Discussion
Had this car just over a year, got it last year totally standard with a 1.4 8v SPi engine fitted due to it being a GTa model. Spent the last 12 months doing different bits and pieces to the car to improve handling, braking, interior and general bits and pieces to the car. Last year I fitted a 1.4 16v engine to the car which had been slightly fettled by the previous owner to give the car a bit of poke and get me used to the speed before I went any bigger engine-wise.
This is how it looked in early July:
Roll on until end of July and I get a phone call from a mate, he had stuffed his metro into some dozy woman who cut across him on a roundabout, asking if I was interested in his engine for a bargin £200. I couldn't say yes quick enough! Picked it up, 1.8 VVC engine, converted loom, ECU/immobilizer and a low milage gearbox were mine and loaded into the back of my mates car.
Once I got it home I started work on the loom as it had shorted itself at the accident so needed rewiring with a new crank sensor and 0v+ feed from the ECU to the TPS, ITS, CTS and two plugs for the VVC unit. Spent a week or so doing the waterpump, cambelt/tensioner etc so it would be ready to drop into the car.
Couple of weeks ago got an engine crane from HSS, put the kettle on and a friend I conscripted into helping had the old engine out and new one fitted in 6 hours. Still had some issues with the wiring so spend a few days sorting that until finally I have sorted it and got it running spot on.
Spec is:
Engine:
1.8 VVC 143
R65u gearbox with short ratios
Enclosed induction kit
2" straight through exhaust with decat
Metro MPi fuel pump(higher flow rate compared to standard)
Exterior:
Lowered and individualised hydrolastic suspention
Polybushed Metro GTi ARB's
Vented Metro GTi Brakes with Mintex 1144 or 1166 pads(I can't remember)
Metro GTi MPi wheels with yoko a539 tyres
Rear Strut Brace
Rust
Interior:
Red Leather BRM steering Wheel
Metro GTi SE Half Leather seats
Metro GTi Red seatbelts
Infinity Front Comp speakers
Kenwood rear speakers
Skully(skull on parcel shelf who's eyes light up when I brake)
Thats it really, all the work has been done by myself to the car including any wiring that has been needed. I have enjoyed working on the car(most of the time) and as it is my daily driver I have learned how to manage my time a lot better when approaching jobs on the car!
Some pics of it over the past 12 months and then some taken a few days ago:
First got it:
Getting some new wheels and interior:
My old ground clearance:
Random pic:
As it stands:
Comments are welcome, I think the car is PH enough to be put in here now
This is how it looked in early July:
Roll on until end of July and I get a phone call from a mate, he had stuffed his metro into some dozy woman who cut across him on a roundabout, asking if I was interested in his engine for a bargin £200. I couldn't say yes quick enough! Picked it up, 1.8 VVC engine, converted loom, ECU/immobilizer and a low milage gearbox were mine and loaded into the back of my mates car.
Once I got it home I started work on the loom as it had shorted itself at the accident so needed rewiring with a new crank sensor and 0v+ feed from the ECU to the TPS, ITS, CTS and two plugs for the VVC unit. Spent a week or so doing the waterpump, cambelt/tensioner etc so it would be ready to drop into the car.
Couple of weeks ago got an engine crane from HSS, put the kettle on and a friend I conscripted into helping had the old engine out and new one fitted in 6 hours. Still had some issues with the wiring so spend a few days sorting that until finally I have sorted it and got it running spot on.
Spec is:
Engine:
1.8 VVC 143
R65u gearbox with short ratios
Enclosed induction kit
2" straight through exhaust with decat
Metro MPi fuel pump(higher flow rate compared to standard)
Exterior:
Lowered and individualised hydrolastic suspention
Polybushed Metro GTi ARB's
Vented Metro GTi Brakes with Mintex 1144 or 1166 pads(I can't remember)
Metro GTi MPi wheels with yoko a539 tyres
Rear Strut Brace
Rust
Interior:
Red Leather BRM steering Wheel
Metro GTi SE Half Leather seats
Metro GTi Red seatbelts
Infinity Front Comp speakers
Kenwood rear speakers
Skully(skull on parcel shelf who's eyes light up when I brake)
Thats it really, all the work has been done by myself to the car including any wiring that has been needed. I have enjoyed working on the car(most of the time) and as it is my daily driver I have learned how to manage my time a lot better when approaching jobs on the car!
Some pics of it over the past 12 months and then some taken a few days ago:
First got it:
Getting some new wheels and interior:
My old ground clearance:
Random pic:
As it stands:
Comments are welcome, I think the car is PH enough to be put in here now
Edited by SlowStig on Thursday 21st February 22:15
TVR Sagaris said:
I've been thinking about doing this conversion a lot recently; it seems like a very easy way to get a very fast sleeper.
I hadn't considered wiring problems, can you not adapt the MGF wiring into the Metro loom?
There is guys who convert looms for you for a set price, depending on what engine and what car you start with. Usually an MGF loom is best as its very similar to a R100 loom so doesn't need as much converting but if you get a metro and not a Rover 100, there is the addition of an immobilizer which needs fitting called the 5as as the older cars(GTi shape) used 3as immobilizers which didn't really do much to immobilize. With 5as, if the ecu isn't paired with the 5as box and fob then it will never run.I hadn't considered wiring problems, can you not adapt the MGF wiring into the Metro loom?
If you ever want to pop over to southport and have a look/ride in it then drop me a PM and I will be more than happy to show you it!
Whats wrong with skully? He does look awesome when lit up at night!
The car isn't that low any more, local lotus specialist was chatting to me and advised a good setup on the suspension and ARB's which have made it handle tons better which I am quite impressed with. Oh and I have stuffed a couple of metros, this is the results of one rolling:
That slowed me down and made me drive a lot more sensible as well as much more responsibly when others are in the car or others are on the same road.
The car isn't that low any more, local lotus specialist was chatting to me and advised a good setup on the suspension and ARB's which have made it handle tons better which I am quite impressed with. Oh and I have stuffed a couple of metros, this is the results of one rolling:
That slowed me down and made me drive a lot more sensible as well as much more responsibly when others are in the car or others are on the same road.
I'd take that metro over an MX5 any day 
Cheers for the comments! It has been a fun project, took it on a bypass today for the first time and was quite surprised at how quick it hit *ahem* 70...
Insurance is costing me 830 per year with brenacre £1500 agreed value. 24, 3 years NCB and dodgy postcode but the policy is limited by power, not modifications so any handling or interior mods like a cage do not cost extra but if i touch the engine then it does. Much better system imo for a modified car as they keep a list of mods so they can replace like-for-like if the worst happened without it affecting the policy costs.
In total, the car has cost me less than 2k to do but I did it cheaply by buying a knackered car with a lot of the mods for £250 and stripping it then scrapping the shell, saving me about £400 on bits and pieces. Car was £650 but was only on around 50k miles and never welded(until now) with original arches which was a bargin.
My next plan is a 5 door, rust and odd coloured doors, crappy interior, caged with wide steel wheels and odd trims and either another VVC or a 1.8 turbo fitted to it.
Insurance is costing me 830 per year with brenacre £1500 agreed value. 24, 3 years NCB and dodgy postcode but the policy is limited by power, not modifications so any handling or interior mods like a cage do not cost extra but if i touch the engine then it does. Much better system imo for a modified car as they keep a list of mods so they can replace like-for-like if the worst happened without it affecting the policy costs.
In total, the car has cost me less than 2k to do but I did it cheaply by buying a knackered car with a lot of the mods for £250 and stripping it then scrapping the shell, saving me about £400 on bits and pieces. Car was £650 but was only on around 50k miles and never welded(until now) with original arches which was a bargin.
My next plan is a 5 door, rust and odd coloured doors, crappy interior, caged with wide steel wheels and odd trims and either another VVC or a 1.8 turbo fitted to it.
There was 2 versions of the VVC engine, the one I have fitted is the earlier MEMS2j version which is around 143bhp standard(hense the name) with a plastic 48mm throttle body.
The second one is the 160bhp from the MGF trophy, MGTF160 and the MGZR 160. This is MEMS3 management system and has a different throttle body, tri cut valves and a different exhaust manifold(6 bolt vs 4bold on the 143).
The MGTF 135 engine is different again as they are a variation on the standard 1.8 which is found in freelanders, mgf etc but only 118bhp as standard. the 135 engine has a bigger inlet from a VVC 160, 52mm throttle body and different cams which give the extra 17bhp difference.
The difference in price is significant, I got my engine VERY cheap but roughly £300-400 for a decent 143 or £500-600 for a 160 with the ecu/5as/fob/loom and if its going into a metro then you need the loom converting for around £40-60.
They are quite a common conversion just not well known about due to the image metro's have compared to other hatches but yet even as standard, they are quick for the insurance group and if looked after(not ragged from cold etc) then they make pretty good first cars as there is no driver aids such as PAS or ABS so teach proper control and how to brake without locking up.
The second one is the 160bhp from the MGF trophy, MGTF160 and the MGZR 160. This is MEMS3 management system and has a different throttle body, tri cut valves and a different exhaust manifold(6 bolt vs 4bold on the 143).
The MGTF 135 engine is different again as they are a variation on the standard 1.8 which is found in freelanders, mgf etc but only 118bhp as standard. the 135 engine has a bigger inlet from a VVC 160, 52mm throttle body and different cams which give the extra 17bhp difference.
The difference in price is significant, I got my engine VERY cheap but roughly £300-400 for a decent 143 or £500-600 for a 160 with the ecu/5as/fob/loom and if its going into a metro then you need the loom converting for around £40-60.
They are quite a common conversion just not well known about due to the image metro's have compared to other hatches but yet even as standard, they are quick for the insurance group and if looked after(not ragged from cold etc) then they make pretty good first cars as there is no driver aids such as PAS or ABS so teach proper control and how to brake without locking up.
SteveS Cup said:
To sum up, you could have a 160bhp Metro for under £2k? Blimey! Must be quite a tool!
How much are upgraded parts???? As I'm presuming you can't just chuck a VVC in a metro and expect it to stop!?
Well you could if you knew what you were doing and had a plan from the start. This is my 5th metro so I know what i do and dont like and what are good upgrades and what are a waste of money.How much are upgraded parts???? As I'm presuming you can't just chuck a VVC in a metro and expect it to stop!?
you can buy a ready-made VVC metro for between 1k and 1500 but unless its been done by somebody properly I would be quite wary of one as it's not difficult to drop a vvc in but getting the handling and brakes sorted is the biggest issue. I sorted them before going for a bigger engine so then I knew it would handle the power. The standard solid disk brakes on a metro does stop a vvc but warp so quickly that its not worth it as they start getting brake fade very quickly.
mgmrw said:
where are you boys finding them?
I've been scouring that there auction site for a while in hope.
(that said I'd actually need a winning bidder to pay for once, or even turn up to view)
Mine was built, not brought I've been scouring that there auction site for a while in hope.
(that said I'd actually need a winning bidder to pay for once, or even turn up to view)
Goto www.http://metropower.org.uk/forum/category-view.a...
Check out the site for ideas and the for sale topic usually has a few for sale now and again. My mate just sold his one for 1200 as he wanted a quick sale. Just make sure you get one which has been properly done, any bodges will come to light sooner rather than later and most cars will have been bodged somehow. Mine had bathroom sealant holding the exhaust mid to the cat for example...
Bloody hell, thats impressive bodges!
My rear brakes were non-exsistant until I found that the slave cylinders were shot and the pads had been fitted the wrong way around so were not engaging. Plus, a small part of my floor had been filled with bathroom sealant so I have no idea how on earth it passed the MOT last year but I have sorted everything out with either new or refurbed parts so should be ok for a while hopefully!
My floor contained this stuff:
Which was covering up:
The crap I removed:
You can prob guess I wasn't a happy chap and slated the previous owner on MP with the pics and nobody has seen him on there since!
My rear brakes were non-exsistant until I found that the slave cylinders were shot and the pads had been fitted the wrong way around so were not engaging. Plus, a small part of my floor had been filled with bathroom sealant so I have no idea how on earth it passed the MOT last year but I have sorted everything out with either new or refurbed parts so should be ok for a while hopefully!
My floor contained this stuff:
Which was covering up:
The crap I removed:
You can prob guess I wasn't a happy chap and slated the previous owner on MP with the pics and nobody has seen him on there since!
Dont touch it, was owned by a member of metropower for years and its had 5 owners in the last year or so. Current owner did have it up for sale with pics of him ragging the car and it being full of other chavs so I would avoid it as 99% sure most standard maintenance will have been neglected and it prob has been ragged from cold a lot.
Pity as it was a nice car when I was looking at it when the original Mp owner was selling it but distance from me and cost put me off.
Pity as it was a nice car when I was looking at it when the original Mp owner was selling it but distance from me and cost put me off.
That is one of the reasons why I can't see me selling this anytime soon and if/when I do sell it then it would be to somebody who knows what they are looking for and how to look after the car. That GTi on ebay is a prime example, used to be mint and looked after very well until that chap got hold of it and now claims it has a different gearbox and engine fitted than what is in the pictures.
I just dont get why people lie to sell or mess others around when buying. If I wanted a car I would find a couple and decide on my max price then see the cars in the order I want them until I found one which hit the most boxes.
Ah well, if you are ever over this way feel free to pop in and I dont mind taking you out if im not working
I just dont get why people lie to sell or mess others around when buying. If I wanted a car I would find a couple and decide on my max price then see the cars in the order I want them until I found one which hit the most boxes.
Ah well, if you are ever over this way feel free to pop in and I dont mind taking you out if im not working
Another update, I got myself a cheap rover 200 BRM mouth and fitted it to the car, took a bit longer than expected but after an hour or so with the jigsaw I got it fitted as well as I think I will be able to get it to and it looks pretty good. I will prob change the colour of it at some point but today I just wanted it fitted so I know it will fit.
I also got a header tank from the scrappy and cleaned it out with the rice/water method to get it looking like new, also flushed the coolent system through so it has water in it atm, ready for the OAT concentrate going in tomorrow hopefully.
Enjoy!
I also got a header tank from the scrappy and cleaned it out with the rice/water method to get it looking like new, also flushed the coolent system through so it has water in it atm, ready for the OAT concentrate going in tomorrow hopefully.
Enjoy!
Dr G said:
Not sure I care much for the BRM snout but I like the badge
National trust sticker and tartan blanket to follow?
funny you should say that, i have my national trust membership stickers from 2010 and 2011 in the window and a tarten blanket on the back seats....National trust sticker and tartan blanket to follow?
Finding a decent shell will be your biggest issue, my car is on 60k and still has needed welding on the floor and the arches are starting to go even with tons of waxoyl plastered on the underside. the youngest car will be 12 years old now and not many will be tidy.
Well time for an update, ish. Got 4 new tyres for winter, just some cheap crap to put on my wide steelies and bugger up without worrying about knackering the rim itself. Also got a 52mm TB and fitted that so figured I would do a nice spec list for those who love to read
Car:
1995 114 GTa
Flame Red
61k miles on the shell
Exterior mods:
13" MPi 7 spoke wheels
Yoko a539 tyres in 185/60/13 size
Front Splitter(unknown car origin)
GTi vented brake calipers(Painted Red)
Debadged with 1.1S badge fitted in place
Removed rubbing strips on the doors
BRM 'mouth' in orange
Rear Subframe Brace
Lowered and Indiviualized
Interior mods:
Red BRM steering wheel
GTi 'Lightning' Patten half leather seats
Black interior plastics inc rear parcel shelf supports, door kick plates, under seat supports
Red Seatbelts
'Skully' Custom stealth shelf with 6x9 speakers
Black Carpet from 15k miles car
Standard GTa 130mph rev counter clocks
Engine mods:
1.8 VVC 143 engine fitted
52mm Throttle body
de-cluttered exhaust manifold(smothed out the inside)
Enclosed carbon air filter with cold air feed
Red Samco hoses
Brand new header tank and red OAT coolent
Decatted 2" exhaust system with Sportex backbox
I.C.E:
Front infinity componants with crossover box
Rear Kenwood 6x9 speakers
1600w 4 channel Amp
1000w JBL Sub
Tevion Bluetooth head unit with USB/SD card and Aux input
To do:
Fit yellowband steering rack from in garage
Fit Shock mounts
Fit adjustable Spax dampers which are in the garage
Refurb Alloys
Repaint BRM 'mouth'
Future Plans:
New exhaust cam
Emerald ECU
Possibly go turbo, depends on costs etc
Car:
1995 114 GTa
Flame Red
61k miles on the shell
Exterior mods:
13" MPi 7 spoke wheels
Yoko a539 tyres in 185/60/13 size
Front Splitter(unknown car origin)
GTi vented brake calipers(Painted Red)
Debadged with 1.1S badge fitted in place
Removed rubbing strips on the doors
BRM 'mouth' in orange
Rear Subframe Brace
Lowered and Indiviualized
Interior mods:
Red BRM steering wheel
GTi 'Lightning' Patten half leather seats
Black interior plastics inc rear parcel shelf supports, door kick plates, under seat supports
Red Seatbelts
'Skully' Custom stealth shelf with 6x9 speakers
Black Carpet from 15k miles car
Standard GTa 130mph rev counter clocks
Engine mods:
1.8 VVC 143 engine fitted
52mm Throttle body
de-cluttered exhaust manifold(smothed out the inside)
Enclosed carbon air filter with cold air feed
Red Samco hoses
Brand new header tank and red OAT coolent
Decatted 2" exhaust system with Sportex backbox
I.C.E:
Front infinity componants with crossover box
Rear Kenwood 6x9 speakers
1600w 4 channel Amp
1000w JBL Sub
Tevion Bluetooth head unit with USB/SD card and Aux input
To do:
Fit yellowband steering rack from in garage
Fit Shock mounts
Fit adjustable Spax dampers which are in the garage
Refurb Alloys
Repaint BRM 'mouth'
Future Plans:
New exhaust cam
Emerald ECU
Possibly go turbo, depends on costs etc
Been ages since I have updated this! Nothing exciting has happened over winter, just getting bits and pieces done for summer and been building up a stockpile of parts to fit once the weather improves and my welding skills get better
Went to a local car meet which is run by a mate of mine and they had a photoshoot setup down at the echo arena so I went down and got a few people asking what was under the bonnet as they had tried to keep up when i booted it down the bypass. Anyways, only got a couple of pictures myself and a couple by the pro's as there was some nice cars about which they preferred....
Went to a local car meet which is run by a mate of mine and they had a photoshoot setup down at the echo arena so I went down and got a few people asking what was under the bonnet as they had tried to keep up when i booted it down the bypass. Anyways, only got a couple of pictures myself and a couple by the pro's as there was some nice cars about which they preferred....
Cheers, I keep thinking about selling and getting something totally different like wackojacko's T5 but the overall package of the metro always wins me over.
Plus, tonight i annoyed some guy in a range rover down some local backroads with a grin plastered accross my face all the time so I don't think i will be getting rid unless I got some awesome offer on it I couldn't refuse....
Plus, tonight i annoyed some guy in a range rover down some local backroads with a grin plastered accross my face all the time so I don't think i will be getting rid unless I got some awesome offer on it I couldn't refuse....
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