Willsy's 309 GTi - Latest update 04/09/2018 - Page 17 - Saxperience

willsy · 2nd April 2015, 17:47

New suspension is taking shape nicely. I didn't want to modify the car in any way but out of necessity I've have done slightly in the interests of better quality parts.

I couldn't find any original genuine dampers and most aftermarket OE replacements now seem to be mostly cheap unknown makes. So I've opted for Bilstein B4's which are 20% increase on standard damping rates & importantly other than the Bilstein sticker appear 'stock'

Same scenario with the springs, after recommendation I've gone for the Eibach Pro springs which have a subtle 20-30mm drop allegedly. And as before they're black to appear 'stock' other than an Eibach stamp on the rear of one of the coils.

Also managed to get a complete Genuine new old stock top mount assembly & bearing. I just need some new dust covers and bump stops now then they'll be complete to mate up with the hub section

Mickswan · 2nd April 2015, 18:33

This car is the biggest cock tease

willsy · 7th April 2015, 19:35

I've almost finished the process of gathering and refurbing bits of the front suspension. The subframe and ARB went to the powder coaters this afternoon. I spent some time prepping the subframe first, the production process doesn't seem to care too much for a tidy finish so I've flatted down all of the stray weld spatter and rounded the edges on some of the harsher corners of the individual parts.

I've been to Peugeot & ordered a complete set of replacement fittings.

I've also sent off a V888 Request for vehicle information to DVLA, hopefully they'll be able to provide me with some bits & bobs to replenish the lost history for the car and old MOT's as I still don't know when it was last 'on the road'

iSlayeR · 7th April 2015, 20:17

Really like reading this thread! I love your work

willsy · 8th April 2015, 19:42

Nice freshly refurbished steering wheel to add to my ever growing 'to fit' list.

chinkostu · 9th April 2015, 06:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by willsy

Nice freshly refurbished steering wheel to add to my ever growing 'to fit' list.

is it your own wheel refurbed or an ebay/your magic contacts find? as it looks mint

the welding splatter, is that on the subframe?

willsy · 17th April 2015, 17:24

Yes the weld spatter was on the subframe, apparently having asked 205/309 owners the spatter was on all of them, seems Peugeot weren't too bothered about cosmetic appearance on the subframes

The steering wheel isn't my original, a leather restorer was selling one that he'd done already. So the original ones now spare.

More bits back from being powder coated.

No more crappy welding spatter spots

Also got my original front bumper mounting leafs coated as the new ones that I got re coated vary slightly

Mickswan · 17th April 2015, 19:00

All in the detail

deano_123 · 20th April 2015, 06:08

I know its a Goodwood but this is apparently concourse and warranting 10 grand, if the level of detail and finish of yours so far is continued then it completely blows the Goodwood apart

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2914330375...671&rmvSB=true

chinkostu · 21st April 2015, 12:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by deano_123

I know its a Goodwood but this is apparently concourse and warranting 10 grand, if the level of detail and finish of yours so far is continued then it completely blows the Goodwood apart

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2914330375...671&rmvSB=true

The goodwood is rarer however

This car gives me a proper stiffy. Need to have a real gander at the underside of my Xant as it's had a liberal coating of LHM and diesel from perished pipes

willsy · 21st April 2015, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinkostu

The goodwood is rarer however

It's a shame 'how many left' doesn't distinguish between Phase 1 and Phase 2 GTi's as I rekon the Phase 1's would be close, if not have the edge over the Goodwood in the rarity stakes. Not many left of either though sadly.

I know a good recipe for success to use on your Xant if you have the time/patience for it :-) toothbrush and Autosmart Tardis really has worked wonders

holdawayt · 22nd April 2015, 09:22

How many left is wholly inaccurate bud, there have been member's clubs with more cars on their show stands than should even exist lol

chinkostu · 22nd April 2015, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by holdawayt

How many left is wholly inaccurate bud, there have been member's clubs with more cars on their show stands than should even exist lol

Depends on how they've been marked on the reg docs. Misspellings and missing/added trims soon bump up numbers.

Willsy it's more the space than anything. From the looks of it, might be off the road for a few weeks soon so can easily get it on ramps and get underneath it! Plus the fact it's a daily means it will get dirty fast.

willsy · 30th April 2015, 15:08

More goodies arriving from Peugeot. Half of the order towards completing the nut/bolt rebuild of the front suspension

Off with the old spring/damper assembly

Still waiting for a few bits to arrive but to keep the garage tidy-ish I popped the new ones back on for a photo after cleaning the remainder of the arch

chinkostu · 2nd May 2015, 14:42

This is looking really tidy!

willsy · 4th May 2015, 19:51

Just waiting for the last few bits to arrive for the suspension. I've decided to replace the clutch aswel whilst everything's off, seems like a good idea to do it now.

I have been tending to the strut tops aswel, as is common between the inner turret and the top mount which is metal on these there was some surface rust that was beginning. This looks worse with the rusty metal from the old top mount fusing with the inner turret. Apparently it's not uncommon for rust here to be terminal. Fortunately mines at very early stages so there's no problem treating it properly and getting it back as it should have originally been. I've wire brushed (drill attachments) as much as I could then I've been applying some rust removal gel to get all the last bits off. One more application of that should complete it then I'll apply the necessary layers of paint etc.

Only started the drivers side so far

Old suspensions had it's day

New assembly

And after lying on the floor under the car got a bit much for the day I spent some time getting this up to scratch which was a bit more leisurely. From this

To this

Scott^p · 4th May 2015, 20:26

Seriously. Best thread ever.

willsy · 7th May 2015, 22:38

I've had my reply from the DVLA today after my submission of a V888 request for vehicle information form.
I informed DVLA that I was seeking copies of any documents held from first registration, and for any information surrounding it's use on the road, when it was last officially 'on the road' due to a previous owner losing everything. I hoped I might find some clues from old MOT information as to what caused it to become condemned to a long stretch of neglect prior to my purchase of it.

I now have copies of the first certificate of registration, all subsequent V5 documents. The first of which confirms what I'd been told, in that my GTi was first registered as a demo car for Renwicks, (what was a main Peugeot dealership in Exeter) for 7 months. It then stayed with keeper 2 from 1990 until 2012. Keeper 3 had it for 2 years & did bugger all with it, it was one of several restoration projects that the guy had bought but hadn't got around to starting. Then I became keeper 4 in 2014.

Sadly with the introduction of the computerised system of MOT's not beginning until 2005 they were unable to send me any old MOT information or copies of old certificates. They havn't confirmed exactly when it last had an MOT on it. Excise licence data gives a clue perhaps in that it was last taxed up until 31/05/2005- it has been SORN since then so it has almost spent 10 years off the road.

Hopefully it'll return to an 'on the road' status pretty soon.

willsy · 8th May 2015, 21:57

Been sorting out my folder of documents this evening for the GTi. Considering I started my ownership with nothing more than a V5C I've managed to gather some of the old history thanks to DVLA, and with parts purchased and replaced in the last 12 months is well on the way to filling a large folder already.

I've also got a separate folder whereby I've printed off all the relevant diagrams and parts list/prices from service box. I've colour coded the highlighting based on new genuine, new other, refurbished, mint original so that I can fully document the restoration as much as possible

Steve_GTI · 9th May 2015, 11:46

So much love for the 309 GTI. Its going to be one of the best around when its complete