Lucky or Spoilt?

[vince-uk]

Newbie here from the UK – Love the forum, have joined others in the States also (Welding and Metal Bashing). Get ready for some British humour and spelling.

You guys make me sick with your flash garages and your large tool boxes. Freud would have a field day with you boys. LOL Do you actually do any work with them or do you spend all your time at the tool shop?

Seriously I am green with envy with the prices you guys get quality for over there. For Snap On and Mac tools we pay roughly £1 per $1, considering the exchange rate is about $1.70 at the moment we are getting shafted. Given that our average wage is way lower as well. I’d hate to add up what I have paid to the Snap On man over the years – I could probably afford a garage to keep them all in if I hadn’t bought them – Oh wait I wouldn’t have anything to keep in there. Shed and tools or empty garage???

Anyway here a link to one of the main tool suppliers over here so you can see the prices we have to pay for **** Best not to do mail order with some of this stuff unless you know the manufacturer. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/

I used to visit the States on a regular basis and would always bring a few things back in my luggage, 9/11 (or 11/9 as we like to call it) put paid to that. Also had some stuff shipped over but Her Majesties Customs insist on having their share when it gets her. I did buy a 22 ½ inch Weber one year and get that on the plane – they were about £125 here at the time and got it for $60 (£35) at Home Despot end of season.

Anyway guys, really enjoying the forum – Keep the pics of your kit posting (A few of the wife naked by the side wouldn’t go a miss LOL)

 

[Steve_S]

Hi Vince, welcome to the forum! I was under the impression that the conversion rate was the other way around. It's roughly $1.73 to £1.00. So if I buy something form the UK, I'm paying far more than if you bought it! For that reason, many in the UK are buying classic cars here in the USA and shipping them back home. Even with shipping it's cheaper than buying one locally for them!

And for the record, I work in my garage. I have five classic British cars so there isn't really any choice in the matter, nore is there any hope of keeping oil off the floor!

 

[vince-uk]

Hi Vince, welcome to the forum! I was under the impression that the conversion rate was the other way around. It's roughly $1.73 to £1.00. So if I buy something form the UK, I'm paying far more than if you bought it! For that reason, many in the UK are buying classic cars here in the USA and shipping them back home. Even with shipping it's cheaper than buying one locally for them!

And for the record, I work in my garage. I have five classic British cars so there isn't really any choice in the matter, nore is there any hope of keeping oil off the floor!

Ah yes – Mental note, engage brain and get a full nights sleep before trying to talk about money and exchange rates. Only trouble with sourcing cars in the States you sit on the wrong side of the car to drive – I’m sure there will be a European directive to make us change – Buses and lorries first, if that works the rest will follow.

What I was trying to say (I think, still no not slept) If you guys pay $100 (£58 ish) for a Snap On tool – We would pay £100 ($170 ish) – Generally Snap On just change the currency and don’t bother with all that math (Like I should have). I did my training and apprenticeship many years ago and for a ‘boy’ on less that £15 a week a Snap On tool box at £150 was a dream.

 

[kartracer55]

Hey dont worry about it. I cant afford snap on either... part time jobs dont pay ****! Welcome to the board. You can complain all you want about not being able to get snappy over there, but wed all love to get out hands on some high end European tools. Stahlwille, hezel, beta, Facom (before stanley bought them) its all good stuff. Welcome to the board!


Jim

 

[Steve_S]

I know quite a few people who have converted NA-Spec cars to RHD. Depends on the car how easy it will be and how available the parts are.

I hope they never change the UK and other RHD countries over to LHD. Everyone knows the proper side of the car for a steering wheel is on the right! I live in California, but my daily driver is RHD!

 

[GearHead_1]

Brit's rock! They really crack me up with the Queen's English and all. Bonnet's and Boot's, Catalogues (sp) etc. Keep it coming.

 

[Steve_S]

Yeah, but they build a mean car! Well, at least they used to. You know, back when they built cars.

 

[vince-uk]

Yeah, but they build a mean car! Well, at least they used to. You know, back when they built cars.

Oh that hurts. We still have a few car manufacturers - Morgan (if you ever get chance to look at their 'factory' - There's a step back in time.) TVR, Lotus (OK now owned by Ford I believe) to name but a few (OK I'm stuggling to name more but I'm sure there is).
At least we still have one motorcycle manufacturer in Triumph (OK they had to copy the japanese to make a decent bike, but at least they stop and go around corners - What's the cornering and brakes like on a harley??? lol). John Bloor has done a decent job there - Not bad for a house builder.

I have some 'old' Facom kit and it it good stuff, Beta is in the Snap On price range over here though.

Here's a question for you - Why do us brits drive on the proper side of the road while you guys do it wrong??? I think it dates back to the horse and carriage, but I'm not sure.

 

[Luckydevil]

Here's a question for you - Why do us brits drive on the proper side of the road while you guys do it wrong??? I think it dates back to the horse and carriage, but I'm not sure.

Back in the horse/chariot days most soldiers were right handed and carried their swords in their right hands. So when two fought they both had to be on the left side of their perspective road to be able to attack with their right arm.

In the 1700's American Teamsters used large wagons with no driver's seat and a bunch of horses. They sat on the rear most left horse and stayed on the right side of the road so they could see oncoming traffic. When America achieved independence they wanted to be different from the Brits and so they made the full switch to driving on the right by passing laws in the late 1790's.

 

[stioc]

Hey don't feel too bad because when it comes to cool toys like the Elise, Exige and Honda Atom the sticker prices here are much higher than over on your side - not to mention the better engines you get with most cars there

BTW its great to see a mix of members from the UK, Sweden, Germany etc...

 

[Steve_S]

I certainly didn't mean my comments to be negative. I was sad to see the last of the all-British carmakers go under (Rover MG). It was really the end of an era. Morgan is an amazing company and I still find it incredible that they have endured the years by sticking to their time-honored ways of building cars by hand..... out of wood!!! I would love to visit the factory one day and watch these craftsmen at work.

The last great days of the British auto empire, in my opinion, was in the 60's. Starting in the late 60's when BL was taking over everything, the cars took a hard nose dive in quality, performance and product advancement. Pity really, until then the Brits were making world class automobiles to rival any others.

 

[vince-uk]

I certainly didn't mean my comments to be negative. I was sad to see the last of the all-British carmakers go under (Rover MG).

Don't worry I won't take offence.
I totally agree – I think we are quite an arrogant nation and believed we could do no wrong – We lacked innovation. Our idea of a new model motorcycle was to put any old engine in a featherbed frame, use a tank from one model and mudguards from another – Nothing new – Just a Bitsa. I guess we did the same in the car industry to a certain degree – BL had 2 basic engines that they used for years the ‘A’ series (up to 1300cc which they ‘were’ still using) and the ‘B’ Series (1800cc) .
It is a shame about MG/Rover because I think they had started to do things right. I’m sure someone will buy the MG name and start up again.
We can’t even say that we have Land Rover and Jaguar any more. Now there’s 2 manufacturers doing things at the opposite end of the scale. Land Rover aiming upmarket (after all, it was a farm vehicle) and Jaguar making cheaper family saloons.
Anyway I’ve rambled on enough – I’m a bit miffed that no one bit on the Harley comments – Must be true, they don’t sop or go around corners LOL.

Oh yeah by the way – I drive and ride Japanese.

 

[Steve_S]

A correction: A series engines went to 1622cc by 1962. In 1963 the 1800 B series was introduced.

But you're right about sharing parts. The same rear axle could be found in 15 different models from many different makes. Same for lots of other parts!

 

[Brian]

OK here goes on the Harley comment.

My good man you clearly know NOTHING about Harley's. They aren't designed to stop or turn. They are designed to damage your hearing, blind you with chrome, sooth a midlife crisis, and empty your bank account.
Some people think they are outdated technologically. WRONG!!! they are so advanced you never have to change the oil. It leaks out so fast you just keep adding.

How's that?

 

[428]

Although I love Harley's I have to agree with your assesment.

Harley Davidsons don't leak oil, they just mark their spot. Kinda like British Leyland engines.

 

[vince-uk]

Steve – I would love to bow to your superior knowledge on the ‘A’ series, but I won’t lol.
I would love to be proved wrong but I have no knowledge of the ‘A’ series ever going out as far as 1622cc in standard form – Mind you I am a blinkered, boring old fart (I won’t start quoting cylinder head casting numbers) and I have lost a LOT of brain cells in recent years – See link for ‘A’ series specs (Quite a good site for general info as well)
http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?engineaseriesf.htm

 

[sboxs]

Great a few more guys who wish they could own a Harley Like the saying goes " If you don't own one you don't understand
01 purple Fatboy 103 S/E engine tons of chrome loud pipes and a Little Devil on the back

 

[RonBou]

I do understand. That's why I own 4 Jap bikes... Sayanora dude!

 

[mikeyr]

This is garage talk, not talk about Hardley's oh wait, that is where a Hardley spends its life and uh, no I don't want one, I have too much work keeping my 1934 and 1953 Singer's going (British car talk to keep on subject) to be able to get another motorcycle.

 

[logical]

True, they do not stop and turn like certain other bikes, but anyone who thinks they are still the vibrating, oil leaking machines they were 25 years ago obviously hasn't kept up to date. Harley's are what they are...they are cruisers, and say what you will but you have to admit they have a certain thing about them you can't get from anyone else. I like sprt bikes and classic Brit bikes as much as the next guy but the one below is the one I ride more than any other.

This is my 6th bike and second Harley. Tell me this isn't a handsome motorcycle.

 

[vince-uk]

ha ha ha - This is more like it.
I have no prejudice again any sort of ‘biker’ – You can ride a scooter, moped, cruiser sportbike – Whatever you’re still a biker in my eyes – But I just don’t get the whole Harley lifestyle thing. I went to a world HOG rally when they had it 30 miles or so up the road at Cheltenham racecourse about 10 years back. Some lovely bikes and nice people (Willy G was there also). But they were like clones – It was like all the bikes were the same but different (if that makes sense), but nothing radical.

I have tried hard to like Harleys – I was tempted by a Buell a few years back until I sat on one (6’3” isn’t a good size for a Buell) – The phrase ‘Tom *** on a pump handle’ comes to mind.
Maybe you guys can convince me different, but I’ll stick to my 1200 Bandit for now.

 

[bikerjake]

Only two kinds of motorcycle riders, those who ride Harleys and those that wish they did. Thanks for sending the profit on those "jap" bikes to the land of the rising sun. American workers appreciate it.

 

[autoist]

No, 3 kinds.....guys who ride Harley's, all the others....& real men who kick start their British bikes!

 

[sboxs]

35,000 miles on my fatboy twice nj to sturgis sd , nj to las vegas, twice nj to daytona, never had to stop for anything other than gas. funny thing is I had a goldwing for ten years and never did more than 300 miles in a single day on my lttle devil did 780 miles back from sturgis in a single day

 

[logical]

Keep in mind that not all Harley owners buy into the "lifestyle" BS. I find them as odd as you. But to knock them for not being something they don't set out to be (sport bikes) is something I'll never get I guess.

The Bandit is a cute bike.

 

[kartracer55]

Them Harley V rods can be worked up pretty nice.... The Screamin Eagle team is def taking away Japanese bike thunder in the NHRA. I was down at Etown Raceway park for the supernationals and they wiped up all the japanese bikes... now if harley could only fix the oil leakage problem....

 

[autoist]

We made it up to Sturgis in 2004.....what a neat place....made it to Sturgis, Mississippi also.....whenever I pull up on the Norton, all the Harley guys gather 'round to talk about "back when I had one of them"......hehehehehe

 

[mikeyr]

Only two kinds of motorcycle riders, those who ride Harleys and those that wish they did. Thanks for sending the profit on those "jap" bikes to the land of the rising sun. American workers appreciate it.

You forget the other American bikes, I don't ride a Hardley and have no intention on riding one ever again, but I don't ride a risin sun bike either...Made in the USA ! Victory all the way

Could we move back to Garages please?

 

[Prelude Guy]

.... Only trouble with sourcing cars in the States you sit on the wrong side of the car to drive –

You all sit on the wrong side. Last I remember, the first car was produced by Americans.

 

[RonBou]

Here is my Honda Valkyrie. 100% made in the USA. Ride what you want, but ride!

 

[Brian]

Last I remember, the first car was produced by Americans.

Actually credit for the first Automobile goes to German Carl Benz with a car he made in 1885. Americans were close behind.

 

[mikeyr]

Depends on what you mean by car, Steam or Internal combustion.

The first vehicle to move under its own power for which there is a record was designed by Nicholas Joseph Cugnot and constructed by M. Brezin in 1769. A replica of this vehicle is on display at the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers, in Paris. I believe that the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D. C. also has a large (half size ?) scale model. A second unit was built in 1770 which weighed 8000 pounds and had a top speed on 2 miles per hour and on the cobble stone streets of Paris this was probably as fast as anyone wanted to go. It was intended to be a military vehicule.

A frenchman named Etienne Lenoir patented the first pratical gas engine in Paris in 1860 and drove a car based on the design from Paris to Joinville in 1862. His one-half horse power engine had a bore of 5 inches and a 24 inch stroke. It was big and heavy and turned 100 rpm.

Benz didn't come out with a car until 1885

Ford a few years later, so Americans did not even come close to making the first car but they did perfect the mass production of the automobile which allows all of us to enjoy time in our garage with greasy hands.

 

[autoist]

There's a replica of the 1885 Benz in the Tupelo Automobile Museum - heck, it might be one of the originals, I can't remember