190 replies to this topic

[danger7]

great little reply but... You have a 360bhp VX?!?!

Also to note, I don't think i'm done with VX220's just yet . . . A break is healthy though lol

Well its 360 ps which is about 355 bhp at present, a few mods to the intake manifold and a larger throttle body would push it to 365 bhp at 1.6 bar boost its been worked on over 5 years now and after a few ups and downs i've settled on the current map work.

Cheers
Ian

[fred666]

Fair play mate, crazy figures

[fred666]

Quick vid now the exhaust is complete...

It's not quiet!

Finally making progress with the new front bumper. I've designed some simple little number plate brackets, had a mate fabricate them and powder coat them black (Small details count).

They're basically small l shape brackets, nothing fancy, but with wingnuts I can now remove the plate in seconds at shows. Bolts have been tightened into the bumper and bonded over the top so they don't come out...


So the plate sits like so...

oops thats the bumper given away then

Matt blacked behind the bumper as with the big mouth all the nasty bits will be on show! a big of black conduit to cover up the pipes too...


And lastly, the bumper in primer just before being flat back, just waiting for a warmer day now for paint!

[fred666]

New Front Bumper Pics.

Out with the old...

In with the new...



997 GT3

[ArticMonkey]

Looks ace

[tommobot]

Oooo yes Thats really quite nice!

[Zoobeef]

Looks like you just took 10 years off the front end

[turboluca]

Looks nice as always , now can we have a picture of the rear .

[RalphyBMW]

Very nice! Did you consider changing to the facelift headlamps, or is it not as straightforward as that?

[mbes2]

Looking good Fred, Do you have any photos kinda front/side on(ish) Really has changed the look

[hughcam]

It looks fantastic!

[fred666]

Zoobeef thats been a primary aim with the car since purchase. Loosing all the amber lights, changing gold porsche badges to silver, hid's, fresh number plates, wheel refurb etc all to loose the age of the car Turboluca - the rear looks like any other Carrera 4 at the moment, that's about to change though... Think Big and Aero lol Ralphy it costs around £3k after paint to do the whole 997 front end conversion, that cost didn't put me off but i didn't want a 997 replica. I've always loved the 997 GT3 bumper, but i've always loved this shape Porsche (I'm one of the few lol), so now i have the best of both worlds! mbes - i don't at the moment. the car has been in the garage for 2 weeks as i'm correcting the paint. it's a painstaking process thats taken me about 20 hours so far lol Thanks for the replies, it's nice to see vxers interested in another marque.

Edited by fred666, 11 February 2013 - 11:03 AM.

[RalphyBMW]

Don't blame you at all, it looks great, the difference is astounding. I was thinking more the 2002 (?) facelift headlights when they changed to the 3.6? I am genuinely interested in your experiences with this car. Part of me regrets getting the VX instead of a 911, partly down to the added benefit of more seats, however I think the fuel economy and increased potential for mega bills still put me off, for now at least.

[fred666]

Ahh the 996.2 facelift isn't as readily available. It actually requires new wings, bonnet etc like the 997 conversion. I had the budget for the 3.6 facelift (TBH for what i paid for mine i could have had a nice 996.2) and did consider it, another 20bhp extra too, but i've always liked this shape Costs have been hit and miss, its a 13 year old car so little things have gone, keyfob, passenger door latch, dash bulbs, brake caliper bolts... I've had to go to porsche twice in 6 months but they have been great. A little more than vauxhall of course, but customer service is fantastic! I get treated like I'm about to buy a 100k car everytime i go there even though they know the value of my car.

Edited by fred666, 11 February 2013 - 04:56 PM.

[siztenboots]

I broke a front spring on a speed bump last friday , had to limp the car over to Back on Track as I had arranged to pick up the VX on Saturday and left it with them. So couple of springs, top bearings and top mounts it is all sorted, all original Porsche parts and always had good advice from the Guildford OPC parts desk. I knew the mounts and bearings needed doing with 108K on them. Lights, I have the factory option litronic units instead of the fried egg standards. Glad it does as its not an easy thing to retrofit. The rotary light switch did play up, but seems to have fixed itself with regular use. Next thing to replace will be the original exhaust, been advised not to change the manifold myself as the studs will snap off. Shame as I like the shiny stainless race manifolds.

[Pidgeon]

I broke a front spring on a speed bump last friday

I've had a front spring go as well, took the usual Partridge route, located a pair for £60 on Ebay and changed them myself. Wasn't impressed by the crude attachment of the hub to strut and most of the small bolts securing the brake and speed sensors sheared.

The love affair continues

[JG]

I broke a front spring on a speed bump last friday

I've had a front spring go as well, took the usual Partridge route, located a pair for £60 on Ebay and changed them myself. Wasn't impressed by the crude attachment of the hub to strut and most of the small bolts securing the brake and speed sensors sheared.

The love affair continues :lol:/>

love that car.

Please sell it to me one day.

[Pidgeon]

Feb 13th or 14 suit?

[Pidgeon]

On second thoughts.. It's currently in the garage where it has remained, unwashed, since our return from France in August. It is scheduled to receive some love and attention this year, after which I will again try and like it. If it doesn't enter my affections by the end of the year, it will be going.

[fred666]

[Next up I've spent 30 + hours in the garage with my kestrel D.A. Orbital Polisher. I've used 3 grades of pad from coarse to soft, and 4 grades of cutting compound from Menzerna. The car was washed beforehand, it didn't need clay as it was done not so long ago.

The paint is far from perfect but I'd say this process has improved my paint by about 75%! Unbelievable results if you're willing to spend the time doing it.

I've cut the lacquer down to the point where no polish or products with fillers were needed; the finish is there from cutting alone.
The car was then quick detailed to remove any residue and a layer of Dodo juice Purple Haze applied to keep the swirl free finish. I'll probably apply a few more coats of wax just to top up before Belgium.

Poor qulity pic from my phone about 1/2 way through...


And a few complete pics...







As mentioned, there are a few light, and i mean light marks, more so from the haze left from the machine, but I'm really happy with the finish, especially considering the previous condition and the colour being notorious for visible marks/swirls.