I'm definitely willing you on with this one Arctic. Keep fighting the good fight.

So I started the job before seeing the advice above but I managed to drill off the heads without melting the plastic. I drilled a little bit at a time, taking advantage of the brisk wind to cool the bolts. I then managed to manipulate the rivnuts out of the wings carefully as there is just...

Yep, it's the two screws holding the guards on to the wing that are the issue. All four of them! I guess they have rivnuts or somethig on them. The headlights will be staying on the car but the guards really do need to come off for me to polish them properly. Hopefully I can get some pliers or...

Yep. Just got to try and get the guards off. The fixings just turn!

Took it for MOT. Failed on headlight image on both sides. I must admit, the lights are cloudy, and there is condensation in them.

Yep, they should. There are a few threads on here about sorting them. My hazard light switch illumination has just failed. I'll probably get a replacement switch from the local scrappy though as although you can replace the LEDs, it's a bit fiddly for me.

Popped back to get the wheel alignment checked. A minor bit of adjusting and we're running straight and true

Today I investigated the propshaft vibration I was experiencing at 55+ mph. I whipped off the front half and found that the front CV joint was pretty rattly. Eureka I thought, that'll be it. Went for a quick spin with the rear half still on and the vibration was still present but slightly less...

After all of the mechanical goings on I did a frivolous cosmetic upgrade today. Badly faded grill and tailgate handle badges replaced with shiny new black and silver ones

I don't think so but I wasn't there to see them do it as I had to go to a site meeting. They didn't need to do the rear though. There is still an everso slight pull to the left but I think that's possibly road camber. Difficult to say though for sure.

Wheel alignment done this morning.

Get another on that CB aerial mount!

You're going to be rivaling Exmoor Trim at this rate Andy. First class stuff. I wondered about filling some plastic bags with sand to use in the pockets to ensyre the fabric sticks, but this method looks good.

Considerably. I won't be doing handbrake turns but it is much better. Nipped up the cable another couple of turns this morning too.

Ineffective rear shoes replaced this evening. I think the new handbrake cables must have some stretch in them.

Top marks for perseverance

and her. Well I'm glad I came to mind... But yes, that was an occurance on mine, more than once.

So after a marathon, months long period of work @Nodge and myself have finally got my old girl all sorted. A couple of minor issues remain but we are basically back. Thanks also to @andyfreelandy too. Just need to get the handbrake up to full performance and sort a propshaft vibration at 55-60 mph

Well after your intial adjusting may not have had satisfactory results I can say that since getting home the handbrake appears to be improving slightly. I think some warmth in the shoes is helping

The brake shields on mine are a right old jaggedy mess. It'll be going in for MOT in a week or so, so I'll report back on what the outcome is. Mind you, the last test at the same "strict" Council workshops I've used for years gave me a pass despite a significant hole in the rear subframe being...