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Old 23-06-2015, 08:33 AM   #1
1MAQL8
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Back to the SP20

After driving an Audi A3 for a couple of years, my wife has gotten sick of the SP20 (mainly because I left it to her to take care of.......and she didn't).

So effectively, the car that I used to lovingly maintain has gone to rack and ruin and will not only be my daily runner (to and from work really), will also be a project of rather epic proportions.

Effectively, you name it, I have to get it fixed. It rattles, it shudders, it misfires, the bumper fell off after she hit something and she managed to just cable tie it back on. Its......a sh*tbox at the moment.

Should be fun Watch this space......and wish me luck.....loads and loads of luck
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Old 25-06-2015, 07:41 AM   #2
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Just buying lots of parts at the moment - new spark plugs, new leads, new coil packs.

Looking at getting a new suspension setup (not too sure what I'm looking at for that right now)
Exhaust system and heads not long after that.

The hanging bumper has got me perplexed at the moment, broken main tabs probably means that it'd be easier for me to just buy a new bumper, so I'm tossing up between a new standard SP20 bumper or the following
http://www.body-kit.com/maz03pro5ralli01.html - has anyone dealt with this mob before?

Down the line, I think I'll be giving a full respray a go.....myself (should be fun )
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Old 29-06-2015, 08:56 AM   #3
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Donor car ahoy. That'll take care of all of the untidy interior (and a cheap way to get some new tyres as the donor car has good tyres to replace the bald ones I'm running)
Next steps in my little project.

1. Engine mounts (Waiting on a reply from ICE88 )
2. Suspension (looking at some cheap coilovers or lowering springs)
3. Custom front bumper (DIY - I'll take loads of photos while I'm doing it)
4. Headers & Exhaust
5. Carputer (raspberry Pi, touch screen etc)
6. 18" wheels - not too sure what sort
7. full respray (thinking white with a templated blue pearl)
8. Work on the engine (probably slowly replacing little bits with better/newer parts)

Happy for any feedback or ideas
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Old 30-06-2015, 04:07 PM   #4
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This is the original SP20 that I owned. I'll be working on this one.
[IMG][/IMG]
You can see where the bumper has been broken off - I'll repair this and modify the it to be more like I want it.
Close up of the bumper break

The donor car - Has a terrible bottom end knock that I can't be bothered fixing, but the interior is very tidy, the tyres are good (until I decide to get new, bigger mags), the headlights are clear and the spotlights and bumper are fine.
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Old 30-06-2015, 04:08 PM   #5
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I've also got some coilovers lined up for pick up and am investigating my carputer and fibreglassing supply/part requirements
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Old 01-07-2015, 10:04 PM   #6
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Great pickup on the protege, I'll say it on here too, much clearer lights for the astina.
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Old 03-07-2015, 07:44 AM   #7
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Yeah - I think the Protege headlights are much better (cleaner).

I installed coilovers yesterday. Good fun - taught my son how to change tyres while I was at it (he's 11).

Only problem is my end links were destroyed in the process.

Ideally, I'd like to get better sway bars and matching links (she rolls and pulls all over the place at the moment - I think I need to sort out my camber settings and get a wheel alignment).
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Old 06-07-2015, 08:30 AM   #8
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Here are the coilovers before installation
[IMG][/IMG]


Installed new Coil packs, leads, spark plugs, pod filter (I know, it's sitting in the engine bay and sucking in hot air, I'll sort that out later) and switched the bumpers over so I didnt have to worry about the bumper falling off on me (and I can work at fixing and modifying my original bumper).
[IMG][/IMG]


The coilovers definitely have lowered the car overall, and the ride is a lot more responsive and rigid. I do need to replace my end-links though (so if anyone knows a good place to get these, that'd be great)

I've purchased a set of 18"s for the Astina, will get them on there at some stage too


Purchase engine mounts off Ice88 in the weekend, tried to get them in, but had no luck with some bolts.....damn old bolts. Will get that sorted next weekend.
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Old 06-07-2015, 06:57 PM   #9
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I could be mistaken, but can you not just use bj1 endlinks? Would be easy to get from a wrecker. You going to paint the wheels or leave them as they are?
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Old 06-07-2015, 08:02 PM   #10
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Go to Pedders and get cut to length end links, they are massive and you just cut them to the correct size for the car and they are ALOT stronger then stock but good to see your fixing it up !
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Old 07-07-2015, 06:37 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by z100 View Post
I could be mistaken, but can you not just use bj1 endlinks? Would be easy to get from a wrecker. You going to paint the wheels or leave them as they are?
I'm thinking about just pulling the endlinks of the donor SP20 at this stage. I am planning on beefing up my rear sway bar so may look at some adjustables when I do that though.

Probably going to keep the wheels as they are right now (focussing on a bunch of other stuff at the moment for the Astina) - open to suggestions though
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Old 07-07-2015, 06:38 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HAIGHIE View Post
Go to Pedders and get cut to length end links, they are massive and you just cut them to the correct size for the car and they are ALOT stronger then stock but good to see your fixing it up !
That might the plan for sure. Yeah, not only am I fixing up my daily runner, it is a pretty fun project so far. Teaching myself some fun things along the way.
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Old 07-07-2015, 06:44 AM   #13
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So, this is what I plan on doing to the front bumper that I have just taken off. I thought, If I'm going to repair it, I might as well do what I want with it.

A bit of cutting, a bit of fibreglass and a bit of *gasp* foam work

[IMG][/IMG]
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Old 08-07-2015, 04:11 PM   #14
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I put the wheels on. A little bit of rubbage, but I think if I have a play around with the coilovers, that should eliminate most of that. Although, I think I may need to get my guards rolled. Any cheap places to do this or a guide on a DIY?
[IMG][/IMG]
Apologies for the crap picture, it was raining and I didnt want to get wet
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Old 13-07-2015, 07:36 AM   #15
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Installed 3 of the 4 engine Mounts yesterday (AWR mounts I purchased from ICE88). I was surprised, I managed to do it with a minimum of swearing and not cuts, pinches or bruises to my body.

The car is now no longer rocking harder than the Foo Fighters during an encore. Probably in my head, but the engine sounds like it has a deeper idle (I think that might just be the different vibration).

Managed to raise the front a little bit to stop rubbage until I sort that out (did it without any coilover spanners, luckily enough I have some coming this week - the backs I couldnt do without the spanners).

Next step. Short shifter.
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Old 13-07-2015, 08:51 AM   #16
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Go for the TWM short shifter! Pricey I know, but I'm in love with mine.
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Old 13-07-2015, 09:09 AM   #17
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I picked up ICE88's short shifter, so we'll see how that goes this weekend
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Old 14-07-2015, 12:41 AM   #18
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Nice little project you've got going here, giving me ideas haha
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Old 14-07-2015, 12:18 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A.E View Post
Nice little project you've got going here, giving me ideas haha
Ha. I know. Every time I do something, it makes me want to do another thing.

I brought a new valve gasket, so I thought "While I'm doing this, I might as well give my valve cover a clean and paint it", which led to "I should match the strut brace to my valve cover" which led to "maybe I should tidy up my hoses" which led to "maybe I should get some nice washers/bolts to match everything"

Neverending story (just without the flying dog and the depressing swamp)
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Old 20-07-2015, 08:01 AM   #20
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So, pulled out my shift in the weekend and replaced it. I had a heap of fun really. Thought it was going to be quite difficult for some reason, but probably took me 30 minutes (and most of the was establish my plan of attack).
[IMG][/IMG]
Had to use the clamp at one stage to pull my exhaust over as my bushing was hung up on it. All sorted though.

Also did this;


and this;


I was giggling the whole time. Don't know whether it was because I'm generally crap at art and I felt this was artwork and slightly funny or because the fumes were getting to me
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