iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 22h

Make a war film rubbish. Good Morning Oldham

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 22h

Make a war film rubbish. Lawrence of Alsbury

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 22h

Make a war film rubbish. The Baker's Dozen

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

I *may* have taken this gorgeous, shouty old lady out for a sunny, autumnal blat around. #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky

Picture shows the detail around the rear nearside corner of a 1971 Triumph Mk2 PI

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

This afternoon, I switched the brake discs on the #AlfaRomeo #Mito for the MTec items delivered earlier this week. Job done in about 90 minutes. Super. Driving around to start getting them bedded in, I remembered too late that the coating absolutely hums as it comes off 🤢 #weirdcarbs #carbluesky

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

It is sunny, and dry! [ Whips off the weather cover, and fires up the Shouty Straight Six ] We shall go to... Tesco...? #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #triumph #carbluesky

Picture shows a 1971 Triumph Mk2 PI, in white, sat in the car park of a supermarket. Paint and brightwork are gleaming in the autumn sunshine.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Oy oy... What's happening here? Dort's #AlfaRomeo #Mito is getting some new front brakes. Vented and drilled discs are somewhat overkill for a 1.3 JTDm2 - but I think the quality of MTEC stuff is pretty good having had them on my 159 Sportwagon, which used to eat Brembo discs for fun #weirdcarbs

Picture shows a closed box with a vendor's shipping label on it, providing absolutely no reassurance to the postie that it wouldn't give them a hernia.

Picture shows the opened box. A silver brake disc wrapped in plastic is visible inside.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Retrofitted some LED bulbs to the #Triumph Mk2 PI today, replacing front and rear indicators, front sidelights, rear stop/tail, reversing and number plate lamps, which had all been traditional incandescent bulbs. Easy enough to fit, and much brighter - even in sunlight 👍 #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Misusing our rubbish grasp of Italian to gently troll Mrs C after she dropped a typo this morning #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky #britishleyland

Photo shows a snippet of a text conversation between Mrs C and myself. Her initial message to me should say "good morning my husband" in italian - only there is a typo in it leading to the use of "marina" instead of "mattina"

The response features a picture of a 1974 Morris Marina in red with the line "Marinas are good?"

Mrs C told me later to stop being a twat 🤣

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Little Torteshell Cat is roaming the hallway downstairs looking for her sister, Little Black Cat, who is evidently hiding quietly in the dark - because she's an asshole. One little mew reached us that ended with an upward infection and we're giggling like idiots at what sounded like "mew?"

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Reposted by Jim Christie

Équipe Radar Love @midnightdorifto.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

an old British wagon feels like a good way to start the weekend www.carandclassic.com/auctions/197...

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

This draught excluder is a bit rubbish... #caturday #catsofbs

Picture shows a female torteshell short-haired cat, 1 year old, lying in a wooden floor and not looking particularly comfortable. A crinkly ball lies behind her.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

This is me never buying a modern BMW, then. Or, if I have to buy one, cutting the 4G module out of it and delivering that back to the dealer with a complement slip that says "not fucking necessary" Said it before and I'll say it again: no car needs to be internet connected in order to BE A CAR.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

I've just brimmed the tank on the PI in anticipation of another trip to the British Motor Museum this weekend. 160.7 miles travelled, 21L fuel used. This gives an average of 34.79 MPG That's *not bad* for a 2.5 straight six from the 1960s 😶 #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky #Triumph

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

The waiting starts now... 😬

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

MOT for the #AlfaRomeo #Mito tomorrow and I'm doing some (admittedly late) final checks. About give myself a heart attack when the nearside windscreen washer doesn't wash - but removing it, cleaning it through with a pin and some hot water restored it to service. Phew 🫣 #weirdcarbs #carbluesky

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Having just rescued a pile of kitten springs from under the fridge for the cats, this cute cretin promptly chases her favourite one right back under there 🙄 #caturday #catsofbluesky #catbs

Picture shows a torteshell domestic shorthair kitten, 11 months old, peering hopefully under the fridge having lost one of her favourite toys.

Again 🙄

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Have twilight, will sidelight. While everyone is watching football, I took the Mk2 PI out on the weekly shopping run. Empty roads, summer evening, cruising with the windows down listening to that straight six soundtrack. What's not to like? 👍 #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky #Triumph

Picture shows a 1971 Triumph Mk2 PI from the front quarter in the evening light, sidelamps lit.

This is the first time in three years I think I've used them.

Picture shows the same Triumph Mk2 from the rear, rear sidelamps lit.

I've discovered the number plate lamps don't work. Hurrah. 🙄

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Why hello, little miss cat. Have you had a busy day snoozing? #cat #kitten #catsofbluesky

Picture shows a torteshell female british shorthair kitten, approximately 10 months old, stretched out at the top of the stairs. She is purring loudly as she presents a potentially fatal trip hazard.

Picture shows a torteshell female british shorthair kitten, approximately 10 months old, stretched out at the top of the stairs. She is still purring loudly.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Today in the datacentre: just how long *has* this been off...? 🤔 #IT #datacentrelife

Picture shows a computer monitor showing a server in POST - Power On Self Test - after being off. The specifications outlined on the screen as part of the test suggest this particular server is "quite old".

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Have sun, will #Triumph On birthday duties at the Mother-in-Law's for tea and cake. #classiccarbs #carbluesky #weirdcarbs

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Reposted by Jim Christie

MattFuriousDriving.bsky.social @mattfd.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Do you want multiple tea shelves and many storage boxes in a practical mpv? You do? Then you need this 86,000 mile Renault MeganevScenic Dynamique Plus! Mot to March, £1500

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

An oil service carried out on the PI today - and a change of rocker box gasket. Someone had previously fitted a cork gasket intended for the standard pressed-steel box - alloy rocker boxes use a different, rubberised, gasket. Changed, no more oil leaks or odd smells 👍 #classiccarbs #carbluesky

Photo shows the top of the engine of a 1971 Triumph Mk2 2.5 PI with the rocker cover removed

Photo shows a closeup of the front offside corner of the cylinder head with the old rocker cover gasket exposed. The gasket is soaked through with oil, the patternation of old cork clearly visible.

Photo shows a closeup of the front nearside corner of the cylinder head with the old rocker cover gasket exposed. The gasket is wet with oil, the patternation of old cork clearly visible.

Photo shows a closeup of the front offside corner of the cylinder head with the alloy rocker cover refitted. A portion of the black, rubberised, replacement gasket can be seen protruding from underneath it.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Post something from your camera roll that comes up when you search yellow car

Photo shows a very yellow Triumph Dolomite Sprint

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Today's lunchbreak activity is an rather abrupt MOT on Mrs C's #Audi #TT after she discovered - to her surprise - that it *wasn't* timed to coincide with her service at the end of the month... 😬

Picture shows a white Audi TT on the MOT inspection ramp.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Ford 'pinto' engine converted to the rarer 3-stroke cycle: suck, squeeze, toot.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Out shopping this morning - one of these cars is not like the others. #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky

Picture shows the carpark in my local Aldi this morning, with the Triumph Mk2 hiding in plain sight.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Slightly diminish a book Nineteen Eighty Three

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Slightly diminish a book Animal smallholding

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Thanks to #ClassicAdditions, the #Triumph Mk2 PI has a nice new, semi-fitted all weather cover to live under until I can find it a new garage. This pleases me immensely - though, I suspect, it will please me significantly less when I'm trying to put it on single-handedly in a gale. #weirdcarbs

Photo shows a black car-shaped mound from another angle

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

That's #driveitday done for me, and the PI is back in the garage. When I hooked up the solar conditioner to the battery, I found the cause of the oily smell that wafted through the cabin on the way home from Rustival. That'll be a new rocker box gasket needed then! 🙄😂 #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs

Picture showing the front nearside of the engine, spark plug leads for cylinders 1,2 and 3 in shot.

A black oily mark is running down the side of the cylinder head between plugs 1 and 2, and generally making a mess on the cylinder block below.

Marvellous.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Someone has discovered the sun makes everything cozy and warm... #caturday #kittensofbluesky

A black british shorthair kitten lies stretched out on her side, snoozing in the sun coming through a window.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Rustival also marked a first for me and Dr Jon: the first time our cars were together at the *same* show! I couldn't tell you *why* its taken us over 30 years to get to this point, but here we are - so here's Jon's Hillman Super Minx, and my Triumph Mk2 PI-to-EFi #classiccarbs #rustival

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

On coming back from rustival, I am pleased to see the plan to retrofit cruise control to the #AlfaRomeo #Mito has taken a step forward. #weirdcarbs #carbluesky

Photo shows the salvaged indicator / wiper / cruise control stalks for the Alfa Mito. They need a clean, but should be nicely servicable...

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Oh...! That's a bit of a result! 😊 Earlier this week when I checked, the forecast wasn't anywhere near as nice. #rustival #weirdcarbs

Screenshot from the BBC weather app for Gaydon in Warwickshire - where the British Motor Museum is. The weather appsads to be fine 👍

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Washed, dried and given a sniff* of fuel. Now #rustival ready 👍😊 [ * A very big sniff ] #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs

Picture shows the fuel gauge in a 1971 Triumph Mk2 PI. The gauge is showing the fuel tank is full.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Kittens, about to snooze in the early evening sun 😊 #catsofbluesky #caturday #kittens

Picture shows two british shorthair kittens, aporoximately nine months old, sitting on the couch, sunlight catching their ears and fur

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

After pulling the dead Innovate LC-1 wideband HEGO controller from the #Triumph Mk2 PI last weekend, I wired in it's replacement: an AEM X-series unit. It's not the neatest of jobs as its only fitted temporarily - but it's in and working and #rustival ready 👍😊 #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky

Picture shows the new AEM X-series controller fitted to the nearside inner wing of the Triumph - and a large bundle of coiled wire ready for shortening when a new 4-pin Econoseal connector arrives; the one I ordered helpfully having been supplied with a missing pin making using it pointless... 🙄

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Parking brake warning lamp fixed, and colour of the warning in the Triumph's "Command Centre" changed to be more consistent with modern cars High Beam: blue Low Fuel / Choke On: yellow Indicators: green Oil Pressure / Charge / Parking Brake: red #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Handbrake warning light "fun" on the #Triumph this bank holiday Mondaymeans a chunk of the interior coming out so I can fish the wire running under the carpet out - and repair it... 😬 #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky

Picture looking through the empty interior of a 1971 Triumph Mk2 PI, which has a malfuctioning parking brake warning light due to a failed wire.

Picture showing the broken spade connector still fitted to the switch that screws on to the parking brake lever.

There is supposed to be a cable on that...

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Reposted by Jim Christie

David KC @davidmuttering.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

For anyone fearing feline attack, I regret to inform you that Michael has invented the tank...

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

A day off means #Triumph time - and a change of rear dampers. The old units were Boge, with a stamped manufacture date that made them 30 years old - and when they came off they were, um, "somewhat boned" New KYB Gas units fitted with poly bushes. Pleasing 😊👍 #weirdcarbs #classiccarbs #carbluesky

Photo shows one of the old Boge damper units lying on the floor surrounded by very perished rubber bushes. The manufacture date stamped into the damper body said March 1996.

Photo shows new KYB gas-a-just damper fitted in place. A new polyeurethane bush is visible at the bottom end

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

It is evidently going well - the vein on the side of Jon's head isn't visibly throbbing 👍

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Today was spent at the Practical Classics Restoration Show at the NEC with brother-from-another-mother, Dr Jon. Excellent to bump into another Dr Jon in the form of @jeckythump.bsky.social - though sadly at the end of the day as we were making our exit.

Picture shows the Pride of Ownership stand at the Practical Classics Resto Show, a yellow 1300 Mazda estate in the foreground

Picture shows Kieran Trumper's Mk1 Triumph 2.5 PI on the Lancaster Insurance stand at the Practical Classics Resto show

Picture shows a 1976 Mk3 Ford Cortina 3000 XLE as imported from South Africa

Picture shows the sad end for many a car; corroded bits swept up off the floor. In this case, from under a Ford Corsair.

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Jim Christie @the-crust.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Have sun, will #Triumph The Mk2 PI is taken out to stretch its legs for the first time this year. Have ~25 seconds of what the shouty straight six does best 👍 #WeirdCarBS #classiccarbs

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