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Post by mawdo81 on Feb 1, 2015 21:36:41 GMT
I'm debating doing the same to my 2.0 lump, or just giving it a lick of paint, plugs, timing belt, oil and filter. Mines done 99k. How much work is it to do the strip and would you recommend it?
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Post by Johnsto on Feb 1, 2015 22:28:39 GMT
Took me all afternoon, about 5 hours, to strip down. It certainly was an eye opener for me as I have little mechanical knowledge but it's fun and you'd feel much better knowing that the cam seals, head gasket, timing belt etc are all new, rather than finding a leaking seal after you finished your build. The Haynes manual is invaluable if you do decide to strip down. Also I imagine it's much easier to clean and paint parts when there not attached to the block.
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Post by airforceone on Feb 2, 2015 11:38:17 GMT
New 2.0 litre zetec only cost £850 or the 1.8 is £750 delivered.
My donor car had 120K on the 1.8 zetec.
Several companies wanted £1300 to refurb it back to a zero mile engine!!!
New engines come with a brand new clutch and fly wheel, so if you need a 1.8 your laughing. If it's a 2.0 you will easily get £100 back from selling them and just use the other bits from your old engine until funds become available.i.e Alternator, oil dipper and 1.8 Fly wheel.
It is good experience doing the work on your old engine but how much longer will it gio before something else need doing. Especially if you fance a few track days.
Good bargaining point as well if you ever sell it on.
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Post by Johnsto on Feb 2, 2015 17:22:45 GMT
My 2.0 only has 67k on the clock, complete with full service history Donor was only £500, I'll be using the loom, ECU, cluster and maybe a few other bits. Sold £100 of parts off it so far too.
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Post by mawdo81 on Feb 2, 2015 17:59:16 GMT
How are you going to incorporate the cluster, I'd like to do the same.
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Post by Johnsto on Feb 4, 2015 9:36:23 GMT
I may attempt a custom pod of my own or just copy a couple of the builds on here, undecided yet.
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Post by Johnsto on Feb 5, 2015 17:53:15 GMT
Engine being put back together. Block, pan and lower crank housing cleaned, sprayed and put back together. Used Halfords engine spray paint. I know it may "fall" off after a while but I think I did a good job of putting on.
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Post by Johnsto on Feb 10, 2015 18:05:09 GMT
Ok, so yesterday's glorious weather was spent stripping out the loom from the focus. A very daunting task. I have labelled every wire to start with and will then start stripping back the unwanted wires
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Post by davef on Feb 11, 2015 11:48:11 GMT
Welcome John and its great to see another Sonic, loads of help and advice here on the Forum, if you are not sure about something just ask the question. Hereford is not that far away and there are two other Sonics being built here in the West Midlands as well as mine which is awaiting IVA.
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Post by Johnsto on Feb 11, 2015 16:23:58 GMT
Thanks Dave, I would certainly appreciate a chance to view a complete to Sonic. I shall ask many a daft question on here no doubt
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Post by monk on Feb 11, 2015 21:01:25 GMT
There are never ever any daft questions .... only pressing questions that stop you making daft mistakes !!
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Post by Johnsto on Feb 27, 2015 22:24:43 GMT
A quick update on the build. I have been mainly taking down a fence and erecting a new one over the last couple of weeks, looks good. I have found some time to work on the build, or unbuild as it should be called.
I have stripped the Sonic back as far as I would like. A few rivinuts have given way and shall now be spending eternity rattling around in my chassis . I have left most of the copper brake lines attached due to them not looking too bad and the amount of rivinuts holding them in place.
Issues I have found (and may have mentioned in an earlier post) are -
- Both front wheel bearings are shot, new ones on order.
- Copper brake line to master cylinder kinked, will replace.
- 17" Rims hit the front wings on quarter lock!, will refabricate wings around wheels rather than change wheels.
- Body panels have spider cracks, chips, scratches etc, some go below the gel coat, will fill up and respray over or maybe vinyl
- Shut lines when it was assembled weren't the best , will figure that out towards the end.
- Hoop has cracks in the powder coat with rust showing through, will have it stripped and re coated after IVA.
- Track rod ends do not have long enough thread, don't know what to do with this yet.
- And other things I cant recall off the top of my head.
I'll be amazed if the electrics work after I've finished giving them a haircut
Finally I can start to build, maybe have a working Sonic by Xmas
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Post by Johnsto on Feb 28, 2015 17:49:58 GMT
Not much time spent in the garage today but some is better than none.
I was thinking about the interior floor today. I hear some people complain about noise from the stone kick up hitting the floor pan. Although I don't think it would bother me too much and yes I know I'll have a loud engine 12" from my head, I have decided to put something in place to "quieten" the stone noise.
It is 25mm Polystyrene ! It fits perfectly inside the 25mm box section of the chassis, beautiful. Next to no weight added and it will deaden any noise and is also very durable, it is used to help insulate concrete pads. I plan on placing a floor over the top, this will be 5.5mm exterior plywood. Lighter than 2mm aluminium etc and durable in the weather.
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Post by Johnsto on Mar 12, 2015 18:58:56 GMT
Been slow going lately, still chopping away at the focus loom ? I'm not going to have much left of it by the time I'm finished. Wondering weather it would have been easier to build a loom from scratch, following a wiring diagram.
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Post by mawdo81 on Mar 12, 2015 19:11:28 GMT
Are you using the focus clocks? What are you doing for lighting controls?
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