Sunbeam

Significant wallet-lightening action has taken place. These are on their way from Straya. Also NOS main and big end bearings.

Aaaaaaaaargh! I had a cluster fly infestation in the shed so I bombed it. The picture does not do justice to the carpet of dead flies. I then set about vacuuming them all up. They are so gross, the vacuum cleaner hose now has a thick buildup of goo on the inside with the consistency of tar from the filth that these flies excrete. My cleanup revealed a bigger problem, a mouse plague. They’ve had such an abundant season thanks to the mild, moist summer that the numbers have exploded. Anyway, they have made camp inside the Fiat and MG, and have been gnawing on bits of car. Quite demoralising.

Wash your mouth out. I bet you can’t even type that with a straight face.

I’ve heard about the Mazda pistons. I know the rings from the old B2000 are compatible, but the pistons have flat tops, so no dice.

Actually I’ve found some on ebay in Western Straya. Seller has loads of Fiat stuff. Really helpful. I’m getting a set of 80.4mm Borgo pistons, about $650 landed.

Got a call from the engine shop, bore wear is 6 thou which is the trigger for a rebore. New pistons on the way$$$$$!

Parts supplier came through. Took a while but today I took delivery of a new donut free of charge. I’m at home with the Rona this week, so I’m claiming the torquing of 3 bolts as achievement. To be honest I’ve had worse colds, but my excuse for doing nothing is that there’s a stack of polycarbonate roofing in my way. Happily they torqued up nicely. This donut has one piece crush tubes, and the tolerance is way better.

Find previous bodywork jockey and apply ball-pein hammer? Doesn’t help with the ripply door though.

When I lived in Vanuatu one of the ex-pat lifers who ran a workshop ran his LD28 powered Range Rover classic on straight coconut oil. It would only start if the fuel temp was mid 20’s temperature or warmer, which was most of the time. Once running it was good to go as it had a fuel heat exchanger set up. Exhaust smelled yum. There was a fleet of government Isuzu utes running the stuff too.

West coast mate is running 60/40 diesel/filtered chip oil in 4D56T L200. Going well apparently.

It’s for the lifting strop. guffaw..

Totp!

So, I pulled the pin after 380km. It’s just too embarrassing. Anyway driving like an economy anorak netted 4.2l/100km. One does feel smug though, putting $39 of gas in the tank for 380km. Now I can get back to driving like normal.

The Aqua definitely isn’t optimised for high rpm. Mine doesn’t go over 4800rpm no matter how hard you mash the throttle. Which is probably why the petrol engine only makes 54kw.

Mine has failed to save the Aqua battery (AGM) but it is 9 years old, so meh. Worked mint for a week but now it’s running low again.

Already on it! Geeking out hard.

This is basically just a proof of life post. Due to economic setbacks, 2021 did not see the return to roadworthiness of the Fiat. I’m chipping away at things though, and having a fun time with the quality (or lack thereof) of today’s aftermarket parts. Exhibit A. New driveshaft centre bearing support (“pillowblock” in the book… cute name) spacing of bolt holes… To slot or not? And an expensive piece of cheese: this is a giubo, or “flex coupling”. The o.g. Unit is a bit doughy and cracked after 50 years. The steel sleeve pictured collapsed before getting anywhere near the specified torque on the fastener. I’m in talks with the supplier who seems to be deflecting at the moment.

This is harder than I thought, as my strong sense of shame is battling with my scientific curiosity. I have made the eco bar go into the red twice already.

Aqua just returned 4.6l/100km. I’m going to try this next tank driving like an annoying eco wanker, then the next one after that driving like a taxi driver (full throttle acceleration/hard stops) all in the interests of science.

Wow. Is that from a trip computer or observed by km/fill up? Impressive for ‘Murica pickup.

I do 45 km each way from North Canterbury to the airport. I just bought an Aqua. Will see how it goes and report back. First mod was to increase tyre pressure from 29 to 39 psi.

Anyone rocking a manual Swift? Real world l/100?

Speaking of which, I’m seriously considering buying an Aqua for cheap runnings…unless a tidy big block K11 comes along in the next few days. People struggle to work me out when they see my fleet. Nissan Leaf parked next to Grand Cherokee V8. Parking an Uber in the drive would be funny.

Wow. Didn’t know manual hybrids existed. Still, spendy/small market?

Those wheels are a VAST improvement!