Practically Classics Forum

Richard I posted the idea so I wouldn't forget it!
As for getting the old girl running, the plug I need is coming from the
states and will take a couple of weeks as it is coming surface not air.

A point to consider, as the British weather ovr the past few years has
gone to the extreme be it flash floods and blizards, oh and the
ocasional tornado. Something from my cub scout days springs to
mind and rings loud and clear,
"Prepare for the worst and pray it never happens"

And the roads around here do flood, nomatter what the council does!

I suspect a winch would be a bit of a waste on your neon. I have seen winch bumpers torn off land rovers when they are overstressed and they are bolted to the chassis of a large 4x4 designed to take fairly heavy loads rather than mild steel pressed pannels.
I frequently have to deal with deeply flooded roads and i would never dream of taking a low modern car through one. That is what land rovers are for. It is always a giggle watching people drive in to a flooded section and get stuck when their engine dies.
Driving in snow, if you drive apropriately you won't get stuck and winch or no winch your neon won't have enough traction to pull a stuck car out. To run a winch properly the farms Hilux has 2 batteries and a hand throttle so you can get enough amps to run it.

I would save your money for petrol and enjoy your toy before thinking about extras.

Iva is the new version of the SVA the test for home builds and I should think there would be information with that on things like exhaust tailpipes. A winch? really? you need a hell of a sturdy mount for that, plenty of spare battery power or a large alternator (as Terry said.) Don't forget the weight of your car, chances are if you wanted to pull something you may well end up being pulled towards the stuck object. All it would do in reality is lower fuel consumption..
If you really want one buy one for your dads Discovery

Peter-109 wrote:If you really want one buy one for your dads Discovery

Nah not dads disco!!
His disco could be going the distance sooner or later, it already produces
an oil slick to rival BP's gulf of mexico

I'm not fighting anyone or saying that I know what I'm talking about.
So correct me if I am wrong, or if something I have done is wrong!
Here is some points that you may consider

The winch idea was a thought, and the use of something that I already
had sitting around doing nothing.

I have said this a few times, but I will again. The neon was always the one
to pull the disco out of trouble. A frozen drive in mid winter or during a
barmy autumn day, a tow rope to the towbar of the disco and the towing
eye or tow bar of the neon. Dragging the disco off the drive and up to the
main road to be collected by the mechanics to have one thing or another
repaired on it.

As for the use of a winch, I was under the impression that the opposite end
of a winch vehicle would normally be attached to a tree or post, or even a
land anchor. Thats what I did the the couple of times I had to use a winch.

Also from what I remember, or I could be wrong. If a pulley is used,
connecting it to the point either pulling the winch to or on the vehicle you are
dragging out. And the hook/end of cable is back at the winch. This has the
effect of doubling the amount the winch and cable could cope with!

As regards the difference between cars and 4x4's or trucks. The greater the
ground clearance can also mean the further the wheels have to sink into it!
Most cars these days have a flatter floor pan to aid in aerodynamics for fuel
efficiency. So in theory, pulling a car out of mud would be like pulling a clumsy
sledge you would think.
(Thats if the car has a panel over the bottom of the engine bay)

Then there is Christine! The original towbar assembly wasn't fit for purpose, it
only really used 2 bolts on each side into the box section and not through it
making a stronger fitting to the car and spreading the weight more evenly.
The front will be getting a little added to the K frame/subrame, not now but
later down the line.

There will be a bit added to connect the K-frame to the lower radiator mount
which has the front engine mount. There already is a nice big strong rear
engine and transmission mount, which I was thinking of running a bar forward
to the front engine mount for the central bar for a sump guard panel to be
bolted to.

TerryG wrote:I frequently have to deal with deeply flooded roads and i would never dream of
taking a low modern car through one.

I agree with you on this point, and I did raise the old girl a few inches a
while back. But I would always watch others try it first to get an idea of
how deep it was before I even thinking of taking the old girl through it!

TerryG wrote:It is always a giggle watching people drive in to a flooded section and get stuck
when their engine dies.

I totally agree with you on that one but I usually end up throwing them
a line to pull them out!

TerryG wrote:Driving in snow, if you drive appropriately you won't get stuck and winch or no
winch your neon won't have enough traction to pull a stuck car out.

I try to drive according to the road conditions, but there is always some idiot
that doesn't, and either goes into you or ends up blocking the road because of
their driving. As for no traction and pulling the winch vehicle to the vehicle
your trying to pull out! A simple rope from the other end of the winch vehicle
to a tree, gate post, lamp post or other imovable object should solve this.

My honest opinion: If you want a winter car for rescuing people fix the discovery. If you want a "sensible" car for going to the shops (and surprising people off the lights) run the neon.
You have to pick the right tool for the job and a neon will never be a recovery truck.

Using street furnature as an anchor point would be illegal so you can't do that. The reason you see 4x4 owners doing it with trees, posts, etc is it is on private land where they have land owners concent. Plus you would also have to fit a secure anchor point to the front which is rated the same as your rear mount. this will put MUCH more stress on your car than towing alone and i suspect if you tried to pull something out of a ditch you would twist your car or do some major damage to it's structure.

Look after yourself, keep yourself safe. It is nice to think about rescuing other people but if it is something you can't manage with a normal tow rope than your neon is the wrong tool.

If you want to learn to use a winch book yourself on a course to learn to use it properly. Getting it wrong can cause more damage and injury than you would think. If you watch Top Gear think about the middle east special where James May ends up in hospital with concussion after a winch accident. I have seen too many severed fingers and laserations from people who get it wrong.

Point taken terry.

Be careful with the paste on the fuel lines too, my Land Rover refused to continue because someone had used insta gasket on fuel components that then clogged up the filter and carb, you shouldn't need any on there either. Terry your a wealth of information

In order to stop water getting into the boot yesterday I used marine
deck sealant between the reinforcement plates and the boot floor.
And did install the new bolts on the right side.

As for today, I was down at a relatives house, clearing out a cupboard
and fount something that will be useful later on, and benefit both me &
you guys!

I found a camera tripod from the 50's or 60's, and then added part of an
old phone holder for a car, a nut and a couple of washers. Which resulted
in a tripod which will hold my old smart phone, so when I recording video
footage again it will be from a fixed point so you guys don't get sea sick
from the camera movement, and I don't kill myself trying to do the video
and what I am trying to show you!





And as the legs are telescopic, with pins that lock each section into place
when it is extended. Oh and the legs sections are brass not coated to look
like it.



It compacts down to this!



So it will fit in my bag ready for the dyno run at Durham, or at the track.
Time taken to put it together a couple of minutes.

You've gotta love a freebee!