8bit's Mk1 Leon Cupra R. Scarlett - as in Johansson...

[Willie]

Looking good Nial.
Where you getting your 4 wheel alignment done?
The rear ARB won't effect the alignment so you can fit this at any time.
DBM looks good, make sure you don't stretch the two bolts that go into the gear box/clutch bell housing. It tells you to do this on the workshop manual, but its wrong as i found out to my cost.

 

[8bit]

Cheers min, aye I figured the rear ARB wasn't going to hit alignment (is there any adjustment in the rear geometry?) but figured it would be better to hang off until I've had the bump damage fixed. Spoken to Clark Motorsport in Kintore so will get it booked in there next time I've got a day off, they don't do Saturdays any more.

Re. the DBM, I posted asking about this and LEE69 pointed me at a thread you posted in, see below. Are those torque values still what you'd recommend? Also, what do you mean by "stretch"? Is this just turning the bolts an extra 90 degrees?

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=241757&highlight=repeating

 

[Willie]

Cheers min, aye I figured the rear ARB wasn't going to hit alignment (is there any adjustment in the rear geometry?) but figured it would be better to hang off until I've had the bump damage fixed. Spoken to Clark Motorsport in Kintore so will get it booked in there next time I've got a day off, they don't do Saturdays any more.

Re. the DBM, I posted asking about this and LEE69 pointed me at a thread you posted in, see below. Are those torque values still what you'd recommend? Also, what do you mean by "stretch"? Is this just turning the bolts an extra 90 degrees?

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=241757&highlight=repeating

Yup, the stretch is the extra 90 degrees of turn after the initial torquing.
The above linked post is still true.
Thumbs up for Clark Motorsport, they have my geometry settings to allow you to compare yours to if you want, just take my reg with you 'S8AJA'

 

[8bit]

Cool, cheers. Hopefully Scarlett gets back quick from the garage then, looking forward to getting the DBM and the rear ARB fitted.

I'll mention that to Clark when I get there then altho won't it be a bit different cos I'm still on OEM suspension?

 

[Willie]

Cool, cheers. Hopefully Scarlett gets back quick from the garage then, looking forward to getting the DBM and the rear ARB fitted.

I'll mention that to Clark when I get there then altho won't it be a bit different cos I'm still on OEM suspension?

Yup, not really to do with the suspension, more to do with the ride height.
But with your adjustable wish bone arms you should be able to get the same settings, or close, to what I'm running.
I've got -1.6 degrees camber on the front and -1.3 degrees camber on the rear.
The rear cannot be adjusted.

 

[8bit]

Ah right, I didn't realise there was scope for preferences in the front, I knew the rears were totally fixed but I figured the adjustment on the front was just so as to get it in line with the rear. Cool, I'll ask about your settings then, need to ring tomorrow to book in.

Another wee purchase for the car today, something I've wanted for a long time:

Yes! It's a DRIVEWAY!

I know there's a garage too but like almost all garages in Aberdeen you'd struggle to get a modern car in it, even something normal sized like a Leon. I've just wanted a decent, reasonably level driveway for ages. Of course, it does come with a nice little three-bedroom house but that's the g/f's domain, I'm just happy with my driveway and garage

Still need to get all the documents in order, we had our offer accepted at 5.30pm today so it's not totally signed, sealed and delivered yet but all being well myself, the g/f, Scarlett and the other half's MX-5 will be there in six weeks.

 

[Willie]

Looks like Westburn park area?

Well done on getting a house, oh an a garage

 

[8bit]

Cheers min, nah it's more south-west of town than that - dinna want to say too much to give away location on public forum If it all goes according to plan i'll tell you all aboot it at the next meet.

One actual car-related update today - installed a new MAF I picked up from the stealers yesterday. It might just be placebo effect but the car feels alive again. Maybe the old one is/was on the way out. Only thing is the turbo doesn't sound as perfectly smooth as it did when on full boost in 2nd but could be the slight boost leak I've been told I might have so will have to check that out.

Actually, Willie - know anywhere around here that can do proper boost leak testing, or preferably smoke-leak test? Wallace maybe?

 

[dav]

spot on dude!

 

[tyrer]

Congrats on the new purchase mate!

 

[Willie]

Cheers min, nah it's more south-west of town than that - dinna want to say too much to give away location on public forum If it all goes according to plan i'll tell you all aboot it at the next meet.

One actual car-related update today - installed a new MAF I picked up from the stealers yesterday. It might just be placebo effect but the car feels alive again. Maybe the old one is/was on the way out. Only thing is the turbo doesn't sound as perfectly smooth as it did when on full boost in 2nd but could be the slight boost leak I've been told I might have so will have to check that out.

Actually, Willie - know anywhere around here that can do proper boost leak testing, or preferably smoke-leak test? Wallace maybe?

Not seen or heard of anywhere doing this apart from one guy on here getting it done and it all went a bit wrong.

 

[8bit]

spot on dude!

Congrats on the new purchase mate!

Cheers guys

Willie, ah ok - I thought getting smoke tests for boost leaks was pretty standard. What went wrong, can you remember?

 

[Willie]

Cheers guys

Willie, ah ok - I thought getting smoke tests for boost leaks was pretty standard. What went wrong, can you remember?

was never 100% confirmed.
It was Danny who has just slipped his timing belt teeth.
Last time it was a bottom end rebuild, this time its going to be a top end rebuild

 

[8bit]

Smoke test can't have totally killed his engine surely? Is it not just a case of putting some smoke and a little pressure in after the air filter and seeing if any comes out from the hoses?

 

[Willie]

Smoke test can't have totally killed his engine surely? Is it not just a case of putting some smoke and a little pressure in after the air filter and seeing if any comes out from the hoses?

Should be, yes

 

[8bit]

Ah, guess something must have gone wrong then. OK I'll do a bit more reading and have a good check over the pipes and hoses from turbo to intake manifold. I have to check out the turbo for shaft play sometime soon too, hopefully it'll stay dry long enough this weekend. Also hopefully I won't be made to spend all weekend in B&Q and home furnishing stores...

 

[8bit]

Dropped her off at the garage this morning to get rear bumper respray and whatever else needs done, rear impact bar probably at a minimum. Got handed the keys to a 59-plate Mondeo 2.0TDCi which is... well, ok I guess.

It feels lazy, soft and a bit vague but then it's not meant to be sporty, just not my cup of tea at all. But hey ho, it's better than no car at all, especially given that insurance repair jobs always seem to get dragged out...

 

[8bit]

Well almost 2 and a half weeks after dropping the car at the "approved repair center" I got the call to come and pick it up last night. Dropped the hire car off first thing this morning and then went to get my car. After 16 days with my car they still managed to make a complete horse's arse of it.

The colour match looked ok as far as I could see, the car was indoors in a poorly lit room. However there were a number of bits where it appeared almost that there was white bits of plastic sticking up through the paintwork, these felt rough to the touch. There were also a number of patches where the finish was the same colour but the texture was like orange peel.

I was (still am) fuming about this, told them no way was I accepting it like that, it looked worse than when I left it with them and at that point it had just been crashed into. They said "oh that'll polish out, gimme five minutes" and took the car into the workshop again, then the guy came out and sheepishly admitted that they'd tried polishing it and they'd cut right through the paint so they'd have to do it all again. He said "i'll try and have it ready tomorrow for you" so I'll give them until 5pm tomorrow then I'm complaining to my insurer.

FFS.

 

[tyrer]

That's shite!!! Good luck tomorrow mate.

Don't accept bad workmanship

 

[8bit]

I should have taken photos, if I wasn't so angry about it then it might have been funny. Bottom line - if your insurance company tell you they want you to go to Arnold Clark as that's their "approved repair center" then for god's sake don't if you have any say in the matter. I should have read up and found out if there was any legal precedent on this.