Re: Bren's Sunflower 172
Well, the sunflower is currently residing in the West of Ireland whilst I write this from my office in Manchester. Had a 'slight' problem whilst on holiday.
Firstry, I went over to see family and attend my cousin's 21st birthday (I was born over there, and we gew up together). The few days the car was driving it was unbelievably fun. The roads in the west are pretty much made for the 172... just perhaps not a lowered one (for the record I had wound the front up quite a bit, so it wasn't as low as it appears in other pics - although still low)
On the N59 between Newport and Westport there is a small hump/back bridge in the middle of a long straight. On Sunday night I was heading into Westport at roughly 11pm (keep in mind how dark it is in the countryside) and although driving rather 'quick' I wasn't hooning it, so I'm not claiming I am blameless. I hit the crest which sent the car pretty airborne, causing it to bottom out quite heavily when it landed. At first I thought I had either a rear puncture or a rear bearing had collapsed as the rear end was all over the place. The oil light came on and I quickly turned the engine off and rolled to the side of the road. Looked underneath to find oil dripping hevily, and oil all over the rear of the car (the oil must have been all over the rear wheels causing the rear end to lose grip).
Recovered the car to my aunties and my cousin and I went about investigating the damage, we found that the entire back of the sump/oil pan had sheared off after a pretty hevy impact. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the pickup (although the pics don't show much). I decided after much headscratching that the best thing to do is get hold of a sump and send it over, and have my cousin kindly fit it for me.
After a latnight phonecall to f0xy he told me that where the oil pump and pickup meet, it is common for there to be damage after an impact. So I'll be sending over a spare pump and pickup just in case. I'll then catch a flight and bring the car home.
HOWEVER.... I had a great holiday, and I'm not as annoyed as I thought I'd be. I was massively impressed with the car, as were my cousin and his friends (who much prefer Jap/German cars). After taking them out for a ride, and giving my cousin's Celica GT-Four a run for it's money on the straights and twisties they are now converted.
The damage: Sorry for crap quality