Evening Car Maintenance Course - London

[cushti]

Evening DIY Car Maintenance Course at City of Westminster based at their site at Paddington in London. Every Monday for 9 weeks, 18:30 to 20:30 - £90 all in.

I'm putting this on the site as the problem is I have a desk job in London & I know nothing about mechanics (I can just manage changing a wheel & replace bulbs e.t.c.). The motivation is there to want to build the cobra, the garage is there, I'm reading many a book on camber, offset, alignment e.t.c. until I'm blue in the face but without the practical hands-on approach I'll never really understand it. I can't afford to chuck money at it if something goes wrong so this will give me the confidence to go ahead.

I've signed up for this course but it will not start until 12 people have signed up - 10 have so far so I thought I'd plug it so it will start soon! I'm not a rep for the University & I've never even been there but I've been told it's a good course & it's mainly hands-on (there's 1 guy doing the training & 1 assistant between 12 of us. There's 3 or more cars to work on in their workshop & you can even take you're own car in as well to use all their equipment!).

If you're just like me & want to learn how to replace/repair brakes/shafts, change the oil/sparks plugs e.t.c then stop dreaming & call them on 0207 723 8826.

[Miket]

Cushti

£90 all in plus from next week £5 every time you want to enter the City of London.

I don't envy you living in London.

Why has'nt somebody done away with Red Ken ??????????????????? {-}

[westborne]

I am talking to Red Ken later this week - shall I give him your personal regards?

When is the Haynes trip?
Is it 5th/6th April.?
just I have been invited away and I am holding off coss i am looking forward to the sparkford !

See you soon

[Miket]

Morning Chris

Yes and give him a kick in the bo**ocks from me.

Haynes trip is on Sunday 6 April.


&V :7 ~~ *#

[Neil O]

yeh!! one from me too, Chris. The lefty stunted git!!
Neil.
ps got a snake hiding in my garage, wanna look?

[Miket]

Neil

Not long now, don't polish all the paint off.

Got a digital camera? how about a picture on the site.

[osgood]

Contrary Mary

Cushti, not wishing to dampen your ego I have been at Yeading Lane Hayes Middx today with a colleague on SVA a retest. Whilst discusing various point with the inspector re SVA; he said the worst case he had ever been involved in was a young guy who had taken a simular course in London to yourself & pasaed may I add! Whilst on his holiday break he decided to build a seven type kit.

When the vehicle was presented it had no brake flexi pips, just bungey tubing straight to the caliper!! He was obviously turned away. On his return some hours latter (which was well suspect) it was discoversd he had cut the bunggey tubing by around 12" and replaced it with petrol pipe with jubilee clips at either end; we all fell about the floor laughing although not a joke!!

The morel to this storey is: All that glitters mey not be gold!! However I wish you the best of luck; building your own Cobra kit you will need it chap!! Eric,

[cushti]

I know I'll never be an engineer or mechanic as this takes many years of hard full-time graft, but this story does sound like a basket case & a combination of:

a) he just wanted to get it on the road as quick & cheap as possible - (answer: he should have bought one - at least to rolling chassis stage)

b) rubbish build manual, not enough research on his part or manufacturer's advice (if he asked for it that is, which he obviously didn't)

I hope this guy above is still in one piece though!

On my build I'll probably source most parts new from the manufacturer & anything else I'll buy them reconditioned such as from Kit-Fit.
Coupled with Haynes manuals, the manufacturer's build manuals (already have Pilgrim's) & sound advice from the ridiculous questions I'll probably have to post you guys in a few months time then I should be ok.
Anyway, back to the garage with one of Mr Vizard's books to try & work out what on earth that dried up cracking pipe does on my Chevy engine in the old Rangey & how to replace it. Hope it's not the fuel pipe - I'm sure I put that fag out properly........

[osgood]

Contrary Mary

Cushti I was no way doubting your abilities or pew pewing the course sounds great mate, and I am sure you will do well.

I think the point I was trying to make re building any kit, is that these courses arn't a quick fix for kit car building perfection with no grief. As a retired Motor engineer with all the necassary tickets & a life time of experience job wise of all aspects in the motor trade; I found it was a bl##dy nightmare building mine 3 1/2 years of hell; mind you it was a Viper!! The Sumo goes together quite well I understand.

Maybe take the course & purchase a kit 65% finished may save you time, money, and severe migraine attacks best of luck Eric.