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121

Omega General Help / I give up... roll on 2022

« on: 26 January 2021, 17:39:18 »

As per title, I give up.....

Got all the other bits done on my car, new front crank seal, alternator swapped out, timing belt changed,  all engine oil leaks gone, running well, geometry perfectly straight and now it looks like the head gasket is about to blow in number 3 cylinder. Starts on 3 cylinders whilst it clears the bore then runs fine. Seems to be losing water but no external leaks and compression test cold shows good pressure holding. Lots of white smoke/steam out the back (but not filling the sky amount, yes this could just be cold weather).

Pulled the plugs (replaced 3 weeks ago) and number 3 is “rough” whilst the others are all the same. Bores look okay down the plug holes with a torch so suspect early stages.

Changed the head originally in 2015 when it went then and swapped to a known good head as original was badly pitted and removing top left exhaust nut snapped the stud as usual.

So looks like next week I may be ripping it all to pieces again.

122

General Discussion Area / Re: Snow

« on: 14 January 2021, 19:02:38 »

I bought a Vauxhall Vive Estate in the 80's as a run arround for my business.  Fitted BMW 3 series steel wheels on it with a set of Colway M&S tyres on . . .the car did me proud and would easily tackle deep (fresh) snow.

When the snow was gone it left Mud . .

Skinny tyres are much better in the snow.

Especially when fitted to a small, lightweight car.

Used to have an 899cc Fiat Cinquecento for work in London years ago (mid-2000s) and was brilliant in the snow and ice with little 145 13” tyres. Scared many a work colleague giving them a lift into work using the handbrake and gears to slow down and navigate turns 😅.  Think one time I did not use the brakes all the way from Bexley to Lewisham via Eltham.....

123

General Discussion Area / Re: No more mortgage payments on this property.

« on: 14 January 2021, 14:31:11 »

I was lucky in being able to buy both my houses at the right time (1st house was after a big payoff from Deutchebank in 2002 when my department was taken over and everyone paid off their contracts) and my other house was a cheap repossession for £40k (bank repo, surprisingly enough) that is now worth over £250k just by sitting on it and replacing the windows for double-glazing 😄 as the area is now undergoing lots of development and infrastructure so now people want to live there (Isle of Sheppey As you go over bridge)

124

General Discussion Area / Re: No more mortgage payments on this property.

« on: 14 January 2021, 14:11:27 »

Well done on killing the mortgage off. Now, remember to put that money each month away and spend it on yourself at a later date.

Been lucky myself in that I have never had to get one. Right time, right place for me.

125

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 14 January 2021, 03:52:19 »

Much easier to set camber on your own with one of those inflatable bags used for easing the door frames out when you lock the keys in or a wedge. Just insert between strutt and top of the wheel, inflate or tap in until setting is correct

Have got them and worked well up to a point. Then the hand pump just was not up to the job so getting a better hand pump (cheap eBay job for less than tenner for 2). That was my initial backup plan.

126

Omega General Help / Re: Glowing exhaust/cat.

« on: 13 January 2021, 18:34:09 »

Quite actual discussion this replacement cats. What is typical mileage for V6 cats and is this catman a potential supplier for V6. Found in Autodoc more than 600€ lh+rh.

Cost me around £100 (maybe a bit less) for a 2.2 type-approved cat delivered for my 2.0 if that helps?

127

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 13 January 2021, 18:32:29 »

Update on mine....

After making a makeshift shim to slide the seal on with, managed to get that to hold oil.

Top mounts changed and bump stops changed as well (main reason for mounts as damper boots were sitting on the shock body. Done all that to find the alternator is over hanging to 17A+ so that is also goosed.

Found another one in my collection which will be tried tomorrow. If not, new one coming.

Then, once that done, all codes to be cleared and then taken into work one evening to get re-geometried.

Spare alternator fitted and all is good.

Geometry is out but that is expected so taking into work later this week to set up on the Hunter machine. I did add camber adjustment bolts though so should make it a little easier

Well, got mine done yesterday. Managed to get the front camber to -1 degree 23 minutes as that is the best I could get at the time holding the whee upright whilst someone locked the bolts up. A stronger bod at a later date will get it perfect. All other settings as per WIM

Two observations:

1. Camber adjustment bolts are a waste of time. Surropticious use of a round file will get significantly more adjustment without the risk of slipping back.

2. The current settings are irrelevant if the camber is wrong.

As a further aside, was the rear end set up at the same time?

1) I agree to a point. Worked perfectly on the left side, not quite enough on right side. Done up right, no problem with slipping back. I use them on another car with no problems. Omega is simply
made with just too much adjustment from factory. The height of the car from the floor meant that no extra movement could be made and held until bolts were tight (I could pull it to nearly upright by hand.

2) again, I agree, but if you cannot get to 1.10, 1.23 is a damn lot better than it could have been (and certainly better than 1.4’ factory number).

3) yep, rear all set up to WIM specs and zero thrust angle

128

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 13 January 2021, 18:05:23 »

Geometry is out but that is expected so taking into work later this week to set up on the Hunter machine. I did add camber adjustment bolts though so should make it a little easier

Well, got mine done yesterday. Managed to get the front camber to -1 degree 23 minutes as that is the best I could get at the time holding the wheel upright whilst someone locked the bolts up. A stronger bod at a later date will get it perfect. All other settings as per WIM

Work smarter, not harder: when I did mine, I tightened the camber bolts whilst my 75 year old mother held the wheel in place with the jack handle through one of the 'spokes.' I used a magnetic digital angle gauge stuck to a length of angle-iron cable tied across the wheel rim for the camber reading. When I had the alignment done properly, it was about 3 minutes out.

Our problem was the wheel was already at about 5+ feet in the air on a geo ramp and getting the right angle (using a pry bar behind the wheel spoke) meant the sensor was being blocked and we were shutting the building shortly. At least the camber setting won’t be detrimental compared to the +0.6 degrees on the left and the -2.4 degrees camber on the right hand side

129

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 13 January 2021, 16:21:41 »

Update on mine....

After making a makeshift shim to slide the seal on with, managed to get that to hold oil.

Top mounts changed and bump stops changed as well (main reason for mounts as damper boots were sitting on the shock body. Done all that to find the alternator is over hanging to 17A+ so that is also goosed.

Found another one in my collection which will be tried tomorrow. If not, new one coming.

Then, once that done, all codes to be cleared and then taken into work one evening to get re-geometried.

Spare alternator fitted and all is good.

Geometry is out but that is expected so taking into work later this week to set up on the Hunter machine. I did add camber adjustment bolts though so should make it a little easier

Well, got mine done yesterday. Managed to get the front camber to -1 degree 23 minutes as that is the best I could get at the time holding the whee upright whilst someone locked the bolts up. A stronger bod at a later date will get it perfect. All other settings as per WIM

130

Omega General Help / Re: Glowing exhaust/cat.

« on: 12 January 2021, 18:34:41 »

For anyone wanting a replacement cat, might be worth speaking to the “Cat Man”.

Website is http://www.catman.co.uk/

Email is info@catman.co.uk

Have had a few off him for various cars and always been good service and quality items.

131

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 11 January 2021, 20:05:20 »

Update on mine....

After making a makeshift shim to slide the seal on with, managed to get that to hold oil.

Top mounts changed and bump stops changed as well (main reason for mounts as damper boots were sitting on the shock body. Done all that to find the alternator is over hanging to 17A+ so that is also goosed.

Found another one in my collection which will be tried tomorrow. If not, new one coming.

Then, once that done, all codes to be cleared and then taken into work one evening to get re-geometried.

Spare alternator fitted and all is good.

Geometry is out but that is expected so taking into work later this week to set up on the Hunter machine. I did add camber adjustment bolts though so should make it a little easier

132

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 10 January 2021, 17:00:51 »

Update on mine....

After making a makeshift shim to slide the seal on with, managed to get that to hold oil.

Top mounts changed and bump stops changed as well (main reason for mounts as damper boots were sitting on the shock body. Done all that to find the alternator is over hanging to 17A+ so that is also goosed.

Found another one in my collection which will be tried tomorrow. If not, new one coming.

Then, once that done, all codes to be cleared and then taken into work one evening to get re-geometried.

133

General Discussion Area / Re: Lockdown

« on: 06 January 2021, 20:33:15 »

just watching the news now with pictures of empty streets around the towns !
 these must be a joke or something!! .here in west yorkshire everything just as busy as ever. traffic home from work tonight just as busy and nothing seems any different. !

I live and work in SE London and the traffic is exactly the same as normal. Had to pop into Woolwich town centre at lunchtime (3 minute walk from work) and it was quieter, but only because Maccy D there is shut I suspect.

134

General Discussion Area / Re: Ikea ARRRRGGHHH!

« on: 03 January 2021, 20:21:06 »

Can't comment, I'm banned.

Please, tell more....

I'm guessing he broke the cardinal rule.

What? Don’t talk about fight club?

135

General Discussion Area / Re: Ikea ARRRRGGHHH!

« on: 03 January 2021, 18:58:24 »

Can't comment, I'm banned.

Please, tell more....