Nice to see the tides starting to turn and theres more people trying to turn their cars back to standard looks. Keep up the good work mate.

 

You have Ade's wheels and I have his exhaust

Looking good there those four pots cleaned back really well are you highlighting the lettering in white?

 

Callipers are now gloss black, decided to go for the subtle look in keeping with the car, although I was sad to see the green go. I was going to white the lettering but where they had previously been sprayed the letter edges had rounded so trying to get it crisp would be impossible.




Also gave the new to me suspension a good look over.



It's come from a very low mileage and recently imported 96RA that's being turned into a rally car and looks like new. It has some over spray on the top mounts but otherwise look like a good find.

Not sure what are currently on mine but its stupidly low on the front so crashes about, I can't wait to get a nice compliant ride.

Anyone know where I will find a guide to spring rates, or even better confirm what red & green dots then orange & pink dots represent?

However the bigger issue is that I need to get my Spec C RA out of storage soon so I'm thinking about selling the classic! I had planned to keep both but I know one will just end up sat and not move (probably the classic) so it seems such a waste.

The issue is they are both fantastic cars, both different but equally quite similar. Both deliver huge smile factors but in different ways, both are rubbish at anything other than hooning.

Time put my thinking hat on.

 

Use each in turn for 6 months around with winter tyres on the classic

That suspension looks great as well

 

If I had the space that's what I would do, who needs a front lawn when I could have a GC8 sat there?

Your 'project' is looking impressive, that will be a very tidy RA.

 

Indeed jim what else is a front lawn for nice find on the strut side there that will get you sat just at the right height now for sure.

Thanks for the positive comment there.... It's moving forward at a steady pace which is probably best really giving me time to make the right choices on route, I've got a lot that I can start to do myself shortly so now the work really starts. The important thing for me is the base the rest in time then will follow

 

Love seeing projects like this. Great job on bringing back a future classic.

 

+1.SJ.

 

Those struts and spring super clean Si, great find...I'm sure I have some sprig info somewhere I'll see if I can find it

 

It's Jimb's thread Ian your getting confused

 

senior moment FTW...sorry Jim

 

I decided to start replacing my struts today, I say started but I've had to give up after doing the front as I've lost all feeling in my fingers and toes due to it being so cold.

My RA had been lowered, not sure what springs are on it, or what dampers but over the last few weeks the ride has been getting worse so it was time to take action.

As you can see it is very low.


Not sure what shocks these are as they have no markings.

Looking at the condition of them they have come from a car that's done more miles than my RA. They are quite rusty and my car is rust free so Im not sure when they were put on.

Fronts were nice and easy to swap over, needed a bit of force on the lower strut bolts but I soaked them last week which I think helped.

It now sits at least 25mm higher at the front, which is what's needed as I want it looking as standard as possible, not scraping its belly on the floor.


I've got the rears started and removed the rear seats and loosened the top bolts but called it a day on the lower bolts as I feared I might loose my toes through frost bite.

I need some good weather as it needs a good polish as I've decided that she's got to go. Expect to see it on the market in the next few weeks once its suspension is finished and its been well cleaned.

I'll be sad to see it go but I'm missing the spec c and don't have the space for both, I know I'll regret it once its gone.

 

Went out for a drive today on the new suspension and it feels great. So compliant compared to the crashing and banging on the previous struts. Now the ride matches the rest of the car, fantastic fun. I can safely say it's the best thing I've done to it so far.

Also managed to give it a quick clean today, unfortunately way to cold to give it a polish. The fact the water was freezing on the bodywork was a clue!

So photo overload as I realised I've not put many photos on this thread of the complete car and interior. I usually put dodgy photos of details taken with my phone so here are some better pictures.

 

some very neat vaccuuming on the seats!!!

 

That really is one well kept RA nice work fella definately a keeper

What cage is in it by the way?

 

Thanks.

I have no idea on the cage, it was in when I got the car and I assume it was put in while it was in Japan. I've not seen any markings on it and I don't want to remove the foam. Not seen any others that bolt into the B pillar though?

 

Looks like a cusco dash dodger but not seen the b-pillar bits before either

 

That looks great you've made some big changes in this in a short time

 

Thank you. Although I wish I'd done a full strip down like yours. Can't wait to see yours finished.

 

Slows steps here at the minute, hopefully the body will be sent to the paint shop in the next few days then I can start work on the other areas, I'm there in my mind if that makes sence all planned and stepped out its the only way I can do it and I can't wait to get things underway fully.... Seeing yours spurs me on since mine is stripped down now it makes you loose sight on what your looking towards.

 

Went out for a drive on some of my local roads today and I still can't believe how much better the car drives with the new struts and springs. It really is a great B road warrior now with the short ratio box and quick rack, it's just huge fun. Makes me ask myself why I'm thinking of selling it?

As it was a little warmer today I actually managed to start polishing it. It's not been polished since I've owned it and by the look of it the last polish it saw would have been in the mid 2000's. Anyone who knows my Spec C Type RA will know having a dirty car is torture for me but other jobs on the classic have been higher up the list.

It was not to bad but has a few marks on it like this.


The rest of the body is just very dull with an almost grey orange peel on it, not sure if this picture shows it?


I'd started on the door shuts yesterday but forgot to take some before pics, this was taken just as I started.


Then after a bit of spit and polish.


I managed to get all the panels clayed and polished but it needs another once over tomorrow and then a couple of coats of wax. I can't believe how good the panels are for an 18year old car.

 

Door shuts look great! Always finishes a car off well clean door shuts

 

I'll second that

 

This is exactly how I want mine to look, absolutely stunning yet understated

 

Very tidy mate, great to see such a rare version in such tidy condition. Great work keep it up

 

Starting to warm to these early ra's, may even replace the type r as my favourite model