'Zeb' - (Not a Classic) Bloggy!

Post pictures and stories about your cars both present and past. Also post up "blogs" on your restoration projects - the more pictures the better! Note: blog-type threads often get few replies, but are often read by many members, and provide interest and motivation to other enthusiasts so don't be disappointed if you don't get many replies.
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Paul240480
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Re: 'Zeb' - (Not a Classic) Bloggy!

#141 Post by Paul240480 » Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:06 pm

So far so good with the rack. Fluid level hasn't dropped at all. Early days mind, its only been done for about a week & a 100 or so miles.....

Did look under and saw quite a bit of oil in the same area.... again. It is not clean fresh ATF/Lucas stop leak though..... it is black dirty engine oil. So a quick 'dip stick check' (the car not me :lol: ) found the level to be 1/2 way between min and max . So that equals 0.75 of a litre has 'leaked' out in about 3.5k :roll:

Anyhow, Zeb' has the 'Frenchy MOT' in March. So will run as is, keeping that oil toppers until the test and see what else that pulls up........ ;) before 'forking out'

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Re: 'Zeb' - (Not a Classic) Bloggy!

#142 Post by Paul240480 » Thu Feb 21, 2013 7:50 pm

......... Had the Frenchy MOT done today...... ..failed. Steering rack is fubared completely. Not just seals, the rack itself has ruptured, rotted, whatever :cry:

rich.
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Re: 'Zeb' - (Not a Classic) Bloggy!

#143 Post by rich. » Thu Feb 21, 2013 10:38 pm

you have my sympathy... mine failed too :cry:

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Re: 'Zeb' - (Not a Classic) Bloggy!

#144 Post by Paul240480 » Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:54 pm

bad luck for you too then rich :cry:

Okay having thought about what to do with 'old Zeb' ........... Decision made :D He shall live on. There's too much good stuff already been done to contemplate scrapping.... yeh I could pull him to bits & sell things to assist funding something else maybe......

Anyhow, I was 'stuck' with trying to source a RHD rack here in France, or pay to have one shipped over - the postage nigh on doubles the cost.

So I have a similar thread to this running on http://univers-volvo.com/forum/index.php (Frenchy Volvo forum). By a stroke of good fortune (for me) Didier over there had his 850 rear ended & had started breaking good bits from it. It turns out to be a right hooker of Irish origin :!:

Since yesterday evening the rack from Didier's has been in my shed. Didier delivered it en-route to a weekend with his brother a few miles north of here. So I sent him off with some 'spondoolies' for his weekend & a bottle of red to say 'thanks'.

So now on recommendation (thanks LB) I'm going to buy one of these kits : http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/pro ... ts_id=5150 before getting my 'tame mec' over to fit it for me. Following that I guess tracking will need doing again. Then I'll get it all checked at the test centre

I reckon that once all is done I shall have spent around £300 and I should be 'good', at least for the next 2 years till Controle Technique time again.......though there is the old exhaust pipe still hanging in there :lol: :lol:

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Re: 'Zeb' - (Not a Classic) Bloggy!

#145 Post by Paul240480 » Fri Apr 12, 2013 3:17 pm

Haha, the plot thickens......... wot a day! Chris the mec came over to fit the rack today.... his clutch pedal snapped in half :lol: just as he got to my gates. He had a look at my 'new' rack, then car and announced I'd bought the wrong one! So not long later he went off home to do something with his van....

I checked the rack further on Vadis & worked out that it was infact right. So called Chris back. He had 'jury rigged' his clutch & came back out........ after getting the car in the air, he announced that he wasn't too happy crawling about underneath a jacked up engine with the sub-frame lowered. He was worried about 1) getting squished by a Volvo 'white-block' or 2) knackering the car. Said he'd prefer to do it using a hoist.....which he hasn't got......

Nightmare!..... can't blame him mind...... Just could've done with knowing that when I had more time, as my Controle technique runs out on 21/04/13. Arrgh!

Anyhow on a whim I went up to nearby Saint Dolay where there is a garage that has recently 're-opened' under new owners. I wasn't hopeful as here, normally they are very reluctant to fit owner supplied parts. I played on the RHD issue and that they wouldn't be able to source one..... Seems, so far to be a good call, as the mec' there will do it. He can do it next Friday, 19/04/13. Reckoned 3+ hours & offered to do it for 230€ including the tracking. Maybe steep, but I'm getting desperate :roll:

Well, I've gone for it & have booked the re-test for Sat 20/04....... Phew, lets hope he is good to his word.......

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Re: 'Zeb' - (Not a Classic) Bloggy!

#146 Post by Paul240480 » Fri Apr 19, 2013 8:07 am

Dropped Zeb off yesterday evening............... he should be in 'mid-operation' right now.....more later.....

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Re: 'Zeb' - (Not a Classic) Bloggy!

#147 Post by Paul240480 » Sat Apr 20, 2013 10:59 am

............................and YAY WOOHOO!
Image
Gash pic but I'm sure you get the idea! I feel a beer coming on! :D

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arceye
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Re: 'Zeb' - (Not a Classic) Bloggy!

#148 Post by arceye » Sat Apr 20, 2013 11:47 am

:D Bet it feels good don't it.

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Re: 'Zeb' - (Not a Classic) Bloggy!

#149 Post by Paul240480 » Sat Apr 20, 2013 12:11 pm

arceye wrote::D Bet it feels good don't it.


Thanks, it flippin' well does! :D

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Re: 'Zeb' - (Not a Classic) Bloggy!

#150 Post by Paul240480 » Wed May 01, 2013 12:04 pm

After the test and on advice of the tester I jet washed the rack off. Tester chap took me under and showed all the messy oily gunk left by the garage. So I did blast it off. Since have been keeping my beady eye on things.
No drips :D

200+ miles in now and the fluid level is......... SPOT ON! Woohoo! 8-)

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