The big experiment - amateur 3B shenanigans

[Nj]

who's is the other red car across the road??

That's my 16 valve mate. It's pretty but it doesn't do 0-60 in under 6 seconds.
I bought it last year from a local guy who is a body work bloke. he got it with front end damage, fixed it and resprayed it so it's a seriously shiny car (apart from the wee dent on the bonnet from some mentally challenged individual passing a while ago. due to get sorted out soon)
I toyed with reshelling into that body but i'd be left with no daily driver and if i made a bollcks of it i'd have ruined 2 cars

[Acidburn]

Plus i'd have thought it would only be front wheel drive iirc?

[Nj]

yeah, it's only fwd. another one of the major reasons for getting the s2

[Nj]

guys, you got an recommendations for tools i'll need, other than the usual sockets and stuff? I'd prefer to get them in advance that realise each time i'm under the car and have to go get one at a time
all advice/abuse welcome as usual

[Knight Rider S4]

Buy this and you should be sorted for most stuff

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_173083_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_33931_crumb_33958-33943_parentcategoryrn_33931

They are on offer at my local halfords down to a Hundred quid which is pretty good and life time Guarantee on all of it

Other things is good pliers..mole grips.....chisel..punches.pry bar for levering .....good pair of stilsons never goes wrong to

If you are taking off pipes rubber boots to put over pipes to stop them leaking fluid everywhere

Cheers

Steve

[S2central.net]

This is a BIG job for an amateur/enthusiast with little experience... I'm not a fan of the Halfrauds tools at all but might be OK for this one-off venture. Really good tools would be useable again and again.

You are going to need a selection of hex/allen-headed and torx-headed tools depending on where you decide to disconnect the driveshafts. A good variety of screwdrivers will be needed as well as a torque wrench when putting it all back together.

I fully expect the exhaust to put up a fight so investment or the borrowing of a hot torch and/or angle grinder might be needed for those really stubborn bolts.

If you are patient, take lots of photos/notes, get as much help a possible - with a bit of luck and plenty of care you should be OK.

Oh when removing the suspension struts you'll need some special tools to undo the top mount from the body.

You'll also need two what I call 'swan neck' spanners (17mm) for removing wishbones from the subframes as sockets dont get in there properly.

Hard to visualise all of this - I'm sure theres some other funky tools you will need along the way.

[Nj]

thanks lads. I appreciate all that advice. I've got a good socket set with 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive ratchets and a selection of hex and tork bits. No doubt i'll need 2mm bigger than I have and end up buying more. I've got a good big breaker bar, loads of pliers/mole grips, random screwdrivers and things. Got a torque wrench given to me recently. totally old school but the guy's dad is an engineer and swears by it. must post a photo. I've got Dubbedup's troque wrench too, although it only tightens and doesn't loosen (at least it's not the other way round). Just bought a small blow torch and a big angle grinder cos I assume i'll need to fight something at some point. I'll try to keep the torch away from anything flammable.
Also got a set of spanners that I think are called access spanners or something like that. banana shaped chaps - think that's the swan necked ones you mean Paul. Hopefully they'll do. Erm.. got a set of ratchet spaners too, which are a godsend.

I'll need to investigate the strut tool. I remember having a problem with that before on my old 80. good thinking. and i'll investigate the rubber boots and stilsons (my first thought was off stetsons but they wouldn't be that handy). Oh - and a pry bar. I'm sure one of the dodgy neighbours will have one.

Right - i'm off to dip into my son's savings. cheers again. I'll keep you updated on my antics.

[S2central.net]

For a wee deposit, refundable on their safe return, I can loan you the strut-top tools if you cant get them locally. Send me a PM if interested.


Paul

[Nuvo]

Noel, I can l bring along my strut insert tool and 7mm hex key. I don't have the VAG3078 but you can get away with a 22mm cranked spanner IIRC.

[Nj]

Paul - really appreciate the offer mate but Rob seems to have it covered.
cheers Rob - that'll be first on the list of things I don't have that I need you to bring
cheers

[Azman]

Engine will not come out with gearbox and subframe attatched!!!!! Look at the width of the frame and then everything else. Unless you plan on hammering the front of the car to shape IIRC it will just not work. Get under there and drop the frame off the gearbox, support the Gbox with a soft (remeber soft!!!) block of wood on a jack and drop the frame off if you can. best way I found v.hard to manouver all the bits att he same time given the width of the subframe!.

P.s. Unless the ratchet spanners were good epensive ones sling them!!! As sson as you come across something that needs a bit of decent force they will break (experience again!!!)

Other than that keep everything!!!! Go to town on the shell st4rip every little bit. Keep every little nut bolt plastic nut, retainetr for the side strips EVERYTHING!!!!!

They will always come in handy or someone on here will need one!!!

Remember EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING EVERYTHING (sorry trying to hypnotise you to remeber EVERYTHING!!!!! lol )

[Nj]

Look into my eyes, look into my eyes.... you will keep absolutely everything from the shell.



Cheers mate. Appreciate the tips. I've obviously misread something. I'll use the trolley jack and soft wood trick to hold the gearbox. although i'll need a new trolley jack. a circlip disappeared off mine (clarke) last night and lurched a bit. and i found myself at 10.30 jumping on a wheel wrench thing (what are they called - tyre irons? is that am american term?) trying to get a couple of wheel nuts off. Got my breaker bar out and had to sue a 1/2 to 3/8 convertor... which snapped.

Ps - i'll remove every nut, bolt, screw, plastic doofer, doodah, thigmy and waddyacallit I can find.

[Nj]

Well I managed to get out Sat and Sun mornings. I haven't poked myself in the eye with a screwdriver just yet so I'll take that as a sign things are going well. I got almost everything from the interior removed and then Ciaran (ciaranthemurph) was down with me today to lend a hand. Much appreciated mate, thanks again. We got the dash out, labelled absolutely everything in sight and the rolled the car back into the garage to get it jacked up. Unfortunately high chair shopping called an end to the games in the afternoon and Ciaran had to go home, rather than stay under the car to fight the rusty exhaust bolts.

Couple of pics....
The idea of a roll cage + chunky suspension = beach buggy crossed my mind briefly



And the question of "WTF are all those then?" also crossed my mind. (seats are just thrown back in there until I get the keys back to the 2nd lockup I use for storage. bloody council didn't give them back the other day after going out to assess the damaged door)


At this point it was still running and I drove it into the garage. wonder how fast it would be without all that extra weight? Of course the aerodynamics might be a tad crap.

Ciaran Vs the 16 year old rusted bolts


right - I'll continue with more thrilling tales of amateur mechanics when I've more to report
cheers

[Azman]

Going well from teh looks of things matey.
Keep up the good work!!

[Nj]

cheers Az. that's the hard bit done so the rest will be downhill from here on.