At least it's not facebook. Or the shed.

Ok, So.. change of plan with the van. Only as far as the suspension is concerned.
Decided that with just the front lowered, I could no longer trust either the fuel level gauge and more importantly the coolant temperature gauge. Because the cooled water from the front mounted radiator had to run up a substansial slope to get back to the engine
 in the back, it wasn't doing is so well and running a mite hotter than I liked. Coupled with the fact that the fuel tank outlets are at the back of the tank due to rear engine-ing, I was worried about premature fuel exhastion, and also, probably the biggest 3 things of all- The front looked tiny, I couldn't see traffic lights any more (I shit you not!) and it felt like I was permantly sliding off my seat. Heck, I was permantly sliding off my seat.

Driving it about feels good again, me and a friend went for a spin and he is reknowed for obscure cars so is no stranger to double takes. But even he was a little taken aback that the van was pulling more looks than his aforementioned Santana. Weather these are good or bad, who knows, but hey, its cool. To the point where me and spidermouse went to Morrisons today and 2 schoolgirls tripped over a kerb whilst staring at the tatty primer-van. lol. That'll teach 'em some manners.

spidermouse also had her first exam jobbie thing today, so pleased it went well. Was kinda nervous as she took the van alone. Not about her driving, I was worried about car park clearance issues. But when she got back she said she had got half way there worrying and then remembered double decker busses go in and out of Chichister Uni. Now my van is tall, but hey!! Otherwise, she did me proud, even managing to back it back onto the drive really well. I was at least expecting a fault at this stage but after months of not driving it she did well. Go mouse! :)

Other than that, been trying to sort our club stand for PKW's Beach Buggin' this year. Been told that they never recived an email about a month ago and that it was irrelevant anyway as the paperwork has to be mailed to them. Grr..

Anyway, enough rambles..

Created by Recipe Star

Apparently. :P

Going to get my van tax later. I used to have some emo mice things on my dash, later, I'm putting Hellboy in there, so the van can be called Big Red. For obvious reasons.

I also have a new key.

Finaly got mirrors on the van that I am really happy about. The last ones looked ok, but were really wobbly. The ones before that were tiny and went really rusty and before that it had floppy black plastic VW ones. Now it sports a set of California's finest Vision MFG 'RV mirrors'
And I quote: (sadly :P)

VISION mirrors feature a built-in adjustable convex mirror which virtually eliminates blind spots. VISION mirrors are constructed from stainless steel. This includes the housings, mounting arms, brackets, even the nuts, bolts and washers.

The spec sheet for them is amazing. They say that they won't go rusty twice. Its that important to American bus and RV owners apparently. Well, actually, I guess it is. I don't want them rusting either :P

( Photo cut cause not everyone loves my van. Damn all y'all haters out there.. )

Also, anyone a little un-nerved/disturbed by this or do you not 'get it?'

Slammed the front of the van yesterday. No, not into something, but the responses I'm getting over on DubScene, you would have thought I had.. Anyway..




Stock height..



Decked height!





Bumper is close to the road now..
Thoughts?

Ok, not posted in a while. Done a bit more to the van, but I can't be arsed to repost all the pics so you can follow the build thread here on retrorides (link should work..)

Otherwise rain stops me doing my bodywork, and its only a few days before the Scumrun and me and cris still haven't painted his blue barge..

Rich

( Boring van photos under here.. )

Bit upset to have found filler in the van before I even started. But at least its not hiding anything bad (this time) and it had only rotted because its filler in a really exposed place, and probably coupled with the lack of proper bodyshop rust-proofing techniques and plenty of time to resurface, as this was probably done in the first few years of its life.

Finding evening photography so much easier now with a full-size tripod (unsurprisingly).. No more shakey hand photos.

Well, my new GHETTO BLASTER anyway!




Cost £2, all working awesome, with an aux input so I can use MP3 players, detachable speakers and its oh so cool black. I prefer black Ghetto Blasters anyway, silver is over-rated. Had to give it a bloody good clean and repair the radio switch (it was proper mangled) but in all a schweet bargain!

Now, where was that M C Hammer MP3??

Got on a little with more van shenaniagins today, more rust removal.





Still need to skim over the dent. Had to quickly primer it before it started chucking it down.


Front bumper had to come off in all the 'madness'..



And I removed the nasty dealer fitted mudflaps that leave nice hols in my wheelarch panel. More bodyfiller joy..

More as it happens.

Started the body resto on the van and to a lesser extent my mate Cris's Santana.



Dent.. (looks worse IRL)



Filler..



Gone!

Also rubbed the scabs off the sliding door.



Looking better already!

For those who don't remember/never seen my van, the paint although looking ok in places, is well past its best due to several past repairs (bodges) that are all being put to rights.
At last.

More later!!

Me and Cris set fire to his car exhaust today to kill the baffles and make it a bit growly. Worked quite well.

In other news, new look Coastboat Motors is online. Check it out. Still a few things to put right but its there..

I'm feeling lazy, so short post.
Went to Jo's Mum's for mumday dinner, was amazing, had a great day :)

Got on with getting loads of Coastboat  stuff sorted, business cards, a few T Shirts, ect..

Made a little headway with the website (And I mean a little..)

All from me for tonight..

Picked up my AVUS's. They are a little scabby, and black and diamond-cut but better than 4 odd wheels that the Passat is currently rolling on. Another niggle with that thing sorted at last. All for £20. Win. Got some more Baby Moon hubcaps for the van too, to replace the one I lost over a year ago.. *sigh*

Also picked up my mates Scumrun/new car with him today, a 1983 Volkswagen Sanata LX. Needs paint desperatly, so we have 2 weeks to decide what colour and get the hell on with it! Win-70's-style-box-car

its a beast..

Also..
Anyone for a 1992 VW Polo 3Dr estate fr £400?? Cheap as chips.. Photos on request!

Did a few bits and bobs on the Mini today, fitted its spotlights and less interestingly replaced the black rubber wiper grommets with stainless steel ones.

Spotlamps look good. Bit worried they point too far down but, I can fix that another day..



eBay bargin 'Angle Eyes' for the win.

Just need to one day fix all the soddin' rust. I want to do the van first though, its worth more :P

Tasha left today. Boo :( She did leave a massive pile of delicious chocolate in the fridge but I don't think it'll last that long.

In other news i'm just clinching a deal on a set of AVUS's for the Passat and I may be getting my Allycat style Compomitve's back too, leaving me with a choice of 3 different sets of wheels.. (the last being some hot-rod steels and chrome hubcaps)

Awesome weekend, had a load of friends round (Keef, Claire, and Natasha (who is still here)) for the NFRS Portsmouth show on Sunday, much drink was consumed, much banter swapped and videos watched. I enjoyed it guys, thanks! :)

Show on Sunday was good, me and Keith were 'security', to keep nosy parkers from trying to get to the judges tables. :P

Went to the scrappy this morning with my mate Cris for bits for his brothers Volvo, I came away empty handed, still working that out, I must of come over all woozy or something. Cris on the other hand bought a Freelander chrome nudge bar we'll probably try to put on his Polo or at some point :P

Sayuri babies are also awesome, proabaly lots of peektures on spidermouse's journal at somepoint. I let her do photo-y things :P

So now, end of the day, sitting, chilling. Journaling.

Check out that double bracketry up there at the top!!

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Its finaly finished.. The FrankenCycle is finished..



Only problem is that I need some better photos of it now.

..Was awesome. Sure you've all read and heard about it a billion times, so I'll keep it brief.

I was impressed how they kept it close to the comic, to the point (for me anyway) It was like it had come alive.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommened it to anyone.

2 Things I thought could be improved on, less radioactive blue shlong and I wanted to see the explantion for Rorschach's mask (although I have read the comic so I do know :P)

Otherwise, quiet day yesterday. Aside from locking ourselfs out of the house for a few hours, and had to break in via the letterbox and a long screwdriver. :(

FrankenCycle' mechanical side was finished today, which meant I went for a test ride..

( Videos and photos are under here! )

Also got the best of the aglility course painted. Well, spidermouse did anyway. :)

Tryed to find Gloss paint in B&Q today with spidermouse .. Grrr..
Otherwise just wandered around all couply-like, buying wellies and being annoyed that matt red spray paint is expensive. Not having red bike wheels yet then..

Then we went for tea and cake at her Nans xD


( This is from Saturday, Just remembered it. )

So, Livejournal, we meet again.

I'm gonna start from Saturday, me and a friend, Cris, went exploring at the old Butser Hill Lime Quarry. Its mega abandoned (Still)

(  Some atmospheric photos that my friend took because he is an awesome photographer and I suck.. )
But in all, an awesome day. Was well neat checking it out.. Not a soul in sight.

A few (maybe none?) of you know I'm building a rat-bike with same said friend, Cris.
I got a free BMX, and a good buddy with a welder, and the rest is history.
Have nearly all the parts to finish it soon! :)



Today, cleared the bottom of the garden and had roast dinner  with Cris and Heather and mah Jo-face, then followed up with amazing Jo-Stout-and-chocolate cake.

I have to go, I'm being told I have to do rat medicine. :P