Archive for the ‘Garage Services’ Category

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A Mk1 that didn’t need welding!

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Another Mk1 Escort joined us recently and this one had already had all the welding done on it.  The shell certainly seemed solid and it was built to a simple, honest, budget DOES matter standard and I loved it. It’s so nice to see one that hasn’t just had thousands heaped on it and is too valuable to use. This car will see some road rallies and maybe some stage rallies in it’s future. The owner wasn’t happy with the seating position or the seats so we made some subframes to fit some mazda mx5 seats. It also needed an alternator to solve a charging problem and some brackets making up. Nice easy jobs and a great car.

 

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More MK 1 Mods

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Our old friend the solid Mk 1 escort came back for more work. The list was endless although jobs were small. We had to remake the exhaust, make some brackets for the navigators trip computer,  adjust the door hinges, fit a lower temperature thermostat, make pipes and t pieces for a capillary oil guage and lots more litle jobs on top.  Most of these I think the owner could have sorted himself but it’s far too cold for working on cars at the moment and we love working on these cars no matter what size the job. The car went away a little closer to reaching the rally stages.

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Cheap classic

Monday, January 25th, 2010

It’s amazing that a car built in such relatively low numbers and with such striking styling should still be so cheap. The Scimitar was such a departure for Reliant and has carried it’s age well thanks to the fibreglass body. There may be nothing groundbreaking about the mechincals but thanks to some very strong parts being carfully borrowed from other manufacturers they are tough and pretty reliable as classics go. This car was bought for only a few hundred pounds but since then we’ve done some serious work done. Cosmetically it’s had a full respray, new carpets, the seats have been leathered and the headlining replaced to match. On the mechanical side of things it’s  had a rare South African motorcraft 3.4L engine fitted. We’ve added some custom stainless exhaust manifolds and a full stainless system. It took 6 exhaust boxes in total to quieten everything down! It’s had lot’s of other bit’s a bobs like a dose of waxoyl and a full brake strip and reseal. Parts aren’t available for ars this age so everything had a clean up and new seals. In the end the master cylinder was modified to take one from a transit. I’m sure there wll be more improving to be done soon.

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TVR suspension that fights back

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

I must confess to having a big soft spot for TVR’s of all ages even though I am more than aware of their various reputations for reliability.  As such I was looking forward to having this one in for a set of replacement coilovers and a quick set up of the geometry.  All went according to plan and the car was set up for a comfortable neutral ride a requested. We took the car out for a test drive and the ride was perfect. On the return journey though the car faltered at a set of traffic light and the engine died.  The TVR reliability reputaion had caught up with us.

The car was recovered back to the garage and work began on rectifying the problem.  every now and again the car would spring to life and run for a short distance only to die and require recovering again.  After much swearing, buning of hands on the cars beautifully promenant but extremely hot exhaust and a few cups of tea later the problem was traced to a loose fuel pump connection.  The terminal was recrimped and away went our customer to enjoy his comfy suspension.

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Customers come first

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Over the weeks leading upto Friday 13th, we had been carrying out some work on a Focus RS for a fellow enthusiast fitting spark plugs, boostpipes and swearing a lot trying to fit the uprated CFM gearbox stabilizerand charge cooler bushes. Anthony had agreed to pop down to Oulton on Friday for somepassenger laps in the Capri, as the spaces had already been filled the RS was going to stay parked up in the carpark.

Unfortuntely as the day approached we had several large jobs to complete and more than a few customers in need of our help so track days have to go on the back burner. During the hectic Friday the 13th we’d forgotten all about Anthony and his visit to Oulton, until that is he called from the track to ask where we were.  Knowing Anthony had the car for the job and was no virgin in the field of track days it was suggested he find a crash helmet and take our place.

300 BHP on a wet track in his pride and joy filled Anthony with a slight hint of fear but 25 laps later he was in his stride and glad he’d mde the journey. “Had brilliant fun, and just wanted to say a big thanks to Phil and Steve for sorting it out, and Mark for being a top bloke transferring the track pass.” – Anthony

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Retro rides

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

 Another classic which came to us recently was a lovely MGB GT. It came to us for a few little jobs and some electrical wiring faults.  It already had a sports exhaust on and the engine was so sweet and revvy. This car was obviously someones pride and joy and understandably so.

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We also had this wonderful little chevette in which needed some exhaust work and an MoT. The customer has done a lot of work himself and this car should become a popular sight out and about n track days next year.
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Track cars, tyre racks and engines

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

We worked with a customer last year organised a charity run in various Datsun Z cars.  We only had a small part to play but this year he turned up with a new challenge for us.  He had bought a Mitsubishi GTO Turbo as a track day toy nd it needed a bit of work doing.  It started with sorting the exhaust and checking it over then squeezing in a couple of bucket seats to it’s still fully furnished cabin.  The car is receiving a shake down at Silverstone when it’ll doubtlessly return with an extensive list of required develoment work! I suspect better brakes and a bit of a diet will be on the agenda, there’s loads of potential here just bursting to be unleashed.

We also had another tyre rack to build. This one was for a car transporter although we’ve done them for trailers and workshops too.

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There have been plenty of diagnostic and engine rebuilds too. Fiats with missing cam lobes, Mercedes with broken valve springs, and the usual plentiful supply of MG/rover headgaskets!

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MK 1 escort

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

In early 2009 a MK1 escort shell was pushed in for a little TLC. The owner wanted to carry out as much as possible himself but when it came to taking an angle grinder to his precious shell he was happy to pass that responsibilty on. It was fitted with 4 link boxes and a panhard rod to locate the axle and a pair of rear turrets for some coil over dampers. He then took it away to carry on the long process of rebuilding the car.
Work started in full on another MK1 escort shell we’ve had for a little while now.  This is a proper type 49 RS Shell whcih isn’t in bad condition either. The owner plans to fit a YB Cosorth engine himself and use it for a weekend and track toy. It’s a well trodden path to easy power and he’s dow plenty of research on his final spec beforew’ve started cutting his shell up. We debated over slipper springs and 4 links or 5 link and turrets or my favourite keep it simple approach of axle location and leaf spring. Theres pros and cons for all but with it being a decent type 49 shell I felt bad for cutting it up! The floor is mostly cut out now for bulkhead mods, diff tunel, transmission tunnel, 4 link boxes and a few general repairs. Turrets and a custom cage will follow.

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Classic cool

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

June 2009- An early 70’s Porsche 911 came in with starting problems. It had an old KKK mechanical fuel injection system on it so no point plugging the scanner in on this one! Turned out to have a small solenoid that literally dribbled fuel into the inlet manifold as you crank it over. We reconnected a broken wire and away it went. Stone age design and simplicity itself but it works.
Also in was a 60’s Mustang, proper old school american muscle. Just needed waxoyl and a few niggles sorting out. Nothing major but a lovely car and a perfect example at that.

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