Zel's Eclectic Fleet Blog (Volvo, Rover, Trabant, Invacar & Occasional Distractions)

[Dick]

How does the mpg gadget work?

[Zelandeth]

How does the mpg gadget work?

The in-built one on the dash isn't calibrated in any way, it simply gives a good-bad indication based on fuel flow.

The little gizmo clipped to the top of the dash is simply a set of thumbwheel controlled numbers. You can still buy them over here.
The idea being I imagine that you'd make an assumption of when you'd next expecting to need to refuel and dial that in as a remonder. At least that's my assumption.

[Zelandeth]

Service access, you say...

Well remove two thumbscrews and the whole front panel lifts out.



Shown here while I was in the process of replacing the hose between the air cleaner and the carb. The old one was quite badly perished and a really loose fit. New one is much better. Would have been a bit fiddly with the panel in place.

The carb is basically invisible with everything in place, but is reasonably easy to get to now.



Likewise the fan belt adjuster is now readily accessible.



Which I've nipped up a little as it was really loose before and chirping quite a bit at idle. Belt is obviously not in the first flush of youth so I'll get two new ones ordered up (I reckon that's a smart spare to keep on board). I guess this is the one area I could criticise, on a car where you're so reliant on the fan it would be nice to see a duplex belt like on the Invacar. Being fair, it's far from the only air cooled car to only use a single belt though.

I reckon in ten minutes you could have the front panel off along with all the heater duct work, so you've got access to pretty much everything. Hard to criticise that access.

Yes you can get the wings off a Mini or 2CV pretty quickly, but it definitely takes more than the 30 seconds taking this front panel off takes.

[Dick]

Whats the blue car in the background? Toyota??
Old mini, the wings are welded in place.. some of the jobs you need to persuade local gynaecology department to help

[Zelandeth]

Whats the blue car in the background? Toyota??
Old mini, the wings are welded in place.. some of the jobs you need to persuade local gynaecology department to help

Guess it shows that the Mini is a car I've virtually no experience with. The only one I spent any real time around was when I was quite young and was heavily modified with GRP wings which were removable with a dozen or so bolts.

Blue thing in the background is one of our in-laws cars, struggling to remember now but I think it's a Juke. Modern and forgettable, though at least it's not resale silver I guess!

[Dick]

Whats the blue car in the background? Toyota??
Old mini, the wings are welded in place.. some of the jobs you need to persuade local gynaecology department to help

Guess it shows that the Mini is a car I've virtually no experience with. The only one I spent any real time around was when I was quite young and was heavily modified with GRP wings which were removable with a dozen or so bolts.

Blue thing in the background is one of our in-laws cars, struggling to remember now but I think it's a Juke. Modern and forgettable, though at least it's not resale silver I guess!

Juke thing would have been one of my next guesses.. im surprised you have little experience with minis.. Will one be on your shopping list?

[Zelandeth]

Juke thing would have been one of my next guesses.. im surprised you have little experience with minis.. Will one be on your shopping list?

Not really, for two reasons. First is that I simply don't fit comfortably in the driver's seat of one. I drove one for the first time a year or two back and was basically wedged against the door. Secondly is just that they're to my mind utterly absurdly expensive for what car you get - especially given they're not exactly rare cars. Yes they're fun...and if they were in the £2-3K range for a nice one I'd maybe consider it, but that barely gets you a rotten project car these days.

I'd take a Mk I Metro though. Had one of those way back when they were worth peanuts and loved it.

[Dick]

Mini prices have changed a lot, I wish I kept the ones I owned.. I had a metro too.. not a mistake I'd make again..

[Zelandeth]

The Peugeot decided that it was about time to add something to it's to-do list today.



Guessing based on how it's behaving that we've got some gunk or moisture on one of the zebra strips between the display panel and the PCB it's mounted to.

That will definitely need to be sorted as it will drive my OCD mad.

The Trabant was out and about again this afternoon. Really surprised how well it handles the wind for such a small car save for violent rattling of the offside front window because the seals are shot.

I did notice a random detail I wasn't expecting this afternoon on this car.



I don't think I've ever seen another car with three number plate lights before. Couple of buses yes, but not another car I can think of.

Probably be taking this car along to the classic car show in Stoney Stratford on New Year's Day, while it doesn't look like the weather is going to play ball, I'd really like to give it a wash before then to at least get rid of some of the moss and ingrained grime.

[Dick]

The screen on my truck has got a similar problem, I was hoping to get a new one but at 300 plus vat it can stay like that until I find a good second hand one