Peppers Renault 4

[pepper]

Well last nght I thought I'd pop up the workshop and strip the starter motor off my new toy and then strip it down to see if I could repair it.

After two hours of swearing at who ever designed the starter motor placement and with ripped hands it finally came out.

I had to remove parts of the handbrake, steering and clutch before I could finally get to all the bolts and actually remove the starter from the car!

So when I got to that position I decided I'd rather get a factory reconditoned starter so that I wont have to go through all that again in a hurry!

I can imagine that the right hand drive starters are far far easier to remove. Here was me thinking I'd go left hand drive so that things would be easier!!!!

 

[Beige Belgian]

I can imagine that the right hand drive starters are far far easier to remove. Here was me thinking I'd go left hand drive so that things would be easier!!!!

The starter is far far easier to remove on a RHD car. Its much easier to get too and you don't need to remove the steering column. Why they didn't make it easier on the LHD I don't know.

 

[pepper]

I only unbolted the bottom end of the steering column and moved it out of the way as I couldn't see how the starter would come out if it was still there, and for two bolts it made it far far easier to reach the actual starter bolts!

 

[pepper]

This evening I replaced the starter motor, local motor factor had a Lucas recon one delivered for me in less than 24 hours for £70 all in fair play to them I say.

I refitted it and then came and got James so he could start it for me, it did start without too much trouble but the engine wont rev, it spits and backfires out of the carb. We think its blocked, it runs fine on its idling jet but as soon as you rev it then the problems start. I found the carte gris today and had a look at it and was surprised to find that this 4's a 1984 not a 1979 car, (not that it makes much difference).

Anyone got a clue on engine numbers please?

Mines 120002269

We did a compression test (well on three plugs so far as one plug is a piggy to get too), Renaults infamous designers decided to put the alternator bracket in the way of the plug access. We have 100 110 and 97 Psi so far.

Next task will be to strip the carburettor and put clean fuel in and a new inline fuel filter.

 

[pepper]

Here's my little four still sat on the trailer at my workshop.

 

[pepper]

WANTED a spare wheel please, the one wheel has no hub cap thread in the centre and it'll do for a spare but I need a replacement for when we get it on the road.

The first picture below is of the type I need and the other is the type thats on the back at the moment. If anyones got a correct wheel going spare send me a pm

Thank you

 

[pepper]

Yeah Haaaa, she runs properly!!!!!

Stripped the carb out and re started her and she was still lumpy and wouldn't rev so it was the points to check next. They were totally closed up, one quick tweak with an allen key and away she went smooth as silk!

I can now get her off the trailer at last!

 

[malcolm]

Brilliant. What's she like underneath? Much welding to do?

She's a funny old girl - I've not come across one in that spec before. GTL colour bumpers and grille are odd - I thought the French TLs always had chrome bumpers and black grilles, and I've only seen those wheels on Spanish built cars up until now.

I might have a full set of crazy Spanish wheels but I'm not keen on splitting them as 3 odd wheels wouldn't be much use to me either. The one without the hubcap nut is the spare (I've got one of those too). Might be able to get them to Oxford without too much difficulty.

 

[pepper]

There's no welding to be done, its sweet underneath just looks dreadfully tatty

I actually travel over to Bedford and Milton Keynes a lot for my work, (its great being a service engineer!)

Although I may be able to get a couple from a chap in Ammanford who says he has two, just got to work out the logistics with my friend whose on his honeymoon at the moment!

 

[pepper]

Oh and I'd sussed out that the spare would not have a hub cap nut. This was a car built to a very tight price.

 

[pepper]

Ahh yes, I've been looking at the front end, its had a replacement Right hand wing and Bonnet, I wonder whether they changed the bumpers at the same time too?

either way it looks different with its Spanish wheels and GTL bumpers.

I've just worked out that I have a lovely set of Conti Eco contacts on Judiths Twingo (which I'll pinch when she isn't looking). They are 145 70 R13's so will suit it well I reckon.

Bonus for her is I have a set of Alloys waiting to fit it!

 

[pepper]

Here's a picture of my four bullying my friends early Morris Minor Series 2.

Just cos she had to be pressure washed this morning she thinks she can then go round bullying someone!

If she's not careful Minnie Minor will set her big brother, my Morris Oxford onto her!

 

[malcolm]

What's the plan for the old eyeless girl? I noticed you'd bought some wings, but is that a later on job rather than a now job?

145/70 will be similar in gearing to 135/80. I think the standard tyres are 135/85 ish so you might be slightly more revvy. Close enough though especially if they are going spare.

 

[pepper]

The rear wings need replacing mainly due to severe denting, ones been panel beaten back into shape by someone with no grace at all! Apart from the rear wings I already have a replacement door which came with the car so its mainly going through all the brakes and giving it a good service then I'm thinking of just respraying it in the standard blue but perhaps with a couple of stripes in a Renault sportish kind of way.

I was worried about breaking the seals on the rear wings but on pressure washing it today my worries were unfounded, as the pressure washer water ran straight out of 90% of the joint!

She's going to eventually be used in France to replace the Volvo 480ES coupe which I have sat in my barn, (anyone want a 480ES on French plates with new controle technique?) Trouble is the nearest volvo dealer is over 100 miles away from us and they aren't known as the most reliable things electronically, so replacing the Volvo with a simple Renault 4 that any garage can look after is sensible to me.

Here's my Morris Oxford Horace.

 

[pepper]

Oh and for anyone who wants to change tyres and wants to keep the gearing as approximate as possible here's a good link for anyone who wants to check tyre sizes out.


E Tyres calculator

 

[ian Stanbury]

..Can't think what to say..

..Except when you get BB (Baby Blue) to the Vendee I am going to give you a wild card entry to the 2009 R4 Rally d'Ile du Moulin Bodin..

And look what I saw outside Argos in Stanbury or do I mean Banbury High Street on Friday!!

 

[pepper]

I thought everyone would be impressed by the lovely village, the cars actually parked outside Richard Harris's (RIP) old house.

That does look remarkably like Banbury High St, is it the entrance to Muccy Donalds?:eek:

2009 meeting of Renault 4 à la d'ile du moulin boudin sounds wonderful!

Funnily enough this wonderful evening we are drinking a glass or two of the local Rose!

 

[ian Stanbury]

Macarthur Park?

Spring was never waiting for us, girl, It ran one step ahead
As we followed in the dance, Between the parted pages and were pressed
In love's hot, fevered iron, Like a striped pair of pants

MacArthur Park is melting in the dark, All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain, I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it, And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!

I recall the yellow cotton dress, Foaming like a wave
On the ground around your knees, The birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing checkers by the trees.

MacArthur Park is melting in the dark, All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain, I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it, And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!

There will be another song for me, For I will sing it
There will be another dream for me' Someone will bring it
I will drink the wine while it is warm' And never let you catch me looking at the sun. And after all the loves of my life, After all the loves of my life
You'll still be the one

I will take my life into my hands and I will use it, I will win the worship in their eyes and I will lose it
I will have the things that I desire, And my passion flow like rivers through the sky
And after all the loves of my life, After all the loves of my life
I'll be thinking of you' And wondering why

MacArthur Park is melting in the dark' All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain' I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it' And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!
Oh, no
No, no
Oh no!!

 

[pepper]

AARRgh blue hand disease is it dangerous?

 

[pepper]

Can you tell the difference? The left hand side polished up really well, I was bored this afternoon as it decided to rain when I was supposed to be spraying my car trailer. I found a bottle of Farecla and decided to play on the Renault instead.