Katiegan's Garage | Winter Plans

  • Thread starter Thread starter Katiegan
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So today the sun decided to show it's face, which meant a day of pampering Bruiser! I felt really depressed yesterday for some reason, so what better way to cheer myself up by making the interior look fabulous?

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The droplink on Bruiser has been knocking for a while now so we decided to fix that today. However, upon driving Bruiser into the garage, we noticed something and it wasn't good. He was throwing out blue smoke and a lot of it. We checked the oil and that didn't make anything better. He was completely dry after just 2 weeks from it last being topped up. We've got a journey to Wales next week. :indiff:

We can't get a new engine and we can't get a new car. We're stuck with a smokey Bruiser yet again and my dad is not happy about it. I'm not really sure what to do.
 
My dad is on minimum wage and my mum is paid monthly. My dad would never work more for the car, he works nights and hates it. My mum would though, but my dad wouldn't let her.

Besides, my dad has decided the time has come. In a few months, it'll be time to wave goodbye to everyone's favourite Mondeo and let Bruiser go. He has only ever been in my family and not belonged to anyone else. I feel like I have an old dog that's living in pain and I have to put it down. It's going to be hard because I'm so deeply attached to this car it's untrue. I'm having people offering to pay for a new engine for me already! It's not just me who loves the car... these days I'm never asked how I'm doing, it's always, "How's Bruiser doing?" or "Is Bruiser doing alright?". But... everything must come to an end and I suppose this is Bruiser's.
 
Might be a headgasket....hope you didn't let it overheat or theres no fixing it.


Headgaskets aren't hard to change and that car shouldn't take to long but head gaskets can be a bit pricey. Theres still hope.


Definitely from the sound of it though it's burning oil pretty heavily. Lots of things could be wrong. Sorry to see him go, losing a car you're attached to can be like losing a family member.

It's cool to see people pitching in for a new motor. Hell if I had a few extra bucks I'd toss in for it.
 
I really appreciate that people want to help me pay for a new engine. I'd love to buy a new engine, but the final choice isn't down to me and there's not a lot I can change now. I'll try and suggest looking at a few things on the engine but I doubt my dad cares anymore. He just wants a new car. I remember last year that he made a promise to me he'd keep him, if he got bad he'd just garage him and buy another cheap car to run around in, and then we could restore Bruiser once I got into college so I could have something to learn from. But I suppose he's gone back on that now.
 
Bring it over here.. I can store it..
I'll hot rod it though.. Strong motor, wide wheels, pan scraping, the usual bits.. For some reason I don't think you' mind.. :)
 
I'm sorry to hear that you have to get rid of Bruiser, I'd become attarched to him even from here. Any thoughts on a replacement? I doubt anything else will bond with ou like Bruiser did, but hopefully, you'll find a car that will work and make you happy. I wish you and your family the best of luck :cheers:👍
 
eiriksmil
Bring it over here.. I can store it..
I'll hot rod it though.. Strong motor, wide wheels, pan scraping, the usual bits.. For some reason I don't think you' mind.. :)
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That would be awesome! :lol: Not too low though... the roads are terrible here.

Beeblebrox237
I'm sorry to hear that you have to get rid of Bruiser, I'd become attarched to him even from here. Any thoughts on a replacement? I doubt anything else will bond with ou like Bruiser did, but hopefully, you'll find a car that will work and make you happy. I wish you and your family the best of luck :cheers:👍
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Thanks. I'm amazed at how many people seem to love him as much as I do, and I really appreciate everyone wanting to help. The replacement car will probably be a newer Mondeo, maybe a MK4 Titanium X or a late MK3 ST, or maybe just another normal Mondeo. The new car won't be modified though... my dad isn't interested in that anymore which is a shame. :indiff:

My dad isn't sure if he should sell or get a new engine yet. He says we're getting rid yet he keeps mentioning the fact it might be cheaper to just get a new engine. What do you guys think we should do? Apart from the engine and some rust on the driver's side, there's not a lot wrong with Bruiser. If we can afford a new engine (and we might possibly need a new gearbox too), all we'd have to do then is sort out the 8 year-old exhaust with it's little vibration sound and sort out his paint and body.

To be perfectly honest with you, and I know this will sound extremely sad, but I would do anything for that car, and that includes spending every last penny I have. He just means too much to me for him to just be scrapped because of an engine and then replaced with something that might be even worse. But, as I've said many times before, the final decision isn't down to me. :guilty:
 
Katiegan
Thanks. I'm amazed at how many people seem to love him as much as I do, and I really appreciate everyone wanting to help. The replacement car will probably be a newer Mondeo, maybe a MK4 Titanium X or a late MK3 ST, or maybe just another normal Mondeo. The new car won't be modified though... my dad isn't interested in that anymore which is a shame. :indiff:

My dad isn't sure if he should sell or get a new engine yet. He says we're getting rid yet he keeps mentioning the fact it might be cheaper to just get a new engine. What do you guys think we should do? Apart from the engine and some rust on the driver's side, there's not a lot wrong with Bruiser. If we can afford a new engine (and we might possibly need a new gearbox too), all we'd have to do then is sort out the 8 year-old exhaust with it's little vibration sound and sort out his paint and body.

To be perfectly honest with you, and I know this will sound extremely sad, but I would do anything for that car, and that includes spending every last penny I have. He just means too much to me for him to just be scrapped because of an engine and then replaced with something that might be even worse. But, as I've said many times before, the final decision isn't down to me. :guilty:
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That really is a tough situation, Katie. If the problems only extend to minor rust issues like you said, it'd be more economical to just keep maintaining the older car rather than to take on a car payment. Of course, there's the emotional attachment too, and that's priceless. Hope it all pans out well for you. 👍
 
Katiegan
That would be awesome! :lol: Not too low though... the roads are terrible here.



Thanks. I'm amazed at how many people seem to love him as much as I do, and I really appreciate everyone wanting to help. The replacement car will probably be a newer Mondeo, maybe a MK4 Titanium X or a late MK3 ST, or maybe just another normal Mondeo. The new car won't be modified though... my dad isn't interested in that anymore which is a shame. :indiff:

My dad isn't sure if he should sell or get a new engine yet. He says we're getting rid yet he keeps mentioning the fact it might be cheaper to just get a new engine. What do you guys think we should do? Apart from the engine and some rust on the driver's side, there's not a lot wrong with Bruiser. If we can afford a new engine (and we might possibly need a new gearbox too), all we'd have to do then is sort out the 8 year-old exhaust with it's little vibration sound and sort out his paint and body.

To be perfectly honest with you, and I know this will sound extremely sad, but I would do anything for that car, and that includes spending every last penny I have. He just means too much to me for him to just be scrapped because of an engine and then replaced with something that might be even worse. But, as I've said many times before, the final decision isn't down to me. :guilty:
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I know how it feels to be attached to a vehicle. Honestly I'd just replace the engine. I've been down that road 3 times. If we ever got rid of our truck I'd never look at my dad the same again.
 
I like how your definition of terrible roads are somewhat classified as new in Australia, I too am having the same issue with my car at the moment, almost $4000 AUD of repairs are required to keep it on the road, then another $3000 in body work to tidy it up,
 
This could help, I hope you don't get rid of bruiser, I kind of know how it feels to lose a car you're really attatched to.
I bet a newer Mondeo engine wouldn't be too expensive.
 
I finally have some pictures to show you guys!

Despite Bruiser's problems we drove down to Wales for a long weekend. We'd already booked it before all this so we couldn't really turn back now. Bruiser made it there and back, despite burning all his oil from maximum to minimum - twice. We took him along Great Orme, a toll road used in Wales Rally GB in the WRC calendar, and stopped off at the top for a few photos.

































Oh, and his flexipipe broke while we were down there. Again. For the 125867654th time. So now he sounds like a ricer. Again.
 
Question for you Katiegan have you tried feeding Bruiser synthetic oil? I have a neighbor that bought a Chevy S10 pickup truck several years ago and he said that it helped the burning of oil. I know synthetic oil cost a lot but it could be worth a try, Bruiser might like it.
 
Katiegan
To be perfectly honest with you, and I know this will sound extremely sad, but I would do anything for that car, and that includes spending every last penny I have. He just means too much to me for him to just be scrapped because of an engine and then replaced with something that might be even worse. But, as I've said many times before, the final decision isn't down to me. :guilty:
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And that, everyone, is what car enthusiasm is all about! I say keep the car if you can, there's very little that is more important in car ownership than an emotional bond.
 
opelgt1969
Question for you Katiegan have you tried feeding Bruiser synthetic oil? I have a neighbor that bought a Chevy S10 pickup truck several years ago and he said that it helped the burning of oil. I know synthetic oil cost a lot but it could be worth a try, Bruiser might like it.
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Yes, we changed to fully synthetic a few months ago. It worked at first, but now he's burning it again, and quite quickly. :indiff:

Beeblebrox237
And that, everyone, is what car enthusiasm is all about! I say keep the car if you can, there's very little that is more important in car ownership than an emotional bond.
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Indeed. I'm not sure if my dad can see the sentimental side of it anymore though!
 
Katiegan
Indeed. I'm not sure if my dad can see the sentimental side of it anymore though!
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:( That's too bad. Keep fighting to keep Bruiser, though! If nothing else, remind him that it's probably cheaper to repair an old car than buy a new one.
 
Katiegan
Yes, we changed to fully synthetic a few months ago. It worked at first, but now he's burning it again, and quite quickly. :indiff:
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Back in the 70's I owned a 68 Chevy Nomad wagon 307 which I ran 50W racing motor oil with 2 bottles of motor honey in it. Used it like water I was only 16 so paid someone to overhaul it (needed 10 new lifters, timing chain had lost half of its teeth new rings forget what else it had done). I did trade it back to the guy I bought it from (distant family member) and he gave me back more than I paid for it, That's when I bought my first Camaro 68 it was.
 
He's still smoking, but he's getting by. We fixed his flexipipe last week so he doesn't sound like a VW Beetle anymore. My mum brought home a Lucas Oil flyer that seems to advertise an oil that might stop him smoking. If this 'miracle oil' works, then we keep Bruiser. If it doesn't, then we're back to selling him in the summer. :indiff:
 
I've got some pretty bad news, guys.

My parents set off to go to Sheffield to meet up with an old friend, and less than a mile into their journey, Bruiser makes a clanking sound, smoke pours out the back and oil goes everywhere. They managed to get him home again but he's not doing good at all. We thought at first it was his engine that had blown, but after my dad spoke to the friend in Sheffield on the phone (who's a mechanic), we soon learned it was actually the gearbox that had gone. Still, not an easy fix and I doubt we'll be able to do anything about it. We don't have enough money to get a new car or a new gearbox so we're a bit stuck.

This could be the end of my beloved Bruiser. :indiff:
 

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