Well, I suppose its about that time!
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The westy hasnt turned a wheel since last November
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(well, until this week.
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But more on that later) as Ive been busily beavering away at the long list of jobs needed to bring her back up to scratch.
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I say beavering away, Ive actually been busy with such trivialities as work, Christmas, house improvements etc, but Ive managed to disappear off into the garage here and there.
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As ever, its not yet finished, but hopefully Ive broken the back of the work needed.
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Its almost ready to go sprinting again, at least!
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First job
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(and the one that took the most time) was to get the chassis and various suspension components back up to scratch.
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Its all 27 years old now and the original paint isnt up to much, so my habit of driving it in winter lead to some pretty crusty looking surface rust:
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![Image](http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/benedwards64/20161210_190220_zps3sqvd6nd.jpg)
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The rear end was definitely going to need some attention
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the wishbones were particularly grotty and the diff was also making some unpleasant noises, so apart it all came
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I also discovered at this point that the rear ARB was practically seized!
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First step, attack it all with the rust proofer:
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![Image](http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/benedwards64/20170101_180133_zpsfjddee52.jpg)
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Then, once dry and left for a few days to cure, attack with a wire brush drill fitment
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And break out the POR-15:
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![Image](http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/benedwards64/20170122_132309_zpsjpc4f85q.jpg)
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Not a professional job, certainly, but it does the trick.
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Job number two was to fit a pair of flared side panels I purchased recently.
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This purpose was twofold: partly as an aid to cooling, but mostly to give me better access to the sides of the engine so I could find where that xxxxxx oil leak was coming from.
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Unfortunately it was pretty soon clear that it was from an earlier car and wouldnt fit without a bit of bodgery, so I turned to plan B.
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Break out the Dremel
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I can see things!
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Old girl was looking a bit sad at this point.
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![Image](http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/benedwards64/20170108_201109_zpsvrapln16.jpg)
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So, time to start putting a few bits on.
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I was a bit limited at this point as the diff was off with Tracsport having a rebuild, so I started with a few cosmetics.
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Firstly, fitting of a new set of front wings
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(after I botched the existing ones trying to get
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them so sit straight) and the Flared Side Panels 2.0:
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![Image](http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/benedwards64/20170218_192034_zpsbor5kvh5.jpg)
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And then I got a shiny thing back!
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Ive finally also been able to confirm that it does indeed have a Quaife ATB diff.
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It was a proper xxxxxx to refit though, but after much swearing
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It took a bit of fettling to get everything lined up and the speed sensor working again, but we got there.
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Final touches were to get the wings a slightly better colour, and give it a good service:
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![Image](http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/benedwards64/20170311_155030_zpsugyxfp1s.jpg)
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(no pics of the servicing, but you all know what oil looks like? All over the garage floor? Yeah, that.
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) I found out where the oil leak was coming from though
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turns out a few of the sump bolts werent torqued correctly so some oil was seeping through and dripping off the bottom of the sump.
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Finally, new drivers harness:
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Put it all back together
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Out of the garage
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(leaving behind a bit of mess!)
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![Image](http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/benedwards64/20170312_151341_zpsjwjs1ud7.jpg)
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Et voila!
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It had a lovely run out last weekend.
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Loads of fun! A few little niggles here and there, but nothing major.
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All I need to do now is a couple of fiddle bits
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replace the choke cable, refit the rear ARB
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and give it a run on its new rubber:
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First sprint is a week on Sunday.
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Definitely nervous now!
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