My old MK1 180 and my 'new' MK2 180

[rturner]

As I'm about to get my second ZS 180, I thought I'd put up some of my pics of YC51 AHO, which I owned between April 2004 and May 2005. If I remember correctly, I think I picked it up with around 20k miles on it and sold it at around 32k, mainly because I thought it was costing too much in petrol! If only I'd known what things were going to get like!


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/zs180017.jpg


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/BADGE.jpg


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/zs180013.jpg


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/zs180014.jpg


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/108DSC_0101.jpg


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/1Curborough_020.jpg


...and this is the car that I'll be getting at the end of this month. The car is currently owned by a friend who has only had it for three months and has decided a 40 mile daily round trip is not economically viable!

My plan is to completely strip the interior, fit some better seats, refresh the suspension / bushes / brakes and use it as an occasional track car. I also want to change the lights as it has some after market ones on at the moment. I've seen worse, but I prefer an OE look. If anyone is interested in a straight swap for a standard set I can send pics of the lights that are on it now. The mileage is pretty high at just over 90k but prior to my friend it had one owner, full history and the belts were done 20k miles ago.

I'm really looking forward to getting it (hence spending my time on forums an looking at pics of my old one!) and just cannot believe how cheap these are now. I lost a stack of money when I sold my old one so feel I deserve an even cheaper one back in return!


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/11.jpg


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/01.jpg

[Dan1971]

Nice ... what's the matter with the interior then ?

[rturner]

Nice ... what's the matter with the interior then ?

Nothing wrong with it, just surplus to my requirements. Also, I personally found the standard seats unsuitable on track. I had to brace myself with my legs when cornering which isn't ideal. They just didn't hold me in place.

[Dan1971]

Fair enough - look forward to seeing and hearing what you do with it then ....

[rturner]

I've had my ZS for a few weeks now and have already been tinkering with it. The paint was not in the best condition, badly swirled as if it has been polished with steel wool and clearly been left stood with bird crap on it in the past. I've managed to improve matters a lot with a mechanical polisher and some expensive wax. Looks much better, especially once a couple of foot away:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/b5605a1da4817e5a1ac6b77af9647d04.jpg

The plans for the car are to strip out any unnecessary interior parts, add bucket seats and harnesses, fit some coil overs, decat, put some decent tyres on and a few other bits and bobs and then get it on some track days.

Here is what I've done so far...

Seats ready to go in, complete with co-driver:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/a4a950aeb00772598f823c8f9937b33b.jpg

Most of the interior gone and first seat in:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/bd5a11158318b48085f4e37d9a81ec25.jpg

Not my favourite bit of the car tbh....want to replace with standard rear lights:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/a57c1a0243fe8a1f3fc868fb272e3a56.jpg

Post polish & wax shininess:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/2fca7b919c34b9ffbe21f00eca5b750d.jpg

Both seats in, rear door plastic off, fingers covered in gunk that sticks it I'm. Grrrr:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/fecfc20aec94fb80e9484ab800460ccd.jpg

Sparco 3 point harnesses in:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/11e6b6d1eda69955fcf1ee5f37c70ea1.jpg


Quite happy with how it's going so far. I've discovered that the VIS power motor is broken although if it weren't for the indications I wouldn't have known. No kick at 3k rpm but seems to open up nicely at 4.5k.

Feels a hell of a lot more lively now. The seats are much better in terms of lateral hold and height than the standard nice but aren't so comfortable. The harnesses are also not all that comfy but between them and the seats they keep me rooted to the spot! Makes it much easier to drive the car hard.

First track day should be taking place in October providing it passes its MOT. Better get those resistors in place to turn out the air bag lights.

[Lukeus101]

The one thing that annoyed when mg rover were using pbt black is that they used a green base coat and left it :/ looks like some good progress there mate :)

[Smokey]

I agree with the black/green thing. Really annoying. Will you be getting a brace for where the rear seat backs were? I left the metal frame in for extra support?

[stamford]

I found those Cobra seats better than the Forzas I had. Cobra had more padding whereas the Forzas were too thin on the back support. Watch the Cobras as they can wear very easily on the bolster. Alright if you are a skinny runt!

The door gunk is nasty, I had to use a scraper and some thinners to shift it.

Once all the stuff is removed it is surprising how much higher the car sits!

[Enright]

I've been looking for some rear lights like that for ages, and would be happy to swap.

[rturner]

I agree with the black/green thing. Really annoying. Will you be getting a brace for where the rear seat backs were? I left the metal frame in for extra support?

Hard to know if I need it at the moment. Taking so much weight out of the back has not done any favours for the standard suspension, so will sort out springs and dampers first then decide if it needs stiffening.


Alright if you are a skinny runt!

I'm built for comfort :D That's probably why the seats are digging in a bit!

[Dav]

Looking good. The pics of your first ZS on track, is that Curborough (sp)?

When I was on MetroPower, the Metro lot used to gather there and do trails and stuff, it just looks similar lol

And the new Zed looks good also ;)

[rturner]

Looking good. The pics of your first ZS on track, is that Curborough (sp)?

Good spot, it was indeed Curborough on an Xpower forum day.

[Dav]

Ha, it seems I was paying attention when I was younger lol

[rturner]

I've now done my first track day in my MK2 at Blyton in Lincolnshire. Absolutely excellent day organised by Javelin and a great track with plenty of space and plenty of run off. The car behaved itself and put in a good show despite the numpty behind the wheel :D

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8097946724_a879256f96_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhys_turner/8097946724/)
Camera Roll-129 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhys_turner/8097946724/) by rhysturner (http://www.flickr.com/people/rhys_turner/), on Flickr

Essential support vehicle....can't recommend it enough. The ability to have brew's and bacon sarnie's is priceless:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8097934086_9459a81a3f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhys_turner/8097934086/)
Camera Roll-128 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhys_turner/8097934086/) by rhysturner (http://www.flickr.com/people/rhys_turner/), on Flickr
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/477D377F-C608-4D7A-A1BD-73EC5D1F9B89-10830-0000064B42D11185.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/rhys172/80AF93EA-FA25-49CD-B8F1-C434358621C5-10830-0000064B46E27CBB.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/8089612343_92f402c643_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhys_turner/8089612343/)
Camera Roll-110 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhys_turner/8089612343/) by rhysturner (http://www.flickr.com/people/rhys_turner/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8089611882_196effa362_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhys_turner/8089611882/)
Camera Roll-104 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhys_turner/8089611882/) by rhysturner (http://www.flickr.com/people/rhys_turner/), on Flickr

[redzed]

nice looking good! all you need is a half cage in the back now!

[peterzs]

Great looking car and sounds like a fun day.

Support vehicle is a must, can you hire it.

Maybe something we could do as a site meet, was it a full day or a taster session??

:wave::wave::wave:

[rturner]

It was a full day open pit lane event. Think I did about 75 laps in the end but could have easily had time to do two or three times that. Will definitely do Blyton again before braving Cadwell.

[Maxxed_Ross]

some fantastic pictures there... and it does look good going round

[Alan.F]

Looking good m8 these are pics of my first 180 at cadwell, wish i hadn't got rid of this one :(

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6454.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6445.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6444.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6425.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6404.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6371.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6367.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6364.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6348.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6318.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6316.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6272.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6271.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6164.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/FatGit/Cadwell%20Park/IMG_6121.jpg

[rturner]

Some great pics there Alan!