Ben's Silver GTi

[benicillin]

Right i'll firstly apologise for taking so long to start one of these, just have never got round to it!

Anyhow, here it goes.

Unforunately i dont have any pictures of when i bought it because i didnt have a camera at the time, but im sure we can all picture an indigo look, black bumpers, hub caps etc etc

The first thing i wanted to do was to change my alloy wheels, i managed to find some bargain brand new raceline three stud RL5's with yokohama S-drives all round, (as you can see i have M3 mirrors, to this day i dont really know why i chose them, i think they look gash)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/100_1777.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P311207_1156.jpg

I then bought a sportex backbox to try and enhance the sound of the 1.1 beast under the bonnet :p It isnt bad, bit loud for my liking but hey, shit happens.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/100_1781.jpg

I soon realised my mistakes and put them right... out with the M3 mirrors and in with the colour coded (all by myself :cool:) originals.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P260108_1218.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P260108_1217.jpg

Car looks much better with them imo.

I got a bargain at the world of halfrauds in the form of momo gear knob and gaiter with surround. The surround was chrome which i didnt like so i pained that gloss black.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P2260027.jpg

Next job on my plate was to replace the standard 1.1 dials with grandfather clock to the gti dials with a rev counter, picked them up for £27 delivered which i was happy with. You'll notice in these pictures the pretty shite steering wheel which i bought along with the M3 mirrors :rolleyes: i've got rid of this now and replaced it with a gti wheel until i can afford/find a racing wheel i like.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P270308_165501.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P270308_174801.jpg

This came in the post a couple of weeks ago, it did make me smile:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P280308_154101.jpg

So i set about putting it on, only took about half an hour, and i do think it makes a slight difference in throttle response and sounds pretty nice in high revs.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P300308_1856.jpg

And that is pretty much it for now, i'll be sure to keep this up to date as in the next couple of months i'm getting the interior sorted out, stripped, buckets, carbon bits etc etc

Cheers

Ben :)

[Peter.H]

looking good boss

we all make mistakes, I had lexus lights at one point lol

[benicillin]

it was the max power haynes manual that did it to me i swear! lol

[M1K3Y_P]

lol, i've got one of them! they have some good guides in but give all the wrong ideas! looking good so far mate, think that steering wheel is mint!

what buckets are you going to get?

mike

[benicillin]

not entirely sure yet, i've got my eyes on a couple, watch this space ;)

[Gina_G]

looks good ben, you want boost in the future

[benicillin]

lol i can but dream!

[benicillin]

Little update,

began re-working the interior, whipped out the back seats and put in some gti doorcards, big thanks to kenich for them:

before:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P240408_1803.jpg

After:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P240408_1847.jpg

In the back:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P240408_1908.jpg

Also thought i take off the spare wheel and cage whilst i was there!

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P240408_1930.jpg

next step... buckets!

[Wooly106]

Looking real nice what you've set yourself out there.

That sentence really made no sence, but I'll no doubt be following you with everything you do from now on, our cars are near enough identical :D

Noticed much difference with the rear seats gone? Is it much faster, or louder than before, seeing as all the carpet has been whipped out.

[benicillin]

well im not sure whether its just cos its louder but it does feel a bit nippier,

but that could be to do with the fact that i had a sub, with mdf surround in the boot as well lol

ah well, any difference is good difference in a 1.1 lol

judging by your avatar, yours is looking smart as well!

[Wooly106]

well im not sure whether its just cos its louder but it does feel a bit nippier,

but that could be to do with the fact that i had a sub, with mdf surround in the boot as well lol

ah well, any difference is good difference in a 1.1 lol

judging by your avatar, yours is looking smart as well!

Ha, thanks mate. It's getting there, my progress blog is somewhere....

She just needs to sit lower, I need to get the colour coded bumpers on then I'll be happy with how she looks. Still, can't forget the fact she's only a 1.1 :(

[benicillin]

Was a nice day today so i set about painting the bonnet badge which i had been meaning to do for ages, decided to go with white to match the rims. I think it will look better when i get colour coded bumpers:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P260408_1400.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P260408_1515.jpg

i also sorted out the first half of the boot, i need to re-do the arches cos i ran out of carpet lol

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P260408_1326.jpg

[benicillin]

oh and also a video of my exhaust just for good measure:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/th_V250408_1735.jpg (http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/?action=view&current=V250408_1735.flv)

[jeffes02]

Where did you get your steering wheel from?

[benicillin]

Where did you get your steering wheel from?

i assume you're talking about the blue and black one?

it was off ebay, only bought it as a temporary thing, probably gunna be selling soon, interested?

[Wizza]

Looks well buddy... Coming a long nicely...

Some good plans for it aswell!!!

[benicillin]

Bit of ASW'ing:

Firstly washing it with Autoglym body shampoo using two bucket method, then some Autoglym tar remover. Autoglym wheel cleaner was also used. Then i used the meguiars smooth surface clay bar kit.... and my my... what a kit it is!

Once i had dried it off using meguiars towel thing (dont know the name :p) i gave it a coat of meguiars nxt tech wax, and some turtle wax wet 'n' black on the tyres. Then finally some Autoglym bumper care.

Enjoy :)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5180117.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5180116.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5180115.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5180114.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5180110.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5180109.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5180111.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5180113.jpg

And a couple arty ones

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5180112.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P4260106.jpg

[benicillin]

Well i've been meaning to get cracking with the false floor for a while, so i figured since i had a free day and the weather wasnt too bad i would make a start.

got all the frame work done and the electricals all wired in, then put some sound proofing down, just gotta wait till pay day so i can get it all carpeted (including wheel arches), then tint the windows.

The 6x9's are only temporary until i get my front components, and im downsizing sub also.

Anyhow, the interesting part... pictures:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P170508_1716.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P170508_1717.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P170508_171701.jpg

sorry i dont have many, i couldnt be arsed by the time i finished lol

cheers

[Nick]

suddenly the weight is back!

Looking good mate, use your paint skills to colour code the bumpers!

[jamesDpug106]

so gone from stripped to sub etc now lol...

performance difference at all?

and also where did you get the carpet from i saw u used?

[benicillin]

does feel a little more sluggish with weight back in the boot, i'm thinking about taking it all out again, but i just cant be without decent sounding music!

although im thinking of getting some decent components in the front which might make up for not having anything in the back, decisions decisions!

and james that carpet was from a local shop near me, only cos me about £12 for a fairly large roll :)

[jamesDpug106]

^^ u are on the same wave length as me... last week took the seats and everything out.. but didnt like the rattles lol and the no bass or decent sound approach :( so put it bak in.. now tossing up whther to get decent front components, false floor etc in the bak.. or jus keep it and shuv a show cage in lol :( still cant decide

[benicillin]

i think what im gunna do is take out all the wood and sub...

put sound proof matting down, then carpet over the top of it, then install a nice amp with decent components in the front

should hopefully get the best of both worlds then :)

[jamesDpug106]

hmmm good thinking lol..

u say carpet over th top of the sound proofing lol?.. no wood??

[benicillin]

nah no wood,

just be like a continuation of the stand carpetting then

[jamesDpug106]

lol ok denn.. may try this next week.. you rekon could just use loft insualtion? and does this have like a hard side? if that makes sense lol

[benicillin]

nah if i take the wood out im going to use proper sound deadening stuff,

loft insulation is alright for putting under wood, behind panels etc but not good for putting carpet over the top

[benicillin]

Represent!

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P210508_1711.jpg

stickers on :)

[benicillin]

well from one extreme to the other...

i got mega annoyed with all that weight in the back, so i've stripped it all, and i mean all lol

feels much nimbler now which is nice. and i was quite pleased with the state of the paint as well.

i'm just looking forward getting buckets and harness's now :)

Here's some pictures:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5230123.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5230122.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5230120.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5230119.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5230118.jpg

And the bonus, found all this! its nearly a pint!

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5230121.jpg

[Peter.H]

nice work

thats a full pint in birmingham ;)

[jaif2k4]

lol... enough to pay off for all the work... must agree that is one clean interior, paint wise....

you just whacking buckets and harnesses in or you gonna work something else out?

[benicillin]

well jai i was originally planning to sound proof and carpet the rear, but now after seeing the state of the paint and hearing the exhaust i think im just going to leave it how it is!

make it a hardcore 1.1 like johny R's!

[jaif2k4]

lol. ace. valver-ing it eventually? or leaving it as is...?

[benicillin]

hmm probably not valver, VTR sometime next year i think :)

[benicillin]

p.s sub and amp are for sale now,

let me know if you're interested

[max]

£1.70 nearly a pint!!!

i pay 2.50 at my pub :(

[benicillin]

just a little update,

today my sabelt harness' came (cheers to baz_pug_106gti for them)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P300508_1242.jpg

and i've also bought some cobra subframes, bargain at £62, now all i need is my cobra monaco's!

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/7fbb_1JPG.jpg

thats all for now :)

[JonB]

well from one extreme to the other...

i got mega annoyed with all that weight in the back, so i've stripped it all, and i mean all lol

feels much nimbler now which is nice. and i was quite pleased with the state of the paint as well.

i'm just looking forward getting buckets and harness's now :)

Here's some pictures:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5230123.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5230122.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5230120.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5230119.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P5230118.jpg

And the bonus, found all this! its nearly a pint!




whats that i see, do you realise how much that sound deadening in the rear quarters weighs :p

[benicillin]

lmao its all going mate dont worry, just waiting till i can afford carbon rear doorcards then that sound deadening is outta there!

carpets coming out this weekend as well i think

[JonB]

carbon weighs too much too :p

that was first thing we did to the xsi rip everything bar the dash out i was driving in say on spare wheel lol

[JJ0063]

Why do I really like that first steering wheel :(

Sell it me lol

[benicillin]

its yours if you want it mate

its just sat in my garage doing nothing at the moment!

[JJ0063]

How much do you want mate?

Are they easy to swap over? (My indie has an airbag wheel at the moment)

[benicillin]

yeh they are a piece of piss.

just disconnet the battery, leave it for 30 minutes, two torx screws on the bag of the original steering wheel out, lift the airbag out - and disconnect the airbag orange cable, then undo the biiig torx bolt holding the steering wheel on, give the steering wheel a tug and it'll come out, then put the boss kit on, bolt it in with the big torx bolt, then attach the steering wheel onto the boss kit using the 6 screws, then reconnect the battery....

piece of cake!


(sorry for not using paragraphs, couldnt be botherd lol)

[JJ0063]

Cheers mate!

Price? can pay via paypal whenever you want

cheers

[benicillin]

i'll just have to double check that i have all the screws for the boss kit mate,

and i gotta go out now but i'll pm you later once i've investigated, call it £40 posted :)

cheers

[Clinchybaby]

nice car mate

just read ya blog and liking it

gotta big up the 1.1's

[benicillin]

Todays job: cleaning up the rear drums.

had a right job getting the rear left wheel off after my garage had done the bolts up with an air gun, broke a bloody socket in the process!

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P040608_1842.jpg

eventually i got them loose though. so here's my hovercraft

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P040608_2100.jpg

And this is the state of the offending drums:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P040608_2007.jpg

After about half an hour on each drum with the dremmel i eventually managed to get them to a respectable/paintable state. I found that a dousing of wd40 helped loosen the dust a fair amount:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P040608_2038.jpg

And then finally i gave them a coat of black hammerite, looks much fresher :)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P040608_2047.jpg




For anyone looking to do this i definately recommend one of these bad boys:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P040608_2052.jpg

cost me £20 and made the job ridiculously easy... just dont forget safety glasses and a mask!

cheers

[Clinchybaby]

nice one mate job well done

[jaif2k4]

lol.... hovercraft.... could you not have just used a drill and a wire brush bit....?

[benicillin]

yeh you could, but i had bought the multi tool thing previously for cutting out some acrylic, and that came with a wire brush so i just used that :)

[jaif2k4]

ah so you did use a wire brush... fair play.... was thinking of doing my drums in black.... looking good me ol' china....

[benicillin]

yeeh, im going to do the whole rear beam when i have time.

think im going to have to buy a new wire brush attachment though as mine has no wire left in it lol

[pug10sex]

looking nice, im deff going to have to do my drums =]

[autosmart_refinishing_pug]

must say mate it does look a tidy motor keep up the good work fella

[benicillin]

Well, the time came when i could afford a gti, so naturally it would have been rude not to!

So i took the cash and bought this beauty...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8040227.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8040228.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8040229.jpg

Current modifications are:

E-tech strut brace
Lowered 40mm on GMC Springs with Torsion bar to match
Stainless Magnex twin oval exhaust system
Smoked MR rear lights
Tints all round.

To say im happy with it is an understatement :)

[Smiff]

Noice.

[Peter.H]

you slut ben, I have to wait til at least march to get a car as nice as this.
great car :)

[benicillin]

It'll be worth it in the end Peter.

I just love this car so much because its what i have to show for a years hard work doing ridiculous amount of overtime :)

[Peter.H]

I'm just planning to sell my quiky and get a gti with the money, but an older one lol

it will be a smoothed bonneted china blue badboy lowered 60mm with anthracite ultraleggeras on.

no compromises lol.

glad you're happy buddy I can tell you'll appreciate it and look after it

[benicillin]

Sounds like you got it all planned sunshine!

Cheers fella :)

[benicillin]

Engine Cleaning - Part 1

I had a spare evening tonight so i thought i would have a go and just giving the engine bay a bit of a clean up. I also decided to paint the cam covers, looks more tidy now, but no where near as clean as i want it to look. Still, early days.

Anyway, pictures:

How it was -

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8060230.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8060232.jpg

Covers off -

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8060240.jpg

Then lots of sanding and this stuff -

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8060237.jpg

Then how i left it. I also gave the strut brace a bit of a polish and repainted the strut plates, although it doesnt show up very well as it was dark.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8060243.jpg

Thats all for today.

[Rallye James]

Katie's old one? Just seen that it sold, lovely looking car, shame it's not got the Nimrods anymore, looked great on them at Pugfest.

[benicillin]

Yeah Katies old one :)

Was thinking about getting nimrods but i quite like the raptors tbh.

[benicillin]

Just a few clean pics of the engine bay in the day light.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8070245.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8070246.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8070247.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P8070248.jpg

[Wooly106]

Holy cnut :( I never knew you bought this. You've gone an abandoned me from Team Indigo :(

Looks reaaal noice anyway, future plans?

[benicillin]

Haha sorry fella, but the 1.1 had to go!

The only future plans i have at the moment are Sirocco's and possibly BMC CDA :)

[Wooly106]

Ahh well, POOOOWWWAAAARRR > all else 1.1

Insurance dicking you over yet, or do you have a stable income? Nayway, real tidy car there ;)

[106nick]

Did you seal the cam covers when you put them back on?

if not they will leak mate, need torquing up to 8nm aswell.

[benicillin]

Yeh all sealed and torqued mate, but thanks for the reminder.

[106nick]

Good stuff :D I've got the touch of a rapist, i found squeezing the loctite on the existing seals mighty hard lol.

[Dakinator]

Just out of curiosity, have you still got your 1.1?
If so, are the alloys up for sale?

[benicillin]

Sorry mate,

alloys were sold a few months ago.

[kenich]

Good move - Just noticed your 16v :)

Engine bays looking smart, im just starting on mine now to.

[benicillin]

Cheers kenich :)

[Dakinator]

No worries mate, did like the alloys though, slick as!

[Ktkat]

Looking good (yes I am jealous), I'm glad it went to someone that will look after it :)

Katie's old one? Just seen that it sold, lovely looking car, shame it's not got the Nimrods anymore, looked great on them at Pugfest.

I sold them to my friend Rich, I couldn't sell them on the car as I would probably cry every time I saw it :(

[benicillin]

Thanks katie :)

Did you get your new car in the end??

GTi will be getting lots of treatment in the next 12 months, watch this space. :D

[Ktkat]

I got the 306 yeah, I just need to fix the XSi then sell it before getting my new toy :D

[benicillin]

Ace, would that be the 2.8 monster you were telling me about? ;)

[Ktkat]

Ace, would that be the 2.8 monster you were telling me about? ;)
ktkat better half here Ben, yes it will be the 2.8 little monster for her, I said she could drive my mustang but being left hand drive ktkat struggles to change gear as the gearstick isn't on the door handle, that and I think she is a little scared of the power :rolleyes:

Just read your other thread regarding your epilepsy, I know how happy and excited you were to have bought the GTi and not being able to drive it for 12months will be terrible, but look on the bright side the car will be off the road for a few months anyway with all the work you have planned so in reality the time spend not being able to drive it will seem shorter anyway!
keep smiling fella :)

Steve

[benicillin]

Cheers Steve,

Yeh its a major let down, but knowing i've got lots of plans to be getting on with makes it a lot easier :)

p.s Get katie in that Mustang! Face your fears and all that :p

[Ktkat]

Cheers Steve,

Yeh its a major let down, but knowing i've got lots of plans to be getting on with makes it a lot easier :)

p.s Get katie in that Mustang! Face your fears and all that :p
Last time I let her loose in it the only thing she found easy to use was the throttle pedal! :eek: managed to get up to eleventy leptons without realising. I'll bring it down to Yeovil sometime and take you for a spin as your driving days are over for a while

[benicillin]

Lol! You're a braver man than me!

Regarding the ride in the mustang, that'd be ace :)

[benicillin]

Tiny update:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P160808_1117.jpg

Got this done yesterday, a sign of things to come perhaps.

[benicillin]

Cleaning Arches

Today i had some spare time so i set about give the rear arches a good clean. Going to set about doing the rear axle this weekend.

Only got pictures of one side as they both look the same.

Before:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P190808_1804.jpg

After:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P190808_183101.jpg

Also should have some carbon goodies arriving soon. And i'm still on the lookout for some Team Dynamic Pro Race 1.2's, so PM me if you got any.

Still trying to think of a bold colour to use for the calipers, was thinking yellow but then widdo's got that. Possibly red?

[benicillin]

Raceland 4-2-1 and 2 Inch Pugsport

Today and yesterday i have been working on putting on my Raceland 4-2-1 manifold and 2 inch pugsport, managed to get them finished on this evening and i am mega pleased.

Ordered them together last thursday and they were with me by Tuesday so many thanks to Kam Racing for that. I was a little apprehensive about the fit of the raceland manifold and pugsport as i had heard some horror stories about both of them, but they turned out to be a perfect fit.

I only managed to get some rubbish shots as it was beginning to get dark. And what with me not having a license and mum had been drinking, we couldn't take it for a test drive to see if there were any gains, but i did start it up on the drive way and give it some beans and it sounds lovely :)

Pictures:

(Chipped the paint on the rocker cover by letting the old manifold slip, well annoyed! :mad:)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P280808_2013.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P280808_201301.jpg

Managed to get the pugsport sitting pretty much exactly how i want it, may need some minor tweekage.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P280808_2016.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/gropingboxer/P280808_201601.jpg

That is all :)

[Peter.H]

looks really well mate

how tight to the bumper was the pugsport? mine was bending it the thing was so far out.
good choice on the 2" too ;)

[Davo]

Looks good benny boy!

Off topic: did i give you my new email ad?

[jaif2k4]

ooh... nice and shiney...

[benicillin]

Peter - Pretty damn close the first time, i put it on the hangers and though, christ, that was easy. Took a look at the tail pipe and like you say, bending the bumper a treat. I'm still not entirely sure what i did to make it sit like it is now, just kinda, riggled it lol

Davo - I'm not sure if you did, when i signed on i think you sent it to me in a conversation but it looked like a virus to me so i closed it... sorry mate :o PM me it.