Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: TheBoy on 13 March 2009, 12:13:16
-
Now for a bit of nostalgia on one of OOF's (in)famous projects...
Would you believe it, its been virtually 2yrs since Project TB2, now affectionately called Project Tractor, was acquired :o
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1175205713/0
As many long standing OOF regulars know, its been a bit of a journey, full of highs and lows. Well, a lot of lows - I'm no mechanic by any stretch of the imagination (I push pens and press buttons all day at work), and I did find this a real struggle. Regulars will know I have a real love/hate relationship with this car.
My lasting memory of Project TB2 is, strangely, not the car, but the people who helped. In no particular order, but Omegatoy, Marks DTM Calib, LFF64, Kevin Wood, Sassanach, Bo Bo, Tunnie, Jay W, JamesV6CDX, and Auto Addict.
Bought in March, with a serious overheating issue that took ages to pinpoint. Spent most of April and May 07 changing out all parts of the cooling system as it was overheating. Radiator, water pump, thermostat, coolant bottles and caps etc all replaced.
Then I buggered the first gearbox (ar25) mid May 2007:
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1179344678/0
and that wasn't fixed until late June.
However, in the time it was off the road, what I didn't know is we cured the overheating issue. But the overpressurising of the cooling system continued, which got us suspicious of the head/HG.
Buggered the replacement gearbox up in early July 2007 ::)
AR35 gearbox fitted early Aug 2007, though when we stripped down the failed AR25, Sassanach and I couldn't see any fault with it :-/. I must say, changing gearboxes when you have access to a ramp is much, much easier - I don't think I go to Sassanach's place until 4ish on a Sunday afternoon, as gone by 8pm, and in that time we stripped the old AR25 to look for fault, and fitted a AR35 to car :o
So, by this time (mid Aug 2007), a decision was made to swap the engine with a (supposedly) known good one, rather than take the head off (really didn't fancy that!). So the stripdown starts...
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1186863576/12#12
So, with the help of many, in the pouring rain, we swapped the engine on one cold, wet, windy August day. Didn't quite finish on the day, but refitted all the ancilleries by the following weekend, ready to fire her up. Only it wouldn't start >:(. After messing with the pump timing, we got it running, and it was perfect on its test run. No overheating, no overpressurising. Was I a happy boy. Until I went to start it the next day. That engine never managed to get the car off the driveway again >:(
So LFF64 and I put the old engine back in - at least that went ;)
Then in early October 2007, Omegatoy, Jay W and I changed the heads over between the 2 engines, which finally cured the engine issues - the overheating had been cured in the summer, and the head change had cured the overheating.
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1191955645/0
So, 6 months, and a lot of hard work, blood and sweat, another tractor had been saved from the scrapyard.
It was bought cheap as a virtually non-running project, in order to do up and sell on. However, the amount spent on it made that less feasible, so I decided to keep it and use it for a while. And here we are 18months on, and I'm still using it as my day to day car :y
The last 18months have seen very few issues with the car - though I did have to tow it home after ripping the quickdrain sump plug off (they hang low) at 80mph. That happened about 4m from here, well over a year ago, and there is still a bloody great oil slick in the layby where I pulled it up ::)
It has regular rear tyre changes - Avons were the worse, only 4k ::), but tyres aren't really a 'cost' to me, as they are a service item. Really since October 2007, its had nothing spent on it except normal service costs.
If I knew in March 2007 what I know now, would I have bought it? Possibly not, or would have bought to break it. But then, I have a soft spot for it, and it has served me very well, so possibly I would have done the same. Its not as economical as I would like, but seems to be on a par with all the other 2.5TD autos. I reckon on a decent run at sensible speeds, it would return good mpg - its the shitty commute it does every day that kills the mpg I reckon. And the ragging it gets.
The car is always for sale, though I don't actively push it. To be honest, I would be sorry to see it go - we've been through a lot together, and it has served me really well for the last 18 months.
But I don't need 3 cars and 1 motorbike when there is only 2 of us (and she normally gets a lift as well!), thus anyone offering the right amount for either of the Omegas will end up with a car that has served me well. And that would leave space on the drive for another project :-X
-
Crikey :o Was it really August when we swapped the engines? Felt more like February.
Kevin
-
Crikey :o Was it really August when we swapped the engines? Felt more like February.
Kevin
It was really cold and wet. Poor Tunnie and LFF64 had to lie in puddles for hours on end ;D
-
I remember it well, when we collected it and changed the water pump on my drive thinking that was going to cure the problems ;D
-
It's a bit of an Epic story!!! Well done to all involved!
So what / when is project TB3 going to be? ::)
-
It's a bit of an Epic story!!! Well done to all involved!
So what / when is project TB3 going to be? ::)
I was waiting for the missing final paragraph to be edited onto his post.
You know.. The one about the box of matches and the can of petrol. ;)
Kevin
-
I should add as a warning for Tractor owners who think they know better, the root cause of its issue appeared to be poor oil servicing, that restricted oil flow (and oil is used in the cooling process), causing the engine to overheat and damage the head.
So, 2 warnings to all tractor owners:
- Stick to the 4.5k MAX oil change interval (3k better ;))
- Don't allow it to go as high as 100C on the gauge, as that appears to be 110C in reliality, which is what BMW class as the max safe temperature - beyond that, beemers are prone to head cracking
-
It's a bit of an Epic story!!! Well done to all involved!
So what / when is project TB3 going to be? ::)
I was waiting for the missing final paragraph to be edited onto his post.
You know.. The one about the box of matches and the can of petrol. ;)
Kevin
I've come close a few times....
....the thing has only survived because when I dig my heels in, I become a stubborn bugger ;)
-
Crikey :o Was it really August when we swapped the engines? Felt more like February.
Kevin
It was really cold and wet. Poor Tunnie and LFF64 had to lie in puddles for hours on end ;D
I can't believe it was that long ago :o I think I've lost a year somewhere!
-
I think all those events give you serious experience on diesels.. :y
-
great fun albeit a few slip ups on the way, but the biggest complaint in all the saga was me utilizing/modifying his electric door opener as a special tool to release the timing tensioner!!!! you shold have heard him moan and curse about it!!!! ;D
mrs TB makes great bacon sarnies tho!! :y
-
great fun albeit a few slip ups on the way, but the biggest complaint in all the saga was me utilizing/modifying his electric door opener as a special tool to release the timing tensioner!!!! you shold have heard him moan and curse about it!!!! ;D
mrs TB makes great bacon sarnies tho!! :y
TheBoy: "Shortarse, GC is on his way over"
Mrs TB: "Does that mean I need to go to shops for bacon and buns"
TheBoy: "Is the Pope Catholic, and put the kettle on before you go, it'll be boiled when you get back"
Mrs TB (a few minutes later as I'm coming back to being concious): "Did that hurt......
-
great fun albeit a few slip ups on the way, but the biggest complaint in all the saga was me utilizing/modifying his electric door opener as a special tool to release the timing tensioner!!!! you shold have heard him moan and curse about it!!!! ;D
mrs TB makes great bacon sarnies tho!! :y
Actually, that reminds me, I still need to hammerite that 'tool', you rather hooligan ;D
-
great fun albeit a few slip ups on the way, but the biggest complaint in all the saga was me utilizing/modifying his electric door opener as a special tool to release the timing tensioner!!!! you shold have heard him moan and curse about it!!!! ;D
mrs TB makes great bacon sarnies tho!! :y
Actually, that reminds me, I still need to hammerite that 'tool', you rather hooligan ;D
see what i mean guys????? ;D ;D ;D ::)
-
great fun albeit a few slip ups on the way, but the biggest complaint in all the saga was me utilizing/modifying his electric door opener as a special tool to release the timing tensioner!!!! you shold have heard him moan and curse about it!!!! ;D
mrs TB makes great bacon sarnies tho!! :y
Actually, that reminds me, I still need to hammerite that 'tool', you rather hooligan ;D
see what i mean guys????? ;D ;D ;D ::)
And you bust 2 of my injector sockets, you're just a vandal!
;D
-
i be tempted by the MV6..... if you left all the toys in ::)
-
great fun albeit a few slip ups on the way, but the biggest complaint in all the saga was me utilizing/modifying his electric door opener as a special tool to release the timing tensioner!!!! you shold have heard him moan and curse about it!!!! ;D
mrs TB makes great bacon sarnies tho!! :y
Actually, that reminds me, I still need to hammerite that 'tool', you rather hooligan ;D
see what i mean guys????? ;D ;D ;D ::)
And you bust 2 of my injector sockets, you're just a vandal!
;D
please insert the words VERY CHEAP SHODDY between my and injector in the above statement :y
-
I can shout out loud & proud (yes i know i need no encouragement) & say i've driven the tractor, not very far but i've driven it none the less!!! ;D
-
great fun albeit a few slip ups on the way, but the biggest complaint in all the saga was me utilizing/modifying his electric door opener as a special tool to release the timing tensioner!!!! you shold have heard him moan and curse about it!!!! ;D
mrs TB makes great bacon sarnies tho!! :y
Actually, that reminds me, I still need to hammerite that 'tool', you rather hooligan ;D
see what i mean guys????? ;D ;D ;D ::)
And you bust 2 of my injector sockets, you're just a vandal!
;D
please insert the words VERY CHEAP SHODDY between my and injector in the above statement :y
After you vandalled those 2, got some better quality ones now ;D
-
i'd be biting your hand off if you tractor was an estate.
really tempted by it now but swmbo insists the next one i have must be an estate
-
i'd be biting your hand off if you tractor was an estate.
really tempted by it now but swmbo insists the next one i have must be an estate
If you need the estate space, a tractor saloon with the factory Bose shelf isn't ever going to be ideal - that bose shelf really does take an awful lot of room in the boot, although it doesn't look like it does.
-
I got the Koso's to wash it a bit, pictures
http://theboy.omegaowners.com/oofpics/project_tb2/mar09
Car is off to Mrs TheBoy's brother for a few days, as his gay Audi is busted. Again. Good job somebody in the family has 'spare' cars.
Apologies, I know a couple of peeps were intrested in having a look at it this week :'(
-
Is The NCDC Included?
-
Is The NCDC Included?
Depends on the price ;)
-
I got the Koso's to wash it a bit, pictures
http://theboy.omegaowners.com/oofpics/project_tb2/mar09
Car is off to Mrs TheBoy's brother for a few days, as his gay Audi is busted. Again. Good job somebody in the family has 'spare' cars.
Apologies, I know a couple of peeps were intrested in having a look at it this week :'(
No free gift this time? ;D ;D
-
Question is, if Project TB2 finds a new home what will project TB3 be?
-
I can honestly say in the 2 years I have know this car thats the first time i have seen it clean!!!!
its also one of the few occasions i havent been looking at it with the bonnet up!!! ;D
-
I can honestly say in the 2 years I have know this car thats the first time i have seen it clean!!!!
its also one of the few occasions i havent been looking at it with the bonnet up!!! ;D
I've worked it out! It must be you who gets it dirty ;D
It doesn't get washed often (its a workhorse for me), normally every 3 months or so.
-
It certanly scrubs up well...... So come on then, whats the next project to be? :)
-
A Caravan? did I really say that :-X
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
How you gonna plough the 40 acre field now?? ;)
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
So why sell it?
And what will the red spaceship project be?
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
come on then do tell????? :y
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
come on then do tell????? :y
nothing to tell - Mrs TB's brother is borrowing this week as his Audi is, well, gay.
I Toyed with keeping it, but I'd have to stick a pudding stirrer in it, and that is too big a project for me.
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
come on then do tell????? :y
nothing to tell - Mrs TB's brother is borrowing this week as his Audi is, well, gay.
I Toyed with keeping it, but I'd have to stick a pudding stirrer in it, and that is too big a project for me.
So he has upgraded then to a decent car (I dislike Audis) but why does it need a pudding stirrer?
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
come on then do tell????? :y
nothing to tell - Mrs TB's brother is borrowing this week as his Audi is, well, gay.
I Toyed with keeping it, but I'd have to stick a pudding stirrer in it, and that is too big a project for me.
lol with your experience of swapping autobox reckon you could have it out in 45mins, ten more to remove drive plate, 30 secs to fit spigot bush, 15 mins to bolt flywheel on ,20 more to bolt clutch on 55 mins to refit a proper gearbox, 20 more to fit the longer front section of propshaft, then an hour and a half to swap the pedals and then plumb the hydraulics in say another 30 mins,
hmm weekend job with the amount of teabreaks and bacon sarnie stops you like ;D and then more enjoyment and economy!!
so all in all if you can arrange the parts from someone breaking a td it would make a great project for the next oof meet??
hows that??? :y
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
come on then do tell????? :y
nothing to tell - Mrs TB's brother is borrowing this week as his Audi is, well, gay.
I Toyed with keeping it, but I'd have to stick a pudding stirrer in it, and that is too big a project for me.
So he has upgraded then to a decent car (I dislike Audis) but why does it need a pudding stirrer?
Tractors need to be manuals!!
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
come on then do tell????? :y
nothing to tell - Mrs TB's brother is borrowing this week as his Audi is, well, gay.
I Toyed with keeping it, but I'd have to stick a pudding stirrer in it, and that is too big a project for me.
lol with your experience of swapping autobox reckon you could have it out in 45mins, ten more to remove drive plate, 30 secs to fit spigot bush, 15 mins to bolt flywheel on ,20 more to bolt clutch on 55 mins to refit a proper gearbox, 20 more to fit the longer front section of propshaft, then an hour and a half to swap the pedals and then plumb the hydraulics in say another 30 mins,
hmm weekend job with the amount of teabreaks and bacon sarnie stops you like ;D and then more enjoyment and economy!!
so all in all if you can arrange the parts from someone breaking a td it would make a great project for the next oof meet??
hows that??? :y
The thought had crossed my mind several times...
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
come on then do tell????? :y
nothing to tell - Mrs TB's brother is borrowing this week as his Audi is, well, gay.
I Toyed with keeping it, but I'd have to stick a pudding stirrer in it, and that is too big a project for me.
So he has upgraded then to a decent car (I dislike Audis) but why does it need a pudding stirrer?
When the back isn't following the back, it helps to have the extra control...
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
come on then do tell????? :y
nothing to tell - Mrs TB's brother is borrowing this week as his Audi is, well, gay.
I Toyed with keeping it, but I'd have to stick a pudding stirrer in it, and that is too big a project for me.
So he has upgraded then to a decent car (I dislike Audis) but why does it need a pudding stirrer?
When the back isn't following the back, it helps to have the extra control...
Downside is I've yet to drive an Omega with a decent manual box - Vauxhall do use some bloody awful boxes, and Omega lives up to expectation...
-
Sat here now tractorless, its a kinda strange feeling watching someone drive off in it.
I guess next time someone drives off in it, then I'll never see it again :'(
come on then do tell????? :y
nothing to tell - Mrs TB's brother is borrowing this week as his Audi is, well, gay.
I Toyed with keeping it, but I'd have to stick a pudding stirrer in it, and that is too big a project for me.
So he has upgraded then to a decent car (I dislike Audis) but why does it need a pudding stirrer?
When the back isn't following the back, it helps to have the extra control...
Downside is I've yet to drive an Omega with a decent manual box - Vauxhall do use some bloody awful boxes, and Omega lives up to expectation...
well my box is very smooth and is just slightly sticky when cold but on the whole very very good!!! come on stick up a post and start arranging the parts!! you know it makes sense!! :y