Dave's la(te)st buggy build...

Today's repairs...

I started by ringing my local friendly garage at the end of our road (who fitted the clutch) and ordered a takeaway...

 

"Four litres of oil please barman", decanted from a barrel in the back...
And I had a original oil filter ready...
And I also ordered some snake oil, which was delivered later in this thread

Having collected that I put my scruffs on, and as I was sitting on the bottom step of the stairs, putting my boots on, the guys thought they were going for a walk, tails started wagging, so I couldn't let them down...

 

By the time we got back from our walk, John the garage owner messaged me to say... the snake oil had arrived - high mileage oil additive With the buggy's engine having done 110,000 miles, I thought anything could help! :lol:

I also opted for SAE 10W-40 as it's what John had in stock in one of the barrels, and is apparently a might thicker than the recommended 10W-30 oil...

 

Then the postie arrived with a delivery from BigJimny...

 

A new gearbox ("engine") mount...

 

I traced the high idle to the idle control valve by sticking a latex-gloved finger over the input port, and the Boogie idled properly...

I tried and tried - in vain - to get the valve (solenoid) off the manifold, but time was ticking on...

Look away if you don't like bodges!

 

Are you still there?... A cut up (Dremmel) spray paint can top plugs the input valve for now!!! 

It's better, it will suffice for Sunday!

 

Next the gearbox (engine) mount was swapped out...

 

Then the oil was dropped... very, very thin, almost water like?...

 

The oil filter looked quite new though?...

And then...

 

3 litres of fresh oil went in, then the magic additive, and then another 300ml to make the engine full (3.7L)

Then i ran it on the drive for a bit...

And then, feeling brave, we went for a test drive!...
 

So, I started off on local tarmac, and then got a bit braver...

I then decided to go and retrace my steps and try and finish Shakedown Trip #2

Back to the black square on the maps above then, ad rising up from "Aifft" on the first BOAT -

 

And then rising up -

 

... from the valley floor...

 

Through the gate at the top of the ByWay (BOAT) and then...

 

Up to the parking area at the top where I broke down (coolant pipe rusted through) and called for help from friends at the local recovery service (also at the end of my road!), but this time I'm through the gate and onto the second long BOAT, shown on the map -

 

Which snakes along the edge of the Clwyd Valley...

 

A glorious day to be out in the countryside!

 

And then the photos shown previously fit here in the timeline...

 

Passed the big water tank...

 

And then further along the valley's edge...

 

Posing for some arty shots

 

That's better without the fence in the way!

  

And then getting to the end of the long BOAT... through the last gate

 

Back to the map again, the lane was in the big black rectangle... coming back through Trefnant in the red circle, I'd queued there earlier in the day passing south through it... coming back, all roads were tail-backed due to tree surgeons at work, so I swung round and went cross country winding down all the country lanes in the blue circle to get back home to St. Asaph, avoiding all the tailbacks...

It was then that a wide grin spread across my face! The buggy / The Boogie was behaving well, flying down all the country lanes, around all the corners, pulling in for other motorists, flashing the big light bar set into the bonnet to beckon them on... watching the smiling faces and seeing the waves of other motorists passing the Boogie hiding in the undergrowth so they could pass unscathed...

I think it then dawned on me, that (I hope!) the Boogie was finished, *hopefully) reliable, and ready to rejoin the group for the first post lockdown trip of 2021, this Sunday coming...

Watch this space!

See you Sunday - IISTTMY?

Looking like I’ll defiantly be there! 

Ummm, did you forget to book the weather?

 

I’ll wear my matching leather jacket! :lol:

 

Ahhh...

 

... checking the weather again, who’s idea was it to build a buggy with half-doors?! :lol:

So.......... I ordered some waterproof trousers for delivery this afternoon! :woohoo:

I’ll probably look a bit of a twit, but I’ll be a dry twit!

 

NOT a great day, more details here in my blog -  jimnybuggy.com/2021/05/23/first-trip-with-the-group/

 

But The Boogie has been locked in the garage for being naughty once again -

 

Gathering my thoughts and considering my options...

Funnily enough I’ve been saying to customers and friends in the shop that “nothing can go wrong now, everything’s been replaced bar the engine”… Ate my own words there didn't I?!

Aww man that sucks. Head gasket is not as big a job as it sounds even if you have the garage do it.

Ahhh.. a quick Google -

 

All of the above...

Dave you have too much in it not to fix him up 
If it was me i would consider changing 
Wiring loom ecu ect and fit an M series engine in it

Yes, just had a few Stellas and an hour in the hot-tub... I'll book it in for the head gasket with local friendly garage at the end of my road...

And order a genuine thermostat and an idle control valve to go in at the same time...

And they can fix the power steering too!

It's only money, as you say, I've got so much time and money invested in it already, and surely there's nothing else to go wrong after these?! LOL :lol:

Besides... I've booked for the BigJimny Meet! :woohoo:

Naughty Buggy!

It looked really good scooting along the lanes. The yellow roof bars were handy for spotting where it was in over the hedge. Nothing appeared to challenge it and you even survived without cuts & bruises (though some of the later lanes of the day might have been tricky with no windows)

Bit of a Boogie weapon that thing. I cant wait to see the fancy winch setup in action. The head gasket isnt a big thing, as Lambert says. And as you say... its the only thing to finish ironing out issues. Get the friendly garage to sort out the idle control valve and PS, its a new car then