Mongrelling today was again a little slow due to it being SO FRICKIN' cold! Brrrr! :( :thumbdwn:

Started at 11am though, and first job was to hook the gearbox up. Transmission lift made that quite easy.

Then it was a case of hooking other stuff up. The clutch took some time, and we feared an O-ring in the T piece on the gearbox was on the way out, but it seemed to be holding the fluid, but I'm keeping my eye on it.

Other than that - cupra bushes fitted, Jabbasport dogbone mount is in (boy that vibrates ) and the BMC box is in the engine bay and seems to be working well.

Clutch needs 500 miles to bed in, but this thing BITES! Even I stalled it on my way home, trying to reverse in a narrow lane to a passing place.... Stalled with a BANG too. Otyher noticeable things? Well, it starts and stops MUCH faster, guess due to the flywheel. Also, flywheel clatter is nothing to write home about. Sure it does it, but it's just another rattle, so happy there.

Here's some pics. Saturday booked in for brake pads, new coolant reservoir, and some other minor bits. Hope it's warmer! :eek:

The mongrel prepares for reconstructive surgery to her lower end.

Gearbox is offered up the engine. Turning the crank from the other end made this fairly easy.

Gearbox is pretty much settled on the block now.

Gearbox is raised up from below to meet the gearbox mount.

Note, ingenious "copper pipe" filling method to avoid me having to remove the strut brace...

And from another angle. Red thing is #1 lpg regulator. #2 is out of shot.

Drievshafts are rebolted to the diff, which although ordinary looking is a Peloquin limited slip diff.

Cupra bushes fitting. Old ones pushed out with the press. (Yes, using a chrome socket set, but it fitted perfect and did the job very well)

New bushes pushed into the consoles.

Subframe assembly offered up to the car for re-fitting.

Then the camera battery died, but I managed to get one shot of the empty lift which means the car was on it's first roadtest.

A swift charge and I got this shot of my engine bay. Only real change is the BMC air filter which does sound rather nice on the road.

The BMC filter does sound good and looks a million dollars,

A mates got one on his TT

Good work Jason

Nice boat too :P

Steve

Wish the boat was mine. Not sure what it is in for to be honest, but my mate has a good history in marine engineering so it's his project I think. I always look forward to the summer boat tests needed.

devonutopia I'm sure I'm not the first to ask this but where the hell do you get the money from to spend on parts like that!!!!

I love the motor and I have read most of the mongrels post since joining Bri and what can I say It keeps going from strength to strength!!

If Carlsberg made Fabs that would be the one!!

Keep the posts coming.................:thumbup:

Well done Jason, let us know how you get on with the clutch

very interested in what you think of the clutch and diff,mine will be in in as soon as my clutch arrives,i can't wait:D

Clutch is lethal! Sure I will get used to it, but compared to an "on the way out" JBS clutch, it kicks ***!

Money? Well, I'm buying against future earnings. I reckon spending will stop in the Spring, and then she'll just be enjoyed.

Noticed another side benefit. The Cupra gearbox actually FEELS different. The gearthrows feel shorter, so in effect I feel like I've done a short shifter mod without actually intending to. I wonder if any cupra TDI owners can comment on this finding?

Looking forward to when I can fully open her up.

Well done Jason and Alex - lovely!!

You must both be tired but very happy - great feeling to celebrate on!!

Bet you can't wait for the 500 mile bedding-in process to be over - I estimate 3 days of extra driving will do it..

Just remember the momentary loss of the normal únwinding'of the steering when the ATB/LSD kicks in accelerating hard into a turn - it caught me unawares first time I used it

(I'm envious of the neat lift, gearbox lift and hydraulic press - sure it made it a lot less work than doing it in a garage with jacks, bottle jack + piece of wood and a cobbled-together pushing tool.....) There - got it out of my system....

Again - well done - Jason you have confirmed yet again your place as the undisputed king of derv Fabia modding......

Bas

I reckon spending will stop in the Spring, and then she'll just be enjoyed.

That's what we all say... lol The truth is that in the back of our minds we are already thinking about what "might" come next. Does it ever stop??

Cheers! Looks good.

Nate

Yep, we'll remind you of that post Jason, in the months and years to come

Steve

Spring would be just the right time to install 4WD......