Thanks Ade, just looking at brakes now, I think the 312 set up on the car will be ok for now with Ferodo 2500 pads, I also have to get top mounts and bearings, decisions, decisions..

Ferodo 2500's and brake discs have been sourced, just waiting for the GAZ coil overs to arrive and then it will be a full day up on the ramp to fit the ARB's, coilovers, discs and pads. 

 Then the MOT and back on the road!! (hopefully)

Coilovers have arrived, first impressions...  I am impressed by the build quality and the look of the shocks and adjusters. I will get some pics taken and posted up tomorrow, fitting will come after my holidays along with the fitting of the ARB's, brakes discs and pads, coilovers, a couple of sensors and fluid changes.

Shiny new bits!! GAZ GHA's for Golf, adjustable coilovers, these complete the shopping list along with 4 Team Dynamics 1.2 wheels with Federal 595RS-R semi slicks. It is now official, I am skint and need to start fitting all my bits!

 

Good stuff!

Now crack on and get that turbo fitted & tested

Turbo will be after the october track day, I need to purchase a short runner, a 4" MAF and a head spacer, then whilst the build happens a chip or ECU will be needed for the turbo map. 

 So, until I sell a lung I am just going to have to get on with what I have got already, however I might fit the turbo and run a meager 7psi with no head spacer or map, should get around 80-100bhp so I have been told.

i'm sorry but i don't like your hat :wonder:

 

great work on the car though, it takes balls of steel to take one of those haldex units apart

I have to wear the hat when it sunny as my head burns on the top where my hair is supposed to be 

 

As for the Haldex, I will be replacing the bearings and seals, then a refill with oil and keeping it as a spare or selling it once tested.

Been to the garage this morning, fitted the GAZ rear shocks and springs, easy enough job, I also fitted the RARB this too was easy, I also fitted the rear discs and pads which was also a straight forward easy job, final job was to fit the lateral sensor to extinguish one more light on the dash, fitted and worked.

 I now have front suspension to fit and front brakes, this will be next week and I need to source a Lambda sensor, I see ECP have a discount weekend on but I am not sure if I need a right or a left sensor, however they do a universal left or right sensor so I might get that, anybody got any knowledge of universal lambda sensors?

 

 My error code is slow to heat message that throws a light on.

 

 Sorry no pics as I was in a rush.

A few more jobs done on the Golf, I had some error codes that would not go away, implausible signals and low voltage, so I had a good rummage about with a few things and eventually the alternator threw a light up on the dash, obviously knackered, so a new one has been fitted, now hopefully I will be trouble free for a day or two.

 

Alternator replacement on the V6 is an absolute pig of a job, front end off and you need hands like a child to get in to undo anything!

 

 

 

 

I have also fitted my GAZ shocks and springs, here are a few pics just as it touched the floor after fitting, along with the Eibach ARB's, rear springs need a little persuasion to seat down properly, this will be done on Saturday.

 

 

 

So when the adjuster seats on the rubber point the car will be a bit lower than this. 

 

Turbo??..................

Si, Turbo is the winter project, let me get the thing settled and through an MOT, which incidentally is next week then it will be on the road!!

 

 Track day in October and once November gets here, back off the road and into the garage for the turbo fitting.

I had a go at the marks in the paint today, cleaned the car and set too with a cutting paste and an electric buffer thing, I was not too impressed to be honest as most of the marks remain.

 

 I am thinking of a couple of ideas on what to do to make the car look presentable.

 

1, Wrap it, not sure of what colour or how much it costs either.

2, As it will gp n the track I could cover it up in stickers of all descriptions (worked on a saxo at Castle Coombe)

3, I have watched a youtube clip on plast dipping the whole car! These guys in Worcester do it for about £500

4, Take it to a detailer to see if they can spend an age buffing it?

 

 So, here is the car now, what do you think I should do? 

 

Murano Red Pearlescent apparently, Paint code 9W C3X (or C5X) not too sure.

 

This is a fantastic thread James - top job with your work so far. 

 

I would give the car to a decent detailer and let them work their magic. A decent wrap will cost well over a grand, stickers - just no!, plast dipping wouldn't work. Besides, it's already a gorgeous colour. It would be stunning when detailed and brought back to it's best.

 

Can't wait to see more developments.

Thanks Bigman, I was thinking of getting it detailed at CLB in Wrexham, I know of them through somebody else they seem t do a good job according to those I have spoken to and the testimonials on there web site, a full mopping (as suggested on this forum) is in order I think.

 

 MOT tomorrow so when it passes I can get it out and about on the road  

MOT passed   

 

 Just need to pay the road tax now and collect it, then the fun begins with a steady drive home after having all the bits changed I am sure there will be some new noises. 

Could you provide the name of the plasti dippers in worcester mate?

Yes mate, here's a LINK

As a track toy, I don't think I'd bother doing anything to the bodywork James.

 

Just have fun with it.

I had a go at the marks in the paint today, cleaned the car and set too with a cutting paste and an electric buffer thing, I was not too impressed to be honest as most of the marks remain.

 

 

 

 

Was it "just" an electric buffer thing and cutting paste?  All that will do is marr the paintwork in my opinion as its too quite rough, and possibly the buffer might not have been the best tool to use to do it (needs to be a fairly slow speed when using cutting paste to avoid overheating the paint and causing more harm than good)

Buy a DIY Plastidip kit....

 

http://www.ekmpowershop28.com/ekmps/shops/cardipuk/medium-dark-vehicle-kit-346-p.asp

 

highly temped to try out their stuff on my wheels

Well after todays fiasco I am ready to burn the big pink pig 

 

 I am calm now honest, plan was to collect the car and fetch it home, so I got a train and set off, collected the Golf and set off for home, within 200 yards the traction control light came on and reduced the throttle response, ok, I thought I can sort that at home with vcds, then half way home the alternator light came on and the temp rocketed, you've guessed it, auxillary belt had been thrown off, called the RAC, man in a van attended after one hour, to tell me the auxillary belt had snapped, this I knew, he then tells me that he can't tow me as I have a AWD car, so he called for a recovery truck and left me, one and a half hours later a guy in a tilt bed truck turns up and returns me and the car to where I started, I have now left the car there until we can get a belt as nobody had one for same day.

 

 Issues I have with VCDS are steering angle sensor and lateral sensor, both of which I know how to calibrate thanks to Ross Tech Wiki.

 

 So, all is not lost, I am now home and have had a drink to calm my nerves and I am ready for round two at the weekend    

 

 I think this is going to be one of those cars that gives you a feeling it will let you down, until I get it sorted of course.

 

 Thanks for the comments on the paint and I am starting to think the same, just leave it, get the mechanicals sorted and in the future worry about cosmetics.

Bad luck

 

Makes sense on the bodywork

As I have only posted the pictures of the rear suspension.

 

Some pictures of the front strut and arb with drop links as modified. FARB has two holes to put the drop link through, I currently have them in the furthest forward hole, we can see how it goes before I start moving things about.

 

 

You can see the ditch finding Autoguard tyre on this picture that came with the wheels I got as an interim set.

 

This also shows the back of the FARB you will see how it goes under the driveshaft and attaches to the strut just under the spring, you can just make out on the drop link where I sleeved and welded it.

 

This shows the back of the FARB you will see how it goes under the driveshaft and attaches to the strut just under the spring, you can just make out on the drop link where I sleeved and welded it.

 

Sunday, the day of rest and relaxation and of course to bother God if you are that way inclined.

 

 For me it meant round two of getting the Golf home from Central VW Audi, so I was up early, dog was walked, boiled eggs and soldiers devoured and set off for the train station, this is where it all started going wrong, I was met with a bus as the trains were not running, so climbed on and set off, we called at every station between Lea Green and Huyton where we were told to get off the bus and onto the train to Liverpool Lime Street.

 Once in Lime Street it is a short walk to the Wirral line, deep under Liverpool and lined up for going under the Mersey, great, I was making progress, until we got to Rock Ferry, train stopped and they told us to get in the buses again, the bus had to call at every station on route to Ellesmere Port, over an hour later and seven train stations I arrived in Ellesmere Port after spending 3 hours of my life in Peasant wagons to travel 24 miles!!

 

 Anyway, spare key in pocket, I found the car and had a steady drive home with the Golf, I have to say it drove ok, suspension os very hard and performance is poor due to lights on the dash that I have now extinguished with VCDS, all is now good, steering wheel is straight, car drives well and all I am going to do to it before Oulton Park is make slight adjustment to the ride height as it is high at the front and also get the tracking done properly as I did it with string! (I bet it isn't far out) I will also remove the rear seats and any other excess fat she has around her.

 Oh, and change the wheels and my Team Dynamics with semi slicks will be here next weekend!

 

 Here is a quick shot of a problem free dash, not a warning light in sight.