parts from higher spec and newer models etc.
The last engine developed rod knock and my DIY smoothing etc. was starting to let the car down so I took it off the road.
For the last 4+ years it has sat in my garage in various states of build. The reason it has seen less daylight than the Fritlzel family is down to a few things. The main being the SH1T paint job it has ended up with.
The car is originally silver and I wanted it a brighter silver. Decided on Aston Martin Titanium, acquired the paint code from the AM dealership and gave it to the painter who then told me it was wrong and that he/
paint supplier would sort it out.Well, he got the wrong colour altogther. The car is now Aston Martin Tungsten 'silver' Like a greeny gunmetal. I was told I would have to pay for the paint if I wanted it a different
colour (£280 iirc) We sprayed a panel up and I decided it looked pretty decent and I could live with it - first mistake!
The engine bay was done in gloss black and no kidding it would scrape off with finger nails or blow off with the compressor etc. The finish on the car is pretty good IMO. Very deep and shiny but again it's almost as
though it hasn't been keyed up. It flakes off and chips far too easily. I was meant to take the car back but never did. I didn't see the point and thought it would only end up worse as I was told to bring it back to be
'touched in' when it was fully built up. Seeing as this guy painted over my suspension, brake pipes, loom etc. I dread to think what would happen if I had parts on I cared for!
I gave him not far off a rolling shell and he told me I could have left the engine in! The place is a joke. NEVER use Mel Horne paint/body in Cramlington.
Enough of that anyway...
I decided to modify the car to a sort of euroish/luxury style so I had an interior retrimmed with Subrau Impreza front seats, sourced a load of rare JDM parts, new headlamps, folding mirrors, crystal fogs, already had 18" Raceline RL7's, Skyline GTR 4 pots, brand new SR20 engine and box, new coilovers etc and had my doors smoothed and previously fitted facelift boot/lights/bumper smoothed (was never happy with the back after this) wings smoothed, a new bonnet smoothed again and front bumper plastic welded smooth - all done by a proper body shop a panel at a time.
I started to build the car back up, engine in etc and the more parts I bolted on the more I noticed what a mess the paint was. I made the decision to strip it and remove all the underseal and paint it up body coloured underneath/inner arches and clean up and paint all of the running gear.
I also thought it would be a good idea to smooth my engine bay (why!?!) so a lot of time has been spent making a hidden loom and plating/fillering the bay – I gave up on this when it got cold lol.
Then one day something inside me finally gave in to the urge to make a Super Touring inspired stripped and caged fast road/occasional track dayer.. It’s a combination of things (Johns pics being one of the final straws lol) I was worried I would end up with a shonky ‘replica’ but I have no plans for the livery and I am not really copying the car as it’s next to impossible. More like acquiring the bits I like. I would never have been happy with the car unless I done this to it, now it’s something I can add to/develop in the future IMO.
I intended this from the start hence buying the Racelines but my dad put the brakes on the cage and I never looked into it any further as he is the master fabricator lol. I bought and sold an ex works carbon fibre front splitter and reluctantly went with the now abandoned ‘euro jdm’ look.
Here’s how it was destined to look until I finally saw the light (barely got any pics)
And a few parts of the interior.
If I CBA/anyone cares I will dig a few pics out of it in prior guises lol
Please don’t think I can’t make my mind up and will sell up etc. before seeing this through. That is not the case, and I know this seems like an essay, but trust me, you got the short version lol
If you’ll excuse me I will copy what I have already posted on other forums to get up to speed on this (will edit it slightly so it makes sense).
As stated previously I am stripping the Primera and building it how I inteneded to from the off.
Parts that are going are:
Interior
JDM mirrors
JDM fogs
Facelift smoothed boot lid and rear lights
Facelift rear bumper with no. plate recess
Front smoothed GT bumper (sold to mate)
Skyline airbag wheel
Side skirts
Exhaust
and a few other things but that's the bulk of it.
All the money I get from parts sold will be going back into the car. So it will probably end up costing the same in the end as it was going to but I will have something I'm happy with and can add to/develop in the future. Most importantly though I won't be embarassed to drive it lol! I was never happy with the direction the car was heading in after being painted the wrong colour etc.
In a way it's like starting a new project but with the advantage of having a very clean rust free 4dr non sunroof shell, coilovers, 4 pots, engine/box, wheels, mint doors and wings etc.
The plans for the car are to do what I intended from the start. BTCC Super Tourer inspired, stripped and caged. Something that I can have a laugh with and who knows, maybe even use on a few track days.
Plans now consist of:
Paint whole thing inc. wheels in the brightest white I can find
Hollow doors, boot, bonnet etc.
Bin bumper reinforcers, side impact bars etc.
Polyglass side windows - and if finances allow front (heated) and rear BTCC poly screens
BTCC works front bumper/splitter
Original 'square' bootlid and bumper (maybe STC spoiler)
Weld in cage - unsure how many pt. yet (waiting to hear back on prices etc)
2 Corbeau pro series or similar fixed buckets
Decent harnesses
Dished OMP wheel
C/F interior panels (ex works) or maybe just black poly/perspex
Exhaust, probs mild steel ex works
Fly off handbrake (maybe)
Finish engine bay (maybe have it done pro)
And that's about it, this is a very small list compared to what was needed for it's previous guise lol
I tackeld my bonnet on Sunday afternoon, cut away the bracing from the centre and the reinforced slam panel/bonnet latch area.
This was mostly just to see what it turned out like as there was a high chance the bonnet is scrap. I had the grille holes welded up about 4 years ago lol (you'd think I'd learn after my first!) The metal used was about 2mm thick so a bit of a trial to remove and reshape but having done one side I think it will work out OK.
I'm glad as the bonnet is an OEM job and has never seen a single mile lol.
Here's a couple of midway pics - just bought a 3" air cut off tool to finish of the edges etc. (Dremmel broke)
As it was
Typical those plates are spotted on so well!
Mmm lovely
Bodge removed
One side cut back out
How I left it
There was no real need to cut the slam panel area out but it's made a massive difference and the bonnet is still rigid enough, also it will be held down with aero catches so there's no harm in it.
I also parted company with my front bumper tonight, sold it to my mate and fitted it for him outside mine. It's the least I can do given that he's 90% wanting my interior and he's buying my facelifted parts - bootlid, rear lights and rear bumper as well as giving me his standard original stuff lol.
Alongside standard P11 GT front bumper
Paint and lower plz!
I'm gonna miss that bumper, but glad it's gone to a mate. Will look the business with the fog covers on and a nice FMIC or more likely some black plastic mesh lol. Although I've had it done years at least it's a very popular style ATM (rear end too) which are handy plus points when selling!
That's about it for now, once I measure up the required polycarbonate needed I will hollow the doors and cut new windows to size.
I'm negotiating a bumper ATM, some guy on NPOC has it. It's a genuine works splitter but has been mounted to a cut down bumper by the previous owner and something isn't quite right about it. I await more pics but that's the style front end I'll be running, either from him or Touringcarspares - when he eventually gets more in stock!
I'm not sure if it's been smoothed in at the bottom and the fact the car it's on looks dodgy, gay black centre and has front fogs doesn't help IMO lol. I'll have more of an idea when I see better pics - off the car, seperated etc.
Heres a works car setup.
Check the email I just received lol
Liam,
I think I may have what you need.
I've got a
98 spec front bumper
high downforce rear wing
Front flared front wings
1 rear door card
6 Pot AP callipers and disks
2 pot rear brembos and disks
Carbon center switch pack
carbon dash extension
Pedal box
a set of rays centre lock wheels.
What is the full list of parts that you need and how much would you pay for them?
regards
Barry
My pockets aren’t that deep but I guess he saw my ad Emailed him back.
What a difference a decent spot weld drill bit makes.
Worst smelling sound deadening ev0r
These brackets are coming off so much better than the engine bay ones did. Still made a couple of holes but it's OK. The steel the car's built from is thinner than the veil of privacy surrounding Jade Goodys daily trials lol.
The junk in the trunk.
If this was anything other than a Primera I'd be able to sell all this lol. Ah well, pretensioner might go well on a fire lol.
Check me waxa 6x9 holes and fibreglassed aerial hole lol. The shelf will all be getting cut out anyway.
Still heard zero back from the guy who emailed me with the STC parts - probs has clocked me as a pauper lol.
Getting sick of the c0ck with the silver bumper/splitter too. All I want is his contact details. I wana buy and he wants to sell. Fail.
I dropped an email to Rollcentre Racing today to see what sort of options/prices I'm looking at for a weld in from them, just to get some more ideas.
JDM mirrors, strut brace, reverse cams, steering wheel, screen, alu interior handles (once the greasy wop kebab eating bastard weighs in with the dough) and some more bits and bobs have sold so that's all going in the pot. Every little helps lol.
Just made another interesting BTCC contact
A guy on the Nova site knows someone who owned one of the Janspeed P10 BTCC cars and still has spares, CF ducting, bumpers etc and he says maybe a spoiler Just text him now - only in Scotland too. FTW.This car, chassis no 5 IIRC.
http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread ... 545&page=2
Spoilers, bumpers etc gone! Has a set of 18" centre locks (probs like those OZ's) and calipers/bells left and is gonna send me pics of the CF ducting. See if I can use it anywhere.
Found a spoiler though
Have been speaking to the lad who knows the guy/company in Hereford who can make me a cage to the specs I require and he says he will be able to do a 6 point weld in for my mates mk1 xr2 for around £150 quid - they are good and strong as he builds them all day for rallycross cars etc. Will fit tight against the pillars and roof etc. but will need a bit tidying up when the car comes back. For my car he reckons well under £500 for triangulation to stru tops too.
I'm awaiting more information but obviously I'm well pleased with that kind of figure!
I have sorted the CF splitter too, spoke to the lad and just waiting for my mate to collect it in 3 weeks time.
Still not happy with the bumper - especially the fog cut outs. I will more than likely get another and adapt it myself. Happy with the price considering the availability though and yeah of course I tried knocking him down further!
Also been attempting to sort a spoiler out, not 100% sure I want one but if it's a proper downforce job then along with the splitter that's the full aero package, so has to be worth a bit of road holding IMO.
After many hours Googling I came accross the PSG Zero G BTCC replica of the Alfa 155 kit from 1994 (^above^) PSG are bust now so I rang around and can get it, although only in FG and it's custom made. Works out about £180 delivered - so I'm unsure on that as I reckon I can get an ex-works CF one for similar money at the right time.
I found out a lad from the Volvo club bought his shell (the 360 from PPC magazine) with a BTCC works Mondeo spoiler attached and asked if it was for sale.
Turns out it’s GRP though and I ideally want CF.
I'm looking for the front wings too, or do you think a company will be able to pull mine out to look similar? I know the works ones are hand rolled but they started off as stock OEM panels.
Gay update:
Bagged a couple of brand new front wings from an eBay shop (Nissan garage shifting old stock) for 30 notes with my best offer skillz lol RRP £268.50 so they say - can't see it these days, but still. OEM fit FTW.
They're located in Somerset, my mate is getting them when he picks up my CF splitter, they are then going to a mate in Hereford who is going to beat/pull/flare them out to resemble these
and my current (to be sold) flushed ones - to see the difefrence
Even though these look cool as fuck IMO I actually need them, due to the offset of my wheels, when it was previously built up the front wings sat on the tyre walls and rolling the lips would not have been enough if I want the car sitting as planned.
I was also sent a pic last night from Harry (same lad who's doing my wings) who knows the cage builder I'm going to use. Looks impressive IMO.
This is an example of the guys usual work, and is well aware mine is for a road car so says it will be tidier.
My favourite thing though is the P11 BTCC CAD files I have managed to get. I downloaded DWG Trueview and can now view and edit the 3D model. As it is to scale this is awesome for using some of the cage dimensions and also maybe for the front wings (if Harry needs it)
It's taking ages to go through the extensive number of layers and make a note of them in wordpad, but I can now add/remove parts as I please and a 3D model of the cage I would ideally like should be invaluable.
Here's a poor JPEG screen shot (same for the wings above)
Question, as I'm going all out on this car there are no plans to sell it (ever) only add to and develop it, I am wondering though, if the cage builder can copy this design at a reasonable price (yeah it's OTT but so fuck) will having the 'B pillar' legs set further back cause any problems? They are so far back due to the extended driving position of the works car.
If this is fine then I am happy enough to have it built this way, a pedal box and dash extension/relocated seat are something that would be viable in the future without breaking the bank.
Can anyone see any issues with this?
Picked up my OMP dished suede wheel from a sound lad on the pipe n slippers forum at the weekend. Best steering wheel there is IMO. Got a sweet deal on it and it's brand new.
I have a mk1 Fiesta boss lying around from my previous dished wheel so have fitted it with that for now, it fits and works as it should but I'll still get the proper one along with a snap off boss.
Fitted to the car to see what it's like. Aside from the dash loom pedal box and steering column it's pretty much devoid of the essentials still lol.
Out of place seat or what lol - these are going the journey, I had to sit down though
Floors aren't rusty BTW It's dust etc.
More unwanted crap removed, dash sound deadening, heater matrix, front seat bars, some floorpan deadening (what a pain in the arse)
The loom, modified heater box etc. were only refitted a few months ago. Would have left it all out had I known lol
Taking my time with the spot welds for a few reasons. Access is only possible on one side of the car and it's 3 feet off the deck, it hurts my old joints and I don't want my floor full of holes lol. Slow and steady FTW.
Only just noticed this lol
And the days fail
Thought I could smell something!
I have found yet another replica Super Tourer aero spoiler too. It's made of GRP, but is brand new and works out at only £35. From Canada though
. Awaiting pics etc. If the shipping won't rape me, it's the dimensions I require and most importantly it's a true downforce designed spoiler I'll be having it. eBay trawling + patience = win.
Also just sold a rear window louvre for a mk1 Escort that I paid £30 for a week ago. (Cheers for driving me there/back Naylor) Got £150 on the bay. That will go in the P11 pot as with all car stuff I sell from now on. If it means I get a free spoiler I'll be happy.
Aye Ben the more the merrier mate! I'll get your hands dirty lol
