And today I did......

[Mr Panda]

Yep - ideally find an independant VW specialist who also deals in s/h spares- think there's one Edinburgh area (Big Eck might know?) - get a s/h box from them and fitted locally.

Put one of the conrods in wife's ovloV through the crancase a coiuple of years ago - new motor sent up from London for £275 delivered (from the very excellent Braydon Volvo in Hackney) - fitted by local workshop and she was back on the road within a week for £600 or so

When in London they'd previously replaced autobox for around the £400 mark

 

[The Ken]

I was tempted to get a recon box as most seem to come with a 12month warranty, If I go the breaker route I'm guessing the same could happen 3 months down the line.

My local mechanic is pretty reasonable for fixing stuff all though he is not a vw specialist. And due to his bookkeeping skills you don't normally get a bill for 2-3 months.

Also I assume I am right that I should change the clutch while the gearbox is off.... would be much cheaper than waiting tils it goes I guess. Timing belt is almost due anyway and I don't know if I'll save on that.

 

[clockworkgazz]

Bummer tk cars are just money pits makes our retro obsessions seem like small change.

Might have to get a newer car myself :?

 

[irontam]

Yep - ideally find an independant VW specialist who also deals in s/h spares- think there's one Edinburgh area...

Tomson Motor Company

77-81 Giles Street, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6BZ Tel: 0131 554 1233

Vdub specialists - Have been taking excellent care of my elderly GTI for years, rebuilt a mates T4 engine after a catastrophic failure - well reasonable prices. Can't rate them highly enough.

Dan Tomson (owner) may even be able to source the gearbox or at least point you in the right direction.

 

[Tazio]

Finished work and I'm off until Tuesday! Hooray!

Walked past my car and realised my tax ran out yesterday, got in the house dug out the paperwork and realised the MOT ran out last week. Boo.

Skint so may need to park it offroad and do a SORN declaration for a week or so until I get paid.

Still it gives me a few days to get some good riding in. Hooray.

No car to get out of town. Boo.

 

[Dr S]

Having a pig of a day at work. Started just after 5am this morning. Worked none stop until 5 without a bite to eat. Decided to put the Alfa up on the ramp and fit the uprated steering arms that I bought last month before going home. Old ones wont come off, car now stranded on the ramp. I need the ramp free for seven AM tomorrow so it looks like another late night ahead.
Now sat in the office eating pizza (ordered the wrong one :roll: ) and surfing eBay which isnt helping.

 

[jimihendrix]

Also I assume I am right that I should change the clutch while the gearbox is off.... would be much cheaper than waiting tils it goes I guess. Timing belt is almost due anyway and I don't know if I'll save on that.

Yes, you should bung a clutch in while the gearbox is out, unless you have had the car from new and are very light on the clutch, but even then the pressure plate or release bearing could go suddenly.

Talking of cars and expence a workmate has just taxed and insured his 09 plate Land Rover Discovery @ £1225 :shock: , i think the road tax alone was £425, bugger that.

 

[therealkw15]

Got my gear together for Friday's ride, from Orkney to Tain, about 85 miles. Long time since I've done that in a day- will I manage? Will I manage the slightly longer route I need to do on Sunday to get home, a dress rehearsal for the ride home from the C2C? Or will I poof out and just enjoy a more leisurely return over two days? Or will I stretch it to 3 and come home from Aberdeen, rambling through the Highlands from Inverness?

My gammy knee and the weather forecast may have an input to this.

 

[clockworkgazz]

good luck with that, I would do the 3 day ramble.

 

[Mr Panda]

Just had a scary thought - Sinclairs Bay (Wick) to Cape Wrath sounds like and interesting, if northerly, offroad ride Is there a route?

And don't mention Skye and Munros in the same sentence - got the whole bloomin' lot to do yet on that island :shock:

Lets think - 50th birthday pressie - custom made Steven Shand frame or holdee handee guided expedition along the ridge? Feck.