The Continuous Car Thread of S_S - Skodas, BMWs, Austins...
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surprising_skoda
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Back home and time to figure out what I'm driving now.
One of the work vans has popped its cogs and only has two gears so that's out of action for now.
Just before I left for England (or in fact while I was away) I finally managed to arrange retrieval of my 740i. I had to send round a recovery lorry and just about forcibly take it back - a very unpleasant experience in the end, made no better by the car coming back in a sorry state - not actually broken, but difficult to start, parts of trim lying inside it instead of on it and so on, dead battery from lying abandoned in a storage lot (alongside some other nice cars, I'm told, ones that shouldn't be lying out in an open dockside yard).
In slightly more appreciable news, I've ordered some fender flares for it, and have decided what route I'm going with it. Will be appearing soon...
The MG had a water leak into the boot, as previously mentioned. I figured a big saloon would have a bulkhead, but no, its a fold through rear, so that leak has now soaked the rear seats so I had to pull all of that out and the carpets and sound deadening. Silly error. I guess it's still usable but I don't want to while I'm figuring out what's wrong.
A little thing that was bugging me was the loose gear knob leather. Stitching was loose so i pulled it all out and rethreaded it.
Dunked in some warm water, pulled it back over the knob and it stretched then shrunk into place as it dried. It needs a little leather cream now to soften it as being old leather it kind of dried a bit hard, but its still much better than before.
The Alfa needs plenty as previously mentioned also, and all the parts have been ordered to do that now, as I realise I do still need a "beater" and the 530d touring I was using is about dead.
Speaking of which, it's immense fun with the exhaust removed from turbo back so it whooshes everywhere - this was in order to replace the crank sensor, as it failed when I got back from England with the good van leaving me stranded somewhat. But it's terminal now, MOT is about to expire, it wont make another one, as the bushings etc have got to "wandery" level and it's got a bit of rust going on and electrics are failing fast. It's been a trooper though. Replaced the sensor so it can still drive around the yard.
So where does that leave us? Well, nothing to drive so I've been using the sales cars but that's not a good solution, and fast running out of those as they sell through. There are more coming up for sale but every one of them is being a headache so they're not finished yet. But of course it's April, and I do have a car due to come back into service about now... lets go wake up the M535i!
Unbelievably it was lovely and sunny at home, but in work 5 miles away 5 minutes later, sleet and hail. NI micro-climates once again. It took ages to crank it into life, very reluctant, but eventually it joined us in the land of the awake. I sat it idling for a time, then went to drive to work, slowly, considering the flat battery that wouldn't have a charge yet and my tendency to embarassingly stall vehicles. But the E28 had other ideas, dry roads as they were, just above tickover as I moved off at the end of the road, it started to throw the tail out at 15mph. Well, I thought we're already into it, so mashed the throttle and squiggled it up the road. Welcome back E28!
It's currently at work getting the bumper I wrecked re-fitted.
MG is at home drying out.
Alfa is at work waiting on many hundreds of quid of bushings and arms to arrive and be fitted.
740i is at work also, next in line once the E21/E30/E46 sales cars being finished are done.
Also going to get the S110R out of the workshop this month, just need to replace the carb and rad.
Also ordered parts for the Triumph, will give that a service and bring it out too.
Silver Austin should also be completed this month, two months overdue for reasons best left alone.
And that's about enough, I normally work with plans about 36 hours ahead of time, planning out a months graft is hard going. Sticking to it even moreso, but getting better.
One of the work vans has popped its cogs and only has two gears so that's out of action for now.
Just before I left for England (or in fact while I was away) I finally managed to arrange retrieval of my 740i. I had to send round a recovery lorry and just about forcibly take it back - a very unpleasant experience in the end, made no better by the car coming back in a sorry state - not actually broken, but difficult to start, parts of trim lying inside it instead of on it and so on, dead battery from lying abandoned in a storage lot (alongside some other nice cars, I'm told, ones that shouldn't be lying out in an open dockside yard).
In slightly more appreciable news, I've ordered some fender flares for it, and have decided what route I'm going with it. Will be appearing soon...
The MG had a water leak into the boot, as previously mentioned. I figured a big saloon would have a bulkhead, but no, its a fold through rear, so that leak has now soaked the rear seats so I had to pull all of that out and the carpets and sound deadening. Silly error. I guess it's still usable but I don't want to while I'm figuring out what's wrong.
A little thing that was bugging me was the loose gear knob leather. Stitching was loose so i pulled it all out and rethreaded it.
Dunked in some warm water, pulled it back over the knob and it stretched then shrunk into place as it dried. It needs a little leather cream now to soften it as being old leather it kind of dried a bit hard, but its still much better than before.
The Alfa needs plenty as previously mentioned also, and all the parts have been ordered to do that now, as I realise I do still need a "beater" and the 530d touring I was using is about dead.
Speaking of which, it's immense fun with the exhaust removed from turbo back so it whooshes everywhere - this was in order to replace the crank sensor, as it failed when I got back from England with the good van leaving me stranded somewhat. But it's terminal now, MOT is about to expire, it wont make another one, as the bushings etc have got to "wandery" level and it's got a bit of rust going on and electrics are failing fast. It's been a trooper though. Replaced the sensor so it can still drive around the yard.
So where does that leave us? Well, nothing to drive so I've been using the sales cars but that's not a good solution, and fast running out of those as they sell through. There are more coming up for sale but every one of them is being a headache so they're not finished yet. But of course it's April, and I do have a car due to come back into service about now... lets go wake up the M535i!
Unbelievably it was lovely and sunny at home, but in work 5 miles away 5 minutes later, sleet and hail. NI micro-climates once again. It took ages to crank it into life, very reluctant, but eventually it joined us in the land of the awake. I sat it idling for a time, then went to drive to work, slowly, considering the flat battery that wouldn't have a charge yet and my tendency to embarassingly stall vehicles. But the E28 had other ideas, dry roads as they were, just above tickover as I moved off at the end of the road, it started to throw the tail out at 15mph. Well, I thought we're already into it, so mashed the throttle and squiggled it up the road. Welcome back E28!
It's currently at work getting the bumper I wrecked re-fitted.
MG is at home drying out.
Alfa is at work waiting on many hundreds of quid of bushings and arms to arrive and be fitted.
740i is at work also, next in line once the E21/E30/E46 sales cars being finished are done.
Also going to get the S110R out of the workshop this month, just need to replace the carb and rad.
Also ordered parts for the Triumph, will give that a service and bring it out too.
Silver Austin should also be completed this month, two months overdue for reasons best left alone.
And that's about enough, I normally work with plans about 36 hours ahead of time, planning out a months graft is hard going. Sticking to it even moreso, but getting better.
surprising_skoda
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Still considering options on it tbh.
j44nty
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Yeah great read love this thread.
surprising_skoda
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SO far...
E28 was obviously discharged. Jumped it at work and left it to idle to charge up. Came back out a few minutes later and...
*sigh*
Vinny had been painting the front bumper for me. He didn't like me taking pictures, this is not his usual standard of work and he was going to smooth in the bumper and make it perfect, but I said whats the point, look at the rest of the paint. Just make it structurally sound and give it a lick of black. He's still a bit miffed.
The MG...
has been sitting like that for a fortnight or more now
just about drained out
Not so up here though
Which is under the nearside rear light, which you can just about see is surrounded by water, and was actually full of it when I removed it
Drivers side is bone dry.
I did a little research and found the rear side trim and/or the rear light seals are the most common water leak areas, so looks like that one is solved. Just got to renew seals and add lots of sticky sealant and problem will be cured. Seats and carpets have been drying out in the kitchen for a couple of weeks while everyone trips over them so a good disinfectant scrub this week and they can go back in.
Off to the workshop to get stuck into the Alfa now.
E28 was obviously discharged. Jumped it at work and left it to idle to charge up. Came back out a few minutes later and...
*sigh*
Vinny had been painting the front bumper for me. He didn't like me taking pictures, this is not his usual standard of work and he was going to smooth in the bumper and make it perfect, but I said whats the point, look at the rest of the paint. Just make it structurally sound and give it a lick of black. He's still a bit miffed.
The MG...
has been sitting like that for a fortnight or more now
just about drained out
Not so up here though
Which is under the nearside rear light, which you can just about see is surrounded by water, and was actually full of it when I removed it
Drivers side is bone dry.
I did a little research and found the rear side trim and/or the rear light seals are the most common water leak areas, so looks like that one is solved. Just got to renew seals and add lots of sticky sealant and problem will be cured. Seats and carpets have been drying out in the kitchen for a couple of weeks while everyone trips over them so a good disinfectant scrub this week and they can go back in.
Off to the workshop to get stuck into the Alfa now.
suckindiesel
RMS Regular
Just discovered this thread....I'm dizzy 
You have great drive and determination from what it seems, my head would be MELTED taking on all that.
Can I ask what your main business objective is?
You have great drive and determination from what it seems, my head would be MELTED taking on all that.
Can I ask what your main business objective is?
Last edited:
surprising_skoda
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Just discovered this thread....I'm dizzy
You have great drive and determination from what it seems, my head would be MELTED taking on all that.
Can I ask what your main business objective is?
willswheels.co.uk
More pictures?
So Alfa list was extensive and in all took a full work day and the next morning as well.
First crack was getting the old trash off.
This is the "professional" custom built exhaust I had made a couple of years ago.
I counted six welds at various points along the new pieces, with a clamp joint in the middle. The clamp, and every single weld, was leaking, evident by the carbon buildup around them.
It's not hard to do that right, even though it is stainless to be fair but with careful use you can do a reasonable weld with normal MIG wire. I set them to one side to weld myself after doing the brakes but one of my guys who is a ex-professional welder for one of those many local industries making heavy plant, well he had little to do that day so he grooved the welds out and did them right for me while I did other bits.
What a weld should look like.
And he made and affixed a patch on the downpipe where that had rubbed through.
Back arms were looking well tired so I had a new set of them. They had a lot of movement under side load when tested.
Doused in fluid.
Thankfully all the crusty looking bolts came out cleanly. I took a knotwheel to them to tidy the heads up and coated them in much copper grease
And so.
However these have nearly the same amount of movement. I am near sure they are meant to, and there is a bushing at the bottom of the hub which they mount to, which seems slack, but anyway having new arms on will at least show the MOT tester that they're supposed to have some bushing movement. or maybe they tauten under load.
Vinny spent half the day replacing the bottom arms and learning why mechanics only think they're good until they run up against an old Italian car.
While I did brakes. Plenty of meat on the pads
and the discs.
Problem is, the car was lying up. There is no grooving or lip to the discs - and very little wear. pads have only slightly worn down. Lying up has made them suffer rust issues, which has led to pitting, and all the problems you can see in this picture. I don't tend to fit crap so I can imagine I've just thrown out a good chunk of cash in front brakes that were at one point perfectly sound. Don't leave your car lying up!
Fix time.
Sorted.
Also I had a bit of time yesterday to bring the E28 into the workshop.
I compression tested it and got consistent readings on 5 cylinders of 10-11 bar pressure, but #2 was 8.5. then I used another tester and got 10. Then 9. Finally I had a hoke about to make sure there wasn't something in the threads preventing a good seal with the two different testers I was using and then got two readings of 10.5, crisis averted.
Fitted the radiator more securely, check all the levels and refilled and re-bled the coolant. Seems to be all good again now. Will refit the bumper and put some gogo juice in and hopefully that's ready to rock again.
surprising_skoda
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Alfa passed the MOT no problem on Saturday, so I toured the countryside on the (long) way home looking for a nice spot for a pic, as it never gets proper photos this one.
And I enjoyed digging out the 840 over the weekend and using it to make sure everything was still operating as it should before making new sale ads for it.
A sea of red at home with the Alfa, MG and BMW all sporting that most emotive of colours.
And I enjoyed digging out the 840 over the weekend and using it to make sure everything was still operating as it should before making new sale ads for it.
A sea of red at home with the Alfa, MG and BMW all sporting that most emotive of colours.
surprising_skoda
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Bought some mastik and fixed the MG. It took ages to rebuild the back seats into it, as the catches didn't want to play. Many fruitless minutes were spent on it between making the dinner, but eventually got it sorted. Have had it out a couple of runs again after charging the battery up and adding a bit of air pressure to the tyres.
This country is never too sure what's going on. Hail left the area looking like mid-winter.
The E28 is doing daily duties at the minute without any drama.
A friend of mine needed a car as theirs blew up. Spent a Sunday afternoon getting that one towed to a safe storage place for now, and had a rack of me brains but realised I had nothing suitable as a lender car.
So I did what any good friend would do and went and bought a 330i MSport.
It's a really well specced car, factory Xenons and towbar, black leather etc. Looking forward to getting it back sometime.
And finally, finally finished the restoration (oily rag refurb really) of this 1983 E21. Didn't want to make it immaculate, left the history and patina intact.
Took six weeks from MOT until a dry day I could take photos, and then it sold in under three hours, from uploading to specialist websites to deposit in hand.
Battery ordered for Triumph and service parts here.
Working on the 740i at the minute, few new parts and diagnosing hot start issue at minute, hopefully will be able to MOT it soon then begin on manual conversion.
This country is never too sure what's going on. Hail left the area looking like mid-winter.
The E28 is doing daily duties at the minute without any drama.
A friend of mine needed a car as theirs blew up. Spent a Sunday afternoon getting that one towed to a safe storage place for now, and had a rack of me brains but realised I had nothing suitable as a lender car.
So I did what any good friend would do and went and bought a 330i MSport.
It's a really well specced car, factory Xenons and towbar, black leather etc. Looking forward to getting it back sometime.
And finally, finally finished the restoration (oily rag refurb really) of this 1983 E21. Didn't want to make it immaculate, left the history and patina intact.
Took six weeks from MOT until a dry day I could take photos, and then it sold in under three hours, from uploading to specialist websites to deposit in hand.
Battery ordered for Triumph and service parts here.
Working on the 740i at the minute, few new parts and diagnosing hot start issue at minute, hopefully will be able to MOT it soon then begin on manual conversion.
Last edited:
surprising_skoda
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What ho, chaps. It's been seven weeks without an update - although there's plenty going on.
Firstly, the 740i has now had it's 15 minutes (by which I mean two seconds) of fame...
The MG has been ticking away from I got it - sounded like a belt pulley from inside the car so brought it into work one day to investigate. Sounded more like top end when checked properly so looked for oil - negative. Topped it up with about 2 litres. Checked for coolant and found that needed about a litre as well. Checked the history and found "engine reported to have oil leaks" mentioned a couple of years ago.
Meh. Say what you want, it has some oil now and the ticking went away. Serviced for another year, as far as I'm concerned.
Now known as the self-servicing ZT. Uses up its own oil and coolant to save you the hassle of draining them. Genius.
Also defies the usual perceptions of these cars that its been merrily driving away and maintaining power and temperature levels despite low fluids.
Just because I still love it...
I haven't been keeping in with the vintage crowd since last year as I've not had anything to compete in, but they had an autotest on recently in Ballywalter park and it looked like it was going to be a stunning day so took a Saturday off a week ago and went down to that just for the mingle
Had lunch on the lawns in front of Ballywalter House
This place...
Bike was serviced and hot running investigated. Was actually not heating up enough before, must have been a stuck open thermostat possibly which is now working ok. I'm just a bit paranoid about the bike breaking down, far more so than about any car which is strange as bikes are easier worked on.
Yesterday took it for an MOT. Lovely start to the week, the morning was damp but ok, but five minutes before I had to leave - bucketing. Absolute downpour. Joy.
And bought a car...
Firstly, the 740i has now had it's 15 minutes (by which I mean two seconds) of fame...
The MG has been ticking away from I got it - sounded like a belt pulley from inside the car so brought it into work one day to investigate. Sounded more like top end when checked properly so looked for oil - negative. Topped it up with about 2 litres. Checked for coolant and found that needed about a litre as well. Checked the history and found "engine reported to have oil leaks" mentioned a couple of years ago.
Meh. Say what you want, it has some oil now and the ticking went away. Serviced for another year, as far as I'm concerned.
Now known as the self-servicing ZT. Uses up its own oil and coolant to save you the hassle of draining them. Genius.
Also defies the usual perceptions of these cars that its been merrily driving away and maintaining power and temperature levels despite low fluids.
Just because I still love it...
I haven't been keeping in with the vintage crowd since last year as I've not had anything to compete in, but they had an autotest on recently in Ballywalter park and it looked like it was going to be a stunning day so took a Saturday off a week ago and went down to that just for the mingle
Had lunch on the lawns in front of Ballywalter House
This place...
Bike was serviced and hot running investigated. Was actually not heating up enough before, must have been a stuck open thermostat possibly which is now working ok. I'm just a bit paranoid about the bike breaking down, far more so than about any car which is strange as bikes are easier worked on.
Yesterday took it for an MOT. Lovely start to the week, the morning was damp but ok, but five minutes before I had to leave - bucketing. Absolute downpour. Joy.
And bought a car...
surprising_skoda
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Bike failed MOT. On a few things that I should have really checked first, got to hold my hands up for this.
Needed to get back wheel off the ground. I don't have a pit-stand... so there are these holes in the frame...
Perfect for ratchet strap hooks!
First issue, left peg frame was cracked. No movement but still told to fix it. As i pulled it off...
So that's terminal!
Chain was slack. Checked the sprockets out too - they're actually fine (of course they are, bike only has 12k) but I think I might as well fit new ones when I'm in this far.
And rear pads...
And my insatiable desire for Diamond Black E32s reared its ugly head again. This SWB 750i has been on my radar for well over a year but during the week I went to see it at last and negotiated a deal I can live with.
Needed to get back wheel off the ground. I don't have a pit-stand... so there are these holes in the frame...
Perfect for ratchet strap hooks!
First issue, left peg frame was cracked. No movement but still told to fix it. As i pulled it off...
So that's terminal!
Chain was slack. Checked the sprockets out too - they're actually fine (of course they are, bike only has 12k) but I think I might as well fit new ones when I'm in this far.
And rear pads...
And my insatiable desire for Diamond Black E32s reared its ugly head again. This SWB 750i has been on my radar for well over a year but during the week I went to see it at last and negotiated a deal I can live with.
@surprising_skoda have you any Calypso red e34s in? I need a good front wing. (Can't remember which side atm) and a decent bootlIid would be nice too.
surprising_skoda
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Yes I've a nice calypso facelift in the yard
rupertfinch
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Thoroughly enjoyed reading all of this. Some number of cars have passed your way.
surprising_skoda
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This week, got half a chance to crack on a bit.
The rather forlorn Austin 7 got moved out (slightly) to aid access and I set about fitting the fusebox. My buddy Ollie what makes bespoke aluminium parts (for McLaren among others, no less) fabbed me up this lovely piece of kit. Being a fellow "Austineer" he knew exactly what was in my head and had it sketched out in two minutes.
That's the passenger footwell and I wanted something to protect and waterproof the wiring. Fits an absolute treat and we were both working off "yea big" hand gestures.
The lid can be fully removed for serious works, or hinges normally, or can be hinged up and slid back as so. Just what I wanted - and couldn't buy. A bit of custom fabrication like that will go a long way in maintaining the "engineers build" profile.
To some wiring and I had to lengthen the sidelights wire. I used these new fangled all in one connections I've been using on various for a year - if you haven't come across them, get some, they're great.
Just put a micro blow-torch on them and the solder strip melts, the plastic shrinks and the coloured strips form a seal so air or water can't leech in.
I shrink wrapped it over that too just to hide it further.
That amendment made, I could wrap the whole front circuit in loom tape. Did it right up to the bulkhead and incorporated a couple of other wires into it too. Tidied it right up.
I laid some more of the wires I need, but next step is to get some grommets as I can't find my box of them and I need to start threading wires through panels now.
Also this box arrived - for the 740i
And this is the latest project. I can't figure out what to do with it, but it's so weird I had to have it.
It is a LHD 525tds manual, made in '95, registered in NI in 1998, operational until last October, with heated Sport leather, Sport specific wood trim, a semi decent spec with upgraded hifi with additional roof speakers which is rare, and an LSD, all from factory and completely standard. Paintwork is shoddy but it is black...
I have precisely zero idea what I'll do with it. Needs a bit of work, will probably have a closer look some time soon and decide then.
The rather forlorn Austin 7 got moved out (slightly) to aid access and I set about fitting the fusebox. My buddy Ollie what makes bespoke aluminium parts (for McLaren among others, no less) fabbed me up this lovely piece of kit. Being a fellow "Austineer" he knew exactly what was in my head and had it sketched out in two minutes.
That's the passenger footwell and I wanted something to protect and waterproof the wiring. Fits an absolute treat and we were both working off "yea big" hand gestures.
The lid can be fully removed for serious works, or hinges normally, or can be hinged up and slid back as so. Just what I wanted - and couldn't buy. A bit of custom fabrication like that will go a long way in maintaining the "engineers build" profile.
To some wiring and I had to lengthen the sidelights wire. I used these new fangled all in one connections I've been using on various for a year - if you haven't come across them, get some, they're great.
Just put a micro blow-torch on them and the solder strip melts, the plastic shrinks and the coloured strips form a seal so air or water can't leech in.
I shrink wrapped it over that too just to hide it further.
That amendment made, I could wrap the whole front circuit in loom tape. Did it right up to the bulkhead and incorporated a couple of other wires into it too. Tidied it right up.
I laid some more of the wires I need, but next step is to get some grommets as I can't find my box of them and I need to start threading wires through panels now.
Also this box arrived - for the 740i
And this is the latest project. I can't figure out what to do with it, but it's so weird I had to have it.
It is a LHD 525tds manual, made in '95, registered in NI in 1998, operational until last October, with heated Sport leather, Sport specific wood trim, a semi decent spec with upgraded hifi with additional roof speakers which is rare, and an LSD, all from factory and completely standard. Paintwork is shoddy but it is black...
I have precisely zero idea what I'll do with it. Needs a bit of work, will probably have a closer look some time soon and decide then.
surprising_skoda
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Maintaining "productive week", we have here the result of a couple more hours tinkering at the Austin fusebox.
Coming together pretty well now. Grommets in all the holes for safety, just need to employ some relays for the headlights as I'm dubious about just running them straight through the switch, as although the (foot press) switch is up the the job/amps, and it was like that before, it just seems wrong, and now is the time to make it right. I've no better solution right now than using a little relay enclosure I nabbed out of an E34 engine bay with an angled bottom that will sit on the underside of the angled bulkhead quite neatly, but it means loads more back-and-forward wiring which will need to be done upside down with my head in the footwell. That sounds fun.
And the new chain and sprockets and also brake pads all arrived for the Trumf. Just in time for the three weeks retest period to run up tomorrow, Oh well.
Coming together pretty well now. Grommets in all the holes for safety, just need to employ some relays for the headlights as I'm dubious about just running them straight through the switch, as although the (foot press) switch is up the the job/amps, and it was like that before, it just seems wrong, and now is the time to make it right. I've no better solution right now than using a little relay enclosure I nabbed out of an E34 engine bay with an angled bottom that will sit on the underside of the angled bulkhead quite neatly, but it means loads more back-and-forward wiring which will need to be done upside down with my head in the footwell. That sounds fun.
And the new chain and sprockets and also brake pads all arrived for the Trumf. Just in time for the three weeks retest period to run up tomorrow, Oh well.
NI_Volvo_Nut
RMS Regular
Get it booked in for about a months time, when the work is done, re-arrange the date to a more suitable one. Only needs to be booked within 21 days, not appear within 21 days.
surprising_skoda
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As far as I was aware, that was the case a few years back, then a mot tester had a go at me for trying to book a retest as you say beyond the time. Argued the bit out then had discussions with a couple more testers and several of the phone line people and all said it had to be actually done within 21 days.
Bit I will book it today on your advice and see how I get on
NI_Volvo_Nut
RMS Regular
If any of the testers do that again, complain! I can assure you, if it's booked within the 21 days it can appear at any time at a reduced fee. I once had one come 6 months after his full test. Because of the time scale the manager done it and gave it a full test. He still only paid £18.50
surprising_skoda
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Totally forgot to do it last night in the end up.
surprising_skoda
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So I mentioned not wanting to run wires straight to the headlights. So relays it was.
First up was finding some holders. All out of an E34.
Strip back to what I need, join earths up, lengthen the 50A wire that will go to the live side of the cutoff switch and meet the main battery feed there.
Installed the relay enclosure. No pics, was a mega stretch holding it in the underside of the bulkhead while reaching round to the engine bay side to attach it. Then to start joining wires up. Of course I don't want big loops of wire so that means cutting the wires to a neat length then connecting them in the footwell. I'll have plenty of odd bruises tomorrow from lying in all sorts of weird ways.
All the wires going to the relays need to pass through the rubber seal into it so that means putting stubs of wire through it then trying to get them to stay still while I solder them, with the weight of three relays pulling them one way and wires through the bulkhead refusing to move... Awkward, time consuming, almost frustrating but kept plugging on.
Finally got to the point where I could pop all the relays into place. The wires inside the box I could have taped up, but 1. it's really awkward, 2. they'll not be seen, 3. there are a couple of wires in there unused which I've left as spares for adding stuff. The headlight main beam relay has a second live which I could use for an idiot light on the dash - and nearly did, but then remembered this is a trials car and it doesn't even have indicators or fog lights, it doesn't need a main/dip dash light. There's also a second accessory live, with the first one going to the fusebox to supply for the wipers and horn. That way someone later on could add in more fittings, such as a satnav power feed or laptop charger.
And at last, aching and tired, I wrapped up at least some of the loom under there. I think that's all the bulkhead area bits. The green wires are for the charging circuit so will be connected up later when the dash goes in, and anything else left to do is from the fusebox which is nearly finished as well. Really it's about 60% of the loom done, but the really awkward, hard stuff is done now, the rest is all easy access and fitting plugs and P clips. No more upside down bits until the dash goes in.
Four or five hours went into that. Hard to see where, but it all adds up - and nobody but me and possibly future owners will ever see any of it.
First up was finding some holders. All out of an E34.
Strip back to what I need, join earths up, lengthen the 50A wire that will go to the live side of the cutoff switch and meet the main battery feed there.
Installed the relay enclosure. No pics, was a mega stretch holding it in the underside of the bulkhead while reaching round to the engine bay side to attach it. Then to start joining wires up. Of course I don't want big loops of wire so that means cutting the wires to a neat length then connecting them in the footwell. I'll have plenty of odd bruises tomorrow from lying in all sorts of weird ways.
All the wires going to the relays need to pass through the rubber seal into it so that means putting stubs of wire through it then trying to get them to stay still while I solder them, with the weight of three relays pulling them one way and wires through the bulkhead refusing to move... Awkward, time consuming, almost frustrating but kept plugging on.
Finally got to the point where I could pop all the relays into place. The wires inside the box I could have taped up, but 1. it's really awkward, 2. they'll not be seen, 3. there are a couple of wires in there unused which I've left as spares for adding stuff. The headlight main beam relay has a second live which I could use for an idiot light on the dash - and nearly did, but then remembered this is a trials car and it doesn't even have indicators or fog lights, it doesn't need a main/dip dash light. There's also a second accessory live, with the first one going to the fusebox to supply for the wipers and horn. That way someone later on could add in more fittings, such as a satnav power feed or laptop charger.
And at last, aching and tired, I wrapped up at least some of the loom under there. I think that's all the bulkhead area bits. The green wires are for the charging circuit so will be connected up later when the dash goes in, and anything else left to do is from the fusebox which is nearly finished as well. Really it's about 60% of the loom done, but the really awkward, hard stuff is done now, the rest is all easy access and fitting plugs and P clips. No more upside down bits until the dash goes in.
Four or five hours went into that. Hard to see where, but it all adds up - and nobody but me and possibly future owners will ever see any of it.
