Swiss' Engine bay Restoration project
 

First off let me start by saying this will be in no way be to the level that SilverScoobySport has done on his scoob. I am not inclined to go to that extent nor do I have the opportunity to have the car off the road as this is my daily runner. So the plan is gradually refresh the engine bay as funds and time allows. all at the same time as keeping the car on the road.
That last part is the hardest as many items that I want to change may take days to complete so I have found the only way to do this is to purchase second hand similar parts, clean and prep ready for exchanging them in the engine bay

My main aim is to replace or sort out the rusty parts. Current car is a MY99 so as you can imagine the engine bay has seen better days and rust is everywhere being a UK car compared to imports that seem to be in better shape.

So far the list to do is endless but I have :

* Inlet Manifold - currently a pitted and marked standard silver colour. Plan is to refurbish this to a new colour, yet to be decided. No way am I going down the polished road as that is WAY too much like hard work !
* Radiator - the actual rad seems to be in good nick but the top and bottom are rotten and rusty as hell
*Fan - only one fan on this non aircon scoob but it is rusty and manky
* Various brackets - alarm bracket, boast solenoid, intercooler brackets etc. Many of them are in a poor condition
* Header tank - rusty top of the reservoir - this is actually getting replaced by a nice chrome Forge part :thumb:
* PAS- bracket, reservoir and pump incl pulley all need doing
* Intercooler - black, marked and pitted so replacing this with a newage WRX version
* Water bottle - stained and rusty pump. replace
* Pulleys - the worst offender is the crank pulley and am sick of seeing that rusty heap of mess. Idea was to replace with lightweight CDF pulleys but the cost is not in my budget so will have to refurb what I can :(
* - Alternator - either paint or make shiny :) I can do shiny !

The rest will either be cleaned, covered or replaced with new/second hand
Hoses will get replaced with Samco or similar, add a strut brace and tart up the battery/fuse cover etc

So quite a list so better get started !


What I am working with :eek:
This is it as I bought the car. Has not been touched since the day it rolled out the factory and seems to have been home to various wildlife , seen many an autumn judging by the leaves and stored underwater !

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps52f1153b.jpg

As you can see I have my work cut out !

Photos and updates coming soon :thumb:

First job was just a damn good clean which has given me a better idea of what lies beneath all that mess and dirt

After the first wash

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps28afbe7d.jpg

Far better already but it has not hidden the rusty parts :cry:, in fact made them stand out

Started with the PAS. This is an exchange job and here it is semi stripped

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps7cb1ee2d.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps55864938.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps99bc9567.jpg

Stripped it all down and then sat there wondering which bits needed painting or just cleaning

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...psfbcd42fd.jpg

Every item was degreased and cleaned
Masked off, garage converts into temporary spray booth and two coats of etch primer and three coats of either silver or wrinkle black

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps2f38b27e.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps991a42aa.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...pse2832389.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps13eccbd1.jpg

Will be adding more progress of this later

Nice! Got some work ahead of you there!

Cheers mate, I have :thumb:

Thats a fair bit of work to do. Will look smart when you've finished though!!

That's a lovely website you have put together Tony and some great work shown on there!

god completely forgotten about my signature and that website :loll:

Yes created it a few years back (must update it) as so many of my friends wanted more details on how to keep their cars clean and it just kind of evolved from there. Funnily enough still use some of those guides today :thumb:

I don't see many engine bays that neglected. Quite a difference from just a good clean. This is going to be interesting. :D

Deja-vu...well kind of :D you have your work cut out a lot more than last time around, good luck and looking forward to the before and after shots :)

Interesting , yes :)

Hard work , yes :(

It will be slow progress that I know but more updates coming as I have them

Whilst the PAS pump is drying, I started work on the intercooler.

This is the existing one ..nice

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps8c8687ff.jpg

To be replaced by this , a newage WRX intercooler

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps0f8968b1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps9cccb4b8.jpg

Cleaned, degreased, masked up and ready to paint

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps7bf529d3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...psce7c0108.jpg

Also prepped the pipework

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps58360fd2.jpg

Coat of etch primer and silver

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...psf4aa222e.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...pse250ffa4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps082d2d35.jpg

Will straighten all the fins top and bottom, refresh the rubber mounts and hopefully zinc plate the brackets. Just wondering if I should leave the fins alone or spray logo onto them. Thinking of leaving alone :)

Leave fins IMO

yes my thoughts.

Subscribed !!
Great thread
Loved to see the first shot of the engine bay
Don't think I touched mine untill 11 years although not as many rusty bits as mine sits for 6 says a week in its garage :D
My progress thread to give you an idea of where I'm at
Waiting on Lockys masterpiece then all systems GO with Rob putting it together for me

https://www.scoobynet.com/members-ga...p-project.html

Rallytech is your friend for a couple of hundred quid
Slam panel
Intercooler panel
Bolt and washers a must

Header and pas your well under way with
Autosol makes a difference if you have a couple of hours spare per piece but transforms it
I have went over the top with samcos ,but I don't drink or smoke or have many expenses in life :D
Red strutbrace was a bargain for me
Hellas too
Cdf pullies was a birthday treat but paint. And clean up will transform them as your making great progress


Keep up the good work !!!

Come on Chris your going to give me a bad reputation at this rate :D

Looks great what a difference a wash makes alone, chip away small steps when it's all added together you will have made a huge difference under there.

cool more swiss car porn, subscribed

You and john mac are the innovators that's caused us mere minions so much stress and expense :D


Love reading your threads

Nice start Swiss, get those Rallytech nuts and bolts for peanuts with the anodised washers and it's a cheap but really effective upgrade. If you're doing the alternator don't forget that bracket too:norty:

Other simple things like change the bolts on the top of the wings, some stainless bolts for the header tank etc all make a huge improvement:thumb:

Funnily enough I had already been using your engine bay dress up thread as an inspiration without you knowing :)

Have already got the bolts and washers. Put them on the engine bay but then decided that the washers were too bright so have ordered some black washers as the engine bay colour scheme is going to be silver/polished/black/blue. Keep it nice and simple I say :thumb:

Strutbrace already done, washer bottle cleaned and refitted. Have replaced the horns but might look at hellas and some tasty treats from Tim@rallytech are arriving soon :north:. Loved how you swapped your birthday money and xmas jumper money for engine parts :loll:

As for the cleaning, well lets just say Simon and myself know our way around a micro fibre cloth or two :D:thumb:

Thats the idea. At some point I would like to strip and clean engine bay but in reality I will have to do that when the manifold is out as that gives me the most access to the block and frame . Its coming along and now the weather is improving it can only get better, well lets hope so

Your wish is granted :D:D

Yes the stainless bolt kit is a bargain and you can pick your own colour of washers too

Great fun spending five hours with autosol as well

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps47f3eed7.jpg

But once you do one piece it's the other bits that look bad

Tell me about it !!

Looking good

Very nice mate

Looking good there mate :thumb:
I done mine a couple of years ago look good but after a very shore while looked almost the same :cry:

Been far too busy this weekend getting drunk so no progress but finished the intercooler, fixed the fins and it is ready to go on

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps1079c1c6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...ps3f65b52e.jpg

Next job will be to reassemble the Power steering pump

I think you need another weekend away Chris. :thumb:

My engine bay needs cleaned, and I like a drink. You clean it, then we'll drink. :D

Swiss, can i come over n drop my car off when you're done on yours, so you can fully detail mine inside n out, in return i will entertain your wife, whilst you are busy, sound like a plan? :D

Sounds like a plan. We were just talking about coming up to Newcastle as Zoe says I have never shown her the sites...:thumb:

Now that sounds like a terrible plan :hjtwofing See you really thought it through :D

:luxhello::luxhello::luxhello::luxhello::luxhello:

The drinking session will suffice. :D

You'll need some tour guides though, as you'll not know the sights. ;)

Goods stuff, although my standards must be woefully low

I looked at the second (washed) pic - and thought "wow cracking job", followed by "this is going to be a short project thread"

Until I realised the second pic was the staring point