New thread due I think due to the Photobucket thing
A chance to tidy bits up I suppose...

Briefly then...
Back in 2007 the time had come to sell on My98 Impreza Sti Type R
(Ej22t 2.35, Md321t turbo, etc etc running over 400bhp @ only 22psi due to clutch slip)
Me and the misses ( now wife ) decided it was time to get on the property market, at 25 years old I’d had a good run of fun with cars I suppose

Impreza Type R sold







A few of my previous cars while we’re back here
Pics aren’t in the right order
But 1st car was a Mk2 Orion 1600 ghia
2nd car was the red Mk2 Orion 1600 ghia ( spec )
3rd car was the Silver Mk3 Orion 1800i ghia
4th car was the Blue Uk Impreza turbo
5th car was the Black Impreza Type R
The Mk1 Golf was one of the runarounds I had while the Type R was off the road have a rebuild/ upgrade
























Back onto the Orion anyway
Before the Impreza went back in 2007 I purchased a Orion as a project to build at the new house, I ended up buying 2, as a better example come up locally at the right money
Was spotted by the misses on the way to work one day



£200 later it was back at my Mum and Dads briefly



Orion at the new house complete with a 16x10 garage



I did get the Orion Mot’d, plan was to have it done in a year and out mapping before due it’s next one
Plans were a full respray in Ford Moonstone Blue, de-locked, S2 90's spec front bumper, turbo bonnet, Saff boot spoiler.
Engine wise, 2 litre zetec turbo...

As the Impreza had gone, and the Orion a project along side the house, I had to get something practical



Job sorted, ideal for b&q trips, tip trips and parts hauling

2008 ish I purchased a salvage 2 litre Mondeo for £125 needing only a back bumper



By the time it was broke down for bits and weighed in I’d got a pretty much free engine

It was then time to strip the Orion down











Welding was done by a mate, it had lower front wings repaired where it originally had mud flaps
Rear out arches
Locks welded up
Minor front panel repair
A plate on the floor
I also changed a rear door
Once all that was done I cracked on with cleaning the underside up
It’s a lovely clean shell, original Ford wings with dates stamped on etc

17th January 2009 the Orion went away for paint...
Was being done by a mate... his car then was this Series 1 RS Turbo


























The Orion was back with me for 14th March 2009
Not a bad turn around done as a foreigner
Thanks goes to Ade Culley
Somewhere around this time I purchased a lot of parts off a Orion Register member Andy ( Freakpower )
He was breaking his Orion
So I had off him
Cts stage 2 box with paddle clutch
Hydraulic clutch conversion
Quick shift kit
Vibratec mounts
Cossie rear brake conversion
Stainless exhaust system
Gaz coilovers
Adjustable front tca’s
S2 front & rear anti roll bars
I’m sure there was more... ££££

I’d also sold the 306 and bought another Orion to do the shows in while still getting on with this build



Once back it was time to start refitting parts
Cossie front and rear brake set up fitted along with the Gaz coilovers &
Refurbished 7.5J Borbet C’s fitted with 205/40/17 Goodyear Eagle F1’s







Alittle further along with the rebuild, seals, glass, interior etc starting to go back on



2010 ish

Another mate ( my sister’s ex Andy @ Overboost ) was building the engine up

A pic of my Impreza build in a clean working environment



Wossner Pistons, Eagle rods, Cometic head gasket, ARP bolts were purchased through Jano @ Oddkid creations
Also purchased uprated valve springs, stud and nut kit, breather blanking plate, core plugs, water pump
Vernier pulleys were had from CDF Racing
Also purchased a Focus RS exhaust manifold & turbo ( unfortunately the turbo wanted rebuilding )
A Miltek downpipe modified to suit
Purchased a new Cossie 31- actuator



Vag map sensor









Back at home with the car I was getting everything ready for the engine returning to me







Once all my tick list was done, it was loaded back on a trailer and returned to Andy for wiring the Adaptronics ecu
Run in map, etc





Once all this was done it was returned to me for a few bits to sort, then time for tracking and mot’ing
Unfortunately it didn’t make my 2010 Fordfair deadline
But I carried on doing jobs and also not forgetting building another Orion over 3 months with spares I couldn’t sell...

April 2011 the Orion was taxed for the first time in years
I was also approached by Fastford for a double feature



































From then on I started doing the shows and getting the miles on it

















The gearbox had to come out for a rebuild after 500 miles due to not being built properly by Cts

2012 ish

I cooked a starter motor
So the next one had alittle heat protection





Oil temps were around 120-130 degs and we still wasn’t trying
So a call to Opie oils for some proper oil advice was done
I also purchased a oil cooler











Oil temps under control now

Dipped beam wasn’t working, so new relays purchased to fix the problem



I also purchased Focus RS Front Brembo set up, tubular exhaust manifold, gearbox, flywheel, starter motor, driveshafts, gear selector... even bought a Crazycage gearbox mount & to date there still sat in boxes in the garage



Christmas prezzie





2013

Mine and the wife’s wedding cars
I never did get pics of them together





Back to the Orion
I purchased a wideband gauge
And tried out some new rear top mount bushes





A new banner and frame sorted for the shows



Another 1st place at out national day ( 3rd year on the bounce )



Another Mot



Alittle prep for Fordfair



Usual meet up point with the Cheshire RSOC for a convoy down minus a Saff though











Thanks to Twins... Nos 90’s spec material for a change







It’s replacement soon found and appearing at a local show



October time me and the wife found a new house we liked so put ours on the market and I put off making a start on the Focus box conversion