So D day.. did I get the Choo Choo car back together. Will I have an angry 2 year old that I've had to disappoint since I promised I'd bring it home... Read on haha.
Before we start il warn anyone who likes pictures not words, this update won't be for you.. work went basically wrong this morning and I didn't get to touch it til much later than I'd have liked.. so my usual out of focus badly taken pictures are even scarser than usual..
First job, refill the cooling system run it up to temp and then check it for leaks.. so far.. so good
next job refit the Intercooler and pipe work. Sounds easy doesn't it.. except. It's all that tight (this engine and car combination really wasn't meant to be turbod haha).. everything only has exactly one spot it will fit.. and now..it doesn't.
Long and short of it the turbo has landed slightly different position to where it was. The boost pipes for the drivers side wouldn't reach the turbo anymore, they were all previously cut down to exact right length for old set up. Quite a bit of faffing later and using some of the passenger boost pipes for drivers side and vice versa, along with some spare bits and clocking the turbo.. I've got something that will work.
Then it was just a case of reconnect all the pipes that were previously off, refit airfilter, washer bottle, expansion tank. All the bits that fill the last few bits of remaining space up.. came to refit the front bumper and the boost pipes are in a slightly different place to were they were before. So the fit of the bumper is maybe worse than it was before. By this point tho my boss was wanting to go home so if I'd taken the bumper back off it would have had to stay at work all weekend. It's a job I can look at next week. Cus it's a 2 man job to get it on and off
Back on the floor finally.. genuinely think I've done more work on it this last month than in the initial 18 month build
certainly filthy and certainly looking a bit sorry for itself.
Decision was made. I was taking it home. Gathered a selection of tools up few spare bits oil/water/gaffer tape haha. And reversed it out.. now at this point I'd not even had it in gear so was apprehensive at best.. I know it should all work but would it..
Never doubted a thing
So would it make the arduous 15 mile journey.. would it all work. Would I be stranded waiting for my non existent breakdown cover to come and attempt to fix it? Would I even have 6gears since I've never driven the car with that gearbox in haha.
Perhaps I should stop doubting my inability cus yes.... It all works.. perfectly!! Better than that infact..
Not sure if it's the new manifolds, the better downpipe or a combination of all 3 but its more responsive (both driving and just free revving). It's on boost sooner and harder! (Which may not be a good thing) haha
The steering is lovely,it's planted yet light enough I can spin it with palm of my hand (handy for parking and correcting the massive slides haha).
The gearbox, feels smoother and there's zero whine! It's completely silent! Just shows how "bad" the old box was..
Now I'm not running 40 psi in front tyres (to try and help with the lack of power steering) it feels more planted. Like I could genuinely kick its head in on a windy backroad/track and it go where I sort of ask..
And the alternator, not summat you notice while driving obviously, but with the spare amperage I can have heaters, lights, blower, windows and music on and not worry about running out of juice! (Obviously also made the epas possible!)
Called in petrol station on way home for two reasons, one since id literally not driven it and wanted to give it a quick once over under bonnet.. and two because it was disgustingly filthy and it doesn't deserve that haha... For the detailers out there don't worry I only used the brush on the wheels haha.
Pleased to report all appeared happy with no leaks puddles or calamites...
So finally back home ready for the long weekend. And I'm ready to not touch it for a day or 2 haha. It's definitely not been a straightforward few weeks
However this isn't where the story ends... I may have done a very small burnout on a "closed private road" on way home (it was terrible tbh definitely not my best work)
but I'm not sure it's for the public domain especially since mid video my face is on it haha. Like I say, closed private road, but there's Karen's everywhere waiting for there opportunity to pounce haha.. maybe I will maybe I won't..
Anyways that's it for now.. now it's "done" I've obviously got a list to start next week on it haha. But nothing that's going to keep it off the road for weeks on end (starting with a stick on numberplate hahaha)
Thanks for sticking with it
Cheers
this came back to bite me in the ar5e, they were genuinely like trying to weld pop cans! In hindsight I should have returned them and spent a bit more.. but hey ho...
(it was only tacked at this point)..
.. in the end I settled on ATF (as per orginal for the rack)... Because..... There's plenty of drifters use the Astra pumps with ATF in, and spend all day running lock to lock.. the pump is a bazillion percent easier to replace than the rack.. and although I have a spare rack. I've no idea if it's any good. Oh and we had some ATF 
next job refit the Intercooler and pipe work. Sounds easy doesn't it.. except. It's all that tight (this engine and car combination really wasn't meant to be turbod haha).. everything only has exactly one spot it will fit.. and now..it doesn't.
