Been a long time since....

I've posted on here! Or even visited frankly. But today was a momentous day, after being stored in my garage since 2007 (yes, really!), the Little Green Bastard came out into the daylight. Thick with dust and crud, looking like a barn find but after a quick wash looking good as new. A good story would be that it started first turn of the key, but it took a little more than that. Pulled the fuses, cranked it to get oil pressure, then tried to fire it..... unsurprisingly, no joy. A quick look at the fuel proved unpromising, looking as it did like pale whisky! So a quick trip to the local motor factors, some octane booster, new fuel, a second car to boost the battery and.........

Off she went, sounding exactly like a lawnmower, running on slightly less than 5 cylinders. But after a few moments of just above idling you could feel as each extra cylinder cut in and soon it was running as sweet as I remember. I couldn't resist a quick run up and down our lane, just to get things moving.

After a lot of warming up I couldn't resist testing the cam belt....

Video for anyone who may be interested

Some interesting noises on the test run, work to do but hopefully this is just a start to the story.....

Why do you call it The Little Green Bastard lol

It's just a name that's grown to fit over, christ, 16 or 17 years of owning it!

Sounds great despite being stood for so long!

Thanks Gunzi, yeah, I was pleasantly surprised, brought back a lot of happy memories. And the soppy look on my kids faces, who basically grew up running around in this car and are now 17 and 19 was worth all the hassle of getting it going!

I really can't get shot of it now!

Wow. Welcome back green machine...

Why thank you! It's good to be back..... Until I have to start spending money on it

Lol, well done, welcome back and good luck with it

Welcome back MrB, some of us still here

Did you not live down-South once?

Glad to hear the "LGB" is up and running

Great stuff, well done Mr B and the LGB

There's a name from the past.

Would you believe Jim C is back in a coupe?! But you won't surprised that Jim is stumped with technical issues

Blimey, Jim back in a Coupe! That's great news, although no, the technical issue isn't too surprising!

I expect I'll have a lot of those myself! And, if my diagnosis of the slave cylinder isn't correct I could very well have the same issue as Jim!

I did indeed live down south, in High Wycombe handily!

Thanks for the welcome back one and all, good to see some of the old names still here. Going to get the coupe booked in for an MOT, see what needs doing. I already know it needs a new clutch slave cylinder, and I'd imagine brake lines and probably some flexi pipes. Corrosion is what I am scared of, although it's been dry and I can't see anything that looks too bad underneath.

Hi Blair, good to see you - and your Italian Stallion - back. How are you getting along with the smokers...?!
I am indeed back in a Coupé - and loving it. Though whether it is going to love the next 2 nights in Birmingham International train station car park is open to debate...

Handy for L&M in those days

Welcome back!

Welcome back to the sunlight Little Green Bastard

Hi Blair,

I've still got mine although it's similarly hibernating; they're a rare thing up this neck of the woods these days. If you need any bits and pieces to get it back to full health, let me know - I've far too many spares kicking about that I've collated over time.

Matt

Hi Matt, that's a fantastic offer of assistance, thank you. Glad to hear there's still one more around here! Although I did just see a broom yellow 16V on my way back from Elgin tonight, first I've seen in a long time.

It's back in the garage again, but this time it won't be for years! Got a few bits to do for the first attempt at an MOT, mainly sort the clutch out so it works somewhat more progressively, it's basically an on of switch just now, and check over the brakes (although pads and discs are virtually brand new).

Hi MrB, good to see another addict from this neck of the woods!

First the admin

this Sunday


and this but I won't ask you to read 20 odd pages
it's over 4 days 16th-20th June, Central Scotland to Inverness, Poolewe. Applecross, Plockton, Skye, Glenfinnan and home Interested?

Or just come to Beauly for lunch with us all on 16th if that's all you can do


Re your clutch, is the pedal creeping down to the floor if you rest your foot on it when stationary, and you can prise it back up again ........or is it flat down?

If the former, it's probably the master cylinder.

Having just replaced my master cylinder, I concur with Mr Ed.

Blimey... The Italian car day.. how I remember those! This Sunday might be a bit of a push (almost literally!) and unfortunately I'll be in Mallorca on the other dates! But once it's taxed and tested (and safe!) I'll be up for some meets.

Re the clutch, I know the slave cylinder is knackered as it was last time I parked it up, I'm hoping it's just that, but it's a coupe, so it won't be The pedal is on the floor, if you lift it and pump it a few times it works with an exceptionally low bite point, literally on and off, makes it very difficult to move about! I haven't tried resting my foot on it though. I'll replace the slave 'cos it's an easy job and I know it needs doing and see how it goes from there.

I'm stealing myself for finding someone to do the cam belt change, the belts basically only been on for a couple of k miles, but it's been on there years. Any recommendations for a garage somewhere up here that can do it? I used to use Station Garage in Kintore (they did the last one), not sure if they still do coupes though.

Need to remember my forum ettiequte and not just ask random questions in a general thread!

God I'd love to do that drive in my Coupe, with other Coupes, bring back some old memories of drives past!

Welcome back MrB and LGB

Welcome back.

My coupe is "R8xx CGP" too , probably came from the same dealer as yours.

Good effort Mr B

Can't wait to see you running...

I've not been in touch with him for ages, but you could give Matty at WP Garage Services (formerly Wallace Performance) a shout. He did a few when he had one himself and hopefully still remembers how......

That's spooky Graham!

Cheers Matt, I'd forgotten Wallace Performance!