Piddling Pete

After much discussion on names Millie was settled upon as a name for My Windy Limo as previously discussed.  I was, however, soon corrected by her indoors as to the appropriate spelling. IT'S 'MILLIE WITH A 'Y' ! Fair enough. Correction noted. Anyway, back to Milly herself. She is proving to be quite a handful, if you pardon the expression. Just when we think she will perform, she coughs a bit and stops. She's a tease that Milly!
So, there we were again in the dark and the rain. Spanky was under Milly playing with her belts and bits and having the occasional moan, but in a nice way and seemed to be quite happy. Steve could not get any new glo plugs that matched the originals so he decided to put the old ones back in for now. All  the belts and pulleys were timed up again and we were ready for another attempt at making her go. She coughed into life much to my delight again. I thought she sounded OK for an old gal but the guys did not say anything! Then Steve said 'I can see flames around the glo plugs!' Now I don't know much about engines but this did not sound quite right. On closer inspection I could see smoke but no flames and I know the old saying! So, out came the plugs and one of them had a hairline crack. Not good I thought. Spanky said it would be no problem and he would get it sorted at work the next day. I love these guys! When there is a problem it's not a problem. I'm starting to think they like it when she doesn't start 'cos then they can find a solution. It's almost as if they have nothing better to do than lie on the ground, in the dark, in the rain, playing with our Milly! And that's what they like!
The next couple of days I spent lining Kath and Bill's garage walls so that we could use the garage to work on Milly over the coming months. I also noticed some watery yellow stains on the wheels and on the ground around Milly when I discovered that Piddling Pete had be using her as a toilet! Lovely. I was quite glad when Pete went under Milly and came out with a black streak of oil down the middle of his back. That'll teach him. Nah! He's a West Highland Terrier with the madness gene! And Spanky had been lying down in it as well!
A few nights later Steve and Bill had bought some new timing belt covers and new belts. So under Steve went to belt her up agian. Spanky had come up trumps with new glo plugs and so we were away. Steve gave me the task of putting in the glo plugs. This was more difficult than I first so when Mike came along and took over that job I was quietly relieved. No wonder Steve smiled when he gave me the plugs!
We had to modify the timing covers with a Stanley knife quite a bit, something that the designers at VW did not think of unfortunately. And then we started to put the radiator in for the first time! We were getting close now. We noticed some wires that had been worn away and needed replacing. Along with some other random wires that didn't work. 'There's bound to be teething problems' said Mike gleefully. We decided not to fill her up with water just in case we had to take the radiator out again. We fired her up and after a couple of goes she ran! And then she stopped. Shen started and ran again! And then she stopped again. What now Milly! Give us a break! She ran fine when the throttle pedal was pressed but she would not idle. Apparently the timing was slightly out again! Bugger!  'Does that mean we have to take all that lot out again - radiator, timing belt covers, belts, bolts, wires and just about everything else we've done in the last few weeks' I blurted!
Steve and Mike said they would sort it all out next week while I was away in Italy. I made it very clear that they MUST text me when she's going. So, there I was, up a mountain with 10 kids when I felt a vibrating in my pocket. I couldn't resist a 'peak' and much to my kids amazement I yelped at the top of my voice. Milly was running and I'd missed her rebirth.
When I got back to blighty Steve had already put on knew number plates and rebuilt the front end, started to fit a CD player and taken her round the block for a spin. He had to adjust some water pipes, the throttle cable was broken and the battery was buggered. Apart from that all was going well!
On Monday, in the daylight for a change, Lucy, Kath and me gave Milliy some TLC. Lucy and Kath gave her a wash. They scrubbed the bumpers, door handles and bodywork. The dashboard and interior door panels were given some elbow grease and she began to take on a new aura. The neighbours commented later that she looked as if she had been painted. Praise indeed. I took out her inside bits - an old bodged up sink unit, a bodged up bed, some dodgy wall panels and some very wet insulation. The floor was removed to reveal a considerable amount of builders crap. Final sweep out and she was looking good.
I arranged to meet Steve that night to install the new battery and throttle cable and of course as usual it was dark and wet. Nice to be back! With the new bits on, she started like a dream. I opened a celebratory beer and toasted the guys. Steve decided to take her round the block as he had trade plates. Excited was I as I sat in the passenger seat with a large grin! That night I started looking for insurance quotes.
The next day I confirmed insurance, printed of Milly's new birth certificate and hot footed it down to the post office armed with MOT and DVLA paperwork. Duly taxed and insured I decided to treat Lucy to a trip to the local tip to give her a spin. That's Milly, not Lucy! Needless to say she was thrilled with the location for our first van outing.

First outing for Lucy and Milly

So, we loaded up some rubbish, started Milly and we were off, both grinning like small children. Into first gear and 10 mph, second gear 20 mph, third gear 30 mph. Slightly sluggish we thought but we were in a built up area, so steady as she goes. Filled her up with diesel, all £74 and stared going through the gears again. Into fifth gear now and foot to the floor. Max speed 54 mph! And we had to wait till we nearly got to Newton Abbot to reach that! But at least she was running smooth and straight. Oh, and did I mention, no temperature gauge, no fuel gauge, a noisy power steering pump, window winder knob falling off, a strange sound when turning the wheel and one or two other minor things. What a great day !