Having taken a considerable brake from Retro vehicles, my last effort being an e36 BMW Alpina B2.5 model that I fitted with an evo M3 engine, which unfortunately span its crank shells after not a great deal of time, I decided to delve back into the era of vehicles I usually prefer. Following a break of several years, during which I really enjoyed the ownership of a vehicle that many on here would react to by throwing feces at me and trying to force me to repent. A Vauxhall Vectra VXR.
My first attempts at a return to the eighties (or early 90's but maybe we could gloss over that), comprised of a 530i e34 v8 slushbox barge. Quickly lowered some 60mm with not especially brilliant springs, sitting on refurbished bbs mesh alloys. It was fairly nice for about a fortnight, after which it ate one of its pistons and stored it in the sump. Not sure if it was a Nikasil problem or a stuck valve etc.
I was unimpressed, the following Torslanda was largely funded by the e34,s bits. An ebay auction that was actually a little disappointing. Previously owned for many years by a family in the midlands who must have been very heavy handed, breaking most door handles and glove box lids etc.. Many evenings spent fixing door latches and plastic trim. It was supposed to be a reliable everyday vehicle but I suspect they lied a touch. it was a bit tatty with some bodge-tastic silicone repairs and completely lacked any power. The romance explosion type stain on the seat was also a cause for concern.
Progress on this may be uninspiring and slow depending on budget, but plans are primarily for lowering the thing quite a bit one day. I think BMW turbines would really compliment the go faster stripes but that is the stuff of pipe dreams.
It quickly boiled itself on the way home one day.
In the usual redblock #4 area.
A quick ultrasonic clean and test of the injectors with some fresh seals.
Replaced most of the lenses with their interesting silicon workmanship:
It was missing a hockey stick trim when I got it, couldn't find one anywhere so made my own, to some degree.
Finally, a reasonable looking 240:
Did need a clutch shortly after all this however:
oh dear..
A working vehicle again, it will need reaction arm bushes soon.
And some potatoshop fun..
Would like some 80mm lowering springs with fresh dampers, though swedespeed seem to offer coilovers which arent massively pricey, although out of budget at the moment.
will hopefully sort something fairly soon.
My first attempts at a return to the eighties (or early 90's but maybe we could gloss over that), comprised of a 530i e34 v8 slushbox barge. Quickly lowered some 60mm with not especially brilliant springs, sitting on refurbished bbs mesh alloys. It was fairly nice for about a fortnight, after which it ate one of its pistons and stored it in the sump. Not sure if it was a Nikasil problem or a stuck valve etc.
I was unimpressed, the following Torslanda was largely funded by the e34,s bits. An ebay auction that was actually a little disappointing. Previously owned for many years by a family in the midlands who must have been very heavy handed, breaking most door handles and glove box lids etc.. Many evenings spent fixing door latches and plastic trim. It was supposed to be a reliable everyday vehicle but I suspect they lied a touch. it was a bit tatty with some bodge-tastic silicone repairs and completely lacked any power. The romance explosion type stain on the seat was also a cause for concern.
Progress on this may be uninspiring and slow depending on budget, but plans are primarily for lowering the thing quite a bit one day. I think BMW turbines would really compliment the go faster stripes but that is the stuff of pipe dreams.
It quickly boiled itself on the way home one day.
In the usual redblock #4 area.
A quick ultrasonic clean and test of the injectors with some fresh seals.
Replaced most of the lenses with their interesting silicon workmanship:
It was missing a hockey stick trim when I got it, couldn't find one anywhere so made my own, to some degree.
Finally, a reasonable looking 240:
Did need a clutch shortly after all this however:
oh dear..
A working vehicle again, it will need reaction arm bushes soon.
And some potatoshop fun..
Would like some 80mm lowering springs with fresh dampers, though swedespeed seem to offer coilovers which arent massively pricey, although out of budget at the moment.
will hopefully sort something fairly soon.