Leominster Mate, its between Birmingham and Wales - middle of bloody nowhere

Its a 2.5 hour journey each way for me but well worth it. I know a few others that travel from all around to him. He's a good guy and is very talented

 

Couple of hours for me too, especially if I'm towing the car lol. Ryan is one of very few people I'd let near my car with a paint gun in his hand.

 

Couldn't agree more mate. Picked the scoob up today and he's done an amazing job.

Cheers Ryan

Soon as I got home I straight on with finishing the carpet and fitting the firewall and harness bar.



For some reason the carpet looks slightly different greys, I couldn't really see it in daylight


I'm glad I measured a million times and kept tweaking the template. Its got a nice flush tidy fit



Harness bar went in easily


No its ready for the next track day. Hopefully be at Bedford in a few weeks

 

Cheers lads,good to see you again Gez
That fire wall looks top draw,didnt hang about there did you lol

 

No chance mate, soon as I got in. Sun was out, cheaky not to.

Felt great getting back in the scoob, really missed it. Can't wait to get it on the track

 

After reading SJ build the other night, it gave me a kick up the are to get mine going again. Must admit it is pretty cool have all the cars progress in one place. TBH I wish I started this when I bought when it was totally standard all those years ago.

Since the last post I did a few track days with some friends. Bedford and then Snetterton, never driven Snetterton before, totally loved it. A few pics of those two days.




little WRX showing a spec-c who's boss

this mclaren looked the nuts


Between Bedford and Snetts, we had to look at the alignment. I needed to add some more camber as the rear 888's were rubbing on the arches. While the alignment was getting done, might as well get anti-lift kit fitted.




A few months later is was another Bedford track day, full fluid service before.



The weather was terrible, pissing cats and dogs



I had my crappy normal tyres on, had virtually no grip. I was sliding all over the place. Later in the day I went out in Budgies, he was using his Nankangs and I was astonished at the grip. IIRC he did spin a few times but when he got them scrubbed in and warmed up they were brilliant. I'll defo be getting some of these for the wet in the new year. Magg's we'll be chatting soon

Anyway, way before this. I think I was on my third lap, must of only been doing 30/40 approaching a corner and there was a huge bang. Sounded like something big and metal had fallen off. Had that real sick feeling, I thought the exhaust headers had fallen off. Pulled over as you're meant to and wait, after about 15mins waiting and still no marshals I got out to inspect. Nothing was out of place, nothing hanging off and nothing on the road.

Thought ok, I'll start it and see. Started fine, went to move - uh oh. Huge grinding noise, gearbox wasn't happy. Stopped after moving about a meter. Marshals towed me back to the pits.

After a call to the oracle "Tim/Subbus" and chatting with the guys I decided to drive home. The gearbox was goosed, all I wanted now was to get it home. Luckily I'm only about half away from the track. It sounded awful, it sounded like the bottom of the car was dragging on the floor.

While driving home, I came to terms with what had happened as there was still a bit of shock. The worst part of the day was loosing out on the track day. Must admit, I got quite excited as I now had to get a 6speed At this point a really wished I had a trailer for these situations. This will be on the cards in the new year.

The following monday I got on the case, I need to get a 6speed box sharpish. Tim organised a box that he had recently checked/rebuilt. I was much happier getting a box that he new inside out. Got on the blower to Mark at Lateral to get a new clutch and a lightened flywheel. Sorry, no cool pictures. It was all done really quick. While fitting I had to make an emergency trip up to Wolverhampton as I thought the 180 diff worked with the hawk rear drive shafts. A couple of hours later it was all sorted

Just a pick of the sad broken 5speed.



That night when we had finished with the new gear box, we went out to test everything. I could'nt believe the difference. I know the ratio is different but I didn't expect the overall feel. Gear changes are shorter, less slack, just feels more aggressive.

 

Even though I had a different diff on, it was only temporary. I wanted the 180 diff and the thicker/stronger rear shafts. I couldn't fit all this as I needed the STI hubs and different rear brakes. I quite like the idea of the k-sport 6pot rear brakes

I was pretty broke at this point, this would have to a future purchase

Me being a complete tart, I wasn't really happy about putting theseparts on in this condition. I found a blaster near me that specialised in aqua blasting. He recommended POR15 rather than harmerite etc. He was telling me its the hardest paint to remove in his experience.

A few pic's before
(I know these are the front hubs, I had these spare)








After blasting





Then painted








I know this is completely pointless, but I've found these. These will finish off the rear diff nicely. They'll be ordered in the new year


I love this stuff, easy to apply and go's a long way. Couple of coats and it's hard as nails

 

I was on the hunt for for a set of STI rear hubs. Lowest I got was about £150 plus postage. Couldn't believe my luck when I won these on Ebay. £45 plus postage. I'll get these blasted and new bearings in the new year



I've had this inlet manifold hanging around in the garage which I wanted to paint. It was originally smoothed out and then Zirco ceramic coated. Too good not to use, plus I've never been 100% happy with the existing manifold. It has some rough spots and a small crack in the powder coating.




A good clean and then several coats of high build primer. This and the ceramic coating created a lovely smooth finish.






I found this Chrome Gold paint. I couldn't believe the results, it actually looked like it was gold dipped rather than just painted. This was exactly what I was after.






Then came the lacquer, I had loads of enamel lacquer left over from another job. I wish I had the knowledge of a professional painter as this changed the overall look. Don't get me wrong, it still looks the nuts but it looked better before.

 

Nothing wrong with not wanting to put rusty bits on - looking good

 

Cheers mate, its a bit addictive. Now I've seen how easy and cheap it is, I wanna take everything off and paint there's something very theroputic about it

 

Cracking stuff all the way through the thread dude. Nicely done.

 

Thanks mate

Ive got some cool bits to do over Xmas

 

Some great progress Gez, your definately making an awesome car!

BUT...............

I'll post the video at some point, cheeky fukcer

 

I've followed your project for a while now and glad that you still have the enthusiasm for your car,sometimes things don't go as planed but the key is to keep on going until You have reached a stage that you are totally happy with it's a lovely project Gez keep going mateSJ.

 

Hello Ross mate, I had to put that pic up. Great shot of the cars, must admit I do like your spec-c a lot. It was a great day snetts. Hopefully see you soon mate on track again.

Don't worry mate I remember you passing me, I had to cool down at some point

Thanks sj. It helps having a very understanding wife. She doesn't really mind how much I spend as long as I'm happy it's all worth it when you're blasting around the track. Can't wait to get back out

 

There's a few things I want to get done over the Xmas break. When I was getting the harness bar made, they recommended stiffening up the roll cage. Due to the door openings and there's no cross section there will be flex.

The plan is, diagonal bar in the back and front door bars. I wanted to get the cross door bars but they wouldn't fit with my seats. I'm hopping single bars will do the job.

As I know absolutely sod all about welding, my man Tim will be round to work his magic. All I needed to do was strip the sections where he'll be welding ready for him.

Seats out and steering wheel off to help free up some space (don't know what happened to my iPhone camera, couldn't of asked for better weather.



Then on to striping. Couple of coats of nitro mores, left for a few minutes seemed to soften up the powder coat so it wasn't too hard to scrap and then sand off.


Just got to wait now for Tim in the new year I will stripping as much back as possible. Little concerned about all this extra wait. The boot will be getting chopped up and as many little things as poss. Pretty sure a thinner lighter rear firewall will be made.

 

The other thing I want to get sorted is the engine start up. A little while back it hated starting up in the cold wet mornings. Half of the problem was the battery was dying as it hardly gets used. Now it's got a trickle charger it's 90% better but still not perfect. After checking all the obvious things like ground connections etc, a check valve will be fitted.


The pump bracket mounting might need adapting, but this should fit ok.

The other thing is new spark plugs. When I asked Duncan his advice for the best plugs you can get, I never thought I'd spend £80 on plugs but I only want the best

Fingers crossed it starts up perfectly now

 

Had a really productive and fun day today. Today we welded the extra roll cage bars

First I had a few new xmas bits to fit. New gear **** and bonnet dampers. Bloody bonnet dampers we a pain in the ars. Ended up throwing the instructions away and doing it totally different to what they said. I also got a sparco quick release, not 100% about it, it's a bit Fast and Furious




I originally wanted to swap the new fuel valve directly to what I already had and Tim mentioned its better to have some flex in the section.

I'll change the 90 for a 150º at a later date

Then it was onto the fun stuff. A mate of mine lent me this:

Saved so much time cutting the pipes

I bought a new welding blanket and a load of fire blankets to keep the interior sage while welding, they did the job perfectly. Ebay bargains


I bit of dry fitting and measuring, then tacking into place.




A nice neat weld from Tim, marginal sanding before painting


But then it was my time I've never even held a welder before. Love the idea of being able to weld but have sod all skill in it.

I was concentrating so bloody much a went well past the bracket good job Tim could go in a tidy the mess up. Didn't stop me though, had to have another go, I think you can just about make the weld in this pic


Tim then went around welding everything and also smoothed any rough patches/welds.








Did a quick test to make sure all seats fitted and then whipped the bars back out. Quick sand and then a thorough cleaning.




Then a coat of POR15. This stuff is amazing. The bars have only had 1 of 2 coats and was applied with a brush. The finish is easily on powder coating par.


Tomorrow will be, sorting out the paint inside the car and the bars 2nd coat. Really glad how it all went today, Tim was a star (as usual), car looks the nuts and I had my first welding experience

 

This build is so bloody good!!

 

Fantastic build mate, keep it going.

 

Thanks guys

 

Was able to get all the remaining painting done today. Got up early for the first coat on the bear pipes in the car. It really helped just masking a neat line where I wanted the paint to finish.




Then it was onto the second coat for the bars




Happy days, can't wait to get these back in the car. After getting dragged around the shops for a few hours, I wanted to get the second coat on the sections inside


I found it easier to remove the masking tape between coats before the paint dries.




I'd be suprised if anyone could see the joint of the two paints. Looking forward to seeing it all together. Hopefully I'll get everything back in tomorrow

 

Some real good work going on here

So, now a cage is going in this is becoming more of a dedicated track car? You planning on stripping out the interior completely??

 

Loving this car so much

 

It's defo track focused, just booked two trackdays for the next couple if months

Middle of last year I had planning permission denied for extending the garage which changed my plans. I did wanna complete strip out for track car. As it spends most of its time outside I'm gonna keep it road legal for the time being.

But who knows, my sure later next year when I've got bigger power I'll wanna do something


Thanks mate

 

[QUOTE=GezP;11306282]It's defo track focused, just booked two trackdays for the next couple if months

Middle of last year I had planning permission denied for extending the garage which changed my plans. I did wanna complete strip out for track car. As it spends most of its time outside I'm gonna keep it road legal for the time being.

But who knows, my sure later next year when I've got bigger power I'll wanna do something

[QUOTE]

You can strip it out and keep it road legal cant you?

Cant wait for mine to be running and back out on track days

 

You can mate. Pretty sure all the mot tester cares about is the belt, seat and the light etc controls work.

But the way I see it is, all or nothing. Striping out the interior won't actually save that much, the sound deadening will save more. Combining this with cutting panels, plexi glass, air con etc will be worth it.

One day I'll get my massive garage and it will go full out track toy. I'll save a fortune on road tax and insurance

 

Hopefully our paths will cross on track. Be nice to see yours in the flesh

 

 

Looking better and better every time dude, you doing Snetterton in Feb?