fatbloke racing

Well, i've had this for over six years now and I took it off the road July 2004 to give it a little tidy up....only just seeing light at the end of tunnel now!
Originally completely standard bar a strange concoction of stainless steel and mild steel exhaust! Had a recently rebuilt engine, but prodcing completely standard figures, just needed a slight tidy up around the arches and a couple of bubbles on the boot and bonnet.

To start with, this was how she looked when I first bought her...









Then a quick change in wheels, didnt stay on for long though!







Then I upgraded it straight to stage 3 spec with 803's, K and N panel, 3 bar map sensor and chip that I think came from a tuner in essex, maldon area I think.
I also found out at that time that it had a GGR Stage 1 turbofitted, which was a nice surprise.... a T4 wouldnt have been better but I would have noticed that sooner!!!
It was run around like this for a while, had a new fuel pump, Tank, fuel pressure reg, and a mongoose fitted in when funds allowed.

Then it was off to Power Engineering for an MOT and rolling road setup. Chose them due to the cossies I had read about as a kid in Fast Ford etc coming out of there work shops and as an impressionable young guy, thats where I always wanted to take my Sapphire when I eventualy got one!

Couple of pics from there, please excuse the quality!

Brian

iTrader: (2)

Looks nice


Brian

fatbloke racing

Cheers Fella, these were all taken between 4 and 6 years ago though!

fatbloke racing

Right, After the little trip to power engineering, where it made 310 bhp and 285 lb/ft - happy days - I parked it on the drive and promptly stripped the back end out as after seeing the underside from under the ramp, I knew I had to do something pretty quick otherewise it would end up as another one being broken for bits!
Unfortunately I dont have any pics of this strip down but I carried out the following:
New Spax adjustable shocks and springs - 25mm
fully polybushed
new hand brake cable
new brake bundy
new goodridge hoses
couple of small plates on the chassis rails
new rear discs
new rear pads
new clutch cable (2nd one as the first melted due to no heat shield!)
New heat shield
new fuel tank strap
pro alloy 500 size alloy intercooler - £80 damaged off ebay, tigged and pressure tested at work - all good!
recored rad
etc etc the list goes on - to be honest I have forgotten most of what has been replaced now!
Then it was off to the paintshop - 2 years later - for new arches, bonnet, boot and complete respray in its original moonstone blue

Before the paint shop



Strippin down started









Then it was on to the arches















Had a few other little bits and pieces repaired also, then on to the paint









Then I got it back home to begin cleaning all of the dust out, what a nightmare!







Then I could start fitting the large pile of parts that I had accumulated over the previous years

Replaced the clears up front with a set of orange repeaters



Got rid of the '90 spec rears and fitted original type lights



As you can see got hold of a set of Compomotive FR's and had them refurbed, think they look good against the blue??!!??



Started to go down the route of fitting a cage



but pulled it out in the end, originally wanted to start tracking it but decided that so many sapphs are getting stripped, cut up and track dayed, I would keep mine with the interior intact but still use it for the track if need be!

Started to strip the forn t of the engine down to sort a couple of leaks, replace lifters, new pipes, fit intercooler and rad etc







Got the engine back together, although I hadnt run it, and it sat like this for nearly a year! God what a waste!



Then decided to bite the bullet and set up GT Motor Cars - First car through the doors was, you guessed it, not my own, but came in pretty close after!





This was how the engine looked at this point







As I had stripped the interior out to fit the cage it gave me a chance to give it a damn got clean and replace both the seat bolster foams on the drivers side, they hadnt allowed the material to wear through yet and thats how I wanted them to stay!



It was then that I ripped out the cage as when I put it in I fucked the headlining - which had dropped anyway! Next job was to drop the headlining out, remove the old material and and glue down an exremely close relacement - definitely a job you dont want to be doing for free!
Then back in went the interior.

As the car stands today





All running and driving - for the first time in four years! A couple more small jobs to do but thats for another update! Need to get some more pictures monday as well!

borderfox

lovely mate.

Minirotty

MINT

james kiely

iTrader: (5)

looks nice mate ,looks like the hard work has paid off.
cheers james.

Matt Evans

that looks SO good with the ambers and original rear lights in!

Plus those Comp FR's are the bollox as well!

marky_g

very nice mate

fatbloke racing

Cheers for your comments people, gave it its first clean in four years, so get some proper pictures of it tomorrow.
Also the front bumper is not completely fitted at the mo as the side mounts are slightly buggered, but should have a couple of stell replacements made up tomorrow - you can tell I am a little quiet at the mo!

boothy

iTrader: (14)

great work mate ,looks mint now, want a saff next year....

wirralphil

I like that alot, need to say tho get rid of the quad lights. It will look so much better without.

Glad you kept it from gettin stripped tho

fezzajsy

iTrader: (9)

looking good

hai07222

Looks nice, good work!

ram

iTrader: (4)

cool little story there, good work

Paul_RS

iTrader: (4)

Cool write up, cool car

fatbloke racing

Ok, update time!
Gave her a quick wash over the weekend and took some pictures this morning.
Missus had a moan at me about the state of the wardrobe, had a little clear out and found a 3 spoke RS Motor sport steering wheel and a SECS monitor, bought them ages ago but forgot about them! Santa came a little early this year it seems! The steering wheel needs a recover but the monitor can go in soon as poss with some Carbon Fibre sheet I have in the workshop I think!

So, neds a polish and if you look carefully there are some water marks, but I will sort them when I give her a polish....





My new head lining...



Recently wrapped down pipe...





Bit of a clearer one...



Took her outside for a couple of shots, You guys are probably bored of seeing the car already, but its been in a state for so long I cant stop looking at it at the moment....Loser!









That'll do for the time being, Next job on the list is finish making the side mounts for the front bumper out of 20 gauge steel then mount the bumper correctly, fit the infill strip, fabricate a air filter enclosure for the engine bay then a bloody good polish!! May have to take a read through the concours section and pick up a few tips and tricks....

RS-Stian

iTrader: (1)

Looking very good mate. You've done a awesome job with the car, all cred to you for that. Love the amber look together with that color and white wheels - mint!

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Very good photos mate.Im glad you didnt put the cage in cause i like to see cars with a full interior.I hope your happy with it.

jdcrst

iTrader: (2)

Stunning car mate. Loving the white wheels. Got some on my mk3

fatbloke racing

Wired up my SECS monitor when I got five minutes today, Spot on piece of kit! Decided not to go down the route of loads of gauges etc so this should be just the trick just a shame it doesnt have the facility for AFR or EGT, then I would be really happy!

Rs(555)

iTrader: (8)

looks very clean.good pics,keep the hard work up

Rab

Thats a nice Saff that is!!!!!!! Loving the wheels, proper old skool rally style. Love it :thumb:

RSCossieGaz

iTrader: (6)

looks fantastic mate well done!!

does look well now its back to its original look

fezzajsy

iTrader: (9)

very nice

rs1072

iTrader: (2)

Looks nice mate