CurtisRider

Cheers Robin Got the engine in now, just got to refit everything to go with it! Then its time to jack up the back end and remove everything else to replace this sodding torque tube. I'm hoping that it'll be stripped down tonight, then reassembled by tomorrow evening. Knowing my luck it wont start

I spent last night assembling a bit more on the engine, tested the TT fit and rebuilt the starter and alternator. TT had a lick of paint to protect it Test fitting TT to engine, fitted perfectly so that means my clutch tool worked haha I had a lazy starter...this explains why! Absolutely full of gunk, it was really thick, the amp draw on this must have been huge! Cleaned Painted up The oil has got in everywhere! The alternator had been working fine but wasn't looking too pretty inside Annoyingly one of the brushes fell off the voltage reg, so I need to solder that back together today, then that can go back together Today I'm collecting some more paint, another pair of axle stands and then I'll crack on with getting the back end apart ready for the TT replacement. Fun times... I haven't a clue how much I'll manage, I hope I can finish by tomorrow evening.

Just get it nice and high, I've found using the 6ton axle stands provides a far more stable and taller working zone

Operation fix my car started yesterday. Firstly I was welcomed to the mess I left the workshop in... I then whipped the car in and put it onto ramps, within an hour I was ready to drop the front subframe and have the engine out! Easy peasy... then George turned up to help with removing the engine and unfortunately my luck didn't last long... No matter how much we wedged the thing apart with bars, it would not budge! The spigot bearing has got stuck on the torque tube so the only way to get it off was to undo the clutch cover after using bolts to press the bell housing off the engine a bit. One very broken clutch.... A worn shaft where the spigot sits One very knackered spigot bearing so with the engine out I cracked on with stripping it down, giving it a clean, replacing seals and painting up parts ready for when it returns back into the engine bay. It's getting there, still a ton of jobs to do before it is ready to refit. EEEEEK

Engine is finally out, currently giving it a freshen up with new seals, a clean and a lick of paint (can't decide between black or red?) Next jobs are to remove the gearbox from the back, drop the rear subframe and remove the torque tube (prop shaft) from the car as mines a bit buggered. It's lucky I have 2 weeks off really isn't it? Hoping to get it done over the course of the next few days, hopefully it'll be worth it with all the spangly new parts and the freshen up.

Hate cars right now, especially 924s with a spigot bearing welded to the input shaft. On another note I love George Seamons, he has spent 6 hours with me and his ability to remain calm and persevere with my car is worthy of a blow job

If you notice in the second photo I have actually done a half arsed attempt at hoovering... Not that fussed about the interior until I dye it all the proper brown again, it has gone a weird green in most areas!

944 handbrake lever swap to replace my bent up and wobbly 924 one! So much smoother and my handbrake works really nicely now after some fettling

I was wondering about fitting a single butterfly, larger bore TB to my car to replace the double butterfly setup (like on the mk2 golfs). Looks like a 944 one isn't far off being able to fit How much difference does it really make apart from a slightly more responsive throttle? Brake fluids... is that ATE Blue stuff all it is cracked up to be? Even though I have already flushed my system recently, I am rebuilding my rear brakes (fronts already done) and so i'll be needing more fluid and wondered if this stuffs really worth the extra?

Basically only a problem if you get stopped and have to provide your license, police don't care as technically you are legally able to drive but DVLA do as your photo is out of date and it can be a 1k fine. You can do it online and they use your passport photo if it is 5 years or less since you renewed it, fortunately mine was a few months within! Still got at least a week wait

Fiddlesticks. My license expired 4 days ago, I thought it was next month :'( Presumably this means that until my new photo card arrives I can't legally drive?

My brakes also squeal less with sintered completely the opposite to what is supposed to happen...

I have found sintered to be better all round than organic on my SLXs, regardless of using genuine Shimano or Superstars (superstars being better than Shimanos in my experience!)

Black chilli rubber queens are highly rated, even my cheapy wired ones are doing a competent job! Don't you want more of a summer tyre now the weathers getting better Tom?

Emissions were fine, no worse although my cat stayed put. You may be able to cut the box off and then use clamps to fit a bit of pipe on along with a clamp on tip, I can;t remember what a Leon setup looks like anymore!

More noise if that's not your kind of thing. I didn't notice a change in my fuel economy, car seemed more responsive at the throttle. Advantages of less weight are also cool, stiock back boxes are hefty!

Nah the backbox is replaced with tube. It's such an easy job to do, done it to a few cars now! My Saab had a duplex one that I made out of scrap sections of pipe

Looking good! How does it feel to ride now? Manuals must be a ton easier?

Just bled my brakes as they have been on my to do list since buying the car back in June as part of a general make sure all fluids are good kind of thing. All good on the first rear drum, undid the other sides bleed nipple and no fluid came out. I then hooked up my easy bleed to my spare wheel, still no fluid even under pressure. A push of the brake pedal then made a ton of poop come out along with old fluid and then fresh! Looks like my rear brakes need a rebuid the drum is working so I guess that's a good start. Tested the brakes out and the difference is massive, still shit micro sized 80s brakes but certainly better

Ditto, think i'm free 20th onwards

Awww yes! No car friends in Nottingham Sold some 924 driving lights that I got free ages ago, that's my clutch paid for The guys also giving me his old knackered driving lights in return for a small discount so that I can make projector ones as planned.

So nobody has a clutch in stock for my car, Sachs won't be making anymore for 5 weeks Thankfully a club member has sorted me with a 4k old clutch (£170 new) that he removed due to supercharging his engine and fitting an uprated one, and a brand new spigot bearing (£55) for £35 all in to help me out. I just need to source a clutch release bearing which is about £30...so actually a blessing in disguise I guess as I really couldn't afford all the parts I needed this month . Also had some great friends offer help to get the engine out and back in again, shows how good the car community can be!

But it makes your brakes NOISY!

It's the timing belt pulley I need to shift, not the v belt :$ yeah it must be threaded for the v belt pulley to attach, maybe I can just make a plate puller to suit it?

That's what I wondered, although whats stopping me still having the bolt in there just not fully done up? Is this sort of thing more suitable?