Diver944

Sorry I don't have it back yet

I called the bodyshop on Monday and they reported it finished and being transported to Indy Jons workshop on Tuesday so I went down to inspect it on Saturday. Unfortunately they hadn't quite finished after all (front bumper hadn't been fitted and the door internals weren't there) so it has to go back to them after Jon has completed the mechanical work

The panel fit is amazingly good and the colour match is spot on (couldn't get it outside to check in sunlight though) but there were a couple of problems I'm not happy with and several minor blemishes that they will have to rectify when it goes back to them. I'll be calling them on Monday with my list

We have a big UK Dyno Day here on Saturday 6th Oct and my hopes were suddenly lifting that I could make it after all and I could get some nice big figures. After seeing the car I know it's not going to be ready now After 8 weeks I'm starting to get a bit frustrated over what was quoted as a 2-3 week repair. I should have just moved the engine and running gear into a spare shell that Jon had and made a dedicated track car. Hindsight is a wonderful thing

333pg333

Well I empathise with you on the wait Paul, but I think you'll still be happier that you have retained it as a road car. Making the commitment to go full on track rat is one you'd never come back from and I think you'll appreciate driving Lil for some time longer on the road and track. Once you've got that out of your system, you can contemplate doing a dedicated track car. As for a 2-3 week repair, well we have a saying in Australia, "Your dreaming son". Not directed at you, but it is typical in the motor repair business to under-quote both time and costs in my experience. Anyway, not long now and don't worry too much about missing the rolling road this time. Plenty more where they came from and you still have a few things to tune/sort out from memory so this will give you the time to get it 100% and then go and scare some people the next time at the Welts. Once you have your car back a few weeks all this waiting melts away.

Hey try waiting 10 months and then some.

RolexNJ

Paul, how is Lil coming along?

Diver944

S.l.o.w.l.y.

I went down to inspect the paintwork a couple of weeks ago and while the repair itself was fantastic, there were a few relatively minor issues I wasn't happy with. The paintshop have agreed to put them right and that's where we are at the moment

nick_968

As you know Paul, these things never go to plan, paintwork is always a nightmare and nothing ever runs on schedule when our cars are concerned! Hang in there, it will be worth the wait. Had you gone down the reshell route you would have always remembered Lil and wondered should you have fixed her, and believe me that would not have popped out a finished product any quicker and you would have had all the teething problems associated with a new and custom project over again! No one understands your pain more than me!!

333pg333

It's amazing how we get used to all the waiting. I mean weeks turn into months and it feels like you're never going to get the car back, but one day there it is all shiny and new and it's all worth it and a few days later it feels like you've never missed it. Won't be too much longer Paul.
Hey Nick where are you up to?

nick_968

Intercooler/ rad installed and after a couple attempts all pipes are now leak free, new BOV (Forge on order), Motec PLM wideband sensor and guage and boost guage installed, 044 waiting to go on, after that its off to the dyno as soon as I have hit the button on the Motec closed loop lambda control and datalogging!! Phew, nearly there!!!

333pg333

Are you installing a hood vent like the 968rs turbo? There's an interesting thread going on now in regards to ventilation relating to i/c's and radiators etc that you may want to check out.

nick_968

Thanks Patrick I have been following the thread but for now I am not keen on opening up my hood just yet will be looking at ducting solutions (without opening up the hood) if the cooling doesnt get under control but so far I seem to be heading in the right direction....if not I may consider it later on.

333pg333

Well I know it's cooler in the UK than here, but on the track I really think you will need that opening in my opinion. It will enhance the cooling greatly.

Diver944

My concern would be with our climate. We are very damp and wet most of the time (it feels like) and I wouldn't be very happy with constant water dripping through my engine bay when parked up.

333pg333

Well that is a fair enough concern but at the risk of overheating on the track I'd still consider some way of doing it. Even to the point that I may just use my c/f hood with the various venting for trackdays and put the stock one on for day to day stuff? Having said all this, I didn't notice any real temp rises with my new i/c on the road at all, but I did have some overheating at the track a few weeks ago so this is what's driving me to sort this out. It may not have been the i/c either but that seems the most likely suspect.

nick_968

Track is not the cars objective so no worries there, not keen on spoiling the lines, if I did do it I would need another hood and dont do enough trackdays to justify it at the moment.

333pg333

Fair enough then. I think you'll be ok on the street then.

Diver944

After seeing Rolex's latest picture I thought I would update my thread also. The paintshop have been really dragging their heels with my car (staffing problems apparently) but I spoke to them just after New Year and was promised mid February at the latest would see it finished. I called yesterday and spoke to the owner who stated it would be finished by next weekend. So frustrating when the shop is a few hours away, but at least the end seems near now.

Even more frustrating is I just heard the second UK 3.2 was on the road today for it's first shakedown, so I'm not the only one anymore.