Here's the story of my new scooby. All work is being done by myself (apart from timing belt, too vital a component for me) so will be putting guides in a "how to" fashion, if anyone is interested, even just the basic stuff (apart from the Tyre/wheel fitting) so if anyone decides they want a go, this can be a sort of beginners guide as this is the first time I'll be getting so involved with my car. If any experienced folk would like to add to it, then please feel free, I've got a memory like a sieve so I will more than likely forget what I've done.
OK bought the car earlier this year and this is how it came.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Scratches on every body panel. This being the worst. and the splitter hasn't been very well done and is cracked around all of the bodge work. Looks shit TBH.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Now looking like this.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]First thing was to change those stupidly large wheels.
Sorry there are no images for the first couple of items, I didn't think about taking any until it was too late.
Next was to change the Cobra exhaust, a little too loud for my liking. Put Mr Terzos WR Sport tail pipe on and a new centre section (the previous one was twisted)
Easy job, Jack the car up, get underneath and remove the 2 bolts from the front flange of the centre section. Remove the mounting bars from the rubber mounts (I found using a screwdriver to prise the hole wider and force it over the bars worked a treat) 1 mount near the back of the centre section, 1 just in front of the back box and 2 right at the rear, either side of the back box.
Take the new centre section and back box section and fasten them together using 2 M10 x 30mm Bolts and 2 Nuts, put a bit grease/copperslip on the threads, making sure that the mounting bars in the correct orientation and that the gasket is between the 2 parts.
Now mount the exhaust in the opposite fashion to taking it off.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Next was a basic service.
Oil change:
Jack front of car up and remove the undertray. 3 x 12mm head bolts across the front, 2 or 4 (I can't remember off the top of my head) at the rear and 2 x 10mm head bolts in the wheel arches.
Place Oil pan under the sump plug and remove.
Remove Oil Filter.
Lower car and wait until fully drained.
Jack car back up and put new oil filter on, little smear of oil on the gasket to give it some lube.
Put sump plug back in with new sealing ring.
Pu undertray back on and lower car back down.
Fill engine with oil (about 5 litres, if memory serves).
Air Filter (If you've not got panel filter or cone):
Unclip air box top (4 clips?) and open, remove air filter and place new one in it's place. Fasten the clips back down
Fuel Filter: (depends on model)
Slacken the 2 hose clips so they can slide along the hoses, push them back out of the way but make sure they don't fall off when you remove the filter.
Pull the hoses off the filter, I found using a flat screwdriver to start moving them worked best as they were pretty well stuck on.
Unfasten clip around the filter and remove.
Take rubber ring off the filter and put it around the new filter.
Place filter in the holder and fasten clip around it.
Put the rubber hoses back onto the filter spouts and fasten the hose clips securely.
Pour fuel from the filter into long grass and set it on fire, good 5 mins of fun to be had.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]Spark Plugs: Made easier if you have small hands
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Remove battery (10mm spanner to remove terminals), washer bottle (10mm socket/spanner to remove bolts) and the air box (screwdriver to remove jubilee clips and 12mm socket and extension to remove the 2 bolts holding it to the car)
Remove plug leads (Just the ends from the spark plugs and get them out of the way as best as possible.
Passenger side rear plug, best to go at it from the back of the engine, use an extension for the ratchet which is 80mm long (85 too long, 75 ok for this one, but too short for front) and an5/8" spark plug socket.
Hint: for all 4 plugs, if you can, place spark plug socket over spark plug, then attach the extension, then attached the ratchet. When replacing with new plug, place plug in socket and put into the plug hole and hand tighten as best as possible.
Passenger side front plug, best to get to from front of car, same again but this time best I could get was 2 clicks on the ratchet, right pain.
Drivers side front and rear plugs, best access from where the air box was. Lots of room this side.
Once all plugs have been changed, replace the plug lead ends and make sure they "click" on.
Replace all parts removed from the engine bay, in reverse order. Grease/copperslip your bolts before putting them back in.
Hint: Remember to grease your nuts! Always helpful for when you have to go back and do it again.
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