fiestaturbo.com

[Smo]

And an excellent spare did it make!

Haha!

Yes, Combe! Woo!

[Tweek]

Wow, haven't seen those wheels for a while!

[Smo]

Don't really like them in black, but they'll do for Saturday! Will replace them with another set of steels next year

[Tweek]

So why did you paint them black then?

[dontpannic]

He sees in negative.

[Smo]

Was back when I had black steels and the idea was to have these as track wheels, but obviously the car has changed a lot now and silver steels suit it the best

[Smo]

Quite a sad post for me really, but the time has come to call it an end. The shell is now too far gone, and even though it went through an MOT only in November, something quite major went unnoticed (not necessarily through the fault of the tester may I add!) and I'm not prepared to drive the car anymore - it's simply not safe in my eyes, especially as I mostly use it for track days now.

It's been an amazing amount of fun, and even with the eventful failures I've had, it's ALWAYS got me home

13 and a half years, three accidents, four engines, many gearboxes, two attempted break-ins, quite a few mirrors and some great little road trips

There's one thing I really wanted to do before I called it an end and that was to take it to Germany and do the Ring, so I'm quite sad that it won't be making it now

But that's that. Cheers everyone who's helped me with absolutely everything over the years! I've learnt so much from here and managed so much with my car

Going to miss seeing my little Popular Plus outside my house!

[Turboboy67]

Sad times Si

What's going to replace it then ?

[hb69]

Reading that final post I actually got a bit emotional too. Had some good times in and with that car

[dontpannic]

[Excursion]

Sad times, time to move on, but at least you had your fun in it. What's next?

[Gus!!]

o the issue found is Definately not fixable then??s

[dontpannic]

:( o the issue found is Definately not fixable then??s

Not really, no

[Gus!!]

so I guess it's either a re shell or being broken then. Mk3's do tend to kill themselves

[hb69]

It had to happen at this point in the cars evolution too

[Smo]

Sad times, time to move on, but at least you had your fun in it. What's next?

Counselling

[Excursion]

Sad times, time to move on, but at least you had your fun in it. What's next?

Counselling

Oh dear

[Smo]

:( o the issue found is Definately not fixable then??s

Not really, no

The chassis rail basically started to collapse a few weeks back when I lowered the car on to an axle stand. As it broke through the underseal, my heart kind of sunk a little!







There's no real telling how far that's actually gone, but as it's started to collapse where the lower arm carrier is bolted, I'm guessing it goes further than that and well into the leg. Dodgy territory!

That's not the only bit; it'd need two full sills, the strengthening behind them, two rear arches and filler panel (or two full quarters), two front wings, a passenger door (might as well do the driver's side while at it...), a boot floor because that's a bit bent from a rear ender, both valances, bonnet is rough as anything, tailgate is rotting out, scuttle needs a repair and the firewall has various bits that would need cutting out and welding.

The daft thing is, the floor in general is very good, the rear turrets are 100% and I don't thing the glass has the slightest hint of any corrosion yet

Talking of corrosion, would you believe that a major part of my job is looking for the stuff... Scary, huh?

Plans? ... I have plans

[Gus!!]

s**t the bed!!

[Christina]

Oh no! Remind me to check the same area on mine tomorrow!

[Smo]

Ignorance was bliss!

[Excursion]

Mate, that's easy! I rebuilt both of those on my project shell just to be sure. It's literally just two overlapping U sections with a reinforcement pad around the captive fittings. It's one of the easier repairs at the front end!

If the rest is OK for a couple of years, it's worth repairing.

[Smo]

Really? Have you got any photos? I'm concerned how far up the leg they may have gone!

[russ-RST]

Mate, that's easy! I rebuilt both of those on my project shell just to be sure. It's literally just two overlapping U sections with a reinforcement pad around the captive fittings. It's one of the easier repairs at the front end!

If the rest is OK for a couple of years, it's worth repairing.

I like the sound of this simon!
Man up and get it done the next step sound too naughty to give up on her now

[Excursion]

Really? Have you got any photos? I'm concerned how far up the leg they may have gone!

The worst part of this particular repair is removing the interior to make welding safe, but in your case, there is no carpet, etc. anyway

I've just spent quote some time going through my pics and don't have anything.

If you want me to make up a replacement chassis rail for you let me know, I will do it at cost. Just send me the measurements.

[Smo]

OK, Mark, that's very kind of you!

Once I strip the car down, I shall remove the carrier and cut out what I can and see how bad it is. It won't be for a few months, though; It's going to be sitting in a barn for a bit, partly because of the weather and partly because I'm not going to have much time between now and then!

What thickness metal do you use? 2? 2.5?

[Excursion]

OK, Mark, that's very kind of you!

Once I strip the car down, I shall remove the carrier and cut out what I can and see how bad it is. It won't be for a few months, though; It's going to be sitting in a barn for a bit, partly because of the weather and partly because I'm not going to have much time between now and then!

What thickness metal do you use? 2? 2.5?

No problem. The part along the floorpan is 1.2, and the thicker overlapping section towards the bulkhead is 1.5mm. Always surprisingly thin

[Smo]

Surprising indeed!

Cheers