Work in progress !

[Charged]

Finally...............work has commenced. The 1.5 is at a bodyshop having a full body restoration. I popped over this afternoon and was met by Martin (Rattymr2) and Ki (Mistertwokw) and a rather dusty and rusty 1.5

I'm hoping she will be ready before xmas. I'm going with the same colour gunmetal grey, with wider rear arches and a black roof. She is also being treated to a JDM brakelight spoiler and a SC engine lid.

A few pictures below:

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/retrocarrestoration/restoration008.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/retrocarrestoration/restoration007.jpg

Rather large hole in rad!

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/retrocarrestoration/restoration006.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/retrocarrestoration/restoration004.jpg

Pile of rust!

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/retrocarrestoration/restoration003.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/retrocarrestoration/restoration002.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/retrocarrestoration/restoration001.jpg

I'll be popping up again in a couple of week so will get some more pictures then...

[snowtigger]

looking better than some of the crusty ones ive been looking at bulkhead rot and inner and outer sill gone more rust than the titanic.

[sixafterfour]

and i thought the rust on mine was bad. ouch, i hope you can weld.

[adamh]

nice one ollie good to see a decent build getting what it needs

[monkeymax]

Really great to see the progress Ollie! Looking forward to more photos! :thumbsup:

[Charged]

More progress!

I was impressed with what I saw on saturday.. the bodyshop were very keen (and proud) to show me what they have done so far.. I'm having a few trick bits done.. just subtle bits as I dont like in your face...

These are the up to date photos... she still looks very sorry for herself but a lot of work has been done since the older pictures above. Most of the work has been metal work and rust repair...

Much more to be done.. cant go much further without the wide arch kit.

I really am itching to get this back on the road now!

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/01/328.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/01/329.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/01/330.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/01/331.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/01/332.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/01/333.jpg

[whoozy]

Whats the name of the company doing it ollie?
Where abouts are they based?

[SIFU]

Looking good Ollie!!

[monkeymax]

:boogie: Very nice Ollie!!! :)

Really really cannot wait to see this - though I am surprised they've left so much plastic trim on and just masked it... surely it'd make sense to remove as much as possible so it all gets a fresh bit of paint?!
After all, the trim behind the rear window and on the boot lid all come off very easily!!!

[Charged]

Whats the name of the company doing it ollie?
Where abouts are they based?

I've PM'd you mate... the bodyshop is near St Neots, just up the A1 from us. If anyone wants the details, drop me a PM :thumbsup:

Cheers

Ollie

[Charged]

:boogie: Very nice Ollie!!! :)

Really really cannot wait to see this - though I am surprised they've left so much plastic trim on and just masked it... surely it'd make sense to remove as much as possible so it all gets a fresh bit of paint?!
After all, the trim behind the rear window and on the boot lid all come off very easily!!!

I agree Max, I will be asking this all to be unmasked, trim removed and re-masked before painting... :thumbsup:
I didn't want to burst the bubble on saturday..

I can give you a shout next time i head up if you want to come and have a gander? It'll probably be weekend after next..

Ollie

[monkeymax]

I can give you a shout next time i head up if you want to come and have a gander? It'll probably be weekend after next..

Absolutely - I was going to ask in fact... ;)
That may be the one and only weekend I have anything booked, but if the timing is good, I'll definitely join you! It's only about 20 miles from me so would love to see the place!

[Mistertwokw]

Ollie,
The masking tape around the trim was to stop it being scratched when they were scotching the paint up, the masking tape is gonna come of before its sprayed and the trim removed, will look like mine did in the booth, no trim at all!!

Ki

[Charged]

Ollie,
The masking tape around the trim was to stop it being scratched when they were scotching the paint up, the masking tape is gonna come of before its sprayed and the trim removed, will look like mine did in the booth, no trim at all!!

Ki

Thanks for clearing that up Ki...

[Charged]

Absolutely - I was going to ask in fact... ;)
That may be the one and only weekend I have anything booked, but if the timing is good, I'll definitely join you! It's only about 20 miles from me so would love to see the place!


No probs at all mate...

[Mistertwokw]

No worries, scratched plastic looks rubbish!

[monkeymax]

Ki, shouldn't they be scotching up the paint under the trim as well in order for the new paint to get a decent purchase under there? Or will they end up doing this once they remove the trim?

[Mistertwokw]

Yep the rest of the paint under the trim will be done when it is removed, it was a case deciding to prep most of the car inbetween jobs, once ollies arches arrive it will be full steam ahead...

Ki

[Charged]

once ollies arches arrive it will be full steam ahead...

Ki

And again, I must praise the bodyshop manager for having the patience of a saint...:thumbsup:

[jasper]

It'll be a belter when it's finished Ollie.Ki, do you know if Ace is working this weekend?

[Charged]

It'll be a belter when it's finished Ollie.Ki, do you know if Ace is working this weekend?

Dont think he is mate.. he works alternative weekends and he was there last saturday... PM me if you want his up to date mobile... we were chatting about you and the melon on saturday lol

[jasper]

PM'd

And leave the Karm alone :slap:

[Mistertwokw]

Dunno if Ace will be in mate but Ant probably will be.

[Shugsta]

Mmm mmm mmmmm... wide arched & gunmetal grey, this is gonna be sweet Ollie. :thumbsup:

[jasper]

Dunno if Ace will be in mate but Ant probably will be.
It was Ace I wanted to see, I'll bell him and sort something.

[Charged]

Ok guys,

I'm going to need some advice on this.

As you all know, the Woodsport widearch kit is complete and is now at my bodyshop waiting to get fitted from next Tuesday 18th March.

At this moment, I dont know which wheels I am going to be using which is making the arch fitting difficult as they need to match up with the wheels.

I was planning on using a set of 6.5 x15" wheels but even with stretched tyres and spacers i dont think these will fill the arch out enough (?) correct me if i am wrong.

Obviously the arches can be cut to whatever size , I looking at between a 1.5" and 2.5" extra lip over standard at the moment.

So... a few questions here:

Will my 6.5 x 15" whees with stretched tyres and spacers be enough to fill out the arch?
What are the largest width tyres i can squeeze on to this size of wheel?

What other wheel options do I have? What sizes offset etc will I need?
Where can i buy from & how much?

I cant find any borbets on ebay at the moment, they would be the ideal choice...

I love M Sherry's old wheels:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/msherry21/sherryswheelspainted2.jpg

[sidewaysfreak]

Those exact borbets may be available. The jury is still out on changing them.

new look (http://forums.twobrutal.com/showthread.php?t=11533)

[rattymr2]

Rare rims www.rarerims.co.uk sell Rota rims. check the range and you will find 8x15 wheels. Julian has already said he can do staggered sizes.

Or


Demon Tweeks have started selling adaptor kits. This is a spacer that bolts onto your hub but allows you to fix 5 stud wheels with a different pcd to it. EG 4x100 spacer to take 5 stud Porsche wheels!!!!!!!!

[Charged]

i think I may be sorted.. i'm just waiting to speak to Jason (sidewaysfreak) on the phone to confirm but I should be picking up a rather tasty set of borbets this coming weekend :thumbsup:

Martin, sorry completely forgot to phone you back last night.. I was/am caught up in the joys of moving at the moment!

[Paul Woods]

ollie the arches have been sized for a maximum of a 17" rim with a 40 profile tyre (225 width) so any wheel below that size will fit,but you dont want the wheels looking lost under the arches or anything.

Id be tempted to slightly space the rears a little and take advantage of as wide an arch as you can get away with,for no other reason than they look cool wide!

[Charged]

A little teaser! Taken this afternoon

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h135/retrocarrestoration/MR2002.jpg

[Paul Woods]

ooh,looking at that they have used about 2" or so of the arch,thats going to look bang on mate

[Jiff Lemon]

:master:

:thumbsup:

:popcorn:

[lodgeman]

very nice mate! thats going to be a great looking car!

[adamh]

spot on ollie, absoloutely.

[Charged]

I am getting rather excited :jump:

Should be 2 weeks now!!

[Marksman]

That looks rather good :praise2:

Owen.

[Paff]

sweet

[Paul Woods]

ollie if you get a chance mate,could you ask your bodyshop for feedback on what my universal arch was like both in terms of quality/ease of cutting and fitting and how it could maybe be improved upon? They will probably say its been a lot of work for them to do,most places usually do! but id love a bit of an idea on a scale of 1 to 10 how easy the arch was to work with.I may offer a pretrimmed version if it was a total pain in the ass.

Even if they say they were shite its still feedback id like mate,cheers dude!

[biteme]

Utter shite 1 out of 10


I'll still take a set Paul :)

[superchargedsam]

Ollie was expecting this to look good but to be fair its awful, doesnt look good at all, am really gutted for you! To ease you pain though fella when its al finished I will take it off ya hands and store it nder cover in the darkness of my garage!!!!


















(not really jelous fella thats awesome and cant wiat to see finished article!)

[Charged]

Hi all,

The bodywork is done!! :jump: :jump: :jump:

Here are a couple more pics... I have none of the front yet but these will follow..

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/05/124.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/05/125.jpg

I'm over the moon with it.. rear arches are absolutely spot on... :thumbsup:

I'll hopefully have some more pictures by mid week... MOT is booked for Wednesday at 3pm so fingers crossed for that!! Everything went well apart from a blowout on the trailer and being stuck at the side of a road in Luton for hours (with no drink, food, fags or shade!!) :rant:

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/05/126.jpg

All in all though, I'm very happy with it!!

[biteme]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Those arches look fan-bastard-tastic

Woods ... do mine!!!


Made up for you mate :)

[monkeymax]

You already know what I think Ollie - really really fantastic... and very jealous! :)
Congratumalations!
Wasn't sure what I'd think about the arches, but they look superb!

[Tom G]

:drool:

[Charged]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Those arches look fan-bastard-tastic

Woods ... do mine!!!


Made up for you mate :)

Cheers buddy, it looks great.. the arches are the best thing I could have ever done to the car... Thanks to Paul for these... they take a bit of work but just look at the final results!! :jump:

[frisp]

Very, very nice :)

[biteme]

Cheers buddy, it looks great.. the arches are the best thing I could have ever done to the car... Thanks to Paul for these... they take a bit of work but just look at the final results!! :jump:

In fairness, teh body shop did a great job from the looks of it - it looks factory.

[BSM]

That looks the t*ts man.

[Tim Higgott]

Looks the nuts.

[mart1975]

thats a very nice tidy job, finished one side of mine today also.
have you not done the front arches?

[Paul Woods]

they look bang on ollie,i knew they might take a bit of work blending them in but hopefully they gave the bodyshop a good starting point to work from,thats a cracking job they have done.

[OlberJ]

Would sir like my left testicle?

Value is roughly the same as your car. :mrgreen:

[BSM]

He can have both mine and a left leg, if someone could convert to hand clutch?

[Shugsta]

I'm almost speechless Ollie

:eek2:

She looks phen-fookin-omenal mate :thumbsup:

[Charged]

Cheers everyone!! I haven't stopped grinning since Saturday!

I'll leave the testicle, thanks though Olie!

Thanks again to Paul for creating such a great wide arch kit, and for putting up with my almost daily harassment before they were ready...

Worth the wait?? Hell yeah!!!

I can highly recommend the bodyshop I used.. if anyone wants the details, please PM me.

Mart: I didnt bother with the front arches... I think they look good enough all ready!

[superchargedsam]

its ok I guess.............:hidesbehi

Hmmm rekon I might be doing a bit of TWOCING saturday! ;)

[superchargedsam]

Well jealouse thats one awesome gunmetal MR!!!!

[Rowdan]

Looking awesome Ollie :thumbsup:, can't wait to see it in the flesh. Good luck with the MOT and hope to see you on Saturday.

[Charged]

A few more photos taken at the weekend:

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/05/211.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/05/212.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/05/213.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/05/214.jpg


http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/05/215.jpg

oops... not sure how that one slipped in ;)

[biteme]

Looks bang on Ollie.

I'd bet you're happier than a blind puff in a hotdog factory!?

Congrats fella.

[T.I.M]

That is one of the nicest MK1's I have ever seen. You have the perfect wheels for it. I want one now!

[wardie]

wow!

looks fantastic ollie...

really must get round to buying another mk1...

hows that alternator holding up??

[Paul Woods]

looks the dognuts ollie! that really shows my arches off to their full potential... fantastic mate.

[OlberJ]

That looks the Shiznitz Double L, no sure bout the scoop mind you.

How does it drive with the new wheels on, plenty grip?

[Charged]

wow!

looks fantastic ollie...

really must get round to buying another mk1...

hows that alternator holding up??

Cheers buddy, alternator seems fine, the test will be a long drive on a hot summers days, that was when I was cooking them before! By the way, thanks for recommending Sky Insurance to your mate, I'll get him a call back asap :thumbsup:

[Charged]

looks the dognuts ollie! that really shows my arches off to their full potential... fantastic mate.

Cheers Paul, a lot of people were asking about them at Japfest, I had a spec sheet with 'Woodsport wide arch kit' written on it.. not that you need the advertising!

[biteme]

I'll be showing mine with the same, Ollie.

Any shows we're both at, we can show the Mk1 and Mk2 together? :)

[Charged]

That looks the Shiznitz Double L, no sure bout the scoop mind you.

How does it drive with the new wheels on, plenty grip?

Cheers Olie, its drives like the wind!! :jump:

[Charged]

I'll be showing mine with the same, Ollie.

Any shows we're both at, we can show the Mk1 and Mk2 together? :)

Of course Johnny.. also, how about I swap you a drive in mine for a drive in the 10000000BHP beast??

[biteme]

Passenger ride? :P

I'm very protective of my significant investments lol

[Charged]

Passenger ride? :P

I'm very protective of my significant investments lol

Me too, unless I've got a point to prove (eg letting Lauren drive it at JAE last year)...

Passenger ride is good, I'll bring some spare underwear lol

[biteme]

Steel underpants might be good - and an Arab Strap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_strap_%28sexual_device%29) if you're talking to Paul

[Charged]

Arab Strap (band), a post-folk indie band from Falkirk, Scotland

They sound great!

[biteme]

Yep, wrong link - corrected :P

[OlberJ]

Arab Strap (band), a post-folk indie band from Falkirk, Scotland

They sound great!

I don't think Arab Strap are a band, it's a song from a band called Belle and Sebastien, the song was called "Boy with the Arab Strap".

Unless there's a shitey rip off band.

[Charged]

Quick update from me on the 1.5...

Have recently fitted:

TRD/polybush kit
White line rear anti roll bar
SBits adjustable rear arms
Apexi Induction kit
Boost guage (boosting at 13psi)
x 2 new Toyo front tyres

Alignment set up by Elite is Essex (recommended)

I'm skinter than I have ever been but absolutely LOVING having the beast back! The car gets so many looks/comments/thumbs up it really makes it worth while.

As ever there is always things to do.. and a long list of things to buy; dont ask me how much I have spent! I'm past caring to be honest... foot down in any gear and all my worries disappear :thumbsup:

I'm actually using the 1.5 to commute at the moment as I've missed her sooo much in the last few months...

Next things going on are ST205 Charge cooler and two new rear tyres lol

Quick picture from the Milton keynes MR2OC meet from Saturday

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a352/vanillacoffee23/DSC_0154.jpg

Would be great to see some more Mk1s there!

[Charged]

PS. thats not my girlfriend in the car.. :rofl: I was taking her out to make her feel a bit more relaxed about her boyfriend's driving :driving:

[TheGasMan]

PS. thats not my girlfriend in the car.. :rofl: I was taking her out to make her feel a bit more relaxed about her boyfriend's driving :driving:

She doesnt look too mate.. when you were quick off the mark to deny anything i thought she was gonna be a minger.

[Murf]

Looks amazing, well worth all the work. Reckon mine will be needing that sort of treatment in a couple of years.
Have the whiteline arb's had much of an effect?

[adamh]

jubbly :-) she looks like shes enjoying the bumps, the car too. rock on ollie, done a 1/4 recently?

[Charged]

Looks amazing, well worth all the work. Reckon mine will be needing that sort of treatment in a couple of years.
Have the whiteline arb's had much of an effect?

Cheers Murf...

Its hard to comment on the ARB as I had the bushes and the alignment done at the same time.. I can say the car feels very solid around corners and it is hard to shake the back end out.. turn in is much better than before as well :thumbsup:

[Charged]

jubbly :-) she looks like shes enjoying the bumps, the car too. rock on ollie, done a 1/4 recently?

No 1/4 miles since last time I saw you mate.. I'll be at Jap Show Finale this year, hopefully with an ST205 Charge Cooler fitted and the boost wound up to 16/17psi.. with a bit more grip this year I'm hoping to get a low 13??

[biteme]

No 1/4 miles since last time I saw you mate.. I'll be at Jap Show Finale this year, hopefully with an ST205 Charge Cooler fitted and the boost wound up to 16/17psi.. with a bit more grip this year I'm hoping to get a low 13??

FCD fitted naturally ;)

You got a Cinquecento radiator up there as a pre-rad?

[Charged]

FCD fitted naturally ;)

You got a Cinquecento radiator up there as a pre-rad?

Yes mate, there is an FCD there..

I'm hoping to use the ST205 pre-rad as I'm buying the whole lot off a guy from the GT4OC.

Actually Johnny, if you're still reading this, I've blown the EFI fuse twice now recently.. always on long boosts in 5th gear when the engine is hot. Any ideas on that big man?

[biteme]

It's some kind of voltage spike - but I'm not great with electrics
http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2008/02/103.jpg

It might be worth someone like Paul/Fourveesix/BSM having some input on that.

[Charged]

Cool beans.. I need to take a trip up to see BSM sometime soon.. I'll add this to the list!

[David Sleith]

Yes mate, there is an FCD there..

I'm hoping to use the ST205 pre-rad as I'm buying the whole lot off a guy from the GT4OC.

Actually Johnny, if you're still reading this, I've blown the EFI fuse twice now recently.. always on long boosts in 5th gear when the engine is hot. Any ideas on that big man?

ST205 rad is too long for fitting into the MK1

[Charged]

ST205 rad is too long for fitting into the MK1

Ok David, thanks.. Fiat rad it is :thumbsup:

[biteme]

Ok David, thanks.. Fiat rad it is :thumbsup:

Got a brand spanker for £35 from Fleabay

[Gary Symons]

Got a brand spanker for £35 from Fleabay

Thats what I did, but remeber you probably wont get the thermoswich with it so you will either need to find a plug or get a switch from a scrappy to plug the hole.

[biteme]

That's Paul's problem :D :D :D

[Gary Symons]

That's Paul's problem :D :D :D

Nice lol

[OlberJ]

My problem now cause i claimed it when it arrived this afternoon :P

[biteme]

I'll reclaim that on Sat morning then ;)

[OlberJ]

If you can find it :mrgreen:

[biteme]

True true ... bastard