Winter Project

[LawrieS]

Good evening all,

Planning on giving the S3C a good service over the winter and replace as much as possible and make sure every things good but without going to the lengths of a full engine rebuild (well thats the plan anyway...).

So what would be worth doing? My aim is to get as good and as reliable as can be and I don't mind replacing working parts with new, preferably uprated ones.

My list so far is;
Alloy/Stainless swirl pot
Alloy/Stainless header tank
Alloy radiator
Silicone hose kit (do these really come with all the hoses required?)
Thermostat (i've seen different temperature options, which should I be going for?)
Fan switch
Water pump

Any other cooling related items I should be looking at? Do things that require seals come with them or do they need to be purchased separately?

Ignition Coil
HT Leads
Rotor Arm
Distributor Cap
Spark Plugs
Idle Control Valve
Belt/s

Any other parts that are easy to replace whilst I'm doing this or problem hot spots I should be looking at?

Stainless exhaust manifold & new gaskets
Stainless de-cat pipes

I may look at oil cooler and filter relocation whilst I'm changing the oil.

I don't really know where to start, a lot of the shops I've found seem to stock an item or two but not everything or a majority of what I'm after. Are the engine type parts readily available from dealers or anywhere else?

I spoke to someone at Blenheim about exhaust manifolds but I can't remember where they said they purchased theirs, have a feeling it was somewhere around Macclesfield way, would anyone know?

Thanks
Lawrie

Edited by LawrieS on Wednesday 1st October 21:06

[phillpot]

LawrieS said:

I may look at oil cooler and filter relocation whilst I'm changing the oil.

Try ACT for manifolds

[Alan461]

You have quite a list there!
I would prioritise the lower cost items and work from there,
silicone hoses will be a good start with nice new stainless steel clips.
Inspect clean and paint other items as necessary,
Expensive items like the rad or manifolds would be best left until they show some sign of needing replacement, you might find the budget gets used on more urgent new parts anyway.

[shaun s3c]

Had my manifolds made at j.p exhaust macclesfield,if your looking for a swirlpot I can fabricate one for you

[shaun s3c]

Had my manifolds made at j.p exhaust macclesfield,if your looking for a swirlpot I can fabricate one for you

[v8s4me]

Alan461 said:

....I would prioritise the lower cost items and work from there...

Agreed

Alan461 said:

....Expensive items like the rad or manifolds would be best left until they show some sign of needing replacement, ...

If it's a cosmetic improvement you're looking for you could consider getting the OE manifolds cermachromed, or a similar finish.

I put an expensive alloy rad in mine and with the benefit of hindsight I wouldn't bother again. You can get your old one re-cored for about half the price and it will be just as good. My old one is currently in service in Philpott's 'S' and is working perfectly. Then spend what you save on petrol.

I've often wondered if one these of could be made to fit. What do people think?

Go for Shaun's stainless swirl & expansion tanks though. Well worth it

[Top Gear TVR]

I'd give the remote oil filter thing a miss and shift the header tank. Filter access easy peasy then :-)

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[LawrieS]

Thanks for input on this, and apologies for delay in reply.

I can't say I'm not after a cosmetic improvement but it's not a priority.

I love the car, but I don't really know it yet, kind of lacking confidence in reliability, also understand that you can't forsee what's going to be a problem until it happens but if you had a fairly sizeable budget what would you do having recently purchased your car, before say trusting it on the Euro Tour next year?

I want to get the exhaust system sorted because it's blowing from almost every joint and it just annoys me.

[mk1fan]

I'd drive it regularly. Only way to determine what needs attention.

Aside from that, a good service of the fluids and ignition items.

Indeed, that's what I did. Sailed through the S-Club Tour. Well, a driveshaft cv came apart but that was easy to bolt back together.

[Alan461]

Shift the header tank as TGTVR said above, dispenses with some superfluous pipework too.
For reliability use it lots of times and let it tell you what it wants
And or get someone who has one to have a good look over it for the usual things.