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[JimmyJamJerusalem]

LY#17 Specification and build record. Full project thread found here

Current Spec of the car

Suspension/wheels

• Nitron Race 46 Coilovers, 500/650lb Eibach Springs, Race Spec valving
• Nitron Toe Link Kit
• Nitron Rose Jointed Wishbone bushes
• Plans Motorsport Anti-Roll Bar
• Upgraded Steering Rack
• Machined hubs (extra camber)
• Maximum Castor
• ATS DTC Lightweight Wheels
• Pirelli P-Zero Tyres (215F 245R)
• Kumho V70 Semi slick Tyres (215F 245R)




Engine/Transmission

• Courtenay Sport custom remap
• Eaton M62 Supercharger with 3" pulley
• Astra VXR Injectors
• Deleted Balancer Shafts
• Dual Pass Inlet Manifold
• LSJ Throttle body
• Piper Air Filter
• Eagle Forged Con Rods
• Wiseco 86.5mm 8:9:1 Pistons
• Blower Comp Cams
• Ported Saab Head
• Courtenay Sport Lightweight Flywheel
• Courtenay Sport uprated clutch
• Plans Motorsport Gearbox Breather
• Pro Alloy Charge Cooler
• Pro Alloy Radiator
• Bosch 044 Integrated Swirl Pot fuel system
• Full Aeroquip fuel conversion AN-6
• Davies Craig Electric water pump
• Supertech 78lb double valve springs
• Lightweight Rocker Cover


Exhaust

• Full Chris Tullet 3” exhaust system (wrapped)
• Secondary Silencer


Interior

• Tillett B5 Race Seat
• Safety Devices FIA/MSA Approved 6 Point Roll Cage.
• Willans 4 point harnesses
• OMP Snap Off steering wheel


Exterior

• Elise Parts Motorsport Carbon Fibre Wing
• Race Splitter
• MMG Performance Diffuser
• Lightweight raised bootlid
• Vented rear clam to reduce engine bay temps
• Light weight roll bar cover
• Steinmetz Grill


Brakes

• Performance Friction 01 Front Brake pads and Carbon Lorraine RC5+ rear brake pads.
• Upgraded brake servo
• ATE SuperBlue Racing Brake Fluid
• Custom brake cooling kit

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

The dates posted in this thread are wrong. The actual project here contains the proper dates, I moved all the pictures over to this one and lost the correct dates.

So it’s about time I put up a project thread to let you guys know what I’ve been up to for the last few months!!

I’ll get straight to the good stuff.

Although not nearly finished here is a quick before and after

Before, A CAT C Wreck with a knackered engine







After, painted it a real Lightning Yellow (some new pics, some old)

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

So the boring stuff.......

First a bit of background for those unaware.

Bought an NA a few years back but sold it a few weeks before my first trackday for summit a bit more pokey (VXR). Owned the VXR for 2 and a bit years in which I did a good few trackdays.

The VXR is a pretty raw car to most, but to me if was a little too ‘tame’. I wanted a more track specific car, ie strip it out, butcher panels, add a huge wing etc.. Couldn’t do that to the VXR as it was just too nice! This nagged away in the back of my mind until the ‘Euro’ trip to Le Mans where Cliffie was good enough to let me take his car out for a session around the Bugatti circuit. I knew right away that the SC car is a more capable track mobile (sorry Tubsters) and my cunning mind went into overdrive!

The VXR is an exceptionally valuable car (both financially speaking and sentimentally) so it was with a sorry heart that I sold her (luckily to an enthusiast so I know she’s safe). I’m rubbish with money so the sale enabled me to pay off some debts, clear Lisa and my honeymoon next year with enough left over to buy a CAT C wreck.

Here she was as I found her



















Wish I took more early pics, but hey you get the idea, it was smashed to bits, and every single panel was damaged!

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

This is/was Lightening Yellow #17 and was in a pretty rubbish state. I went up to Birmingham to inspect her and found absolutely NO chassis damage at all. In fact the only damage was cosmetic (other than the steering rack end). Sourced some new lightweight panels (roll bar cover and bootlid) and set about putting it all back together!

Started at the wishbones. Rebushed the car with Super-Pro bushes from Mushroom Racing. Then new drop links, track rod ends, toe links, and ball joints.

Once this lot was clean I dropped in a set of Hofmann's Spec Nitrons 450/600, a Plans Motorsport ARB. Lovely job!





While I set about he mechanical work, my good friend and ally Alan Dixon (of Alan Dixon Auto Repair) set about repairing the fibreglass.

Front clam needed a new bottom section as it was smashed to bits so I bought a lower section from MVS Racing as well as a new Rad Surround.



primed


Both sills were removed and replaced. New ones were tatty so we fixed them up too



The rear clam wasn't too bad so we repaired this eventually.



Rear bootlid was removed and replaced with a raised lightweight version, and the rollbar cover was replaced with one of Munchers lightweight versions. The ariel was removed and the hole filled in.





Now I am conscious of some of the (what I believe to be) temperature related failures on SC'd VX's .so I decided to try to keep temps down throughout my project. This in mind I fitted some Tubby ears and a raised bootlid. Then after some deliberation I also took the plunge and cut out some cooling vents in the rear of the clam (just marked out below.

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

In the meantime I grew concerned that my timing chain was ready to snap as the engine had started to make a nasty rattle so I made sure I didn't run the engine till the timing chain got done.

Anyway, while all the bits were off I was lucky enough to welcome Joe589 and LeeVX2.2 to sunny South Wales to help me with the Supercharger conversion.

Together we fitted the following….

Full 3” Chris Tullet Exhaust
M62 Supercharger.
Pro-Alloy Radiator
Pro-Alloy Charge Cooler.
Inlet Manifold (dual pass).
LSJ Throttle Body.
Z20LET Injectors.
Piper air filter.


At the start of the day



Lee giggling at summit



Joe getting stuck in!



we found a lovely air filter fitted by previous owner (HogMan)



Organised chaos



bits going in

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

My Tullet Manifold was a shame to wrap it!!!



Spot the wrapped header



All done within a day thank you guys!!!!! People take note! If the boys are coming round to do a conversion make sure you get the clams off in advance as it REALLY makes a massive difference!!



I treated my guests to a cracking night out down Cardiff Bay that eve, and we all woke up feeling worse for wear! Can't remember what time Joe and me got done sitting up drinking, but I know we ran out of Vodka!

Once this lot was in I sent my ECU off to Courtenays for a base map so I could fire the car up (not that I wanted to though due to the rattle).

Started stripping out the interior too at this point. Much of it went including the seats which were replaced with JK Composites lightweight seats and harnesses.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So at this point I had a shell of a car that had now been Supercharged, but I did not have an ECU to run it, and even if I did with my timing chain set to snap I daren't run it.

Jobs left to do...

Rebuild the engine on new rods, a fresh timing chain, balancer delete and lightweight flywheel (job for Vocky)
Get the Car to Courtenays for a final map
Get the car to Hofmann's for a full geo setup

This was all planned within the same weekend and was one of the biggest road trips of my life. As it's late, and it'll take a load of extra pics I'll leave that as part II of the saga.

Goodnight

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Part II

Now I had a marathon ahead of me….

The mission – To get the timing chain repaired, remove balancer shafts, replace flywheel to a lightweight type, rebuild the engine on Eagle Rods, get it on the rollers and map it, give it a geo….

Easy eh…?

This involved taking renting a van, driving to Reading to borrow a trailer from Max (top man!), drive back to South Wales to pick up the VX, then driving to Aylesbury. Then trailer the car to Norfolk then down to Henley. Once done there back to South Wales, then back to reading, then home to South Wales again. Well over a 1000 miles. All in one trip without going home!!

Ready to set off



Now my budget was smashed to pieces by this point and with no insurance on the car I decided safest and cheapest bet was to sleep in the van at night. So with my Millets foam pad and my sleeping bag in toe I set off in my rental van for a long weekend of fun. Now with the van, VX, trailer and bits I counted 12 wheels, 2 steering wheels, 3 flywheels, and a spare. So Jimmy the trucker hit the Motorway in his 18 wheeler. All I needed was a John Deere cap

My Wagon





After collecting all the bits first stop was Joe’s place for the engine work. We were met there by Vocky whom I met for the first time and we set about removing the engine and rebuilding. Now again as the rear clam was off and there were three of us we sped through the work. Neil quickly identified the source of the engine rattle as a seized Pre-Tensioner which could have snapped the chain at any moment as was no longer even touching the chain let alone tensioning it!!

RIP Kerry

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Joe humping my air filter

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Joe stroking my pipes

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

All out

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Vocky's feet. The man would not be photographed. It helps so that MI6 cannot id him

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Started smoking when warmed up for the first time!!

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

The work went very smoothly and hats off to Joe and Neil when we finally got it all back together and some juice into the flat battery it fired into life for the first time in it’s new guise. Sounded great!

Now again we’d factored in two days for the work but we were done in one so Joe was itching to show me the big city lights of Aylesbury and hell…. I was keen to let him!!! So after finishing a bottle of vodka between us we met up with a few of his mates and hit the tiles. I looked ridiculous as I had brought no real going out gear with me, so was wearing steel toe cap boots and had been forced to get ready using Joe’s dodgy hair gel lol@Ho with the taxi driver

Woke up the next morning with a sore head in Joe’s Mum’s bed Luckily armed with the knowledge that an uncouth Welshman was coming to stay she was stayed with a friend I did very much appreciate the bed though as the van was not a comfy place to be!! Joe was a legend and knew I was at a loose end and we saw out our hangovers with one another and even attempted some half arsed repair work on Joe’s car. We quickly decided that we were in no fit state to be working on cars and hit MacDonalds for some food.

After reflecting on life I got organised and loaded up ahead of the mammoth trek to Courtenays (a million miles from everywhere). Cheers again Joe

So arrived at Courtenays around 10pm and was shattered so made camp for the night. I woke up in the van at around 7am freezing, with face full of dust but excited about the day ahead!

Jon and co were great and got it on the rollers straight away, but the work took a long time as the partial throttle fuelling was not right. A few calls to Klassen and we identified the problem to be a tired fuel pump (hold the front page;) ).

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Was too late in the day to fit but I had still pulled a decent enough amount of torque on the rollers so it was time to call it a day and hit the road again.







So the trip to Hofmann’s took an eternity, and I was getting sick of the tatty old hire van by now!! The best thing about crashing in their car park () is that since the move it’s very quiet down the bottom unit! Until it started raining!!??!! Ping ping ping ping ping ping on the van’s roof was annoying, but tiredness took over and I dropped off regardless.

Was met by the talented Mr Strikland in the morning who was good enough to make me a brew and we set about getting the car geo’d.

Unfortunately we didn’t get very far the guys spotted a frightening amount of play in the drivers side front wheel. Now I’d replaced ALMOST everything in this area. Ball joints, wishbone bushes, drop links, track rod ends the bleedin lot!! Except the steering rack. Now remember this car had been in a rather nasty accident, and it looks like the rack took a knock! There’s crappy little plastic knuckles on each end of the rack and these crack, jam and cause play.

Now credit to Phil at Hofmann’s as he knew how over-budget I already was and saved me a fortune by giving me a pretty comprehensive run through of how to remove and repair my existing rack on Phosphor Bronze ends. Went from around £600 + labour to £40 and I’ll do it myself! He could get in trouble for not coining in on my misfortune, but helping me out like that they’ve got a good customer

So loaded back up and set off to drive home.

Dumped the VX at the bodyshop, then turned back around and set off to give Max his trailer back (thanks again mate). Had a brew and a chat then back to South Wales for the last leg of my trip.

Travels now over, time for bed!

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That was the end of my uber trip. Still loads to do though!

Finally finished off the rear clam and fitted with the lightweight bootlid, lightweight rollbar cover, and Exige spoiler




Parked the car in it's spot where it was to remain for the next few weeks.




So infuriating to have a tuned machine like this and not be able to drive it. Still no mot or log book/tax so at this point I had never driven it!

Set about pulling the rack out and refurbishing the ends. Pig of a job, but do-able!

Then started on the interior

Removed my standard seats, airbag, steering wheel and boss, consoles, stereo, seatbelts, speakers, speaker panel/parcel shelf and probably more, and set about rebuilding how I want it.


Then fitted.

JonBetts Harness Bar
Willans Harness
JK Composites lightweight seat
OMP Steering wheel on snap off boss







I will put the second seat in as soon as I get time, but having a mare at the moment so needed to get a seat in to get it road legal.

MOT and vic check went through without a hitch and my babay is now road legal. Unfortunately this was too late for my first track day so I had to trailer it to Pembrey where I got to drive it for the first time and she was great!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qsiAL3R7qg&feature=player_embedded

I've got to fit my undertrays, diffuser and get the car geo'd ahead of the car's first real test at Silverstone next week with Cliffie and MAXR. Bring it on boys .

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Ooooh, floating car

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Colour is Citrine Yellow off of the Mk 1 Modeo seems more becoming of the moniker of Lightning yellow to me!

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Well Done Jim i have seen it and drivern it it is a loverly car ,You have done so much so quick i cant believe it

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

As I am building now with entering Time Attack in mind one of my next jobs will be to fit this











Looks a big job!!! I'm going to ask over in 'Tuning and Mods' for some advice

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Managed to get hold of a new Shear Panel (Cheers Liz) and set about fitting that today. Not a horrible job but certainly one to take your time with and make sure it's 'right'. One of the wishbone pichup points shares some bolts with this panel so could easily move if you don't think about what you're doing.

Shear Panel




Once this was fitted I had something to attach my undertrays to. My undertray is pretty battered so a new on is going on my shopping list, but I got it to fit for now....

Now the exciting but (for me anyway). Once that was on I was able to mount my MMG Difuser. Now Liam also supplied me with the brace kit, but my Tullet obscured one of the mounting points so I had to wing it.

Managed to drill a few new holes here and there and got it all fitted. Chuffed as it looks great and is as solid as a rock!!!!

excuse the crappy cmaera phone pics, colour is different again







Got to fix the turbo ear back on tomorrow that flew off at Pembrey but other than that my work ahead of Silverstone is done.

She's going to Hofmann's tomorrow though for some last minute tlc

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Got her on the scales the other day.



Fatter than I'd hoped given all the weight saving mods I've put in place. Must be down to the charge cooler and all the fluids..... Car was on the scales with the hardtop on, but not much fuel... Looks out across the front but when I get in it balances the car to within 4kg's across the front! Car is so responsive at the moment I am considering numbing it a little as it's such a handful!