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Project Mint

22K views 115 replies 21 participants last post by  DeathFromAbove 
#1 ·
I've decided to create a thread to keep track of my project car: Gloria.

It will not be any spectacular or full of wonders: essentially it will be a diary.

I'v moved away from the decision of selling, and decided to invest to try make the car mint.

I'll start with a list of jobs I want to do:

=== CAN DO MYSELF WORK ===

* Passenger water ingress fix from window. I've spent lot of time on this, still lots of water ingress.
* Refurbish anti-roll bars & new droplinks (the new ones are already goner).
* EPAS is steering on the left. Recenter it.
* Proper bleeding of the clutch. Already changed master/slave cylinder and rose joints crank bell.
* Change accelerator cable
* Brake lines replacement
* Front brakes upgrade (4 pot) - I feel the car really not braking enough.
* Fit low level warning for expansion tank
* Interior carpet replacement
* Fitting of MS Slickshift
* Rear hood seal
* Change rear brake hoses
*


=== COULD DO MYSELF WORK ===

* TF steering rack fitting
* Engine oil leak fix ..... I think is from the oil sump. If leaks for oil filter or dipstick gasket.


=== CAN T DO MYSELF WORK ===

* Piston liner change. At least one liner is indented (because I've seen it).
* Check all engine oil seals (third time someone opened my engine, I prefer to have a damn whole check).
* Change belts and water pump. (3 years old now, and can't bother to spend other 400£ in a year).
* Subframe refurbishment
* Wishbone replacement with polybushes
* SS solid subframe mounts
* Refurbish rear track end, and polybushes.
* Alloy refurbish
 
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#2 · (Edited)
ARB droplinks!

About an year about I've bought some "uprated" droplinks from MGMania LTD.

SS they said.
Uprated they said.

The reality is this:



Aside the rust, SS has always been questioned for not being strong enough for these kind of parts.

I've decided to got for finding a solution myself with:

High quality, high strength rose joints Female

High quality, high strength rose joints Female male

Proper boots protections


I was thinking on how to solve the rust problem along strength issues... since I'm getting sinister cracking and squeaking noises from front suspensions.

I come to one conclusion: titanium.

Also Titanium seems quite inert, and seems not to react with most other metals around, especially SS.

Titanium bolts & nuts!

I weighted Titanium bolts vs original bolts:
M10 x 55mm Flange bolt MG original: 39 grams
M10 x 60mm Flange bolt Titanium: 21 grams

I'm using Mike Satur SS bolts, but I want to change to titanium. This will solve any strength issues.
Anyone knows the dimension of the lower mount for MGF dampers (I don't have a caliber and I would avoid removing the wheels)?
 
#3 ·
Good luck with your project DFA, I wish you well.
 
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#4 ·
Good luck with the project. Looking at the corrosion on the suspension and fasteners, none of it is stainless steel (to any reasonable spec). Shocking if that is a year old up-rated example. TBH I would not bother with titanium, it's expensive and usually used for top spec e.g. aerospace applications. I'd spend my money on cleaning up and treating/ coating what I've got, and getting good quality proven replacement parts.
 
#8 ·
So, time for an update.

My MOT failed on CO emissions.
Max limit is 300mg, my MGF read 600.


Most probable culprit MS Sport Cat.

Any easy way of solving this short of swapping the Cat?

* I'll have a few days with Redex or some additives

Other suggestions?


Brakes update:
I've won a 4 pot caliper bid for NOS. THey are shipped.
I'll post some picture of the final object once received.
 
#11 ·
Regarding the emissions, if you haven't done already, take the car for a good blast before going to the station....get the cat good and hot. Also, ask the tester not to over-rev the engine as this also does not help. I actually have to put my hand over the left tail pipe when I MOT mine - does the trick and the tester is okay with this approach.....anything for a pass, eh?

If all else fails, you could always donate the poor moggy (cat) to me as I support the RSPCA :wink:
 
#12 ·
Thanks Stevie for suggestions, and I'll think about the donation ;)

Meanwhile, Mike sent me his replay (that I appreciate):

=====================
The sports cat will pass a MOT no problem 100% sounds as though there is a fuelling issue probably caused by a sensor whichmayalso have fouled the lambda. Only way is to have it checked with disgnostics.
=========================

How can I do it?
 
#14 ·
As above, get the sports cat nice and hot.

Titanium is probably overkill. Problem which uprating suspension components is there will still be a weak point. So that pot hole you hit which would have snapped a normal bolt on the drop link instead now transfers the force down the line to another component...
 
#21 · (Edited)
So... a productive weekend.

Jobs done:
* O/S window was clanking and emitting ironish sounds over bumpers. A bit of fire resistant padding and is as solid as a rock.

* Fixed the central vent from coming out ... again, a bit of fire resistant padding and is now rock solid, but I can still pull it out.

* Assembled new droplinks and changed front ones. The old ones where so rusty already...
New ones are high quality, high tension steel, covered in nylon boots and with titanium Gr5 bolts and nuts.
Even the locking nut of the joints is titaniumm

20170902_130938_HDR

20170902_130910_HDR

IMG-20170902-WA0002

IMG-20170902-WA0004


Bonus: video of me cutting the bolts to correct length:

VID-20170902-WA0003
 
#24 ·
Cheers Adam. I m more than sure that you l get there and will show us yours ;)


I ve also redone the MOT emissions test...

What I ve done before:
* Full tank of BP Ultimate + lot of redex
* Spent more than half tank on highway
* Have a good race for about 30m kust before the test

And... CO2 250mg! Pass!

The guy then decided to test the other pipe, for his amusement, and CO2 was again 600mg!

So yes!
Mike Sautr sport cats pass the MOT no problems!

Thanks all for advices and help me :)
 
#28 ·
Your suspension looks a bit high DFA - I like the amber halo's though.
 
#31 ·
I guess because has been on the bridge for a while and just moved down.

It took a bit to settle down.

On my list there is already the conversion to MS springs, and forget about hydragas.

Question: correct bolt size for fixing the caliper to hub?
I don t want to buy the kit on ebay, as sourcing my own titanium version.
 
#33 ·
They only have a facebook page.
Rick, the person that does this, is a very nice guy.

Send him a message on facebook and agree on what you want.

They can cost quite a bit, though.
Depeding on what you want, fittage include, you can reach 400£, exchanging your old headlights.
 
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