On to Mule XIV then.

.

.

I've not actually driven it since collecting the car just before Christmas.

The weather turned that weekend and the local council appear to have shares in Gritting Inc, with the roads looking like they have sand drifts of salt! However, that changes next week and it's finally coming out to play, if it stops raining.

.

.

It has given me time to do a load of service, preventative maintenance and general

"make it super clean" items.

A lot of which are the usual mundane bits and I won't bore you with photos, like new wiper, fluids etc

(you're welcome

).

I also didn't get photos of a lot things due to being focused on the doing part.

Here's what i have though.
Tidying the engine bay

The engine is mostly stock, save for an Apexi intake and Apexi exhaust

(Cat still in place).

It's going to remain that way too, but I did/do want to tidy up some of the 25 year old metalwork.

The first of those being the strut top braces.





The X brace wasn't too bad, from a distance at least



Much sanding later



In the

"Paint booth"



Finished



Next were the intake pipes





Sanded and prepped for paint





A few coats of Hammerite later





Cured and ready to be reinstalled.

Along with new hardware, which I've been replacing as I work through the bay and car overall.



As it stands now, after a few more bits had been through the same process



Another job and very much in-line with what I've always done with these cars, is swapping the dome lights for clean white LEDs.

I've kept the old ones if I ever decide to go purist, but the 6000K light is so much better than the stock mushy yellow

(IMO).





Then the ignition key light, which is a nod from right the way back to Mule I





In keeping with the wider theme of cleaning and refreshing the OEM look, I decided I need to do something about the grotty ashtray.

It's never used but knowing it's there and looked the way it did just wasn't sitting with me.



Cleaned and prepped for paint



A few coats of Hammerite later



I know it looks a bit picky and you're right.

However, I'll keeping this car for life, it warrants the time investment.

Plus, while we wait for the house move I have nothing to be busying with and need the creative outlet.

The next job was swapping the Apexi GT out for the Mongoose from Mule X.

I think these cars look best with a twin exit exhaust, it's a symmetry thing.

I have been looking for an HKS twin or a Berk but they never come up for sale.

Long-term I will replace the Mongoose but it will do for now.

Before I fitted it I wanted to clean it up, to polish out some of the grit and grim.

It's futile work; it will only get dirty again, but I can't knowingly fit dirty parts

I did start off with the Autosol and hand polishing, which was a miserable experience.

I then realised I'd bought a machine polisher

(greatest realisation ever!) and had at it.

So much so that I'd done half of it before taking any photos, so here's a clean vs not photo





Done.

It's not perfect, it doesn't need to be.

It is better though.



The gaskets that came off Mule X were looking somewhat past their best, as you can see.



Pete made them back when we did the clutch and they'd work really well.

As such I decided to use the same approach to make new gaskets for both exhausts, starting off with making templates.



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I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've used a compass for any practical application, beyond buggering about when I was at school in the 90's!

It worked well though and I ended up with these.



Now to transfer those to the 3mm steel reinforced grahpite sheet and make the gaskets.







The hangers has been replaced, along with fresh hardware for fitting them.

Everything was ready to go back on.







Done



That's all for now.

Next update will actually have photos of cars being on the road and not just many MANY garage photos!

Toodle pip
