Hi Dan
Is the car still for sale?
Now we're here, a perfectly driving car. The shafts are custom and strong utilising the original hubs. There's 2 looms in the car - one for the engine, one for the car. This means 2 keys and key barrels, one is mounted in the dash. There are separate fuel pump and rad fan switches. The Acclaim radiator had to be used but it has an uprated fan and doesn't get hot at all. I also removed the horrid grill to help. The reverse lights are wired up and the heater has also been plumbed back in and is amazing. I also fitted a decent head unit and it has a custom Mountney boss and dished steering wheel.
Because the engine is so big for the bay and how it has to sit the shaft angle is offcentre. I had a problem with a shaft popping out but since I renewed an inner CV, improved an engine mount and jacked it up 10mm its been fine.
The boot is stripped and that's where the battery is. The carpet and various bits of floor mounted trim have gone too to make room for the bucket seats and loom. The rear seats are still in as are the front belts and full dash.
It has GAZ coilovers all round which are custom and as far as I'm aware the only set in existence so very saught-after.
The engine is standard except an air filter straight off the throttle body, uprated fuel pump and decat. I've also ditched the emissions curse word, air con and power steering. This makes it around 190hp. It still has a standard ECU so at the moment it limits at 8200rpm but these things are safe to 9k+. The cambelt, water pump and clutch were done last year before I bought the donor car.
The fuel pump is a 255LPH unit mounted on the bulkhead. I fitted this because I was going to turbo it but it turned out quite fast enough! It's quite loud but once you're moving it doesn't make any more noise than the radio.
On the outside I've lost the hideous rear bumper and fitted a universal fog light. It also has a MK1 MR2 spoiler, universal arches and 14" baby G60 steels banded to 8.5 and 9.5J. The tyres are new. It did have 20mm hubcentric spacers on the front but it made the steering snappy as the wheels are already very wide. Narrower wheels make it handle better but it doesn't look as badass. On the track day I used some 15" 7Js and it was fine.
Areas For Improvenent
The interior needs some neatening if you're fussy as the fuse box which now sits in the centre under the dash is exposed.
On the dash the indicator and beam lights have been wired up but beam stopped working. There's no fuel gauge at the moment but the rest work.
The engine is secure but one more mount would be a good idea.
I've had to convert it from cable to hydraulic clutch and the outcome is a very heavy pedal due to a far from perfect pivot point. I'm not talking the equivalent of a stage 3 paddle, it's a lot heaven than that It's not at all light but I can drive it okay with a strong leg daily and have surprisingly got used to it to everyones amazement. I was going to fit an inline remote servo which will third the pedal effort (with a 3:1 ratio servo) but like I said I'm used to it now. There is room to fit one and it's easy to do. Alternatively I have another pedal to fit with a much better pivot point from my Dolomite Sprint. I will get round to doing this eventually.
I've done over 1000 miles in the car now and except my left leg getting bigger everything has been fine. If noone is interested I will finish it off and keep it as my daily as it's great on fuel.
Nearly 12 months MOT!
