Well, its confirmed !

Phil W · 16 Sep 2006 at 22:36

Mr Joshua said:
I'd love to do something like this but I'd need a garage and more spare time!

I picked the wheels up after having the tyres removed last night, they were rubbed down in first coat of primer that evening, today they had been filled, painted (2 coats) and lacquered (3 coats) and they are done, i should offer it as a service

You can do it outside, but risk the wheels getting bits stuck to them if the wind blows

Phil W · 17 Sep 2006 at 17:42

Ok, so today i thought seeing as the weather is nice-ish, ill rip out the headlights and front idicators for smoking.

No pictures of the process, but basic jist is to heat up the sealant around the edge, take the lense off, rub down to get the shine off the chrome, prime, paint (matt black) and lacquer)

One of the headlights all out...

And one side back in and smoked...

Also managed to get my mirror cover on today as the lacquer had dried overnight, however still needs cutting back to get the shine

Unfortunatly no completed pics of the lights yet as i cracked the passenger lense (didnt heat itup enough) so need to get a new one this week and get the job finished

GT3 · 17 Sep 2006 at 21:01

In future Phil, this is a good tip I learnt. Fill a sink up with burning hot water and leave the lights in for 10 minutes or so. The sealent will then be evenly soft all the way round the unit and you can get it off in one go without cracking the lens.

Phil W · 17 Sep 2006 at 22:02

GT3 said:
In future Phil, this is a good tip I learnt. Fill a sink up with burning hot water and leave the lights in for 10 minutes or so. The sealent will then be evenly soft all the way round the unit and you can get it off in one go without cracking the lens.

Top tip there mate, i've always used a hairdryer (on my Fiesta Headlights and Saxo Foglights) and its never let me down, i think i was probably just working it a little too much too quickly, and it was just too brittle. Nothing £5 at a scrappy won't fix though

TaKeN · 17 Sep 2006 at 22:05

Down to Furbers in Whixall tomorow then phil ?

paradigm · 18 Sep 2006 at 08:43

TaKeN said:
Down to Furbers in Whixall tomorow then phil ?

Car Transplants in Nantwich = win

TaKeN · 18 Sep 2006 at 08:50

I only live three miles from furbers though

Phil W · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:08

Headlight is on its way, have busy weeks and not much time over the weekends so i've ordered a 2nd hand online (£10)

HID's arrived yesterday, they'll go in as soon as the headlight arrives. Also fixed one of the "projector" foglights last night as one was rattling around in the housing, this will replace the ordinary foglight at the weekend (currently have 1 ordinary, and 1 projector).

Also debadged the sidestrips last night (still have the sidestrips, just with no chrome "sport" written on them), she no longer gives any hint of being a sport on the exterior, i'll debadge the tailgate this weekend.

I wasn't 100% happy with the finish on the indicators, they looked a bit too 'DIY' upclose, so i've ordered some proper smoked ones.

Firestar_3x · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:15

paradigm said:
Car Transplants in Nantwich = win

Didn't do me much good

Phil W · 23 Sep 2006 at 17:49

Ok, another update.

Here are the pictures of her debadged (which i did the other night)

I had a go at DIY'ing my indicators (smoked) however the finish didnt quite come out how i wanted it to (sealing them back up) so i ordered some crystal smoked ones. Theres arrived this morning, and as i already had 1 headlight back in, i popped one of the indicators in...

Phil W · 23 Sep 2006 at 17:50

Next i wanted to get the callipers painted, seeing as im trying to keep attention to the car down (I.E.keep her as sleeper as possible) i decided to go for black....

Oops... got a bit of paint on the disks, however i went shopping this morning...

Full set of Mintex disks and pads, nothing fancy, but the best for the money where replacing standard parts are concerned.

Tomorrow the engine is being checked out to see if the HG really has gone, as she runs sweet as a nut! So until then...

GT3 · 23 Sep 2006 at 22:27

Can't fault what your doing mate to this car

Make sure you get a decent suspension kit on it though with some thicker anti roll bars if possible as standard I believe they handle like a boat. Oh 30mm will do not 100mm or whatever your saxo was

Phil W · 23 Sep 2006 at 22:37

She's having a 40mm drop with shocks and springs, rear may go 60mm though, as with the extra weight of the 2.0 Lump, i believe it may go a wee bit lower.

Phil W · 24 Sep 2006 at 15:15

Head came off today, HG looked to be fine, so it loos like the only thing it could be... porous

Its being pressure tested to be sure, pending that i have a new head fully rebuilt waiting to go on

Steve · 24 Sep 2006 at 15:53

Phil W said:
Head came off today, HG looked to be fine, so it loos like the only thing it could be... porous

Its being pressure tested to be sure, pending that i have a new head fully rebuilt waiting to go on

I thought the XE was a top engine, had a red top in my 93 calibra

the best year was 93 as they were dizzyless but didn't have the ecotec valve crap so you got 150 bhp not 136 bhp but even the ecotecs were good engines unless you got a porus one

enjoy your car mate and may be down the line stick in a let lump in for 209 bhp off the bat then do some proper tuning!

PMKeates · 24 Sep 2006 at 16:05

209hp + Astra, surely = death?

-Mike- · 24 Sep 2006 at 16:14

Nice car mate and its nice to see how its coming along

The wheels look mint! Its always nice to do something yourself and be able to re-admire (if there is such a word) it a few weeks down the line.

Enjoy

Phil W · 25 Sep 2006 at 21:16

Cheers guys

Small update, my Rad, headlight and side repeaters arrived tonight. I got the glass off the headlight (properly this time) and gaveit paint, its now sealed back up, in the car and the front end is now back on, looks pretty good in all honestly, the smoked look has paid off. It was too dark for pics, so ill get some up tomorrow

MNuTz · 25 Sep 2006 at 21:29

[TW]Fox said:
But Phil has had more cars in the last 2 years than most of us have had hot dinners - he keeps buying questionable cars with either dodgy history or just a bit skanking, then has to quickly move onto the next mess etc etc.

Had he just bought something nice in the first place it would have cost him less money and been more rewarding in the long term. I thought he'd finally managed it with the Saxo (I hate them but there is no denying it was tidy) but no we are now on Car number 3 since Saxo purchase..

I think ive seen nearly every car Phils had either close up or in passing, i wouldnt say any where skanking however, just older cars. I must also say that i dont know anyone with a keener interest in cars than him, whenever i drive past you can guarantee he is outside with a mate working on someones motor.

As for buying someone nice to start with, how that can be more rewarding or satisfying than buying cars, doing them up and selling them on for a profit i dont know?!

Phil, getting a run around red rado 16v on wednesday so i'll probably see you about, ill have to stop and have a look over!

Phil W · 27 Sep 2006 at 17:03

Great News !

(for me anyway)

Head isn't porous, just rather warped.

It's being skimmed this week, so hopefully will be back on the car in the next week or two.

Instead of spending £300 on a replacement engine etc, i'm spending £30 odd on a skim