Loosing faith.

[johnny_h]

I spent the last of my months wages getting my prop balanced only to find today a horrible groaning noise combined with random clangs and bangs and oil seeping out of the bell housing. I have tons of little bits and pieces I want to iron out but everytime I think I am getting there something else goes wrong. At the moment I am using the mex to commute to work because my old astra died a couple of weeks back. I had to take the day off work yesterday to get the prop sorted and now something else has broke. I am honestly getting really fooked off with the car and all the problems that go with it, like the neighbours moaning that I am in the street working on it every night. Well I am fookin sorry it's my only form of transport and I need it to get to work and can't afford to take it to a garage every fookin five minutes! Old nosey Bastards with nothing better to do all day than peer through curtains while they wait for the grim repear to do them a favour. I have had lot's of help from friends on this site and also massive support from emma and yes, good old mum. Without you lot I would have had to bin my OSF ages ago. So, am I alone here or is anyone else failing to see an OSF silver lining right now?

[Alan G]

... but theres always the light... run to the light johnny!

[Pipster007]

Sick with it. I've had this problem for the last year with the Capri. It packed up last June and I only got it running again properly last month. It's still not 100%, but it's close.

 

I too spent hundreds on it, just for the problem to be something else all the time.

 

I felt completely disheartened with everything and I felt like selling the Capri and the Escort. But now that it's running again, I have regained my hope. I've even made a start on the Escort. Well, when I say I've made a start, I mean I've started buying various parts to put back on it and I've also got Colin to start on building an engine for me.

 

So, chin up. Leave it for a few days, then come back to it with a fresh head on your shoulders. Have a few too

 

BTW, get the old Astra running first. I know it ain't an old Ford, but it can be a reliable old tool when you need it. After all, I was heavily reliant on my old Astra Van for the past year

[MK II Mark]

Mate,

 

Think of the end result, people staring at you when you drive it and everyone coming up to you when you fill up with fuel asking you questions, takin photos etc...

 

They will be wishing they were as cool as you... Fook the neighbours... If they don't like it, tell them to move or die and the place would be better without them...

 

Be strong Brother and never lose the OSF Faith

[Osgood Isgood]

Peaks and troughs matey, that's all, just peaks and troughs. We all have days when we think the World is out to get us, but take a step back for a while and you will soon realise you are doing what you really want to do.

And the most you can make of those times the better ...trust me I'm an old fart so I know!!!

 

After all what's the alternative? Would you be happy with a two year old, reliable, economical Fiesta for example??.............thought not!

 

As for the busy bodies, I bet they have all got ugly wives, so any excuse to get out of the house, even to have a moan at you is like a life saver for them!

 

Next time they have a pop just smile and say.."Thanks for that for letting me know, now can I get back on with minding my own business whilst you do likewise"...or words to that effect. Sarcasm may be the lowest form of wit, but it works every time!

[Doc]

mate for ups and downs you only have to follow my threads on the x pack . I nearly sold it three times and scrapped it once just to rid of it .

 

now its done its seems a long time ago

[ZetecVan 2.0]

Stick with it m8. My van has been on the road a year next week and I'm still having problems, but the end result is worth it. Here's a list of my breakdowns & problems from the last year. The engine and gearbox have been out at least eight times since getting MOT'd.

 

Megasquirt ECU failure (twice)

Leaking sump

Leaking sump (again) causing clutch judder

Leaking cam oil seals

Leaking water pump

Radiator holed

Wheel fell off (my fault)

Servo failure

Rear wheel bearing (N/S) failure

Radiator hose split causing head gasket failure and for me to fit the 2.0

Gearstick snapped off

Throttle not opening fully

Alternator tensioning bracket bolt snapping.

Various clutch related problems.

 

Still to fix:

Diff seal leaking (will be fixed when I fit my LSD)

Rear wheel bearing/seal leaking (O/S)(to be fixed this weekend)

 

My reconditioned gearbox has started leaking from the bellhousing too.

 

It's worth it though, because I took my mate out in in last night and after having some fun with an EVO VIII (who will probably taking it to a garage today to complain it's down on power because it couldn't shake an anglia van), he said he's never had so much fun in a car and his heart was beating like he's just been on a rollercoaster.

 

Stick with it.

[caprifan]

...well I can join the whole fed up gang...my season is pretty much over before its started...the rust found in my chassis rail has kicked me down and the fortune quoted to repair it properly I don't have.....any spare dosh has now gone to the wife for a patio I've been promising I would do for the last 3 years....I still need to strip the whole underside before i can think of putting any of it back together.....and I still don't know if any hidden rust boobytraps are waiting for me...

 

been looking at my poor car up on stands since last October...done loads but still have loads to do............

 

now looking at 2008 before she will be on the road....

[MK2Ed]

Felt like this a small while back but it did feel all the more sweeter after some of the challenges were done (still some outstanding).

 

Also chucked a little bit of money at it too which took some of the pressure off

 

Good luck...

[caprifan]

...if I was able to throw money at my car then I'm sure a lot of things would go away...I don't have the money to do that and I like doing as much as I can myself....

[Rick]

chin up youl get there

[Gareth]

I spent the last of my months wages getting my prop balanced only to find today a horrible groaning noise combined with random clangs and bangs and oil seeping out of the bell housing. I have tons of little bits and pieces I want to iron out but everytime I think I am getting there something else goes wrong. At the moment I am using the mex to commute to work because my old astra died a couple of weeks back. I had to take the day off work yesterday to get the prop sorted and now something else has broke. I am honestly getting really fooked off with the car and all the problems that go with it, like the neighbours moaning that I am in the street working on it every night. Well I am fookin sorry it's my only form of transport and I need it to get to work and can't afford to take it to a garage every fookin five minutes! Old nosey Bastards with nothing better to do all day than peer through curtains while they wait for the grim repear to do them a favour. I have had lot's of help from friends on this site and also massive support from emma and yes, good old mum. Without you lot I would have had to bin my OSF ages ago. So, am I alone here or is anyone else failing to see an OSF silver lining right now?

 

I might have one in the form of a good 3 rail box m8

[johnny_h]

...if I was able to throw money at my car then I'm sure a lot of things would go away...I don't have the money to do that and I like doing as much as I can myself....

I haven't got a problem doing the work myself as the sense of achievement is great. My problem is no matter how much work you do yourself there is ALWAYS something to shell out for, even if it is just a new seal and some fresh oil. Considering it's not even the middle of the month and I am totally skint there's not a lot I can do. Couple this with the fact that I need my car to get to work and if I don't get to work I can't afford the bits I need to fix the car and if I can't get to work, I won't get the money I need to throw back at the car and if the car doesn't work I can't get to work etc etc etc.

Seems like all my weekends and spare time are taken up just keeping the fookin thing on the road and to be perfectly honest in all the time she's been on the road I haven't had a relaxing drive or managed to show any new school motors what she's made of for fear of something else, bending, slipping, banging, snapping or generally breaking off. Remember when the KLF burned one million quid? Well I feel like doing that to my car, the only difference being is at the moment my car is a worthless piece of sh*t anyway.

[Rick]

i like it, il give you £400 for it problem solved

 

youl get there boss. keep ebaying those parts to make sum spare cash

[johnny_h]

I spent the last of my months wages getting my prop balanced only to find today a horrible groaning noise combined with random clangs and bangs and oil seeping out of the bell housing. I have tons of little bits and pieces I want to iron out but everytime I think I am getting there something else goes wrong. At the moment I am using the mex to commute to work because my old astra died a couple of weeks back. I had to take the day off work yesterday to get the prop sorted and now something else has broke. I am honestly getting really fooked off with the car and all the problems that go with it, like the neighbours moaning that I am in the street working on it every night. Well I am fookin sorry it's my only form of transport and I need it to get to work and can't afford to take it to a garage every fookin five minutes! Old nosey Bastards with nothing better to do all day than peer through curtains while they wait for the grim repear to do them a favour. I have had lot's of help from friends on this site and also massive support from emma and yes, good old mum. Without you lot I would have had to bin my OSF ages ago. So, am I alone here or is anyone else failing to see an OSF silver lining right now?

 

I might have one in the form of a good 3 rail box m8

[Burns]

yeah, it's disheartening when it buggers around aint it

 

i spent last night sulking into a fosters tin cos mine's broken again, wiring issues

 

when you get that final run out, it'll all be worth it

[johnny_h]

yeah, it's disheartening when it buggers around aint it

 

i spent last night sulking into a fosters tin cos mine's broken again, wiring issues

 

when you get that final run out, it'll all be worth it

Ok, so from what I can gather, the advice I have taken from all you OSF nutters is take a step back from the car and drink loads of beer. Sounds perfect. Cheers!

[Daggle]

Im feelin your pain mate, mine has been off the road now for over 6 months!!! , I drove it 3 times before it decided to have a strop and break, now im still waiting on other people to come up with the goods for me to put it all back together, I have had to walk past the damn car every day to get to my other car, knowing that I can't drive it

 

At the end of the day, I just look forward to those summer days cruising around with loads of people staring at the car, knowing that I have one kick ass motor that not many other people have the fortune of owning....

[Rude Dog]

My Jap car has been a bit like this. Now its right i'm flogging it and getting a Mk2 Capri. At least count yourself lucky that OSF problems are reasonably straightforward to diagnose and fix and parts are, in comparison to Jap spares, cheap(er) and more readily available. Had an 8 week wait for Brake pads from teh land of the rising sun

Going back to an OSF for me will be like going back to the infants school after sitting A levels with a huge step backwards in technology

You'll get there mate. If I can beat Jap technology, on a massively limited budget, you can beat yours Chin up, you know its the British, and only, way

[Dom]

Peaks and troughs, swings and roundabouts, peanut butter and jam

 

The Green Machine has given me no end of hassle since I got it on the road in feb. I find if you down tools, run around shouting and hitting things it lets off alot of pressure

 

As for Roller Coasters, well thats exactly what mine is. You get in, it smells a little musty, strap yourself in and hold on. It creaks, judders, bangs and goes all over the place. You just have to pray that nothing breaks and you get back safely

[Vista]

I haven't got a problem doing the work myself as the sense of achievement is great. My problem is no matter how much work you do yourself there is ALWAYS something to shell out for, even if it is just a new seal and some fresh oil. Considering it's not even the middle of the month and I am totally skint there's not a lot I can do. Couple this with the fact that I need my car to get to work and if I don't get to work I can't afford the bits I need to fix the car and if I can't get to work, I won't get the money I need to throw back at the car and if the car doesn't work I can't get to work etc etc etc.

 

I was like this when I first got my Escort mate, every week there was something new that wasn't right or let me down. There were times when I couldn't look at it for how bad it all made me feel. There is light at the end of the tunnel though, eventually it'll all come good and the fun you'll have will make all the bad times seem inconsequential.

 

Seems like all my weekends and spare time are taken up just keeping the fookin thing on the road and to be perfectly honest in all the time she's been on the road I haven't had a relaxing drive or managed to show any new school motors what she's made of for fear of something else, bending, slipping, banging, snapping or generally breaking off. Remember when the KLF burned one million quid? Well I feel like doing that to my car, the only difference being is at the moment my car is a worthless piece of sh*t anyway.

 

That's how I currently feel about my Alfa, it looks stunning but I've had it for 18 months and not once have I been able to drive it without a "what's next?" feeling in the back of my mind, but as above I'm confident it'll come good in the end and am equally sure that it will for you too. As to it being a worthless piece of sh*t, don't forget that's a mk1 mex you have! They're an iconic piece of british motoring history and whilst it may currently seem otherwise, you are one of the lucky few to own one. They're great cars even when they're screwing you around and refusing to play ball.

 

Stick with it mate, best of luck

[Jimbob-Squarepants ©]

This is definatley a subject that I feel I am over qualified in!!!

 

When it works, it's great... when it breaks however, you feel like throwing spanners as opposed to waggling them.

 

Take heart mate, all will come good in the end

[ever88]

not what you want to hear but yo have made me smile with your true heart felt feelings on your car and neighbors.

 

life's a bitch then you die!

 

I have went through similar periods in my time and truly know exactly how you feel. Being different and holding onto these old motors can sometimes bring criticism from those around who drive modern stuff that supposedly never break down.

 

no amount of explanation will ever make them see eye to eye with you so just get on with it and try to take the positives out of it.

 

good luck and all the best

[johnny_h]

Thanks for all the encouragement I can see a faint light at the end of the tunnel and after all is said and done I would still rather be repairing my mex than driving around in my old electric leather seated, air conditioned, climate controlled beemer (just!) and on another note, it seems there is a silver lining on every cloud because I have just got home to find someone has actually put a wheel trim on my dead Astra. Thankyou wheeltrim faries

I wonder if they will put another one on tomorrow

[Capripete]

Stick with it johnny, your car is a real credit to you, it looks fantastic and goes just as well, even in circles!