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

[James23Parkin]

Started the list

I managed to get a few hours on the car today whilst it was sunny.

ECS Inlet Manifold Cover

Old Vs New

I wasn't happy with the 1k lacquer always bubbling. I guess I could have tried 2k now that I have all the gear, but I wanted a reliable looking item which would put up with anything.

Pollen Filter

Old Vs New

It's amazing how dirty these things get, even when sitting around

Glass Rear Wiper Delete

Received this in the post this morning.

So much better than the acrylic version, tinted and fitted really easily. Really liking the mod now.

Butyl Sealant

This arrived in the post today. Big thanks to Richard (RDS) for pointing me in the right direction on Graham81's RR thread I did all 4 doors and hopefully it'll cure the leaking driver's side doors.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281165391665?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_476wt_684

Here's how the list stands... Still a way to go...

General
Fit new ECS CF Inlet Manifold Cover - Done.
Do an engine flush with fresh oil, filter and new copper washer on the old magnetic plug.
Fit new Pollen Filter - Done.
Fit new Fuel Filter (anyone any ideas how this is done ).
Fit new glass Rear Wiper Delete - Done.
Adjust the Rear Upper Strut Brace and fit some S/S end fitments.
Steam clean the interior along with the steering wheel, which has mould growing in the dimples from storage (damp).
Butyl all 4 doors as the rear passenger one has a leak - Done.

Front
Remove old brakes and prepare the hubs.
Service front Airlift modules and Coilovers.
Clean down the wheel arches, stone chip and paint in Futura Yellow (couldn't get Ovni).
Roll the arches and trim the arch liner to suit.
Fit the new brakes and brake lines.
Fit the new poly bushed dog mount.
And fit the R32 ARB if I can source one cheap (but not likely this time round)

Rear
Remove the rear axle, have sandblasted and powder coated.
CNC a set of rear caliper brackets to accept 323mm x 22 mm 2-piece Compbrake rotors.
Refurbish the original calipers with paint and new seal set.
Fit rear axle poly bushes which I've had sat in the shed for 2 years.
Roll the arches a tad more than factory and trim the arch liners to suit
Stone chip and paint the rear arches and underneath.
Put back together with new brakes lines.

I'm out tomorrow but should get a few more hours on it on Wednesday. Still waiting for a few bits to arrive to accomplish the above list.

 

[adam cupra 20vt]

Nice work mate, really liking that wiper bung

 

[James23Parkin]

Nice work mate, really liking that wiper bung

Cheers Adam. I'm very happy with it and I'm pretty fussy. Worth the extra few quid.

 

[James23Parkin]

Continuing with the list...

My Appt in Birmingham was cancelled today, so with the sun shining again I had a couple more hours on the car.

Adjust the Rear Upper Strut Brace and fit some S/S end fitments.

Done. I used reclaimed central heating pipe surrounds as ends for the brace, and they've worked really well, finishing it off perfectly IMO. I also used some interior fabric dye to stain the underside of the parcel shelf, as it was grey and didn't match the black boot fabric.

Interior clean including steering wheel and gear knob which had mould in the dimples.

All done. I didn't steam clean the seats as when the sun went in it was quite chilly so I'll wait for the warmer months to do this. Looking nice and fresh, and no sign of water in the cabin as of yet (fingers crossed).

That's the general list done bar the fuel filter but I'll do that when I'm working on the rear. A few more bits arrived today: U-Pol stonechip; yellow paint for the arches once stonechipped; Pagid brake pads; Powerflex 23mm Front ARB bushes. I'm just waiting on the arch roller and ARB to arrive. Tomorrow's job will be to get the car safely on axle stands and to start removing what I can in prep for all the planned work. A bit nervous about doing it all myself but its only nuts and bolts at the end of the day... He says

 

[James23Parkin]

Big Boy pants are on again...

Started to remove all the front elements to be replaced and refurbished today. About 2 hours work in all. I decided to do this on our driveway rather than in the garage as its tight and away from my tools - looks delightful on jacks - the neighbours will (not) be delighted I'm sure

On axle stands, wheels removed, arch liners removed, brake lines, pads, calipers and discs all removed. Then I hit a stumbling block. I can't for the life of me remove the carrier bolts from the hubs! I have put two heat cycles through them along with penetrating fluid but they won't budge a millimetre. Options in preferred order are to repeat this until I have success, drill them out or simply replace the hubs for a donor pair, but at obvious expense. I'm going to pick up some more gas for my blow torch and some super doper penetrating fluid and have another go tomorrow. I've also spoke with David at Sere and ordered some new arch liner bolts and a new passenger arch liner (£44.00 posted in total) as the old ones were tatty. I want everything to be mint!

Other than that, a really enjoyable and productive morning me thinks. Here are some pictures as always....

All bagged up for the lucky new owner...

My arch roller finally arrived today too...

Thanks for reading. Hopefully it's not too much of a boring read...

 

[dgjdrummer]

Look forward to seeing the arches rolled, amazing work and progress as always and great attention to detail!

What length of breaker bar have you tried on your carrier bolts? I ended up using half of an old cymbal stand I had in the garage on the end of my ratchet and literally hung/bounced on it until the bolts moved!

Good luck getting them out and with the rest of the build mate

 

[James23Parkin]

Look forward to seeing the arches rolled, amazing work and progress as always and great attention to detail!

What length of breaker bar have you tried on your carrier bolts? I ended up using half of an old cymbal stand I had in the garage on the end of my ratchet and literally hung/bounced on it until the bolts moved!

Good luck getting them out and with the rest of the build mate

Cheers mate. The trouble is they have a 18mm head so not a usual socket set size. I used a spanner, so perhaps there's my problem. I'll pick up a socket head this evening and look about for something to use as a breaker bar. Thanks for the advice mate

I'm a bit worried about rolling the arches tbh - scared of cracking the paint! I'll just have to use the heat gun properly. We'll see how that goes next week

 

[dgjdrummer]

Cheers mate. The trouble is they have a 18mm head so not a usual socket set size. I used a spanner, so perhaps there's my problem. I'll pick up a socket head this evening and look about for something to use as a breaker bar. Thanks for the advice mate

I'm a bit worried about rolling the arches tbh - scared of cracking the paint! I'll just have to use the heat gun properly. We'll see how that goes next week

No worries mate, I can't remember if mine were 18mm or not but were a pain to get moving until I got them to crack. Also there's more room on the driver's side to loosen them as on the passenger side you have to work inside the wheel arch

Haha hopefully you'll be fine mate, have considered doing mine so will be interested to see how you get on

 

[Matty589]

Just read through mate and love what you have done with the car
I would recommend geting a socket and bar on the carrier bolts, it will undo them in no time
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[cupra.al]

i enjoy reading the updates on this and looking at how precise you are.
your drivers door hinge needs a good clean
best of luck with the bolts although im sure they will come out fine with a breaker bar and socket.

 

[adam cupra 20vt]

Nice progress mate. A breaker bar will get them bolts undone I reckon.

 

[James23Parkin]

Just read through mate and love what you have done with the car
I would recommend geting a socket and bar on the carrier bolts, it will undo them in no time
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Thanks I've been to Halfords and bought a 19 inch breaker bar and 18mm socket, along with some penetrating fluid. Round 2 tomorrow

i enjoy reading the updates on this and looking at how precise you are.
your drivers door hinge needs a good clean
best of luck with the bolts although im sure they will come out fine with a breaker bar and socket.

Damn it, you've caught me out. That hinge looks filthy doesn't it! I should stop using white grease on them really.

Nice progress mate. A breaker bar will get them bolts undone I reckon.

Cheers Adam

 

[jonjay]

Blimey James no stopping you!

 

[James23Parkin]

Blimey James no stopping you!

Thanks Maz. Time to get my skates on and make it happen. Secretly, I'm hankering after another car so I'm trying to keep up the enjoyment enough with the Leon to dampen that fire

 

[jonjay]

Thanks Maz. Time to get my skates on and make it happen. Secretly, I'm hankering after another car so I'm trying to keep up the enjoyment enough with the Leon to dampen that fire

I am trying really hard to make the mrs chop her little Ibiza in for new leon cupra. Its almost working lol!

 

[James23Parkin]

I am trying really hard to make the mrs chop her little Ibiza in for new leon cupra. Its almost working lol!

They seem to be very refined cars dont they. Did you manage to get some time on the Porsche as planned?

 

[jonjay]

They seem to be very refined cars dont they. Did you manage to get some time on the Porsche as planned?

Yea gave the porsche a drive and a wash the other day. Fixed some interior issues. I think I lost the detail writeup pictures... Doh! Hence I not posted anything up. It's bloody quick thing, maybe fastest point to point car I ever been in.

Yea absolutely love the new cupra. Ticks all the boxes bit like the mk1 did. Still stand by I should never sold the Leon but nevermind

 

[James23Parkin]

Yea gave the porsche a drive and a wash the other day. Fixed some interior issues. I think I lost the detail writeup pictures... Doh! Hence I not posted anything up. It's bloody quick thing, maybe fastest point to point car I ever been in.

Yea absolutely love the new cupra. Ticks all the boxes bit like the mk1 did. Still stand by I should never sold the Leon but nevermind

Well, everything happens for a reason as they say. A very lucky man to own a Porsche, even if there was some pain along the way.

 

[James23Parkin]

Whilst mustering up the motivation to work on the car this morning, my R32 front ARB arrived - got a bargain there!

Just to check that it was 23mm in thickness...

I'll refurb it next week and get it on. I've watched a couple of YouTube guides on fitting them, but I'm still not clear on dropping the subframe? Anyone done this themselves? Any guidance would be very much appreciated!

 

[James23Parkin]

Thanks to all of those who suggested a breaker bar They all came loose on literally the first stroke, so £20 well spent I guess. Removed the carriers, tie bars, knock sensors and airlines; basically anything that will get in the way of painting the arches next week. I've also removed the engine pan cover in prep of doing the ARB and dog bone mount, although I'm not at all confident about dropping the subframe I might wimp out and get a garage to fit that, but I'll do some more reading and see what I can find out. Please, anyone who has done this themselves or has knowledge of, please let me know your thoughts

Back on it on Monday.