Battle Fleet

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Discussion

T.K

Original Poster:

461 posts

177 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Time to do something I've been thinking about for a while- start a quick thread for my humble stable. Below is a quick introduction/ overview, I will aim to keep this updated going forward (best laid plans etc.), and will do a more detailed write up for each car as and when things develop or the fancy takes me.

Apologies also for the pictures in this first post- I put this together with the shots I had to hand (mostly from my phone and from here and there on the internet). I will aim to get some better shots over time and as I update.

It's an eclectic selection and I am sure the cars and modifications won't be to everyone's taste... but I am a true petrol head and love cars of all types, so I hope you can in any event enjoy the thread as I have enjoyed many on here over the years.

Without further ado, the fleet (in order of acquisition, and, in the case of two, disposal).

1. 1989 Renault 5 GT Turbo

This was my first car, and I have owned it for 14 years. It is a much loved member of the family, and will never be sold.

It's very modified, running around 220hp at 1.4 bar and weighing something around 700kg. Supercinq has been off the road in dry storage for about 5 years now, currently awaiting recommissioning. I think it's fair to say I took the track modifications a nose too far and compromised the old girl.. but it will be back in the game as a fun road car soon.

It's already had a nice respray. Now time to put an interior back in, replace the suspension with something more appropriate, and pop some nice boingy boingy tyres on. Watch this space. Aiming to get this back on the road for next summer.





2. 1983 Toyota Ae86 Sprinter Trueno GTV

My second car. I have owned Red Panda 1 for 9 years. It's similarly loved and will never be sold.

A native of Tokyo, my Toyota has been lovingly thraped all over Europe and on many track days since I imported it. In spite of that, it's in pretty good fettle and scrubs up well for an old girl!

This is also very modified, mostly set up for sliding around the place. Unfortunately it's also on a solo mission to diminish the 4AGE's reputation for reliability by blowing up a lot.. but that's mostly because of a series of poor engine rebuilds, a bit of bad luck and a 9000rpm red line.

Suspension has been refreshed, chassis treated and undersealed and we have a 20 valve waiting to take the place of the knackered engine. Should be fettled, mapped and back on the road on or around Christmas.







3. 2001 Vauxhall Omega MV6

I owned The Interceptor for around a year back in 2006. 140,000 miles at the hands of Thames Valley Police, and still going strong. Not exactly glamorous, but a thoroughly excellent machine- with a few tweaks, notably some semi-decent KW coilovers, it was great fun on road and track. It also ran a stripped interior, buckets, straight through exhaust, air con delete, underdrive pulleys and the usual police refinements (including lsd and short ratio box).

I foolishly sold the Interceptor to my friend pro tem to fund the purchase of the Porsche. He beat it up a bit then hydraulic locked the engine in a ford and scrapped it without offering me the chance to buy it back. Sad face.





4. 2004 Porsche 911 GT3

My fourth car, I have owned this for 7 years.

This is a relatively standard GT3 comfort, running a JZM fast road geo, Cup discs and splitter, centre console delete, a Brey Krause seat mount and a couple of other small tweaks. The suspension was fully refreshed last year.

It does what it does, and very well indeed- much as you'd expect. Hasn't missed a beat in 26,000 miles of fun, and epic driving holidays in Europe.







5. 1998 Mercedes W210 E55 AMG

The AMGOMG was my car when I lived in Hong Kong. I bought it in 2011 and sold it 1.5 years ago when I moved back to the UK.

The AMG was running Koni suspension, AMG Aero II 3-piece splits, a subwoofer (yes, yes) and some tweaks to liberate a bit of V8 woofle. It was super minty, though had no service history to speak of (S.O.P. in HK).

I had a lot of fun and did lots of burnouts in this car, contemplated bringing it back to the UK as it was so clean, then got worried about the W210 rust boogie man and sold it. I miss the AMGOMG.





6. 1996 Mercedes S124 E300 Diesel

My sixth purchase, have owned this for less than a month!

I got this old bomber so I had something I could cruise around in when I wasn't in the mood for driving the GT3. I love Mercs and I love 'primitive' diesels, so the E300 Diesel was a natural choice. Clean W124s are starting to get a bit pricey, but this one was pretty cheap. That might be because it's a bit of a polished turd, and rather well used at over 200,000 miles.

Plan is to do a mechanical refresh and see how I get on with it. All being well, I'll also be using the Mercedes to tow Red Panda 1 to a few motorsport events next year, and might have a nice clattery and slow cruise down to the South of France to boot.





Again, just a quick introductory post, and sorry for the generally rubbish photos.

Will aim to keep this thread updated going forward. Please watch this space for more detailed reports on the Renault, Toyota, Porsche and Mercedes.

Cheers, Tom

Edited by T.K on Tuesday 21st October 13:54

MrMoonyMan

2,582 posts

210 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Great collection of cars there.


griffin dai

3,194 posts

148 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Loving the 5's coolcool

Dad had a red phase 1 when they first came out, used to scare the life out of me when I was a kid! Then had a Raider as a courtesy car for a few weeks, I swear that was even more scary!

T.K

Original Poster:

461 posts

177 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Quick update with some new pictures.

griffin dai

3,194 posts

148 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Nice E55

I miss mine too frown

P4T

221 posts

142 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Love the Renault 5!

ciaranthemurph

278 posts

205 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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What a great collection of cars!

Shadow R1

3,798 posts

175 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Great collection. smile

WojaWabbit

1,112 posts

217 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Awesome stable smile

Kev T360

366 posts

150 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Ae86 and oddly the omega for me if I could choose. Some good stuff you got here.

T.K

Original Poster:

461 posts

177 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
quotequote all
A brief fleet review!

Sorry for pantso phone pictures.

1. 1983 Toyota Ae86 Sprinter Trueno GTV

My trusty Toyota- Red Panda 1.

The old broken and badly modified 16 valve 4AGE has met a harsh but fair end as a boat anchor or similar.

... and my new 20 valve 4AGE has left its cosy Ae111 Trueno resting place and travelled back in time to the future of 1983!



The 20 valve has joined a dodgy Jubiride exhaust manifold and bitsa Trust DD style exhaust from the old engine. We've fitted an Ae86 water pump conversion kit made made by a splendid chap in a shed, a new Koyo rad (which cost more than I sold the engine-less Ae111 for (!)- you do the maths), a large and fetchingly anodised second hand Trust oil cooler and an ITG air filter (pro tem, a rather compromised set up as not much room without relocating the brake servo). I have rolled over the old Omex 600 ECU but mated it to a nice new Omex race loom which is much tidier. Some other bits I've forgotten.



We also took the opportunity to clean up the engine bay as best we could (no painting) and powdercoat/ generally tidy up various bells and whistles- it looks much smarter (though not yet finished).



Engine started on the button, and the map is being finalised this week. We're hoping for a heady 160hp at the crank, so it's sure to be a whole new thing when completed, ahem!

Once we have that locked up, we're going to set up the chassis (which has been refreshed with new hubcentric spacers, HSD coilovers and Whiteline ARBs, amongst other things) then pack it off to the bodyshop for a gentle tickle- so it still passes the 5 foot test. Will just remain to wire up some nice new gauges and thoroughly clean the interior.



Oh, and fit some very cool Lazer driving lamps, which will be stealthily mounted. My brother has a few of these on his Defender 130 (guest appearance below) and they are superb (n.b. most definitely not gyppo DRLs in spite of appearances)! I am strangely excited about the lights- the plan is to do some night rallies in the car so these will be handy. New Quaife gear knob too, just because.



Hopefully back in the game by June, will get some better shots then.

2. 1996 Mercedes S124 E300 Diesel

In the exciting world of Mercedes diesels, I cleaned up the U-boat's interior (stealing Mum's JML steam cleaner- effective) and it came up ok! So that's good.



I've ordered a new OE backbox and a few other little bits and bobs to clean it up. Plus it's off for a nice service at PCS in Horndean. Here ends the sensible bit.

So in other news, I had the AMG OZ 3 piece wheels that I bought for the AMGOMG (see above) refurbished to silver with polished lips (OE- they look loads better)... and I may have found myself offering them up..



... and I may have also ordered an air ride kit. Use your imagination and picture this fine machine quite a lot lower to the ground.

(Sorry, I know this isn't very Pistonheads ).

Before you all spit your bovril out, in my defence it's not a particularly nice or precious S124, so I don't think this is too sacriligous. And it'll all be reversible (in theory). Something about helping me tow too, maybe.

I think it will be fun. Watch this space for pictures and internet bullying.

3. 1989 Renault 5 GT Turbo

Supercinq has left the garage for the first time in many years and gone to new storage facilities. It was nice to dust it off- a fun day. I had forgotten some of the cool bits and bobs on the car and enjoyed generally poking about.



Watch this space for the refresh. Plans forming. Hope to have this back on the road Q1 2016!

4. 2004 996 GT3

I mostly modified this by reversing it into a pillar in my garage scratching the wing mirror.. Arse biscuits.

I also keep thinking about BBS E88s, but they really are silly money and I can't justify them.

That is all!

Cheers, Tom


Edited by T.K on Wednesday 15th April 15:08

coopedup

3,741 posts

138 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Still a great read mate, looking forward to seeing the plans for the GTT, really wish I still had mine

Neil G60

692 posts

223 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Good to see the Hulk putting an appearance in there too Tom biggrin

I saw a 996 GT3 done up like this once...


T.K

Original Poster:

461 posts

177 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
quotequote all
byebye

That looks like a very snazzy police car!

*LIVE UPDATE*

Red Panda 1 just made 169hp on the rollers. Not bad for an elderly N/A 1.6!


Yadizzle1

684 posts

124 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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Awesome fleet mate, that E55 does look lurvely

Remagel2507

1,456 posts

191 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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Amazing fleet there OP, have to say I'd be happy with just one of the cars from your fleet never mind all of them. Looking forward to seeing how the Ae86 and Renault end up

T.K

Original Poster:

461 posts

177 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the kind comments. smile Certainly not yet finished, but I am going for a drive in Red Panda 1 tomorrow (has been a while!), plus will start work on driving light installation if I have time. Some pictures to follow.

Edited by T.K on Friday 17th April 20:28

Daston

6,074 posts

202 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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That 86 looks like bags of fun!!

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
Nice collection you have there.
Can't help wishing I had kept some of my previous cars, but they all got sold to pay for the next one!
"Red Panda 1" references made me laugh - I had been looking for a Fiat. laugh
Look forward to the next update!

T.K

Original Poster:

461 posts

177 months

Sunday 19th April 2015
quotequote all
Thanks all! rotate

Just a quick update as a follow up to my previous post..

So, I took Red Panda 1 for a little spin on Saturday. It's the first time it has powered itself down the road for over 2 years- a pretty exciting morning.

The new engine sounds excellently tooty, with splendid exhaust fruit and noise limit threatening induction. I will upload the RR chart in due course, but it looks decent with plenty of meat under the curve- I think it made 115lbft (and 169hp as I mentioned). This is I believe less than some motorbikes, but on the plus side you can bury the throttle all the time everywhere, so you get to enjoy more music! Plus with only around 900kg to motivate, it goes ok.

There's a leak from the clutch master cylinder so I had to pump the pedal up to shift (with said shifts conducted without the benefit of a gear knob), the chassis is all over the shop and interior is full of bits with half the dash hanging off... but I nonetheless started to feel really positive about how it is going to turn out. Grinned.



All was well until I downshifted for a junction and heard a very-broken sounding metallic scream from the engine bay, followed by an immediate stall.. Clutch in, rolled into a lay-by.. PANIC AT THE DISCO. Thought for a minute it could be the cambelt (which would have been a bit unfortunate as it's brand new, and the engine spent half the week clattering off the rev limiter on the rollers with no issue..). Felt sad.

Anyway, bonnet up, and after a bit of a poke about and cam cover off.. all seems well. Engine was turning over freely and you could feel it had compression. So we tentatively started the engine, and you could hear the starter over-run, and then scream in similar fashion when we blipped throttle. Finger is pointing at the starter motor bendix. With that, a new starter motor is on order. Everything else seems peachy, thank goodness.

Took these pictures in the lay-by whilst waiting for a tow (hence bonnet is ajar).



Next steps- with a bit of luck it is going into the body shop this week to start the tidy up. You can see some of the marks/ imperfections even with the phone shots, but it's not bad at all- so I am hopeful with a decent clean and mop and a tickle with the touch up stick, it's going to come up nicely.

I celebrated all of this by ordering a few stickers (who doesn't love a sticker?) OE-style 'Toyota Sprinter Trueno' and 'GTV Twin Cam' for the back (the GTV is the lightweight/ poverty-spec Ae86), a retro TRD N2-look sun strip in grey (it has no visors because of the roll cage, and the seat is basically on the floor) and some yellow tint for the headlights (because I like yellow headlights- GTI Club!). The plan is to use the mentalloid Lazer driving lamps as the main beams (off the road, honest) so I am not worried about lighting.

I also spent a bit of time helping my brother (JK) finish off the winch installation on his Landy. Mostly I just chatted. I've encouraged him to start a thread or join this one because it is a cool and interesting build and it is starting to look pretty rad!

Cheers, Tom


Edited by T.K on Monday 20th April 00:14