Busy Busy Bee

[tdz840]

Long weekend so thought I would complete the mods I had always intended. Some as a matter of urgency(springs!)
1. Rear springs - changing the wheels and noticed I had a pile of pot metal hanging around the rear spring carrier. More came out when I released them. Thought the stance looked good though but added scrubbing to already crap tyres(RFT). Plan on fitting Eibachs all round but needed to get rolling so Jonny5 came to the rescue with a set of originals left over from when he changed to Eibachs (Cheers Jonny !). Has anyone heard of Eibachs snapping?
2. I had a set of 108s powdercoated; the main part in a chrome9including rears) that almost looks as though its polished and clear coated. The stars are done in a black/silver metal flake that really pops in the sun. As normal difficult to get the shot. Guys who powdercoated them have just looked into doing wheels, they normally do control cabinets for the military. If anyone wants thier details PM me- they are V reasonable. Note when splitting the stars you will bound to get a few sheared bolts (I had 3, two of which had the heads cut off and glued back to look complete ). Good tip-get an old star(I have two :wink: ) bolt it in place and use this as a guide. Why I hear you ask; because you will run off and start hitting the ally. Use a carbide drill (not coated) at slow speed with lots of pressure. Using the star will guide you accurately. If you bush the star hole (OD of the bush the ID of the star hole and ID of the bush the OD of the drill )it will guide even better. I have as well as two spare stars lots of spare bolts :wink: .
3. Fitted a set of Falken 452 (found them individually on Ebay and at various tyre factors, cost me £278 (+£40 for valve and balance)for the set brand new standard assymetric size - result!!) and what a difference, but probably due to the fact I had no tread left on the rear RFTs and apparently little spring assistance!.
4. Had a cruise switch and cut a spare lower console and fitted that. Good for the long boring trips (v upset there was no indication when cruise is selected :thumbsdown: )
5. Cut up a perfectly good rear bumper and fitted a diffuser I had sprayed up some time ago. I know this is very subjective but I like it and I dont recall seeing one on another Zed (not in real life). Someone sent me the TIS instructions but cant find the email to thank them .
6. Fitted the black/chrome grills (thanks Jonny5-again ), had to change the chrome for mine but I prerfer the contrast on the silver cars.
7. Nothing to do with Zed's but sprayed cavity wax in all the chassis members of my classic-not pleasant!
Now I have to do some serious bridge building with the missus for mucking about on the cars all weekend and getting cavity wax on the driveway and not doing the kitchen!!
Pics below:
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/chippy59/No%2010/?action=view&current=DSC_0081.jpg
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/chippy59/No%2010/?action=view&current=DSC_0084.jpg
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/chippy59/No%2010/?action=view&current=DSC_0082.jpg
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/chippy59/No%2010/?action=view&current=DSC_0083.jpg
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/chippy59/No%2010/?action=view&current=photo5.jpg
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/chippy59/No%2010/?action=view&current=photo2.jpg
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/chippy59/No%2010/?action=view&current=photo4.jpg
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/chippy59/No%2010/?action=view&current=photo3.jpg
http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/chippy59/No%2010/?action=view&current=photo.jpg
Russ

 

[PawnSacrifice]

This makes it a little easier...

Looks good - jobs well done!

The BMW springs are a joke - I had my rears replaced three times in five years.

Have a feeling we spoke about the TIS - there may not have been an email, I think it's on the links now in my signature. If it was, happy you got there in the end. For everyone else - unlike the facelift diffuser the pre-facelift one (fitted above) doesn't come with a template, simply instructions for the measurements, so credit due there

 

[navid.v]

that looks very nice,I was thinking of the rear apron diffuser,but when I read that you need to cut the bumper,decided against it

 

[tdz840]

i pcked the apron up on ebay for a song (i know im an ebay whore), and the cutting bit i think is the reason they go cheap..
however the instructions are wrong and if you go by them will be left with a iffing great hole(luckily i fall into the measure twice category!).
When i get time i will do a writrup but wont be a while as i need to earn some browny points!!
Russ
Thanks for the insrtuctions i coulnt remember who sent them
russ

 

[tdz840]

how do you load pics like that?
Spanners ~I can do, IT I cant!!

 

[PawnSacrifice]

You just need the IMG URL to put in the tags, like so...

[img]http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/chippy59/No%2010/DSC_0081.jpg[/img]

Photo bucket actually make it quite easy, if you click on one of your images there is box that says "Share this photo", click on the box "IMG Code", this will automatically copy the code to your clipboard, just click paste in here and it has the tags in pace for you.

 

[tdz840]

Cheers I'll have a play. Still no clearer though

 

[Wondermike]

Diffuser looks good, cutting the hole though - would put me off from attempting it.

 

[tdz840]

Diffuser looks good, cutting the hole though - would put me off from attempting it.

It wasnt difficult, the instructions are OK but need tweaking. However one part states the cut on the right of the bumper should be on the right 25mm from one of the fixings hole with a 20mm radius. Thats wrong it should be 25mm to the left of the hole.
I would also allow an additional 10mm(making 25mm) from the scribed line you make when you temprarily align the apron as in the pic top right page 4 of the instructions.
I also bought more clips 61131925120. The kit alledgedley comes with 16 but I used double that.
Finally I sprayed the back satin black and it looks better for it(although only when youre under the car!!).
Havent a clue how to attach the pdf instructions and of course you cannot copy images from it.
If anyone feels like undertaking the apron feel free to contact me
Russ

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Havent a clue how to attach the pdf instructions and of course you cannot copy images from it.

For the PDF, it's on the list in with the ones on my signature. But by the sounds of it, speaking to Russ is a necessity!