Right then, time for a mega update:
A lot has gone on and at one point I'd lost a certain love for the car, but recently it's back with vengeance and I've been cracking on.
Since the last update the following has happened:
Firstly, I took on the task of creating my necessary wheel, this was a bit of a pig, and really took some masking, but the final result was worth it:
It started off like this:
A bit of paint:
Finished off with cleaning the tyre up, lacquering and adding the sticker:
Then it was time to for a road trip to France with the mrs: (shot in champagne)
So, now I decided to fit myself a new steering wheel. I wasn't a big fan of the dish, the suede, or the size (330mm) of the current one.
I removed the old one:
And fitted my new OMP Trecento 300mm in faux leather: (This is probably the best mod I've done to the car, I love the way it drives.
Comparison Shot:
Fitted:
I then had a SMALL accident with fire, and did this to my seat...
After a few months of no action, I was confronted with an odd vibration whilst pulling away hard in first, and if I was really killing it in second. Around the same time I was seeing signs of a dead CV joint... so with that in mind I went to Failsport HQ to have my NS drive shaft changed.
The last time I was at Failsport, Mike (Budgie) and I discovered that my upper gearbox mount was impossible to undo, like something was honestly broken, so with that in mind Mike and I decided to change that whilst doing the driveshaft.
When we removed the mount, we noticed that the bottom nut had worked completely loose and gone walkies. Wonderful (and almost definitely the cause of the vibrating)
After changing both the car was sweet as a nut.
At this point I decided that having an excellent set of tools and a seriously s**te jack wouldn't do, so I bought myself a proper jack (Thanks to Admin Tom for letting me using his costco card, what a guy)
At this point I decided that I'd had enough of the ph2 rear end on the car, and at around the same time a rather smashing deal on some different wheels came up.
Edewer on here was selling a set of Cades Eros wheels, so I snapped those up sharpish as they were wrapped in almost new Paradas and my f1's were getting on a bit and not with good tyres:
After this, it was service time. I took the car to Danny at 519 and had a full cam/aux belt service and gearbox oil change. Amazingly happy with the work carried out and the car hasn't missed a beat since.
With the service done, I took the car up to the lakes for the second time in two years, staying at the same lovely place as last time with the mrs. Some honestly amazing roads here.
Also, whilst I was here, the car wouldn't start randomly, fortunately Tunst lives in the area and provided phone support, just as he was about to head down with the 4x4, it fired into life. Anyhow I went over there the next day to check it out, no fault to be seen.... so put it down to being parked on a damn big hill with not a lot of fuel. (Thanks for the support mate
)
The Lodge:
Also, after a Southend meet at some point, TheEvilGiraffe took a rather lovely shot of my car:
I also popped down to O.I.A.M's meet in orpington:
Right, so that's everything that's happened since I last updated (I've always taken pictures, just never been in here)
Now, for the recent bits: (no real pics of any of this yet).
Two weekends ago, I decided to have a go at something I've wanted to try for ages (no, not bum love) a full ph2 interior conversion...
My particular ph1 already has a ph2 carpet, rear doorcards and seats, so I didn't have quite as much to source.
After finding the necessary bits, I cracked on over at a friends/fellow members place a couple of weeks ago (a few in progress shots):
I've not quite finished yet, but will have after picking up a last few bits this w.e so I'll have proper up to date pictures. I'm also going to be writing a full guide.
This week I managed to source a full set of 182 seats, the only difference being that the dots on the seats are white (and I manage to get rid of my burn marks). (Pics to follow). I am however considering some Recaro's that are currently for sale...
Despite not having any proper pictures of this either - I've fitted the brand new style RS mats, a massive improvement.
Last but not least, this hunky fellow, I think Gray's his name, sent me over a couple of f1 centre caps, so now I'm just waiting on a couple more and I'll be all set.
Things that are coming up:
This week I'll be fitting my set of silver f1's.
After that, all that's left on my list now is getting a ph2 bootlid done with a 197 RS badge.
I'm open for suggestions on where to go next?