Project Once
Why Once?
Well this is without doubt the biggest project I’ve ever undertaken to date, and though I have modified existing cars before I’ve never done so much in one hit. I’m confident this will at points almost feel like I’m starting again and building a VX in kit form, and there’s even less doubt that this will be an expensive exercise that will not earn me my money back if I ever come to sell.
For that reason I can’t afford, nor bear, to get it wrong and have to do it more than, well… once. Plus you only live once right? (And calling it project neck-snapping acceleration would have been in bad taste)
So what is project Once? There’s no doubt it’s always evolving but the basics I set out with were;
A supercharged VX with 250+bhp
Supporting chassis mods
Re-finished interior
Coupe conversion
Re-spray, most likely in a non-VX colour
All these thoughts popped into my head last summer, and the idea was cemented even further during a damp trackday in my VXT at Rockingham.
I’d always been circumspect of the T’s power delivery, and had changed solenoids, intake pipes and even remaps to try and sort it out. I thought I was maybe just being spoiled with the modern OEM stuff, but even my 20 year old Saab turbo offered a more progressive and sweeter build of power.
It was pretty much the last straw though, and after a brief drive of Fezzasus’ SC I knew that if I was staying VX then I needed some whine in my life.
I’ll admit that other marques did pop into my head, and I even upped the budget considerably – but there was nothing for less than £20k that really grabbed my attention.
So the T had to be sold and an NA bought. Of course it was the worst time to sell, but potentially the best time to buy – I’d just end up with both at the same time, and wait til spring to sell the Tubby.
And then a couple of already charged cars appeared, either in the classifieds or by way of PM, and while funds were actually short of the required, the possibility of getting a charged car with some desirable extras for only £2k more than a basic NA was too much to ignore.
After much selling of car parts (Saab and VX related) I’d managed to raise enough to cover the cost of buying an SC while keeping the T until Spring ready to sell when values pushed a little higher. Then the Turbo sold anyway.
Logistically it couldn’t have been easier; my buyer lived less than 30 miles away from my seller, and the plan was to drive the T to its new owner before getting a lift to pick up the SC and drive home.
Then I went and broke my neck the week I was due to complete the exchange.
Phoning JJJ, ChrisSC (whose orange SC I was buying) and my buyer from my hospital bed, still strapped to the spinal board, solved the problem. JJJ delivered my new car and took my old one back to Wales for Paul my buyer to collect.
Big thanks Chris who let JJJ pick up the car without the cash clearing in his account, and Paul for transferring cash before he’d even seen the car. Basically being trusting enough to do everything they tell you not to do when buying or selling a car.
So now I had a car, some money in the bank, and lots of spare time on my hands. Cue a sh*t load of attempted group buys and eBay purchases…
Chris’ car already came with a set of Nitrons, Compomotives with Toyo R1R tyres, Splam grille, Fezz heater, Lotus ABS controller, Carbon ears, carbon binnacle, private plate, refurbed rack, ali radiator (not fitted) plus the supercharger bits. Basically it was either full of stuff that would prove useful for my car, or desirable things to sell on.
It was also CAT clear, the engine’s chains had been done and was relatively sensible mileage (circa 50k).
However it was still running on the base map, there was no chargecooler – just a motorbike rad in the ear – and there was a reason it had been wrapped. The Rabiatta red paint was, and is I guess (I’ve not yet uncovered it from the wrap) a bit fcuked.
Not a perfect VX by any shake of the stick, but probably ideal for my plans, which had now developed further…
By this time I knew I couldn’t resist the lure of the Saab B207 engine, partly as it was such a good deal and sensible move, plus I got a perverse sense of pleasure from the idea of mixing my first love of Saab with my new love of VX. Reason enough to keep it a 2.0-litre too.
I decided that a sensible figure would be a solid 280bhp, which everyone seemed to suggest would be easily possible from the B207.
Ties in with the Engine then.
