Need help

[sheel]

Ok,little bit of background.......no tears please!! In June 2014 I was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given 12 weeks of life,my answer was fk that it's not getting me yet and obviously I'm still here.
With the help of some fantastic people and our marvellous NHS I have so far been patched up for lung cancer,femur cancer including a huge bit of titanium inserted in my leg, bone cancer in my shoulder,21 brain tumours (treated with an amazing bit of kit called cyber knife) and lastly at the mo bilerteral adrenal cancer,that's been a real bh!!

Last year I buggered the front of my lovely 2000 4.5 chimp and it's required a fair bit of repairs,obviously you can't just do repairs and it's been subject to plenty of upgrades as well. 4 pot calipers big discs need wishbones all round coil overs engine upgrades ecu replacement interior rebuild alloy rad etc etc etc repainted. You boys know the score!!

Unfortunately I am beginning to have to accept that physically I am finding it too hard to complete the project, I would estimate that there is probably 3 maybe 4weeks work left to do....perhaps that's well over estimate but from a labour costs point I would be working along those lines. Pretty well everything is with the car including things like new act exhaust full new interior etc,the only major cost to purchase is a new hood

Ok one thought is the car could go to someone like sportmotive (I am based in the Midlands) Not rung them but not sure if they would really fancy taking on half a job,ok work is work! and my quality in the build is good
My other thought is a contract for a good tvr bod to do it at my home,I have a fully equipped heated garage with 2post lift full led lighting rubber floored and all the tools,really nice place to work and plenty of room plus gallons of tea and a good salary!!
Any of you boys got any thoughts,I am really quite desperate to get it finished before my time is!!
Thanks
Rich

[sheel]

I want to get the car back up to its former glory and better, it would break my heart to not get it finished,it's been something to concentrate my mind and has helped me thro some pretty dark times
Even if I can't physically drive it again someone else can' take me out in it but that's why there is some urgency now as I would love to drive it before it's too late

Alun,I'll give you a shout in a bit
Rich

[sheel]

Guys,getting really excited,alun has got the bit between his mouth over this and it's really gratifying to see the help being offered
As Al says it's a cracking car and will look the dogs doo da when done red ones are always the fastest!
Like I said in my first post,it's one of the things that's kept me going but time and energy march on both of which are now decreasing,can't really say much more other than a big thanks to the responses

A very grateful Rich

[sheel]

Hi Al what a bunch eh? Managed to spend a couple of hours having a good tidy and clean ready to start music and heating was on very comfy!
Got a price for complete hood replacement including the targa and they are willing to do it at home so that solves one set of logistics and with a week lead in time so works for the build plan
The ecu is set up for a base map for the 4.5 so hopefully it won't be far out to have it running,injectors are going to refurbished vectra so the fuel map may need a tweek initially,not sure on that as it's not my cup of tea
Feel so chuffed about the whole thing now!!!

Reenergised Rich

[sheel]

Well,good start today,alun made a mess in my nice tidy garage !! He finalised all the intake pipe work making bits where needed and changed the injectors to refurbished vectors items,I sat like little jack Horner and made a start albeit slowly sorting and repairing the front loom,so it's on it's way
Alun is leading the build and I think he is going to liaise with all the kind people that have offered help

Kind regs
Rich

[sheel]

Any helpers who need a bed......plenty of space at my gaff and the missus is a dab hand with the bacon rolls,just bring some decaf coffee for mad head alun,I'm being given tablets to get me going....alum needs something to slow him down!!
Rich

[sheel]

Well,quick update,I finished my jack Horner impression and got the front loom all repaired and back in position,found it very tiring but satisfying as alum can now plug everything in and hopefully I've got all the connections sussed and within a couple of days we can probably get it powered up without having a bonfire
Alun farted about modifying my modified power steering res bracket (with the change to canems my idle valve is mounted in this area and it's all a bit tight) looking at some pics of other installs it's been left loose but that's not to my liking,he refitted the plenum and redirected the header to swirl pot pipework,front chassis to body bolts done up (I had forgotten these) and it's already for the rad to be finally fitted and piped up . As with my old front it's got mk3headlights, I built these some time ago when I was a bit better so now the loom is all done these can be fitted. Alun has finished the plenum intake track and pipes so they can have a final fitting and he has also fitted the vac pipes for the maf sensor so we are gradually moving up the car
Rich

[sheel]

The mans mad!!!! Didn't feel too good today so left him to it most of the day(radiotherapy has no regard for the intricacies of rebuilding a chim..bd)
Aluns doing well,it's difficult for me letting him loose but hes making a good job and doing it as I would have wanted although his engineering prowness gives me a shudder at times,if he completes this with all digits intact it will be a miracle and he needed think he's going to have access to my workshop when I'm in that wooden box!! Told the missus don't let him over the boundary!!
Electrics maybe a bit of a pain but I had a bit of time this evening with another ph er looking over what I had left from the old lucas loom that I've left in the engine bay and it looks like I stripped all the right bits out and left the relevant bits in,I think
Know it will only be the lambas and tps that need sorting.....and of course the alarm....that's going to be the pig I think
Anyway hoping for a physically better day on my behalf tomorrow and we can make more progress,at least it looks like something is happening now
Rich

[sheel]

Good pher Pete hiddlestone came round this afternoon and helped get the lower dash back in and the instrument back on and connected although we have got a few loose ends and plugs kicking about! Although in general it is a flipping rats nest int there,the alarm doesn't help and this is coming to be replaced anyway,also go a quandary with the tachometer as it's now going to run on canem,I will post a separate query about this as I'm sure the likes of blitz will have an answer
Rich

[sheel]

Pete,one might think you were only coming round to tat all the old bits of chimmy. You left the ecu behind!,,
Rich

[sheel]

I think the shock to aluns system of doing several days consecutive "work" is getting too much for him,caught him laid on his back sniffing paint fumes and what looked like a big reefer hanging out of his chops..did shut him up tho also having to restrict his coffee intake ! Rich 838 is coming to help tomorrow and and alun had the cheek to say"that guy can't half talk!" Pot and black come to mind
In fairness hes doing well, lots of bits finished,managed to get some power onto the electrics today,no bonfires which was a plus and I seemed to so far have a fair bit working which is a good start,the bloody alarm and immobiliser are a pain so will have to put the thinking cap on but can probably link that out for the time being as engine wise it's not far off ready to run probably by the end of the week
Had a bit of a result as well at hospital today,after my last bout of cyberknife my brain man has said the 11 tumours he treated are all shrunk and all the tiny ones in the background are sitting stable, so having just had a nasty session of radiotherapy before Xmas which has bashed me about on the adrenal front,hes happy to leave me be for 2 months, it's funny to think "hey I've got at least 2 months of life left."...bit of a bonus!!
Will get some pics uploaded soon and without alum in his lederhosen and gimp mask!!
Rich

[sheel]

Ha ha rich. That will be up to you to keep him in order tomorrow!! I'll just be the tea bh
Rich

[sheel]

Alun....bit worried about the phrase "get my bacon in" I thought I had explained today one of the downfalls of adrenal failure !!!!
Rich

[sheel]

Alun,thank god rich is here tomorrow,you got a head full of magic at the best of times let alone with the thoughts of a hot Italian bird waiting for you in the eve,at least it's not so far to go as the south of France,better make sure we give you the real ste jobs to do so your so creamed bla bla bla ,and don't get those hot wheels of mine mixed up with those hot pics of your French conquest!
Rich

[sheel]

Well,I'm bloody worn out running back and forwards making tea doing bacon and sausage sarnies and generally keeping the peace!
Boys have done good tho,brakes all bled and my nice 4pot calipers fitted with the pads no dramas all went well,clutch bled and all ok,engine all filled with fluids.....and nothing on the floor! ACT cherry bomb exhaust just going on,she is taking shape quite quickly and the nice thing is had all bits to hand so boys were wanting for nothing and were able to get straight on
Really good day,thanks guys.

Rich

[sheel]

I can only licken it to a 5 year olds birthday party....in fact you all know who the 5 year old is in this one!
Packages are arriving and aluns tearing into them with a big grin and excitement in his joggers,rich is looking on in distane but I caught him having a little dance to smooth fm,and there is more noise coming out of the garage that the schooll playground that my house backs onto.......and the docs says I must not get too excited!!!!

Rich

[sheel]

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[sheel]