So, we got the word that the Retro Rides Weekender was a go. I needed a car to take. I flirted with taking another project (more on that later) but it needed a lot of panels that all had a lead time meaning that they wouldnt arrive until the week of the show.
So it was WMD's time to shine! In some cases literally...
I fixed up a few odds and sods like non-functioning indicators (turns out the hazard lights switch was a little sticky and got stuck between on and off, completely killing all indicators in the process) and numerous bulb issues that were all corroded connectors.
Cant remember what else I did, but sent it off to MOT and... computer said no (literally, computer couldnt find it or something) the chap did a pre-mot check anyway and said it had an oil leak that needed fixing and a fuel leak too (this was the first time the car had this much fuel in it) and that if I brought it back with the v5 they would get it sorted and MOT'd
So obviously the first thing I decided to do was spruce it up a bit
The paint was so so tired and it just made me sad to look at it.
Faded / oxidised, with the side stripes flaking off, it looked pretty sad.
So I took a toffee wheel to the stripes and it instantly looked way better. So I decided to bite the bullet and try and cut the paint back. Some may say this was pointless with all the corrosion but I'd started so had to do something.
It made a HUGE difference, but the polishing machine couldnt get close to the trim, so I was going to need to do all that by hand (something I didnt get around to before the show sadly).
So now it at least looked a little loved, I thought I'd tackle the MOT problems. The oil drain was leaking, due to the size of the drain hose being a smidge too large for the spigot on the block. I
bodged fixed this with... heatshrink on the spigot to take up the minute difference
It worked!
Next up was the fuel leak, coming from around the tank pickup / fuel sender area. I didnt mind delving into this as it meant I could try and fix the fuel sender at the same time. I really really hate cars without functioning fuel gauges!
Yeah, it was proper crusty. These guages rely on the eletrical path through the hinge being clean metal to clean metal and as you can see... this was not. In hindsight, I should have taken one look at this and realised what was in my future, but the fuel I had siphoned out of the tank was perfectly clean and free of sediment so I didnt really think anything of it.
So, all cleaned up, sender unit working and with a new o-ring, back in it went.
Sent off for MOT... MOT achieved (as mentioned above)
Drove it about a bit.
So, I had about a week before the Weekender, I had booked it off to prep and so first things first... basic boost and fuel mods! For those that don't know, on boost fuelling is covered by a pin in the top of the pump....
Boost enters the top of the pump and is sealed by a diaphragm that pushed down on a shaped pin.
This is the stock pin and you can see the tracing of the fuel pin that has pushed it against it for its entire life.
The more boost, the more the pin gets pushed down and as you can see from the shape, this allows the fuel pin to extend which then puts more fuel into the engine (and so, more power)
I opted for a cheapy chinese aftermarket pin for a bosch VE which turned out to be 1mm too large a diameter (maybe these Zexel copies have slightly smaller pins, I don't know), so I had to lathe it down to fit, as you can see, the "fuel curve" is waaaay more aggresive. Its also shorter so you get a bit more travel and more effective "resolution" in the "map".
To increase the boost, it was a matter of changing the boost reference point for the low pressure turbo (the T3) from the manifold to the line between the turbos.
Took it out for a test drive and it was MUCH quicker, made about 25PSI of boost (up from 12 in stock configuration) but still needs plenty more fuel in the mid and top range. I didnt have enough time to mess with this more, as it then started randomly stuttering and cutting out. We worked out various things were getting blocked in the fuel system, so I removed the sock from the pickup and put a clear filter (after buying a whole pack) in the engine bay. Not ideal but I hoped would last until the show was done.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPLydEcnEKX
I also decided at the last minute to flake paint my boost pipes for some reason
...and fit the 6 stud conversion I've had on the shelf since forever.
Oh and a quick gearbox oil change for the correct grade. Sadly, this released some more flake...
Hey ho, with the correct grade in (75W-90 GL5) it no longer clatters when cold, but does when it heats up. I might see about putting a straight 90 in there...
So, quickly tinted the rear lights, packed up and headed to RRW while checking my fuel filter every now and again.
After 45 minutes, it looked like this
Still made it to site ok, and set up camp.
Ill dive into the Saturday / Sunday failtime next time.
Now I need to sleep.
The paint was so so tired and it just made me sad to look at it. 
It worked! 
