Project "Not to everyones taste"

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

Right after my recent miss fortunes I thought its about time I put up a progress page.

It all started back at the end of 2004, In need of a new car as my feista was shit. Had set my heart on a 19 16v so off to ebay I went to see what I could find. One cropped up local so off I went to visit, was owned by a nice chap @ RAF Coltishal. Love at first sight and once I had a go I told him that if he got it through the MOT I would have it. Not in perfect condition, rust on the drivers door,front of the bonnet and abit starting to peep through round the vent. She had recently had a pair of drive shafts & both hub bearings replaced and new plugs/oil/filter. Only failed on a tyre and faulty indicator and on 3rd Jan 05 I became her 7th proud owner (102000) for the sum of Â£900 (yes spensive but was worth it). So far in her life she'd been lowered bout 35mm, powerflow stainless from downpipe back, K&N, new alloys, white dials (with a blue chammy on them Smile

) rear electric windows, m3 mirrors & new passenger rear arch. Mechanically, new head gasket, timing belt, drive shafts & bearings.

First pics:
[img:1280:960:477afe5d66]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Car/IMAG0005.JPG[/img:477afe5d66]
[img:1280:960:477afe5d66]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Car/IMAG0016.JPG[/img:477afe5d66]

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

It wasnt long before I found the joys of PH1 19 ownership, water down the plug wells. Coming back from my GF's at 3 in the morning, car started miss firing and had no power at all above 4000rpm. I had no idea what it was at the time, had read about it but was clueless untill the next day. Bonnet up, leads off and there was the problem about 2 inches of water in each well. The car wasnt fitted with a drain sheild and my efforts to wash her the day before had got in and drowned her. Thankfully it was a rare occurence but a royal pain in the ass when it did happen and eventually I'd had enough and tried to find ways to fix it. I ended up getting hold of a PH2 bonnet/lights/ from a chap of RSC and so began the adventure of doing her up. The bonnet was black but most important no leaks so I wasnt bothered. All I had to do was get hold of a grill to get her looking right, probably the hardest bit to do. Nobody had one, but eventually ebay saved the day and for almost a year she was looking like this:

[img:1280:960:d7f09dc13e]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Hybrid/DSC00287.JPG[/img:d7f09dc13e]

All I had to do was get her all the same colour.

I had no problems at all with her engine wise in the first year, had a bearing go and needed to replace the front tyres but its was one of those things. Also had some kind yobs run there keys all the way down the drivers side though Sad

. December 2005 meant MOT time, I knew there were some items that needed doing like the rear discs/pads and a mystery lump from the front but I wasnt prepared for 2 new front shocks 2 more new tyres costing a whopping Â£300 in total.

Year 1 work done: New oil & coolant, new plugs, 4 new tyres, bonnet, lights, grill, pair of shocks, rear discs/pads.

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

Anyway 2006, so far this year has been reasonably kind untill about the last month. The repaired arch started to peel early this year, not a great job methinks. The metal work is in good order but the paint started to peel off the arch and now mother nature is doing her stuff, reno arch is still top notch though and doesnt look like its going to go anytime soon. Since about march the car had started to develop a slight lump from the driver side wheel area, not alot though and only on going from lock to lock. Gradually got worse and with help from the tech forum I'd got it down to the top mount bearings. Off to GSF I went, picked up a pair and with the help of Rob (King Stromba) off came the struts and the bearings were changed. The old ones were in a right state, completely fecked but the knocking was still there so next line of work was ball joints. Also notice my nice new tyres in December were now illegal due to what is believed to have been the balljoint/mount failures. Having a mechanic for a step dad and a garage full of tools is great for such jobs and 2 hours after starting work the knock was gone and one more thing I'd learnt to do. This year up untill recently shes been treated to some pagid pads, new induction kit, new leads, gearbox oil top-up, dose of wynns lifter treatment, cleaned the ISCV & throttle body and a proper 449 blue bonnet!

All was going well untill last week when things went bad (read THIS)

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

Now the work begins, the clutch cable was fairly straight foward to change once I had got hold of one. Less than 24 hours after it busted she was back up and running. The pain is the bumper, both side mounts are fucked. One is still on the car and the other is on the bumper. The passenger headlight has also been broken away from one mount and the grill is also broken off on the passenger side. Wing also has some scratches from the bumper coming off but they should t-cut off.

Busted to bits
[img:1024:768:e57ecd5905]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Progress/06260001.JPG[/img:e57ecd5905]
Passenger side
[img:1024:768:e57ecd5905]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Progress/06260003.JPG[/img:e57ecd5905]
Driver side
[img:1024:768:e57ecd5905]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Progress/06260004.JPG[/img:e57ecd5905]
Both bolts for towing eye still in place, the metal failed on the bit itself and tore right off
[img:1024:768:e57ecd5905]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Progress/06260002.JPG[/img:e57ecd5905]
Sort of on
[img:1024:768:e57ecd5905]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Progress/06260005.JPG[/img:e57ecd5905]

All that is holding the bumper on at the moment is 1 bolt and a cable tie. One of the front mounts is missing and doesnt look like it was ever there?
[img:1024:768:e57ecd5905]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Progress/06260006.JPG[/img:e57ecd5905]

The main thing is she is driveable again which was my main concern. All I need to do its get hold of another bumper and fit that and she will be looking good again once my new blue grill gets delivered (god bless ebay).

Current status: In garage for cambelt & tensioner change, more new tyres and re-track on 123000ish miles.
Jobs to do soon: Change oil and coolant, sort sun roof, wash/t-cut/wax

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

I can hold it in no longer, blue indicators shite, the ph2 lights, bonnet and grilel are a good way to ruin a ph1.

Also I assume you don;t drive at night as only a fool would swap the ph1 lights for ph2 lightys whioch put out less than half the light that the ph1's put out.

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

Each to there own, the blue indicators I agree with but atm the are not working which is a good thing. Remnants of a previous owner, new bumper will solve that problem, I just prefer the look of the PH2 nose and night driving is indeed fairly irregular but ive not noticed a prolem with the ammount of light.

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

Right eventually got her back from the garage from what I thought was a simple cam-belt change. Got some pics of her not so great bits.

Bodged arch:
[img:1024:768:6e04c26d80]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Car/RUSTY.JPG[/img:6e04c26d80]

Local yobs + keys:
[img:1024:768:6e04c26d80]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Car/yobs.jpg[/img:6e04c26d80]

Front wing showing its age, similar on both sides:
[img:1024:768:6e04c26d80]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Car/wing.jpg[/img:6e04c26d80]

Only thing left is the bay. Need to really tidy up here, strut brace needs some covers, proper reno coolant cap and re-spray the rocker cover. One of the previous owners has had a half arsed go and polishing the rocker cover and inlet manifold. Inlet manifold doesnt look too bad and if I could be bothered to finish the rocker cover that would look good too. Note shiney new blue clutch cable
[img:1024:768:6e04c26d80]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Car/bay.jpg[/img:6e04c26d80]

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

ooooooooo that engine is fucking hideous, Twisted Evil

guess its the yellow. have to agree with chris tho, phase 1 front looks so much better, but thats just my opinion

Very Happy

i love mine....... looks like a true racer

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

Right got my grill yesterday, ages after I won it so at last she is all the same colour.

[img:1024:768:870a79690e]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Car/frontish.jpg[/img:870a79690e]

Rocker cover is going to be either met blue or black, not sure yet though. Was yellow a standard colour for those? All the ones I have come across have been silver.

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

no, Yellow was never a standard colour for the rocker cover.

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

eeeewwww yuk, no yellow wasn't thank fuck, lol

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

Right, bugger all been going on recently apart from the appauling fuel economy. Will be changing the coolant temp sensor in the next few days while doing a coolant and oil change. Had the dials out today to try sort out the irritating speedo cable clicking and also to have a peek at the road speed sensor to see if that was behind my poor fuel economy. God bless small girlie hands is all I can say, getting good at taking them out after my oil/water dials went tits up.

Everything off:
[img:1024:768:6e5c7a551b]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Progress/08030002.JPG[/img:6e5c7a551b]

Wires, wires everywhere. Note chav silver dash
[img:1024:768:6e5c7a551b]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Progress/08030003.JPG[/img:6e5c7a551b]

124,390 miles and still going!
[img:1024:768:6e5c7a551b]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Progress/08030005.JPG[/img:6e5c7a551b]

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

Would you like a set of standard clocks and dash switches and vents? (I happen to have a set for sale lol)
those look hideous mate

Retroholic Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 3315

you say mines a shitter Shocked

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

who says that Ash ?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

its a ph1 on the dials, I want a set for framing! lol

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

bbracer16valver";p="106888 wrote:

you say mines a shitter Shocked

Ha I win! I dont mind the silverness, looks good does silver on black. Unsure on the origin of the dials, the rev counter has a blue "16V" on it.

Retroholic Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1000

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

Celebrated the big 125k today and to celebrate she decided to spring a leak in the petrol tank and the rear leccy windows now dont work. It was at first glance the tiniest of holes but after a quick drain of the tank and a clean up with wire brush it ended up being about 2 or 3 mm in size.

[img:1024:768:feaa12c9af]http://usera.imagecave.com/Peahol3/Progress/08290004.JPG[/img:feaa12c9af]

The hole was in the middle of the rusty coloured bit by the filler pipe. Some chemical metal later and the leak and the stench of petrol have gone. In other news, managed to break down at the local renualt dealer. Was diagnosed as a poor earth (head to bay lead) so replaced that with a nice new one and the car now starts so much better. Got a proper expansion tank cap on the way and a new rear engine mount. Only task that needs to be done now is a coolant change and a new aux waterpump relay.

Site Subscriber Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 1141

Peahole";p="109728 wrote:

Celebrated the big 125k today and to celebrate she decided to spring a leak in the petrol tank and the rear leccy windows now dont work.

Rear leccy windows?

Is that aftermarket? Where's the switch?

Level 7 User Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 243

They are indeed aftermarket, got a pair of switches in drivers door and one in each rear door. Problem being that none of the switches work.