Whatsyourbeefs project thread

[whatsyourbeef]

I'm bored so I thought I'd do this....

Chapter 1: He buys an AX
When I passed my test 3 years ago I bought a little 954cc ax 10e of my sister for £100:
http://webzoom.freewebs.com/burntwoodscene/Photo0254.jpg

This was money well spent as I did 30,000 miles in my first year! and never had a single problem with it... passed MOT first time and drove like a dream!

But I got a little bored after I started learning a bit about GT's and wanted to bodykit it... but I stumbled upon a 1.1i forte at a garage near me which had a set of compomotive mo's, so I payed £750 cash to the man with the smile on his face and ended up with this:
http://webzoom.freewebs.com/burntwoodscene/car1.jpg

The 10e went to my girlfriend who had just passed her test and gave her a years trouble free motoring before she bought a 307 hdi 2.0

I'd like to say that was the end of the story but I'd be lying

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 2: I'll leave it alone

That was the plan anyway... it was nippy enough and looked pretty good as there aren't any GT's or forte's round here...

But my back box decided to rust through and I wanted to replace it with a sportier one... the off the shelf ones were boring and expensive so I went to my local powerflow who sorted me out with this:
http://webzoom.freewebs.com/burntwoodscene/car3.jpg

Thats it I thought... but couldn't resist the cheap K+N kit off e-bay (£27 inc postage lol) so fitted that aswell:
http://webzoom.freewebs.com/burntwoodscene/engine.jpg

The next few months saw not much happen apart from a small crash in the wet:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/Smash.jpg

A new bonnet off e-bay (that doesn't fit lol) and a new set of headlights sorted it out and so I decided to go to my first AX meet at DT in 2005

[whatsyourbeef]

Capter 3: Demon Tweeks changed everything

So I arrived at frankly services at 7am and waited an hour for the southern convoy to arrive... and eventually we set off up the motorway heading for wrexham... this was my first convoy and it ws alot of fun when we got there we had a jolly good day at tweeks where I met alot of other AX owners and realy got inspired to make something of mine
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/CIMG0047.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/Mycaratdt.jpg

After spending the day surrounded by cool cars I got chatting with some people about Santa pod so I arranged to meet them at the travelodge in the morning as I wasn't staying out

The next morning we went for a road trip down to santa pod... we had a brilliant day and I set a modest time of 19.2.... I was very happy with the weekend and decided to have some fun trying to keep Tims GTi behind me on the way home lol

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 4: Bling bling

I was starting to get funny ideas now after seeing all the cars at DT so through sheer luck found this bonnet:
http://webzoom.freewebs.com/burntwoodscene/Photo0242.jpg

Which eventually I ended up selling for £100 profit as I went off the idea, but I started talking to a someone about chroming and got my rocker done for £40:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/Chrome.jpg

Bling bling lol.... Then some **** did this:
http://webzoom.freewebs.com/burntwoodscene/Photo0296.jpg

It was footprint shaped but I tried to knock it out... lol

So I ended up getting a new wing off a mate on the owners club... whilst I was at his house he told me he'd have a GTi engine in soon and it would only be £150 so I said I'd think about it... so I came home and got all the info, and went for it.... so me and my dad took my girlfriends 307 and picked it up from Parteny in lincolnshire (2 hour drive)... and then I left it in my dads garage for a while lol... much to his displeasure....

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 5: Spanners at the ready

So in January this year I bit the bullet and decided to fit the GTi engine... I got the crane arranged and set aside a weekend to do it... So I unbolted the old engine and started to question my sanity when the car looked like this:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/Photo0370-1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/Photo0371.jpg

But thankfully I didn't quit lol... and it all went rather well... so by 9pm on the second day I had this:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/IMG_0005-1.jpg

It was a bit dirty and there was no filter in the box so I put the cone on the end lol... but it was in and worked... and was quite quick lol

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 5: Beefy joins the AXOC motorsport division

Now the engine was in I decided that I'd join in with the eurofest action day at Castle combe... so I needed new brakes!.... I managed to get some 2.0 ZX callipers with EBC pads off a mate for £35 and got some G-force discs:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/Photo0394.jpg

And I managed to get a Bilstein suspension kit off ebay for £150 and a lowered GT rear beam for free... which was nice and the car suddenly looked like this:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/Photo0436.jpg

But then I developed an electrical fault! which burnt out 2 alternators but I managed to get there and have a good day with not too much hassle:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SV101577.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/castlecombe2013.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/combeapril06277l.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/combeapril06294l.jpg

After that I felt amazing and realy loved the car... until I needed another one of these:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/Photo0392.jpg

Lol.... but after sorting the wiring this is hopefully the last one!

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 6: FCS... the finest hour

With May came FCS and I decided to clean my car properly!... lots of t-cut and bumpercare later:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/FCS%202006/Photo0462.jpg

So I set off to meet a few people for the Saturday RR session:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/FCS%202006/IMG_0044.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/FCS%202006/Photo0464.jpg

So after a slightly dissapointing result of 64hp ATF we headed into Nuneaton for a night out... I would post these pictures but there not for the faint hearted lol.... Next morning it was show day and my AX looked damn respectable (for once)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/back.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/bonet.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/IMG_8936.jpg

Another great AXOC weekend

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 7: Track whore!

After a local midlands meet the next item on the calender was Trax at Silverstone.... now I was getting a bit more track slag I opted for a stripped out rear and bucket seats:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/STKI0001.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/STKI0003.jpg

And so came the day itself... after finishing fitting my brother in laws 4-pots at 10pm the night before we headed down to Silverstone where Ste headed off to join his fellow saxo's and I settled on the AXOC stand... where I had a quick pit stop to tape my lights up lol:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/2006_0904Image0014.jpg

Then after the briefing it was out onto the track:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/CHO_9023.jpg

Another great day out and on the way home we had to stop to fix ste's car which innevitably led to a trip to the scrappy for another brake pipe:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/Image001.jpg

Then less than a week after Trax was the Eurofest action day at Combe and of course I couldn't resist!.... sadly I don't have many photos from this one but heres my fave:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/IMG_0213.jpg

Strolling past an M5 :lol:

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 8: Its that time again

Yes of course DT 2006!!... which promised to be a monster weekend... my brother in law decided he'd come too and we headed up the m54 towards Wrexham early that morning...
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/PICT0056.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/PICT0058.jpg

Then we all headed to the RR not far away... where we all had a good laugh and I actually managed to get 88bhp atf... woooo:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/257DT06.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/DT51.jpg

We were also joined by a beautiful ferrari!... and I had my fresh lens skillz on lol:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/286DT06.jpg

After the RR we headed upto DT and had a look around and then left for the travelodge and the impending night out which was a riot! lol... and I spent the night pulling shapes on the dance floor:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/597_DT06.jpg

Then in the morning a few of us headed off down to Santa pod for a few runs where I managed a 17.0 which wasn't too bad:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/pod291006009.jpg

Darkness set in and we all went home... so that brings us upto the present day.... I hope you have enjoyed my story so far
Thanks

Mark

[Chink]

Absolute quality thread mate :D And gorgeous car, love it! Keep up the good work (y)

[gilb]

ha ha nice little story wish i new my cars history iv forgot it all

[razor_rich]

cool story mate lol enjoyed the read (y) and tis a great car

u got any other plans?

[griffo20022]

Nice bit of storytime there dude :D i'd do one of mine if I could be bothered lol! what size calipers are those ZX brakes? 266mm? I so can't wait to do a track day in mine :D I got the same harnesses as you aswell except for your driver side one with the mid clip on it

[whatsyourbeef]

I've only got a few more plans realy... the first is to rebuild the engine with the 1.6 bottom end as its pretty much fucked at the mo lol... then I think I may strip it some more and theres rumour of some carbon door cards and dash flocking.... oh and then theres the bike throttle bodies:
See this thread for info (http://www.streetrace.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=16948)

And realy thats about it tbh.... probably some head work and cam on the horizon aswell

Griff the callipers are 255 I think.... not 100% sure lol.... I just know there better than any of the AX stuff!

[griffo20022]

Sounds good man, will be absolute brilliant with the 1.6 bottom end coupled with the bike 'bodies! I'm pretty sure the calipers are 266mm although I won't guarantee you a correction. General rule of thumb I think the calipers between pug and citreon are 247mm solid, 247mm vented, 266mm vented and 283mm vented as I say though im not going to guarantee a correction on you, either way as long as they stop you as you need who gives a sh*t lol, it's a great little car I really like it so keep up the good work mate! (y)

[FM DESIGNS]

Two things:
first: I love your car, it breathes personality!!! Really shows your love for it!!!
Second: great story!
kongrats man, your car is great and your love for it is admirable!;)

[Sam]

Great thread, i love things like this!!

[dj_russell]

really interesting read m8y. its a quality car and i hate french cars but i love the axs its hard work to bring a car in that red bk to nice and shiny when its matted like that a full weekend was needed on my sport and my arms were knackered.

also im likin the saxo aswell.

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 9: Who needs a crane!

Right today saw the start of the VTi conversion (1.6 vtr bottom end and AX gti head).... after gathering everything at my parents house I took a nice picture of my engine:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1499.jpg
Then I emptied all the coolant etc. and started to take over the driveway! lol:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1506.jpg
Then I made a start disconnecting the ancilleries:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1505.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1504.jpg
Then the cylinder head:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1508.jpg
Look how neat I am lol:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1507.jpg
Now I needed to tackle the "no-crane" issue... (it was more hassle than it was worth last time) So I positioned an old skateboard under the sump and dropped the front down hot rod style:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1511.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1510.jpg
I undid the bolts and jacked the car back up.... I was suprised as the engine was still standing up lol
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1512.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1513.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1514.jpg
Then I just pulled it out on the skateboard and its now sat in the garage......

To be continued!...............

[kyle]

good story, looks like your doing some good work :)

[wheelieking2007]

fair play to ya m8 this was a great read keep it up

[griffo20022]

Lmao nice one with the skateboard idea lol!

Whats the advantage of using the GTi head instead of the VTR head?

Good going dude!

[sherms]

wicked story and the car looks smart!

[whatsyourbeef]

The Gti head has different cam and valve timing, bear in mind its factory @ 100bhp from a 1.4. The Vtr gives it the extra torque and higher compression (this is the only disadvantage as its difficult to get right) so can around 110bhp.... obviously the figures are approximate but you get the idea.... the VTi AX's are just quicker than the VTR ones so thats good for me!.... VTS is getting too common nowadays lol

[silky_nath]

looks the part mate. i love the little ax's

[The Haywood]

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/IMG_8936.jpg

dude.... what splitter is that???? i have one on my van and i have no clue what it's off lol

[silky_nath]

its a laguna splitter!! i thought everyone knew that mate lol

[AL]

its a laguna splitter!! i thought everyone knew that mate lol

Seconded! Chris you BIG gay :)

Nice luttle thread there buddy - knew I recognised the car from Septembers Eurofest! You going down next weekend? :)

[whatsyourbeef]

Indeed I will, hopefully I can put some miles on the engine beforhand so it doesn't blow up.... well I've got full green flag so I aint worried lol!.... brakes need a little attention next though lol

[whatsyourbeef]

Day two update:

Well not alot done yesterday as I had a Subaru experience thing that my sister bought for my birthday last year.... however in the evening I did do this:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1518.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1520.jpg

Ooooooooooh.... so much work! lol... I did manage to get the new bottom end and box bolted back in the car though, and I even refurbed 6 of the 8 valves but got bored and called it a day.... I did have help today though..... well I say help I mean Mrs beef came and washed her car:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1519.jpg

No bikini I'm afraid though lads lol.......

[griffo20022]

Nice one kid, I see your point with the hybrid block now, your doing really well with it mate, thats gonna be such a f*cking pocket rocket :D

[The Haywood]

its a laguna splitter!! i thought everyone knew that mate lol


i thought it was a laguna splitter but some douche on escort evolution said it was something else.

[silky_nath]

give him a slap then dude lol

[whatsyourbeef]

Day 3, A lazy day

Not realy done alot today... spent the morning cleaning the surfaces of the head and block then I decided to mess about with my TB's and trial fit them to the refurbed head:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1521.jpg
Then to the car, the filters wouldn't fit:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1523.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1522.jpg
This is the bulkhead clearance.... not much cutting required to get the filters in:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1524.jpg
Only major problem is the third engine mount stud:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1525.jpg
I'm going to have to shorten the thread.... I already knew about it though... the head doesn't sit properly on the block because of it.

Any after messing about with those my parcel came (2.45pm!!!)... so I could finally get on with this:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1536.jpg

The heads on now and everything is timed up and tensioned etc just needs fluids and eggsauce tomorrow...

[AL]

Awesome dude! Didn't realise you were going for throttle bodies too...yikes!

[whatsyourbeef]

Throttle bodies won't be on and running for a few months yet as I've not got the ECU or finished my custom loom......

Day 4 update: its all gone wrong! lol
Right, after bolting the head on and fitting everything I turned it over and it fired up on the first turn of the key!!!.... running beautifuly, so I bled the cooling system and put the wheels back on. Went to put it in reverse........
Wouldn't go in just ground the teeth...... Bugger!.... same in all gears. I thought it might be the release bearing come off the fork so had to have a look at it today.

I took the box off today and the release bearing was fine... only one thing it can be then..... took the clutch off:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1539.jpg

The diaphram spring in the pressure plate had seized to the friction plate!... took a bit of prising off but the friction material is spot on! the plate just fooked....
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1538.jpg
Anyway I couldn't guarantee it would work if I cleaned it up and put it back together so I was going to put the GTi clutch on....

GTi clutches are 180mm not 200mm so the flywheel would have to be swapped... the other downside is that the GTi clutch is very worn and was slipping ALOT!...
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1537.jpg
so I went to Citroen (the spot) for a new one... apparantly there are 5 listed for the 97 VTR but no measurements or details in the difference and all were out of stock and atleast a weeks wait!. They e-mailed Citroen HQ and phoned me up 2 hours later to say they know which one to order and it'll be in 9am tomorrow morning. Which is good... then they told me the price..........



£179!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@)

Anyway since it was the only one I could get I had to say yes..... never mind

[whatsyourbeef]

Day 5

Started in a bad mood this morning... just because I didn't want to do the clutch. Well actually couldn't be arsed with the hassle of getting the box back in...

Anyway, picked this up from Citroen:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1540.jpg
Mmmmmm.... new.......

So I fitted it:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1541.jpg
Obviously plastic alignment tools are too expensive these days.... lol

Then had to get the box back in!... probably the hardest thing I've done all week!.... I'm glad my dad had alot of blocks of wood in the garage lol
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1543.jpg

Anyway, after that I needed a new nearside driveshaft so went to the scrappers for one. No problem, fitted it to the car easy peasy etc....

So I went to put the other shaft back in and reconnect the balljoint.... as I pushed the strut inwards grease starts pissing out of the CV!... luckily I had a spare shaft and the cars now on its wheels... the clutch is awesome lol. Just got to do some little odds and ends tomorrow and thats it.

Day 6

After getting the car on the road yesterday and cleaning it in the evening I had to drive down to Castle Combe for the performance action day. The head gasket has only done 20 miles at this point lol... but as this pic shows I made it:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SV104702.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/P1000678-vi.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/P1000738-vi.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SV104708.jpg

The car is running sweet as a nut.. clutch is a little aggressive so needs adjusting a tad but on the whole a big improvement as the car is now an average of 4 seconds a lap faster round combe

[griffo20022]

Welldone mate, sounds like a lot of hassle but you got there (y)

Keep it up!

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 12: It was worth it!!!

Today I went for a free rolling road in London (bit of a trek but if anyone mentions free I'm there lol).... was apprehensive about the results as its not been very impressive the last two RR's its had. First was a 64bhp result and then 88.8/66lbft. The 1.6 rebuild produced:

108.3/89.3lbft

78bhp at the wheels, I am very happy with that result!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/rr-19-05.jpg

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 13: Feeling cranky!

Its fitting that chapter 13 is a tale of total disaster, even more ironic is that 13 is my favourite number!.........

On the way home from work today I was a little concerned as the car seemed to be hunting a little and felt down on power (even though I wasn't giving it much due to the weather). I'd noticed a bit of a rattle under load about the same time as the drive shaft gaiter decided to give way last week. With the new shaft on this apppeared to have gone away.

When I got to about half way through the 15 mile journey I was travelling up the dual carriageway at around 50mph as the visibility was poor etc. when sudden the engine goes bang and I loose all power / brakes. I had to ditch the car on the side of the carriageway to stop it. I was fucking annoyed because at that exact moment I was thinking what if the rattling last week was the big end bearings since it wassn't very driveshafty (if that makes any sense). So I popped the bonnet to find this:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1616.jpg

For those who may not be able to see there is a fucking gay hole in the crank case!!..... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I managed to slavage some of the con rod that caused it:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1617.jpg

Suffice to say the car now has 0hp and is left feeling sorry for itself lol....

[gilb]

ouch ohh dear time for a vts lump??

[whatsyourbeef]

nah, just a bottom end as the head seems ok. I reckon the oil pump failed as it was topped up tuesday but the crank seems bone dry

[XEMike.]

Fook me! Gutted for you mate!

I know the kinda odd rattle you mean, sounds like it could be a driveshaft, but upon closer listening you realise it isnt!

[whatsyourbeef]

Ah well, I'm going to repair it as the VTi still, but if I get a decent offer of a VTS engine my plans may well change lol.... need to keep saving for this wedding though

[topboyj]

love it

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 14: A new begining

Well its been 3 months since the last update and thats due to many reasons lol... I didn't want to put up progress reports on a car that wasn't atually making any progress lol... I actually took a huge step back until now.

Right after the old engine went terminal in my previous chapter I bought a cheap MK2 VTR engine with the intention of rebuilding the VTi and continuing with the throttle body project, sadly the car had other ideas and after many failed attempts at repairing the issues it had (largely engine loom related) it was time to re-assess the situation, I was a married man now and although I'd had a house for a long time I was now working further away than ever before and realy needed a car that wasn't going to be so pedantic.

Luckily my friend Barclay was selling his 106 GTi engine at aroud the same time as I decided to give up on the VTi so a quick day out to bonny Scotland and £400 later I had a new engine and as an added bonus I didn't have to do the wiring as there was a converter loom included!.... yey! so rather rapidly the engine went in:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1650.jpg

After this I had an issue with my throttle position sensor so replaced it, then the new one broke so the old one went back on and for some reason works fine now. Then a hole appeared in the dipstick just below the top which resulted in a nice coating of oil and a small oil fire in the recess on top of the manifold! lol

None of this phased me though as these are only minor incidents and after fixing these the car seems as reliable as it was when I originaly fitted the AX GTi engine 2 years ago..... only time will tell though.

Oh and a bit of whoring has resulted in a fairly good looking installation:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1672.jpg

I only have on issue and that is the alternator is rubbing on the radiator expansion tank due to me not taking enough off the slam panel for the rad to sit far enough back.... this will be solved by the end of this week

Peace!

[gilb]

fack bet that flys now!!

stickyed like the other project threads aswell mate

[whatsyourbeef]

I've got to modify the srtut brace as it knocks on the inlet and is annoying as hell! lol... not too difficult a task though

Oh, and notice how the grill is cable tied to the slam panel as the bolts are fucked lol... thats doing a job properly that is!

[Brycey]

Too many cams, too many valves.

Tut tut.

Like gilb says, noice. Bet it shifts. Get a raceland on it though ;)

[whatsyourbeef]

Get a raceland on it though

Yeh, just waiting for the fundage to accumulate again lol... I had one on the 8v but obviously that won't fit as you know

I've become a sheep in a way 16v'ing but **** it, its fast its reliable and my hand was forced at the end of the day so I'm happy as larry

[T10NY-R]

sweet little beast uv got there.

[Millzie]

Wow! Nice work there mate, very impressed!

[whatsyourbeef]

Just thought I'd throw in a little update. Heres a few pics taken by Initial D on the SR photoshoot day in Cannock a while back:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/ax004.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/ax003.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/ax001.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/ax005.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/ax002.jpg

I appologise that I only ran the car through the car wash beforehand instead of spending hours to whore it but then turds are difficult lol

I am pleased to report that the 16v engine has been running perfectly for a while now and has not let me down (yet) .

Recently I spent a freezing night at santa pod in febuary... it was -7'c!

My tent
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/002.jpg
Our camp fire
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/045.jpg
The camp in the morning
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/IMAGE_068_medium.jpg
And since this thread actually has very little picture sof me
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/144.jpg
I'm the fool in the red hat

The car ran ok aswell, apart from having to drive into town and back to remove the mud from the tyres before they'd let me run, I was running low 15's all day which suprised a few people, especially the type r that I beat by over a second lol!

Heres a vid if you fancy a gander:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9LBHJD-UkM

You'll have to wait until the middle as theres a few 1.4's from the club in there, the fastest time I got was this:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/pinkslip.jpg


Errrr.... thats about it realy. Plans for the next few months are:
Fit quick shift and uprated gear linkages
Fit roll cage that is in the front room
Wash the car lol.
Fit braided hoses and paint callipers black (might even put some white "citroen" stickers on for the OEM look)
Then its ready for castle combe in april lol

[THE_NICK]

WOW.... the pics from the SR photoshoot day look good :)

impressed with the low 15 aswell mate.. bet your over the moon too!!

cant wait for the next update ;)

[Bozwell]

quality read mate great to see threads like this (y) top job

[whatsyourbeef]

WOW.... the pics from the SR photoshoot day look good :)

impressed with the low 15 aswell mate.. bet your over the moon too!!

cant wait for the next update ;)

Slowest it ran was 15.4 which was my first run of the day with spin into 3rd gear lol... for some reason I'd adopted a strategy of rev to 5k and dump the clutch lol... the other runs of the day were all 15.1's an 15.2's

Should be up for more 1/4 mile action soon though and I reckon I'll break 15 easily by the year end lol

[FEED Rocket]

Cracking thread, cant wait to read more buddy, very impressed with the work.

[whatsyourbeef]

Chapter 16: The failure of the Castle Combe plan
After 6 hours hard labour a couple of weeks ago Ste's saxo was in bits and everything bar the dash had been removed and ebayed! lol I had a considerable arsenal of parts from him though:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1714.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1715.jpg

Having booked the week before combe off this year I decided that since I had my hands on all the 4-stud goodies I'd be a fool not to fit them. I had formulated a timescale and figured I'd have a 2 day safety cusion to iron out problems etc. then off for some Castle Combe action on the Saturday. All I had to do was fit the suspension, get some new ball joints and fit poly bushes to the wishbones, run new brake lines to the rear beam (different lengths on the AX) and fit new discs and pads.

This didn't happen.

Sunday ended up being a full day of prepping the rear beam, finding the Spax shocks on the back were knackered and the compensator vlave was siezed, the unions were all fucked and the brake lines made of rust. Not too much of a problem realy as after about 2 hours of wd-40ing and brake parts cleaner spraying the compensator freed off. I fitted the rear braided hoses and ran new lines on the beam. I then made the decision to use my full set of bilsteins and sell the front spax (which were much harder) as I wanted to equal out the ride stiffness.

day 2 was torential rain so I spent the day removing the front struts and swapping stuff over in the garage and generally fannying about.

Day 3 I was dropped off nice and early with a full clear day and 11 hours until dark.... great! Then after about 10 minutes I get a phone call of my wife and have to go and deal with this:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1744.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1752.jpg

Some **** decided he had a thin van in a narrow country lane. So I sorted the recovery etc and spent the day in A+E etc. whilst she was treated for whiplash.

Day 4 I didn't manage to get a lift to the car until 2pm so lost quite alot of time there but managed to get the front end assembled with new front brake lines, although there was no time to fit the VTS wishbones so the ARB is now redundant for the time being. Then I got the beam disconected and off the car and the new one bolted in place ready for new brake lines. I did take a pic of my brakes though as I had painted them a couple of weeks ago:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1753.jpg

My new discs and pads still haven't arrived!!

Day 5 was Friday and a complete wash out! I can't even remember if I got anything done!? lol

Day 6 is Castle combe day so I missed it! but things started to go a bit better I managed to get the rear brake lines all made up (i've done them in 2 sections with a joint in the middle for easy replacement,not that they'll need it being copper) but had to go a ride round some motorfactors for brake fluid and hub nuts! lol... then it rained! again

Day 7 is Sunday and I'm back at work tomorrow, however the wet start has not had an affect on progress as rain stopped at midday and it dried up so I've got it up and running at last! brake pipes didn't leak even a little bit which was my big concern! and the brakes feel very strong but my ZX 2.0 setup was nearly as good imo but now I can go for 307 stuff at a later date. If they write off Lisa's car (very likely) I'll ask if I can rob the brakes off it first lol!!

Just one issue! The beam is fucking LOW! Ste reckoned it was 45-50mm on his spaxo so I was hoping it would sit a little higher:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1756.jpg

Not much! its more like 60-70mm drop for a spaxo! and I'm gonna get the bus to work tomorrow as I'm fucked if I'm driving that down old Penkridge road to work its bad enough on the main road in Burntwood all I can hear is CRUNCH! lol. I've got another day off very soon so thats a little project for me to sort out, I'm probably going to raise it by 25-30mm I think

So concludes my "holiday" week

Oh and I know it needs a wash!

[whatsyourbeef]

Just thought I'd be an ASW lol. Had a quick wash of the car today, didn't go into mega scrubbing as I couldn't be arsed but thought I'd take some pics of the car now I've raised it and its all properly back together, Sorry that the pics are **** quality as its my phone because I couldn't be arsed to go and get my camera. Yes I know the kits still dirty but there were 12months of grime on it and I only had a sponge lol, and yes the tow eye cover is different because the old one went missing but heres some of the better ones:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1778.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1777.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1779.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1780.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/mark_fern/SP_A1785.jpg:

[lazyboy100183]

thats cool as fook lol

[T10NY-R]

Found em :)



Looks fun mate keep it up.

[victim]

I <3 This project!!! Wish I had the money and the patience to do something like this. nice one mate

[shane7187]

nice mate well done

[CHUNK]

quality read matey keep up the good work

[Coopster]

thats mental!! ive only ever changed a engine once never again!! good to see some1s got patience lol keep up the good work fella

[whatsyourbeef]

I <3 This project!!! Wish I had the money and the patience to do something like this. nice one mate

Moneys nothing to do with it I've spent less than £2.5k(excluding tax and general maintanence) on the car including buying it originally!. With my current level of expertise on it I reckon could build this car for less than £1.5k to the same standard depending on how cheap the original shell is if I ever had to start from scratch again. If I had the cash (and didn't love AX's so much) I'd have bought a proper car lol

[SamC]

very tidy car ya got there:D

why is it though every ax i see has really faded bumpers? lol (on prev pics yours has)

sam:)

[whatsyourbeef]

very tidy car ya got there:D

why is it though every ax i see has really faded bumpers? lol (on prev pics yours has)

sam:)

Because:

A) The french are a bunch of cheapskates and use weak pigments in the plastic rather than painting it

B) Most AX's are more than 12 years old lol

I know some AX's with black bumpers that have never seen back to black and would put KA's or corsa's to shame, the amount of faded ones I see about that is