Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Paddle shift gearbox:

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Epping!

In Sydney, Australia.

Double wishbone suspension, rack and pinion steering.

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Garden shears, wellies.

We be in the country

Busy work to keep you entertained.

Today's task, proper clean clean, touch up, seal and fit a new wheel & tyre. Replace wheel arch liner and steering wheel on family car (saab 95 aero manual 260).
Road wheel was bent and wrecked tyre from a monster hole, arch liner split and hanging out in the breeze, no idea how that happened. Steering wheel was a factory option with fancy metal bits but find it nasty and cold to hold in winter, gone back to a regular leather one.
On volvo had all its wheel off, tyres rotated, wheels proper cleaned, sealed etc.

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Just stocked up on service parts from a combo of Eurocarparts and GSF.
Eurocarparts discount code XMAS
GSF discount code SALE50

Need a pair of wheel bearings. Ideally fag, INA or Skf. Euro and gsf just seem to do China bearings repackaged into euro named boxes like lucas, febi etc
Anyone seen any deals on them?

It is getting difficult to get kits as ECP and GSF seem to be taking everyone over.

You in London?

Main dealer?

Glasgow.
And nope, volvo now get a very large amount of their legacy components from random romainian sources. Last thing I got was sub frame bush's, some were not straight, one was perished in the bag. Returned for refund without leaving the part dept, not going back.

Jelly of all these GT3 RS Lego models. I'd love one of those!

I messaged about 10 different MK1 MX5 owners over Christmas and Boxing Day trying to get details. Many didn't bother replying, some gave vague answers, and two flat out denied MOT failures clearly outlined on the MOT history checker, when I called them out, they edited their photos to removed the number plate.

It's been a stressful holiday period between picking a car and picking a laptop.

1st world problems...

You not taking up your mate's offer of a rust free Mk1 shell then? Seems like the perfect solution.

I would like to banish my turbo lag. This isn't going to be easy is it.

Also, first bit of bodywork done:

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You know how there's no perfect solution...

That rust free shell I've now found out has been sitting for 2 years unused, there's no rust, but the potential for things being seized and possible rats nests like I had to go through with on my car is very high. It's also in Cornwall.

I'm waiting for him to send me photos of it and give me a price.

Define easy. Sell turbo, buy n.a.

Easiest way is buy an E61 M5 Touring.

Is your shell that bad?

Do you have the space to strip and may shot blast and the decent paint and protection. Then the car is a keep forever.

I'm looking at these again: http://www.millenniumheroes.com/cars/alpina-b10-v8-touring-for-sale/

What the lacky bands for infront of steering wheel?

Paddle shift for the gearbox

You have my permission to get that.

I had a manual 540i Touring BITD and it was brilliant. Remapped it to 326bhp and drove it everywhere sideways.