Love/hate my Coop

Hi everyone. Lots of things been happening in my personal life & I've fell out of love with my Coop for a wee while now & I've let things slide somewhat, you know how it is. The fact that there are no specialists near me is one factor, in saying that thanks to Joes advice I've managed to scrape through another MOT a wee while back. After some chat with Joe at the Christmas meet, my Coop will be trailered down south to his place where he will work his magic.....

Without going into too much detail last year, my 60th was a health disaster, & combined with family maters it was all down hill from there on..... So, I've made up my mind this is my birthday/Christmases all rolled into one. My Coop will be made good again.

Am I being selfish? of course I am, but I think I deserve this... Had a wee discussion with the wife, & things went a bit.. However all is fine now as I've pointed out how I've kept the family afloat all the years I was in the oil industry. Yes I know blah blah, thanks for listening. I'm still hopeless with pictures, but perhaps I'll ask Joe to take some before/during/after pictures.

Just to add, a big thank you to Edinburgh for information regarding transport for the Coop.

OK nearly done, just like to thank the forum again for all sorts of things, obviously information regarding the Coop & the input that members find through their own experiences. I'm done now..


Just to add, nothing to do with anything, but the weather here is amazingly mild at the moment 6c. Mild for this time of year.

That's what I like about reading your posts Jim, out of adversity you can always find something positive!

A born survivor

Oh and when you have a sorted coop back.......

Glad you have decided to give yourself a treat Jimboy, sounds like you deserve it

Hi Jimboy,

Glad to hear your situation's improved and good luck with the car. You're certainly in very good hands with Joe.

I fully sympathise mate.

As a fellow long suffering Couper [I have 3 Coupes at present, all off the road. The 1st a 20VT totally destroyed by a(n ex) trusted friend supposedly uprating it for me: the 2nd a wreck I collected from Scotland (I'm on the South Coast!) from one of the Queen's VICARs who insisted it will "pass an MOT with very little work" but which needed £3k welding alone: and the 3rd which blew its head gasket just after I had all the belts and quite a lot of other work done] I think it's safe to say I fully understand Coupe heartbreak!

I STILL drive a Peugeot 206 :0(

I can certainly say I understand the financial dilemma. But you do only live once




And I know I'm not alone but I couldn't agree more...




Happy New Year and many thanks to both you and all forumites.

PS. 20V n/a... drop engine out or lift it out?

Best regards


skulkin :0)

Shucks, thanks chaps. This is the thing about this forum, you never really feel alone. Had the Coop out for a blast yesterday & as usual everything comes flooding back....

Sunshine up here & I'm planning another blast in the Coop to get my Sunday paper....

9c here at the moment.

Similarly mild here in the Antarctic too Jim, good enough for getting the hose and Autoglym out, even if to reveal yet more bits of paintwork/bodywork are lining themselves up for future attention

Someone on here however, not too far away, has already polished their wheels - inside - to a state which is shinier than most of our coops.....


I think a spin through some nice muddy puddles is in order

Did you go with Mick's Transport in the end?

Good stuff Simon. Yes I'm sorted with Mick's Transport, just waiting for a firm date. This is going to cost, but what the hell. Don't want to be the richest person in the cemetery...

I've been a bit busy myself, turning a centre consul piano black. A lot of rubbing after the spray next day, then more rubbing with rubbing compound, then lots of polishing. I've used a drill & mop attachment. Been at it for days. I'd give myself nine out of ten for finish....

Hang in there Jim. Sometimes a blast is all you need to stave off doubts about the car and whether what you're doing is really worth it.

You've got some right roads up there too. Was in Beauly just after Christmas.

yes, it time to start thinking about the summer, already...

[imgpop]

rats.

blasted photobucket.

What have I missed there Jim?

Thought you'd sneezed there for a moment

Coop heading off to Joes next week, Tuesday/Wednesday.

I'm happy/anxious & almost emotional, bloody hell it's only a car I tell myself but it's a Coop & it's my Coop....
Does this make sense to anyone?

Almost emotional Jim? D

Now on a scale of 1 to 1.00000000000001, how likely is that





We need some pics of it being loaded up and taken away!
(You can email them and one of us will post them )

Don't worry Jimboy it will be in good hands and I will be there to give it a Celtic cuddle for you mate.

What did you do in the oil industry Jim? I was a document controller in the oil industry until I had my son.

Hi Annie, I was a welder. Was in the trade for thirty years or so. Started off in Kishorn in the seventies, then another two yards up here, then moved around Scotland & mainline Europe. 2000 was the year when the oil rig fabrication industry took a nose dive & it was all bad news after that.

Great times though, many stories & situations to be told. The only thing that I miss these days is the banter. The craic was great between the workers, the wind ups, aye, all history now.

Well that's the Coop off. Very nice man Mick, highly recommended.
Big thank you to Simon for the heads up & the information regarding the transport. Took a few pictures & will get the son in law to send.

You can do mine if you want..?

Exciting Jim! One "small" step.......

Look forward to the pics

Thanks Simon. I feel a bit selfish as we all have the dreaded flu up here & my son is back in hospital, very serious for him, literally life threatening, so my as you can imagine my emotions are all over the place.

The wife has temporarily given up work so she can be with our son, I feel a bit of a fraud but I'm laid up & I'm coughing & spluttering no use to anyone.Because of events my wife & I have been taking stock of our lives & she took me by surprise by telling me when everything is back to normality & my beloved Coop is made better again, she wants me to take her on the NCS500 tour in the Coop.This a first as it's a rarity me driving her in any car.

Gosh that's quite a turn-up Jim, I would feel the same if Mrs Ed volunteered the same

We likewise fell prey to the evil lurgie over the New Year, it's something we've become used to catching from our 18-month old grandson every time he comes up from Leeds to visit

Interesting though that in spite of being eligible for the free flu jab for the past few years ("official" retirement this June) I've usually caught something apart from this year when I didn't bother and what I came down with was actually quite mild in comparison
Mrs Ed had the jab and she ended up in bed all New Year's day!

Hope your lad gets over this present upset very soon ....

I saw a coop today in West Linton actually, but that'll go in "Spotting", however suffice to say that having not basically run for coming on 14 years, I've been recommending it joins yours down in FCSS!

Well Scouse, you do need patience. Obviously owners have done this before. Preparation is half the battle. Once you've degunked, wet&dry plastic primer fine wire wool, black gloss, several light coats, wet&dry more coats of black dependent if you need to build up the coulor . Personally I tried & tried but couldn't eradicate the dreaded orange peel so in the end there was so many coats of paint I flattened the surface with very fine wet&dry & polished the hell out of it with a combination of plastic polisher & wax.

I hope things work out for the best Jim for you and your family.

Thanks Joe. There seems to be more bad news of late on the forum. I'm afraid we all have a story & obviously some are very sad indeed. Our family circumstances are about keeping our son fit & well, if we don't he takes life threatening seizures, it can be very frightening for all involved & the very fact our son can't speak or say a single word complicates things. There was a time I would fully open up to the forum, nowadays I don't really give the whole story. The older I get the more emotional I become. The forum does throw up some sympathetic members that's for sure.

I'm getting emotional here myself reading this thread.

Wishing you and your family health and happiness jimboy.

Thanks JKD, that is very thoughtful. Our son has finally, after two weeks in hospital stabled. My wife is far stronger than me & has spent all of her time with with him. I've been advised to steer clear as I have this dreaded viral infection & have this cough that just doesn't go away. Good things have come out of this however which are both selfish & good. Once my Coop is well again, I will tell the story...

That's great news Jim about your lad. I can't imagine what the stress is like considering all the circumstances.

Hope you shake off the plague soon....

Glad your boy is more stable Jim. I can't imagine the stress you both must be under at times.

Don't be worrying about the coupe,she's in good hands mate.
I said hello to it last week.

There will be a wee presie cached in your car from me when it arrives back home pal.

Thanks Simon & Joe. Aye, it's been a bit of a roller coaster right enough to say the least. We all handle situations in our own different way. I had quite a strict up bringing, so from a very early age my Mother unwittingly taught me how to switch off & keep something back for myself, I still do this even now in certain situations.

On the Scottish tour I kind of opened up to Simon & he has a sad tale to tell, so there was a bit of a therapy session going on, kind of. Over the years I've read some sad stories on here. Although I don't tell the whole story nowadays, I, like others still appreciate the sympathetic ear.

Of course I have a very strong/lovely family round me. Anyone else who has strong family ties will understand this.

Hopefully, you see some of us as a bit of a family and sometimes it's just good to type out your feelings rather than actually have to express them in person.

I'm glad your son is better and more stable now and hopefully the coupe will cheer you up when it comes back

Thanks Theresa.Our son is now home & it just feels like a dream. My head is filled with cotton wool if you know what I mean, I'm certainly not functioning properly. I think you're right, some of you are like family.......

Hi Jimboy.
Just been looking at pics of your Coupe on the FCSS fb page.

It looks lovely.
You can't see the lacquer peel in the rain
Glad you chose to take the plunge and get her sorted now to provide you with years more pleasure.
Everyone needs a project / indulgence to keep them sane.
I look forward to some more pics as the work progresses.

Huw

Thanks for that Huw. I don't do Facebook, so oblivious of what's going on. When I first purchased my Coop it was a clean one & obviously over the years time has taken its toll. Joe has informed me I've caught the old girl in time & now is the time to do the deed. I'm not a smoker or frequent the pub any more, so this is my outlet/hobby/thing/indulgence...you get the picture. Hopefully I'll ask Joe to take more pics during & after.

Jim I'll upload what pictures I've taken to a Photobucket file and pm you the link.
As the projects progresses I'll continue to add new pictures so you'll see everything as it happens

Would like to see the pics too!

Jim's Photobucket file.

Wow. A fair amount of work Jim, in no small amount due to the amount of salt it'll have picked up in your locality but I can't think of it being in better hands and by the time this lot's been attended to you'll get years more life out of the old gal

Well it's started. Joe has been very thorough with his inspection & what needs to be done. I'm going to play the waiting game. Already I'm so excited. As Joe promised, he will upload photos as the job unfolds. Please bare with me as things progress, I might be a little over excited on occasions.....

Good stuff Jim - I look forward to seeing the transformation.

Jim, is it epileptic seizures your son has? I watched a documentary about medical marijuana and how helpful it can be.

Sending you love and hoping your son will be home soon, what an awful worry for you and your wife.

My son has Angelman syndrome with complicated seizures. He neither talks or walks. His medication works well, but can be put out of kilter due to illness such as viral or very bad pain that can affect his metabolism. It's all a bit of a juggling act for us Annie. The likes of marijuana would not work in my sons case, in fact quite the opposite. My wife is far stronger than me coping with things, truth be told I've hidden a lot over the years through a few things one of which is humor. Hey, we all have a story to tell & I've read on here some very sad situations. We all cope in different ways.

No real update on my Coop but my wife has came up with something that has really made me feel both guilty & very happy at the same time. My wife hits 60 next month & she has always said when that day comes she would go part time. My wife is a lecturer in child psychology & youth studies & is pretty full on & the hours sometimes can go on & on. She has now informed me, to help pay for my Coop restoration, she will still go full time for a few more years...

I'm stuck for words. This is great news for me. This will make the Coop even more special for me when I drive it again.....

Nice one.

That's a lovely gesture Jim

I'll put in a word with Joe at Assen!

Jim.
Seeing the pics today of the Coupe Nigel is breaking reminds me of some of the pics of your car before the restoration was started.
How is it progressing, the restoration?

Well, Joe & I have been in communication, but things are not going as quickly as I would have liked. This was mainly due to Joes health issues & some personal matters. These things cannot be helped, I do understand that, but I miss my Coop Hopefully my Coop will rise again in the not too distant future....

Ah, that's good to hear.
Not because of the issues, but because the resto is still viable.
I was worried that the plug had been pulled as the car was too rusty.
There's a red Na five mins up the road from me. Been parked up on the drive for five years. I desperately want to buy it and restore it, but realistically it is now too far gone for me to deal with mechanically or financially.
Boo