Twin Plenum Vitesse restoration
Discussion
Amazing, outstanding, well done. Enjoy the fruits of your labour. having lost my Dad recently I can understand the motivation but my God what a task.
Always had a soft spot for these, as a child my best friend's Dad had a few of them, secretly wished my Dad would get one, they were so much cooler than the Jags and Mercs he used to buy.
As a side note, my Uncle worked as a mechanic for the Bastos team out on South Africa in the early 80s, I used to had a load of team stickers, wonder where they went?
Always had a soft spot for these, as a child my best friend's Dad had a few of them, secretly wished my Dad would get one, they were so much cooler than the Jags and Mercs he used to buy.
As a side note, my Uncle worked as a mechanic for the Bastos team out on South Africa in the early 80s, I used to had a load of team stickers, wonder where they went?
Little video of it starting up for the first time, plenty of warm up time in the edit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN7df0QPReM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN7df0QPReM
Managed a few hours at the weekend and got a few things sorted:
Cleaned up air con fans and shrouds:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2489_zpsf6ffdd8b.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2490_zpsd9ec7cc2.jpg)
Painted and assembled onto the condenser:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2616_zpsa8b7cc0f.jpg)
Mounting brackets cleaned, painted and bolted to body:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2618_zps6719d307.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2617_zps503ae3ec.jpg)
Whole lot fitted along with a hastily fabricated top bar to hold it all in place including the non-standard alloy radiator.
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2769_zps9ccfa962.jpg)
You'll notice the lights are back in too. Spent a few hours going over the electrical system, got all the things needed for an MOT working now. Things to sort:
- Central locking
- Rear wiper
- Temp gauge reading high (actual temp is fine)
The engine was a bit lumpy and wouldn't idle particularly well, I think it needs a good run and then a proper set up when warmed thoroughly.
Cleaned up air con fans and shrouds:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2489_zpsf6ffdd8b.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2490_zpsd9ec7cc2.jpg)
Painted and assembled onto the condenser:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2616_zpsa8b7cc0f.jpg)
Mounting brackets cleaned, painted and bolted to body:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2618_zps6719d307.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2617_zps503ae3ec.jpg)
Whole lot fitted along with a hastily fabricated top bar to hold it all in place including the non-standard alloy radiator.
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/IMG_2769_zps9ccfa962.jpg)
You'll notice the lights are back in too. Spent a few hours going over the electrical system, got all the things needed for an MOT working now. Things to sort:
- Central locking
- Rear wiper
- Temp gauge reading high (actual temp is fine)
The engine was a bit lumpy and wouldn't idle particularly well, I think it needs a good run and then a proper set up when warmed thoroughly.
Duke Thrust said:
Needs sounds for full experience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN7df0QPReM&fea...
Video was taken over quite some time and edited, plenty of time to warm up and allowing for initial cam bedding in.
Brilliant stuff!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN7df0QPReM&fea...
Video was taken over quite some time and edited, plenty of time to warm up and allowing for initial cam bedding in.
check this period A-R promo video for Vitesse's in full cry!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvl3lLguUuY
Got some time at the weekend and sorted:
Central locking
HVAC blowers
Interior lights
Oil level sensor
Rear wiper
Temp sensor
In addition to making a bracket to hold the water bottle for the head light washer system. The original had rusted to nothing so made a stout repayment from some old alloy plate, not pretty but it's completely hidden and won't suffer the same fate as the previous one.
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/f1e679fc56ed85bbbf3912ea4638ce24_zps7792f013.jpg)
In place:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/8aaf1b28bda97fdec2fc6207eaa8dd79_zps16f15253.jpg)
Under tray back on, the pipe you can see leads to the washer jets in the front bumper. The tray has twisted a bit over time but as it's also hidden it's of no consequence:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/f1ed20512e89810f0b0b406c168c24e8_zps87b6e898.jpg)
Front spoiler back on. As I'm running wider tyres the rubbed on the inner edges so they had to be relived a little, also needs a good clean after being in the sheds for so long:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/07cb6784d856ae50209f16b9a70bd95f_zps39d26c0e.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/9c254d39f44d33ac8f67b192076006ab_zps46d2f7b1.jpg)
It was at this point I realised that the bumper mounts need to go back on before under tray and spoiler, so they had to come off again...
But, once done then the bumper back on:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/169d7e79fc81d46edd3d553c8c88cae0_zps19ec9f5b.jpg)
Central locking
HVAC blowers
Interior lights
Oil level sensor
Rear wiper
Temp sensor
In addition to making a bracket to hold the water bottle for the head light washer system. The original had rusted to nothing so made a stout repayment from some old alloy plate, not pretty but it's completely hidden and won't suffer the same fate as the previous one.
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/f1e679fc56ed85bbbf3912ea4638ce24_zps7792f013.jpg)
In place:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/8aaf1b28bda97fdec2fc6207eaa8dd79_zps16f15253.jpg)
Under tray back on, the pipe you can see leads to the washer jets in the front bumper. The tray has twisted a bit over time but as it's also hidden it's of no consequence:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/f1ed20512e89810f0b0b406c168c24e8_zps87b6e898.jpg)
Front spoiler back on. As I'm running wider tyres the rubbed on the inner edges so they had to be relived a little, also needs a good clean after being in the sheds for so long:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/07cb6784d856ae50209f16b9a70bd95f_zps39d26c0e.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/9c254d39f44d33ac8f67b192076006ab_zps46d2f7b1.jpg)
It was at this point I realised that the bumper mounts need to go back on before under tray and spoiler, so they had to come off again...
But, once done then the bumper back on:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/169d7e79fc81d46edd3d553c8c88cae0_zps19ec9f5b.jpg)
tdm34 said:
Duke Thrust said:
Needs sounds for full experience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN7df0QPReM&fea...
Video was taken over quite some time and edited, plenty of time to warm up and allowing for initial cam bedding in.
Brilliant stuff!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN7df0QPReM&fea...
Video was taken over quite some time and edited, plenty of time to warm up and allowing for initial cam bedding in.
check this period A-R promo video for Vitesse's in full cry!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvl3lLguUuY
Brilliant job on this Duke Thrust , I've had 7 sd1's , 2 of them vitesse's and had some great times with them , plenty of frustrating times with them too, they are (slightly flawed) great cars and just about everybody has been in one/knew someone who had one/has a story about one , looking forward to seeing this one complete again
lexspace said:
Brilliant job on this Duke Thrust , I've had 7 sd1's , 2 of them vitesse's and had some great times with them , plenty of frustrating times with them too, they are (slightly flawed) great cars and just about everybody has been in one/knew someone who had one/has a story about one , looking forward to seeing this one complete again
Thanks! I suspected you had and SD1 at some point when I notced the wheel chock in one of your recent build photos.Putting the side strips back on has been a complete pain as removing the old sticky stuff takes forever. Finally got the last one done:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/e22a54230b93a0aae1ec29f3c86e7da0_zps8a0eb615.jpg)
New sticky stuff:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/2f1b5002015bd4ddd306c164c8202e70_zps504670e2.jpg)
Then masked a line done the side of the car (the funny camera angle distorts the picture and the rear tyres look ridiculously narrow)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/310b8ed06f8b8700e4db9d395e69a5fb_zpscafef5b8.jpg)
Then aligned the strips:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/ac54cb3bf98882ad4f2cbf51e8a1c6f3_zps138ced9d.jpg)
Then used more tape to create a hinge:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/53012bb01837c49d6e70caa47c8b7aeb_zpsf84928bf.jpg)
Then remove backing tape and stick down:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/fbd280ac383c7d109f70a086e5065410_zps0bea1b0a.jpg)
All done which is a massive relief:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/3991decae14a74bac43c6843e3e3c4fb_zpsabe42e64.jpg)
Badge and plate back one:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/38db1c00e30538a00f04fbd39d682a29_zps1b3001f7.jpg)
Under bonnet lights back on and wired up:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/349ca1890d23a4f681683eaeb8633eb1_zps772e7ba9.jpg)
Then the air con components go back in, not much clearence for the compressor, but it's enough:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/0ef8ae3ddbc178b2bab46aa67bc56b0c_zpsaf90c2e7.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/926b763e2b498c00f20b4f5efb1b53b8_zpsac5df62f.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/1223574313f01d1de346af44e7fbb452_zps1b20a525.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/d8f3817181ad194d90c2d7d06b045223_zps41bc9f2f.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/e22a54230b93a0aae1ec29f3c86e7da0_zps8a0eb615.jpg)
New sticky stuff:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/2f1b5002015bd4ddd306c164c8202e70_zps504670e2.jpg)
Then masked a line done the side of the car (the funny camera angle distorts the picture and the rear tyres look ridiculously narrow)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/310b8ed06f8b8700e4db9d395e69a5fb_zpscafef5b8.jpg)
Then aligned the strips:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/ac54cb3bf98882ad4f2cbf51e8a1c6f3_zps138ced9d.jpg)
Then used more tape to create a hinge:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/53012bb01837c49d6e70caa47c8b7aeb_zpsf84928bf.jpg)
Then remove backing tape and stick down:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/fbd280ac383c7d109f70a086e5065410_zps0bea1b0a.jpg)
All done which is a massive relief:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/3991decae14a74bac43c6843e3e3c4fb_zpsabe42e64.jpg)
Badge and plate back one:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/38db1c00e30538a00f04fbd39d682a29_zps1b3001f7.jpg)
Under bonnet lights back on and wired up:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/349ca1890d23a4f681683eaeb8633eb1_zps772e7ba9.jpg)
Then the air con components go back in, not much clearence for the compressor, but it's enough:
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/0ef8ae3ddbc178b2bab46aa67bc56b0c_zpsaf90c2e7.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/926b763e2b498c00f20b4f5efb1b53b8_zpsac5df62f.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/1223574313f01d1de346af44e7fbb452_zps1b20a525.jpg)
![](http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/duke_thrust/D131OVP/d8f3817181ad194d90c2d7d06b045223_zps41bc9f2f.jpg)
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