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My LCR Since '05 with Static+ Front Air Lift - Project Gone to a New Home.

Oct 21, 2006
1,226
1
Norfolk
Awesome looking car chap. :)

Loads of inspiration for me as new LCR owner. :help:

I fancied a yellow or red one but gave in to the better half's demand for a black one! :wtf:

Plenty of cleaning for me!

Thanks Mark! Congrats on the new motor. I know it's a lot of effort with the up-keep but the results of black LCRs can be just jaw dropping.

I'm sure you'll be very happy. It's really frustrating but women are always right.

Enjoy buddy; I look forward to watching your progress. There's perhaps better people to ask on this forum but, if I can help in any way then just ask :)

James.
 

MarkWabe

Be the change
Aug 15, 2010
434
0
Braintree
Thanks James, I really appreciate it!

Just like you I intend to keep it as OEM as possible. :)

AND, you're not that far from me. ;)
 
Oct 21, 2006
1,226
1
Norfolk
Really enjoyed reading your thread mate :) Love all the work you have done to it

Thanks mate. Hopefully I'll have more interesting things to write about as progress is made over the winter; mainly finishing off the bay and sorting the stance....finally :)

I hope your white wheels do ok over the winter months mate.

James.
 
Oct 21, 2006
1,226
1
Norfolk
Some of you might have seen these before, but whilst at the Classic Car show this past Saturday, I bought these with a view to them being pinned up in my shed, and eventually, my garage. I think it'll be a couple of moves away before I get 'my den' but it's kind of an aspiration to have a garage.....AGAIN.....sad I know. I'll make do with my shed for now..... hahah.

P1010691.jpg


P1010695.jpg


James.
 
Oct 21, 2006
1,226
1
Norfolk
With Christmas upon us, for me, it usually means that I have two or so weeks off over the festive season. Beyond catching up with family and friends, I’m hoping that I’ll get a few days spare to start a few bits and bobs on the car. Generally, the car is running well without any present issues or concerns other than the weather is pants and the car is
filthy; I’m sure we all find ourselves in a similar position… Role on spring…

Having done a bit of digging on the net, as John (CupraMVR) is using, I decided to buy a set of Pulstar Pulse Plugs - BE1-I-Series Iridium. They were going cheap on eBay, so I thought why not. As a point for reference, the BE1-I is the correct fitment for VAG engines.

P1010746.jpg


I’ll probably fit them in the spring once the roads improve; this is when I’ll hopefully (finally) get it mapped so, along with everything else, it should feel a little more lively than its’ standard map.

So the plans for the next couple of weeks are to finally finish off the engine bay. Now that the induction set-up is configured and working well, I’d like to turn my attention to the plastics. The S3 Strut Brace was powder-coated last summer along with all the nuts and bolts having being replaced with SS ones. The hoses are all done and all that needs to be polished, has been.

As you will perhaps know, I sprayed my covers at the beginning of last year and generally, the finish has held up well to the harsh temperatures within the bay.

Here's a pic.

P1010742.jpg


However, I’ve never really liked the pimple holes in the main engine cover and the inlet manifold cover. A previous attempt using standard filler did not work due to the heat causing cracks (trial and error…). After becoming a bit wiser, I’m going to use fibre glass and resin to form a backing and fill system. Today, this has been achieved.

P1010747.jpg


P1010752.jpg


P1010759.jpg


P1010760.jpg


I probably won’t be able to start sanding until I break up for Christmas a week on Tuesday, but once smoothed, I’ll use a primer before applying matt black (U-Pol Professional).

For the finish, the lacquer has lasted reasonably well but is starting to look a bit tired. Having done a bit of reading, although I’ve not seen this done, I’ve purchased a 1kg pack of Carbon Fibre High Temperature Epoxy Resin from www.carbonmods.com and this will be used as the final layer. It is reported that it cures to a perfectly clear finish, is durable and can cope with temps up to 140 deg. Speaking to Darren (D.K.) briefly, he says that it’s user-friendly and gives a good finish, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

The same process will be used for the Inlet Manifold cover. As they are cheap, I’ve bought a new cover from Tristan at Seat (as sponsored on SCN). I’ve also ordered a new gasket for the Throttle body to Inlet Manifold as I would like to fit a Throttle body that I’d bought off a mate a while back (improved butterfly piece for flow and is finished nicely in matt black) – drunken purchase so we’ll see…

The battery cover will also receive the same finish.

I’ve also bought some Perspex to try and replicate the S3 engine coolant and windscreen washer cover, with the hope that it will fit without leaving a curved gap at the front as on the S3 cover. I like to have a go at things but this may well be one of my (many) less successful projects. The plan is to use heat to create the bends and indents, and with paint, I hope it’ll look fairly OEM.

A write up of those stages with pictures will follow.

Thanks for reading.

James :santa:
 

D.K

LCR 225
Oct 24, 2007
6,408
3
se london
I would'nt try wraping the main enighe cover if I was you mate, it has got some very tight curves which you might have problems with and the weave on the carbon weave might distort, Personelly I'd buy the one from Forge, there not cheap but buy the time you try to wrap it and most likely waste a lot of carbon (which I have in the past :rolleyes:) it'll probabley work out cheaper
The battery cover is doable but start on something simple, try doing flat pieces with no or shallow curves first so you get a feel for how the stuff perform's ;)

Oh and the normal temp kit's are fine for the engine bay, mine have been on for over a year and the heat has'nt affected it atall ;)
 

D.K

LCR 225
Oct 24, 2007
6,408
3
se london
Nice work chap! Silly question, but are the holes in the engine cover supposed to be there for heat dissipation?

They might be ment to let the heat out but the engine will be fine with them covered, The Forge carbon one does'nt have them, I'v had mine on for about 2 years and it's had no bad affects on the engine or temps
 
Oct 21, 2006
1,226
1
Norfolk
I would'nt try wraping the main enighe cover if I was you mate, it has got some very tight curves which you might have problems with and the weave on the carbon weave might distort, Personelly I'd buy the one from Forge, there not cheap but buy the time you try to wrap it and most likely waste a lot of carbon (which I have in the past :rolleyes:) it'll probabley work out cheaper
The battery cover is doable but start on something simple, try doing flat pieces with no or shallow curves first so you get a feel for how the stuff perform's ;)

Oh and the normal temp kit's are fine for the engine bay, mine have been on for over a year and the heat has'nt affected it atall ;)

Thanks Darren. I'm not using carbon though. I'm using a paint finish with the laminating epoxy as the final coat. I've tried a test piece and it's worked really well. I just wanted to find a more durable finish over lacquer. Fingers crossed.

James :)
 
Oct 21, 2006
1,226
1
Norfolk
Nice work chap! Silly question, but are the holes in the engine cover supposed to be there for heat dissipation?

They might be ment to let the heat out but the engine will be fine with them covered, The Forge carbon one does'nt have them, I'v had mine on for about 2 years and it's had no bad affects on the engine or temps

^^ Cool, thanks bud. :)

Thanks Mark. As D.K. has stated, the holes serve no meaningful purpose.

James :)
 
Oct 21, 2006
1,226
1
Norfolk
When you paint it, you going go machine the paint flat first then lacquer?

Hi Maz.

I'll prime, then wet and dry using 800 grade before applying a couple of layers of matt black. I'll then wet and dry it, probably with 1200 grade. I'll then apply the epoxy resin; the resin will be the final coat. I wanted to find a more durable finish to the lacquer which is currently in situ.

James :)
 
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