Back in my own car...................finally

[MEL]

Time for a bit of an update.

I love the power delivery on this thing. I have even discovered it has a brand new stainless cat back exhaust section - bonus

I have put on a couple of hundred miles now and can say that it is currently wearing completely sh1t rubber

The back is constantly trying to break away although it seems a lot more progressive than the 200 which felt a bit snappy. Its being laid up for a while as i am waiting for more parts to arrive. In the meantime i have started work on it and these bits have arrived.

Front strut brace


Rear strut brace


Started stripping the interior


2 of these have arrived


This magically appeared at the door


Thats it for now.
I am waiting for the coilovers, brakes, arb's, induction kit and walbro to turn up.

I have also given up on the idea of the BBS copies. I am buying Juz's old wheels off him in a tasty 8.5x17 ET20 front and 9.5x17 ET20 rear flavour.

More updates soon

[MEL]

Some more parts turned up friday

New coilovers with 8/6kg f/r spring rates


330mm front brake conversion with 8 pot calipers


The kit included Ferodo DS2500 pads, braided lines etc

I know what some of you are going to think but the brake kit worked out to be around £500 cheaper than the 4/6 pot Brembp/AP kits.

More updates to come soon

[MEL]

Another little update.

Nothing has really happened with the car apart from it failing its MOT.

Failure 1 - all indicator bulbs are the incorrect colour (4 new bulbs at a fiver so an easy fix)

Failure 2 - emissions - this was about 8x what it should be (i think this is going to be the lambda/oxygen sensor so again this should be an easy fix)

I got a fair few advisories too

Advisory 1 - nearside front suspension arm has play in balljopint (will be sorted when i get my coilovers on)

Advisory 2 - offside front suspension arm has play in balljopint (will be sorted when i get my coilovers on)

Advisory 3 - parking brake effeciency low - 17% (free fix - it just needs the handbrake cable adjusted)

Advisory 4 - front wiper blades worn (a fiver for a new set)

Advisory 5 - rearview mirror insecure (glue)

Advisory 6 - front shock absorbers getting soft (will be sorted when i get my coilovers on)

Advisory 7 - front brake flexi hoses cracking (this will be sorted when i get my brake conversion fitted)

Advisory 8 - front arb drop links worn (a new set will be ordered tomorrow)

This arrived but after a chance conversation...............


...........i will soon have these back


These fell into my possession thanks to Juz




The original leather interior has now been fully stripped out and sold (those are the parts i got to solve the MOT issues).

[smurf200sx]

Nice project Mel Interested to see how it turns out. Any engine mods planned at all yet?

[MEL]

I have the usual - colder plugs and a K&N induction kit just to help the breathing a little. Need to get my hands on a decat but thats it for now.

An SR conversion is a possibility at some point in the future after the other thread here jogged my memory a little. Next year it will either be that or an M3 lump.

I set myself a £5000 budget for this project to include the car aswell and i have just about hit that. I just need to convince the other half that the rollcage i want is a serious safety precaution that is worth spending the extra on (of course that might mean she gets a little blue box with shiny stuff in to even things out )

[Alex]

An RB would be cool.

[MEL]

An RB would be cool.

It would be, it would also be hugely expensive.

I orginally only intended to spend £5000 which had to include the car.

I am really close to that already and still need to sort out a cage (about £500), decat (about £200) and tyres (about £700).

Sorting out some serious power is not aomething i can atm. I do get a bonus from work in October and a decent payrise come April so next year i will look into the power side of things.

An M3 lump giving 300bhp will probably set me back about £2000 but be the easiest option. I have seen an SR engine/gearbox mount conversion kit in the states (although i can find details now) for about £900 plus shipping & taxes (although i am sure i could get the mounts made cheaper over here) plus around £2500 for an SR lump and mods to get 300bph.

An RB lump will probably cost that on its own before anything else is done.

Money in my case dont grow on tree's, or anything else for that matter

[Alex]

Yeah, i know what you mean. Whenever i read rare project threads my imagination runs a bit wild

Looks like a cool project dude

[Phill]

Why a slushbox though??

[MEL]

Why a slushbox though??

Because i have the equivalent of a meccano set holding my left leg together.

[MEL]

This is about the 4th update so far (i think).

Started fitting my new parts

Firstly - a bit more interior stripping


How many wires
I am going to trim as much as i can from the loom and try and tidy it all up in overbraid type stuff.



Amazing how much crap comes out


Then the good stuff started.

The old


Out with the old, in with the new




The test fit


The actual fit




The finished article


During the test fit i found the new wheels i got dont actually fit over the new brake setup
Time to start looking for something more suitable.

We only managed to get one corner done but now we've done it the other side should only take a couple of hours. The rears will be easy.

Its looking like a 4x4 at the moment but as soon as the rest is fitted i will take it to be professionaly adjusted and aligned.

A big to Cluck for dropping my seats off to me today.

The mounts for these should be here tuesday so keep watching for the seat installation and the rest of the work

[MEL]

A couple of random arty ones to finish as it has been a beautiful day

[Cluck]

good luck with it all. Chatting with you yesterday was enlightening and it sounds like you're taking a good approach to it

Those brakes are stonking, but I would look at getting the DS3000 pads in place of the 2500 next time, especially as it's a dedicated track 'toy' . Shame those BMW wheels didn't fit over them though

Have fun with the seats. They really are ridiculously comfy but I just couldn't get them low enough in my car to wear a helmet . They're finally home again

And those strut braces? How thick - made my Cusco items look a bit, well, puny .

Keep up the good work

[kins]

interior looked a bit nice to strip.




ill get my coat

[MEL]

Will probably need new pads before the years out so will gove the DS3000's a go

I have found a replica wheel in an 18 to go over the brakes and they do part ex too

As for he interior - my new (old) buckets are more than upto the job

[Lou]

If your not part ex-ing the wheels, you interested in selling what you have their???

[MEL]

If your not part ex-ing the wheels, you interested in selling what you have their???

These ones




They are no use to me now, would be looking for what i paid for them - £200 as they are.

[MEL]

Time for another update.

Have been working my arse of doing a spot of diy and decorating over the last week or so......

..........so i couldnt be bothered for any real tinkering today.

Instead, i decided to fit my bgw that has caused a bit of a divide elsewhere.

Removing the standard spoiler has left me with a little problem.

Drivers side is fine


Passenger side looks like Mount Etna



I think the previous owner has had the spoiler replaced or resprayed at some point as this is what i found when i took it off. I didnt help things much as the nut was rusted to fcuk.

I am going to get a bodyshop to sort it as i cant be bothered - can anyone reccomend a good cheap bodyshop in Essex?

[MEL]

Marking out where to drill


The first holes


All the holes


Thank god for ratchet spanners


Fairly tidy for my bodging


The spoiler fits perfectly with no window clearance issues at all


The finished article


I am really chuffed with it. Thanks to Jesus Ninja for reccomending it and 800bhp for supplying it

[sprout]

I'm asuming that is functional other wise holy god its a great big gay wing!