Yesterday saw me head down to Kent to pick up my new Shortie! :D I got on the motorway to come back home about 4pm.

 

At 9pm, I was safely tucked away... on the hard shoulder of the A1(M) near York with a grand total of 1 wheelnut holding my rear passenger wheel on!!! The other 4 studs decided to shear off while I was in the outside lane - there was an almighty bang, the back-end of the car went completely loose so I had no choice but to dive for the shoulder! :(

 

The recovery truck arrived at 11pm and I slowly edged my new tripod onto the flatbed, before we headed off back to mine.

 

Spoke to Mr F this morning and he's ordered me 10 new rear studs, so my new car is currently undrivable. Seems it had cheap slot-on spacers on the back, no spigot rings and the end result was 4 wheelstuds missing.

 

Gotta love Zeds, eh...?!

Edited December 4, 201411 yr by Mondo

Oh you going to Lees...you never said :whistling:.

 

Where's your throttle cover ??

 

About 5 feet away from where I'm sat right now... ;)

As I'm heading off down to Lee Dent's tomorrow for a big service and some other work, I thought I'd bung an under-bonnet pic (or three) up to show what it currently looks like under there:

 

 

 

 

As I couldn't find any ready-polished throttle bodies, I've given mine a bit of a scrub down (along with the fronts of the rocker covers) and I'm pleasantly surprised by how nicely they've started to come up :)

 

It should look a lot less grimy and a lot more attractive under there when Lee's finished.... :thumbup1:

It certainly wont look like that when you go to pick it up Si.

It certainly wont look like that when you go to pick it up Si.

 

Can't. Wait!! :D

Well, she's safely deposited at Lee's garage now, after a fairly hateful drive down - the M62 has turned into one giant car-park! :(

 

But it'll all be worth it :thumbup1:

Update time :)

 

So, the timing belt, water pump, thermostat, rollers and guides and stuff have all been changed. Apparently my thermostat and coolant looked terrible!

 

Rocker covers have been painted and resealed as they were leaking slightly.

 

Boost solenoid and map sensor have now been removed as someone's kindly cut half the boost controller out of the car before she came into my ownership! :(

 

The fog light has been relocated to the rear panel, doing away with the red nugget that was attached to the number plate surround.

 

Carbon canister's gone, as is all the EGR gubbins.

 

Apparently most of the pipework around the plenum was loose anyway...

 

Stock SMICs have been removed, along with the OEM couplers, and replaced with the Godspeeds and new silicone couplers. My stock 'coolers were bone-dry inside apparently, so that's good :)

 

Aircon may go the distance if it needs regassing.

 

There we have it so far. :) Really can't wait to get her back as I hate being car-less (especially with nice weather outside!) and just because I miss seeing her on the drive... :(

Erm... I've just finally found and bought a pair of genuine SWB rear spats!!!

 

:tt1:

Erm... I've just finally found and bought a pair of genuine SWB rear spats!!!

 

:tt1:

 

Wow good find mate :thumbup:

 

Finally!! Absolutely can't believe it, Gary! :D :D

Today: in addition to my finally securing a pair of OEM rear spats for the Shortie, Lee Dent's just sent me a text to say that she's back up and running again!! :D :D

 

He sent a picture too. She's looking lovely now :thumbup: Roll on Thursday when I go and collect her!!

I've looked and looked, then refreshed several times and still the pic is not showing for me in post 135 :glare::huh:.

I've looked and looked, then refreshed several times and still the pic is not showing for me in post 135 :glare::huh:.

 

That's cos I haven't posted any pictures yet, mate - I'm waiting til she's back home before I do any "grand unveiling!" ;)

 

Or do you mean about my Shortie spats.....

You tantalizingly hinted about the Lee pic - now you tell us we have to be left on tenterhooks until Thursday, haha !!

You tantalizingly hinted about the Lee pic - now you tell us we have to be left on tenterhooks until Thursday, haha !!

 

Good things come to those who wait, and all that... ;)

You know the rules Si no pic-it didn't happen

You know the rules Si no pic-it didn't happen

 

Then it hasn't happened. Yet. Until Thursday - then it'll have definitely happened!! :D

I have plenty of piccies if you like me to post some mondo:):tt2:

Don't. You. Dare!! :lol:

Hmm just 1

Lee DO IT DO IT DO IT

I should get to Lee's unit around 11am tomorrow and, if I'm completely honest here, I absolutely can't wait!

 

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!! :D

Haha...I've already seen it:drool::thumbup1:

Haha...I've already seen it:drool::thumbup1:

 

*me jealous here!*

She's home!!!!! :D :D

 

Targas off all the way... glorious sunshine... a strong contender for best day ever! :D

 

Anyway, the bit you've all (possibly) been waiting for..... before:

 

 

And now:

 

 

 

 

Massive thanks to Lee Dent for all his (and his minions') hard work - she's like a totally different car now and I've been grinning all the way home! :D :thumbup:

Woah! Big improvement, is it all just cosmetic or is there a performance boost too? One thing though, get yourself a fan shroud buddy. Aftermarket rad without shroud=oem with.

Wow that is some makeover Si :bow: