Started life as a red 1.6 driver found for the grand sum of £300. The idea is for it to be a bit of a weekend toy/track mobile. I've never done an engine swap before, or welded, or sprayed a car, just making it up as i go along so i know there are a lot of things i should/shouldnt have done and its also never going to be up to a standard that some of the cars on here are....but i had a go
Engine worked and got me home...just
Got it home and attacked it with spanners and discovered it was actually quite a mint shell underneath
Whipped the old engine and box out
Set about priming and painting the inside (its Fiat/Lancia 657A Grigio Tiepolo - Metalic grey)
Never done this before and it took a lot of getting used to.
Engine bay was next to be hit with some paint
Ooooh look what the postie delivered! Safety devices 6 point bolt in with fixed diagonal and door bars, and some lovely OMP seats that weigh approximatly, nothing!
After ringing round a few places i found a donor VR with 75k in a scrappy up north. I asked if i could buy the lot as i would have use for it. I was told that legally he had to provide photos of it being put out of use, so couldnt sell it as a whole car. We agreed i only needed the front and and the rear beam really anyway, so....this happened! Big thanks to the delivery guy (phil i think) couldnt have moved it without you. Took 3 of us about 40mins to move it into the drive!
With the aid of my now infamous WW2 bomb winch....we took out the VR. To anyone reading this who hasnt moved a VR before...they are HEAVY!!!
Then with the aid of this bad boy, set about destroying the shell, cut it in half and took it up the tip!
Got some funny looks to say the least
The left overs (my poor neglected mk3 looking on)
Gave the subframe a spruce up with some of hammerites finest!
Mk3 rear beam went on without and issues
Started building back up the engine bay. ABS controller mounted, servo, clutch done etc
Engine in (test fit). Later had to removed it and cut the rear mount down a tad
Aparently, this is called a wiring loom. To me it just looks like a big pile of crap! unfortunatly i had to sift through said pile of crap and work out what does what....fun
And onto the outside!
Fibreglass bonnet is REALLY lightweight
The culprit...ran out of puff a bit too easily if i'm honest, but did the job
And after some lacquer and polishing, and a few other things...its finally looking more like a car
Hoping to get it moving soon and finalise the electrics and last few mechanical bits.
decided to paint my temp seat wheels black.....
FK Konigs
it lives!!! drove it today for the first time! no seat, or door, but i drove it up the drive and back testing the gears!
oh and tested all the mechanicals properlly. Power steering is working perfectly and feels great, clutch and brake feel nice, throttle seems good :D
got the drivers side seat in. lots of in-out in-out shake it all about going on!
hopefully its in to stay now.
paint from the doors forward is still looking flat but heres how things stand at the mo. Got the drivers seat in for the last time, all bolted up. Also put the drivers door on, to keep out those winter nasties! Drove it up the drive and back a few times....was going to take it round the block but it was pouring with rain and with no tax, insurance, seat belts or mot, thought its not worth the risk.
hopefully polish up the rest of the paint over xmas. Bit more tidying up, final tightening of bolts etc and get it ready for the mot.
come a long way
well well well...
took it out today. Round the block a few times. Didnt really get above 30 but it was nice to actually drive it. All seemed pretty good after sorting out a rubbing brake disk shield thing that was rubbing. So tempting to open it up, but was in a 30 area and its not 'quite' legal yet
appologies for the dirt, couldnt be arsed cleaning it
no more orange
harnessed
some more pointless pics.
Wheels are white again
Numberplate is wonky
Brake discs are orange
spoke to our friendly MOT guy today who is going to book it in as soon as i get insurance and give it a good going over (and then give it back for fixing) before doing the MOT.
zooorst
16v lights and wiper layed flat
a few snaps i got today. Needs a good clean one of these days!
but its slowly getting there
did these last night..
check the driver badge. Keeping the car in touch with its roots!
night time
gave one side a good polish today. Was too hot to do the rest though
got some more pointless pics which i think have come out quite nice.
drivers front wing needs polishing, still messing about with stickers too, moving them about on almost a daily basis
. Waiting for some more in the post too!
its actually black, although the light is a bit funny. Matches the seats well. Should look cool with a few gauges in
flat door card 1of2
red caliper 1of4
"GRRRRRRRRRR"
Santa Pod 14.10.07
