Viewing: So what have you been up to lately

***waynne*** · 04-11-2011, 01:12 PM

Just wondering what everyone has been up to car wise recently?

Any new purchases, work or ideas coming to fruition?

**turbonutter69** · 04-11-2011, 01:15 PM

I'm to start and go on a test drive mission soon.
Already tried the new Focus and it was a great drive as always.
Vauxhall's Astra is next when my local dealer gets one in anyway.
I may have to have a go in an Insignia as well at some point.
My my so many cars to choose from.

So how about you Waynne?

***waynne*** · 04-11-2011, 01:34 PM

I was just thinking I've been neglecting my car a bit. I do need to get it washed and waxed and will need to book it in for a cambelt replacement. It is also time to start thinking about remaps, turbo upgrades and the like as well

Warranty is out in February and I can jolly well do what I want to then!

**VRoy6** · 04-11-2011, 02:50 PM

I haven't got any major projects planned for the forseeable future. Just want to keep the old girl going. I am going to post some piccies for the weekend so you guys can have a look.

***waynne*** · 04-11-2011, 03:12 PM

I look forwards to seeing them Roy.

**stamford** · 04-11-2011, 03:56 PM

My plans are on hold until the weather improves! Got to drop the gearbox on the zed and fit a fast road clutch kit, hopefully my flywheel will have signs of fatigue which means I'll have to buy a new (lightened) one!

Whilst I am at it I have another box with a Torsen 'B' diff to go in. When that lot is back in then I can go and get it remapped and book some more track days in for 2012 and maybe visit Pod. This year was slammed due to a worn clutch, feeling poorly, a pregnant dally and 12 pups! Next year will be me playing catch up! I also fancy some nitrous

***HDi fun*** · 04-11-2011, 04:20 PM

Just had a £170 bill from the dentist to sort out a filling which popped out last night.

So no car treats for me the next couple of weeks it appears.

**MasterAuron** · 04-11-2011, 04:20 PM

Turbo upgrades Waynne?

New clutch to come despite the other one being fine (so far) which gives me free reign to annihilate the old one pmsl. Will get it skimmed deffo and maybe a kg or so taken off it. Think that will be it until after christmas. Rear trailing arm bushes are on their way out, need doing. Easy job with the right tool.

Going to fit my Mk3 Mondy brakes and 300mm ST170 discs to the Zetractor this weekend (with fresh fluid of course) as the old discs are finally near death.

***Loz*** · 04-11-2011, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDi fun

Just had a £170 bill from the dentist to sort out a filling which popped out last night.

So no car treats for me the next couple of weeks it appears.

Blimey that's steep I had two fillings done for £180 the other week.

***T9 man*** · 04-11-2011, 06:14 PM

A shampoo and set with the full clay bar treatment before I take her to the ACE Cafe for Norse Day! Then it's a case of just biding my time until next year when the AWD system is ready to be installed.

**MasterAuron** · 04-11-2011, 06:21 PM

Clay will strip everything off so make sure you get some wax or sealant back on there afterwards T9.

***T9 man*** · 04-11-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterAuron

Clay will strip everything off so make sure you get some wax or sealant back on there afterwards T9.

OK cheers MA, I will ask him over the phone before I book him as to what the procedure is that he will be following.

***HDi fun*** · 04-11-2011, 07:57 PM

Even something like the old Turtle Minute Wax will suffice for a short time.

**MasterAuron** · 04-11-2011, 08:34 PM

I imagine if a pro detailer is claying it he'll be correcting and adding some protection afterwards. You really need to polish after claying because it causes mirco-marring more often than not, worse with more aggressive clay.

***HDi fun*** · 04-11-2011, 09:49 PM

I fancy getting my car finely detailed at some point. It's in incredible condition for an 11 year old Mondeo (

) but I quite like the idea of having it tarted up just once.

**bigbadjoe** · 06-11-2011, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loz

Blimey that's steep I had two fillings done for £180 the other week.

That's a rip off. I asked my dentist how much three could be done with no anaesthetic. They didn't advise it but they said they could do it for £50. So got the misses booked in for a week next Tuesday!

***T9 man*** · 06-11-2011, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterAuron

I imagine if a pro detailer is claying it he'll be correcting and adding some protection afterwards. You really need to polish after claying because it causes mirco-marring more often than not, worse with more aggressive clay.

I have a few swirl marks on the body work MA, the paint is metallic and I was led to believe that a full clay bar job would sort this out.

***Loz*** · 06-11-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbadjoe

That's a rip off. I asked my dentist how much three could be done with no anaesthetic. They didn't advise it but they said they could do it for £50. So got the misses booked in for a week next Tuesday!

Lol, that's nothing! The other day the dentist gave me £20, punched me in the face & knocked two of my teeth out.

**bigbadjoe** · 06-11-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T9 man

I have a few swirl marks on the body work MA, the paint is metallic and I was led to believe that a full clay bar job would sort this out.

Where is Pgarner when you need him? He usually has some sound advise to this sort of thing.

**MasterAuron** · 06-11-2011, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T9 man

I have a few swirl marks on the body work MA, the paint is metallic and I was led to believe that a full clay bar job would sort this out.

Claying won't sort swirls out, that's not what it's for. Clay removes any contamination that washing won't remove because it's bonded to the paint. This process in itself can cause light scratches so polishing afterwards is always highly recommended.

The way to remove your swirls is with a proper machine polish with something that has a light cut to it (Megs 83 for example). If you want some imporvement by hand Super Resin Polish will do a good job of filling in the swirls but to remove them it needs to be polished.

How do you wash you car? Or do you give it to the Czechs and Poles?

***T9 man*** · 06-11-2011, 04:58 PM

I shall make the swirls problem very clear to the valeter, and the beast is washed a minimum twice a week by our eastern european cousins.

**MasterAuron** · 06-11-2011, 05:20 PM

That might be doing it more harm than good. Poor washing technique is the number one cause of swirls. Never, ever use a sponge and use the two bucket method to minimise washing with dirty water. Some people even use different mits for the upper and lower parts of the car but I cba with that!

Dirt will fly off well waxed/sealed paintwork with the lightest of washes. I can get away with just snowfoaming and jet-washing off my Focus if it's quite fresh dirt. It's called touchless washing

***T9 man*** · 06-11-2011, 05:31 PM

Many thanks for the heads up MA, I have so much to learn still I'm afraid

**VRoy6** · 09-11-2011, 01:41 PM

£20 Loz? I'd 'ave done it for free ! ;o

***HDi fun*** · 10-11-2011, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loz

Blimey that's steep I had two fillings done for £180 the other week.

It was a biggie - rear lower left molar right down well below gum level - took him about hour and a half to rebuild the thing layer by layer. No pain or discomfort at all, the guy is a very good anaesthetist too. I'm happy to pay to be pain free.