Project Domes shonky autos - Grand Cherokee departs, Kangoo titivation and 911 dug out.

[dome]

There's a lack of pictures on this latest update; I'll blame that on a mild hangover this morning and an urge to get things done. 

First up I jacked it up to get the track rod and drop link changed. Needless to say these were a pain until the angle grinder came out to play.  The drop link was easy enough once I'd ground off the old one.

I'd chopped down a 32mm spanner to change the inner track rod on the Kangoo, handily this also fitted this. It was easier to get the Kangoos one changed than this one though, it was tight. The inner track rod was well fucked-it had been an advisory on the last MOT. I'd bought an inner and an outer to make things easier. This was handy as the outer started to rotate as I undone it. The grinder came out again to cure this. 

Back together and I stuck the spare on so I could get a slow puncture repaired.  I also stuck a new air filter in it.

I then cracked on with the rocker cover gasket. I stuck a bit of sealant on where it curved round the cam. I got it all back together and torqued down then nipped in to town to get the puncture fixed to give the sealant a chance to dry.

Back home (via KFC for very probably the first time in the Jags life) for a quick test drive.

All seemed well with no EML. The Aircon is nice and cold which is a bonus. Back home and there's no signs of smoke under the bonnet, hopefully thats the oil leak cured. I've booked an MOT for Wednesday. Fingers crossed it'll be ok!

[dome]

2 things happened today which made me happy. 

First, the Ibiza passed an MOT 😁

Second, for the first time ever, I didn't have to pay to tax a car!

Free tax ftw!

I'm so happy that VW did such a good job on getting the smokey old PD engine through such a strict emmisions test back in 2009. They must've worked really hard to do this. Congratulations on some good, old fashioned, honest* engineering...

Next up, oil change and get the tracking straighter after fitting the track rod. Then I'll get some miles on it and get it cleaned up and ready to sell. 

[dome]

I got this back from the MOT station yesterday and did a quick oil change. While doing this I took the tyre with the puncture back to National to let them have another go at repairing it, which they seem to have made a better job of this time.

While there I got them to do the tracking on the van after I'd fitted a track rod to it, it's driving straight again which is always good.

I also had to do the Ibizas tracking after changing a track rod on it too. This was achieved by adjusting it, driving it, adjusting it again til it felt right. I've got it pretty good now, as my 20 mile motorway commute today proved. No issues to report, will continue to use it to let it prove itself before advertising it.

[dome]

Got some stuff done today. 

Boring stuff first, Ibiza got a clean and a polish aswell as a hoover. It came up pretty well. I was going to go and take some pics of it but then it started snowing. Again!

[dome]

Range Rover next. The LPG system on it had been partly removed at some point and the recommissioned by the guy I bought it from. While it worked ok I wasn't happy about the hose used in the engine bay. I found a local specialist and too it to him to get it assessed. He pointed out a couple of things needing done and sold me the require parts to do it. 

The system runs copper pipe to the engine bay and then hose to the vaporizer. As you can see though, the unions and hose were questionable and not LPG suitable.

New correct LPG hose cut to size with unions fitted.

On at the pipe coming from the tank.

And at the vaporizer.

Routed correctly under the scuttle, out of the way of the  wiper mechanism.

 

Much better. That existing setup was extremely shonky. I'm glad I changed it before it failed.

At the tank end I removed the connector to fit some ducting over it leading to where it exits the car.

The idea is is there's a leak from the tank valve it'll carry the gas out of the car. While in there I replaced a single flare on the copper pipe with a safer double-handily this was familiar territory after doing the fuel and brake lines on the Jag. It's on the left here, heading round the tank to exit at the front of the spare wheel well.

On firing it up I found one of the oil leaks...

Never seen that before! I had oil and filter in stock so dropped that and replaced the filter and oring. Hopefully that'll help.

Once warm it switched onto LPG ok and a quick test drive confirmed all was working. Whew!

[dome]

Oh, and Duncan popped by with the MR2, which he's gone and had painted without telling me. Its looking braw!

[Cooper1]

This is all very good..

You had me at the RR goodness and they're indeed great motors to smoke around in  

 

The M62 cam cover leak never seems to stop plaguing these engines, the gasket quality tends to play a big part OEM ones only

[dome]

25 minutes ago, Cooper1 said:

This is all very good..

You had me at the RR goodness and they're indeed great motors to smoke around in  

 

The M62 cam cover leak never seems to stop plaguing these engines, the gasket quality tends to play a big part OEM ones only

Thanks! It was a Victor Reinz gasket.

It could've been a genuine OEM BMW gasket hand delivered by the Quandt family in a gold plated M5 and I'd still have made a horses arse of fitting it. Still got the other side to do too🙈

[dome]

Quick fleet update:

Rangey-Did it's first 200 mile trip in a day. Effortless and relaxing, apart from all the time I spent worrying it might break down. The drivers seat side panel is knackered which is a pain everytime I get in and out of it. A new one is £100 though and all the second hand ones are knackered.

Kangoo Doing well, making good noises and carting me and the bike/dog around regularly.

Jag Took it a run to meet some Scotoshiters last week, it ran very well on the way back. Has an exhaust blow, would like to replace the full system with a cat free one but haven't bothered my arse looking into that.

MR2 Very shiny, waiting for track days to start happening again up here. 

Manta Yes, you read that right. Manta. Eep

Edit-I should clarify the Jag also ran very well on the way to meet the guys, the roads were quieter on the way back so I could waft faster

 

 

[dome]

I've been poring over the classifieds and crying at the prices complete sheds of Mantas were going for. Yesterday morning one hove into view which had potential and a more bearable price. Messages were exchanged with more pictures and by yesterday afternoon a deposit was paid and collection booked.

So, what have I bought?

Here she is.

Good points.

Non sunroof coupe shell

Tax and MOT exempt soon I think

Been on the road certainly for the last 10 years or so at least.

Bad points

Rust

Rust

Rust

Rust

Rust is inevitable on one of these-the mot history shows plenty of welding over the years so it'll be doubt be a patchwork quilt underneath.

Plans(look away now purists)

Strip it and get the shell blasted to reveal the state of the shell

Cry at the state of the shell

Drink heavily for a while

Add metal to make shell whole again(may involve professionals)

Buy a 400 bodykit and fit it(more professionals required)

Paint it white(again, professionals)

Find a suitable* running gear-big modern NA 4 cylinder is the plan, to keep in the spirit of the original. Honda S2000/Ford Duratec or the likes is on the list at the minute. By the time it's anywhere near going on the road though petrol might be extinct so I may need to rethink this. 

Interior wise TBC but comfy and insulated for long distance cruising

Completion time? Yes

[cort16]

Nice! What's the difference between the early ones and later ones other than the body kit? It it just the front panel?

 

Are you going to weld it yourself?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Munter looks a cracking starting point, and the 1 owner with original receipt is a winner too.

That'll look lovely with a repaint in blue and subtle modifications for a sleeper look.

Oh...wait....😉

[dome]

26 minutes ago, cort16 said:

Nice! What's the difference between the early ones and later ones other than the body kit? It it just the front panel?

 

Are you going to weld it yourself?

Rumour has it the earlier ones used thicker steel, whether that's true or not I've no idea. 

Welding-likely not. Not only lack of skill but I'd planned to find myself a workshop/unit for the purposes of restoring it which I've failed to do.

I did manage to buy a 4x4 rated to tow 3.5t and fit a towbar ready to go to the continent to buy one of these though, so I've got that going for me. 

[jaypee]

All I can say is... 

 

 

 

 

 

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas! 

[CreepingJesus]

Can't say from memory whether the earlier bodies had thicker steel than the later, but I can tell you they all had thicker steel than anything Luton built. Working in GM parts at the time, the difference between Opel and Vauxhall in that regard was striking. I remember us having a clear out and coming across some old Rekord wings, which were a lot like the contemporary Carlton and Senator ones in make.

Manta though...*dribbles*

[Split_Pin]

Manta, YAASS! That is all.

[big_al_granvia]

it isnt that bad, was on the road until this year or was mot'd, fail sheet isnt that scary (compared to lots) get it welded to mot standard then treat as rolling resto. engine wise you must be looking at redtop on throttle bodies... the manta is still a popular rally car so parts are there. try talking nice to @DodgyBastard he is in your area plus he has just welded up a shovette of similar vintage

[spartacus]

I'm pleased to see you've managed to find one locally and haven't had to travel to Europe, it would have made a great thread but ultimately been a pain.

The shape of that one is very pure, I'd be wanting to make a sleeper but I can also see the allure of a 400 kit, a local had one back in the day with a RV8 fitted and he was a bit of a hero in it.

[Ghosty]

3 hours ago, dome said:

Find a suitable* running gear-big modern NA 4 cylinder is the plan

How about one of those crate Duratecs like people put in Escorts?

[Matty]

Plus one on a duratec.  Coarse, noisy, unrefined, characterful, perfect! Got one in my fiesta st and it's one of the defining characteristics of the car. Have to say though that the 2 litre CIH in the GTE I had was a lovely lump. Nice noise, quick revving with lovely throttle response and never felt slow. Favourtest car of ever

[dome]

25 minutes ago, spartacus said:

I'm pleased to see you've managed to find one locally and haven't had to travel to Europe, it would have made a great thread but ultimately been a pain.

The shape of that one is very pure, I'd be wanting to make a sleeper but I can also see the allure of a 400 kit, a local had one back in the day with a RV8 fitted and he was a bit of a hero in it.

Thanks! There's some lovely clean Manta Bs and I wouldn't rule anything out but the allure of a 400 kit is probably going to be hard to resist. In one step I'll get new wings, arches and sill covers which will help hide a multitude of sins. 

Plus, just look at this😍😍😍

 

[Matty]

3 minutes ago, dome said:

Thanks! There's some lovely clean Manta Bs and I wouldn't rule anything out but the allure of a 400 kit is probably going to be hard to resist. In one step I'll get new wings, arches and sill covers which will help hide a multitude of sins. 

Plus, just look at this😍😍😍

 

Aw look at it. Just look at it. There's just never enough money in the world...

[dome]

Duratec is definitely worth considering, a Toyota BEAMS engine has been suggested and would be a good choice-similar to the S2000 engine but rarer. 

Ultimately the engine choice will be further down the road and likely dictated by how much I have to spend to get the body sorted. It may end up with an xud🙈

[CreepingJesus]

21 minutes ago, Ghosty said:

How about one of those crate Duratecs like people put in Escorts?

*fetches holy water and bible* 

Red Top from the 7 would look bonny in there. Classic mod. Although having experienced a 'fake' 400 (most of the right bits, but started as a regular 2L GT/E) and one with the 24v Senny motor in (another classic mod), serious torque suits these well. Of the 'no replacement for displacement' ilk. The six pot conversion is easy to do, but hard to get right: that particular one ended up losing an argument with a lamp post, caused by its' dubious handling. 

[bigfella2]

I know you want NA but if that was my car it would have to be the Saab b204/234, it's the car that's just begging for that engine in a rwd chassis.

 

[DodgyBastard]

I'd be vaguely interested in the engine and running gear for my chevette if you decide to replace it.

Sent from my moto g( power using Tapatalk

[Fraz]

13 hours ago, dome said:

Welding-likely not. Not only lack of skill but I'd planned to find myself a workshop/unit for the purposes of restoring it which I've failed to do.

What Dome doesn’t realise is that he will be welding it and I’ll be helping. 
 

In return I will drink his beer 

[loserone]

26 minutes ago, Fraz said:

In return I will drink his beer 

You're a kind hearted soul

[cort16]

38 minutes ago, Fraz said:

What Dome doesn’t realise is that he will be welding it and I’ll be helping. 
 

In return I will drink his beer 

By helping do you mean holding the fire extinguisher? Is it not the swan neck chassis rails being rotten on these that's a real nightmare to fix?

The MOT fail doesn't look too bad but you can't tell if it's failed because of a a hole the size of a 2p or a hole size of football although the 2020 advisory of "underside of vehicle very rusty" might be telling.

As for the engine there's only one real choice.

[Austat]

15 hours ago, dome said:

I've been poring over the classifieds and crying at the prices complete sheds of Mantas were going for. Yesterday morning one hove into view which had potential and a more bearable price. Messages were exchanged with more pictures and by yesterday afternoon a deposit was paid and collection booked.

So, what have I bought?

Here she is.

Good points.

Non sunroof coupe shell

Tax and MOT exempt soon I think

Been on the road certainly for the last 10 years or so at least.

Bad points

Rust

Rust

Rust

Rust

Rust is inevitable on one of these-the mot history shows plenty of welding over the years so it'll be doubt be a patchwork quilt underneath.

Plans(look away now purists)

Strip it and get the shell blasted to reveal the state of the shell

Cry at the state of the shell

Drink heavily for a while

Add metal to make shell whole again(may involve professionals)

Buy a 400 bodykit and fit it(more professionals required)

Paint it white(again, professionals)

Find a suitable* running gear-big modern NA 4 cylinder is the plan, to keep in the spirit of the original. Honda S2000/Ford Duratec or the likes is on the list at the minute. By the time it's anywhere near going on the road though petrol might be extinct so I may need to rethink this. 

Interior wise TBC but comfy and insulated for long distance cruising

Completion time? Yes

Paint it light green.