Post by tazza on Aug 27, 2018 10:44:30 GMT
Thanks guys, next update... MOT is booked for thursday 30th! Better get a shift on I think...
So these have turned up....
Cue much excitement but we'll come back to those!
While waiting we cracked on with the engine service. In the beginning..
Bit later on
Think he found a new home...
Finally all off.
Now to reverse the process... Unfortunately we hit a slight snag and the new water pump was a rather tight fit, then a bolt snapped in it. The 2nd new pump fitted perfectly and we were soon back on track!
And all back together... I even managed to give the engine bay a bit of a dust!
In the meantime I'd managed to get the ball joints pushed out the front upper wishbones so they were due some paint, after the mandatory soak in the electrolysis bath.
Very happy with how they turned out.
Bit of paint and good to go.
Luckily the vice managed to push both the bushes and the ball joints in, instead of having to go back to the press.
Ready to be fitted.
And back on the car.
At this point we realised some new TRE's would be useful so a little wait for those to arrive. Meanwhile...
Fronts build up and brakes bled all round.
Onto some interior bits... the seats have seen better days and leather is rather solid so a few coats of zymol to get them started.
Seat back improving.
Then onto some fluids... must put fresh fuel in asap... 8 year old stuff can't be good!
Then alot of breath holding, finger and toe crossing and it fired into life first go! Woop success!
Quickly followed by 'hmm theres alot of smoke in the engine bay by the exhaust' followed by the other half heading for the fire extinguisher... turned out just to be old oil that had leaked down onto the exhaust from the dodgy rocker cover gasket, the new one has yet to show signs of leaking... phew! (note no fire extinguisher used - I poked my head into the engine bay instead)
Next up the wheelarch liners were cleaned off and re-fitted.
I fully agree new bolts for the wheel arch liners are required.
So onto the standard MOT checks, turn the lights on and kick the tyres. Hmm problem one dim headlamp and no horn... wheres the multi-meter. Unfortunately not many pictures of that bit as it was getting late and I was hungry. The horn was traced back to the 'wiper seal' I think that's what it's called, bit of a clean and that now works and headlamp was a dodgy earth.
Finally onto the exciting bit... shiny, shiny.
Time to tighten some bushes at 'ride height'.
Artsy shot while waiting for the light again.
Quick string check, the geo is all over the place but it's already booked in for a proper go over so just sorted the toe so it points straight to get us there.
And then it drove off the bricks, off the drive and out into the estate... the neighbours even came out to have a look! Cheeky shot - finished in true British bank holiday weather!
Essay almost over!
What's left for MOT?
- Small power steering leak to fix, appears to be leaking from the new pipe connection to rack... maybe PTFE? Advice welcome!
- Airbox to be re-fitted.
- Under trays to go on
What's on the list short term?
- Two new alignment bolts for the fronts as the current ones seem to of forgotten than adjustment is their job.
- 100 miles on the new springs and then full alignment, the cambers are currently shocking, toe has been adjusted to point in similar directions but it'll be getting done properly and in alot better detail than we can currently manage on the drive.
- Full clean and polish, need to get the DA out, micro scratches from sitting in the garage and being pushed past.
- Fit the ducktail.
- Need to sort the mirrors they're stuck fairly solid so need to free them up a bit. Advice welcome!
- Make and fit a slam panel, that area just looks untidy to me.
- Fit the roll bar.
- Go drive it.
Anyway time to go stare at it for a while... hopefully the back hurrys up and improves a bit so I get to drive to the MOT rather than having to let my partner take it.
So these have turned up....
Cue much excitement but we'll come back to those!
While waiting we cracked on with the engine service. In the beginning..
Bit later on
Think he found a new home...
Finally all off.
Now to reverse the process... Unfortunately we hit a slight snag and the new water pump was a rather tight fit, then a bolt snapped in it. The 2nd new pump fitted perfectly and we were soon back on track!
And all back together... I even managed to give the engine bay a bit of a dust!
In the meantime I'd managed to get the ball joints pushed out the front upper wishbones so they were due some paint, after the mandatory soak in the electrolysis bath.
Very happy with how they turned out.
Bit of paint and good to go.
Luckily the vice managed to push both the bushes and the ball joints in, instead of having to go back to the press.
Ready to be fitted.
And back on the car.
At this point we realised some new TRE's would be useful so a little wait for those to arrive. Meanwhile...
Fronts build up and brakes bled all round.
Onto some interior bits... the seats have seen better days and leather is rather solid so a few coats of zymol to get them started.
Seat back improving.
Then onto some fluids... must put fresh fuel in asap... 8 year old stuff can't be good!
Then alot of breath holding, finger and toe crossing and it fired into life first go! Woop success!
Quickly followed by 'hmm theres alot of smoke in the engine bay by the exhaust' followed by the other half heading for the fire extinguisher... turned out just to be old oil that had leaked down onto the exhaust from the dodgy rocker cover gasket, the new one has yet to show signs of leaking... phew! (note no fire extinguisher used - I poked my head into the engine bay instead)
Next up the wheelarch liners were cleaned off and re-fitted.
I fully agree new bolts for the wheel arch liners are required.
So onto the standard MOT checks, turn the lights on and kick the tyres. Hmm problem one dim headlamp and no horn... wheres the multi-meter. Unfortunately not many pictures of that bit as it was getting late and I was hungry. The horn was traced back to the 'wiper seal' I think that's what it's called, bit of a clean and that now works and headlamp was a dodgy earth.
Finally onto the exciting bit... shiny, shiny.
Time to tighten some bushes at 'ride height'.
Artsy shot while waiting for the light again.
Quick string check, the geo is all over the place but it's already booked in for a proper go over so just sorted the toe so it points straight to get us there.
And then it drove off the bricks, off the drive and out into the estate... the neighbours even came out to have a look! Cheeky shot - finished in true British bank holiday weather!
Essay almost over!
What's left for MOT?
- Small power steering leak to fix, appears to be leaking from the new pipe connection to rack... maybe PTFE? Advice welcome!
- Airbox to be re-fitted.
- Under trays to go on
What's on the list short term?
- Two new alignment bolts for the fronts as the current ones seem to of forgotten than adjustment is their job.
- 100 miles on the new springs and then full alignment, the cambers are currently shocking, toe has been adjusted to point in similar directions but it'll be getting done properly and in alot better detail than we can currently manage on the drive.
- Full clean and polish, need to get the DA out, micro scratches from sitting in the garage and being pushed past.
- Fit the ducktail.
- Need to sort the mirrors they're stuck fairly solid so need to free them up a bit. Advice welcome!
- Make and fit a slam panel, that area just looks untidy to me.
- Fit the roll bar.
- Go drive it.
Anyway time to go stare at it for a while... hopefully the back hurrys up and improves a bit so I get to drive to the MOT rather than having to let my partner take it.
le sigh