Workshop/Project car going ons. The (owner needs a) Miracle (for this) Maestro

[Matty]

My good fuck. Whoever did that is tighter than a ducks arse!

[JMotor]

"Yon was so tight he wouldnae gie a door a bang!"

🤣

I've seen and committed acts of sheer mingebaggery over the years. But THAT ranks up there so far! 

[Matty]

No problems with carb icing though. Not with 2 turns of loft lagging in the air box.

[somewhatfoolish]

Looks like boggo filter media.

[JMotor]

10 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

Looks like boggo filter media.

Kinda thought that too. 

Almost like the stuff used as a pre-filter outside of some filters. It was doing nowt as I found a lot of crap after that "filter". 

[Rustybullethole]

12 hours ago, JMotor said:

Kinda thought that too. 

Almost like the stuff used as a pre-filter outside of some filters. It was doing nowt as I found a lot of crap after that "filter". 

I always take the said post filter crap out and pretend it never happened. An oil change is really bad/water ingress, whats done is done. 

Edited January 31 by Rustybullethole
edit as what came out when i typed made no sense. Like worse than normal!

[JMotor]

To add more problems to the mix.

I took delivery of a car I had stored else where and had mentioned way back in this thread.

No collection capers or PC either. But I do have a steaming big pile of VAG in the unit.

This fine example was bought about two years ago? Bought sight unseen from a pal. 

Plans? It's breaker. I have no want to fix this thing. The shell is rusty and it's the age old rule with these cars. A bad one will punish you. Just a pretty 225 BAM engine donor. 

I'll give it a wash and look over tomorrow.

[JMotor]

Kept thinking there was an issue with the carb to inlet gaskets. Drawing air in and making it run weird under heavy load. Nearly bought gaskets until....

I was given a thing.

So I did a thing.

Broke a thing. Aw fiddle sticks!

I did a fix with super glue! 

Spoodged some silicone about the gaskets and spacer. Built it back up and went for a blast.

I think it drives better now. 

Or. It's made bugger all difference.

At least I didn't make the car run any worse, so that'll do!

[JMotor]

Smallish update.

Maestro is off the road now. I had planned to go over for Twixfest. So I taxed the Altezza and started using it again. Don't get me wrong the Maestro is a fun car to bomb about it. At the same time. I just wanted to go and not worry about getting there and back.

Unfortunately I couldn't make the new date. Hopefully I'll get over another time. 

With a spare Sunday that weekend. I just cracked on with a small niggle. My polish job needed redone.

This time around. I just bought the cheapest restorer kit from Halfords.

Ach. It's slightly better. I had another go at them today. I polished them after the treatment went on. This improved them enough to be acceptable finish for me.

Maestro will be worked on soon. Got a list of jobs I'd like done before it sees the road again.

[JMotor]

Things happened.

Helped a friend with his Truck. Little welding to the chassis. I like it. Have a thing for Yank tin. 

Altezza was carpet bombed with bird poop! So a quick wash. That'll be two years I've had this. The induction note off the BEAMS still does it for me.

Then something important came up. I did a buy. 

@grogee posted about these in another thread. I wasn't going to miss the chance to spend way too much for them. Then @alf892 was very kind to pick them up and send them on to me. My genuine thanks to both.

Means I can have the "fun" of sorting out those rear arches on the Maestro. Or I can stick some more ally speed tape over the fibreglass with fillered over originals and ignore them for while longer.

[JMotor]

With the weekend coming tomorrow. 

Been thinking about jobs to tackle. Think that TT wants looked at. Something that I wasn't made aware of when I bought the car was it's an utter bastard to start!

Acting like it's flooded. Does start eventually. I'll be using a combo of google fu and parts cannon. Bought another AFM to try as the car once running ran better with it unplugged, stuck a new coolant temp sensor in as it was cheap.

This car has to run good enough and then it's for the chop! 

[JMotor]

Weekend.

I had to fetch the Corsa out. Then get a picture with the Maestro. 

That Corsa was sat since September maybe October can't remember 😆. Connected up the battery and it started like it had been running an hour beforehand. Joys of EFi really. 

Making a list of parts to buy for the Corsa. We've been there, once you've got a project so far you make another list of niggly items that need done. 

One VERY important job is on the agenda. I made a mistake ages ago and discovered it randomly last year.

That fuel pipe is cracking up on the outside!

Scary bit. Done over a thousand miles with that pipe and on the surface it was absolutely fine. I just opened the bonnet one day to find this! 

I'll be replacing this with the same brand of pipe that Zel uses. As I'd rather spend a few quid extra on good quality hose than deal with an under bonnet fire!

[grogee]

41 minutes ago, JMotor said:

Weekend.

I had to fetch the Corsa out. Then get a picture with the Maestro. 

That Corsa was sat since September maybe October can't remember 😆. Connected up the battery and it started like it had been running an hour beforehand. Joys of EFi really. 

Making a list of parts to buy for the Corsa. We've been there, once you've got a project so far you make another list of niggly items that need done. 

One VERY important job is on the agenda. I made a mistake ages ago and discovered it randomly last year.

That fuel pipe is cracking up on the outside!

Scary bit. Done over a thousand miles with that pipe and on the surface it was absolutely fine. I just opened the bonnet one day to find this! 

I'll be replacing this with the same brand of pipe that Zel uses. As I'd rather spend a few quid extra on good quality hose than deal with an under bonnet fire!

@Cluffy had trouble with a batch of so-called quality fuel hose, same problem I think. I think the Chinese offloaded about 1000m to wholesalers and it looked legit so ebay was awash with it. But it's garbage. 

The stuff on my Maestro is cotton braided and doesn't look as fragile, not sure if there's an alternative like that in your size. 

[grogee]

Also - I'm looking forward to Corsa tales as I remember what's under the bonnet. 

Move over, Clio 182s.

👊

[Matty]

4 minutes ago, grogee said:

Also - I'm looking forward to Corsa tales as I remember what's under the bonnet. 

Move over, Clio 182s.

👊

It's a hard little fucker. Amongst the other things my family saddled me with (a love of BL products) they also made me a GM fanboi. AVAM

[JMotor]

Think it was Gates Barricade the hose of choice. 

I'll use that. Luckily for me it's an easy job. The reg to fuel rail is on barb fittings. So a metre of the stuff is more than plenty. Rest of the fuel system is hard nylon pipes and has stood up well to the E content.

The little bugger is surprisingly nippy. Feels like it has a decent lump of mid range torque. But hits rev limiter with ease. 

Reckon it would give bloody good try at keeping up with one, but realistically it won't be quicker than one. 

Though the Corsa would be easier to maintain and cheaper to run. 

If pennies would allow. Throttle bodies, lairy cams and good exhaust system would make this car a little more spicy. The inlet ports look like they can flow really well. 

[Matty]

As is custom and practice with cars I've no room for and can't afford. If you decide to part with, let me know

[JMotor]

10 minutes ago, Matty said:

As is custom and practice with cars I've no room for and can't afford. If you decide to part with, let me know

Of course. 

If I remember right. That'll be two people on here that asked the same thing.

I probably will sell at some point.

After I've sunk obscene amounts of money and time into it beforehand. As is the standard practice.

[High Jetter]

There may be a Corsa variant on here soon to make you rethink...

[AnnoyingPentium]

1 hour ago, grogee said:

Also - I'm looking forward to Corsa tales as I remember what's under the bonnet. 

Move over, Clio 182s.

👊

Waiting for John to race the rapid* 1.8 in my Vectra...

[JMotor]

On 06/04/2025 at 22:44, AnnoyingPentium said:

Waiting for John to race the rapid* 1.8 in my Vectra...

Both are same power.

Weight, big difference. 

The wee Corsa is pretty nippy. Well quick enough to be given the V's by an annoyed DS3 driver 😄. 

[JMotor]

Hmmm. 

New pipe made. 

Kick outside and take more pointless photos.

[JMotor]

Not a bad weekend had. 

Replaced the front discs and pads. With a freshen up of the front calipers. 

Glad I chose the yellow colour. Suits it I think. Went for just a new pair of discs and a green stuff pads. 

Doesn't stand out much with the wheel back on.

Unexpected surprise too. A fella wants the TT as is and I get to keep the reg off it. Thank frig! 

[JMotor]

Stuffs happened this last week. Took a week off so cracked on with some jobs.

Corsa - Now back on the road. The passenger side brake was dragging a tad. Well enough to annoy me. Popped the slider rubbers out, clean out and refitted with some silicone grease. Much better. 

The new brakes feel bloody good too. Inspire confidence when in need. Not bad for leftover calipers, comline discs and green stuff pads.

Reminded myself it goes damn well too. Very punchy mid range and pulls to the limiter. Which I do often. I paid for that rev counter, I'll bloody well use it! 😆 

Replaced the seat belt buckle too. As the old one would pop the belt out at random times while driving! No use that!

Sorry no piccies. As I'm a donkey who forgot to take any!

Altezza - The rear wishbone mount/ rear tension rod bushes were knackered. Last year I purchased a pair of solid rubber bushes meant as an upgrade for a larger Toyota from Ayamama. 

Very easy to swap over. Steering in the dead ahead position feels better and sorts a job before the next MOT.

Maestro is now shoved in a corner. Which I've done a fair bit of thinking about too. It's time to pass the baton on now. It's been great fun. However I've got enough on my plate and I'm thinking of cutting cars down. 

The Corsa will go at some point too. I'll get another few niggles tidied up and a fresh test on it. Then it can head away. I wanna part with it on a high. Not sell it because I've fallen out with it.

[grogee]

20 minutes ago, JMotor said:

The Corsa will go at some point too.

😮

But also, how much mistah? I've really enjoyed reading about this creation being brought to life and I bet it GLF. 

[JMotor]

Oh it goes really well for what it is. Surprises me at how well it drives.

Don't even know what to price the car at to be honest. I'll give it some more thought when it's got a fresh test on it. Think it's due in July? I Need to check that.

[JMotor]

Been daily driving the Corsa. 

Not because I want to. I had to. 

Back tyres on the Altezza were knackered. Quickly fixed today. 

Then made the mistake of giving the suspension a once over . Bottom ball joints are notorious for going bad. I replaced them two years ago with the best quality ones I could buy. So I keep a good eye on them.

Discovered the passenger side upper balljoint had a tiny bit of play in it. Ach no big deal. I'll take it apart and replace it.

Oh. That'll explain the squeak I heard going over bumps at a slow speeds then.

Drivers side was absolutely fine. So I removed that wishbone and chapped out it's ball joint too. I'll replace both.

Because the suspension is identical to the IS200. Parts are easily available and not at horrible money. Company called Hardrace do a OE style replacement that is meant to be an upgrade too.

This bloody Jap Import is much easier to get parts for than the feckin Maestro!

[IronStar]

10 minutes ago, JMotor said:

This bloody Jap Import is much easier to get parts for than the feckin Maestro!

Ah, yes, but that’s because the Japanese had common sense to share parts between models, unlike some, erm, other manufacturers that did bespoke everything for no apparent reason. 

[JMotor]

@IronStar You're spot on with that comment. 

Plus I was being unfair too. As the Toyota XE platform car has and still is popular. So the support is there. 

[IronStar]

5 minutes ago, JMotor said:

@IronStar You're spot on with that comment. 

Plus I was being unfair too. As the Toyota XE platform car has and still is popular. So the support is there. 

I know the pain all too well. 
The current one is airbox for Yugo EFI. Apparently they made multiple different versions, with holes for hoses in different places. They all sit in the literally same place in the engine bay. Why, oh why, bother?