My car has been a labour of love... :S
I bought the car in June '09 with a FSH but needing some consumables (pads appeared to have a few k left, but discs were past their best). Oh, the engine mounts were also fooked and the steering wheel was like something out of a Dali painting!!).
Well, I left the brakes for the time being, thankfully! (read on). Then sorted the engine mounts (all OE except for the Powerflex dogbone) and bought a brand spanking new OE steering wheel.
The car was also fitted with apalling Apex springs. I soon swapped these out for a set of Eibachs. It's now much better!
In addition, and over the last 6-7 months and 3.5k miles mine's needed:
In the first 2 months I discovered a *very small* oil leak had developed from around the cam cover bolts (under the inlet). I subsequently had them sealed by Danny @ JMS - I thought it was worth the hour or so's labour to have this done for my peace of mind.
It had also developed a slight knock from the n/s strut top mount when pulling away from a standstill (something down as an advisory on my MOT). I immediately bought the washers to try and fix this - off the back of a thread started by Fred. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me so I investigated solid top mounts. Just bought a set of AST top mounts from Kam racing - fingers crossed they work!
Now, I'm pretty fastidious about maintenance and check my engine over weekly (when I check my fluid levels) and just before Christmas, I discovered a significant oil leak from the main cam cover gasket. Oil was seeping down the back of the engine, over the exhaust manifold (stank when stationary in traffic) and onto the o/s driveshaft, flicking oil all over my brakes and newly-refurbished wheels :S.
Needless to say I drove the car less than perhaps I would have and when it was a necessity, I drove very gingerly!
A week or so later, and JMS had the cure: New cam and aux belts and new cam cover gasket/ sealant. It now looks like new in my engine bay and I'm a happy chap!
And Pete @ Auto Nation sorted me out with new Brembo HC's and Mintex 1144's. Just got to fit them when the weather sorts itself out and at the same time I want to do a fluid refresh and fit the Goodridge lines I've just bought.
Just what I needed after Christmas! Finger's crossed 2010 is trouble-free!