hmmmm will it all end in tears and pain?

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:18 pm

Well, they're still listed on their website. I'm quite tempted to order up a set, I'm sure they'll have some lying around somewhere..

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:38 pm

asked the lad on the desk if they could transfer any over from other branches etc but he said no...

mind you i havent got a 100% trusting feeling of him - he also said so long as the parts were undamaged they'd take them back at no charge whatever (actually it's 20% restocking fee after 7 days, and no returns after a month!) and very nearly "forgot" to give the breather hose - plus the matter of the extra gloves. bet i'll find out they're the vinyl rather than latex type now.

hmmmmm

what needs to be borne in mind however, is that my local branch is actually their central warehouse, according to the website at least - castle vale, b'ham.. so if they dont have it, you're having to hold out hope there'll be spares at one of the smaller outlets.

i still dont get why they'd drop an essential service part like that though. it's like not carrying head gaskets any more or something... and i did get them..

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 11:20 pm

A couple of times when I've ordered stuff online they've had to transfer the order to a smaller branch, so it does happen sometimes. Very annoying that they're deleting that line though, only other place I can find that sells them is euro car parts and they're Â£45, far more expensive..

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:28 pm

I thought they partly owned ECP or something.... perhaps this way they can shoot their profits up.

Then again it might be another bit of political b*llocks so ye might want to give Euro a call and see if they're soon to drop them as well!

BTW I PMd you my address, but now I'm wondering what the price of postage might be on those... You were dahn sarf somewhere weren't you? Off to my dads again -maybe- this coming weekend... (Bournemouth)

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:18 pm

Not that far south unfortunately. South of cambridge, north of london, somewhere around stansted airport. I'll get them weighed up when I have a moment.. I doubt they'll be all that much to post, certainly not more than a tenner by standard parcels.

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 12:55 pm

been going through my sockets, think i've got everything but the 8, 15 and 34mm ones. Very odd. Are these important ones, or can i get away with an adjustable spanner / mole grips / closest imperial equivalent?

(though it might be tricky... 8mm = 5/16th which i probably have.. 15 = 19/32th which i almost certainly dont (5/8ths?) ... 34 = 1 and a third...! probably doesnt exist! time for a visit to the shops..?)

thanks for the list

PS I take back what i said about the astra, for some reason it's a f00kin nightmare - i'm having a time just trying to get the sump bolt tightened properly without it being stuck fast. Seems it's either loose and leaky, or cold welded, and nothing in between. Karma?

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:18 pm

Uh oh. Dude. I've got the cam cover off, and i'm probably not going to go any further this weekend (off to work, my dads, etc), but i got a creepy feeling looking past the camshaft, and it was confirmed when i shook the bolts out of the box. What in the world kind of socket bit do THOSE need???

Like, a 14mm star bit or something? (eh, i'd best go measure them before i make a judgement i guess!)... never seen anything like that before!

Time to go stock up at halfords fo'sho.

LogIK · Post by **LogIK** » Sun May 01, 2005 9:31 pm

You need a splined socket tool. 10mm I think.

Couple of quid from GSF.

When you start loosening the head bolts, make sure you do it in the correct order (which is the reverse of the order in which the Haynes tells you to torque them up.)

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Mon May 02, 2005 1:25 pm

Ach, haven't got round to getting the pistons posted yet, sorry. I'll get that done tomorrow..

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Mon May 02, 2005 8:18 pm

is that an entirely separate "tool", or a socket-bit, logik? i had a look for similar in halfords, and of course, you can only buy them in a Â£20 set of 8... means i wont be fiddling with the polo in the week and can get some revision done i guess!

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Mon May 02, 2005 8:38 pm

It's a socket bit. I'll send one with the pistons.

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Tue May 03, 2005 4:30 am

lol, quit living up to your name......

you can take it easy on sending that stuff anyway - i've got exams on the 10th, 11th, and 12th, and the revision has been going fairly pants. I need to get some cramming in over then next week and a sliver, so I'm going to be making like a non-car-owning, friendless hermit. I think I may have to tempban myself on my router from ukp, porka, mig and b3ta as well. (and of course, all the porn)

... i found a barely-touched tub of Gunk in the garage, btw, so i might sneak in a bit of engine & bay polishing (...and spraying?) while i'm at it. what else am i going to use that stuff for, after all?