Car26 XR4x4 TwinTurbo

The latest addition to the fleet is the Sierra XR4x4.

It's got what I think is a 225BHP Turbo Technics Kit.

Bought unseen, it needs a fair bit of work if it's going to get back on the road. But it should be fun when it's done.

Little steps....

This evening I dashed out to the wifes MK1 golf.and loosened off the rear beam mounting bolts ( often a source of major anoyance ) and the fuel tank straps in a stunning 30 minuets including moving some tools, starting up the sapphire and jacking up the back end of the golf..

I am also onto another couple of ideas..

Idea 1...

I am bidding on an XR4x4 Twin Turbo.... YAAHHHHHHHHHH..........

Idea 2...

After me and my 5.5yr old watched "A Car Is born" my interest in building a Lotus 7 Replica has been very rekindled.. A Project for the two of us ;)

TT

Fixed one, another damaged

Well the mondeo was sorted with a new set of plugs which turned out to be an easy job. She had a flat battery the other day which was a surprise.. But at least she runs ok.

I have a full top end gasket set so I can clean up the top end inlet parts.


The wifes MK1 golf was raped to provid ignition parts for a M8's stricken POLO.. So it needs a couple of bits.


And some nasty person has damaged the door on the galaxy cracking the paint finish, it must have flexed the door . Not HAPPY :(

TT

MOT FAIL!!

Well the Mondeo went in for an MOT and failed on it's ridged brake lines. But it's not actualy due to expire until February so no major sweat.

Unfortunatly it's picked up a missfire which may finish it off if I can't sort it before the MOT. I have ordered a headgasket set although I doubt I will ever bother to take the heads off.


The MK1 golf was a real pain trying to get the main fuel pump sorted. So much so that I have bought a seperate high preasure pump to fit instead. The garage is now very tidy and work will recomence in the next few days.

I have ordered up some Aircon parts for the Galaxy so hopefully start putting that together over the next few months.

The sapphire has had a few more bits and bobs done, including the start of upgrading to the 278mm front brakes.

And the pugwagen.... I am thinking it may be time to part with it. But only if somethig replaces it. I am hankering after another XR4x4 or 4i ... With turbo's :)

Rob

Garage space!

I have been clearing out and selling stuff from the garage, the wifes MK1 golf is now in there with it's arse end up on axle stands. I am trying to sort out the fuel pump and stumbled at the main preasure pump hurdle. The unit I thought was correct turns out to be far too large to fit anywher under the car that's safe. So I have cut off the filter mount and also removed the overly large bracket. I just need to find the best location to mount this smaller unit. I have also managed to find the engine number, but in doing so have found that there is some damage to the water manifold on the end of the engine that may prevent it from sealing on refiting.

The Galaxy has been fine, now had it over a year!

The Sapphire has had the headlamp washers trial fitted and 1 or two other items located. once the Golf is sorted she will be squeezed into the garage.

The Pugwagen has done nothing. Although I am trying to win a GTI interiro from a MK2 on EBAY.

The Mondeo, Soldiers on. I have the parts to fix the blower. I need to book an MOT.

MOT, Faults and engine swap....

Well...

The Galaxy feels much beter after it's drop. It's cracked 60K and passed it's MOT the other week. I had however forgotten to get it retracked and it shreaded the front tyres (ooops)

The mondeo made it to ford fair and back, it still has an anoying clicking from the front drive... The heater blower resistor has burned out some of it's wiring and the screen has gained a crack.... Gona MOT it next month and see how it fairs.

The MK1 golf now has the POLO GT lump, it runs fine and took no time at all to install. There's a few minor bits to finish before a test drive..

Rob

Dropped. And Broken.

The Galaxy has had an anoying rattle from the front suspension since I bought it and it was getting much worse. The car also sat too high and lurched when cornering.

So She has now been dropped ~50mm, I took it to the garage for the work as it's a pig of a job on the front's. The had to replace a strut as the nut was stuck solid. They also did the oil and plugs... I need to get on top of this sort of thing realy.

The mondeo is finaly going to the garage for new CV's before fordfair. but The ABS is playing up and theres a funny noise from the back end..

Rob

GT Lump Running..

I have been getting the GT lump ready for test fire ( garage floor ) over the past few days.

I purchased a new rotor arm, and a coil arived today.

So armed with my wiring diagram I went out to get her running..

After a bit of fiddeling it was ready to go.

She turned over quickly but no go,

There was no spark. A quick check reviled that the coil driver was not earthed. That sorted I tried again. Still to no avail. I then went through and checked the earths and they turned out fine ( bar one loose one ).

Still no go, I put a big squirt of WD40 in the plenum. Sure as chips she fired up this time indicating a fueling fault.

I spent a while checking over the fuel delivery, finaly I came to look at the signal and supply to the fuel rail. the signal traced back to the ECU ok. It was then that I realised that the missing fuel pump relay ( i was running the pump manualy) switch the Injector supply too.

With that rigged I checked the supply up to the fuel rail plug.

I tried again, no go... ARSE!

I realised the fule rail plug had not been reconected after the previous test.

I tried again and she fired up and ran straight away..

BOSSSIN!!!!!!

So next step is to verify the wiring and then clean her up and paint the engine.

Rob

Polo GT Lump.

I have been looking for a new power plant for the wifes MK1 Golf 5dr for ages.

I have looked at 1.4 8v, 1.4 16v and 1.6 8/16v engines which all present issues with fitment. There were two other options that would have been good and they were the polo GT and Polo G40 engines.

My criterio was that it had to be fairly powerful and mechanicaly a direct fit. the G40 or 1.4 16v ticked that box but were expensive. They were also rare, the 1.6's were both less powerful and still not common. The 1.4 8v was not fantastic either.

Having bought the 3dr Pugwagen, the quest for power in a MK1 was met, so my needs have changed. I now want the 5dr to be quicker, more reliable and easier to run. That lead right back to the 75BHP multipoint polo GT engine.

I came across one 150 miles away, prety much complete and with loom, ecu, anciliaries and an induction kit.

So that's now joined the parts bin.

I want to get the MK1 5dr back on the road for a trip to the Isle of sky in september so I have got to get cracking and get the eninge in and the car running..

Rob

Pugwagen is GO!!

I have actualy started a new blog for the pugwagen

http://pugwagen.blogspot.com

It's running ( after a fashion ) and has driven about 10 yards under it's own steam ( or should i say smoke!!! ).

The galaxy has had an annoying clatter form the suspension for ages and it's getting lots worse. It's time to get the garage to fix it I guess and to get it lowered at the same time.

The mondeo is in need of the outer CV's doing so that will be going to the garage too soon.

No progress has been made on either the 5dr Golf or the Sapphire..

My garage will finaly be useable again soon, I have been breaking my m8 alex's golf MK3 and along with all my other parts the garage has got quite full. Soon be purging them though.

Rob

The PugWagen

I Had known about this 3DR Golf for a couple of years, I had seen it parked up near where I used to live and also found out more about it during a conversation with other local Dub enthusiasts. So when an acidental browsing of ebay found it up for sale I became interested and put in a bid....

A few days later I was the owner ( proud or not... of the PUGWAGEN....

I have still to give her an oficial name, I think she will be with us for a few years and has some character so deserves one. She needs quite a bit of tidying up realy as there is rust on every panel but shes generaly straight... So why the strange name...




Well this here is the reason... She's fitted with the engine from a Peugot 405 MI16 ( alloy block ) which stock is good for 160BHP... Lop of the strangled exhauts, throw in a good filter and 5% sees 168BHPish...

Unfortunatly the crank is supposed to be shot. I got a spare crank and a spare engine with the car.. Unfortunatly the sump was removed some time ago so I can't even spin her over to check the conversion actual runs at all..


So she needs a bit of work, ultimatly the outcome depends on how bad the sills are ( which primary inspection shows they are bad at the back.. )

So that's 3 projects and 2 daily headaches...

Rob

And then there were four..

The scorpio has finaly bitten the dust 19 months after laying her up she has finaly finished being broken up and the bare shell collected by the scrap man.

A fair amount has gone to new home so far and a few extra £££'s will be comming in. The garage is full of scorpio sh...t.

I am a bit sad as she was a nice car to drive and very comfy. As usual though the cost of repairing for the road would have been £400+ for a car worth a simialar amount with a valid mot and tax. I could not sell her for £300 but have already made more than that in parts. It won't be a huge financial loss if any.

The sapphire has seen a little bit of attention. fitting the electric sunroof and air box into place.

The golf seems to run very badly, I think another engine is called for and I am trying to source a 16V 1.4 Polo Unit.

The Mondeo failed it's MOT and cost £433 to get back on the road ( OUCH!! ) it was only a Cat and a handbrake fault due to a caliper.

The Galaxy's Cat also had to be replaced in January due to a blockage, I have now also fixed the parking sensors on it so it's a lot easier to park now. I am slowley getting to all the issues.. I am going to try the Granada Cosworht wheels on her as I think the will look quite nice.

Rob

Scorpios Last Stand..

Well the scorpio turned it's last wheel under power on Friday, I have now started breaking and the engine was the first port of call.

Hopefully it will all be stripped, gone and ££££ in a few weeks..

Well that's the end of another sierra, The 2.0GT after doing sterling service has been consigned to the scrap bin. She was stripped of everything that may have been usefull and then collected by the scrap man yesterday.

She did me good, lasted 12 months longer than planned and was in all honesty spot on!!! It was a bit of a shame to have to break her bu there was no interest complete even at just £150!!! I have made back nearly double that in parts.. So much so that I covered my year and a smigins driving :)

I decided not to cut this one up, there were hardly any salvageable bits, and time and effort would have not been worthwhile.




The Galaxy has been going ok, I have found that the AIR Con equipment is missing, presumably not replaced after it's crash. So i am looking for those bits and bobs.

The Mondeo is due for MOT next week and it's not ready so that will be off the road for a short while. The golf is now in the garage, and the Scorpio is next on the breaking list.....

Erika the Sapphire now has here fan temperature switch, I have sourced the gearbox, rear door & horn looms... So there's little else now... I even cleand up the plugs the other mornign whilst moving the cars round...