[Project Post] Citroën AX VTS

[Jessop]

Hi Guys,

Some of you may have seen this already but i thought i'd post up my project thread here too

I blindly bought a Citroen AX 1.1i Forte off eBay back in Sept 2009'.. Here's how it looked when i did. The paintwork had not seen any polish or wax for a long time, it was SO dull you'd have mistaken it for a matt effect paint job. However, £263 parted hands from a place near London and i drove it home with a buggered driveshaft and a slow puncture. . It was a long old drive back tot he north east with a stereo that didnt work !




Upon further inspection, all the bumper mounts etc were all pristine, not a speck of rust on it! Amazing. probably kept in a barn or something all it's life? (54K on the clock - but the speedo didnt work!)


Front mount


Back arches


Gave the engine bay a good clean down the following weekend.



Some rust appeared.. and it went through after being poked



Fixed it though



U-POL Acid etch primer as it was bare metal served as a primer..






.. Then a friend came round with some Morrette's for sale. i was so tempted, but didn't have the funds at the time. May get some for my AX Sport in the future..


Look better?? i think so


Tidied it all up and put it back together after a lick of fizzy can paint (i wish i had a compressor and proper spray gun!)







WHEELS...
________________


I decided to buy some Compomotive MO's (3 stud) and some Koni yellow dampers/lowering springs too after a short period of time.



they needed work though..




After a lot of prep through the grades..



Primed..



Metallic Peugeot paint..

]

Lacquered..





DETAILING..
___________________

While doing the wheels i decided to get into detailing. after some research i put an order in at CYC (cleanyourcar.co.uk) - A few quid and a day or so later my order arrived.




Broke out the degreaser among various other cleaning products and brushes.


Pretty bad huh



Cleaned door shuts..




Snow foamed..



two bucket method with Dodo Supernatural shampoo.



Zaino claybar




Upon further inspection the paintwork had really bad imperfections, etching etc..




Can't have this can we??

Broke out the DA with the Menzerna polishes..
This was my first attempt machine polishing but i thought it went pretty well - took me about a week in all, but the paint really was really bad and i had no paint thickness gauge so didnt know how much paint i had left to work with!!

i'll let pictures do the talking.

After a few passes on one side of the bonnet, it was looking better !!



However, upon closer inspection you can see a LOT of deep scratches and etching!!



Kept working on it and got all but the deepest out..


Roof..

After doing the rest of the car i went over with a shoot of Poorboys White Diamond on a black sonus pad.

Victoria Concourse Wax was my choice to finish.





It rained after...


Lovely beading!


This is how it looked for the next 6 months or so..











THE NEED FOR SPEED..

OK So July 2010 i decided that my other project, the Turbo AX Sport was going to take a long time to get built, i decided to do an engine conversion on this - using a Citroen Saxo VTS 16v engine. Normal output 120bhp, with some breathing modification its not uncommon to see 130bhp from them with ease. The Saxo VTS is nippy quick enough to have fun, but the AX is about 100kg lighter than the Saxo, before its stripped so should be interesting..

I picked up some S2 106 Rallye steelies from a local lad selling them.. These are 6J and 14"


offered up to the car..

Tyres on these were shot so ordered some new tyres from Camskill. Yokohama AO48's in medium compound..



Had a few spare items and my new wheels powder coated at a local company called Romax, they have a good reputation in the north east. A few quid and 2 days later i had the bits back..


Wheels and bits back from powder coating

New Samco engine hose kit was purchased..




Went to my local Hawk Fasteners after making a list of all the nuts, bolts & washers i need from the engine bay and purchased Stainless Steel items.. these should polish up nicely



Picked up a mk2 106 GTI digital dial set, but this needs completely re-wiring dash-side to suit..




Bilstein Group N dampers and Faulkner 155lb springs were also bought..


The piston diameter of the group N's is almost twice what the standard Saxo item's are!!

GMC 4-1 manifold was also bought. Good solid manifold these are, should allow the engine to breathe a bit easier.. I wrapped it up with exhaust wrap from Rally Design




I also picked up a 4 stud setup with disc rear axle from a 106 GTI. New balljoints, strut bearings, top mounts, polybushes and Wheel bearings were fitted..

Also - as i will be having rear disc's i purchased a wilwood bias valve from Rally Design which should help prevent locking the rear up

Front stoppers will be 266mm Citroen Xsara VTR calipers and discs. a lot beefier than the normal Saxo item's.. also vented discs which should help when on track.



Found it's new home for the next few weeks..



Got the car jacked up, removed suspension and engine..










Old with the old..




In with the new..

Fully polybushed front & rear. Saxo front Anti-roll bar and Lower strut brace was also fitted. Powerflex rear engine mount was also purchased..




Before fitting the new 16v engine, i painted it up.. New timing belt, water pump & tensioner was fitted. Sump was resealed etc..



excuse the red rocker covers, this was before i got the wet & dry out!


New engine ready to be lifted up..



.. and in




When i got round to fitting the Disc rear axle, i discovered the retaining bracket for the handbrake cable was in a different place on the AX so i drilled out the spot welds and moved it about 4 inches down the center tunnel under the car. It was pretty close to the fuel tank but i welded it to suit anyway. A saxo handbrake was also required to be fitted but i've managed to retain the handbrake warning sensor and rubber covering on the handbrake itself without fouling it all which was ideal.. keeping that 'OE' factory fitted look.

I also cut the slam panel quite a bit in order to fit a 106 GTI radiator, which was significantly bigger than the AX item so this would aid cooling.


Exhaust went on next , as i was using the 106 GTI front anti-roll bar i had to have a bend in the exhaust modified which i had done at a local exhaust garage.


Scorpion system



Wiring..


As the wiring for the Saxo is different to the AX , i had to buzz out the various connectors and sensors for the engine and ECU to find out what it all did, and modify it to suit the AX dashboard loom. Time was against me as i was itching to get out and play

Buzzed out the Saxo engine loom..



Labelled it after making notes..




Did the same for the AX dashboard side..




Buzzed out the loom to suit the new 106 GTI digital dials. Will be worth it as they look far cooler than the original AX and mk1 Saxo/106 clocks..

This took a few days.. It still isn't right as the fuel gauge doesnt work and i need to bridge two more wires to stop the ABS light being constantly on but shouldnt be a problem. Oil temp gauge needs looking at also as it doesn't work, unless the Sender is buggered..




Fluids went in. Millers triple ester 10/40 engine oil, high temp motul dot 4 brake fluid and motul gearbox oil..





Interior went back in.. (only the seats..) and it was Born again..





Here you can see the Dials as they look in the dark. Pretty cool compared to just fully backlit lights and no LCD (whch is fully operational too).



Everything worked first time with the exception of the brake bias valve which sprung a leak - new brake line later and its all good. Really happy with that.


ENJOYING IT..


Mallory Park
I had a track day booked in at Mallory Park with the RTOC in August.. unfortuantley the weather was a little ropey and i was dubious about heading out with the semi slicks on but it stopped for a short spell and i took the car for a blast!

Such good fun. Felt as though i was getting the quicker after a few laps but then the rain came down again and came back off... Unfortuantley a friend rolled his Clio which was a distaster and that called an end to the day.

Here's a few pics.














Next up was Trax in which i organised a stand for the AXOC. Was a good day, the weather just about held out too which was nice.

I was spotted doing a last minute bit of detailing ..













NURBURGRING Nordschleife Trip

At the end of October a few friends in the RTOC invited me to tag along on thier Nurburgring trip, which involved 2 days at the ring, down to Stuttgart for a night then up to Cologne for a night and back..

Confident in my work on the car and not wanting to miss the 'Ring Trip' opportunity i checked the oil, water in the radiator, washer fluid and off i went heading down to Dover.

Met up with a few friends on the Saturday morning at Dover..


Spy the Renault 5 GT Turbo's !!


Some fantastic roads near the Ring.. however im confused by the very low speed limits. Also spied a Renault 5 Turbo 2 going the other way !!




Touched down at the Hotel Reider nearby.. realy nice place, i can reccomend and shall be returning when im next there.. (yes, i have the bug now..)

Upon arrival, first thing was first..






The ring was closed for almsot the entire afternoon due to some sort of accident, Managed to get a slightly nervewracking experience though!!

And amazingly, a picture! Made my day..




Here's a Video too my passenger recorded on her phone. i appologise if it gives you a headache watching, blame her lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_fpQEpXQPw


Still waiting for all the other pictures that were taken during the trip taken by others.. I'll add them when i get them



Since december the car hasn't really moved though and i've been using my Saxo as a daily.. The semi slicks were worryingly bad in the snow!




As it stands though: Final spec is..

Engine
Citroen Saxo VTS 16v J4 engine
GMC 4-1 manifold (heatwrapped)
Scorpion de-cat stainless exhaust
106 GTI Radiator

Suspension
Citroen Saxo VTS 4 stud front struts & rear disc axle
Bilstein Group N front dampers
Faulkner 155lb front springs
Bilstein sprintline rear dampers
Saxo VTS front anti-roll bar
Lower strut brace
Reinforced strut top chassis mounts

Wheels
Series 2 106 Rallye 6J 14" Steelies
Yokohama AO48 medium compound tyres


Brakes
Citroen Xsara VTR front calipers, 266mm Brembo discs
Braided brake lines front & rear
Motul RBF660 DOT4 high temp brake fluid
Saxo VTS Brake Servo & Master Cylinder

Interior
Standard AX Forte seats,
MK1 AX GT carpet with red stripes.
MK2 Digital 106 GTI dials
[Stripped for trackdays & ring trips]


Exterior
Victoria concourse wax for protection
Zaino Z8 spray detailer for shows
Chemical Guys wheel guard for wheels
Standard 'GT' body trim


Im sure there'll be another 'evolution' of the car in the future, along with more shows and trackdays.. I'll be doing LeMans this June so if you see me feel free to flash and wave if you.. I pass you

Edited by Jessop on Friday 14th January 22:33

[charliedaker]

Great read thanks and a nice car.

And yes i do think the Morettes look good- get them bought!

[phillyctr]

great little motor there mate,bet it goes like stink,the mopping brought the finish back A1.well done cracking car

[Jessop]

Thanks Charlie..

Im tempted

Here's how they look on my AX Sport..

[v8will]

Cracking write up and looks like a really fun car!

[northandy]

Love all the work that went into it, top marks.

Where in the north east are you ? Romax is very close to me.

[Jessop]

northandy said:

Love all the work that went into it, top marks.

Where in the north east are you ? Romax is very close to me.

Im only down the road in Redcar and work down the road from Stockton. I'm sure you'll see me around during the Summer.


I've got a ring trip planned for later in the year, a CitroenSport trackday booked up in July at Circuit du Bourbonnais in France and Mallory in June, LeMans in June, and i really would love to fit a day at Spa in somewhere but its pretty expensive.. and i've got another AX to build, which will be my proper track day toy, that will eat some funds too!

[chriis]

Top work sir

[rb5230]

Great thread, and i appreciate ax gt`s are a fun lightweight little car (a mate had 2 of them) and it must be pretty quick with the vts engine in, but would it not have been a better idea to have a better base car to start with, i.e something with a bit more power where all your hard work would have actually added a fair bit to the value of the car?

I much preffered the compomotive alloys too.

[wackojacko]

I disagree with the previous comment as you don't modify/Restore cars to make a profit usually, it's for the love and passion of what manufacturer you're personally into. As with looks it's a personal taste ......

I beleive it's a cracking car and smiles per mile will be second to none...... Top work chap !

Also good to see enthusiasm and alot of know how

[ManOpener]

Lovely little pocket rocked. I hate the morette gimp-mask lights, so I vote keep 'em standard.

[Jessop]

The car doesnt owe me that much more than what i could sell it for all things considered.

It's quick enough considering. If i were to change the cam's and use a standalone ecu i'd see 150bhp easily , in a light car its quick enough but thats another 1k alone, i use this for work and still get 40mpg so its ideal really.

I could probably buy a clio 172 cup for the money, but the insurance would be more, not as good on fuel and no faster, also not as different in its own right.

Thanks for the comments Jacko. apprecaite it.

Edited by Jessop on Friday 14th January 13:18

[rb5230]

wackojacko said:

I disagree with the previous comment as you don't modify/Restore cars to make a profit usually, it's for the love and passion of what manufacturer you're personally into. :

Although this is true, and i know it was never intended to make money, it is nice to know that your hard work has gone into someting with value and maybe even rarity.

If the op had started with something like a series 1 RS turbo he could have made something originally worth just over a grand worth over £5k and also something much more desireable.

But each to their own and i think he`s done a cracking job anyway and like i said a great little car.

[Dr G]

Cool little car, enjoyed reading your build too

[Jessop]

I see your point, my friend who i share my lockup with has a mint Renault 5 GT Turbo and whenever i've driven then you get all the old Renault nostalgia.. thumbs up from others etc. As im sure folk would in a S1 RST.

I've love a MK1 escort some day, even moreso a sierra cosworth but the cost factor is far greater.

I know full well if i did a resotration on even an S1 RST it would cost me 3x at least what this entire built cost me , including buying the car.

Fair point though. Was intended as cheap and cheerful with relative decent econemy in mind.

However, my other AX i have is getting a turbo conversion done, and that you could class as a 'special' desireable car so i've my other card to play for that too.
I'll make another thread when ive more progress, as its still a bare shell at the moment.

[SeanyD]

Brilliant write up, my first ever affordable new car as a yoof was an AX, few years later I had a saxo VTS, so interesting write up. Great stuff

[alMK4]

A very good effort.

I like it, preferred the other wheels though.

[Greg_D]

young kid shopping cars don't normally press my buttons, but i don't know what it is about yours. I think you have gone about it in a really classy way and you are left with a really nice, understated, yet cool little car.

Well done, i love it

Reminds me of a mates AX GT, fun, fast little thing, but felt like it was made out of spit and bog roll. These things are light for a reason, stay safe out there!!!!!

Greg

[spaceship]

Excellent thread and very tastefully done.

Loving it.

[Alfa numeric]

Lovely little car, it does you proud. The Rallye wheels really suit it too.

I love the fact that you've left the 1.1 badges on the wings!