What are you wanting to do to the subframes?

 

Take them off - clean em up- pwodercoat / rust protection. Underseal the car, just get it clean and ready for another 17 years!

 

So since the last update a few goodies purchased to spruce up the car (thanks dan_bourne!), including a rocker cover from a member on here. Needless to say it hasn't been plain sailing, the car has been off the road as I ended up sending mine off. While the car was off the road, I figured I would get the alarm refurbished by H&P - new exhange unit received and installed - no drama. Except the flat battery. :-

Attempted to finish off the install of the rocker cover - it's looking amazing! I got new gaskets and rubbers for everything - it's 17 yrs old after all! The spark plug tube rubbers are a basteward to fit when placing the cover back on the head. Then the fkup happended, 2 snapped rocker cover bolts at the rear of the engine, and I was only on 2 ft/lbs on the torque wrench....

so 5 bolts (90013-PCX-000) will be ordered from Hendy tomorrow. Project cars - why do we do it to ourselves!

 

Any tips before I send it off to a mechanic?!

 

Can you not wind them out with a scriber or sharp object?

If not bond something thin to it and screw it out.

They are not usually hard to remove as they snap really easy and are not that tight.

 

I didn't even try - had to clear up and remove myself from the situation! The torque specs are for around 7lb/ft so I wasn't even half way there! Good shout on the scriber - will go and find one of those. I am not sure about bonding - I will probably glue it to the head or worse my fingers...

 

Torque wrenches tend to be inaccurate at that level - just tighten them one finger on the PaulF system.

 

Parts ordered (in tomorrow) - scriber ordered(arrives today - amazon prime!)
Battery on slow charge
Should be back on the road wednesday!

I now have everything I need for the suspension refresh:
HSD coilovers
New bolts from the USA (Saved around £150!)
Full set of Strongflex bushes inc compliance, roll bars and upper and lower bushes
New droplinks

Now to find some willing victim to fit it all! Was talking to Tom at TGM in the beginning of feb - chased twice for the quotation from him, once by phone, once by web form - I gather he is hugely busy, but some kind of acknowledgement would be good!

Any other recommendations in Surrey/Kent/Sussex area?

 

Not exactly in the locality, but easily accessible from the M25, I'd recommend Wheels in Motion in Chesham.

 

Yes tgm are very busy . I suspect a quote will be very hard to give as it all depends on how all the old stuff comes off !

Ive just used tgm for fitting of coilovers and sorting any seized bushes out and I can't fault their price and work . I was fully expecting a few seized bushes. None were but they could have quite easily added a few extra hours as some garages do .

Highly recommend them