thats some serious progress, look forward to having a poke around it
thats some serious progress, look forward to having a poke around it
*Wee Update..
Crickey, been nearly a month again already.. :-o
Not much to add yet really, as ive been mainly planning/sorting stuff for getting the car complete.
Pic missing from last update was that the interior went back into the car, prepping it slowly for MOT...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...10527-1635.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...10527-1646.jpg
Been accumilating parts (over last few years tbh!) to sort the fuelling setup..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...10606-1941.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...10524-2020.jpg
Because im having these parts fitted for me, by the place thats mapping the car on this occasion, this sorting/planning im on about is laying out/arranging the parts to make sure it'll all go together successfully.
Ive had many a question along the way though lol; like reguarding the pump ; is it possible its spec./ delivery may not suit my application..? Could it be too powerful..? Can such a thing be the case? lol
Anyway, ultimately itll speed things up as with no lockup anymore or bottles of enthusiasm left - plus the mapper being based there too so it sounds a nice easy drive in drive out gig.
Lastly for now i MOT'd it on saturday, was good to drive it about a bit again- but the need for mapping is too great to ignore and enjoy the car properly lol. So just some tax to sort then once the planning mentioned above all agrees i shall book it in. Next week or 2 hopefully.
In the meantime ill have to go PV in the vectra again lol.
Looking good mate..
So come on, where you planning on getting the work done/mapped?
Scott
It is looking like going to MEK. Dave says the chaps next door can do the fuel pipe work. Then he will map it. Itll need trailering as its not exactly down the road, but its not too far away.
shifter looks awesome dave! It's really moving on now! :)
Good choice mate, you wont regret it.
Scott
Your on MBE management aren't you Dave.
Thinking of taking mine to Mikeanics in Congleton I think they are.
It's who Toovey uses for rollers & who SBD recommend for our area.
Thinking of booking mine in for next few weeks.
Yes MBE and yeah have heard of them, wasnt aware of such a recommendation though..
You just looking for tweeks to yours then, since the dyno..?
If i have any jip with the MEK gig, then at least theres a more than useful alternative..
Yea just a few tweaks.
Seems to be running fine but when I was at Toovey's before it came of the road last year he advised I get it on the rollers now it's installed & on my exhausts etc just for the final settings.
Should only need a couple of runs as it wont be far out.
Who & where is this one your off too?
Ah cool. MEK; best bet is to see here and here http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showpos...&postcount=760
http://www.mekmotorsport.co.uk/home.html
On this occasion its just to get the car running right; 1st time mapping.
I was going to use tracknroad in rainham; as theyve done all 3 of the converted z18xe's that i know about. However ill probably go there for the second, more proper map; once the cams and verniers and bigger exhaust system has been fitted and a few miles on the clock first.
You cant really have a "over spec'd" fuel pump tbh.
The regulator will just control it to what you need.
Heard good things about Mikeanics, guy seemed sound when i last went there. Proper tiny place though,Lol.
My Cav killed his rollers!
This is true lol lol
It is a pretty old skool place tbh
yeah kinda what i thought with the pump then; just still getting bits together, prepping it for the get-it-running-right mapping session.
Ive no doubt come end of summer, with the cams and exhaust fitted ill be going to track n road for the final 'power' map.
*Minor update..
In preparation for mapping i wanted to rid of this naff bodged alternator mount
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...10611-1349.jpg
..and in turn discovered why a little slack may have started to creep back in:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...10615-1528.jpg
Bolt wasnt quite in the nyloc bit..
Sorted a longer bolt no problem, then went about mocking up a better neater top bracket..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...10617-1532.jpg
Then cut it out of 40x20x2 box section, ready to be welded:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...10622-2030.jpg
Fitted a smaller, neater catch tank..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...10619-1450.jpg
..But i still dont like it lol. It'll stay for now - its secure, fairly subtle.
And lastly for now; just kept accumilating parts for the fuel system upgrade:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...10624-1845.jpg
Theres still a couple of meters of hose im waiting to be delivered and a connector or two.
With those, and the alternator bracket made, fitted and all going well ill take it for mapping. Hopefully next week or so, prob after billing lol :-(
that shifter is pimp as fook :cool:
When are you going going to drive and enjoy it Dave!!?
when its built chris
Can't be far away now though
nah nearly there - as the updates say - its just getting these fuelling bits then theyre being fitted at the mapping place, so fitting and mapping done in one go. Its taxed and mot'd now so if all goes well at mapping ill be driving it back, for good so to speak.
Ive found it a bit tricky ordering the parts over the last few weeks as you have to lay-it-out on the bedroom floor lol, with no car nearby for referance..
If ive missed or forgotten anything - it might be too incovenient for the garage to stop, leave the car half done, stored; waiting for more parts to be ordered..
The 'last of the few' bits came this morning, but for some reason ide ordered 2m of hose and need 3m (to cut into a 2m and 1m lengths)..
So ive now ordered 1m. Then just this bracket welding and fitting.
As well as the fuelling parts ive had to sort oil, filter, plugs, drain plug and recovery to the rr. Little fiddly bits.
... and I'm knackered. Also I must hang my head in shame on not seeing this before.
What a cracking build you've made of this, loving obviously the X18 and bodies, did you manage to sort all the fuelling then as I've noticed it's been a while since your update lol
Really like the ideas throughout your project though, especially the MK1 flocked dash, just seems to give it more of an edge, and the gear selector looks the dogs danglers.
Also what's the plans for this for 2012 besides enjoying driving it are you planning any shows?
Hopefully see this one day and hats off to a very cool car :)
David.
lol wasnt expecting to see this , this morning..
Thanks southie. In a nut shell nothing has happened. About 5 days after last update (around 1st July 2011) an opportunity came up to move out of parents home, into my own little flat. So i did. I then proceeded to spend all my nova mapping money on flat deposit, rent in advanced, then it got spent on kitting the place out a bit, then in August i changed my daily hack swapping the tired old Vec for nicer mk4 astra. Then obviously with new bills out goings etc it now just takes me a lot longer to do any saving.
I do still have the car and hope to finish it, it actually plays on my mind loads thats its taken 2 years odd just to get it mapped. But as said, its really tricky , as for anyone really, to save hundreds of pounds up. But hopefully this year i will and it'll happen.
Ive not really yet thought about any 'what if i dont?' scenarios.. Im just glad thus far ive not had to sell up, to fund moving out i guess.
Was it that much of a surprise, almost morning wood lol
Glad you've still got it and haven't had to sacrifice all your hard graft, look forward to you getting the money together and getting this properly setup, also next time it gets mot'd use it lol
Has Mazz still got the cage stored for you lol
lol, just surprised someones asking about it . We'll see how it goes, i think the brakes (servo system) may need some attention for next MOT.
I got the cage off mazz a while back, its at my brothers house/garage now so im able to garage my daily car at the flat.
Thought there was a update then! Nice to see you haven't given up on it or had sell it/stuff to fund the house...Have you got it at your new gaff then now, as iirc you said you had a garage?
I guess there is a little more ive done since last update, getting the car prepped for mapping. But pics are on an old broken pc; need to get the hard-drives out of it..
I still keep the car where it was Chris, i actually filled the garage here at the flat with all our unit/lockup junk when we left the farm back in may last year. But since august we've had another lockup, (near stoke :-s ) but not one to keep the car at really - just all our things.
So at least now the flat garage is empty and available but im currently keeping the daily in there.
Just been reading through this tread and may i well done mate thats the muts nuts keep up the good work an get it finished :-)
*NotreallyanUpdate
Im having urges to sod it and spend some savings i shouldnt touch to get this thing map'd. lol.
Looking to book it next week i think. Fed up lol.
Do it!
lol, seems a lil attention seeking of a post by me, but maybe some ideas/suggestions will come about before i make any bookings by giving the thread a bump..
As said years ago, lol - fuelling parts to be fitted , a mini service, mapping and recovery one way. Im hoping the place can help diagnose why where the braking system may need attention, also.
Ill get the garage next door to MEK to try and quote for the work at least; but with that being a stop shop it easier and keeps recovery costs down.
Yeah Dave , do it , fantastic car :)
Surely you can fit the fuel parts and do a mini service?
Whats wrong with the brakes?
I might be able to struggle through the fuelling system; (ive never worked with these aero alloy fittings) and thats if i can find some ramps for long enough to do the job. But i think ide then struggle to get the car running again with a new pump anyway.
The brakes im not sure, they work poorly, so its not a priority; i think theyre just victim to few years of it standing around. Maybe a newer servo/master cylinder/fluid change or a bit of everything..
As you can tell interest/patience/etc/etc all low, non existant lol.
Ill find out friday if im to go ahead with this gig or not.
Come on Dave pull your finger out.
The aero fittings are simple to do (even i managed it!)
Are you going down simple route with fueling? Tank - Filter - Pump - throttle Bodies - Pressure Regulator - Back to Tank.
No need to over complicate it anymore than that!
Get it sorted :)
hey hang on martin - you said even you'de had someone to do it for you...? lol
But yes just the simple route. I guess the mapper i rang ages ago said he'de prefer to have the car running so ive just had it in my head to get the car to them as it is.
I did the fuel lines myself mate :)
When mine was being a pig starting & not running right, its all in that throttle pot telling the ecu where your foot is!
Set it up on voltmeter as per instructions but when you plugged laptop in it wasnt quite right! Once Toovey set that 'right' on laptop it was a different car.
I thought yours started & ran?
yeah it does, but ide have to adjust fuel pressure (maybe more?) when changing from a weak fuel pump to a beefy one.
Get any parts you think you need, then ask nicely if John H might pop over and help you get it sorted to get it running nice, then get your ass down to Dave at MEK ASAP, the man knows his stuff and will have it running sweet as a nut in no time, and you will be in love with the car once its all done, mine came away from his like a new car, i didn't think mapping was "that important" and would matter as much as it did..
If it starts & runs take it to mapper as they will set fuel pressure etc after you have swapped the fuel pump if thats what your on about doing.
Dont take it then start messing or its just a waste