Favourite Corner Shops

We all have our favourite corner shops.

• The places where to got your sweets when you are young, 
• The place where you can get a drink when you are 18 or above (or close to that)
• The place where you can pick up something nice for the lady in your life
• The place where you can get something for your Landy

I'm lucky enough to have somewhere in the last category just around the corner (OK a few corners). 

They are now quite used to me going in and asking for something odd and it not being the standard catalogue part. In fact my attempt (successful in the end) to purchase an exhaust is still remembered by the guys who kindly brought a whole selection until we found the one that fitted

Interior Decoration & Less Rock and Roll

It's been quiet on here for a while for 2 reasons

First because it's been the winter and that's not a pleasat time for working on a vehicle

Second because I'm in training for a long distance walking challenge and wallking up mountains with my camera instead as you can read about on the photoblog if you are interested

However spring is coming so it's time to get ready, so this weekend we measured up for curtains and Rhian did a mamoth amount of sewing and we're ready for a nicer place to be in the evening and won't be woken by the sun streaming in so ealry in the morning

One small step towards a happier camping life

Also I popped up to the corner shop (Bearmach) and purchased a new set of heavy duty shock absobers to hopefully reduce some of the wobbles when driving. I'm still taking advice on what springs to order so expect an update on that soon

Today I failed to fit a new exhaust - Twice !

Some time ago I bought a new 300TDi rear section for my 127 (it's the same as the 110) having got it I realised it had 2 hole flanges not 3 hole like the piece it needed to mate to. The system changes part way down - presumably because of an engine swap

So I went to Bearmach and got another, this one. The conversation went something like this

"I need a new rear exhaust section for my Ambulance which is outside" I say pointing at it

"What wheelbase?" says the man behind the counter

"127"

"That's not in our system"

"It will be the same as a 110, there is simply an extra section in the middle"

"OK. What engine?"

"300TDi, but that's not relevant, it was probably a V8 Petrol, but I'm not sure"

"What?" He's starting to think I am a wind up merchant

"It's not original, and the system changes part way down from a 2 hole flange to a three hole flange"

"So What do you want?"

"You to bring a selection out so I can go underneath and see what fits"

"Are you serious" He's starting to be P**d off

"Yes!"

So one of the team went and found some, and I went underneath and held it in place and it looked OK

However when I got to change it today, even though the pipe is the same, has the flared end section it is not flared out enough to go over the centre section joint.

I've still got them both and I'm thinking that I'll need to cut the end off both, transfer the 3 hole flange to the other with the bigger flare and get someone to weld it back on for me. It would be OK if I could weld - I can't find evening classes in Cardiff to learn.

Or it's buy a third and hope I've got it right that time

Sigh !