Grim

great write up Dan, very interesting. I'm sure it's a standard item, but you could swap the washers under the clamp bolts on the verniers to larger ones. This would spread the load a bit more and reduce the risk of the aluminium deforming under the washer, and loss of clamp load.

as well as the capacity of the battery in amp-hours (Ah), look for the Cold Cranking Amperage (CCA), which is a better comparison of how the battery will perform. https://www.tayna.co.uk/B18-Varta-Blue-Dynamic-Car-Battery-544402044-063-P3123.html

i've had my hood since i was 22. That was a while ago now, but you may be surprised - at that time it was about half what i had been quoted for a supermini. Only phone specialist kit/classic insurers.

I was more surprised i found someone to put up with me I tell her this proves i have much better taste than she does!

Still pootling about in my 2b occasionally, although not as much after my wife (Clare) had our son (Thomas), but life is pretty good!

Do you mean the front hub (wheel bearing) nut? Needs to be very tight, 310-350Nm according to haynes. I dangled my weight off a medium length breaker bar to get it tight enough.

Welcome back Jez

DOHC engines are much wider than the ohv rover v8, so might be a problem fitting it in. A greater issue might be fititng the gearbox in, the type 9 is quite modestly sized, and the tunnel is designed to suit.

before you go to the hassle and expense of changing, check the runout on the discs. Most brake judder is due to excessive runout

Geoff's are 14"

from the picture, although the thread looks oily, the electrode looks dry (but sooty). A misfire can tend to give a sooty plug, so it might be a symptom rather than the cause. Not sure if i can see any signs of overheating...? What are your spark plug gaps? what is recommended?

as an aside, did you recheck the compression with a teaspoon of oil in the bores? if you get higher readings it suggests rings, if they are the same it is likely to be a valve issue, which would be worth investigation before swapping the engine

May's meet is at: Monk's Bridge Farm Nobel Way, Dinnington, S25 3QB Coming eastbound from the M1 J31, take a left at the roundabout by the red lion and proceed for nearly 2 miles, and Monk's bridge is the 4th exit off the next roundabout. https://goo.gl/maps/TcekDG8AHPQ2 Usual time of 7:30 on wednesday the 3rd, unless people are meeting earlier for food? Andy

April's meet is at: Monk's Bridge Farm Nobel Way, Dinnington, S25 3QB Coming eastbound from the M1 J31, take a left at the roundabout by the red lion and proceed for nearly 2 miles, and Monk's bridge is the 4th exit off the next roundabout. https://goo.gl/maps/TcekDG8AHPQ2 Clare, Thomas, myself and others are going for food about 6pm, so feel free to turn up then, or at the usual time of 7:30 on wednesday the 5th. Andy

i use a combination of google maps when i have phone signal, and OsmAnd when i don't (plus it has a lot of footpath data which is useful). OsmAnd is a free download - you also have to download the map files before you first use it, but then it works without any data signal.

Old Smith's gauge? Can use a modern transistor voltage regulator, I bought one off eBay

Yes please

My experience with flux is that a non fault claim will be treated as a fault claim until sorted, even if the other party has admitted liability. Not sure how that affects other vehicles, but my renewal was massive with no guarantee of a refund.

If there is a specific deep scratch, there is little you can do. If the panel is generally scratched and looks a bit misty, you can use a fine polishing compound from the polishing shop with their soft mops, but you must not let the panel get too warm. Very labourious process, so i've only done small areas to remove rust stains from my windscreen brackets. Problem is, those areas are too shiny now!

Terry's favourite 'the polishing shop' will sell you kit for polishing metal, with various grades of polish and mops. It wont stop it coming back though. Maybe an alternative is ceramic coating?

What is the thermostat opening temperature? Your fan needs to come on at a temperature in excess of this. Many modern cars have stat opening temps of 98

is there a valve impression in the head of the piston? it does look like a crack in the head

After a bad day yesterday, he has improved a lot today, and has begun feeding. Only 1ml per hour at the moment, but i'm very happy he can tolerate it!

Copy of what is on facebook: I'm delighted to announce the arrival of Thomas Stanley Wilkinson. Due to the rapid onset of preeclampsia, Thomas was delivered by caesarian section at 1124am Wednesday, weighing 2lbs 13oz (1.27kg). Fortunately Clare was stabilised enough to allow the use of drugs improving baby's lung and brain function before delivery. At 29 weeks term, we may face challenges in the weeks before Thomas is allowed home, but so far he is coping very well in the neo natal unit. I would like to thank everyone in the baby and neo natal unit at Chesterfield Royal for the outstanding level of care we have received. ---- A few days on, he's doing well. He's lost a bit of weight as would be expected, overcome a little jaundice, off the ventilator, moving his arms and legs around a lot and screams (quietly)! Fingers crossed he stays as well as he is. Clare is still in hospital and will be for days, as her blood pressure is not yet stable. Andy, Clare & Thomas

January's meet is at: Monk's Bridge Farm Nobel Way, Dinnington, S25 3QB Coming eastbound from the M1 J31, take a left at the roundabout by the red lion and proceed for nearly 2 miles, and Monk's bridge is the 4th exit off the next roundabout. https://goo.gl/maps/TcekDG8AHPQ2 Usual time of 7:30 on weds 4th