Willsy's AX GT 500. New owner has it up for sale 8/6/15 - Page 6 - Saxperience

saxostuart · 15th November 2010, 11:12

mmmm nice, just reading up there, you done well getin the money back on the scandal!

willsy · 15th November 2010, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxostuart

mmmm nice, just reading up there, you done well getin the money back on the scandal!

I did get quite alot back, really pleased to be fair.

Obviously nowhere near what i spent on it and the time and effort spent was immense, but im more than happy with it.

From doing much of it myself too ive learnt a hell of a lot

The shell has gone to a new home though so it will be back on the road

Jamie · 15th November 2010, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by willsy

Saxo was far too nice bodywork wise and had far too much money in it to abuse and risk throwing it about, something that i was always aware of.

Made just over £10k back from the Saxo, some of which has gone into a deposit for a brand new ibiza cupra which will be arriving next month (sensible, reliable car for commuting + ideal for potential future family use)

Some of it has also gone into savings for house deposit with the Mrs

And im left with about 2k to spend as a sensible starting budget for the AX.

Chose the AX because:

1. Always wanted one
2. No matter now much you strip a Saxo or 106 itll never come close to what i can achieve with the Ax
3. Its pre cat so no messing about with emissions anymore
4. Its not had 1,000's spent on bodywork and pretty bits like the Saxo so i wont be fannying around with it or worrying about stone chips etc
5. The simplicity of carbs takes my fancy, no emissions to worry about so couldnt care less about economy.

Having owned the Saxo for 6 years and spent stupid amounts of money just because i could, now, with all the people breaking good cars lately im pretty sure by using my head i can build a very good car for a very reasonable budget.

So now i have a car that i can happily throw around a track without a care in the world

A brand new car for daily use

And loads on my savings.

Id say its without a shadow of a doubt that its the right, and sensible choice

Well that clears that up then lol. (not that you have to justify yourself it's your money at the end of the day. (I was only curious because obviously you had a extreme spaxo)

Sounds like the smart decision, 10k.. jesus I remember when you were first selling and was looking for under 5k iirc... bet your glad you did split it!

willsy · 15th November 2010, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie

Well that clears that up then lol. (not that you have to justify yourself it's your money at the end of the day. (I was only curious because obviously you had a extreme spaxo)

Sounds like the smart decision, 10k.. jesus I remember when you were first selling and was looking for under 5k iirc... bet your glad you did split it!

Cheers mate, hopefully it all makes sense lol.

Definately the most financially wise decision, can definately see why so many people are breaking their projects rather than selling them on. Im glad i did.

willsy · 16th November 2010, 23:20

Here we go again, a bit of an update.

Ill just copy this direct from AXOC

Ive now removed the rear arches, rear bumper and rear half of the sideskirts to reveal the full extent of the rust

So from the pics its all looking a little shite, both with rust and what id class as very sub standard repairs to the rear panel where the bumper mounts to.

Now this rust isnt a problem, the problem is that nowhere sells replacement panels it seems for the rear GT type rear quarter to allow the arch and skirt to clip on, however plenty of places do for the base model type rear quarter.

So at this stage unless anyone knows of somewhere that sells a GT arch replacement im going to have to go down the improvising route with the base model panel.

Ive purchased this to give me an idea

This panel is £35 inc VAT and will happily repair all of the rust and the shoddy rear repair, the equivalent panel will also just about cover all of the rust on the passenger side too.

Of course the bottom of the arch can be cut to the GT shape with ease BUT the issue then comes with the lack of the additional lip which houses the clips used to fix the GT kit into place.

Again an alternative can be offered by bonding 4 Saxo sideskirt clips onto the rear quarter, which sits at the same 'offset' as the original clips would and should still allow correct fitting of the GT kit/arch piece.

Hopefully that makes sense, its looking like the best option so far.

A positive from today is the replacement panel costing £35 covers all the major rust that i have from the rear arch so £70 for both sides is certainly much better than the £101 for each of the larger panels .

Ive been quoted £200 to have all the old bits cut out, new bits welded in place and sprayed so im more than happy with that result.

saxostuart · 17th November 2010, 15:09

200 quid is cheap for 2 quarters and paint........too cheap lol, take it you know the bodyworker/painter?

willsy · 17th November 2010, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxostuart

200 quid is cheap for 2 quarters and paint........too cheap lol, take it you know the bodyworker/painter?

Yeah I know him

AndySAXO^p · 17th November 2010, 18:37

Looking good, when do you plan to get this on the track?

willsy · 17th November 2010, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndySAXO

Looking good, when do you plan to get this on the track?

Pending funds i aim to have it road worthy and MOT'd by March, wont be anything special still of course but should hopefully be reasonable enough and be reliable to do a day during March, Josh mentioned that hes trying/hoping to look into a day or two Feb/March time so will see how things progress, even if i get half a day session in ill be happy by that point.

ClaireHall · 17th November 2010, 20:42

Good project car willsy, will keep an eye out on this thead

PJN · 24th November 2010, 14:33

Looks like a nice base to start with, You'll be hoofing it round a track in no time ;D

unreal106 · 24th November 2010, 16:57

nice progress mat get it sorted and out there!!!!!!!!!!!

willsy · 24th November 2010, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by unreal106

nice progress mat get it sorted and out there!!!!!!!!!!!

Managed to get a bit more done the other day, most of it is all boring stuff not really worthy of progress pics.

One thing that i have currently got on the GT is a mechanical fuel pump, and with the old run about 1.1i being scrapped ive taken the tank out of that along with wiring and fuel lines and of course the electrical pump so i should be able to covert that ok hopefully.

The Ax has a smaller tank than the Saxo/106 too so thats pleasing on the weight side of things.

willsy · 22nd January 2011, 14:20

Saturday 22nd January 2011

Righty, i havn't updated this on here in a while but i have kept it up to date on AXOC.

Ive managed to source quite a few very good parts at very very good prices of late. All of which ive kept an eye out whilst working on the shell:

I still kept a pair of struts which i had powder coated with new hubs and bearings for the Saxo, the intention was to use these with coilovers if any came up.

Hello AST's

Finally got hold of some of these thanks to WIDE-VTR-TURBO for an absolute bargain price, literally look brand new having only been fitted to his struts and not actually seen the road

Also ive been well aware that decent exhaust systems for the AX are now rare as fook with only silly sized Ashley systems available.

So couldn't miss out having spotted an OMP system for sale, brand new from an old stock supply. Absolute bargain at £130

Again another brilliant find. There doesnt seem to be many AX specific cages knocking about nowadays. OMP one is apparently a poor fit on the AX, and the Sparco one is hhugely basic.

Safety Devices one being the best one off the shelf (without going custom etc etc) is no longer available, I have however managed to get my hands on one of those too

Its a bolt in but will cater for my needs anyway, I will seek to add to it with a harness bar though in due course

Bought my slimline fan back off Lee when he broke his Rallye for parts

[/img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/Willsy86/newbits004.jpg[/img]

Also bought Lee's B&M off him. And purchased some Polyrace front wishbone bushes

Saxo wishbones from Lee's newly acquired VTR. Old Mk1 GT wishbone on the pic also for comparison

And lastly for now ive snapped up the VTR disk rear beam from Lee aswel.

Thats my current parts list update anyway. Ill create an additional post in a minute with updates on the shell itself

willsy · 22nd January 2011, 14:52

Saturday 22nd January - Update 2

Right with the current parts list up to date ill update on the shell itself.

Most of the work over the last month or so has been fairly slow, ive not spent a great deal of time at the garage working on it, and when i have its been mostly a continuation of cleaning it up fully and preparing it for welding work

Ive started on the front end, having noticed that one of the 17 previous owners had applied copious amounts of waxoyl underseal on the front arches.

Its took hours to get it all off and ive ploughed through a can of brake and clutch cleaner which seemed to be the best stuff to shift it.

Before:

After.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/Willsy86/Ax%20GT%20500/ax02012011001.jpg[img]

The underside is coming up very clean though which is a surprise

Theres still a bit more to do on the front end, but hopefully over this weekend i should have the rest of the underside cleaned up as best as possible. Then crack on with the actual welding prep.

AndySAXO^p · 22nd January 2011, 15:01

Like it, AST group

, what spring rating are they?

willsy · 22nd January 2011, 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndySAXO

Like it, AST group

, what spring rating are they?

he thinks he got the fast road ones which are 175lb ish? Ill swap those for the track 250lb ones though

rushy_23 · 22nd January 2011, 15:37

Rust looks really bad Matt! Once its all welded up do you plan to have much respraying done?

AST's are a nice find

Better suspension than on your Saxo IIRC? Next thing we will see is Dave's engine whacked in the bay!

willsy · 22nd January 2011, 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by rushy_23

Rust looks really bad Matt! Once its all welded up do you plan to have much respraying done?

AST's are a nice find

Better suspension than on your Saxo IIRC? Next thing we will see is Dave's engine whacked in the bay!

Yeah theres plenty to be patched up but still nothing serious and most shouldnt even be seen when the GT kit back on etc etc

The only bits that will be resprayed are the rear quarter panels. Going to replace the whole panel and get it resprayed as oddly it works out cheaper to do just drill out the spot welds and pop the old one off than it will from fitting in and patching up the replacement sections that id bought previously (labour costs will be 2x cost of complete new panel but all the fannying about theyd have to do)

Makes more sense to do it that way + im not in any particular rush

Yep AST's are better front suspension than the Saxo had. I did order some for the Saxo however after a 2 month wait without them showing up plus a decision to break the Saxo during that time I just got a refund - so massively pleased that these AST's have come up

Wont be considering the engine for a while, initially ill still give the existing one a service and use it for a while but over the longer term i do intend to stay on an 8v engine whether it be 1.4 or VTR engine remaining on a carb setup

willsy · 22nd January 2011, 15:49

Bits such as arches, interior, underside, engine bay ill spray myself anyway