My car, or at least it's engine, lives again. Apparently a small piece of metal I cracked off the cam cover got got caught on the drive wheel off the crank and jumped the belt putting the timing out. What a pillock I am...
My car has earned the nickname Forrest Gump at the garage doing the welding work as they think when I drive it down the road it will fall to bits like Forrest's leg braces in the movie.
Let's hope not...
I've hit a "minor" technical problem as the rust in the front is so bad the engine has to come out for the welding work and the garage can't fit it in until the early summer. I have the car back home to do other work, such as fitting the wheel arch extensions, exhaust etc, before it goes back for welding.
I'll post up some pictures at the weekend as it's sitting in the drive sulking at the moment.
Having got Forrest back from the garage time for more filling and sanding...
The wheel arch extensions are fitted. Needs to more work to blend them in but I have to say I think I prefer the proportions with these fitted as I always felt the front was too narrow compared to the back.
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Also did my equivalent of Photoshop and propped up the new wheels to see how they look. It was a bit dark so black alloys aren't going to show up too well.
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Rosso Barchetta is the colour I'm thinking of - that the purpley red that very early Ferrari's were painted. It's still a current colour.
Anyone know how I can reshape the boot lid? I think the body must be lower on the LHS (as you look form the back) and the boot sticks up by about 10 mm. I tried using a hot air gun but the material is so think it doesn't touch it, especially as it's double skinned.
I'll post up some pictures so that you can see the problem, although it's off having a new exhaust fitted at the moment.
Thanks guys, I'll give it a go when I get it back. New exhaust fitted, sounds fab. Just need the welding a few other bits and I could have a road worthy car.
The front chassis rails have holes you can fit your hand in. The problem was that when I bought it you couldn't get underneath to see. I think the last owner must have parked
it with the front end in the sea as the radiator needs replacing at some time.
Welding done, exhaust sounds really great. Need to sort out the brakes and some of the suspension bushes then I think it could be ready for an MOT. Woo Hoo!
If anyone else lives in the York/Hull area I can recommend CSK Fabrications in Pocklington for an exhaust system. From the manifold through to the quad end pipes, including a decat section £370. Much less than I expected to have to pay and all in stainless steel.
In preparation for an MOT I want to replace the bushes on the suspension and have been looking at poly bush kits. There appears to be some bargains on eBay but I'm always nervous that they will last about 10 minutes.
Anyone else bought "budget" poly bushes?
Quick question for all the Spyder builders, have any of you fitted a new cover on to the soft top? Mine is looking a bit ragged and I wanted a mohair one but wondered just how difficult it is to replace, especially as my Mk2 has a glass rear screen.
Why does every job create another? New brake lines, discs and pads fitted (or tried to be fitted) over the weekend and now I have to replace the front callipers as the pistons are corroded in.
I'll post some pictures soon of the metal (or lack of) cut out of the front chassis members before welding. I can only assume the previous owner used to park the front end of the car in the sea every evening.
After an opinion ladies and gents. Having ordered new wheels for my MX, which are on a 10 weeks lead time :-( , I then decided to look for tyres. Oh I wish I had checked before as wide tyres for 15" rims are few and far between!
The best option I can find, in matching tyres front and rear and in the sizes I need, are BF Goodrich T/A's. Is it too cheesy/Cobraesque to have white lettering on the side walls? Do I need to track down some without the lettering?
Comments welcome.
Problem solved, they have white lettering on one side and black on the other.
Whilst I wait for the wheels to be delivered I decided to change the front end.
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Hmmm, yes, might lose the number plate.
Lost the Mondeo grill and just put mesh behind the mouth. Having fitted the Ford grill it took a bit of reworking to clear up the mess I had made.
My missus asked me today if this is the slowest build of one of these cars to which I replied yes, probably, now get back in the kitchen.
A little advice please ladies and gentlemen. My new wheels are due "in August" (Driftworks won't be any more specific as they are bobbing on a container ship somewhere between the Philippines and the UK at the moment). I have 8" wheels for the front and 9" for the rear but have conflicting comments from various websites and people I know in the car trade about what size tyres I can squeeze on to these rims.
The websites I have found suggest a 225 for the 8" and a 245 for the 9" but the people in the trade suggest a 205 for the 8's and a 225 for the 9's. I want to try and put as wide a piece of rubber as I can get on to these rims but obviously it needs to be safe.
Anyone got any ideas? BTW these are 15" diameter, not sure if that makes a difference.
Thanks for the tyre advice. Choice are limited on the profile because of the 15" wheels and I really want the same tyres front and back, for the look and just because I don't like odd tyres on a car (all part of my OCD). I think I will end up with the Goodrich T/A's which have a 60 profile so should fill the arches quite well.
Not sure what colour code the original MX was but it will end up red. I fancy the purple/red of some of the early Ferraris but might end up with the bright red with some white stripes across the car rather than lengthwise.
