Post 134918 by MaxVol on 2006-08-16 17:14:53
Hey Guys (and girls)!
Well I've been viewing these forums on and off for a few years and have finally got around to registering.
Bought my first T5 back in '99. An ex W. Midlands Police rocket (auto) :cop: with 200K on the clock. Drove it for five years and at 255K she started to smoke on idle. Had her compression tested and No1 was at about 85% (discovered that this was common on cars of this mileage). Took her off the road and put it in my driveway with the hope of one day fixing the problem.
As I have four kids and a caravan, I decided to get a (ahem) Ford Explorer and had it LPG'd.
My love of my T5 never went away. I'd look at her in the driveway every day and think back to the good old days of razzing aroung the country lanes and motorway cruising.
Anyway, a couple of months ago I decided that it was time to relight the old T5 flame (the Mrs needs a car... she can have the Explorer, to go back to work), so I looked into the possibility of getting her back on the road.
I priced up what it would cost to repair the engine and it was actually cheaper to buy a complete unit. Looking into it further, it was cheaper to buy a complete car than an engine!! Crazy..
I actually found a car about half an hour before the auction ended. It was actually mentioned on a thread on this site. It was a Saffron 850 T5 with a V70 body (with a busted transmission and a bonnet that someone had had a party on!). The plan was to buy it and use it as a donor car. I placed a bid and won it!
I had no idea what to expect, as after doing my homework I discovered that it had been sold before, but the cirumstances were a little suspect. I was still unsure about it right up until I turned the street and spotted it. It looked fantastic!
Trailered it home and have stuck it in my drive in front of my other one.. Now I have a fleet and none of them work!
I haven't looked at the supposed gearbox problem yet, but I suspect that the problem is with a dislodged spring in the spinner plate (clutch) and not the actual box.
I have another car to look at before I tackle it, but that's another story.
I'm going to start a thread and ask about the possibility and the degree of difficulty and hassle of converting it to an auto (I'm plagued with really bad sciatica at the moment, which is aggrivated by using the clutch on a manual), so I may do that instead of a new clutch...
Cheers!
Max
Post 134920 by Murphy on 2006-08-16 17:17:20
Hello and welcome to the forum
Sounds like you have a bit of work ahead of you. Good luck with that :)
Post 134937 by fraz13 on 2006-08-16 17:53:02
Hi mate welcome to the forum ;)
I remember the 850 with the S70 lights and stuff, good luck with the conversion.... Its possible to convert auto to manual so dont see how the oposite cant be done :D
Post 134970 by T5ER on 2006-08-16 19:13:43
Hi mate and welcome to the forum
Post 134992 by T5SLAVE on 2006-08-16 20:03:48
Welcome along m8:wave23d:
Best o luck with gettin the T5 flame re-lit:B_thumb:
Mark.
Post 134995 by T5frankie on 2006-08-16 20:07:34
[QUOTE=MaxVol]Hey Guys (and girls)!
Well I've been viewing these forums on and off for a few years and have finally got around to registering.
Bought my first T5 back in '99. An ex W. Midlands Police rocket (auto) :cop: with 200K on the clock. Drove it for five years and at 255K she started to smoke on idle. Had her compression tested and No1 was at about 85% (discovered that this was common on cars of this mileage). Took her off the road and put it in my driveway with the hope of one day fixing the problem.
As I have four kids and a caravan, I decided to get a (ahem) Ford Explorer and had it LPG'd.
My love of my T5 never went away. I'd look at her in the driveway every day and think back to the good old days of razzing aroung the country lanes and motorway cruising.
Anyway, a couple of months ago I decided that it was time to relight the old T5 flame (the Mrs needs a car... she can have the Explorer, to go back to work), so I looked into the possibility of getting her back on the road.
I priced up what it would cost to repair the engine and it was actually cheaper to buy a complete unit. Looking into it further, it was cheaper to buy a complete car than an engine!! Crazy..
I actually found a car about half an hour before the auction ended. It was actually mentioned on a thread on this site. It was a Saffron 850 T5 with a V70 body (with a busted transmission and a bonnet that someone had had a party on!). The plan was to buy it and use it as a donor car. I placed a bid and won it!
I had no idea what to expect, as after doing my homework I discovered that it had been sold before, but the cirumstances were a little suspect. I was still unsure about it right up until I turned the street and spotted it. It looked fantastic!
Trailered it home and have stuck it in my drive in front of my other one.. Now I have a fleet and none of them work!
I haven't looked at the supposed gearbox problem yet, but I suspect that the problem is with a dislodged spring in the spinner plate (clutch) and not the actual box.
I have another car to look at before I tackle it, but that's another story.
I'm going to start a thread and ask about the possibility and the degree of difficulty and hassle of converting it to an auto (I'm plagued with really bad sciatica at the moment, which is aggrivated by using the clutch on a manual), so I may do that instead of a new clutch...
Cheers!
Max[/QUOTE]
I was watching that car myself on ebay, pictures were crap though, anyway well done and good luck.:rotfl:
Post 135002 by DJ1 on 2006-08-16 20:15:02
Welcome m8, i remmember that one for sale, Good luck with the project!!:Handshake
Dave.:eclipsee_
Post 135085 by ragtop on 2006-08-16 22:02:30
Hi Max
Welcome to the forume, and it really does look like you have your work cut out, good luck.
Mark
Post 135093 by dicky b t5 on 2006-08-16 22:19:40
Welcome to the forum Max......With all the work you've got planed are you sure we should'nt call you MadMax....!!LOL:haha:
Post 135095 by thunderace on 2006-08-16 22:23:12
hi max :welcome:
well that's the morming taken care of, out for a blast in the pm ?
Post 135253 by t5owner on 2006-08-17 18:28:45
Hi and welcome
Nowt wrong with them explorers mate nearly bought one myself as i was well impressed with the spec for not much money
However the volvo bug has bitten and i shall not wander from the path
Cheers
stuart
Post 135265 by MaxVol on 2006-08-17 19:07:52
Thank you so much guys for the warm welcome..
I have to say, I've been on a few different forums over the years and I've never had such a nice welcoming from a genuine bunch...
Cheers!
Max
Post 136569 by Wobbly Dave on 2006-08-23 13:40:17
Been very busy lately sorry - But I would like to offer you a very warm welcome.