664 replies to this topic

[camp freddy]

Cheers Steve, i was never a fan of the exposed metal on the interior, just helps make it that bit more individual i think.

It's back in my garage now and the paint looks fantastic.

It's amazing how much further the car looks to completion with finally painted, Si is gonna et cracking with the doors boot and bonnet this week too, so i can now start putting everything back together on the ca..

Pics...







The depth of the paint in really good too, i'm really impressed.


One cheeky pic of the new daily drive too...


I think i'll wait until next weekend before i start to put bits back on, it'll help ive the paint time to harden a bit

Next dilema, do i leave the window tints on, or do i bin them?

looks smart mate, should be doing mine soon, yipee !!!!!!

[ianpettifer]

Love It!!!

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

nice project , also u have an audi lol thats a weird mix escort, mini a6 lol

[M44K TS]

Cheers everyone.

Saxo.... I have a wierd taste in cars, the list has been...

Mini - rotten, sold ( i was 16 at the time)
Current Mini - had since 2001, my first car, couldn't bare to part with it
Peugeot 306 Cabriolet, nice in the summer, rubbish in the winter lol
Volvo 850 T5 Auto - loved that car, i'd have it back tomorrow
Audi A6 - Diesel = boring, a bit too grown up
Honda Accord Type R - I went a little nuts when i bought that, awesome fun
Now onto the Audi A4 - Wanted something a bit ore practical and newer.

Also, i had an Escort van and now a LWB Vivaro for work



Freddy, i look forward to seeing it painted.

[M44K TS]

Well, after being at work today until about 6pm, i decided to go over and atleast make a start putting bits back on.

So, first was the n/s tail light.. (please note, i'm not using these lenses, stamdard ones are going on before anyone calls me a chav for having smoked ones lol)



Then the o/s light



Then the tank went back in (excuse the state of the boot, it's just dust from when it was painted, it will be clean next time i'm there.


As time was getting on and i was starting to get uber tired (4 very late nights in a row takes it's toll!) I decided to put the side repeaters ack in.



I was going to put the door & rear quaterlight seals on, but it was getting too dark and damp

The seals are a really tight fit round the quaterlights, and with them being twisted made it near impossible. Does soaking them in boiling water for a few seconds make it any easier?

Also, appologies for the pics, it was near pitch black and i only had my phone.

Edited by M44K TS, 25 January 2009 - 11:35 PM.

[M44K TS]

Tiny update, received the W&P arches through the post today, they seem really good quality too, which is nice for a change!

So took them straight down to the paintshop tonight to get them done along with the doors.

Also, i've had an idea about the 4 pots too, they are gold at the minute, i had the idea of doing them red, and going over the AP logo in black, just so they look a little different.

[M44K TS]

I now officially have a sidelight circuit again!



Spent about 3 hours testing through the loom and eventually found the fault. There's a factory joint in the sidelight wiring on the o/s inner wing area where the dash lights, tail lights, headlight feed and what i presume is the wire that goes to the foglight circuit all join.

Now, for whatever reason, car manufacturers prefer to use a small metal crimp then what appears to be grey duck tape for their wiring terminations, obviously, over the years, the connection has corroded making a very high resitance on the wiring, which is why i was only getting about 10 volts at the headlight bullet connections at the grille area, and then 0v when a bulb was put in.

So, i spent ages retaping the whole loom up. The original stuff was looking a bit shabby so it doesn't hurt to tidy it back up i suppose.

Now i have a fully working electrical system, i think i can actually start fitting the dash, re-glueing the edges of the carpet back down where they were lifted for the masking to be done for the paint job and fitting the seatbelts tomorrow. I might have a go at wiring in some relays for the headlights too.

Also, for the HID's, part of the wiring for the ballasts need to be connected direct to the battery, but with the battery being in the boot, i was thinking of using the starter terminal which is direct from the battery, connected to a 2 way junction bx, then from the JB to a 4 way fusebox, giving me constant power at the front to power the relays for the lights...


Using..
http://www.autospark...tcrdjifokkhkee2

To one of these...
http://www.autospark...tcrdjifokkhkee2

Then on to power the relays etc

So the diagram is looks like this..


Hopefully tomorrow, there will be more to take some pics of.

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

good work im gonna redo my live wire to the HU via the 2 spare blade slots in the engine bay as the cd play died after 2 days not sure if the ignition bar is giving tooooo much volatge or amphage which killed the radio anywho i love halfords if its not back monday i get a new radio to the same value £150 loving it me thinks alpine

[M44K TS]

Cool, can't go far wrong with Alpine H/U's. God knows what i'm gonna fit when the time comes.

[M44K TS]

Been busy with a couple of bits today, firstly, did a final check of the dash electrics, everything was fine, so decided to fit the dash. Quit an easy job really, although i did have to drill 2 holes for the brackets on the dash so i could bolt it in.


Also, as i struggled a bit with the door and quaterlight seals as they just wouldn't fit properly. But found a bit gentle persuasion with a rubber mallet and they fitted like a dream.

So time for a couple of piccy's...

The dash in.... (Temp CD player used for testing)



3 dials light up...



A shot of the dash in the dark-ish...



Volt gauge working...



Despite the camera on my phone not picking it up properly, the dash actually lights up orange...

[M44K TS]

Also, a quick pic of the sort of refurbished washer bottle fitted

Edited by M44K TS, 01 February 2009 - 07:41 PM.

[M44K TS]

Just had word from the guy that's painting the its, the door that i thought was fine, well, the one that had a small patch of rust that needed treat, turns out that it's more than a patch.

Si (who's painting it) is going to reskin the door and do some repairs to the frame. So hopefully tomorrow, he'll order the skin (it's handy as he works in a car panel supplier) and will be in next day.

So hopefully by the weekend, i should have the boot and bonnet back and maybe even the doors and mirrors.


Also, engine wise, i have spied a low mileage 1275 (49k) with a recon 'box, just need to negotiate a price. So depending on what happens with that, i could be off to collect an engine and 'box at the weekend too!

[M44K TS]

Well, i've won the engine, just waiting to see if i can collect this weekend.

I'm excited now!

[M44K TS]

Well, i was full of intentions tonight to go and make a start on the headlight relays, but saying as the car's at my gran's garage and she just had a new tv delivered today, i got roped into setting that up for an hour or so for her.... (well, more like 5 mins to set up, and an hour trying to explain what freeview is lol)

Anyway, i have planned where the relays will be going, but couldn't make a start as i forgot to pick up the cable from home, d'oh!

So, i went to fit the headlight bowls, only to discover one of the ruber seals that sit between the bowl and the wing are missing. So only managed to fit one! Oh great, the ever increasing parts list is still growing!


I've got to say, i really like the look of those Wipac freeform headlights!


For the first time in about 4 years, the car has functioning headlights (or atleast one!)



Also, i bought some proper 1,2,3&4 way connectors to use for the headlights, indicators etc, so decided i would fit those up ready fo extending the front indicator wiring so if need be, they can just be unplugged from the main loom.




Apart from that, it was pretty much a wasted night! Oh, and i slipped on a patch of sheet ice in the garden too and banged my knee, it's gonna be sore in the morning!

Also, i'm all set to pick up the new engine on Saturday too, just need to decite what van to take... LWB Vivaro or Astravan...

[rosco454]

Looks like its coming together nicely now.
Admire your electrical worrk as im scared of wiring......its the tool of the devil lol.

When are you hoping to have it finished?