5 GT Turbo 11 years later silver bullet comes home

[Duncan Grier]

2.5hrs of garage fun can only mean one thing.......loads of pics & minimal progress

So got on with top wishbone positioning ready to get on with cutting etc......only to have a Houson moment.....

Now they were definitely level when I welded in the front bottom pickup so spent some time after double checking shell still level went through solutions, settled on shimmimg the rear subframe down by 4mm both sides and spot on. Having the front top wishbone pickup at correct postion meant this did not mean having to redo......

On reflection I can only assume with the subframe on and off mutliple times may have failed to tighten up the rear

Have lots of adjustment for caster, camber and height so feel no real harm done other than troubling my over active

So then got on with top wishbone and happy with initial test positioning. Decided want to do the other side front top wishbone mount before making permanent

This will just help me get another reference point that it true to avoid having wishbones on the wonk...

 

[Norwich Nick]

Liked for the progress and trouble shooting, glad it was an easy fix. If it’s been as hot there as it has here, you’re doing well to make any progress, I couldn’t engage my brain enough to figure out which way the hinges had to go on a door

 

[Duncan Grier]

So back on the 5 after work for a couple hours and bit of a clear up and got on with the notches on the other side. Got one done and just needs final dressing and take weld high spots down and made the other side but not time to weld in

Got a refurbished steering rack turning up tomorrow and see how I get on over the weekend

Separately have given up on a few of the original plans following working on that converting the dsg gearbox to 2wd, but also come up with a new plan to resolve and not accept the easy route of the lesser straight DG381 that comes in 2wd....considered even selling out and go 6 speed manual......but nahhhh in this deep now lol

Also some time on management options and reviewing Syvecs v any alternative ecu but atm they all seem to fall short with direct inject and dsg capabilities

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Fabulous work sir.

 

[Duncan Grier]

Your Saturday instalment

Refurbished steering rack arrived

So saved me one job off the long list

Got on today starting to make the last 2 wishbone pickups....plasma cutter got ill and needs new hose/gun so angle grinder action

Nothing exciting but good to have done amd always takes longer than you think

 

[Steve Swan]

Any bespoke build, better double the trouble, treble the cost and quadruple the time, then if it still seems viable go for it. We never learn do we....

 

[Duncan Grier]

Any bespoke build, better double the trouble, treble the cost and quadruple the time, then if it still seems viable go for it. We never learn do we....

Soooo much truth in that statement @Steve Swan and I have certainly never learned. Great at giving good advice, yet not quite worked out to take it yet

Who wants to do normal stuff anyway

 

[Steve Swan]

Life's too short to drive boring cars!!!!

 

[Duncan Grier]

Sunday double power hr....got top 2 pickup done and happy correct measurements and not going anywhere once welded to chassis and tied into roll cage etc

 

[andybond]

Did you even need the welder in the garage in todays heat?

 

[Duncan Grier]

Definitely on the toastie side today, rest of week only getting hotter so looking forward to that

Cold beers in garden v big sweat fest metal working in garage.....don't say I'm not there for you guys or dedicated to making this project happen

 

[Turbell]

Just caught up on this.......
Feck me ! You've got knackers like coconuts !

One thing tackling a shell in this shape, you put back what's gone or rotten , but to build this is monumental.

Hats off, and left off, in fact I thrown it away!

 

[Duncan Grier]

Thank you @Turbell and hope you enjoyed a nice brew while flicking through all my fun you missed

Knackers like coconuts more like hit on the head by one......

 

[andybond]

Knackers like coconuts more like hit on the head by one......

A knacker or coconut?

 

[Duncan Grier]

For avoidance of doubt.....coconut

 

[Duncan Grier]

Braved 30 plus deg temps for a couple hours full of enthusiasm held back from block paving yesterday and generally melting

Grand espace earning its keep for a trip to collect giving it the slammed look

Anyway back to the 5 and got in the garage and while measuring up for the o/s pickup something was not right...

....transpired I measured n/s off the square measure not the ruler line so about 10mm out DOH!

So smiled and accepted better now than geo time. Before cutting out to slide outwards thought just make the brace I planned to weld in anyway for some extra strength and should help speed up repositioning pickup. Bit of a funky shape and chassis rail is curved at top but it's almost there. Not picture but also made brace bar out of 25mm box to further help with getting both front top mounts as good as I can.....Next time gadget

 

[andybond]

Bugger on the measurement but best time to catch!

 

[Duncan Grier]

Bugger on the measurement but best time to catch!

Yep not ideal but ok with it, and on a build this big it is inevitable to do some reworkay some point

Annoyingly measurements spot on just used wrong reference point

 

[Duncan Grier]

Only had a power hour tonight but better than no hour

Decided not 100% happy with profile and after playing further was difficult to further fine shape all the smaller angles without impacting the others.....soooo just cut and will do in 2 parts, got ready to weld in after also part cutting the offending pickup out. Lick of weld thru primer and ready for welding next time.

 

[Duncan Grier]

Thursday night couple hours playtime after work

Not the prettiest thing, spot welds were all good, but even with a clean just don't seem to get on well with weld through primer (maybe try different brand) lots of hot, short bursts seemed best and solid, loads of penetration and once prepped and painted never see. Cut out pickup, cleaned up, gave a blast of primer for now and just like that playtime over