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Millenium Cleanup/rebuild Didn't start as a project.... Rate Topic: -----

#141 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 14 November 2014 - 07:54 PM

Sipes are the little mini-slices in the tread. They help grip in the snow.

https://www.youtube....h?v=zLMwF5WR-us

Ice, cold wet roads, other non-snow stuff? Meh, it's just softer rubber that maintains it's grip levels at low temperatures far better. No unexpected lighting up of the fronts on part throttle on the roundabout, etc.

Looking to take a trip to U-pull-it to grab some puma-spec wheels, with the plan being in summer to be out closer to work; I'm thinking Easingwold, which is 20mins from the office, and 20 mins from some of the very finest roads in the area. So super sticky track-spec tyres for the summer which I'll throw on the MIlly nine-spokes, and put the winters on the spare set. I'm sure my tuna will let me keep the spares out at his place if I throw him a bottle of gin or something Posted Image

#142 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 10 December 2014 - 10:03 PM

Winters fitted, lower arms and bushes fitted, handbrake now works (the rear cables were siezed to hell), aux belt on it (piece of mind) and it's all happy.

Well, mostly - I get a mild grumble when accelerating gently at 50+mph which I suspect is a CV, possibly the passenger side but I'm not too sure how to tell. It's very subtle though so with any luck it'll last till the new year, when I'll get paid my out-of-hours support bonus and I can get it investigated properly.

Or it's the dreaded bottom end rumble which means the car is due to explode - in which case I'll tap Ian for an engine with my out-of-hours support bonus. One or 'tother ;)

#143 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 11 December 2014 - 09:16 PM

let's go for CV rumble, sounds far less terminal :)
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#144 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 16 December 2014 - 08:14 PM

Fingers crossed ;)

Anyway, Puma + winter tyres + untreated backroads on a frosty morning = hilariously tail happy when you want it to be but the winter tyres give it more than enough grip to be safe.

Awsume.

#145 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 18 April 2015 - 01:07 AM

So. update: Rumble is likely poor balancing.

Anyway, it's MOT time. I was thinking the car was probably OK, other than a leaking exhaust after the cat collapsed. Got that changed for £200 and change.

Er, no. Seems there is rust above the exhaust (probably explains why the heatsheild came loose....and was subsequently ripped off, har), however, that doesn't explain why I have a busted front shock, ARB drop link and possibly a bust rear top mount.

That's probably explained by me taking a rat-run to my mech's place, and forgetting that said rat-run has nasty, nasty subsidence - like, speedbump bad. And I hit it at, er, interesting speeds, enough to make me need opposite lock on a straight road.

The rust is technically structural, so I'll get that sorted. Rest of it, well, pair of front shocks, get a pattern drop link (yeah, I know, pattern parts are consumable but I 0need the car legal). Nice part is that the welder is a proper craftsman, so I'll be interested to see how he patches the chassis up, as he'll be doing the rusty arches, er, one day. Soon. For varying values of soon....

Anyway, no plans to scrap the car or owt, just another pain in the harris. That said, I expect after a few days in my dads Cotroen C4. when I get the car back after pouring even more money into the Pumas filler cap, it'll feel like a go-kart. And as noted, I'm looking forward to having a new set of front shocks :)

#146 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 18 April 2015 - 08:36 AM

Really not bad at all you only have rust that is car age. The other was enthusiasm.
After a ç4 it will be puuuuurfect to get the Puma back. But the 'soon' sounds like it will be on winter tyres when next driven but you can't beat using a craftsman so worth waiting for.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#147 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 12:56 PM

Well, I'm thinking I might change the car later in the year - the £200 of welding is the bare minimum to make it safe and legal, it needs more, which will need to be done at the next MOT.

I've been idly looking at alternatives - BMW E46 320d Compacts (150bhp out of the box, easily tweekable to 190bhp/300+lb/ft), LPG powered Jaguar X-types etc, in a rare moment of sensible, as driving the old mans C4 has made me realise just how much fuel I go through in the Puma thanks to it's rather eager attitude. That is, it's hard not to thrash it :D

C4 with it's soft power delivery encourages a more relaxed driving style, which suits the commute I'm doing.

We'll see. I'll speak to the welder when I see him next and see what he thinks will need to be done for the rest of the welding, and see if the maths adds up....

#148 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 24 April 2015 - 10:41 PM

Well, got the car back with it's new front suspension (now running Ford bushes and lower arms, new ARB drop links and Monroe shocks) and holy crap, it's incredibly tail happy - which is a *good* thing.


I think I'll still have to sell it, but I may tidy it up a bit more to make it easier to move on.

We'll see....

#149 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 25 April 2015 - 08:10 AM

Fuel will be expensive what ever car you get so I wouldn't use that as a reason to sell.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#150 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 25 April 2015 - 02:34 PM

It's a case of how expensive; 50mpg would save me £150/month which is not to be sniffed at.

I might see if storage is an option with my mechanic or some of the local peeps who have space; clean out the rust to prevent it getting worse, SORN it, run a TD for a while to save up some money/move closer to work/all of the above, then look at tidying the car up properly once MPG isn't a concern.

There's also the fact that 2000 miles a month in a fairly firmly damped car is pretty tiring!

#151 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 25 April 2015 - 05:39 PM

MOG is also right foot dependant and general economical driving style aim for 60 :-) and stash the savings
Sounds like an idea, the Milly is quirky looking and limited in numbers and the Puma is a great drive.
Can't see it being worth any less in a few years than now if the rust is kept at bay.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#152 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 25 April 2015 - 07:16 PM

Well, that's sort of my thoughts, but the main reason is because it's hilarity to drive on the right roads, which is most of 'em around here bar the A64...

I find it's impossible to drive it economically - I got 29mpg out of my last tank. I might have been a bit overenthusiastic on the throttle, but to be honest, I can't help it - it just begs to be thrashed. I mean, it makes peak power at 6250-6500 for a reason, right?

We'll see what I can do with it, I mean, after all, it's just metal at the end of the day, how hard can it be?

#153 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 01 July 2015 - 12:17 AM

Still not done anything about moving or changing the car, but the accelerator started sticking on Friday night. Bit odd I thought. Presumed I had cleared it by giving a few stomps.

Checked again on Monday, er, nope, still flaky. Popped over to see me dad, he pulled the throttle body end of and yup, it was nasty. Risked it to York as I had to be in the office and couldn't borrow another car, got to within three miles of home before it started getting really bad - although really, it was just 'idling' at 20% throttle, so 2500 when moving, 1500 when stopped.

Got a new cable today, fitted it, now all is well again in the world. Also, I've learned (from driving with only a tiny fraction of throttle) that my MPG is entirely down to my right foot. did 150 miles on the last tank, 100 of them with minimal throttle usage. 35mpg. And given that the previous 50 miles were 'spirited' I guess that means I'm my own worst enemy when it comes to gas guzzling.

Oh well, I now know why the throttle felt so stiff. I just assumed it was tuned to feel meaty. Apparently not :D

#154 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 01 July 2015 - 06:31 PM

On a good run I have managed 40 mpg on my FRP, but usually it is around 36 unless on track. Haven't actually measured it for years now though.
I have updated the Wiki throttle article with a link to your post.

Has reminded me I did actually buy a replacement cable for mine a couple months back but not done anything with it yet, was going to change it as a routine activity.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#155 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 03 May 2016 - 07:08 PM

Well, it's been a while. All sorts of shit has kicked off.

First of all, me dad decided to just up and die on us, the silly bastard! :roflmao:/>

The day before he died, my alternator decided to shit itself, so I left my car at his place, and whupped his Citroen because the insurance was good for me. That, and he was 70 miles away, in Hull. Kinda had to get back and forth.

The day after his funeral, my employers decided to make me an 'offer to leave' the company - because the MD didn't like my face, but I'd done nothing to even instigate a displinary procedure. Being in a flaky state of mind, I accepted it. In hindsight, probably the best decision, who wants to work at a company that thinks that's a good way to behave?

Anyway, cue breakdown (of the psychological kind) and Puma sits for three months. Eventually pull it together, fix alternator (refurb of an old one I had) and move Puma. That's been sitting there for three months with the handbrake on. Oddly, the pad securing pins didn't take kindly to this, adn broke, leaving the shoes flopping about and the slave cylinder sticking out so far that it was leaking brake fluid everywhere. Ulp. Recovered home, diagnosed knackered securing pins, managed to grab a set on Christmas Eve and fit 'em. Brakes appear 'less deadly'. Still need transport though, and don't have much parking space, so moved Puma to my bros and, er, left the handbrake on. For three months.

Anyway, cut to last week and teh brakes are no worse than they were (Ie they didn't break when I moved the car) although I think my hamfistedness means the shoes are misaligned, or I've dirtied up a bearing. I can deal with that.

What I can't deal with is that the fuel pump doesn't seem to like six month old fuel. It's popping it's fuse, typically after it's been run for a while (first time after 30min idle following charging of flat battery, second time after driving to halfords to pick up some fuses - how useful!) and other than the fuel varnishing up the pump vanes, or rust in the tank (quarter tank of fuel) I'm at a bit of a loss. Pump doesn't sound noisy when doing it's ignition pre-charge, and it's not whining in use etc.

Do we think I can get away with just dropping the tank and draining it out and changing the filter? Or will I need to replace the pump (which while I'm on Universal Credit is going to be....interesting to finance)?

I'll start a thread in the main forum, and post results here.

So yeah, been a funny old six months....Oh, anyone want to buy a fvcking yacht....thanks faither! :rolleyes:/>:roflmao:/>

#156 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 03 May 2016 - 08:25 PM

Got to love that yellow colour.
Sorry to read about your Dad and bummer with work but you never know other things can come with change.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#157 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 03 May 2016 - 10:40 PM

Well, ideally without being (allegedly) illegally sacked. Certainly sacked in a manner that is beyond moral reproach by any standard.

Had more than a few people suggest that a clogged filter might cause enough backpressure to give the pump a hard time/make it choke, and the filter doesn't sound that hard to do (de-pressurise first, possibly?), and I happen to have one sitting in the car, so I'll give that a crack tomorrow at some point between my therapy (resulting from The work/faither incident), dropping paperwork in for council tax relief, etc.

#158 User is offline   StevenRaith 

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Posted 17 September 2016 - 09:45 PM

So what's been going on?

Not a fecking lot in all honesty - not Puma related anyway.

Puma sat on the drive since I did the filter, the it came to MOT time - so I popped the car to my good friend who does most work on my car as he knows it's foibles.

He's chatting away to a guy with a 70s camper, so I kill the car, pop over, stick me nose in, tell 'em it needs fixing with fire - the usual broken biscuits tattle. I go back to my car to move it for my mech, and, er, it pops the fuel pump fuse.

Damn. Give it 20mins, change fuse, happy as larry.

That was back in, er, late July. I told my guy that as I was working in a new job (yes, I got a job) and was in Leeds all week, every week, AirBnBing it, not to rush things - take on more lucrative work, fix my car in between - fine.

So, now we come to this week, car back up for MOT after fixing.....many things. Mech goes to take car to MOT...fuel pump fuse blows. So this isn't a one off. Anyway, I remind him to leave it 20mins and swap the fuse, it goes in for MOT, it passes (finally), and I'm good to collect.

I go to collect. Mate gives me a lift out in his 530d. It all comes flooding back and I'm doing no less than 5000rpm anywhere and he can't keep up - hilarity. Get to within 500 yds of home at some traffic lights, and it stalls.

Fuel pump fuse. Damnit.

So looks like I'll be tapping Ian for a fuel pump.

I hear that dropping the tank isn't something that requires a Masters in mech engineering, so I'll probably do it myself - and probably try to clear the tank out as best I can as while it's off, might as well clean it out properly in case theres rust or whatnot in there.

Swear down, it never rains but it pours in Chateaux Raith.

But I need that razor sharp turn in and the popping and farting on the overrun. That run back was hilarious. The breaking down in traffic and humping the car to a side road on the starter....not so much ;)

#159 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 18 September 2016 - 09:16 AM

Let's hope changing the pump sorts it out, worth checking the cable run that you can see too.
I did change my throttle cable and it feels lovely now, definitely worth doing.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

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