1145 replies to this topic

[Graeme Lambert]

 

Therefore anything that should or could be replaced, will be.

T'is the only way. My quick and easy suspension refresh soon morphed into replace absolutely everything on the underside of the car. Much better to go in with that mindset in the first place. Had already swapped to a new engine and fcuk knows how many exhaust systems.

 

 

It's like the engine mounts, they actually look to be in ok condition - and I may just sell them on cheap to someone - but can you imagine refitting them and then one of them going pop in the first 500 miles after the rebuild/recommission?

 

I understand that with a project like this there are bound to be teething troubles and issues along the way, especially during the early days, but by changing the simple stuff that needs doing hopefully that will lessen the occurrence.

 

I'm about to move into a 30 sq meter garage. I'm going to have subframe envy, so i shall do the same.

 

That is unless i get an further convincing the finance manager about a v6...

 

Good luck with that JG. I'd wated the money on a VX instead...

 

 

 

...oh, wait...

 

 

 

... that is what I'm wasting my money on

 

Graeme, what are your plans for fuel lines?

 

Don't have any plans yet - have you got something neat and shiny to sell me?

 

G

[JG]

Not really no, but i do have all the kit to make the lines, and having had a bit of practice i'm now pretty good at it. I could probably make a set up for you. with th car its current state you could even lose a couple of the connectors, to lessen the cost, lessen the likelyhood of a leak and make it neater.

 

I've also been testing mine, which after a couple of changes are working well.

 

I think you ought to think about the ITG kit though, that i can sell you

 

[Graeme Lambert]

Not really no, but i do have all the kit to make the lines, and having had a bit of practice i'm now pretty good at it. I could probably make a set up for you. with th car its current state you could even lose a couple of the connectors, to lessen the cost, lessen the likelyhood of a leak and make it neater.

 

I've also been testing mine, which after a couple of changes are working well.

 

I think you ought to think about the ITG kit though, that i can sell you

 

 

Funnily enough Lee was singing the ITG kit's praises at the weekend.

 

How much discount you going to give me on a bulk buy of ITG kit and fuel lines?

 

G  

[Graeme Lambert]

 

Not really no, but i do have all the kit to make the lines, and having had a bit of practice i'm now pretty good at it. I could probably make a set up for you. with th car its current state you could even lose a couple of the connectors, to lessen the cost, lessen the likelyhood of a leak and make it neater.

 

I've also been testing mine, which after a couple of changes are working well.

 

I think you ought to think about the ITG kit though, that i can sell you

 

 

Funnily enough Lee was singing the ITG kit's praises at the weekend.

 

How much discount you going to give me on a bulk buy of ITG kit and fuel lines?

 

G  

 

 

JG  

[Graeme Lambert]

So managed a couple of hours at MBR after work last night. It's helpful that Matt's halfway between work and home. Still didn't get in the door til gone 10:30pm though

 

Naomi was particularly pleased

 

Anyway, last night it was all about front suspension in a bid to strip off the bits we need to get to the powedercoater so we can get them done sooner rather than later.

 

In comparison the work I did at the weekend was a piece of cake compared to this. The angle grinder was out quite a lot last night...

 

 

Basically the ball joint nut was spinning like a good'un so cutting it off was the only sensible option (after me spending a fair amount of time trying to remove it properly) since we're replacing them all anyway. I did joke with MB that we should just disassemble the rest of the car with the grinder but he wasn't that keen.

 

Anyway, ball joint off I removed the top wishbone easily. Then came the arch liner and front undertray to give access to the front bolt for the lower wishbone. Of course the liner and tray were held on with bolts that were rusty, spinning, stuck fast, rounding pieces of crap

 

Angle grinder used for some of  them again, but eventually got there.

 

 

Though I think this car is storing most of Wales' trees in its underside/arches etc as can be seen by this decorative autumn foliage

 

 

One of the offending clips (actually this one game out using pliar-grips and twistting)

 

 

And eventually got the bottom wishbone free and left with a clean* corner 

 

*not clean in JG terms, i just mean sans wishbones etc

 

 

Obviously the arb will be changed for the 1inch EP version and new track rod ends etc. Will also do some nice braided brake lines - as much for tidy neat appearance as anything else. Oh yeah, and we'll be cleaning the chassis too

 

At least it's all straight etc.

 

The bits that came off

 

 

Saab B207 engine waiting for Matt's magic touch with the headword, cams etc

 

 

And the worst injury from last night. Naomi elected not to kiss it better

 

My primary typing finger as well

 

 

Considering I used an angle grinder and left MBR with all my digits still in tact I'd say that's something to celebrate!

 

As usual, thanks to MBR for his tools, patience, advice and banter.

 

Back tonight to finish driver's corner, which shouldn't take as long since already got brakes etc off as well as undertray etc. Also got a manifold and oil cooler to remove for Mr Gray tonight.

 

Gettign there.... slowly

[ChrisS1]

I should have charged extra for all that topsoil I left in there.

 

Some of it will be from the Swiss Alps too if you want to flog it on eBay

[Graeme Lambert]

I should have charged extra for all that topsoil I left in there.

 

Some of it will be from the Swiss Alps too if you want to flog it on eBay

 

Found some more topsoil on the driver's side

 

Anyway, thursday night left me to complete the driver's side front corner

 

This is what I left on Wednesday.

 

 

Again the arch liner fittings and fixings were a pain. Attacked them with the angle grinder and ended up melting the area around the fixing. Still at least it slipped off easy after that. Another fitting needed angle grinding so got MB to do that, since he has steadier hands.

 

Then he promptly went and tried to cut his finger off with the grinder

 

Anyway, got all the wishbones and hubs etc off in the end.

 

 

ECU and Immboliser ring being used for fault finding on another customer's car.

 

And then turned my attention to grabbing the old oil cooler from the rear of the car, and exh manifold from my old Z22 for Matty

 

 

Managed to convince Naomi to let me go back for an hour or so on my way back from work on Friday night so spent my time stripping the wishbones of their ball joints and bushes.

 

Now I've seen Lee do this with an impact driver and a tool borrowed from Techie, and it wasn't much fun. Lots of swearing, sweating and effort.

 

Thankfully Matt had the perfect tool for removing the bushes with an impact gun and a 20 tonne press for removing the ball joints. Apart from one point when the ball joint started to slip sideways from under the press (at around 10 ton pressure) this was incredibly refreshing and theraputic and I kinda wish the whole preject was/is going to be as relaxing. Of course I know it's not.

 

Anyway, bits removed and ready to be added to the batch of bits for blasting and coating (not cam cover )

 

 

Will be back tonight, and a few other nights this week, to tackle the next task - whatever that may be.

 

G

[Wreelybro]

Yes definitely don't recommend blasting the cam cover!

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Blimey Graeme, you are going to town.

[Boombang]

Bit surprised at the photo grinding above that wheel - you might well have ended up with bits of hot metal melting into the rubber and powder coat.

[Graeme Lambert]

Blimey Graeme, you are going to town.

 

Yeah, it does seem to have suffered some mission creep. We are now basically taking it apart completely and starting again. Think of it as a VX kit car.

 

Bit surprised at the photo grinding above that wheel - you might well have ended up with bits of hot metal melting into the rubber and powder coat.

 

It's no longer my wheel

 

But yeah, it's fine....

 

 

Just back from MBR now, having removed rear subframe stays/supports and some of the pipework around it, as well as the headlights and front clam (though there's no room to put it anywhere at the mo!)

 

 

Edited by Graeme Lambert, 17 March 2014 - 11:08 PM.

[Zoobeef]

You car is what I would like to do if I wasnt trying to run my popstars lifestyle at the same time. Flying to California next week to (hopefully) enjoy 2 weeks of free fall skydiving and Vegas. All I can think about is what I could buy for the car instead if I hadn't said I'd go haha!

[Graeme Lambert]

You car is what I would like to do if I wasnt trying to run my popstars lifestyle at the same time. Flying to California next week to (hopefully) enjoy 2 weeks of free fall skydiving and Vegas. All I can think about is what I could buy for the car instead if I hadn't said I'd go haha!

If you're not managing to live a popstar lifestyle AND rebuild an entire car at the same time you're doing it wrong Mark

[Graeme Lambert]

Another few hours at MBR last night, another few jobs done.

 

Front clam is effectively off - just needs MB to find somewhere to put/store it. (until then it's still sat on the car) and rear subframe stays/supports that join to roll bar are removed for blasting and coating too. Also removed some of the pipework to the bulkhead.

 

Need to remove front ARB and rest of stuff on bulkhead really, and maybe some more of the interior ready for DTT visit

 

G

 

 

[Wreelybro]

Graeme - Any updates?

[Graeme Lambert]

Graeme - Any updates?

Yes it's in more bits than ever. Will update thread when work gives me a minute!

[rob999]

I'll update the thread on Saturday Matty

[Wreelybro]

I'll update the thread on Saturday Matty

 

lol - Over MBR then?

[rob999]

 

I'll update the thread on Saturday Matty

 

lol - Over MBR then?

 

Sure am!!

[fezzasus]

Long lunch in Alconbury by any chance?