Modifications and improvements

[andygtt]

As many will know my GT03 gets used every day and has covered 40k miles with almost no issue. However my car has an open diff and I feel the time has come to fit a quaife LSD along with having the box strengthened... therefore Im going to whip the engine out and send the box off to have the quaife fitted and get it shot peaned etc.

This means I have a full month to do all the mods and improvements I can whilst its all accessable so Im starting a list.
Im hoping you guys can help with hints and tips on things that I can do to help keep the car reliable without going too mad (it is my company car that I do loads of miles in and so i need to maximise the budget I have), Im also pretty handy with the spanners so wont be scared off serious mods.

- gearbox rebuild and shot peaned
- rebuild clutch
- new clutch slave
- fuel pump wireing
- modify petrol tank pickup
- swirl pot
- track day sump
- new water pump
- new engine mounts
- new wheel bearings
- new hub nuts
- heat wrapping exhaust
- fitting M400 headers
- remove and refit passenger floor


so anything I have missed?

cheers

[sjc]

Export it to Cyprus.

[TuxMan]

Hi mate list looks pretty good !!! Should keep you busy !! :-)

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

sjc said:

Export it to Cyprus.

[mgbond]

Maybe changed all the coolant hoses?

Bondy

[Urbalizer]

What happened to the V12 5.0l mod you were doing, it looked pretty good on styling, did you see it through to the finish?

[Urbalizer]

sjc said:

Export it to Cyprus.

That's it you got it, if you want to do mods ship it to Cyprus????

Its funny

I kind of understood your point to an extent on being a die hard defender of the stock exhaust, your post on "looking to Buy an M400" thread "Wed 28th Oct 2009", you defended the stock exhaust saying there is nothing wrong with it and only needed re-welding when the bracket breaks.

SJC

"the exhaust bracket had been welded 3 times at 15 quid a go"

Your reasoning for why it is better to keep the stock exhaust i.e. just keep on fixing it, not that there is anything wrong with stock exhausts of course!

But then in another of your more recent posts.

Monday 7th Dec 2009 – Roush Exhaust Thread

SJC

“A couple of months ago I popped down to H+S and got a price for mine. By the time we added the ceramic coating, sports cats etc etc… I was surprised to find the difference between that and the Roush was not as much as I was hoping.”

Hmm.. a couple of months ago, that would be about the same time you were defending the stock exhaust saying it didnt need replacing?

It Comes across that the only reason you didn't go for new exhaust is because it was too expensive?

Just admit it, at the same time you were arguing your case against me, about stock exhausts being fine, you were popping down to your local H+S getting a quote for a new one

[sjc]

Urbal,please lets not go off topic on another thread!I got a price,for reference as there was talk of a group buy.Oh and the last time the bracket was welded a new guy did it with an extra support and it's fine. And when my exhaust does break I will be changing for a decent one and remap by Trevor,but until it does it's not a neccessity, just a nice upgrade to have for more power.
I'm still wondering how you can swap your car for an old Skyline, at least get a R35 and mod it.

[Lakelord]

mgbond said:

Maybe changed all the coolant hoses?

Bondy

While you've got the floor off to waxoyl the chassis and reseal the floor?

If not already done, you might want to consider the tunnel mod as well

[andygtt]

Urbalizer said:

What happened to the V12 5.0l mod you were doing, it looked pretty good on styling, did you see it through to the finish?

thats an ongoing project... its a one off design so every single aspect is a clean sheet design.
Most companies have a team of people working full time to build a similar car (M600 for example), im just a lone block in my double garage doing in spare time around a 60hr week job and my family... gona take a while longer i think lol

[andygtt]

- gearbox rebuild and shot peaned
- rebuild clutch
- new clutch slave
- fuel pump wireing
- modify petrol tank pickup
- swirl pot
- track day sump
- new water pump
- new engine mounts
- new wheel bearings
- new hub nuts
- heat wrapping exhaust
- fitting M400 headers
- remove and refit passenger floor

Added
- coolant hoses
- clean and treat chasis

[bernhund]

Have you replaced your front top and bottom ball joints at any time? My 2.5 has done about 40k now and they were in need of replacement. Cheap as chips to buy and if you're doing your wheel bearings, it might be a good time to change them?

[Urbalizer]

andygtt said:

Urbalizer said:

What happened to the V12 5.0l mod you were doing, it looked pretty good on styling, did you see it through to the finish?

thats an ongoing project... its a one off design so every single aspect is a clean sheet design.
Most companies have a team of people working full time to build a similar car (M600 for example), im just a lone block in my double garage doing in spare time around a 60hr week job and my family... gona take a while longer i think lol

I'm looking forward to seeing that finished Andy, i really like the concept, and the lines of the bodywork so far looked spot on, very professional.

Edited by Urbalizer on Saturday 23 January 14:39

[Jenx]

Extra heat shielding around the IC box and battery.

[andygtt]

Im a little confused, I know the engine bay gets real hot plus Ive used the car all through France, sat in trafic for hours etc etc. Ive even run the car for last 6mths with no heat wrapping on the exhaust and I removed it from the battery as well.

So when I stipped the car I was expecting to find that the engine mounts had melted and that the alternator strap would need replacing etc etc.... however I can find little to show that there is any heat issue at all.

Is there any chance my car has a mod out of the factory? Im pretty sure I dont have the tunnel mod but Im doubting now as my handbrake doesnt get hot and I dont get drumming.

[The devil]

andygtt said:

Im a little confused, I know the engine bay gets real hot plus Ive used the car all through France, sat in trafic for hours etc etc. Ive even run the car for last 6mths with no heat wrapping on the exhaust and I removed it from the battery as well.

So when I stipped the car I was expecting to find that the engine mounts had melted and that the alternator strap would need replacing etc etc.... however I can find little to show that there is any heat issue at all.

Is there any chance my car has a mod out of the factory? Im pretty sure I dont have the tunnel mod but Im doubting now as my handbrake doesnt get hot and I dont get drumming.

I'm the same, my car is bog standard except for the recent power upgrade I have done, I never have a heat problem, my tunnel / handbrake / gearstick never gets hot so I cant see any problem.

[TuxMan]

Only signs of heat issues i could see was the rear engine mount next to the exhaust ,i would think most heat issues show up when the car is driven very hard eg on a track day although i noticed my parcel shelf and bulkhead got very hot on the way to Le-man last year so have done alot of work on that , on mine about 75ish with the window open i got a air pulsing issue in the car ,like the air was pressurising the cabin only way to get rid of it was to close the window ...i think the tunnel mod helps this .

[Jenx]

Andy,
My car doesn't have the tunnel mod, nor does the handbrake get hot, and I have never had heat issues, apart from IC heatsoak on track, despite using the car allmost every day in Spain for 18 months.

The reason I suggested the the extra heat shielding on the IC box is because if the heat rising off the exhaust...take the car for a good blast then put your hand on the bottom above the exhaust and tell me it wouldn't be of benefit

Regarding the battery, I changed mine coz it was knackered after about 3 1/2 years and, because it was torn, I left the heat shielding off thinking I'd do it later. I never did and that battery lasted about 16 months. I figure an extra £20 on extra material is worth it.

Martin.

[andygtt]

Seems my car hasSome extra heat wrap, either that or some other cars had it missed when they were built... I'm going to fit some extra alloy panells and put more heat proof wrap to help manage the heat... Just interested to understand why the car doesn't suffer when others seem to issues.

Turbos seem absolutelly spot on so not going to get them reconditioned... I will be doing some work to make them eaisier to remove tho lol

[andygtt]

Well my car is now coming back together.... its a bit of a race as I have Yellowshed booked for next wednsday... I only got the gearbox flywheel and clutch back last weekend and the new actuators arrived this afternoon lol.

So the engine went back in last monday and its turbos exhaust and all new fuel system in this weekend... hope to have it fired up sunday, big ask especially as Im out on the lash tonight and Sat night lol.