Looming....

Friday 30th August

I decided to break open the ECU loom box and start considering the routing around the engine bay, the loom is a nice plug ‘n’ play arrangement from harnessing solutions (www.harnessing-solutions.co.uk), once I had located the relevant sensors and connections I roughly ran the loom through some cable ties and plugged in what I could, I still need to wire in the relays for the fan and the fuel pump but I will do this once I have fitted a plate behind the dash for mounting the relays and fuse box.

Wednesday 4th September

I have turned the Zetec fuel rail around so I do not have to run fuel hose the length of the engine bay and back again, this simple mod provides a neater solution, the fuel filter is also mounted and plumbed in.

Saturday 14th September

Bodywork all loaded up
ready for the trip home

Progress has been a little slow in the last week or so, mainly because I am taking my time to familiarise myself with the wiring loom and what the best way to route the loom is, although I have managed to fit and plumb in the catch tank.

Today I took a road trip to Hereford to pick up the body and a few other bits such as the exhaust system and prop shaft.








Friday 20th September

4 into 1 exhaust manifold

I managed to get a few hours working on the car, I fitted the starter motor, trial fitted the exhaust manifold so I could determine where the hole in the body work for the lambda sensor wiring needed to be and I have also made a start on fitting the alternator brackets. The propshaft is in place but not yet secured as I need to source some appropriate bolts.

Starter Motor Fitted

Propshaft in place

It's Home...And has an engine.

Friday 26th July

The car is now at my house, hopefully it will progress a little more.

Saturday 11th August

The fuel tank has been fully plumbed in, with the feed and return connected up and a rollover valve fitted. The bellhousing requires some trimming to provide clearance between the chassis once mounted in the car, this has been trimmed, bolted to the gearbox, the clutch fork fitted and along with a new release bearing.

I have also fixed the new lowline sump in place of the old 2-piece sump.

New Sump fitted

Engine in

Monday 26th August

I have managed to bolt the engine and gearbox to one another so it is now ready to drop into the car for fitting.

For lowering and manoeuvring the engine and gearbox into the chassis I enlisted some help from my other half and my dad, which was a good job to help ensure clearance on all sides, the process didn’t take too long and after a bit persuasion and adjustment it was all ready for the engine mounts, I placed the mounts on some blocks of wood and drilled down through the chassis, once the holes were drilled I replaced the wood with the rubber mounts and added some loctite to the engine block mounts and ensured the gearbox was fully bolted down.

I have a choice of what to start on next…the time consuming wiring…the alternator  (inc brackets)…the radiator…. I do know my first task is going to be plumbing in the fuel filter and engine fuel rail.

Rolling… Rolling… Rolling....

Saturday 20th July

I am now in a position to be able to transport the car to my garage, which will hopefully mean I can progress things on a little more, I spent a few hours today making sure the nuts holding the suspension together weren't going to come off during transportation. I also fitted the steering wheel to make manoeuvring easier. I am hoping to get the Kit moved at some point over the next week. 

Rolling… Rolling… Rolling……….. (nearly)

Saturday 5th July

Managed to get a few hours on the car, I spent my time adjusting the rear wishbones and coilovers ready to fit the wheels, rear wheels are on and spin freely which is good. I secured some more of the wiring loom ready for transportation to my house, a few more hours and the car will be rolling.

I'm Still Here.....

Friday 9th November

Nicely packaged up

The contents of what lies inside

Today I took delivery of a nice new Zetec engine courtesy of GBS. (www.kitspares.co.uk)

Saturday 10th November

Managed to do a dump run and get rid of 99% of the rubbish in the garage, there is now room to move around.  J Hopefully I will get around to fixing some lights up in the not too distant future.

Saturday 8th December

Put the Christmas tree up. Anna went into labour. The following day we have a baby boy. J

Saturday 23nd December

Spending lots of time looking after our new arrival Finley J and talking to visitors.

Saturday 5th January

Helping with looking after Finley. J and it is far too cold to be outside.

A Winter's Scene

Saturday 19th January

Snow is falling….

Saturday 2nd February

One of the old strip lights was accidently knocked down, one of my nice new lights has been wired up in its place. What a difference.

Saturday 16th February

Managed to spend a couple of hours on the car, I built up the offside hub / suspension set-up, nearly ready for the wheels to make the car into a rolling chassis. J

Saturday 2nd March

Popped up to Aidan’s to give him a hand on his GBS Zero, read about his build trials and tribulations.

I have been busy ordering parts, some nice shiny new wheels (www.rimstyle.com), a Omex ECU + Loom (www.harnessing-solutions.co.uk)  and a lowline sump (www.dunnellengines.com)

I also collected the garage floor paint. J Date set for floor painting, 30^th March.

Saturday 30th March

Finished wiring up the garage lights and painted the garage floor with help from Aidan in exchange for lunch and regular top-ups of coffee.

I have placed an order to have my Type 9 gearbox rebuilt by BGH Geartech (www.bghgeartech.co.uk) the lead time is circa 8 weeks, so I should receive this at the start of June/

Sunday 5th May

Weekend of Stoneleigh, decided to make a trip to attend the show. It seemed busier than the previous two years I have attended, maybe because the sun was shining. Lots of Kit cars on display which was good to see.

Importantly though I picked up some more parts, mainly for assisting with the engine and gearbox fitment, engine mounts + rubbers, propshaft etc.

Saturday 18th May

Prepared the old gearbox for exchange, clutch fork, bell housing and gearstick removed and gearbox all packaged up

Saturday 1st June

Shed building and a change to have a quick look at the new Gearbox.

I have also managed to remove the clutch, flywheel and  exhaust manifold from the engine, the flywheel is heading to Dunnell Engines to be lightened.

Fuel Tank Strapped in

Saturday 15th June

I spent a couple of hours playing with the car getting it ready to fit the wheels, also fitted the fuel level sender into the tank and strapped down the fuel tank, I have fitted some 5mm neoprene rubber in-between to the tank, mounting brackets and straps to absorb any vibration. I need to connect the feed and return pipes to the tank along with a rollover, that will just leave the filler for when the rear bodywork is fitted.

Saturday 29th June

The new Flywheel has arrived curtosy of Dunnell, I have refitted this and taken the opportunity to fit the Spigot Bearing into the back of the engine, this pupose of this is to stop dirt ingress. I have also refitted the clutch.

Lightweight Flywheel with Spigot Bearing Fitted

Clutch Refitted