Jonny-Jimbo

If you need to borrow a drive-shaft Rich, I have a few knocking around. I bought them as spares for my car, and I don't know what condition they're in, but as it's a relatively simple job to change the driveshaft on these cars (ie, no messing around with brakes) it could be worth a go just to check?

Ear plugs? That's what I use when in transit - like on the way back from the Essex rally. AJ and I could still talk to each other but cut out a lot of the extraneous noise, and felt good whilst driving and didn't get a headache etc. But also if I want to have a good noise to the car, I can just pop the ear plugs out.

Hey Richard, you can update your signature now to include the Essex rally for the events your 2000 has done!

*2012, damn typo. Can't correct it now either.

I'm not sure any of the anecdotes from our 2013 efforts would be printable or worth retelling. Or should be shared. Such as late on Friday night when a certain grey mk1 came past us on a sliproad, and by the time we'd got to the bottom they had disappeared from view... that was with Dad driving though...

Yup, and again. AJ and I really enjoyed it, hope to be back for future events too! Stuck some ear plugs in for the drive back - if you can't hear the noises it's not broken right?? Glad we didn't do any extreme off-roading, although we did find a grass bank at one point thanks to me not spotting a turning in time haha. Best of all, the car behaved well all day and did the best part of 400 miles, about 40 times more than it's done in any one day since the 2012 RBRR! Mike, once again, many thanks for the event, and glad you got a strong turn out to! It's always nice to get a near full contingent of vehicles along!

Yes, if you look at the bottom of your inner and outer column you'll see two flats cut into them that need to line up when the clamp is fitted. I've seen a few cars where the clamp was attached but the inner and outer column flats weren't lined up so there was a lot of slop in the column. Also, don't assume when fitting the clamp that the clamp will pull them level with each other. There is a very good chance they'll just pinch the column.

As it's just off the road I guess it's worth pulling into for a goose. If not then should be reet. I'll fill up at Warwick before leaving, then if needs be at the Esso where I'm meeting Richard, but it'll be good to have a near-full tank for the event.

The Tesco fuel stations open at 10am on Sundays so they're a no go for filling up, but would be useful meeting points at Milton.

OKay, how about we text you when we're crossing the A1 / Going past Godmanchester area?

Right, okay, so I need to remember to stop at Rothwell and then at Milton. Going to the Tescos shouldn't be an issue as it's not 'off route' as such. Rob, how long does it take you to get to the Tesco? Just thinking AJ (my nav) could text you when we are a certain distance away so you're not waiting too long or we don't wait too long. Richard, we'll see how it goes. 65 or so should be an okay cruising speed? Even a 2000 auto shouldn't be too stressed at that! I'll PM you guys so we can swap mobile numbers.

When I used to work at Ginetta in Suffolk I used the A14 every other weekend for coming back to Coventry so I know that route well, and fairly early on a Sunday morning it should be fairly clear. Would prefer to stick to dual carriageways as much as possible. Richard, I think the easiest place to meet will be the Rothwell services just after junction 4 on the A14, so could get fuel there and possibly breakfast too, but as it's a MacDonalds I don't really want to eat there haha. Could be a good place to meet though as it's actually on route, and anywhere else is off route for either of us. Is that okay? Colin - Not sure if that's possible as the store opens at 10 and I anticipate we'll be passing there just before 9... Rob, I anticipate being at Milton between 7.30 and 8. Richard, I have to say I am anticipating averaging the speed limit wherever possible on the trip down there. My Lemon doesn't like the lower end of the rev range.... Officer.

Richard, I'm not against the idea of travelling down together - Was probably aiming to leave Warwick at around 6 am all being well, heading up to the east edge of Coventry then getting on the M6 for a few junctions before joining the A14 east to Ipswich, then joining the A12 south. Google thinks that's gonna be a journey around 2hrs 45mins. Is that the route you were considering?

At the moment AJ and I are still in - took the Lemon to work today and she went okay, bit poppy and farty at times, but I think that was just because it was cold and the choke doesn't work... well, it jams solid if you pull the cable, so have to start it without...

Yeah I think QH are gone now - mainly due to poor quality parts. I think they used to be okay, but went downhill in the last few years. I know I had a thermostat off them for my Herald and the first one didn't fit (turns out it was for an Audi) and the second one where the central pin was meant to be fixed hadn't been formed properly so when the thermostat opened it jammed. Good job I checked in the kettle first!

Valencia ("Is that orange mate?" "No, it's blue." "Oh, looks green to me...") with rust and black and silver TR6 steelies (in case there are other Valencia Mk1s on the event

Cheers Tim, would you be able to post a photo of it so I get an idea? I was going to weld up a bracket to mount my Huco on, using the studs on the block from the old pump to mount the bracket. I don't like drilling extra holes etc in bodywork or fittings so the car can easily be put back to standard in the future, should any other custodians wish to...

I was going to mount my Huco on the original pump fittings on the engine block. Is that okay or is vibration etc likely to be an issue?

Fair enough, I read it was the detergents, but the end result is the same that your gearbox will eat itself very quickly.

I've said this before - always make sure you use GL4 in the older cars. GL5 has some detergents in etc that will corrode brass etc so it's a sure fire way to buggar up a gearbox for certain!

How much movement should there be in the mount? I've managed to get a weekend in the workshop so am going to finish fitting the electric cooling fan etc, then get under the car to check it out. I don't want to take it apart if I don't need to, but the amount of movement I see on the engine and gearstick suggests it is on it's way out (The front engine mounts are fine)

As a rule the block is the same, but the head and pistons changed, as well as the crank and cam, and it's age dependent too etc. It's all about as clear as mud until you get into the engine to see exactly what you have. If the pistons are domed it's a 2L, if they're flat it's a 2.5L... probably.

I'll take a punt on it if you end up swapping the engine - could be a good one to go in my Mk1 2000 estate if it is a 2.5 engine.

I have a spare BMW prop I think, which I can measure up. Obviously not ideal as wont have the right ends on, but could be an option, and certainly will be at least 34" long.

Herald 13/60 by the looks of it. PM me details, I might be interested. Thanks.