Project Return of the Red: 2/3/15 MOT ahoy?

[Split_Pin]

Not dull at all, quite the opposite. I love 'action' threads where someone has taken the time to photograph when they are doing along the way. I'm looking forward to seeing your late friend Marks car on the road once again.

[ruffgeezer]

Newer front bumper on, new cambelt fitted, just waiting on some washers for the new belt housing bolts before the start up.

 

 

 

Makes a bit of a difference, no?

[stuboy]

good to see being reinstalled

[purplebargeken]

Fantastic work and I am sure your mate would be as pleased as punch

[ruffgeezer]

No pictures of today's endeavours, the engine mount is back on, new belt fitted, stainless steel bolts fitted to the belt covers.

 

The brakes are rebuilt and bled, just waiting on a pair of hub but caps for the rear wheel bearings.

 

Tomorrow the battery goes back on, the accelerator cable gets shortened up and I can start refitting the interior.

[ruffgeezer]

Well today didn't go quite as planned, the new front bumper lead to the washer bottle springing a leak, so I had to grab one off of a scrapper down the yard.

 

With that fitted, I rescued the front number plate from the old bumper and refitting the handbrake cables, although I suspect they'll need a revisit once the weight is on the wheels.

[ruffgeezer]

Ok catch up time, luckily I haven't been as lazy with the car as I have with updating this thread.

 

The boot floor is probably is the cleanest of paint on the car just now, here I have been tightening the axle mounting bolts up with the weight back on the wheels.

 

 

The whining noise from the belt cover is back, I won't lie this is a massive disappointment. 

 

 

Vulgalour look away now...

 

..ok? yeah, this is what happens when screen wash sits in the pipes for 7 years:

 

 

On the plus side, we get a look at the car's new ride height with the back axle swapped:

 

 

Oh, just one more thing, I believe I forgot to do this all those months ago when I first acquired the car, I hope that this will suffice:

[ruffgeezer]

So this happened.

 

 

It's legal, lethal and Audi baitable.

 

After over 7 years, it's back.

[UltraWomble]

Well done, that is superb work. I hope you get to the bottom of thw whine, or just turn the wireless up a bit.

[Taff]

I love sleepers.

 

I know it's not the point and not my motor, a set of steel wheels to make it look more povo spec would really lure in the barry's...

[mat_the_cat]

I don't normally like aftermarket wheels, but they really suit it IMO!

[ruffgeezer]

Thanks chaps!

 

I'm hoping to find some smaller wheels simply because it rides so poorly on the 45 profile tyres, that and it's prone to tram lining with them on, I've got my eyes out for either some Berlingo van steelies or some similar 14" alloys to those already on the car.

[320touring]

Nice work-always good to to see stuff with a backstory get back on the road!

[ruffgeezer]

So the car is parked up again because the steering rack is buggered, luckily I've managed to grab one from a Gt on my way home from Wales.

 

I've also treated it to these; which I hope to be seeing sometime after shitefest...

 

[ruffgeezer]

Hmm, this is missing a few updates...

 

Anyhow with thoughts turning towards better weather(!), I have put in a bit if work on the ax today.

 

One of the problems with a fair weather car is you forget the niggles once it has been off of the road a while.

 

One thing I do remember though is that the starter motor was rather reluctant at times, and so today I made it my mission to get that off.

 

It's in there somewhere...

 

 

Hiding under the inlet manifold, deep in the back of the engine bay.

 

 

Three mounting bolts and the main feed removed, couldn't for the life of me feel the exciter wire though until I'd got the starter off.

 

 

Couldn't get the bloody thing undone by hand and so I employed the latest tool I bought a few weeks back. It soon had the nut freed off!

 

 

Also found that the speedo plug is well mashed, I'll have to find a suitable replacement for it.

 

 

Eventually wrestled the little bastard off, I'm going to research the number and see if a diesel on will fit.

 

 

I've also knocked up a bracket which will hopefully address the belt/pulley rubbing on the cambelt cover.

[JJ0063]

This is beautiful. Want.

[ruffgeezer]

I'm going to try and rescue a starter from a scrapper at work, and then think about pulling the fuel tank off.

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

I missed this earlier....... fantastic work fella. I do love the AX. I know I'll succumb one day to owning another - hopefully with as much care* lavished on it as this one.

[ruffgeezer]

Well as of the 26th of this month, the Ax will enjoy it's own classic policy which means I will be able to use it a bit more often.

 

I suppose that means I should get the mould off of the seats and the moss out of the window rubbers!

[Matty]

I really wanted a GT as my second car but the insurance was too steep at 19. Bizarrely I ended up with a zx volcane as the insurance was cheaper. 1300 carb Vs 1900 injection. Never understood that. Never seen this thread before but great you took this on. Looks lovely. How did you get on with the job situation by the way?

[ruffgeezer]

34 minutes ago, Matty said:

How did you get on with the job situation by the way?

 

Thanks for asking, I'm currently working for a small local garage, it is a lot more fast paced and they look after the staff well, I am unsure about the long term aspects but I'm happy enough there for now.

The only Zx Volcanes I had were 1.9td versions. Very comfortable though!

[Matty]

Yeah mine was the 1900 petrol same as the 205. Lovely car, steering was almost too sharp though and lift off tail out caught me out a few times.

Good news on the job though. Still reckon at some point you should try what I do, mechanical work in factories and mills and so on. As an experienced mechanic it'd be no problem to you just everything's a lot bigger. Money's better than cars generally too. You ever want advice on it give me a shout