mini refurb

[DavidEJM]

Finally getting a few things done to improve the car. Seats first and soon to be followed by a respray.

Out with the old

IMG00003-20110219-1705 by DavidEJM, on Flickr
and in with the new

IMG00001-20110219-1704 by DavidEJM, on Flickr

Came from a 1999 Toyota Celica.
Cost £180.
Some bracketry required for to match to the original mounting points. They seem to match in to the interior very well ,I'm really please with them. I've managed to mount them lower than the outgoing aftermarket jobbies which makes you feel like you are sitting 'in' the car rather than 'on' it, the side effect being that I can drop the steering wheel and I can now see the clock!!!!

Hope you like.

[kenich]

They look really smart and dead comfy. Looks like a good move

[abmunro]

Loook very nice...

How heavy are they?

[DavidEJM]

How heavy are they?

Here comes the science.......

lighter than the outgoing aftermarket ones, but heavier than the originals. No scales at home to check exactly.

[rip]

the side effect being that I can drop the steering wheel and I can now see the clock!!!!

You're probably the only turbo driver who can.
You'd rather not be able to see it when it starts to earth through the indicator

[Rambo]

They look good - and a lot less chavvy than those red ones

[DavidEJM]

They look good - and a lot less chavvy than those red ones

Managed to sell the red ones on ebay for £100

Replacement wheels back from powdercoating and fitted with T1R's

Car now being stripped ready for respray.

Thinking about trying this

I know this sort of thing has been suggested before in conjunction with elise lights (to mixed reviews) and I wondered if anyone has actually butchered a bumper yet? If I was to make a recess from fibreglass, can it be bonded to the plastic of the bumper fairly successfully? Luckily I have a spare bumper that will come in handy for this kind of project.

[DavidEJM]

Well the car is back from paint (photos to follow). I'm very happy, it looks nice and shiny and, though there are still a few areas that will need some attention, the painter said 'get it put back together and bring it back for final buff and polish'.

I forgot how long it takes to put things back together! New fastenings required here there and everywhere as a lot had to be cut off to get the car apart for painting. Of course I'm trying to improve things on the rebuild too, like trying to cut out as many of the door rattles and fixing escutcheons etc.

Done so far;
Repaint
Vectra brake upgrade
Front bumper and lights back on properly (loosened off to get clearance for painting)
Rear bumper replaced and black grill painted and glued back on
Rear lights cleaned and back on
Boot lock
Hood replaced for secondhand one (hopefully aligned but we'll see when the windows are back in!

Still to do;
Rebuild doors, fit windows and trims. etc etc etc

I am going to try to put the windows back in tomorrow and wondered what type of grease to use for the sliders in the channels? Looks like a graphite type grease which seems a bit over the top for the type of use it will get but i might be wrong. Anyone have any thoughts?

Once it is back together and usable again i'll start to look at tidying the interior things like the immobiliser panels will have to get sorted, the loose stereo fixed, door leather and carpet panels.

Bit of a marathon and still loads to do which can be difficult with only one pair of hands but I'll get there.

[Rice crispy]

Petroleum jelly (vasaline) apparently