Jim Christie
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the-crust.bsky.social
Jim Christie
@the-crust.bsky.social
200 followers 92 following 570 posts
Parent, Alfa and Triumph-owning petrolhead, clay pigoen shooter and server support ninja.

Not necessarily in that order - or the same time!
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Jim Christie
dreadships.bsky.social
It's International Men's Day, so a quick reminder that if you have testicles give 'em a good fondle every so often to check for any changes in things like size, texture, or the ability to spot other ships at thirty nautical miles.
Two radomes on top of a Viking cruise liner. I feel I should clarify that the company are merely called Viking and that they don't do all-inclusive looting tours of European monasteries. Some trans women and non-binary people may also need to check their testicles, of course, and trans men get a free pass on this one but ought to look after their health anyway. Basically it's meant with good intent and just look after yourselves, y'all!
November 19, 2025 at 7:32 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Now I know, after 11 years of ownership, that my #AlfaRomeo 159 Sportwagon is a habitual liar when it comes to reporting the outside temperature - but I might go turn off the feed to the outside tap all the same...

#weirdcarbs #carbluesky
Picture showing the illuminated instrument cluster of an AlfaRomeo 159 displaying an outside air temperature of -6.5ºC
November 19, 2025 at 9:04 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Hey #weirdcarbs #carbluesky collective.

Daughter's 2017 #AlfaRomeo Mito has started to leak water somewhere behind the headlining.

I suspect, from where it's dripping through, that it could be a seam failed behind the driver's side drip channel trim - but how does it come off?

Thoughts?

TIA 👍
Photo showing the black trim along the roofline hiding the offside roof drainage channel. How does it come off? Photo showing water dripping through the headlining just above the top of the windscreen - seemingly ruling out a leaking windscreen as water doesn't usually run *up*... Photo shows water collected in the interior courtesy light assembly. Photo showing drips along the inside of the driver's side inner sill trim panel. No comments about the state of cleanliness of the carpet, please. She knows.
November 19, 2025 at 3:21 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
If ever you need a stark demonstration on the pace of change in automotive design at times, these two cars are more-or-less 30 years apart.

#TriumphRenown #VauxhallCavalier #weirdcarbs #carbluesky #classiccarbs
November 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Today I find myself in Bruges, as one does.

However, as an owner of a British Leyland product, I am worried: they appear to be bottling it over here 🤣

#weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky
November 7, 2025 at 10:03 AM
the-crust.bsky.social
Chod (?) of #Rotterdam, a short series

#weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky #peugeot #ford
A tidy late-model Peugeot 205 sits in a leafy suburb of Rotterdam, surrounded by fallen leaves A slightly-battered, but otherwise solid-looking, Ford Ka sits parked in a street close to the centre of Rotterdam
November 3, 2025 at 1:58 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Me too, SS Rotterdam, me too...
November 2, 2025 at 8:45 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore
November 2, 2025 at 12:38 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Googly eyes make EVERYTHING better

[ Though in this case, FM disagreed. Spoilsports ]
Photo showing a "restricted access" sign that has been adapted with googly eyes
October 30, 2025 at 9:47 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Have sun will #Triumph.

Taking advantage of a late autumn dry day, the Mk2 PI gets assigned to shopping duties - and I get to rumble around for a bit listening to the straight six soundtrack, which is good for the soul 😊

Every little helps 👍

#weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky
Photo shows a 1971 Triumph Mk2 2.5 PI parked in front of a Tesco superstore
October 25, 2025 at 12:12 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
I was left unsupervised on eBay last week - and came away with an official British Leyland workshop manual for the #Triumph 2000 & 2500.

It contains a wealth and depth of information those nice folks in Yeovil can only dream about, which will be really quite useful! 👍

#weirdcarbs #classiccarbs
Picture showing the front cover of the manual. It is an inch-and-a-half thick. Picture showing some of the body frame alignment information in the manual Picture showing the distributor advance information for the three types of distributor fitted to the PI-spec cars. Picture showing another example of information in the manual - in this case about the rear axle.
October 13, 2025 at 8:42 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Oh hello, old girl 😊

I've taken the opportunity, while paint dries at home, to get a few small jobs done on the #Triumph

The main one, @indecisiveauto.bsky.social will be happy to hear, is fixing a minor leak in the fuel system we discovered at Rustival 👍

#weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky
View down the drivers side of a 1971 Mk2 Triumph 2.5PI Picture shows the leaky copper washer in the feed side of the fuel pump being replaced Picture shows the replaced copper washer, with blue workshop roll under the joint as a way of highlighting any more seepage. None so far!
October 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Been to #WollatonPark to cheer on our daugher as she ran the Robin Hood half marathon this morning.

The Industrial Musem beam engine in the park was in steam. It would have been rude not to go and see it - once parental duties were complete - and share the enjoyment of some parallel motion action!
September 28, 2025 at 12:22 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
[Jim sighs ] 🙄

Mind you, it does explain a lot... 🤣
Picture showing my positive COVID test result
September 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM
the-crust.bsky.social
After determining that, yes, I may well have a fubar Innovate LC-1 wideband exhaust gas controller fitted to the #Triumph, today the postie brings me this.

It's a new AEM x-series wideband controller with a Bosch LSU4.9 sensor which will hopefully do the job nicely 👍

#classiccarbs #carbluesky
September 19, 2025 at 12:34 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Well, I'm ready and the excitement is building!

For everyone travelling to #Rustival - either tonight to stay someplace nearby, or on the day tomorrow - take care and have a safe journey 👍😊

#weirdcarbs #carbluesky #classiccarbs
August 29, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Jim Christie
chrisfm52e.bsky.social
For those going to Rustival, a few of us are convoying up from Swindon, meeting at Greggs, Stratton St Margaret, SN3 4NS at 7:00 and setting off at 7:30. All welcome to join.

#Rustival #WeirdCarBS
For those going to Rustival, a few of us are convoying up from Swindon, meeting at Greggs, Stratton St Margaret, SN3 4NS at 7:00 and setting off at 7:30. All welcome to join.
August 29, 2025 at 11:43 AM
the-crust.bsky.social
When a quick trip to the garage to tweak configured Warm Up Enrichment settings down a bit turns into something else.

A pox on your house, Microsoft! 🤣

#weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky #megasquirt #diyefi
Picture shows a fist being shaken at a laptop, which is taking its time applying updates prior to shutdown
August 29, 2025 at 11:37 AM
the-crust.bsky.social
✔️ Gearbox oil changed. Shift now smoother, and less noise from the 'box in neutral. Win.

✔️ Fanbelt changed. I bought the right one after all!

✔️ Starter solenoid connection refitted properly

✔️ Washed and polished

I think the #Triumph is #Rustival ready 👍

#weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky
Picture showing sunshine glinting off the paint and brightwork on the Triumph's nose Picture showing shunshine glinting off the top of the nearside front wing. My polishing towel seems to be making a cameo appearance too... Picture showing the reflection of the sky in the polished roof of the Triumph Picture captures the chrome trim around the rear screen and nearside roof gutter glinting in the sun
August 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Was thinking about @rafluton.bsky.social earlier today as I photographed this Canberra...
August 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
I've sorted the petrol fumes in the cabin of the #Triumph with a few bits from my toolbox - sealing the unused fuel return on the tank I'd left open and forgotten 🤦‍♂️

Took the car for fuel. No more headaches, or taste of unleaded in the back of my throat 😊👍

#weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky
Photo showing one of the two fuel return points on the PI's fuel tank - now sealed with a short length of R9 fuel hose, a snug-fitting bolt, and two fuel pipe clips. Photo looking in from the PI's boot with the trim removed. We can see the fuel breather hose coming off the top offside corner of the tank. I suspect I'd left the open union on the top of the tank [pic 1] to act as a breather, having not seen this one during EFi conversion works. It breathed OK: straight into the cabin. Yuk!
August 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Have sun, will go out in #Triumph

#weirdcarbs #carbluesky #classiccarbs
August 10, 2025 at 9:42 AM
the-crust.bsky.social
Have sunshine, will wash [blood, greasy handprints, a years' worth of garage dust and other crap off ] Triumph.

The PI has been thoroughly cleaned and is visually ready for her trip to the British Motor Museum for the #rustival show at the end of the month 😊👍

#weirdcarbs #carbluesky #Triumph
August 9, 2025 at 6:14 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
That's better! Plenum reassembled, stainless straps fitted and the engine run up to operating temperature.

Other than mapping, the practical conversion work is done 👍 😊

#triumph #conversion #megasquirt #diyefi #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky
Photo showing the reassembled plenum, with stainless steel straps helping secure it to the intake manifold Photo showing the completed engine bay from above following conversion to megasquirt electronic fuel injection. In the bottom LH corner, we see the fuse box on the inner wing, and a single throttle body adjacent to that. Left of centre shows the plenum and inlets, with injectors and fuel rail above. Right of centre shows the coilpack, immediately behind the alternator.
July 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
the-crust.bsky.social
Another attempt at securing the plenum on the #Triumph

2 x M6 eye bolts adapted to fit the manifold, the plenum end of the rubber connectors secured with a smear of tiger seal, and the whole lot held firmly by stainless ties around the plenum and through the eye bolts.

#weirdcarbs #classiccarbs
July 26, 2025 at 4:50 PM