As I'm getting closer to finally finishing it i thought i would start a thread showing how it has changed over the 10 years i've owned it. Apologies for some of the pics as they are photos of photos as digital cameras weren't around in those days

Bought in Feb 1996 as a totally standard G plate 2wd, the modifiying started about 45mins later when i arrived at Collins Performance to have a nice Mongoose fitted. Apart from the fitment of a K&N 57i the car remained like this for 6 months.




Then in Sept 96 came the smoked lenses and a set of 17' Hockenheim Rs. They cost me £1200 !!!!!



With my brother's Series 1 on 16' Hocks



The plate 'B9KOS' came as an engagement present from the wife

The car was used daily and average 25000 miles a year until engine No1 went pop in Nov 97

Quickly replaced with a low mileage engine out of a Escort the abuse continued

National Day 10th Anniversary Display on track at Donnington


The Network Q Rally in 1998


Following a play with a Sc**by on the M5 the head gasket decided enough was enough


The fitting of a new Grp A gasket meant it was time for Stage 3 with a set of 803s and some more boost

At National Day 99 at Silverstone was a debut for the blue wheels


It became very clear that 330bhp and rear wheel wasn't good for 0-60s when i spent all day running up the strip with a best of 5.6
With an identical specced 4x4 Saff running consistent 4.5s i decided to convert it to 4x4.

A lightly rolled 4x4 Saff, some air tools, a 2 poster ramp, a grinder, welder and 6 hours of hard work it was done

All went well till August 2000 when engine No2 went pop at RAF Alconbury whilst doing a Top Speed Challange for tRevs magazine


Which resulted in this



But it still did 147.6mph on 3 cylinders

So i got it home to my garage where its remained for the last 6 years

Will post the start of the rebuild over the next couple of nights.

 

I like these stories

Don't keep us waiting to long Richie

@ them blue wheels

 

they went on in 99 and his taste 7 years later still aint any better


looking awsome now thou cannot wait to see it finshed

come on lets go look at that van lol two laptops,one wireless conection,much easyer to type the message than talk to you seeing as your 3 foot away

 

Rich I saw the car yesterday you mean the start of the rebuild???

 

Oops i do

 

The rebuild was delayed when i passed my motorbike test and jumped in feet first with a Suzuki GSXR750. It was delayed even further when a month later i decided to spend a few nights in hospital

Once recovered i fixed the bike and the car went onto the back burner and with working away from home alot, not much got done.

With the engine stripped i found the block was scrap So a new block was sourced and the engine rebuilt with new pistons etc. The head was fully reconditioned with new guides etc and i finally fitted it to the car in Oct 2003. Another stint of working away meant work was slow.





Had all the suspension powder coated





Some work in progress shots







Not got many pics of this stage of the rebuild

However during its 5 years inthe garage it did have three sets of wheels

Another set of Hockenheims


Some 19' TSW Pace


Black Pro Race ones


Then finally in July 2005 came the time to actually start the engine After a crank over with the coil lead off it started after nearly 5 years

Back outside the garage after a quick shakedown lap around the estate



With only a couple of little issues to sort it was soon Mot'd, Taxed and back on the road

 

nice

 

The body work was next for some attention. Although the purists will hate them i've done the following mods.

Firstly the spoiler



Front bumper



Wing mirrors





Bonnent vents



The comedy exhaust



And finally the morrettes



A full respray resulted in



The problems began once i got the car home The dark winter evenings spent here on Passionford meant i had some new plans for the car

 

Having kept track of both RichardPON's and Seveneights white Saff track car builds i was shocked to find them both been 'broken' before completion

https://passionford.com/forum/viewto...er=asc&start=0

https://passionford.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=88421

Not as shocked as my Bank Manager though As i was lucky to buy some great parts off them

Firstly off PON's

Aeromotive Fuel regulator



Carwise Billet Fuel Rail



And i broke his heart by buying his excellent STACK / DEFI /SECS dashboard







Sorry Rich


Then Seveneights sold me

L8 ECU fitted with closed loop and coilpack driver



Brake bias box



Roll Cage



He also provided a set of 83LB Siemens injectors, rear strut brace, flocked dash, and a hydraulic handbrake

So a big thanks to Rich and Paul

Passionford also provided

Swedish style Plenum and Throttle cable bracket SiB





044 Fuel Pump Woody800



Carbon Cambelt cover Maxest



Harnesses SBD16v



Imolas Graceland



75MM outlet intercooler trevCOSS




More updates soon

 

Blimey ,lots of bits going on here

 

wow who's been a busy boy, nevermind the photos get out there and do some work

 

Currently fitting the roll cage with the help of trevCoss

Fabricated some mounting plates with captive nuts for the main hoop and some reinforcing/load spreading plates for the rear arches









Plates welded in









The rear cage bolted in and the front cage bolted in to enable the front leg mounting plates to be made

 

Picked some parts up from the platers today

All Bufty



Sensible black



Which means my fuel regulator now looks



And phase sensor holder

 

personaly i prefer the bufty state, however the anodising is top quality and your doing it your way and your happy with it so its all

 

yea dont we know it

the car is looking top rich would be nice to see it in the flesh sometime

 

Today i sorted out the adaptor for my Defi oil pressure/temperature sensors. Adaptor goes onto oil filter housing.

 

Just gets better and better mate

 

come on rich havnt you got some new bits to tell us about

 

cool project, keep it up!

 

damnzzzzzzzz.....very nice work there...

 

As its been raining for the last week i've spent some more time in the Pf classifieds

Which resulted in the need for Roadtrip No2 to go and collect the following off DaveEscos next weekend

SCS Spec T38



Twin Air Injectors



Also took delivery of my new engine loom from Ryan

Hoping to get front cage mounting plates i've made welded in tommorrow if weather holds off.

 

Interesting adaptor plate you got for the oil senders. Seen that 1 on ebay but can't fit it due to having an oil cooler

 

nice, im liking the look of this

 

Thanks for the comments guys

 

Im particularly pleased with these purchases as it means i get a t34 Thanks rich,

 

Any updates for the nice people?

 

Yeah, i've burnt my grinder out

Trip to B&Q for a new one tommorrow so i can clean your welding up

Thanks for your continued help mate.

As for updates,
the front cage mounting plates are now all welded in.

seat mountings repaired/reinforced.

Oil pressure/temp gauge adaptor plate now fitted after some subtle mods to the standard Ford filter housing(needed a couple of threads removed).

T34 and 2wd manifold removed ready for T38 and 4x4 manifold. The use of the 4x4 manifold will hopefully solve the downpipe/front prop problems i've had since i converted the car to 4x4

Plan to have the inside prepped and the fuel/brake lines and the electrics dummy fitted by the weekend. Also need to run the line for my plumbed in fire extinguisher.

 

 

Been busy again today due to a early finish from work


Finished of clean the welds on the roll cage mounting plates with my new Draper grinder. Hopefully this one will last a bit longer
Seam sealed the joins and a quick coat of stone chip to protect them.










Also continued prepping the engine bay for a quick cost of paint. Found a couple of bits of corrosion in the usual places by the strut tops









More to come soon

 

RoadTrip No2 complete. Now got my T38 and Air Injectors

Also got some 315mm rear discs and an engine crane.

Thanks again to DaveEscos

 

Been busy tonight with yet more help from trevCOSS

Having changed the build to be more track biased we've now removed the engine to fit a big wing sump.

 

 

some serious bits of kit there M8 looking good

 

 

I love this post all them shiney parts wish i could do mine to this standard

Good work m8 love it !!!

 

Evening folks, removed my sump today ready to get it big winged and thought i'd check my oil pump as well. This is what i found











Pump has only done 860 miles

 

oil contamination M8?

 

No mate, the oil was ok and thers no debris in the sump.

I've had the bearing caps off and they are all like new still

 

dont be a big girl thats got thousands of miles left in it

 

How we getting on Rich!! Come on fella, finger out!