The estate is filled with the sound of.... Nothing.

Several days on from the last update now, and as I'm trying to recall back to whats happened, I don't think a lot has been achieved but I'll try and glam it up a bit to make it worth reading :)

Well, we had to put the wifes car in for an MOT and we used Leigh Park Services again as they seemed remarkably helpful last time round and because they are local.  I'm still waiting for my new alarm module and door lock system to turn up from eBay so I've got the hump over that, but I figured I'd ask the chief grease monkey at the garage about the alarm on the scum runner.  His response surprised me as I hadnt figured on fixing it being this simple.

Apparantly this is a hugely common issue with older Fords and the manuals simply state "take to a Ford approved garage" for repair as the alarm system needs atention.  What that translates to is pay £50 for them to do the following:

Under the bonnet is a button.  Press this 10 times within 8 seconds and the horn chirps to let you know the alarm is in a safe reset mode.  In the next 30 seconds, open and slam Drivers door, Boot, open passenger door, open close glovebox (as this is alarmed) close passenger door firmly and shut bonnet.

This resets the alarm to normal use and solves the problem. 

What this means is that when the pratt from eBay eventually sends me the bits I'm waiting for, I no longer need them.   It has however saved an enormous amount of mucking about replacing bits that are perfectly good.

Now that we have power without the alarms going off every time the car is opened / shut / just feels like being annoying, I figured time to play with the big boy speakers.

So I have now attached the amp to the back of the sub-box, and threaded the speaker cable through to the front footwells, then had a change of heart so taken the speaker wires back to the boot.  I've had the door panels off (yet again), removed the upgraded 2x300w speakers, and refitted in their place some reasonably priced 2x80w Tornado speakers.  These Tornado bad boys beat the crap out of the Powerblaster Extreme's in every aspect when fitted straight to the head unit.  The bass, mid and tweeters are so much better.  I'm hoping that when I place the amp through the PB's they have some magical uprising and sound ok.

I started to remove the rear quarter trims, and was looking pretty good to go having taken away every screw anywhere near the panel but it still wont shift.  Figured I'd rermove the bench seat now to facillitate it but the buggering sodding screws (funny start shaped things) do not wish to move, so after a lot of grunting, sulking and raw 12 stone of power trying to remove said fitting, I gave up and returned the area to how Ford wanted it in the first place.  As I'm filling in the rear area with a wooden enclosure for storage anyway, I'll just mount those speakers straight into the enclosure.

However, I thought I may as well get the amp and sub sorted so looked at how to select the right power cable for the amp (AWG),  This is a complex calculation involving various scientific factors including output, input, resistivity of the wire with a variable for amount of feet required multiplied by the conversion to meters over ohms with allowances for quality reduction by a percentage.  Or, pop to Halfords and give them the manual.  Guess which way I went?  yup, after 35 quid, I've got 5 meters of: Power, remote and RCA leads with another meter of the correct grounding wire. together with some thick speaker cabling (which I already have loads of from the surround sound).

Enthusiasm started to build, so I've attached the RCA and run them down the drivers side of the car, with the remote power cable running down the passenger side to avoid the power whine when in use.  The ground is attached to the amp and ready to wind into an earth in the booot and that leaves the power cable.  The power cable has a bulky fuse assembly which should be near the battery and that means I need to thread about 4.5 meters through the firewall into the interior which is proving to be a pain as I cant find an unused hole big enough for it, so I've given up for a couple of days.

Other than that, I've given my measurements to MRB Carpentry (or Uncle Matt as he's also known) for him to grab me a sensible quantity of MDF as he can grab it with his trade discount.  Once we have that, I will give the bench seat another attack and can start fitting the storage / sound unit.

In terms of publicity for Team Floppy Throttle, I'm currently trying to condense this blog into a much much smaller article as this should then appear in a Ford Owners Club quarterly magazine.  So far we have PM Electrical Systems Ltd, Alan Knight Transport, HSP, as larger sponsors and we will try to get them their monies worth in plugging wherever possible.  If you are tempted to sponsor, but not yet sure, FastCar magazine are doing a feature on the run and I'm thinking a bright purple cabiolet with full racing sponsors/livery may attract a little bit of attention?  Got to be worth a few quid eh?

Also, I had an interesting email exchange with a company offering me a voucher in return for advertising them.  As yet, they havent returned the last mail, but a summary is that everyone who sponsors this trip will be entered into a draw and someone will win £25 to spend on their website.  As soon as this is confirmed, I'll mention it again, but in the meantime that leads nicely to:

www.justgiving.com/floppythrottle

We have a just giving site up and running and all sponsorship is greatfully received.  We have a requirement to raise £500, but we're aiming for the £1000 marker.  In reply to one tight git who at the moment I will keep annonymous, both myself and Gareth have already donated £230 each for the entry, bought a car for the event, will be paying the fuel (estimate at roughly £300), insurances, ferry crossings, fines, tolls and all the other expenditure and once we're done on the rally, the car is up for grabs with profits going to charity as well.  OK, we get a weekend away, but you get to live it via the blog and if it gives you even a little amusement to see us suffer, donate a pound. 

Finally, this week I received an email from Ed at scumrun HQ, The spaces are nearly filled.  If anybody else wants to enter the event, get in touch asap.  Feel free to buddy up with us, now is the time to buy a convertible escort as winter will be with us soon so they're cheap, then sell it in the spring when the run is done and you'll get your money back.  If you are tempted, then we can get you cvovered with the same sponsors as ourselves if you go for the same car - Sound fun? 

Any queries, questions, comments, we now have a team email address:  floppythrottle@live.co.uk

Laters

Savage

And so it goes on...

Blog update 22/10/2010

Last night after much connecting and disconnecting of the battery and swearing at it, one of the convertibles came back to life.  Now that’s remarkably handy as otherwise I would have had to get up at some ridiculous hour to drive the wife to work.  First thing this morning it started a dream and I went back to sleep happy knowing that whatever this mystery gremlin was, it had left the wifeys car for a bit. 

However, soon after she left, I got woken up by the phone ringing and an upset voice.  The stereo isn’t working.  No idea what I was dreaming of, but pretty sure it was more important than learning the wife couldn’t listen to a Gobshite Andre CD on her way to work.  So I mumbled something probably offensive in most civilised societies and rang off. 

A little while later I figured I should get out of bed and do something.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m no Jeremy Kyle candidate, I work for myself so the hours are pretty flexible, I study in the evenings  and I’m a stay at home Dad during the day too.  Most stuff is done somewhere between 11am and 2pm depending what time the little un gets put for a nap.

Anyway, I decided to spend a bit of time googling this damn alarm problem.  After a bit of time between drinking coffee and mailing sponsors, I figured that this is actually quite a common problem with Fords.  There are realistically 2 solutions to it;  a) take out the alarm control which is in a reasonably accessible place (but I’m not telling you where), or b) replace the module in the drivers door behind the door card.  The first option appealed as a reasonable temporary fix so I followed the advice that I had found, and the 2 wires I need to disconnect could be any of about 30 in that one spot and as I don’t know too much about this sort of thing, I figured we would go for a proper fix. So I put the panel back and peeled away the door card.  You may remember that door card as the one I’ve only just put back on. 

With the door card off, I’ve peeled away the sound insulation, followed the firm bar to where it meets with the module and stopped.  How the hell do I get that bad boy out? Gonna take a bit of figuring out, so time for another coffee.  I went indoors just as UPS arrived delivering me my new subwoofer with enclosure.  Woohoo.  Playtime.   Boooo, not playtime.  Baby woke up.

An hour or so later, wifey arrived home grumbling how horrible it was that she couldn’t sing along to Dolly Parton on her drive home and what had I done to her CD player as there wasn’t any sign of life at all.  Figuring it must be some sort of Panasonic anti-theft system as the battery had been off for some time, I proceeded to gut the office, kitchen and front room trying to find the stereo manual with the all important unlock codes.  Then it dawned on me that that was a complete waste of time as it’s a face off and they generally don’t have the security code system.  Time for another coffee. 

With a fresh approach in mind, I opened her car door, turned to ignition on, then tried the “POWER” button.  Magically it worked.  I had assumed that Mrs Me would have tried that first so I hadn’t bothered to try it.  Grrr.

By now, it was way past 4 o’clock so to get some parts sorted and fitted was looking slim but I figured I’d give it a go.  There’s a breakers not too far away called “Ring and Bring” and the guy that answered the phone said pop down, bring a couple screwdrivers, there’s a P-reg escort there.  So that’s going to be a permanent fix for one, just got to find another escort being broken down for the second.  I’m aiming to collect the module tomorrow and get it fitted within a few days.

Right – so wifeys car good to go, time to get the important bits done.  I know the amp was for the front speakers but it now looks so pretty bolted to the back of the sub enclosure so may need to get another amp.  The sub is linked in by a mono wiring setup and I’ve just got to pick up some RCA leads, a power wire, fused switch and a grounding cable.  Then it’s going in the scumrunner.

Another mini hurdle yesterday that I forgot about was that the bonnet stay fell off.  I have to balance it carefully each time I go under there now as it’s already closed from full height onto my hand once.

Unfortunately at the moment, my internet is off so I am typing this into word and hope to be able to cut and paste this.  I only mention it in case the fonts look a little wrong.

Hopefully tomorrow is going to yield a fix for the alarm system, some power cables for the sounds and a few more sponsors.  I’ve started preparing the initial graphics to go on with details of how to sponsor us but got to get it just right I feel.

Hmmmm, an early ish night is called for.  But I will have one last attempt at turning the modem on and off again.

************************************

It's now tomorrow...

I had a good go at feeding the speaker cabling from the amp in the boot through to the front footwell and have come across a bit of a problem in that how do I get the new speaker wire through the cluster of cables and the rubbery hose into the door pod.  May just wire it to the basic cabling behind the stereo and accept the lack of quality cable.  But that'd be the simple way of doing things.  Instead, I've just been on the bay again and purchased a slightly lesser set of speakers to grace the front, and I'll put the original replacements into the back.

Yet again, the door card is coming off.  Had a swift look on the forums to see how to replace the rear speakers and the back card has to come off and thats only accessible by removing the bench seat, so lets see how entertaining that is.  But the theory now is to have the amp power sent to the sub and rears and just upgrade the fronts and hope they can draw enough from the head unit to sound half sensible.

Well, I'm still having no joy in terms of the alarm system, so I've given up with the google way of life and hunted down a Haynes manual for a bargain £5 including delivery.  Gotta love eBay - Thanks again Keith if you're reading this.

Loads to do, so I'm off for a bit.  Updates coming in a while as I get to grips with the alarm / immobiliser.

Savage.

Aaaaaaaaaargh

Well, been a week or so since the update, so lets fill in a bit of a time gap. 

Having fitted the stereo so easily and ignoring the colour coding theory and working with logic all seemed well.  I've had a bit of a play with it and turns out the job wasn't quite so good.  The rear and front rights were wired just a little bit wrong.  Every cloud has a silver lining I figured so changed them over to discover that the front speakers are still a bit pants.

With this in mind I went upon my usual journey of discovery of all thing eBay.  Found some 4" speakers (which should fit the gap) with a sensible RMS output and according to the blurb written by a marketing degree holder I would assume, these are great.  Max output 300W, RMS rated 150 if memory serves, so should sound acceptable with a stereo capable of 4 x 50?  Nope.  Having removed the door handle, pockets, and door card I was confronted with Ford's git of a speaker pod. 

(Bloody screws everywhere to take the panel off)

(After this, the door pod had to be removed and trimmed down)

This didn't fit the speakers that I shelled out 30 quid on (plus postage) so I had to shave the existing pod down.  That done, speakers screwed in, door back on, they still sound poo.  Not as poo as original ones, but still poo.  The high's are OK, but the bass is appalling so that leads to another lining right? 

I had two options; a) Have a look on eBay for a sub to rectify bass issues, or b)  Have a look on eBay for an amp to try and force some power through the speakers.  As is usually the case, I opted for C) both A & B.  So I've now got an amp in the boot of the Mondeo waiting to be fitted to the Escort and a "sorry we missed you card" (yes, I know) in place of a sub.

Pretty sure you've spotted the amp is in the back of the Mondeo.  If you look back, I had some problems with the scumrunner and alarm going off regardless what was happening with the locking or doors, until I jumped it and it worked fine...  The problem is back but this time it's twice as annoying.  I don't want to play with any more electrics or wiring until I've sussed whats causing it.  The reason that it's twice as annoying is because now the original Escort is doing it!!!!  I have 2 of them now with exactly the same problem like some sort of contagious Ford Flu.

(The poorly Julian & Juliette)

Aside from that, we have been umming and ahhing about an extremely classy bit of artwork for the side of the car, but think we are going to wait until we have some more sponsors on board and we know what space we have available before going down that line.  We have however decided to go with HSP for our printing and graphic needs as a) they are incredibly local, b) the wife's uncle works there and he's the guy we got the car from.

(The wife's uncle Adrian of HSP (Juliettes previous owner) & my 3 year old)

We've figured out how the tent goes up, and we have the CB and aerial ready now - just waiting til I can figure out the electric bits before installing the CB.   I'm hoping that the sub gets redelivered shortly just so I know that it's ok. 

(What the tent's meant to look like - Thanks to another of wifey's uncles - Matt Ball)

As normal, it's silly oclock so Im going off to beddy byes in a minute, but really cant get the feeling of annoyance out of my system regarding that sodding alarm. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArgh.

(Just a pic to show that occasionally it moves from the garden in between problems)

Just a quickie I think...

Well, had a weekend and spent some much needed time with wife and kids, but now back to the harsh reality of mucking about with the Scumrunner.

Whats happened since the last update?

We have a new sponsor:  P.M. Electrical Systems Ltd.  Thank you Paul for your donation to the advertising cause, in view of him being early to sponsor (and the vast amount of money that he has kindly offered) his will be a prominent bonnet logo.  If you happen to be in the Basingstoke area, and need some electrical installation work doing, give him a shout. 

We've also been offered some graphic / vinyl work by another signwriting company who know of this project and simply don't want six-0 to get the advertising.  I sense a bidding war coming on maybe????  Full vehicle wrap will persuade me guys cos I know you both read this :)

The car has now been taken for a bit of a thrashing and the mystery oil/water has stopped dribbling out the exhaust.  It was having balance issues for a little and dragging to the right but a swift check of tyre pressures has fixed that.  They were sat at 20, 30, & 40 x 2 psi which also helps to explain the firmness of the ride.  These have been dropped to 32 fronts and 29 rears and it handles better with slightly less kamikazi tendencies shown.

Having been driving the newer version of this car for the last year or so (now given to the wife) I had got used to the performance being acceptable but nothing too radical, however, this one has exactly the same enigine but seems a completely different beast.  I think someone, somewhere along the line, may have tinkered with something.  Normally I don't get involved with the boyracers of the world (OK, thats a fat lie), but having popped out in the car for a sunday drive (thats true), I found myself with a couple of baseball capped, spotty tossbags sat right behind me as I left a roundabout in their aged clio with the viper stripes on.  Bless em.  Odds are theirs is a 1.4 (at best) RT, or a 1.8 diesel, and they've spent their pocket money of things that are shiny and therefore make it faster.  Roughly a mile down the road I had pulled in, unlocked my fuel cap and started filling by the time they drove past.  Hahahaha, whupped by a purple wonder.

Aside from that, the wifes uncle (and tent putterupperer) Matt Ball, invited me to go see him with this tent that I've been struggling with.  I turned up, we stood in a field for a bit connecting poles A, B & C, attaching them to rain fly's and dividers and other technically named bits of rag, before discovering that the instructions were a fib.  Pole A was actually shorter than pole B, and pole C wasnt mentioned in the instructions but a crucial part of the design.  Without going into tooo much, the tent was up after an hour or so, with only one broken pole and some gaffa tape providing structure. 

On a seperate note, we've run our sponsors past Ed, the guy at Scumrun 2011, and he has OK'd them as not clashing with the main sponsors of the event so all good there.

One issue causing me to worry is the electric windows in the car.  When the lights are on, the switches become VERY warm to the touch.  Think I'm going to get under the console and simply bypass them and see if that fixes it.

Well, once again, it's getting too late for me to put my usual cheeriness on the blog, so Im off to bed.  Early morning tomorrow; the cats due to lose his male bits 1st thing. 
Savage

MOT Day...

Following on from yesterdays post office saga, I woke this morning and waited patiently for the postie to turn up.  Im not going to spend another day chasing Pat down the road for parcels.  Nothing of interest turned up so I swallowed my pride and trundled down to the sorting office to collect the fire extinguisher that was waiting for me. 

Despite the mucking about yesterday it was a swift enough visit so this time I decided not to waste 70 pence on parking for a simple 2 minute visit, so I pretended that I was in a big double decker Mondeo and parked it in the bus stop whilst I nipped in.  First sight of me and chuckles started his "have you signed your card yet routine".  I explained that I wasn't parked in the true spirit of the highway code and could I just have my parcel and this seemed to deflate his day.  I gave him the "we missed you" card and my ID and he wandered off out the back for an eternity.  I could see my car when he returned and I could also see a bus next to it blocking traffic where some tit had parked in his pull in zone.  Never mind I thought, I'll be off in a mo, then chuckles explained (very slowly) that it was a tracked parcel and that he needed to find his scanner.  Then he wandered off somewhere out the back with my package.  After about 10 minutes he returned and handed it over to me. 

The looks I was getting as I got back into the car made me wonder about parting with 70p again next time.

On the way back I decided to nip into the garage to book for an MOT on the ScumRunner.  I've explained the scumrun thing to the guy, banged on about charity and kids and how I really need the car to be done as cheap as possible and if blind eye syndrome existed it would be quite useful.  The guy at Leigh Park Service Station was, unfortunately, completely straight when it came to cars which is probably a very good thing under normal circumstances, but a bad thing if you're on a budget.

I returned with Juliette at half 12 and the first thing he said was "the sunstrips a fail straight away".  Bollocks.  I explained I've only had it a couple days and could he just pretend he hadnt seen it.  Apparantly not.  He asked me to come back in an hour or so when he'd done his thing.  I don't know how many of you reading this have been to Leigh Park center but it isnt possible to browse the shops for an hour.  So I had an all day breakfast, bought a lotto ticket, sat down and read the paper, and still had time to kill.  After a while my phone rang...  The mechanic.  A summary of the call:  Mr Savage, the car's ready to pick up, didnt pass but nothing too drastic.

So I returned to the service station to see him and he's ushered me into his office to discuss what "nothing too drastic meant".  When ushered out of a public area to hear this, you know it's not gonna be cheap.

Failure sheet:

Emissions:

Look at the margins that scraped through on!  cant get much closer than that!!!

It was about 2 pm ish by now so I asked how long it would take to do.  Remember Im not in a hurry, but it needs to be done by April.  I left it with him and he said he'd give me a call.  by 4pm I was on my way to collect it.  Awesomely fast.  Thanks guys.  When I got there, they'd even left the sunshade on the bonnet for me as a souvenier and said stick it back on after I got home so they could deny responsibility.  It's a bit too creased to go back on, but it was a lovely thought of them.

Advisory notes:

The Bill:

The guys to go to - Recommended highly if you're Havant or near by:

Basically, needed lots of work, but including the test fee and all vat, labour, parts still came in at less than £250.  Thats sunshade removed(boooooooooo), exhaust, new tyre, 2 MOT's, welding both sides and a wiper blade.

Half 4 is with us so I wandered round the corner to the post office to get the road fund sorted when the lovely scottish lady pointed out I had forgotten the insurance certificate.  I went back home, pulled it out the office, returned just before they closed and got it taxed.   That done and feeling very legal indeedy, I figured I'd give it a little work out so threw some fuel in, and twatted (drove steadily M'Lord) it up the nearest B-road I could find. 

The strut brace and firm suspension really are noticeable as these are missing from the newer cab we have, and the grin returned as driving pleasure had returned.  This felt like a smaller version of my old car, Fang, a Rover 220GSI that went like stink.  Every bump is noticeable, every camber change is notified to you by a tugging to the side, this is a car now that feels designed for country lanes.  And it's feeling surprisingly pokey.  As luck would have it, that road led on to the A3 which made sense that I should maybe give a little throttle to clear out the sooty , oily water.  That quick potter led from Clanfied ish down the A3, onto A3M, A27, and across to Gosport.  Picked up a pack of nappies in a co-op, then returned.  This is really a nice car to drive.  A little firm and lively, but enormous fun.

So today, we've got it road legal.  Needs a good hard spanking to get it to breathe better, but a happy day.

RIP Sunshade.  Our thoughts are with you.

Final piece of news for the day, through the facebook group I believe ,we have a new sponsor of note, but I await to see what the requirements are for the advertising before we start drafting up the print run.  Either way Paul, we look forward to getting the company name and contact details from you.

It's silly O'clock again so Im going to go sleepy byes.

After I've had a ciggy, and tucked the car in and read it a story.

Savage

Floppy Throttle

As you may have noticed, we have our first bit of vinyl on the car.  Team Floppy Throtttle across the windscreen is looking good.  As usual there's a bit of a story attached to it so we'll have a start at the start, meander for a bit, then come back on track and hopefully finish the bit I'm getting at. 

Yesterday, I was out and about doing something probably not overly important, came home to find Royal mail had been, knocked on my door and buggered off again leaving me with a "please come pick up your stuff" card.  Unfortunately, Havant postal service being what it is, they tend not to open much past pub opening so I'd have to wait until the following day (today) to collect it.  I woke up this morning, dressed my boy, gave him breakfast, and drove down to pick up my parcel.  Cost me 70p in parking but nevermind. 

I've handed the uncheery bastard at the counter my chewed up card - told you I'd given him breakfast - and he's sort of glowered at me and in a sort of inhuman One ring to rule them all type of voice asked if I had a bank card.  Silly bloody question.  I got lots. So with my usual sarky "there you go" I lobbed it Bond style onto the counter.  Ive given him the card they left me, I would have thought that would be enough but no, he wanted me to prove that I had a bank card.   So I proved it.  Jobsworth grumbling miserable tossbag.  His mood lightened slightly when he advised me that my card was invalid and did I have another.  With great indignity I've told him there's fuck all wrong with that card, it's in date, theres money in there and I know it works.None of his business but what made him think it was invallid.  He politely told me to turn the card over.  I havent signed the fucker!?!?!?!?! 

I humbly showed him another card and off he went to get my parcel whistling cheerfully.  He brought out a binbag type thing which turned out to be my tent and I left feeling utterly humiliated by myself.  I am officially feeling a bit of a tit at this point and glad that I probably dont have to see the guy ever again.  I drove back and my heart sank.  There in amongst todays post was a "sorry we missed you card" from royal fucking mail!!!

I think I may have got you understanding by now that Im gonna be a little embarrassed to show my face in the sorting office so I had a glance at the time the card was left...  Only 10 minutes earlier.  I have a chance I think.  A small chance of catching the postie.  It's the normal guy as it's with the bank statements and junk mail.  He's walking, I have a diesel Mondeo filled with fuel and nothing to stand in my way of never having to go back to that sorting office apart from not catching the postie.  How I feel both excited and a little dirty.  Im going to be stalking the postie.  The chase, the find, the spoils of the hunt.  Oh yes, I have to find him now.  It took me less than 10 minutes to find him, and retrieve the package that he had failed to deliver.  Such a short time, 10 minutes.  I had done it.  I had defied the order of the missed you card.  I had collected from the man that had left the card.  I was a hunter, a tracker, and a champion.  I do not have to go back to Havant sorting office and asked grumpy for my parcel and give him a card.

I got back, put the boy in the front room, went to put some shoes in the porch and what do I discover...  ANOTHER FUCKING SORRY WE MISSED YOU CARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I SHIT YOU NOT.  Another one.  Whilst I was out being all crocodile dundee tracker guy, the van postie has turned up and I still need to go to the sodding sorting office! 

In summary, I missed a parcel (my tent) yesterday.  Made a tit of myself in the sorting office today.  Whilst there, missed a delivery (the vinyl sunscreen),  tracked down postie.  Whilst doing that, I missed a delivery (fire extinguisher I believe).  You cant make this up.  So whilst I'm at the post office tomorrow, I dare say something else will turn up.  Why dont they look at whats going where and send it all together by one bloke?

Anyway, I digress slightly.  The windscreen Vinyl has turned up and I've wet the windscreen as instructed, peeled the graphic off the backing, wet that too, slid it on as instructed, slid a (ironically enough) bankcard round where it needed to be fitted to take creases out, and cut the excess off with my carpet fitting stanley.  "smooth any air bubbles out slowly" it says.  any?????  it looks like an Aero bar.  bubbles bloody everywhere.  It has taken a fair few hours of squeezing little bubbles past other bubbles to the edge to get it looking good.  I got a bit bored of this so asked my mate (and the wifes unofficial uncle) Gary Kemp if I could borrow his Jump pack to try and get some life into the car.  He said fine so I popped up to collect it.  No one was there, so I went for a coffee and returned.  Picked it up, got it back, took the positive battery lead back onto the battery and the alarm woke up again.

After a few minutes the alarm seemed not to care that I was playing with it and it gave up.  I win.  Power pack attached, turned the key and.......  it started fine.  Absolutely fine.  Left it idling for an hour, temp got to norm, nothing to worry about, no smoke, happy happy.  Then the wife spoke.  Those magical words which send your heart through your arse at speed.  "why does it leak black stuff out the exhaust"?  Crap.  Theres no smoke, I took it up to 4,000 RPM without anytell tale smoke, and it feels like oil rather that soot and water, so Im hoping it's not pistons or gasket, but I'll find out soon enough when I send it off for MOT and general check up.

Earlier I phoned my old mate Martin O-C who not long ago moved to Newcastle ish.  According to my satnav, he is roughly 750 miles round trip so once the car is road legal Im gonna pop up there for a cuppa and back to see if the car survives without problems.  If it does that all right then I will have a little faith in it, but if it's gonna blow up, then I'd rather it did it in the UK and I have a few months left to rebuild.

Following the worrying black trickly moment, I turned off the engine and decided to put my electrical theory to the test and finished wiring the stereo in.  Put the ignition on.  Pressed power.  Nothing.  Then lights.  and noise.  Oh yes, it works.  all four speakers seem to be balanced just only problem is a hissing noise instead of music.  It wont pick up any radio but the CD plays fine and the Aux seems to work.  Took a few minutes (remember Ive had a hard day to this point) before it dawned on me.  Aerial.  Not plugged in.  problem identified and solved.  that in place it all works.  Left stereo on engine off for 20 mins.  Turned key, started first time.

So far tickety boo.

I had a go at putting the tent up earlier in my front room cos it's dark outside.  After over an hour it looked no different really to when I unpacked it, so I've given up - figure it out another day.

Just got to go face that smug tossbag at sorting center tomorrow.  In the meantime, if these updates on the horrifying realities of prepping an old car for a rally are amusing you, please join the facebook group, sponsor the car or simply make a donation.  Every little bit will make me slightly happier.

Piccy updates following...

Sexy sun shade

Thats an improvement on how I found it, honest.

The stereo said that the red was for a direct feed to the battery, Ford reckon that the yellow is a permanent power feed (battery).  Stereo said yellow was ignition controlled, ford say thats red.  Brown and black are generally earth and I had a few spares left over but it works :)

See.  It works.  Woo hoo. 

As opposed to the tent which I believe has the wrong poles or something.  I dont know to be fair but the guy that sold it said 10 minutes to get it up.  This picture was taken after an hour.

Laters

Savage

FT 6

Newbies reading, start at the bottom and work up... This is update 6 that may not make sense unless 1 through 5 read.  Or figure it out.  Up to you.

Where are we up to hmmm...  Well we've bought a car on the cheap, turned it pretty on the outside and got it nice and shiny.  Got the inside looking good.  Entered the scumrun - a rally across europe of 3,000 miles in just 4 days. Got 1 guaranteed sponsor (Alan Knight Transport), a handful of unsures, a lot of  no replies as yet and a few straight forward no's.  We've got a signwriter (six-0 signs) on standby willing to do the job for nothing (if we dont go overkill) or at cost if we end up being sponsored by loads.  A first aid kit of Holby city proportions, a fire extinguisher and of course the essential cup holders.  A facebook group is up and running ( http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=150459571650020&topic=927 ) and the more the merrier on there.  Shirts and ties have been sourced for the launch night and we're waiting to figure out whether we can get the themed suits sorted or not.  A tent has been bought as well.  Not bad for 10 days or so with no idea :)

Thats pretty much up to speed I think.

Since the last update -

I've decided to sort the stereo out.  I've picked up a ISO connector for the back of the unit which has lots of pretty wires in differing colours.  As the escort has a variety of wires in differing colours you would think they would match?  nope.  This took a bit of figuring out and as I've got a dead battery on there, Im not sure I've got it right but I know which wires are what from the ford, and the stereo gives me a guide so i decided to ignore colours and go with logic...  Red is to yellow and yellow is to red, brown to black and a handful of spare wires.  the speaker wires arent even close but I reckon I'm right and the manufacturers of the cable are colour blind.  I'm hoping I'm right.  Find out when I get a charged battery on there.  I was going to "borrow" the battery from the other escort but Mrs Savage got quite tetchy about me using her car as a donor as that was meant to be the opposite - my new one as a donor for hers.  Im going to have to move hers out the way, roll Juliette down and off the drive, attach the battery, wait for the alarm to get bored, jump it from my mondeo, then back it up the drive to make jumping it easier.  Thats providing it starts when jumped.  If not, I'm screwed if I'm pushing it up the drive.

Fitted the cup holder onto passenger side but it's not something that hangs onto a drivers side.  It slides down between the window and the panel but if you put it on the drivers side, you either cant open the door again as it's in the way of the handle, or it's too far back to reach or too far forward so you hit it when you hold the wheel.

Oh, and found some leaks.  Driver footwell soggy after the heavy rain we just had but I think I've found the seal thats letting it in and it's an easy fix.  Under rear bench seat has a mystery pool as well, got to find that source.

Theres some piccys following at the end of this update including one that shows the challenge of taking stuff - the boot is tiny.

Finally, some pricings for those tempted:

As we are not intending to make any profit from this rally, indeed our idea is that the vehicle will be sold at the end of it with any profits donated to the charity, we are really just looking to cover the cost of producing the images, font, graphics etc plus a small (or large if you wish) donation to Dreams come True - a UK childrens charity providing hope for seriously ill children. Each team has to raise a minimum amount before the start of the event in April so even small amounts help to get to the target but as a group, we are intending to smash the £100,000 donation record. To date £350,000 has been raised for childrens charities over the last 6 years of this event with last year alone touching £100,000 (donated to CLIC - Cancer & Leukemia in Children).







The event is ususally covered on Sky television with clips on ITV and repeated throughout the year and DVD sales are available through main retaillers all year long. We cannot guarantee that your advertising will be shown as there are 120 cars competing this year, but we will endeavor to try. Once the vehicle has received the final graphics run (anticipated end of December), photographs will be sent out to the sponsors for your office, home etc...






Please also remember that as this will count as advertising (receipts will be issued), you will also receive tax and national insurance relief to offset against your business profits.






Pricing is a guide and includes an assumed donation, obviously you can pay more if you wish:






12" www address is £20


18" www address is £30


24" www address is £40


48" www address is £100


Full Length of vehicle www address £250


The above prices include the address on both sides of the "Pimp Wagon". If you just want the one placement, this will be at 60% of the prices above.


Width of bonnett (prime location) £100






At this time I am unable to guarantee where the advertising will be, but the earlier sponsors will get a priority placing for their troubles.






If you wished to have images / anything else please let us know and I'll contact the printers for a precise quote.

Floppy Throttle 5

Well, been a couple of days since the last update with not a lot to show for that time.  Well almost nothing to be fair.

The last entry left off with a hopeful tone about whether I could blag some outfits for this event, unfortunately, the answer was a curt no.  I need to brush up on my people skills I think. 

I've emailed another group of local companies with the ususal think of the kids / advertising / tax break stuff and out of about 20 or so approaches I have received 1 reply.

However, that one reply wasnt a no.  It wasn't a yes either to be fair, it was a "I'm tempted, sway me" sort of reply.  I'm not naming the company just yet but I really really really want their name on my car as they have the coolest sounding company I have ever heard of and it'll go so well with the car. 

I've mailed them back with a list of what donations will secure what and where so hopefully they'll get back to me in next couple of days and throw their budget at me.

What else has happened?  well...  Having gone through the requirements needed for the rally, I've stocked up on essentials.  eBay is really useful at times, not just for buying artistic snaps of peoples ex-girlfriends I'm now discovering.

We've got on order a fire-extinguisher, so thats handy.  A medical first aid kit with enough stuff so that should I feel the need, I can remove Gruff's spleen whilst he sleeps and put it on eBay (told you it was useful).  The tent should be turning up real soon, and I've just ordered the windscreen header with the coolest ferrrari font in purple declaring us to be "Team Floppy Throttle".

I'm waiting for a tailor to get back to me about our outfits and zebra leather shoes (yep), so got to see if we can fit that in the budget and we've also now got cupholders for the escort.

A cage for the stereo is in, and I've had a look at the wires coming from the car, and the wires from the stereo and colour coding is all well and good if the colours are the same.  But they're not.  I had a look on http://www.escortcabrioletclub.co.uk/ and someone else had had similar probs with the cab, but left a detailed photo solution so as soon as we get the alarm problem fixed (I think it may be an alternator gone knackered as the battery was fully charged when we got the car), I can start with electrickery.  Time to buy a few spare fuses.

I had a look at the wife's uncles tent - a 3 man job - and the size when packed isnt tiny.  I will check dimensions when ours turns up, but I think if we take it then the back seat is going to have to go to make room for the tent.

I bought half a dozen packs of biscuits too, I want to get in training and I've demolished those real quick.  Top tip - if you are unsure what biscuits to buy - chocolate fudge crunch's rock.

If you're reading this and you're on facebook, please join the group as we need the support http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=150459571650020

Could do with some contributors on discussions tab etc, as it just seems to be me and the cat on there and I think thats just a tad weird.

It's bodywork is now uptogether and shiny, dont you want to put YOUR message, photo, picture, web address, wedding proposal, hate mail, logo, face somewhere, anywhere on her lithe 16 year old curves?

Just so that Julian doesnt get jealous of my new love for Juliette, heres a picture of him parked really badly (on the third attempt!) by the wife:

Nearly straight, nowhere near the curb though and a fair distance from the corsa next to it.  Never mind love, you'll get there.  Just for info she passed her test only 2 weeks ago and is doing great.  This is the only real opportunity I've had to mock her.  Love you sweetie. x

Savage.

Floppy Throttle 4

If you haven't read the first 3, scroll down to the bottom and work up if that makes sense.  If it doesn't then tough - figure it out.

Only a quick update today as I'm knackered, it's late, and I really should be having some snuggle time with Mrs Savage and the duvet.

I remembered last night that one of my old colleagues Mikey did the scumrun a couple of times in a stretch Granada so I banged his facebook door and asked if he was going again this year.  Sadly, he's not but I'll send him some pictures from the whistlestop tour of Europe.

After mailing Ed, the chief of scumrun, he's replied with happy news; he is fine with me using a local guy to get Juliette tattoo'd providing we leave enough space for the sponsors that are supporting all vehicles.  Details will be sent through once he knows where they want their piccys/www's etc.

So that means, Six-0 signs are back to being my champions.  We also now have Alan Knight Transport as corporate sponsors so thats good (cheers Gruff for that).

Another issue that I had which concerned me to do with requirements is where to get a cheap CB radio from.  As it turns out, Gruffs got one laying in the boot of his car for reasons that I don't understand and probably dont want to know about - probably used for grooming passing sheep on channel 1.

Had a few knock backs from sponsors today, but to be expected I s'pose.  At this rate I'm going to dedicate the bonnet as "VEHICLE NOT SPOSORED BY THE FOLLOWING TIGHT BASTARDS:"

On a better note, chatting with Gruffallo we figured we had been looking at the colour of the car all wrong and the theme of straightforward non-straightness was not the way forward (honestly that makes sense if you play it through your head slowly).  There is a much more obvious theme for the car and drivers.  But I'm not telling you yet.  Got to wait and see what tomorrows emails bring to see if I can blag the free costumes I'm angling for. 

All I can do is give a Winnie the Pooh reference "Bitch betta have my Hunnie".

It's just past 1am, I've got to be up early, I have no humor left in me for this period of consciousness so night all.

sava................................................  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Floppy Throttle 3... for when things go right (for a few brief hours)

Well, today started too early, so I hit snooze and closed my eyes for the additional 5 minutes that my pillow could caress me for.  Except I didnt.  I turned the bloody thing off so was late to pick up my 3 year old.  Took him clothes shopping as he's getting a bit big for his romper suits now and saw some absolutely gorgeous pinker than pink short sleeved shirts for a whole 2 british pounds each.  A quick phone call to Gruff to see if an 18 collar would fit him confirmed he has a tree trunk 20"+ collar size.  Bugger it, just dont do the collar buttons up.  It goes to a 50" chest so he might be ok.

Thats launch night nearly covered - Salmon shirts and purple ties.  Think we are gonna have to go for the homo about town look now.  Still waiting to find the perfect shimmer effect purple suit to blend in to the whole scene, but we still have a few months left to worry about that sort of stuff.

Came back to Chateau Savage and showed Lukey his Daddy's new chariot.  After a few seconds he mumbled something like "cool" and wandered off to watch batman on youtube with my iPhone. 

The mystery stains in the 'scort seem to have disappeared  having attacked and soaked them in stuff designed for getting pet piss out of carpets (told you having a kitten was a good idea wifey).The side bolsters are starting to look good but the rear seats seem to be taking up valuable storage space for the trip - they may have to come out.

As usual, I checked my email and saw another email with the subject line: RE: scumrun 2011, and immediately despair sank to my heart knowing it was another knock back.  However, Joy be uncontrolled, it wasn't.  A local printing and design firm have offered to do the car graphics at cost price, or, providing I dont take the piss, FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Six-O signs take a bow - you guys have made my day slightly sunnier.  There are nice people out there who deserve to be recognised.

A second email received from Paul at http://www.escortcabrioletclub.co.uk/ said there were some decals coming down for a window or 2, so looking forward to that. 

I then figured I'd start a facebook group for the Floppy Throttles so see if that raises any interest.  If you're reading this, please join the facebook group - we need the supporters.  Invite your mates to join it as well.  All of them. Without exception.

Cracking day. 

Then I came back and thought I'd see what was on the scum site for today...  Buggering buggery buggerating buggers.  The small print esque stuff is on there.  Bugger.  For every car sponsor I collect, I need to run it past them to ensure that it doesnt hurt the feelings of any other sponsors.  They also want ALL logos to go through them for printing up so thats buggered the deal with Six-o I think,   I also need a 40 channel cb radio, fire extinguishers, medical kit and some other stuff which is going to take up precious room in the boot.  I think I need to throw some emails at Ed, the guy running it to get some clarification on bits.

If you want to get in touch to sponsor or get further details, please email the cat cos he seems to know more about it than I do; duma@savagetaxation.co.uk

Catch you later.

Savage