Project February

[dans]

Had another crack at the Roll Bar today and got it all into place quite easily in the end. Looks good! Though i can still be a little tricky to get the roof up and down, guess maybe it is a case of practise and trying to get the knack of it.

MOT tomorrow, so will have to see how that goes as to whether any other jobs crop up.

1. Fit LGM's Roll Bar DONE
2. Fit Short Shift kit
3. Replace Timing belt and associated pulleys to try and fix some of
the whine noise issues DONE
4. Fix the passengers window
5. Fix the heaters
6. Fix the roof release cable
7. Investigate possible oil leak
8. Make it as shiney as possible
9. Drive to Donnighton BOOKED
10. Do a track day
11. Investigate steering. Replace lower UJ additional

Hope to have a crack at the lower UJ over the weekend, as well as some of the windows stuff (if the MOT allows!!)

Cheers,
Dan

[dans]

Good news!! MOT passed!!
No problems at all!

Bad news!! Was under the car on the weekend and noticed there is a a crack around the down pipe on the exhaust.
15 months old!! Ridiculous......

[Dico]

Common problem on the stock downpipe.
I bodged mine temporarily with some gundge from Halfords.

The Peco system has a flexi piece fitted. Fit and forget

[Paul.P]

The Peco system has a flexi piece fitted. Fit and forget

Unless you grind it on a speed ramp !

[Dico]

Good point, think Monty had that problem too but then he's had his suspension lowered.
A case of too many visits to the Rutland cake shop Paul?

[dans]

I was recommended to get a flexi one before but went with the SJ version and have regretted it ever since.

Going to have a word with an exhaust manfacturer I know to see if they can manufacture one for me. Otherwise might have to see if Peco will sell the down pipe on its own, although I think they prefer whole systems.

Cheers,
Dan

[dans]

Thought I'd get some of my recent pictures up:

This is the beginning of the timing belt work:



This is 7 hrs later, having finally managed to get behind the bloody cover!!
Note for others.... it really is worth detaching the PAS line that goes across the middle of the pics... it just get in the way all the time!




This is the tool that we used to get the pulley off, it was tight but with one person holding the pulley and this tool and the other on the ratchet with a big extension to clear the wheel arch it came off without too much exertion.



Shows the view from underside, with the alternator detached to try and get enough room to lever the alan bolts!


Shot of the new water pump fitted:


New tensioner and idler fitted. Belt is on. Found that if we put the belt on from one direction if didn't seem to sit right between the water pump and the bottom pulley. So I think we then decided to start at the pulley, then waterpump, idler, cam and exhaust and then over the tensioner. Seemed to fit better that way, with all timing marks in right place and the bottom pulley mark vertical:


This is the tool we made up, after some guiding tips here, to help get the bolts back in the cupboard. Just a cut off piece of alan key fitted into a ratchet spanner. Worked a treat!




Job done and tidied up!!



Cheers,
Dan

[dans]

Also got some pics of the rollbar fitted, all snug and in the right place now.... I think!!







Very Pleased with them. Haven't driven with the wind break in yet but will check out out on the weekend hopefully. See what I can do to the GFs hair!!

[Monty]

Nice work paul, now thats what i call a garage

[dapinky]

Nice work paul, now thats what i call a garage

Who's Paul? I think Dan did most of it himself!

But i agree with the sentiments - Nice job

(And I wish i had a garage like that to do mine in

[dans]

It is a good place to have! I have to admit it aids motivation when you can be dry and warm and light!!

[GeoffSmith]

it really is worth detaching the PAS line that goes across the middle of the pics... it just get in the way all the time!

Be very careful with it though - the brazing between the pipe and banjo on the PAS pump would not appear to be that good. I speak from bitter experience and a garage swimming in fluid.

[Monty]

Nice work paul, now thats what i call a garage

Who's Paul? I think Dan did most of it himself!

But i agree with the sentiments - Nice job

(And I wish i had a garage like that to do mine in

LOL thought i was reading Paulwatkins thread

[paulwatkins]

Good work Dan. (Monty, I cant take the credit for it )

Glad the tip of the ratchet spanner worked for you! It took me a while to trip across it, but happy I did. No doubt someone has doen it before, but hopefully it will become more common knowledge, and save the sanity of some of the LEC'ers

Onto the next job eh?

ps really envious of the excellent workspace you have!

pps the pas pipe running across my timing belt cover is a flexible hose, and not a rigid pipe like yours. But i agree, it is a much easier job if this is disconnected out of the way.

Paul

[dans]

Unsurprisingly Project February has stretched into March!

But have got the car taxed now, and fitted a chip from Alan and took the car out for a spin in the beautiful sunshine yesterday......



Amazing!! Think i'd forgotten how much fun it is!! Felt so good.

Still hope to get some of the remainging jobs done soon.

But there is now a chance I won't be able to make Donington due to other commitments..... at least i got off my arse and did some of the work though!!

Dan

[dans]

Just looked at this again I realised all the stuff I still haven't done!!!

1. Fit LGM's Roll Bar Done
2. Fit Short Shift kit
3. Replace Timing belt and associated pulleys to try and fix some of
the whine noise issues Done but still got a whine
4. Fix the passengers window
5. Fix the heaters Done.. kinda
6. Fix the roof release cable
7. Investigate possible oil leak Done.... but might be another one now
8. Make it as shiney as possible Done.. needs doing again
9. Drive to Donnighton Done but not this year
10. Do a track day
Done

Ok, possibly somethings have only just been done

[Candles]

You NEED to fit the shortshift. This is the single biggest improvement I've done/seen on the car and really makes it feel a great deal more positive and higher quality. It takes no time at all!

Candles.

[Dave Eds]

1. Fit LGM's Roll Bar Done
2. Fit Short Shift kit
3. Replace Timing belt and associated pulleys to try and fix some of
the whine noise issues Done but still got a whine
4. Fix the passengers window
5. Fix the heaters Done.. kinda
6. Fix the roof release cable
7. Investigate possible oil leak Done.... but might be another one now
8. Make it as shiney as possible Done.. needs doing again
9. Drive to Donnighton Done but not this year
10. Do a track day Done
11. Renovo the roof

[dans]

You NEED to fit the shortshift. This is the single biggest improvement I've done/seen on the car and really makes it feel a great deal more positive and higher quality. It takes no time at all!

Yep.... quite about this......
My excuse is that the gearbox is not in great shape at the moment anyway so didn't want to risk changing anything on it.

I've put the MTL redline gearbox oil in now and feels alot better, expecially once its warmed up.
Maybe I'll consider fitting it soon........