PDA

View Full Version : 'Project Autumn'



Garrett_T25
13-02-2007, 01:32
Im using this as somewhere I can look at for reference to see/show others exactly what Ive done to my car since I bought it. Also as this is the start, Ill explain the name (:ghey:). Basically, I bought an AW11 about a year ago, with the intention of prepping it and then racing it around a Nurburgring trip we had booked for September '06. The AW11 died barely 3 months into ownership (valve stem seals) and I needed a car for that trip. (The trip was in Autumn...you get the idea..)

The RS13 was something Id loved for ages, and I had lots of people telling me Id never get one at 19. So I did the sensible thing, I picked up the Trader and looked on here religously until I found one. I spotted a nice black one for sale, gold compomotive wheels, it looked great. I gave myself a day to decide, finally gave the guy a ring, it was sold (Fudy :whip: :D). Gutted, I hit the autotrader once more and found a red one. I couldnt imagine myself liking it as much as a black one, but using the clearcorners demo car as inspiration, and my then crude photoshopping skills I knocked up what I wanted my S13 to look like. Red was suddenly the best colour.

http://img458.imageshack.us/img458/9462/hopefullymu3.jpg

Again, the example I wanted sold within a day. This SX hunting lark was hard work. A week passes by, already Im getting desperate, until there she was. Apart from some damage on the front, she looked perfect. What followed was the stupidest, and most expensive trip to Coventry I ever made. My parents didnt know (...whoops), but it was worth the bollocking I got on my return, the car was mine.

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/2187/10vj2.jpg

Not a bad start! I paid £1800 with 70k on the clock, and genuinely thought Id got a bargain. It was running a strong stage 1 set-up, along with an uprated fuel pump and a Saab FMIC. Then, 4 miles away from the sellers house, all I could see was smoke. It turned out the turbo seals had gone on my T25, and it was time for a new turbo. I wasnt happy, but then this gave me the perfect opportunity to increase my insurance! So, I bought a second hand T28 from an S14A, and promptly had it fitted by Tony at ART in Wakefield.

My poorly T25
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/456/11hz6.jpg

My new(ish) T28
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/8572/12sy7.jpg

I was annoyed at myself for not trying to fit it myself. I bought this car as a means of teaching myself how to do things, and at the first hurdle I gave up, so I swore not to take it to the garage again unless I really had to. On the rollers at ART, Tony set the car to run at 0.4bar which made a very conservative 140rwhp (170bhp est). He was pleased...I wasnt really, I like numbers bigger than that. Unfortunately, the insurance dont so there it stayed, with a slight misfire for the rest of a very warm and enjoyable summer. Driving every day with no problems and a lucky escape involving me being a tool and leaving the oil filler cap in a petrol station. Cue a back-lane tussle with a Jag and a few hours later the trusty AA were taking me home on a flatbed to be safe.

Now, with the car running pretty well, and the Nurburgring trip only weeks away, its time I made the car look like it should. Luckily, my other halfs step-dad is a top bloke, and also a professional sprayer. Into his hands it went, and it emerged like this:

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/8614/13at2.jpg

The front end resprayed, the bonnet done black, and a vented headlight cover fitted. I was back in love. However, 0.4bar simply wasnt enough, so I bought an MBC from GTS-Chris; an SW20 tuner. It didnt work, and I was going to Germany the day after. As ashamed and regretted an action it was, I went to Ripspeed and bought a bleed valve... :ghey:

It was awful. Running 0.6 bar, and with a boost leak, I wish Id have just taken it off, but I didnt. I did buy two Pirelli P-Zeros for the rears though (225/40/18), and a HKS SSQV BOV. Anyway, the 'Ring was awesome, and to my surprise, the SX really is a competitive sports car, and the rear tyres were damned impressive!

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/2234/14br3.jpg

I got back from Germany, went drag racing the day after I got home, and the car didnt miss a single beat. Then, the days got shorter, the nights got colder, and the fun of modifying took a back seat to the daily driver routine. I did little bits, such as buying a Bren device. I accidentally fired the bolt into the atmosphere, so ended up buying another, set at 0.8bar..
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/7572/owned2hs0.jpg

The misfire eventually developed, and I replaced the plugs in a skint last ditch effort to stop it. It didnt really work, and the misfire got slightly worse every day, eventually starting the car became hard, and shortly after Christmas, the car died. For some reason or another, I could never find the time nor the money to get the problems started. I knew my starter was dead, my coils were the cause of the misfire, and that my tracking is off at the front.

Garrett_T25
13-02-2007, 01:35
I decided to get off my arse. The SX looked abandoned, covered in frost.
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4594/54006543of9.jpg

Funky brake rust coating
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/6256/15km4.jpg

While I was at it, I thought I might as well take some weight out too.

Sound proofing and carpeting gone...
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/3615/16pc0.jpg

I thought the spare wheel was unsually hard to remove, it was covered in ice!
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/3526/17zo4.jpg

Back seats, seatbelts, parcel shelf...
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/6853/39911510pv2.jpg

I decided to have a break (...after an hours work!) and weigh the stuff I took out. From the weight I normally drive around with, I took out 114.8kg of weight!
Back seats/carpets etc: ~50kg
Spare wheel ~ 30kg
Parcel shelf ~ 25kg
Jack ~ 10kg

As a daily driver, the parcel shelf and spare wheel will obviously remain, but not for track days. I was pleased, and headed back out with some coilpacks.
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/3878/18vz8.jpg

Easiest job Ive done yet. Time for the starter. Had a quick read on the SXOC, wrote down the key points thiking it would be easy...

First of all, Ive had bad experiences working under cars (dot 4 fluid in the eye hurts!), so how happy was I that this is where I was going to spend the next few hours?!
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/3858/22sh4.jpg

Despite it being very cold, very wet, Id cut my right hand to shred, and my nose was touching the gearbox, it wasnt all bad. I had a helper who kept bringing me tea!

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/1926/19xr9.jpg

My starter motor. Henceforth referred to as ''the bastard''
http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/4087/21zw8.jpg

I struggled for hours, writhing my somewhat girlish arms in places they shouldnt be able to reach. Feeling like a contortionist with a liking for pain, the seemingly easy job had all but defeated me. However, I finally got the bolt that had been deceiving me, and the starter wriggled free. Id won. To celebrate, I stood on a ledge and cast ''the bastard'' onto the concrete floor. Following a short ten minute victory dance during which my other half refused to even look at me, I got back to work and fitted my new starter. Occasionally sneaking off the job to insult the now lifeless ''bastard'' wasnt helping much, but I got it doen reasonably quickly. Everything back together, time to go out for a drive!


...or not. She still wont start. Starters cranking over fine, so Im 99% certain its not that, to me it seems like a fuelling problem. Ive tried the fuel pump trick numerous times, and although its close, it just wont start. My thoughts so far:

-Fuel starvation. The fuel pump is definitely firing up, but it sounds like the spark is there and nothings being ignited.
-Flooding. The only feasible reason I give for the fuel pump trick working up until today. Would suggest I just need to keep cranking it over until Im satisfied the fuel is gone.
-Weak spark. Im going to try testing the coils/plugs during the week to see if theyre sparking properly.
-Timing out. Its so close to cranking over, but its just not catching.

I have had 'oil' mentioned to me as a possible cause. Apparantly on a mates car, it had similar problems which resulted in oil being somehow mixed with the fuel, which was cured by a simple oil change. I cant see how it would happen, although I do need an oil change anyway.

Will update this thread when necessary. Its not as exciting as the V8 swaps etc, but hey, its a down to earth account. :D

Just a teaser, a quick photoshop mock-up of the coil-overs and plate relocation:
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/6672/myrs13wv2.jpg

marty_t3
13-02-2007, 01:45
Love the look of your car, even without the coilovers :nod: I have to admit i did wonder if your avatar pic was actually your car :D

Garrett_T25
13-02-2007, 01:49
Thanks man :thumbs:

Ill drop off the spare pair of coils I have when/if I get her started :wack: :D

Roger_Sausage
13-02-2007, 06:29
I'm not much of an S13 fan usually but I must admit that looks lovely mate :thumbs:

Good luck with getting her fighting fit!..........

MEL
13-02-2007, 08:51
I really like the look you have acheived. You just need to get a set of proper jap wheels now :thumbs:

Pablo13
13-02-2007, 09:42
Nice project. I have been having a similar flooding problem which I could not cure by pulling the fuel pump fuse or cleaning the spark plugs. I found set of old plugs and put them in and it fired straight up. hope this helps:thumbs:

Garrett_T25
13-02-2007, 10:50
Its worth a shot, thanks mate :thumbs:

base-1
15-02-2007, 22:26
Very nice mate, lovely car

Love the starter story, very funny :D