LOKI my long term project.... (help often needed)

[MattDon]

cheers mate much apriciated, very helpful as ever.

[MattDon]

Came to my car this morning to find someone had hit it, not structural damage but the picture shows how screwed the paint work is, ive noticed that the paint is coming off quite easily in a number of places, is this common and rather than trying to touch up various places would i be better off saving up for a respray? also ive been considering redisigning the rear end and this does seem like a good time to look at it, if anyone has any suggestions about what one could do with the rear bumper and plinth/lights then id be inderested to hear it.

[MattDon]

total brake failure today, the new wheels had worn through the goodridge hoses, both myself and the car are fine but it was rather scary. id like to know if the wheel fitter can be held responcible, or do i just thank good fortune things wernt worse and pull out the cheque book?

[RayD]

Sorry to hear about that Matt, and glad you’re OK.

I don’t suppose it was one of the bigger tyre firms who fitted them?

Ray

[MattDon]

no it was a local place, blackcircles use them as fitters though.

[dapinky]

Matt,

It may be worth approaching the tyre fitters for a 'goodwill gesture'.

The problem I can see is that the wheels were supplied by the customer (you) so it would be down to the 'service' provided to be below par......

....as the wheels are not OE size (diameter AND offset), they may just say that there is no case to answer - also, as it was Goodridge hoses not the originals (routed slightly differently), I would think that you may have to accept that they aint (totally) to blame.......

....that said, they ought to have checked that the wheels didn't catch the hoses on full suspension travel and full lock anyway, so perhaps their 'service' IS slack and there is a case??????????

[Monty]

There aftermarket wheels and hoses so i don`t think your`ve got a case, IMHO you should of know there could off been an issue so you should of checked yourself or at least mention to who ever was fitting the wheels.

[MattDon]

i had no idea there could be an issue until i lost my brakes, all i realy want from them is a rebalance, would be a nice though if they offerd to replace the hoses, i did just spend £470 on tyres with them, if the hoses were laid anything like they were when i took the wheels off when they were put on someone deserves an ass kicking. But i guess i cant proove that. the offset is only slightly out and theyre the same diameter as the S2, so i hadnt foreseen any issues. think its as much to do with the hoses or how theyre fitted. guess id like to be able to vent at someone after something so serious.

[tigerdog]

I'm glad to hear you're OK - everything else, even the Elan, is secondary.

I just had my wheels rebalanced after fitting the Wilwoods on the front. Thank you for forcing me to crawl under the car to make sure everything sits right. Heavens, these things are fiddly.

[Monty]

Since your just getting the 2 hoses from bob, which will be cheaper, then it might be worth asking them to pay for the parts.

The thing is if you crashed and hadn`t told the insurance about the upgraded brakes, hose and the new aftermarket wheels the insurance may not of payed out So IMHO i`d say you was very lucky and just strike it off as a lesson learn`t.

BTW i hope Dico has checked his hoses as i fitted his front brakes

[MattDon]

just got the car back today, turns out a wheel bearing had also collapsed (18 months after i waved a new set under a mechanics nose while he did my brakes, but said they didnt need doing) the front wishbones are flexing aparently so theyre now urgent, and one of my dorman calipers isnt working, I was also told that my driveshafts and intermediate jackshaft are fine, but im not convinced, there still alot of speed related noise and i do vividly remember feeling a fair amount of play in the shaft. Oh and the 18 month old clutch is making odd noises, which im told is the thrust release bearing, im also waiting to fit a low milage engine as mine needs more work than is financialy feasable, and im trying desperatley to fit lgm's turbo so i can instal the O2 sensor and sort out my MPG. Im down to my last £1000 for car work so its not looking great. looks like the for sale section might get busy soon.

forgot to mention the tyre place didnt even offer to rebalance the wheels. wont be going back there.

[MattDon]

so incase you missed it, long story short my gearbox has collapsed, i cant take a big bill just to get the car back to where it was as it needed so much doing so the plan is to get everything sorted, the list is as long as my arm but if i dont get it done i may well run out of money and then id have to consider a "sencible" car, so im now franticaly trying to remove the gearbox from the green car, progress tonight was removing the front clam.... it was going pretty well and i only had two bolts left to do when i realised my garage is so narrow i couldnt open the passanger door far enough to remove the cheater panel, so that got ripped off as did a few large pieces of skin, but its done. one step closer.

[CRAMBURY RS]

i hope you own a camera, pics would be awesome. sorry about the gearbox, but at least you don't have a transfer case in the way of all this

[MattDon]

the camera is at work, (we had an osprey come visit) but i'll try to get some pics on the weekend.

got the rads, frame, and shocks and springs off lastnight, im too tired to attempt much tonight but i'll proberly have a bit of a go.

[MattDon]

so ive got to a point where i realy need a hoist to either support or life the engine out, depending on what i decide to do.

i took a quick picture, but am not sure what you or anyone else would like to see...

[Specky]

Keep up the good work, it's good to see another loon trying to surmount the impossible.

TTFN

[MattDon]

your not a motivational speaker by profession are you? lol

[whippit]

just looked at your photo,
why dont you support the body at the bulkhead and unbolt the longrons and push the body of the engine ,
you'll need to undo the wiring loom and a few other things, but it'll be a lot less hastle than lifting a lump of iron in the air,
you'll need a few trolly jacks, but if the cars going to be scrapped i would'nt be to bothered about scratching it,

[bobbrown]

Far easier with a hoist as you can then move the engine around and there is less danger of injury, me I'd take the safe route but then being the owner of a hoist and engine stand I would.
You try getting an engine in a stand with out one!

Bob

[MattDon]

theres a nack to it, what i did was attatch the mount to the engine and then lay the stand down, slide in a get someone to help you lift the whole lot up, not very health and saftey but worked ok.