Better than new! Make sure any load bearing or stressed joints use hi-tensile or OE spec bolts etc. Stainless steel are not strong enough, only good for basic fixings and bling :)

Speechless :bow:

Thanks mick, Yeh I'll be sure to change them. Got some OEM replacement bolts on the way from rimmers to swap with the stainless ones currently linking the arm to the swing bar.

Thanks Matt !

such a good job - nice one!

Awesome job you're doing on her.

Thanks chap !

Thanks buddy !

Thought it about time I do an update as I haven't done one in a small while.

Got a fair bit done over the last few weeks, I'll get the purchased bits and pieces out of the way first.

Various exhaust and manifold gaskets -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2nfwa3rd.jpg

AP Clutch kit, coil packs and plugs -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps71ycuizh.jpg

Rear wheel bearings -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pskajcs8up.jpg

Outer CV joints -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6xtgjabq.jpg

Service items -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psh3nolj7s.jpg

Discs and pads -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psm8t5np4b.jpg

Caliper to carrier bolts -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psw20h0tjl.jpg

Some high tensile steel bolts to replace some of the stainless ones -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pslqbut3li.jpg

PPD Rear arch liner and a small metal heat guard that goes under the inlet manifold that was missing from mine -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pshroudkm5.jpg

Managed to pick up an Xpower gear knob, this proved quite difficult to find -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psolzlggjm.jpg

Finally had the downpipe repaired by Powerflow so I got that polished up -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psuudiezpo.jpg

And new Poly and Nylatron bushes to rebuild my powder coated gear linkage -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pshunl5kpq.jpg

I think that covers everything but I may have missed a few bits and pieces !

May as well start with the gear linkage.

Had quite a lot of excess powder coat in the hole which wouldn't allow me to fit the new bushes -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psvoqqz00n.jpg

So got my Dremel out and used a course sanding belt to remove the powder coat -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pssycdqtol.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps37yynk4t.jpg

Here it is rebuilt with the UJ also done -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psiw0z2evk.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psepxnrqxx.jpg

Got the rear wheel bearings fitted onto the car -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4zvrzehl.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psblc8rwnk.jpg

And pushed her outside for a bit of fresh air -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7mh3oiha.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psz3u3dpjn.jpg

Got the outer CV joints built up and fitted -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse3j3otun.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pszzjqndjk.jpg

Did the same thing for the other side too.

Decided to get the engine and box back in next, got the clutch fitted and aligned and also fitted the new coil packs, plugs and oil filter -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psfjyaina0.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3gzxxuni.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdmdnvnys.jpg

And then dropped it back into the car -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psbtuqxgsd.jpg

Still have a lot I want to do with the engine bay but that'll have to wait for the time being.

Next I fitted the calipers, disks and pads, braided hose and the handbrake cables -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psw9ftt4p2.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psqcduqsqw.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7u9g8jzj.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psjvcwmas4.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psrzuuux6l.jpg

They look quite good behind the wheels -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psefwx23jp.jpg

I'll be having these done gloss black in the near future though.

Continued in a second post...

Continued...

Onto the fuel tank, I had it blasted which revealed a few pin holes which I had to repair with the welder. Came out well enough though -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psnnrp2alf.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdk9bzrob.jpg

I had a fuel tank sealing kit left over from a previous project so I decided to put it to good use -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse3irdnx4.jpg

Diluted the degreaser down with some boiling water and put that in -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1lrimgbu.jpg

Left that to soak for a while then rinsed it out. Here's the inside after I used the metal prep which removes rust and puts a Zinc coating inside the tank -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6rwgtspr.jpg

And then the sealer went in. It essentially creates a tank within your existing tank. Just a case of tipping it in, moving the tank around until you cover the entire inside surface and then tipping out the excess. Here it is -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psabfg3j6i.jpg

It takes 96 hours to fully cure.

I stuck the rubber pads back onto the tank and then mounted that back onto the car using new stainless threaded bar that I put a 90 degree bend in and stainless nuts and bolts -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdk7xzzan.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5lbnsb4q.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2mbv9bhc.jpg

I also removed the carpet and gave it a good clean as it smelled like the previous owners dog -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pszqocmwtf.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psibejaunr.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9wsmgjrq.jpg

Fitted that back into the car -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pszjhi4ghk.jpg

Here's how the car currently stands, I can finally drive it in and out of the garage instead of pushing it -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psgk0heg5u.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pspnd1r8o7.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3ox5gdei.jpg

Still a long way off seeing the road but the mechanical side of things is almost complete.

Finally, I had to repair the plastic brackets which secure the abs wires. The bolts had rusted solid in the fixings so I pushed them out -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psrinjiqtp.jpg

Enlarged the hole with an 8mm drill bit -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pszejavzwx.jpg

Fitted an aluminium M6 rivnut -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psbdxid7af.jpg

And ground the heads down flat using my power file -

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psi1lghcn0.jpg

Good as new !

Still have a few more bits to finish off underneath but as soon as that's done I'll be moving onto the exterior paint work as this needs some serious attention !

Jay.

Hats off mate .... :bow: