Lofty's Black Magic Fabia vRS MK1 - "Project Naomi"

[Dark_Hero]

That's all the good time slime was worth.

Surprised you didn't catch something from those seats!

[Lady Elanore]

Has anyone checked whether Donald Trump is missing some Skoda seats?

[Lofty]

Continued rebuilding has been the theme this weekend, the rear wiper motor was delivered in the week so that was refitted and wired/plumbed back in..

The inner boot trim had been previously secured with double sided tape(ffs) so a dozen or so new spring clips from TPS and that's now fitted properly as well. New rear wiper blade, washer nozzle and rear badges will be next to do.

We also (the royal we as my beautiful other half has been getting stuck in this weekend) have removed the brembo brakes and fitted in their place my old set of Octavia Vrs 312mm discs and calipers. Nice new fluid bled through as well.

Stereo system has now all been removed and sold, so just need a boot carpet to complete the boot area off.

New rear calipers are next job as the handbrake mechanisms are buggered on both sides.

All four arch liners have been removed, a potato field of mud has been pressure washed from underneath each corner so at least they can be refitted to a clean shell.

More pics soon

Edited 16 October, 2016 by Lofty

[Lofty]

Had some more time on the car this afternoon, got the arch liners back in at the rear, de tarred them with autosmart tardis then dressed with Autosmart Hi-style.

The boot badge was next as the Fabia vrs badge had been removed years ago

Gave the area a quick polish

Measured up off the daffodil

[Lofty]

Wheels are going off to be refurbished and powdercoated gunmetal grey this week and some new 205/40/17 tyres will be fitted. New rear calipers are going to have to be sourced and fitted, then apart from changing the exhaust tailpipe the back end is done.

Full shampoo of the interior carpet will be done next then the door cards all removed to be scrubbed clean, ideal chance then to reseal the door carriers as a precaution against future leaks.

The seats have been drying all week, most have come up ace but the drivers seat will need doing again as it was so dirty it's left the odd tide mark!

The interior lights have caused me a bit of a headache but I've traced it to a damaged red puddle light in the drivers door, that's also needing replacement as well.

I've been collecting bits to help with the engine replacement, the front panel that's been trimmed by Jabba will be replaced with a good used one, same with air box and intake pipe work.

The jabba "cone in a box" has been removed and is being thoroughly overhauled before it finds its way into the yellow ones big build!

[AshVrs]

Must be very satisfying restoring this to its original glory and seeing it all taking shape. It definitely makes good reading!

[Lofty]

Cheers Ash, it's been very satisfying tbh, lots of hard work to do yet but bit by bit it's manageable.

[Hardcore]

There's a seller on ebay that does standard refurbished rear calipers for the vRS.
They're done to a high standard and i bought a set after having the same issue as yourself. £85 delivered i think and as clean as new. Only lacking is the green paint.

[coskev]

That beam looks in great condition,usaully rusty on the outer faces

[Lofty]

Flaps, flaps, happy flaps....

That is all

[Lofty]

New parts alert....

Shiny pair of new rear calipers. I'm fortunate enough to still have a tin of smoothrite green in the exact colour so the rear carriers will be stripped and refurbished in the right colour before reassembly.

Discs and pads will be cleaned and reused as they are pretty much new. I'll give the disc shields a clean and paint as well.

[RedOctaviavRS20]

Flaps, flaps, happy flaps....

That is all

where did you get the rear mud flaps from ?

[Lofty]

Mudflaps were from TPS, trim a little off the rear bumper return and they fit great

[Lofty]

Another full day (mostly) spent on the car today with not an awful lot to show for it!!

Early start to drop the jabba RARB off to Faboka who was at oulton park this morning then back to the grubby mistress Naomi. The floor carpet was in desperate need of a good shampoo and wet vac extraction, so that was done, all the plastics scrubbed with a strong mix of Autosmart G101, including all the pedals, steering wheel, gearknob/gaitor and handbrake lever. The filth that came off the steering wheel was impressive!

Rear seats went back in..

The rear wiper arm and washer nozzle were fitted next and the inner boot trims refitted. I'm waiting to collect a mint boot carpet, spare wheel and tools next week.

I'm holding off refitting the front seats as of yet as I still need to do work in the front footwells and being so tall it's easier without the seats in the way.

Rear brakes were next...

Standard 232mm rear disc set up. What was also Fabia standard were two barely functioning handbrake mechanisms. Too far gone to revitalise with wd40 and strong language, I'd bought two new rear calipers..so the old stuff was removed.

Both calipers sliders lower most slider was seized, so I stripped the sliders, cleaned and freed them of and run the knotted wire wheel in the angle grinder over them. Two coats of etch primer then I dug this tin out.

Gave the sliders two coats of the right green

Moved them inside once they were touch dry to harden off in the paint booth (aka hallway)

The rear disc shields were cleaned up and satin black painted and I'll get the lot bolted back together probably in the morning.

More interesting pics soon!

[faboka vrs]

Cracking job on the seats

[Hardcore]

Did you buy that green paint recently? I've looked about and i can only find the dark green colour now, but not the shade you have.

[Lofty]

I bought the paint donkeys years ago! Rare as hens teeth now I understand

[Lofty]

Back from a few days away and my red rubber brake grease was waiting on the door mat for me so I reassembled the sliders with new rubbers, a sparing application of red grease, then cleaned the paint off the pad mounting points.

Fitted the lot up, bled the brakes with the gunsons easy bleed.

Before..

After..

Wheels are being collected from the powder coaters in the morning, new 205/40/17 tyres being fitted then it'll be back on the ground for a bit.

Got round to sourcing a spare wheel, tool box that goes inside the spare wheel and a boot carpet. So the boot area is finally back to normal now

[Lofty]

Wheels are back on, powder coated in dark gunmetal by City Powder Coaters in Birmingham, exactly the same colour as on my yellow one.

They'll all be coming off again when it's time for the detailing.

[hutchysrs50]

Although they look great, i would have liked to see some standard vrs wheels :P

[Lofty]

It'll make more sense when the cars side by side with mine

[Lofty]

I keep telling myself to keep this one simple... but if a job's worth doing etc etc....

Hence more powdercoating goodness

Front slam panel- gloss black to match the daffodil

And the front crash bar- overkill as it won't be seen but hey ho..

[hutchysrs50]

Love it, the slam panels always look great when they are new like that! 

I remember Dark Hero's when he got his powder coated.

[Lofty]

Slowly ticking off the list of easy jobs that need doing. I'm fortunate in having a good relationship with a vRS breaker locally and I'll often text him a list of obscure stuff and he'll find it and is reasonable as well.

So I went over today and got a pair of mint A-post trims and a new glovebox.

Before...

The horrific but expensive Focal builds..

During....

And now..

Much better.

The Alpine head units long gone now..

Before...

And now...

Much more like it. Fitted the Elegance pop out tray that was spare in the loft as well.

Now the glovebox that was in the car looked like it'd done 3 rounds with a cheese grater..

Well over £100 new I got a good used one and fitted that..

So the inside jobs are diminishing now, all that's left is..

Remove rear door cards to clean, then seal door carriers as a precaution.

Front door cards the same and refit front speakers

Replace bonnet release cable (got new one in garage)

Replace floor mats as despite deep cleaning they look very tired, and new mats will lift the interior.

I'm on the scour about for an alternative drivers seat cover as this one has a wear mark in, not vital though..

Once the cars finished I'll give the interior another valet as I'm sure it can be further improved on.

Next main job is pulling the engine and gearbox out.. oh joy

[TOKE]

Will be following this love your work up to now usually people get a standard and do all these mods you've got a modded one and reverting back to standard gives me some hope that I can purchase one for a decent price and revert it to a brand new car eventually