New week, new car. After what felt like the longest week of a wait, the seller finally delivered this bus on Saturday:
To replace the Carlton for Daily driver duties. I took that picture in a rarified break in the lashings snow. Easily the worst day of the year to collect a car. So... what does it need now I have had a chance to scour it without the seller looking over my back? Well, that would require a test drive.
First point of note, it boosts to 1 bar. Now, the seller mumbled something about it having had "a lot of work done" and "trick bits fitted", but hgaving looked under the bonnet i have found the following:
Dump valve, air filter and a lot of V1/V2 stock components. In fact, ALL stock. This thing should run 0.6 bar all day long. So thats a worry.
I also found that it nearly comes to a halt between 1st and 2nd gear. Seized brakes much? Then there is this...
So so curse word. Add to that the fact that the shifter doesn't return to centre but flops to the left, it can make for some adventurous lurching when picking the wrong gear from 2nd to 3rd....
OK, so Saturday afternoon saw the terrorist removed from the garage and replaced with this. Not before it donated the following parts:
..4 pot front anchors, and...
...weedy single pot rears. not to worry as its the rears that need the work post haste. Popped the green-pied monster up and had a look up front. The seller kindly gave me a cleaner wing for the front end to replace this:
...rusted abortion in tin. Took the opportunity to inspect the front end. All looks fairly solid.
Also confirmed that the front only has 2 pots at the moment, so the 4 pots will be a step up. That said, the 2 pots are free and working for now, and as an MOT and avoiding hypothermia was the taget, I moved along and fitted the new wing:
Bonus clear repeater from the terrorist included!
Both sides. Symmetry bitchas!
ok, next up, lets see whats binding. I popped the N/S rear up and inspected things. Found it sticking but not heavily. Pulled the caliper off to regrease the sliders and noted the piston was solid. See? Thats why we have spares cars! Off the lot came and was replaced with the Terrorists caliper. Bled and tested, moves free. Score! I also reattached the sagging bumper on this side. So, whats next?
Need to repeat the same for the O/S, including sorting the standard Impreza bumper sag.
This total abortion on toast. Screwed into the dash with 3 different types of screws, and lights up straight off the battery. Genius. Car currently sat with the battery off until I rewire/refit this.
Once done, MOT time. Yea, forgot that part. I'm still insisting on buying non-MOT'd cars. I love the pain really.
To replace the Carlton for Daily driver duties. I took that picture in a rarified break in the lashings snow. Easily the worst day of the year to collect a car. So... what does it need now I have had a chance to scour it without the seller looking over my back? Well, that would require a test drive.
First point of note, it boosts to 1 bar. Now, the seller mumbled something about it having had "a lot of work done" and "trick bits fitted", but hgaving looked under the bonnet i have found the following:
Dump valve, air filter and a lot of V1/V2 stock components. In fact, ALL stock. This thing should run 0.6 bar all day long. So thats a worry.
I also found that it nearly comes to a halt between 1st and 2nd gear. Seized brakes much? Then there is this...
So so curse word. Add to that the fact that the shifter doesn't return to centre but flops to the left, it can make for some adventurous lurching when picking the wrong gear from 2nd to 3rd....
OK, so Saturday afternoon saw the terrorist removed from the garage and replaced with this. Not before it donated the following parts:
..4 pot front anchors, and...
...weedy single pot rears. not to worry as its the rears that need the work post haste. Popped the green-pied monster up and had a look up front. The seller kindly gave me a cleaner wing for the front end to replace this:
...rusted abortion in tin. Took the opportunity to inspect the front end. All looks fairly solid.
Also confirmed that the front only has 2 pots at the moment, so the 4 pots will be a step up. That said, the 2 pots are free and working for now, and as an MOT and avoiding hypothermia was the taget, I moved along and fitted the new wing:
Bonus clear repeater from the terrorist included!
Both sides. Symmetry bitchas!
ok, next up, lets see whats binding. I popped the N/S rear up and inspected things. Found it sticking but not heavily. Pulled the caliper off to regrease the sliders and noted the piston was solid. See? Thats why we have spares cars! Off the lot came and was replaced with the Terrorists caliper. Bled and tested, moves free. Score! I also reattached the sagging bumper on this side. So, whats next?
Need to repeat the same for the O/S, including sorting the standard Impreza bumper sag.
This total abortion on toast. Screwed into the dash with 3 different types of screws, and lights up straight off the battery. Genius. Car currently sat with the battery off until I rewire/refit this.
Once done, MOT time. Yea, forgot that part. I'm still insisting on buying non-MOT'd cars. I love the pain really.
I'm toying with the idea of getting one of these (has to be the estate because i've already got a saloon) to replace the Focus as my daily driver. I know you've only just bought it, but if you do ever fancy selling it, please let me know 
