Life changer

[deltashad]

Every now and then things just get better.

I put the integrale into a temporary home three years ago. It really was mean't to be only a short time, a year at the most.



I bought everything I needed to restore it. Nice welder, torque wrenches, all the stuff. But, they have never been used and I have to confess I have no interest in fixing cars. I'm a driver and polisher.

It's been off the road that long I've managed to save a few quid and with the help of the bank the car is off to the local car hospital where she will be looked after properly and brought back to life.





This has also given me an added bonus, I now have the chance to make my dream garage haven't seen this floor for three years!



And, it doesn't end there, today I'm going to view a car replace this:



If all goes well, this will be in its place:



It doesn't end there either. The end of the dream is to replace this:



.......with one of these, which I don't think is too far away (if everything goes to plan!!!):



At this point my dreams will all be realised. I can die a happy man

Edited by deltashad on Friday 9th August 09:49

[dave7692]

I'm only 21 years old so I can't afford one at the moment but that is my dream car. One day....
You'll have to update us on how the restoration goes

[Krikkit]

Much jealousy. Love the plate too!

[ImDesigner]

That Merc is the winner for me. What a beast!

[deltashad]

dave7692 said:

I'm only 21 years old so I can't afford one at the moment but that is my dream car. One day....
You'll have to update us on how the restoration goes

I just turned 40, I think this is a midlife crisis in full effect.

I will be going back and forward to the garage to get plenty of pics and keep the thread updated as I continue on my venture of immersing myself into motoring nirvana.

[deltashad]

Well, I liked the car very much and decided to be her new keeper.
Here she is
It's only a 134 Toyota motor, but the priority was fuel consumption and at this it really excels.
I know it sounds boring but we wanted economy and fun. This has to be the best compromise??

Edited by deltashad on Saturday 10th August 01:57

[NadiR]

Best of luck with getting the Integrale back on the road, certainly looks mean in black! That plate must be worth a few quid as well.

[deltashad]

NadiR said:

Best of luck with getting the Integrale back on the road, certainly looks mean in black!

Thanks Nadir, its a very dark blue, but looks black at times. The Lancia is my baby. We spoke about having a blast down some lochside roads tonight. It's gonna be brilliant. Think a bit of car swapping may happen!!

[deltashad]

Picked up the lotus today. Took the back roads home, wow. Grips and grips more. Everything about it is special.

[Arun_D]

Congrats on the Elise.

The Merc looks super mean, which model is that? (Yeah, I know...hand in PH card at the door etc)

[Leins]

That will be a superb garage collection by the time you're finished Deltashad, a very nice mix indeed covering all the bases. And every dream garage needs a 90s supersaloon IMO, so get that E500E purchased soon!

Arun_D said:

Congrats on the Elise.

The Merc looks super mean, which model is that? (Yeah, I know...hand in PH card at the door etc)

As above, looks to me to be a Porsche-built W124 500E or E500, with its wider front-track. Although it could potentially be an AMG E60?

Edited by Leins on Wednesday 14th August 16:24

[Silverbullet767]

deltashad said:

Thanks Nadir, its a very dark blue, but looks black at times.

That can't be priest black then, some try and say it's black. But it's actually very very very very VERY dark blue.

In all seriousness though, love the delta. Bookmarked this thread

[Escy]

You've got good taste in cars. What needs doing with the Lancia?

[e46acs]

Silverbullet767 said:

love the delta. Bookmarked this thread

^^^^^ This ^^^^^^

Bookmarked

[deltashad]

Escy said:

You've got good taste in cars. What needs doing with the Lancia?

The rust was getting bad, I didn't realise just how bad it was getting. There was a water leak coming from the back of the engine near the bulkhead, almost impossible to get at. I was working out of the country and asked my gf to keep an eye on the temp and top up if she drove it.

Well, she didn't, she boiled the engine. So it's gonna need the head skimmed, also since its sat in the garage so long the fluid drained from the brake/clutch revservoir??? and all the brakes are pretty much seized.
Then after the mechanics are done it's off to the bodyshop to have all the rot removed and fresh metal put in.
Lastly, it will need painted.

Back on the Lotus front, wow, I'm having so much fun in the Elise with the knowledge I don't have to visit the petrol station twice a day. I strongly suggest if anyone is in the market for a sportscar do not overlook them, they are not massively fast but the handling and grip is incredible, I am still grinning!!

[dapearson]

deltashad said:

Back on the Lotus front, wow, I'm having so much fun in the Elise with the knowledge I don't have to visit the petrol station twice a day. I strongly suggest if anyone is in the market for a sportscar do not overlook them, they are not massively fast but the handling and grip is incredible, I am still grinning!!

What MPG are you getting? My s1 1.8 k-series that i had back in 2003 used to do about 45mpg i think, and higher if taking it really easy.

I'd love another one, but it would need to be able to carry my 3 yr old, and Lotus don't recommend fitting a child seat

[Davey S2]

That will be a geat stable of cars if the Merc comes off.

I take it the Elise is the S? I had one as a loan car for a week and actually preferred it to my S2 Exige. Its got just the right amount of power and is a great all rounder.

[deltashad]

I haven't done the maths yet on the MPG, it's pretty good though, I was getting around 40mpg in the VVC F, that was what the guide stated, this is meant to be slightly better. As you said, if you take things easy you can reach higher mpg.

The model is the lower powered Toyota unit. 134bhp, Surprisingly torquey all through the gears.

Just received a phone call from my mech, he's pulled the engine out of the Lancia, found more holes. Oh no. Wants me to come and have a look. Sounds serious!

[deltashad]

On picking up the Elise, I remembered my local friendly mechanic had invited me to a track day.

I somehow managed to talk the misses into going. I was strictly told there wasn't a hope in hell of getting the new car on the track.... I went with this, hell, at least I got to go to the track and watch.

When we got there we met up with her best friends husband, he was racing his MGZR 190 and immediately gave Anita a lecture about how the Elise was made for the track and she should stop being so controlling.

Worked a treat, her face was broken and upset but I was given the all clear. Red mist set in and I couldn't give a crap what abuse I was in for later, she didn't have time to take a breath before I was walking as fast as possible to sign on.

She relaxed and even managed to take a photo.



She started to smell a bit as the brake fluid heated up a bit after 20 odd laps so I pitted in and let her cool down



I thought I was a driving God, previously driving around Knockhill in the integrale against much lesser matched machinery I was pretty good.
This was an eye opener, the people here knew how to drive and my car was average at best. For the first time I realised I am below average.





Anyhow, tyres a bit shredded I made it home in one piece.

Then this morning I received a phone call from my mechanic Colin. "Grant, it's worse than expected. I've take out the engine in the Lancia, you better come around and have a look.



There are more holes.



I love the expanding foam look. The rear panel is totally shot.

The engine sits on these bits of rot



previous patches





I didn't take more photo's but there's holes in the sills and floor.

Its a tea bag.

This is without taking into consideration of the bodywork.... Oh well...

Apart from the Lancia's bad state giving me a headache, I've put loads of miles on the Lotus, probably averaged 20mpg driving like a 17 year old spotty idiot and washed/chamoised it at least five times in the three days of ownership and loved every minute.

Edited by deltashad on Friday 16th August 23:27

[SeldomSeenKid]

Best of luck with the Delta! Going by the name on the recovery lorry, you're not too far away from me, so I'll keep an eye out for it when you get it back on the road!