JamesP1991

That's glorious! Thanks for posting - I've bookmarked that :-D

Be sure to upload some pictures after you have picked it up! Enough money left over for some nice mod additions?  

Welcome back buddy! Saw a few of your pictures on Instagram during the week. Looked like you had a great time with 3 quite different cars (that Morgan looked lovely). 
 
What was the highlight of the trip in your opinion? 

After the catback had been installed, I wanted to free up the exhaust flow and start deleting the restrictive cats that were in the stock exhaust setup (primary in the header and also the second cat in the front pipe). 
 
How I went about this was rather different to how I initially planned. My initial thinking was to go and buy a catless Invidia front pipe and then connect it to a Cobra or Berk overpipe. However one evening I went to go and see a friend of mine who is an extremely talented fabricator, and modifies his own S3 (500hp) and Seat Ibiza Cupra (430hp). He said he would love to work on mine and expand his skillset (having never worked on an 86 before). 
 
I agreed and arranged a day for the car to be dropped off. He measured every part of the fitment process to create a totally custom 2.5" straight through front pipe and overpipe combo to connect to my Invidia N1 catback. 
 
After a couple of weeks he contacted me and said it was all ready so I went down to see how it all looked! 
 
Both the components looked incredible, with the overpipe even being wrapped in titanium for heat shielding, and would be connected via a V band to the front pipe. Custom brackets were also used to ensure the fitment was perfect. 
 
Here are a few pictures from the day.... 
 
Up on the lift ready to go:

 
Overpipe taken off: 

 
Start of the catback where the custom front pipe would join:

 
Stock Overpipe and Front Pipe off:

 
New Custom Overpipe (titanium wrap): 

 
New Custom Front Pipe:


 
 
As you can see, the difference is incredible and I was thrilled with how she sounded afterwards. The fitment was great and I haven't had any problems since. You do not realise how restrictive the stock components are until you take them off and compare directly with the new parts just before fitting. 
 
Overall I was a very happy chap  
 
On a side note, did anyone else notice when they fitted their aftermarket overpipes how tight the fitting is over the sub frame where it joins the header? It took us quite a while to find a way it would sit nicely. 
 
 
 
 

Produced some pretty lovely engines too! 
 
The Matra V12 produced the best sounding exhaust note of all time! Especially in the 670! 
 

 
Found a cracking video and now I have it on repeat

Another great (and slightly over due) 40odd thousand mile service from Richard Mckay and his team at RRG Macclesfield Toyota and while they were at it, 2 new tyres (Yokohama Advan Sports) and the fitting of a nice big red brake kit (KSport 8 Pots, 330mm vented discs and braided lines). Some serious stopping power which is probably over kill for my car but they look the business and I'm sure they'll come in handy on track......just need to get the rears painted red 
 

 
Seriously looking forward to getting back on track, I've not even properly pushed the car after having the coilovers fitted and now these big brakes, itching to see what the car can do.  I've pushed the car around the twisty roads and it feels really good, solid and planted especially with the wider track from the spacers, makes the steering feel a lil more heavy but again feels more planted but I never really really push it on public roads so interested to see how it performs when I go all out on track.
 
To be fair I could have done without getting the brakes but it was a spur of the moment buy and a bit of a steal so can't really complain, they've been sat in the house for the past couple of months so thought it was time to get them fitted.  On the drive back, the brakes felt good, they don't have the same initial bite like the Stoptech Pads on stock discs did but the Stoptechs sometimes felt like the car wouldn't stop after that initial bite.  Where as the KSports feel a lot more progressive, so not as much bit initial bite but as you put your foot further down, you can feel the car progressively yet swiftly slow down.  I've not tried using the brakes hard/slamming them yet as on the journey back, I still had the old calipers and stuff in the front passenger side as well as drinks bottles and what not so didn't want them going all over the place.  I'll give it some tomorrow sometime but so far so good.  Rich and myself did wonder if getting bigger brakes would end up adding more weight to the car and stuff and the box with the the KSport stuff in were pretty heavy, but when I tried to get the box back out with the stock stuff in, I was shocked at how much more heavier the stock kit is, so think I saved a bit of weight in the process which is a win.
 
All this work so soon after getting the car back has again set me back a fair bob but it's all progress and it satisfies the modding bug.  I'm just eager to get a nice set of alloys like I have been meaning to for the past couple of years but the wait must continue as I have to start saving again but I'm glad that I can get back on it and do more stuff to the car without having to feel guilty about buying a lil mod when I should have in fact been saving to get her fixed. Especially when so many of you have helped me throughout the ordeal, the donations of parts, cash and even the time in looking for second hand parts for me, I felt like I had to get the car fixed not just for myself but to all of you who have helped me out.  And on that note, as I can't thank you enough, I'll thank you all again for all the support and here's to the club and it's awesome community!
 

Oh, ok - maybe just one people carrier...

Back. Well back since Saturday night. Left Luxembourg Ardenne forest area Saturday morning and drove the 230 miles to Calais. Got ferry tickers and drove the 200 miles from Dover and got back just after 8am. In time for my Sister in laws Engagement party. So after a lift to the party I was rather tired by 11PM.
 
I put a few pics of the trip up on youtube 
 
Total was 1670 miles Monday to Saturday. Amazing places to visit. Switzerland was fecking expensive and we did not intend to stay more than a day. By the 3rd Night we got into Germany. Managed to get on a Autoban but was a shame the traffic was heavy so only managed 110MPH. but was really refreshing that you can do any speed you like without the need to keep a eye out for speed cameras and Police. 
 
Trip was Caen via Le mans and Tours to Macon then into Switzerland to Morges By Lake Lausanne, Both the Grimsal pass and Furka Pass (as in italian job start of movie ) was closed due to snow. We thought this could happen at this time of the year so took a Car train via the pass tunnel.  Stayed in Altdof which was amazing and lovely views.  Up past Zurich to Schaffhousen  then to The Ardenne forest and stayed in Boullion
 
Amazing place and to be at the foot of the alpes in 23 degree heat to then to get 15ft  drifts next to reads thousands of feet up and it's 4 degrees.
I'll be going back via italy next time.  

So today I thought I would focus on the second area of the car I really wanted to change which was the exhaust. 
 
At the time, I didn't have the money for a proper catless header, so thought It would be better focusing on the downpipe/front pipe/catback combination first off. 
 
The initial two things I looked for when choosing my catback was value for money and also noise. I felt many of the UK based systems such as Milltek and Supersprint were hugely expensive, especially when comparing them to some of the US based catbacks at the time. I also wanted the system to sound quite aggressive and also possess a fair amount of bass, rather than create that "tin" sound. 
 
After speaking with Chris from Tarmac Sportz, I finally settled on an Invidia N1 exhaust with the blue singed titanium tips, which is over 11 lbs lighter than the stock system, was a reasonable £650 and also sounded the part from many videos I had watched. 
 
It arrived promptly from the postie: 
 

 
I had it fitted at a garage I knew, as at the time I didn't have the bits at home to properly get underneath the car. 
 
After fitting I was thoroughly pleased with the result, and thought the blue tips looked great: 
 

 

 
 

Thank you for the insight Knightryder, will unseal the hole and put the resonator box back on at the weekend then just a shame really as it does clog the engine bay up some what!

I am guessing the smaller ones on the intake pipe and also the ones on the intake duct can be removed though?

Pop down sooner, I'm sat here by myself

You can definitly go faster with VSC in sport mode; a bit of rear end movement can be helpful. It all depends on confidence levels.
 
4 wheel drfiting can be scary and exciting. Jolyon was 4 wheel drfiting the TMG cup car yesterday, it was amazing.
 
Some the guys/girls here are very good drivers and enjoy turning it all off, but if you are a novice and find the VSC is interfecting alot, when you least expect it, then perhaps you should work on that not happening first.

On the way up to Felixstowe yesterday for a funeral I took some readings that might be of some interest. I don't know? I'll also post them in the Oil Discussions thread. But thought I'd put them in here as they're relevant to my build too.
 
I've been taking note of the oil temps and pressures over the journey. Driving it hard / steady, motorway and sprint style driving on b-roads. 
 
My Oil temp gauge is taken off the oil filter sandwich plate. And is accurate and identical to the ECU Oil Temp reading. Oil Pressure is taken off the same port as the stock oil pressure switch.
 
Oil Temps
I use the Millers 0W30 CFS Fully Synthetic Oil, with the HKS Type S Oil Cooler with hoses of about 1.7m long. What I've noticed is steady driving, cruising around I never see over 80c Oil temp. Driving it hard i've seen peaks of about 90c and on one Sunday chasing a RS4 and an RX7 we saw 102c on a very hot day. I've never been able to get them past 110c. 
 
Oil pressures 
Oil Pressures once hot always sit at around 4.5 Bar when sticking to speed limits and cruising around etc Idles at 1.2 bar and peaks at about 5 bar under full throttle to red line. When cold the pressure sits at 8 Bar. I've never seen my oil pressures over 10 Bar off the scale and never seen them drop below 1 bar even when really hot. 
 
The journey was about an hour and all readings where taken holding the car at a steady speed...
 
RPM -    Speed -  Oil temp C -  Oil Pressure - Gear
2000rpm - 50mph, 76 degrees, 3 bar, 6th gear

3500rpm - 86mph, 75 degrees, 5 bar, 6th gear

5000rpm - 90 mph, 80 degrees, 5 bar, 6th gear

5000rpm - 120 mph, 80 degrees, 5 bar, 6th gear

3500rpm - 86mph, 86 degrees, 4 bar, 6th gear
 
I'm going to do a couple of other tests where I blank off the oil cooler air intake to see how much work the cooler is doing etc. 

I would suggest that the subjective increase in theft is not significant at two cars where the keys were stolen from the owners' houses. If anything the best form of prevention would be to ensure your keys are safely stowed somewhere and not easy to find should someone break into your house. That'd be a far cheaper and more sensible option. 

Thought the 86 needed some new shoes, very happy with the outcome. Now do i sell the old ones or keep for winter


 
 

I had a discussion with someone about needing better braking when going with more power. This is what I said to them at the time and I'm sure they won't mind me reusing it here: 
 
Regarding whether you need better brakes with FI or not, the point I make is always the same. Will having the extra power mean that you will drive faster everywhere? Of course on the circuit you will be going faster before you start braking so better brakes is always a good choice, but on the road if you are doing normal driving around town or on the motorway I would guess that your speed will be about the same, you will just get there sooner with the extra power. This means that under those situations you probably won't need any extra braking.
 
If you are looking to blast on the back roads and through some corners then again you have to think "Am I going to go faster into the corner or just accelerate harder but stick to a certain speed?" if you are planning on reaching higher speeds then of course the extra braking will help but if you don't intend on reaching higher top speeds then maybe it won't be as effective.
 
I guess you know how you drive and how much you use the brakes so you can always base your decision on that.

I think your all right, financially the 25k is looking like too much of a stretch anyway, gotta change my wifes car at the same time!

Loving this site already, seems a great community


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Had my 2nd service done today and as ever a great service !

Thanks

Goodness, gracious, great (please insert)of fire. He he he

It's a bit unfair to say it's a rebranded Nameless system, it was designed by Cosworth and Nameless were chosen to produce the system for them which is why both names feature. The Cosworth designed system can't be bought from the Nameless store, and looking at their 3" systems it's a similar price to what's already available from them.
 
The 2.0 kit apparently is good for 380bhp with internals, but the package they sell out of the box is supposed to be a "one size fits all" kit that is designed to be reliable, how well it works with the autobox which in SpecK's thread they reckon is only good for 260bhp will be interesting to see.
 
In a way I'm pleased it's expensive, it means I can't afford it all so my wallet is safe 

I got to agree with James, I don't necessarily agree with the extra money being anything else more than the badge, yes they've spend a fair bit of time developing their kit etc but I'm sure Sprintex and any other system have done the same, if anything, since there are so many more Sprintex' and Avo's out there, I'm more inclined to get one of those systems as they are more developed and more support for them.

It is James. I can't wait!

To be honest, the car is a weekend toy at the moment so I haven't had the seat time recently to offer a conclusive opinion. With the UEL Borla header and a decat front pipe fitted now I feel more in the mid range torque wise anyway at this point.

Will test it perhaps this weekend and see if there is any difference in higher gear, lower Rev pulls

Torque is obviously sparse with this engine so I'd hate to be throwing away any I did have originally haha!

Fed Ex will do you for a processing charge and you will have the the VAT too of course. £60 VAT + around £25 or so for the pleasure of Fed Ex. So bugdet an extra £85 once it's landed I would say. 

Received an email from Japan Parts this morning, my 4.55 final drive and MSB will be here on the 1st June! 
 
Can't wait and now I have the headache of working out how I am going to get the FD fitted 
 

 
I also have some BIG secret plans for the car in store just after Summer has finished, so it is all systems go