My latest VTS project! Now with added video

[Matt_16v]

Well I swapped my Vectra SRi V6 for this as it drained my money. The Vectra was worth more in money, but this is worth more in smiles per miles which is what really counts

So it has scratches and scrapes...but I didn't get the car for looks, I got it for its track potential.

These are the pics the seller sent me before i picked it up. Not taken anymore of the outside yet as it looks the same...only a little higher






Things started off bad, I knew part of the linkage needed replacing so got that done straight away. What i wasn't expecting before that was the radiator to split. Bad times. So, I purchased a nice new Nissens rad, and after 45 mins the rads were swapped and it was purring beautifully again. Result.

Last weekend was time to lighten it...a bit. Here's how it started out:

1 dirty, smelly interior


Steering wheel and centre console removed


Dash finally out, after a struggle with 2 bolts :rant:


Sound deadning removed, wiring temporary tidied and all put back together


What a difference! Can't actually believe how different the car drives, the pick-up is unreal!

Need to chop the loom and remove unused wiring, and when I'm hardcore enough....the heater and matrix will come out! The clocks have been fitted since that pic was taken.

Plans, apart from finish and paint interior are; Kam racing exhaust system, or maybe Magnaflow. Sort out air filter. 283mm brake conversion and braided lines. Sort out suspension...currently on the rear have 1 old Spax damper and 1 standard. Sort out the small bits of rust. Then cams and remap!

[Matt_16v]

Bit of an update yesterday....

Was going to have my 283mm brakes fitted monday, but I got impatient so decided to get them fitted yesterday. Fitted braided lines to the front as well, bled them up but still have quite a long pedal so think I may need the master cylinder Will see how it goes over the next week as I bed the brakes in.

Only got a couple of pics so here we go...





The new calipers made my old ones look like rears they are that big....awesome!

[Matt_16v]

Ok, so a bit more progress today.

After wandering all week if I'd fuck anything up by removing wiring I'm no longer using, I decided there was only one way to find out....

It still works which is a good start!

While everything was loose I thought I'd clean the interior so a bucket with hot water and disinfectant and all the metal work got a good clean...it was filthy!!

Here's a couple of pics:

Wiring unclipped


Alarm wiring removed from pillar


Aerial wiring removed from pillar along with alarm wiring


All back together, and remounted clocks in middle of car, which I think is much better


Another shot to show clocks from boot


Still only temporary as I really need to get my arse into gear and take wiring loom to bits and remove un wanted stuff properly. Also need to fabricate a proper mount for the clocks and have them slightly facing me.

Been a good day in the sun also tidied and removed unused boot wiring. Free mods are the best ones!!

Tomorrow oil leak will be sorted hopefully then will be onto sorting suspension and exhaust!

[Rob-6]

looks good not sure on the clocks in the middle though. might look better if mounted pointing at you slightly like you mentioned doing.

[mardiGRANT]

cool car, quick question ive trial fitted some 283mm callipers on mine and i have speedlines buti have way more clearance, what make are your callipers? Mine are lucas?

[Matt_16v]

mine are the bosch ones bud.

[Gaz_5103]

how will the windscreen clearing work without the heaters pointed at it? out of interest?

[Lippy]

fair effort for doing this yourself bud! you should get it weighed when its all done just to see how much weight you have lost!
Im gonna get mine weighed soon as I wanna know how much ive gained :/ lol

Good luck with the wiring loom!

[mardiGRANT]

Originally Posted by Matt_16v

mine are the bosch ones bud.


CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A MAGNEX SYSTEM ANYONE SELLING ONE PM ME, AS I CANNOT VIEW FOR SALE FORUMS YET

Thanks

[joe333]

looking good!!!

[Matt_16v]

Originally Posted by Lippy

fair effort for doing this yourself bud! you should get it weighed when its all done just to see how much weight you have lost!
Im gonna get mine weighed soon as I wanna know how much ive gained :/ lol

Good luck with the wiring loom!

Cheers mate, I want it as light as possible. Will remove the heater completely later on in the summer and hardwire a 12v heater in just to clear the screen and provide a tiny bit of warmth in the winter months.

I'd like to get a set of poly carbs with slider so I can ditch the heavy window and mechanism.

I also need a standard grille, an early one preferbly. But I really do need a Magnex lol!

[Matt_16v]

for some reason i have lost my digital clock now i have moved the instrument cluster lol. no idea why as nothing has changed clock wiring wise.

[Matt_16v]

Now have a leaky sunroof! black silicone shall make an appearance me thinks!

[Matt_16v]

This morning I had a Magnex back box fitted along with decat and straight through centre section. Need to sort out rear suspension and n/s/f lower arm. Then can start looking at manifolds and cams. Need to sort out the intake as a previous owner put some filter on it at the back of the engine bay...not good.

here's a couple of pics of my exhaust:





And one from last weekend when I washed it:



Will take some more pics after I've cleaned it up, but my sunroof has decided to open itself and as I don't have any way of opening or closing it I have no idea how to shut it again?

[Matt_16v]

fixed the sunroof with gaffa tape, and the aerial snapped off which was good as it wouldnt twist off the other week, so put some tape over that. pissed it down with rain this afternoon and i stayed dry....result. obviously if my car was done for looks i wouldnt have used gaffa tape, but then it would have also had an interior and be sat on its arse

had a mate record a cheeky video of my exhaust and the pop it makes on gearchange, chuffed isnt the word!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNOrkqPb7aY

enjoy!

[ahoward87]

nice pop!!!!! sounds quality