and engine, £900quid. £200 to the young Guy who helped me do the swap, and reprogramme the EMS, £50 quid back for the scrap!. Afterward, I changed it for a full manual Fiat Punto. Pete.

Vehicle earthing issues are the biggest PIA, known to man. Getting worse too since the introduction of “cambus” systems. I am planing to run a substantial dedicated earth cable front to rear, if and when I get to that phase. Pete

This shows the pipe run, and the adjacent Brake pipes. I guess it could be done in a decent quality "nylon"?. Pete

Circlips are notorious for taking a "set". it could be that a replacement circlip is what is needed?. I have Expanded them again, in exceptional circumstances, but it`s not a general recomendation, Safer to replace. Pete

Screenshot from DVLA website:- Pete

I "got lucky", with a Careful bit of welding and drill and re-tap the hole. A "trick" to help locating the bolt in the hole is a Big(ish) screwdriver through one hole while you "feel" for one of the others. I`ve had a lot of practice recently doing this "solo", the doors have been on on off more often than................................ !(better not go there)😁. While trying to get the Doors to align with the Bonnet, Cill`s and still "gap something like". It`s coming but it`s a long old job!. Pete

Made me think. So I put it on google maps. I may well make the effort, as by my calculation it`s only a short detour from my usual "prefered" route south via the A46 to Near Aldermarston, where youngest son lives in a Thames Barge on the Kennet and Avon. Will the Car Park take a 26ft Motorhome, towing a car?. Pete

If your of the mind set. Carefull drilling of the hinges, and oversize pins. From memory it think I took mine from 3/8" to 10mm, Or maybe from 5/16 to 8mm?. using some "Stubbs" steel rod, I had laying around in the garage?. I "mushroomed" the top to stop it working through. Pete

Hi "A long long time ago" (that bloody song again!). I had a similar problem with a Pinto (Ford) engine. One cylinder would stop firing. I found the problem by accident as it was a dark evening, one plug lead was tracking and in the dark I could see it!, but every time we disturbed it when checking the sytem the leads moved and it would start, as it settled back it was tracking to earth. Replaced the lead and the issue was solved. Pete

Very similar to eyeletting tools for making tie down sheets/groundsheets etc: Lidle BTW had some Punch pliers in their collection a month or two back?. A Punch/hammer combo will probably be more effective on a heavy vynl Cover?. I found that a Lead Block made cutting easier, and saved the punch, and can be "recast" (sand mould, old pan and the stove) when it gets too mutilated, Lead was a "leftover" from a house build 20 years ago. Pete

I would tend to favour a BCA site (British Car Auctions), But the Ford Corsair in the bottom of the photo, appears to have what may have been the original Orange Disabled Badge in the window. so I wonder if it is a recovered car compound?. My son`s both did Valeting work weekends in the 80`s,for BCA Camberley as teens, a lot of cars came in with personal stuff still in them. (And more!!) Pete