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

[jonjay]

James - what can i say stunning updates. I actually enjoy these sort of updates more than modding ones at the moment! The level of work is very high i must say, super impressed. That car jack...what is it? Looks super small and might just fit under my car so I can jack her up?

 

[James23Parkin]

Just had a good look through your thread mate and it's a great read. I love the depth you put in your posts and the detail in which you explain everything.

Definitely considering nabbing a couple of your ideas! Definitely like how the spacers make the car sit aswell, was there any differences other than looks after fitting? How much did they cost for the front and rears?

Keep up the good work buddy, you have a fantastic car here that definitely looks the part!

Nab away mate. Hopefully the thread gives you as much info as you need. There's loads of very informative RR threads on here; they've been a great source of guidance and inspiration over the years.

I can't remember the prices tbh. I initially went for H & R 10mm spacers, and then bought Eibach 5mm for the rears, as an add on (15mm rears and 10mm front). If I had my time again, I would stick with these or the Forge spacers; they're reasonably priced and as always, very good quality. I think 50 quid for two spacers, without extension bolts is a fair going rate.

Hope this helps, and thanks for the positive comments.

James.

 

[James23Parkin]

Very nice mods my friend

LCR is fantastic car

Great recent progress James.

Engine cover looks spot on, really like that! Coilovers will be worth it They're brilliant mate. Also the brembo work and debaffled charge pipe DIY is a great effort and a good read. Well done.

Keep it coming, lovely car.

Keep us updated about the de baffled pipe
As I was going to order a forge one

Wow great progress there love your write ups you deffo do things properly

Thanks everyone

James.

 

[James23Parkin]

James - what can i say stunning updates. I actually enjoy these sort of updates more than modding ones at the moment! The level of work is very high i must say, super impressed. That car jack...what is it? Looks super small and might just fit under my car so I can jack her up?

Thanks Maz. The jacks is actually a 2 ton jack from Halfords. I got it on sale a while back, but it's very user friendly. It sits very flush to its outer frame with the jack point also sitting low down. This benefit is that it fits under the side skirt without any bother. However, please note that it just fits and the car isn't as low as yours, but a brilliant jack for the money ??20 quid or so. You get a nice hard case for storage too.

Really liked D.K.'s detail write up. It must have taken forever to put that post together lol but gives so much valuable info, which us mear-mortals can benefit from greatly

James.

 

[James23Parkin]

A little update...

It’s been a good couple of months since I last logged on to SeatCupra.Net. I got married on 11th June and this took a lot of time either side and work has been busy since. TBH, my love for the car had faded over that period, which is something I never thought would happen, but it did. Cutting myself loose from the site I think was my way of building up to sell the car…… HAS NOT WORKED AT ALL!!!!

I took it out of storage last Saturday, gave it a wash, as the weather was nice for a change, and really enjoyed it. Forgot how nice looking the car is! (slightly biased opinion...) I hope to buy a new car soon but this will stay, as I like it too much. Will hopefully be buying an Audi A4 estate S-Line TDI in due course.

I repainted the front brake callipers a couple of months ago; sanding back to metal. I tried Hammerite smooth but it’s so thin, it ran and I just couldn’t get it right. It also crinkled when lacquered, even with 48 hours drying time. The ambient temp wasn’t too high either. After a couple of attempts, I gave up and went for an Audi Red, which matched the rears perfect. Just as bright as the Hammerite shade and it went on without a hitch. It must have been me as others have used Hammerite without any trouble...shame... Using new 80mm white decals, that had been ordered off eBay (as used by JamJay), it was lacquered using U-Pol lacquer. The disc bells and hubs were also re-painted in silver, as the same as the rears, which has freshened it up really well. They came out great and have withstood temperatures without any dramas. I also got some gloss black wheelnut covers. Wasn't sure at first but I think they tie in well.

Not being that mechanically confident, I tried to remove the front shocks but the bolts were proper seized, even with a good soak of penetrating fluid and lots of jiggling, I lost my nerve and decided against it. When funds permit, I’ll pay my mechanic to fit them and replace all the bushes/track rod ends etc; they're sitting in the shed waiting to go on (as pictured on pg 7). With living in the sticks, the front won’t be able to be wound down too low, but definitely needs to go a little lower than present… cough…

With the car washed, clayed, waxed and interior hovered, I took some photos of the car as sits at the moment.

The Brembos really stand out now...

The FMIC has disappeared; it's still there but I think the elements might have faded the not-so-stainless steel... Not a bad thing though...

I think the stance at the rear is pretty much spot on?? See what I mean about the front...

Love it from this angle...

The shade of the Hammerite silver has settled well and doesn't look out of place IMO...

Moody shot of the Cambridgeshire Fens' skies just before it chucked it down... before I made it home...

As I said above, I'm really happy with the car. I've worked hard over the years to keep it looking its' best. Passed another MOT in May without any hitches; also had another oil change. The engine bay is looking very fresh with the painted plastics standing up well to the elements. The interior is like-new, and generally, it's exactly where I wanted it. I had booked it in to have the wheels re-finished in powdercoat semi-gloss black, but wimped out. I think I like the OEM silver so they'll be done soon as they desperately need some attention.

I know we all go there from time to time but I'm glad I've got the bug back for the car! Sorry the update isn't too exciting... Thanks for reading!

James.

 

[MarkWales]

Stunning - Amazing what a good clean can do.

 

[RDS]

Congratulations on the wedding mate. Its good to see you back

Cars looking great as always was it Hammerite Silver spray you used or a tin and brushed it on?

Get a Badger 5 3" TIP to help rekindle the love.

 

[James23Parkin]

Stunning - Amazing what a good clean can do.

Thanks Mark! A further clean today has caused the list of things to do to grow (not in a bad way). It's surprising to me just how much I've missed pottering with the car; good time to gather your thoughts and stuff. Shame the weather isn't here at the moment!

 

[James23Parkin]

Congratulations on the wedding mate. Its good to see you back

Cars looking great as always was it Hammerite Silver spray you used or a tin and brushed it on?

Get a Badger 5 3" TIP to help rekindle the love.

You're a bad influence Rich!! To confirm, yes it was Hammerite Smooth Silver brush on; a good couple of coats left a brush mark free finish. Masking up for spray around the disc bells/hubs would have been quite a fiddly job tbh.

Thanks again

 

[James23Parkin]

...

 

[James23Parkin]

Rarb

Really quite chuffed with my latest purhase! I've been after a Neuspeed rear anti roll bar for a long time but could never justify the cost of a new one, as it was more of a 'luxury item'.

However, browsing eBay this morning, I came across a 26mm RARB made by neuspeed for £50. This included all the fittings, and generally the item looked to be in reasonable shape. It's been sprayed black, as you can see from the picture. I might get it powdercoated and looking its best before I fit it.

With the RARB, coilovers and rear upper strut brace, the rear, handling wise, will be complete. Not that I will be taking it on the track or anything, but hey... should sharpen it up on the country roads

Just off to look at the settings recommended (soft, medium or hard). If anyone could offer their findings, it would be greatly appreciated.

James

 

[RDS]

Hi mate,

Great purchase, trust me RARB are not luxury items, they are a great bit of kit. I've got the 25mm Neuspeed RARB and would recommend setting it on its stiffest, but only if you have uprated the front (I have the mk4 golf R32 FARB) otherwise I would set it on the middle setting.

Richard

edit - When are you ordering your badger 5 3" TIP and getting the car mapped

 

[James23Parkin]

Hi mate,

Great purchase, trust me RARB are not luxury items, they are a great bit of kit. I've got the 25mm Neuspeed RARB and would recommend setting it on its stiffest, but only if you have uprated the front (I have the mk4 golf R32 FARB) otherwise I would set it on the middle setting.

Richard

edit - When are you ordering your badger 5 3" TIP and getting the car mapped

You bugger

Once the stance is right and all the rolling stuff is sorted, I would love to have the car fully resprayed to get it to its best. The car is mechanically in great shape for its age and I'll just enjoy that for a while until funds/balls allow a remap/ badger 5 TIP. Just don't want to rock the boat if you know what I mean.

edit - Thanks for the advice on the RARB setup.

 

[MATTCR]

Love this

 

[James23Parkin]

Love this

Thanks Matt. Brilliant signature banner BTW!

 

[MATTCR]

 

[Mr_Dave]

Congrats on getting married James

Stance is spot on

Your LCR really is a lovely example, glad to hear you'll be keeping it (and that they're as infectious as I've been making out to people!!!) think I'll be investing some time doing a better job of refurbing my brakes sometime soon also.

You'll love the rARB, it makes a huge difference to the way the car feels.

 

[James23Parkin]

Congrats on getting married James

Stance is spot on

Your LCR really is a lovely example, glad to hear you'll be keeping it (and that they're as infectious as I've been making out to people!!!) think I'll be investing some time doing a better job of refurbing my brakes sometime soon also.

You'll love the rARB, it makes a huge difference to the way the car feels.

Thanks Dave

Had a parcel waiting for me today on my return home from work... the Neuspeed RARB. I'm really happy with it, although I forgot that it was a lump of metal and didn't think it would weigh as much as it does It's been freshly painted in gloss black, to a really high standard. So much so that I'm not going to redo it (meets my usual standards). To confirm, it's the 25mm not 26mm bar, as originally thought. It also came with brand new drop links and bushes, so for 50 squids it was an absolute bargin.

Thanks to Richard (RDS) I'll take his advice and set it on the medium (middle) setting and see how I get on. Hopefully going to fit it tomorrow so I will put up some pictures then.

Chuffed

 

[RDS]

You'll love it once its fitted. Have you ever considered uprating the front? The 23mm R32 is a great option and it'll be about £75 from a VW dealer. Just incase your intrested:

mk IV R32 front ARB - part no. 1J0 411 305AF

Richard

 

[filbro]

Car looks great. The silver alloys really work. You were right not to go black.