b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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Feb 16, 2016 19:27:30 GMT
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Tested my front wheels on the car today, pretty happy with how they sit, should fill the arches nicely when they have tyres on. Will fit the rears next weekend and see how they look, as they're still at my mates workshop 100 miles away. Obviously the colour will change! Looks like I've need new wheel nuts though as the Compomotives are tapered, whereas the Sprint nuts have a completely flat edge. Any recommendations where to get some? Also took her out for a good blast at lunchtime in the sunshine, drives great now, steering feels so much better with the new UJ's and new wheel. Really feels good to drive this car!
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'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo '08 Panda 100HP
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Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,948
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Feb 17, 2016 11:55:32 GMT
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Nice. Think the wheels, along with the proposed removal of the rear bumper, will give your Dolly a nice 'touring car' feel. Have you added the lower springs yet or is that still to come? P.
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b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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Feb 17, 2016 12:24:35 GMT
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MisterTee looks great, thanks for the link!
Wheels will be a dark grey, and I may well get the front bumper done in a similar colour albeit still chrome (seen a place in Kent that can do that kind of thing)
Lowering springs are still to be fitted, although I'm a bit worried it will be a waste of time as the previous owner isn't sure if they current ones are standard or not, the struts still have half an inch or so to come down so will wind them down as far as I can too. However I really don't want any ground clearance issues as it really put me off using the MX5 when I didn't know if I could get to places without grounding out, I'm very keen to make sure this is still 100% useable and practical.
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'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo '08 Panda 100HP
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Feb 17, 2016 14:15:02 GMT
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Not really a great idea to jack the car on the jacking point, I'm afraid. Even when totally solid the returns crush badly. Always use the subframe at the front, axle at the rear.
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b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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Feb 29, 2016 20:13:36 GMT
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Fairly decent progress this weekend, despite a fairly annoying set back. Headed 100 miles away from home to play cars for a couple of days in my mates workshop. List of items ticked off the list: Replaced old, slightly suspect brake hoses with new Goodridge Classic hoses Rebonded the vinyl at the top of the c-pillars Replaced speedo cable Removed rear bumper and tested fitted rear wheels, looks pretty damn good, although may have to use a smaller tyre due to arch clearance issues Removed front bumper under riders, may do the whole bumper at some stage. Replaced the RHF quarter light so I can actually open it now Screwed the mirrors into the doors properly, so may be able to see something out of them rather than them just flopping around Lowered front shocks down to the lowest level, after freeing up many years of rust on the shock body. Rear bumper removed and rear wheels fitted, looks so much better without the bumper IMO, and who needs number plate lamps anyway! New vs Old speedo cable, the bouncing was giving about a 25 mph variance at motorway speeds, and was entirely inaccurate. Lovely new hoses Unfortunately while bleeding the last caliper the bleed screw crumbled (literally) into pieces, so had to leave the car up there and get a lift home with a mate in his Up!. Oh and we picked up an engine for his Golf en route. 3 people and an engine in an Up does not make for a comfortable 4 hour journey. So after all of that, I'll be taking another 200 mile round to trip to get it this weekend, fit the bleed screw and bleed the brakes, properly tune the carbs and drive it home. Then another 4 hour trip to Devon the following weekend to drop it off at the bodyshop to get the rust sorted. And yet, it's still all properly enjoyable, that's why we love old cars right?
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'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo '08 Panda 100HP
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b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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Suitable bleed screw has been sourced and a new master cylinder has been ordered (at great expense) off of eBay as there was quite alot of air coming through the system when bleeding (before we destroyed the other bleed screw) and I'm not taking any chances as I need to get it back this weekend.
Also bought our RR Gathering camping tickets on Friday, so the group target for all projects has been set. Mine being the only one actually driveable at the moment, the yellow GTi in the photos still needing an engine and my other mates GTi needing everything other than a bodyshell! It's going to be a busy summer.
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'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo '08 Panda 100HP
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b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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Another 200 mile round trip and it's back home now. New bleed screw fitted and brakes bled, so was drivable home. Also tweaked the carbs and reset the idle, all to make it a bit better to drive. However, more items have been added to the to-do list! Brake Master Cylinder is weeping, so this will have to be replaced soon. Rear brakes seem to be locking up first under emergency braking, suspect the bias valve may be siezed, so will need to look into this. The exhaust is blowing from the down pipe (the only non-stainless part) so will be looking to get this replaced with a custom stainless one as well. Can anyone recommend a good custom exhaust place in Sussex? After years of exhaust troubles with the MX5 I want to avoid an off the shelf item that no doubt will fit very poorly, and I don't want to weld the original as I'm sure it'll just start blowing in a different place. And while driving around the M25 last night, I won these on eBay: Will collect them this week, condition doesn't look great but for £35 who can complain! The plan is to retrim them before fitting to match the interior. Again can anyone recommend anywhere down South that will do this for a reasonable price? There's a place in Brighton I went to a few years ago and they quoted over £500 to retrim some standard MX5 seats, I aim hoping to pay a bit less than that!
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'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo '08 Panda 100HP
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b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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Mar 12, 2016 13:14:40 GMT
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Dropped the Sprint off at Restoshack in Devon to get the rust sorted, should be all non-rusty when I get it back, pretty damn exciting! Unfortunately the overdrive has decided to blow it's fuse, so will need to inspect the wiring when I get it back. Also of note it took me 2 1/2hrs to get to Cheltenham Friday night, exactly the same time it takes me in a modern car, we haven't come very far in 40 years have we!
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'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo '08 Panda 100HP
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,192
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Good to see some progress . I am liking the wheels. But silly coloured wheels are great! I may be getting mine recoloured next week! MisterTee looks great, thanks for the link! Wheels will be a dark grey, and I may well get the front bumper done in a similar colour albeit still chrome (seen a place in Kent that can do that kind of thing) Lowering springs are still to be fitted, although I'm a bit worried it will be a waste of time as the previous owner isn't sure if they current ones are standard or not, the struts still have half an inch or so to come down so will wind them down as far as I can too. However I really don't want any ground clearance issues as it really put me off using the MX5 when I didn't know if I could get to places without grounding out, I'm very keen to make sure this is still 100% useable and practical. In that case you may not want to lower it . Dolly Sprint sumps run pretty close to the ground as standard. Lowering it really will have you watching that area more. But when Sprints look great lowered.... Another 200 mile round trip and it's back home now. New bleed screw fitted and brakes bled, so was drivable home. Also tweaked the carbs and reset the idle, all to make it a bit better to drive. However, more items have been added to the to-do list! Brake Master Cylinder is weeping, so this will have to be replaced soon. Rear brakes seem to be locking up first under emergency braking, suspect the bias valve may be siezed, so will need to look into this. The exhaust is blowing from the down pipe (the only non-stainless part) so will be looking to get this replaced with a custom stainless one as well. Can anyone recommend a good custom exhaust place in Sussex? After years of exhaust troubles with the MX5 I want to avoid an off the shelf item that no doubt will fit very poorly, and I don't want to weld the original as I'm sure it'll just start blowing in a different place. And while driving around the M25 last night, I won these on eBay: Will collect them this week, condition doesn't look great but for £35 who can complain! The plan is to retrim them before fitting to match the interior. Again can anyone recommend anywhere down South that will do this for a reasonable price? There's a place in Brighton I went to a few years ago and they quoted over £500 to retrim some standard MX5 seats, I aim hoping to pay a bit less than that! TBH the exhausts don't fit that badly off the shelf for a Sprint when I have seen them but they are expensive, in part due to the Sprint's rarity and seemingly space efficient but quiet exhaust. It is one reason why many Sprints are now on the Sports systems ; they are way way cheaper. That said, the fit of the stock system on mine was not bad at all (it was from Rimmer Bros). But at £750 for it a Sports one looks like a bargain, albeit way simpler! I'll ask a few Southern friends for recommendations but Hayward and Scott are talked of much who I can think of being near to you, but they are pricey! As for the trimmer, it's finding one who is decent;retrimming is not a quick process and it is one I certainly don't have the patience for! Keep at the car .
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b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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Mar 14, 2016 15:37:46 GMT
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Yeah it's got a custom sports system on it already, tempting to buy an off the shelf front pipe from Rimmers, but there's a chance it won't fit very well if the custom one was made on the car. I had so much trouble getting exhaust parts to fit on the MX5 I really don't want to faff around on this car! For £115 it may be worth a punt though.
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'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo '08 Panda 100HP
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b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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New stainless front pipe arrived this week, got a very good deal from a Belgian dude that had one sitting in his garage. I love the internet!
Also was a bit bored of not having a fun car to use while the Dolomite is away, so bought a dirt cheap Renaultsport Clio 172 to use as a daily. Far from retro, but so much bang for your buck, it's a great fun little car. Just need to focus on not spending money on it that I could use for the Dolomite!
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'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo '08 Panda 100HP
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Apr 10, 2016 11:06:48 GMT
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Tested my front wheels on the car today, pretty happy with how they sit, should fill the arches nicely when they have tyres on. Will fit the rears next weekend and see how they look, as they're still at my mates workshop 100 miles away. Obviously the colour will change! Looks like I've need new wheel nuts though as the Compomotives are tapered, whereas the Sprint nuts have a completely flat edge. Any recommendations where to get some? Also took her out for a good blast at lunchtime in the sunshine, drives great now, steering feels so much better with the new UJ's and new wheel. Really feels good to drive this car!
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Apr 10, 2016 11:07:45 GMT
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Tested my front wheels on the car today, pretty happy with how they sit, should fill the arches nicely when they have tyres on. Will fit the rears next weekend and see how they look, as they're still at my mates workshop 100 miles away. Obviously the colour will change! Looks like I've need new wheel nuts though as the Compomotives are tapered, whereas the Sprint nuts have a completely flat edge. Any recommendations where to get some? Also took her out for a good blast at lunchtime in the sunshine, drives great now, steering feels so much better with the new UJ's and new wheel. Really feels good to drive this car!
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b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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Apr 18, 2016 19:43:33 GMT
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'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo '08 Panda 100HP
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Apr 18, 2016 20:09:52 GMT
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That is top quality work. You must be very happy.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,192
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Apr 18, 2016 20:41:02 GMT
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That is some great work going into the car getting solid once more .
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b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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Apr 28, 2016 17:49:38 GMT
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Last Edit: Apr 28, 2016 17:50:28 GMT by b3nson
'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo '08 Panda 100HP
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v8
Part of things
Posts: 299
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Apr 28, 2016 18:52:17 GMT
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Really nice job on the repairs
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Apr 28, 2016 19:13:30 GMT
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Speak to Compomotive themselves, they still had them for my Compos.
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