Rebuild and Spruce Up Thread

[Chim450]

I have owned my 2001 MK 1 for 12 and a half years now (second owner).
Initially it was my daily driver and served me well for 5 years in that role. It only let me down occasionally and it was usually something simple to fix.
4 kids then came along at a fair rate of knots and the Tuscan was relegated to my garage, only making occasional appearances over the past few years.
This year I decided enough was enough, the Tuscan deserved better!
It is currently at Powers Performance getting a 4.3 upgrade and mechanicals sorting. After that it is off to Blackpool for a respray (currently Crystal Topaz) in something exotic like Cascade Indigo and a full re-trim.
I'm fortunate enough to have the means to do what the car deserves and I'm sure after all the work it will make it the car of my dreams again.
I'll start posting pics as the work progresses and give my thoughts on the 4.3.

[Chim450]

lawtoni said:

When you're next there, please let me know if you see my dark blue Tuscan 2 at powers going through the same treatment as yours!

I'm planning a visit for tomorrow. I'll keep an eye out for yours.

[Chim450]

s6boy said:

Is it having a chassis refurb as well?

Going to see what the chassis looks like with the engine out and take Dom's advice.

[Chim450]

A couple of pics of the Tuscan st Powers awaiting upgrade.

[Chim450]

lawtoni said:

any sign of mine while you were there?

Yes. Your engine is out and being worked on. Dom showed me the bit that failed, no wonder it sounded sick! Dom said he'll try and give you a ring later with a progress report.
They were in the process of removing my engine, the air box was cracked so I may get the ACT carbon box unless Dom can source a decent second hand one.
I'm sure I've left my Tuscan in the best possible hands. I can't wait to get her back!

[Chim450]

lawtoni said:

Apparently it was the auxiliary shaft which broke. Not sure that I know what that is!!

I think it drives other components like the fuel pump, water pump etc... Not sure exactly what on a speed 6 though.

[Chim450]

Coming on.

[Chim450]

Time for an update. Not good news! Dom decided to pressure test the engine before re-assembly, it turns out that the cylinder head is porous and needs replacing. I think Dom will now pressure test before starting the build for the future.
Worse news to come though!! The chassis is in a poor state especially around the manifolds area.


With all the other work being done the only sensible option is a body off and new chassis.
There isn't going to be much left of the original car by the time it's finished! My other half better not find out how much this is costing!!!!!

[Chim450]

Engine done.


Body off and chassis refurb next.
Thinking of getting manifolds and decat pipes ceramic coated at Zircotec. Anyone had any experience of them?

Edited by Chim450 on Monday 21st August 16:36

[Chim450]

Incognegro said:

Chim450 said:

Engine done.


Body off and chassis refurb next.
Thinking of getting manifolds and decat pipes ceramic coated at Zircotec. Anyone had any experience of them?

Edited by Chim450 on Monday 21st August 16:36

Hi mate. recently got my Cerbera back from its build Dom. I saw your car many times when I was in to check on it. Like you my scope was much bigger than "just rebuild" I also did the ceramic coating of my decats and manifolds. i used Camcoat however. My feedback on them is they took a lot longer than wanted (partly due to their acceptance of what they thought was excellence)they thought the finish wasn't as they wanted and they did again tip it was SPOT ON... and it is! As goodwill they upgraded me to 2external coats and 1internal CAM4 Spec.

Pricewise they were always good and always advised well.

Sorry I can't comment on Zircotec but you will love your engine... I hope you really enjoy it mate.

Cheers mate. After doing a bit of digging it appears that camcoat have a bit of a mixed bag of reviews, Zircotec much less so but more than double the price than camcoat (circa £850 for manifolds alone!). I've come across a company called Performance One Coatings who are priced somewhere between the others, can't find many reviews though. I'm more interested in reducing temperature in the engine bay rather than aesthetics (this is what killed my chassis in the first place!) although pretty manifolds would look nice!

[Chim450]

ninetynine said:

my manifolds after about 10 mins running
performance 1 said they would re do foc but not pay for removal and refitting

gerrrrrr

I've read too many reviews where the coating has flaked off almost immediately, this only seems to be the case with paint based stuff used by Camcoat and Performance One. I think I'm going to go with Zircotec primary black, I've been quoted £345 for the manifolds which isn't a great deal more than Performance One.

[Chim450]

Incognegro said:

That is not a good look. Very sorry to hear P1 won't pay a significant chunk of the removal and refit after all the failure is clearly theirs.

In defence of cam coat and "paint based stuff" (not saying that is in fact thier product) but I can say after 1200miles and a beasting on the Rolling Road the CAM4 spec parts are without any issue. As advised it is race standard durability

I always hear good things of Zircotec so you shouldn't go wrong.

I'm sure that Camcoat and Performance One have lots of happy customers, but there do seem to be issues with some of their work. The coatings that they use are "baked on" and so there seems to be a risk that they may flake off. I suppose a lot is down to the condition of the original manifolds and the quality of the prep. From what I understand the process used by Zircotec means that it is highly unlikely that the coating will flake.
It has been scientifically proven that I am an unlucky b@*%#@d and if it is going to happen to anyone then it's going to be me , Just don't fancy shelling out for removal and refit of the manifolds at my own expense if it all goes Pete Tong.
BTW Alistair, your recent upgrades look epic.

[Chim450]

Incognegro said:

Go for it Chim... like I say only ever heard good things of Zircotec. Funny you say your unlucky I think you have a pal in me. My lovely RP cam cover has been fine for years... this intervention was the first time ever the gasket wanted to play up and if now probably won't stand the next disturbance. As you may know they are more rare than an astronaut on mars so I looking to source an original cam (oh but has to be the later design to take the newer sensors etc) ??

Thanks for your kind comment. How much longer before yours is back with you. Truly beautiful car and the upgrade your doing puts up a level again.

Cheers mate. I've booked the manifolds in with Zircotec, I'm hoping that it will make a real difference with regards to heat soak and more importantly will save my newly refurbished chassis from self destruction!
Dom reckons that the chassis work will take about 2 months. It's then off to Blackpool for a re-trim and respray (another 6-7 weeks) so will be a nice Christmas present to me!

[Chim450]

superfly said:

Hello chaps,

I have a crack at the front of my Mark 1, on the service bonnet. A naive question, but how easy is fibreglass to repair? Attached a (poor) photo below also illustrating a long key signature someone was kind enough to leave.

Any hints on good body work guys and costs would be very much appreciated too.

Where are you based? Surface and Design have a good reputation and are based in Blackpool on the old factory site. It might be worth giving them a ring to get an idea as to what's the best way to go.

[Chim450]

OK, so things are progressing.
The body is off, NS d outrigger appears the worst area, but will have to wait until the chassis is shot blasted to see the full extent of corrosion.
One thing that to me seems striking from the photos is the lack of white powder coat left on the chassis as a whole. Don't know whether that is what you expect of a 16 year old chassis or not.
I bet there are a lot of T cars out there that really could do with a body off refurb not to mention older cars, Chims, Griffs, Cerbs etc.
The exhaust manifolds are at Zircotec for a nice black ceramic coating.
I'm going to have to be patient, but when all the work is done the car will be far superior than when it left the factory.

[Chim450]

Holey Moley!
The chassis is back from the blasters. As you can see from the pictures there are a number of holes and pitting. The chassis had been regularly waxoyled at every service under my ownership (second owner), just goes to show this is no guarantee that the rot won't set in!

[Chim450]

So a bit of an update. In Dom’s at Powers Performance words “It’s a blinking huge salvage”.
Lots of shiny new metal, including near side engine bay chassis rail. Just outriggers to do.
So, by the time it is all finished it will have had; 4.3 upgrade and new cylinder head, new oil and water pumps, new starter, upgraded injectors, refurbished chassis, new interior trim and a full respray with colour change.
I’ve owned it for 12 years and it is a keeper and will be an heirloom, so “if you’re going to do it do it properly”

[Chim450]

Richie C said:

Looking good. What's the chassis treatment going to be?

Probably just white powder coat, but done properly!

[Chim450]

Outriggers going on.

[Chim450]

Hedgehopper said:

The tyres on your car are really bugging me, I keep returning to the pictures to see if I'm missing something.

It's hard to see the tread pattern on the rear N/S tyre but on front and O/S rear you appear to have three identical tyres.

Presumably these are asymmetric treads so the fronts must be incorrect.

Please put my mind at rest, right or wrong.

The tyres are identical, Vredestein Sessanta asymmetric.