....to the vee! 
Well, it's been a costly couple of months what with the cambelt, service and MOT but......managed to get a few more things done that I've wanted to do for ages now – as I'm keeping the Vee forever!! Plus, I've not had chance to do any write ups (sorry Mossy
) so heres the full details. Things have been progressing well over the past few months. Hope you enjoy reading and don't find it too boring!
I'd been looking for a decent set of recaros for some time now (well a few years to be precise and either not had the money or decided against them). Finally, took the plunge and jumped at the chance to get some full leather recaros out of a megane R26 lux off ebay for a bargin price! Bit dodgy as had to drive to Birmingham to collect where I met the 2 lads in a car park just off M6. They pulled up in a white Astra van and we exchanged! Sure onloookers thought a drug deal was going down! I also got the full rears and recaro subframes (so hopefully get some cash back off Ebay now with these). Seats needed a good clean up but were pretty good condition. Used Autoglymn leather cleaner then leather balm - which brought them up a treat and really freshened up the leather. Not sure what the Megs leather stuff is like but would defo recommend the AG cleaners (3 for 2 at Halfrauds which wasn't too bad)!
Bought some genuine recaro subframes from Capital Seating who were very helpful and some resistors from maplin at 15p each. Seats took about 3 hrs to fit. Didn't remove undertray simply lifted centre console, as per Captains instructions to get to the pretentioners then could undo seat bolts. Managed then to fit Jamies with this method in a couple of hours.
WOW what a difference now with them. Really smarten up the interior. Feel nice to sit in and hold you alot better in place then the standard seats. Can't believe I didn't fit these earlier! Sit slightly lower than the standard seats which was also nice.
Next up was the exhaust. My weekend camping trip to France last month took me past the Orbisoud Factory, much to Kats delight! So returned and promptly fitted the exhaust which replaced my Quicksilver OMG. Went on fairly easily with the bumper off. Started it up (sorry no vids yet but will get some) and what an amazing noise compared to the quicksilver. could describe it as being alot 'rawer' and barks when the accelerator is touched. Not boomy in the cabin either like the quicksilver box. Quality of work was top notch. Definately worth the money. Tried both plastic rear bumper grills out but put them back in the other day as prefer mk2 look with them in. Didn't use original screws as a right pain to get back in with bumper on - instead have replaced these with some picture hooks from BandQ which can be twisted in and out allowing quick removal of the rear grill for easier access.
Then finally, came the de-cats which I won from a former club member (alex) off Ebay. Thought it would be a shame to have the orbisoud with the normal downpipes still fitted and was dieing to hear what the V6 engine note would sound like so decided again to take the plunge and give it a go. Alex was tremendously helpful with all his advice about fitting them. (He managed it in 6 hours....took me 12 and a bit but took my time and percevered with the job over last weekend). Finished it with less skin on my hands and arms, a few new scars and sever neck an back ache but hey all part of Vee ownership!!
Firstly removed all the top covers to get at the manifold heat sheilds, as these need to be removed to gain access to the top bolts of the down pipes. Soaked the bolts on these for a couple of nights in WD40 which seem to do the trick when removing them with a ratchet and long extension arm. Not much room to work which made things quite tricky!
Next job was to get the car up on ramps (couldn't quite manage all the way up with the splitter on but managed to get pretty good clearance). Undertray then removed and then thought I had an oil leak but it was all the WD40 left over! Phew!
From underneath could see all the pipe work pretty clearly and next job was to remove the 3 bolts from each down pipe which hold them on to the manofold pipes. These weren't quite as easy as removing the covers. Guess the high temps had seized the blots so they took a fair bit of elbow greese and effort but in the end released ok and we were in business. Both pipes released from manifold!
Next job was to take off the bolts which attach the down pipes to the collector box - again these had seize pretty badly but got them off ok eventually with the ratchet and extension bar.
Voila! Both downpipes and cats free and moving around! However, what a blooming job removing both pipes! Long pipes was first. It was a case of removing bolts from the oil pipes nr the oil filter, then twisting the pipes down (removing heat sheilds with bolts that humans cannot possibly have fitted!!) it eventually slide to one side nr the gearbox and then down. Then the pipe nr the exhaust could be released (again removing the heat sheild in order to create more room to move) then both pipes were free! This is what took the majority of the time i think!
Next up was re-fitting the new de-cat pipes. By this time my mate I had roped in to helping me for the day needed to go home and it was getting dark, beginning to rain and I wondered exactely what I had taken on!! Pipes went on pretty easily and basically reverse of taking the ones off from the above. Then got all bolts in place and tighted everything back up together - got some exhaust paste from Halfords and put this between joints along with gaskets just to make sure everything was sealed ok. Took abit of work getting one end onto the collector box and then onto the manifold down pipe bit - Think this is because I was on my own
with 2 people doing it it would have been a hell of alot easier! Then connected Lambda sensors (2 of them not 4) back up and cable tied them to other pipes to make sure they don't catch on anything.
Started up and what a noise (engine light now on)! Lovely burble on tick over. Managed to take it out on Fri for a spin as weather was nice and went through a small tunnel! Sounded like a lambo! Awesome! Really pleased with how the Vee sounds now. Snap, Crackle and Pop!!
Hope you enjoyed reading.
Not got anything else planned as I think I have got my Vee just exactely how I want it now!
Happy Days!!! Can't wait for journey to FCS!

Well, it's been a costly couple of months what with the cambelt, service and MOT but......managed to get a few more things done that I've wanted to do for ages now – as I'm keeping the Vee forever!! Plus, I've not had chance to do any write ups (sorry Mossy

I'd been looking for a decent set of recaros for some time now (well a few years to be precise and either not had the money or decided against them). Finally, took the plunge and jumped at the chance to get some full leather recaros out of a megane R26 lux off ebay for a bargin price! Bit dodgy as had to drive to Birmingham to collect where I met the 2 lads in a car park just off M6. They pulled up in a white Astra van and we exchanged! Sure onloookers thought a drug deal was going down! I also got the full rears and recaro subframes (so hopefully get some cash back off Ebay now with these). Seats needed a good clean up but were pretty good condition. Used Autoglymn leather cleaner then leather balm - which brought them up a treat and really freshened up the leather. Not sure what the Megs leather stuff is like but would defo recommend the AG cleaners (3 for 2 at Halfrauds which wasn't too bad)!
Bought some genuine recaro subframes from Capital Seating who were very helpful and some resistors from maplin at 15p each. Seats took about 3 hrs to fit. Didn't remove undertray simply lifted centre console, as per Captains instructions to get to the pretentioners then could undo seat bolts. Managed then to fit Jamies with this method in a couple of hours.
WOW what a difference now with them. Really smarten up the interior. Feel nice to sit in and hold you alot better in place then the standard seats. Can't believe I didn't fit these earlier! Sit slightly lower than the standard seats which was also nice.

Next up was the exhaust. My weekend camping trip to France last month took me past the Orbisoud Factory, much to Kats delight! So returned and promptly fitted the exhaust which replaced my Quicksilver OMG. Went on fairly easily with the bumper off. Started it up (sorry no vids yet but will get some) and what an amazing noise compared to the quicksilver. could describe it as being alot 'rawer' and barks when the accelerator is touched. Not boomy in the cabin either like the quicksilver box. Quality of work was top notch. Definately worth the money. Tried both plastic rear bumper grills out but put them back in the other day as prefer mk2 look with them in. Didn't use original screws as a right pain to get back in with bumper on - instead have replaced these with some picture hooks from BandQ which can be twisted in and out allowing quick removal of the rear grill for easier access.



Then finally, came the de-cats which I won from a former club member (alex) off Ebay. Thought it would be a shame to have the orbisoud with the normal downpipes still fitted and was dieing to hear what the V6 engine note would sound like so decided again to take the plunge and give it a go. Alex was tremendously helpful with all his advice about fitting them. (He managed it in 6 hours....took me 12 and a bit but took my time and percevered with the job over last weekend). Finished it with less skin on my hands and arms, a few new scars and sever neck an back ache but hey all part of Vee ownership!!
Firstly removed all the top covers to get at the manifold heat sheilds, as these need to be removed to gain access to the top bolts of the down pipes. Soaked the bolts on these for a couple of nights in WD40 which seem to do the trick when removing them with a ratchet and long extension arm. Not much room to work which made things quite tricky!

Next job was to get the car up on ramps (couldn't quite manage all the way up with the splitter on but managed to get pretty good clearance). Undertray then removed and then thought I had an oil leak but it was all the WD40 left over! Phew!


Next job was to take off the bolts which attach the down pipes to the collector box - again these had seize pretty badly but got them off ok eventually with the ratchet and extension bar.

Voila! Both downpipes and cats free and moving around! However, what a blooming job removing both pipes! Long pipes was first. It was a case of removing bolts from the oil pipes nr the oil filter, then twisting the pipes down (removing heat sheilds with bolts that humans cannot possibly have fitted!!) it eventually slide to one side nr the gearbox and then down. Then the pipe nr the exhaust could be released (again removing the heat sheild in order to create more room to move) then both pipes were free! This is what took the majority of the time i think!

Next up was re-fitting the new de-cat pipes. By this time my mate I had roped in to helping me for the day needed to go home and it was getting dark, beginning to rain and I wondered exactely what I had taken on!! Pipes went on pretty easily and basically reverse of taking the ones off from the above. Then got all bolts in place and tighted everything back up together - got some exhaust paste from Halfords and put this between joints along with gaskets just to make sure everything was sealed ok. Took abit of work getting one end onto the collector box and then onto the manifold down pipe bit - Think this is because I was on my own


Started up and what a noise (engine light now on)! Lovely burble on tick over. Managed to take it out on Fri for a spin as weather was nice and went through a small tunnel! Sounded like a lambo! Awesome! Really pleased with how the Vee sounds now. Snap, Crackle and Pop!!

Hope you enjoyed reading.

