Well, it took me just over three years and i got my 101!
When i got there buying guides went out of the window!
He started it up with a bodged exhaust that sounded OH SO GOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
We hopped in, after a couple of times around the field scaring the sheep he asked if i wanted to drive it. We swapped seats. I scared the sheep some more and then it was a done deal.
I paid the asking price, then £371 to get it transported home as the brakes were binding A LOT!
I'm in the process of changing all brake lines, reservoirs, flexible hoses and wheel cylinders. I'm recording all spends and so far i've spent £2488.71 above the purchase price. That's including everything from insurance to the spare keys for the back door which i'd had on the kitchen table in the bag they came in for a couple of weeks before i noticed they were actually cut keys and not blanks for me to try to mark in the lock to create the profile i need for them to work.
The list of jobs isn't all that long. I've had longer.
None of the doors locked (had no keys) so it's had two new locks on the front plus keys for the back.
All of the lights work(on the outside) but when i select main beam the headlights go out. It isn't the bulbs as you can flash them.
Choke cable is seized but it starts easily enough with a couple of prods on the go pedal but bought a new cable anyway.
Should have taken it off first and put oil down the top BEFORE buying the new one. I did this after i'd fitted it and now the old one works so well i'm considering taking the new one back off and putting into the spares stash.
I have the common brittle brake fluid reservoir issue so i've bought a set of aluminium ones from Able. Only the one fitted so far as i've only drained the front brake reservoir so far.
A pair of updated shorter than standard wiper arms to allow the fitment of longer wipers to go on.
A fell set of cabin decals because most of mine are missing/worn or just unreadable. The worst one is the six way light switch. I have to turn the knob then get out to see what's come on.
A set of five new tyres to replace the 'loads of tread but cracked sidewalls' bargrip tyres that are fitted.
I ended up trimming a couple of mm of both ends of the brake shoes and when i fitted the new ones the drums wouldn't fit over them. It was this fact that led my cousin suspect the flexibles were knackered on the inside and preventing the fluid from flowing back out to the reservoir and causing the binding.
Someone on one of the forums i was on suggested being methodical and starting with the flexibles. My reply was "i am. The brakes are binding so i'm replscing them all." So i could have saved some money by just changing them but given how every brake connector i've undone so far has twisted the brake pipe to the point of it coming apart i've done the right thing by buying a complete set of pipes. Now i don't have to mess about worrying about having to go and get or make up an replacememnt pipe. Despite having the experience of making up brake pipes in the past and having the gear to make them up including two different size pipe benders, i chose to save on all the faff and pay £92 for a complete set ready made up, just bend to suit.
When i first got it home and freed off all of the brake adjusters i decided if i drove it around the block they would free themselves off. Oh dear! I genuinely didn't think i was going to get the thing back! We drove it in low range in the field but on the road in high range, i could get it into second gear but with it's wonky? gear change by the time i'd found third it was bohhing down and needed second again so i'd have another go. This time revving it more to give me more time to get it into third. Iwon't lie. It did sound good, popping and banging but not very helpful for increasing speed...
EVERYBODY stopped to stare at me as i popped and banged and revved my way up the road
Fortunately i ain't shy!
It was a similar experience when i tried it again after fitting the new shoes all round.
I then wondered if i had a fuelling issue as it only misfired at higher revs. It was then that i noticed i have two fuel pumps fitted. The standard one sat in the tank and another one sucking through it sitting on top. So i have a replacement in tank to replace both.
So all being well, once i've fitted the bits i've already bought plus the usual service items, all fluids/filters etc plus new plugs, leads and dizzy cap, i think the only other thing i'll be looking at is a new set of door tops. They aren't that bad but they have been nibbled at by the tin worms. Nothing serious. Certainly nowhere near as bad as th ones on YFO866. The passenger one fell off on the way to work! 40mph along a country lane. It fell off and bounced along the tarmac and when i reversed back up the road to meet the chap who i'd pass most mornings walking his dog who reached it at the same time as me. We exchanged good mornings and then he asked if it would fit my car? I replied, i expect so as it had just fallen off it!
We were both shocked to find both pieces of glass to be in one piece!
I've attached a pic of it parked outside the house. The 101 not the door top...
The second pic is of the 28 (Ambulance) Squadron The Gurkha Transport Regiment's regimental emblem while in the Gulf during the first Gulf War. Officially known as Operation Gramby by the MOD. That's where 72GJ27 was in 1990.
The emblem is a gerbil sat wielding a kukri above the squadron number. You can see remnants of the round black and white sticker on the front.
Before that it was with the 144 Parachute Royal Army Medical Corps (V) plus time with 4 Field Ambulance and 221 Field Ambulance plus Royal Army Medical Corps Training Group. Sadly it spent most of it's life parked up at Ashchurch 26.5 miles away from where it lives now. One of it's first trips out will be taking me and some mates to walk up Bredon which is just up the road from Ashchurch.