So we're was I.. oh yeah. Updates. Managed to crack on and get my real work done for dinner Monday. Which left me a few hour spare in the afternoon... One thing that had bugged me was the lack of Speedo.. so now with fresh abs sensors and everything back in place. Did it work.... Did it chuff!!
Started working through the diagrams I had checking my wiring. All checked out. Also checked the 60amp abs fuse under the bonnet (fine) and both abs relays (both fine could feel them pull in and stripped them down and no scorching on the contacts).. hmmm looking more serious.
Got hold of the factory data for the resistance on each abs sensor and checked those. Between 1.5-1.8 ohm front and 0.9-1.2 rear factory spec. All mine were happily in the middle of those values.. curse word.
Carried on digging and checked every pin to the abs ECU that should have power, all fine. And checked the ones that should be earthed. Again all checked out.. at this point I was starting to lose enthusiasm for the job. I've got big hands bad eyes and working in the factory wiring with half inch of slack in it wasn't helping..
Dropped a mate a message (the guy who supplies the brakes). He's a bit of an is200 guru and knows a lot haha. Went through what I'd done, and what I had and all checked out. Then he says "and you've definitely taken the feed from abs plug b pin 16".... Ermmmm no. I'm taking the feed for the Speedo from abs plug b pin 2.. that's what the instructions said with the phoenix wiring. And that's what my wiring diagram says??.. well it turns out because my car is a very early one, there's a few differences in the loom and pinouts to the later diagrams. And that's one of them FFS!
Ran a new wire to the new pin (after wasting a good few/several hours) connected it up behind the Speedo and prayed.. backed the car out took it down the road at work and to my utter amazement it only bloody works!!!! Jobs jobbed! Messaged my mate to let him know the good news, and messaged phoenix so he can amend instructions if it's an early car in the future..
With that hurdle overcome the dash could go back in. But not Monday. I'd had enough and called it a day.. I'd also not taken any pictures but all they would have been were me upside trying to read a multimeter and swearing a lot..
Tuesday came and full of joys from the day before's success decided to attempt to get the dash back in.. now it's sort of on the changeover between a "modern" car and being old enough to be a piece of wood with 4 self tappers holding it in.. so it's a pain but not impossible...
I remember when I removed it it was an absolute mare of a job, hidden clips, bolts and Christ knows what else.. I also remembered I had to drop the column. Well after quite a bit of faffing managed to get it sat roughly back in place.
Amazing how even tho it's clearly not finished it started to look more like a car again... Carried on for a good few hours and slowly my box of bolts screws clips and fittings nearly emptied. I mean it wouldn't be a project if you didn't have bits left
Carried on and after what seems like a lifetime were here. Dash and centre console back in. All controls buttons and thingymiwhatsits back in place. It's filthy, dash has been rattling round in garage for months, it was minging when it arrived with me and it's generally In need of a good fettle.. but it looks like a car again. And since I've managed to hide the ECU and that behind the fake glovebox. It looks just like an is200 with no extra wires or gauges or stuff.
With it all buttoned up took it for a bit of a drive. I had to nip to my dad's garage so figured id take it and see how it behaved. This would involve a run up the Sheffield parkway (which is a busy road at rush hour even in a "normal" car).. I prayed.... a lot... But I didn't need to. It behaved faultlessly, but now with the interior in, the gear stick surround in so the outside stays outside, and heaters that work it's actually a nice place to be again.. yeah the exhaust is a bit rowdy and the induction/turbo noise is insane. But as a car. It's fine.
And obviously whilst I was out and about I had to nip to one of my closed "private" roads. Just for science..
the combination of the new diff, the brakes that don't shake your face off. And the better tyres/wheel combo has transformed the way it drives.. the in gear acceleration in 4th from 50mph to (let's just say well into triple figures) is alarming. It just pulls and pulls and pulls and doesn't slow down. The acceleration is like nothing I've ever experienced with 4 wheels before.
Feeling pretty chuffed with my test. And the fact nothing had fallen off or cought fire I headed back to work. I meant to take some arty farty pics whilst I was out and about but didn't realise I'd been driving best part of an hour so called it a day. So youl have to make do with a couple of bad pics I took outside work. Complete with fresh muck on it to prove it works
Now tucked safely back away at work, I've now finally finished for Xmas but will probably go and collect it over my week off. Or I might leave it there and just enjoy a week with the Mrs and kids and lots of food/beer/chocolate/Xmas dinner/beer/sleep/chocolate in that order.. I'm actually going into work on the 28th to help/instruct/abuse my mate manual swap his ls400. We've got the day to do it assuming we're not in tier 17 by then and breathing out is banned and borris snipers you from a chopper if you try and leave your house
I've also realised now it actually all works. I've done the reverse of most people and "finished" my project car through the summer just in time for winter haha. But it will never be finished (clutch needs doing, arches need chopping, there's all the paintwork to do)... But all that can wait for now and I can enjoy it for a bit.
With what will probably be last update this year, least this side of crimble hope everyone has a good un. And keep going with the projects. This time last year I was sure it would never be done. But half hour here and an hour there (even if it's In the rain and dark) all add up eventually.
Cheers
the combination of the new diff, the brakes that don't shake your face off. And the better tyres/wheel combo has transformed the way it drives.. the in gear acceleration in 4th from 50mph to (let's just say well into triple figures) is alarming. It just pulls and pulls and pulls and doesn't slow down. The acceleration is like nothing I've ever experienced with 4 wheels before. 
