90 replies to this topic

[moneyhunster]

Hi Everyone Seeing as im going to be asking for lots of help with my project from you guys on here i thought i would document my little project as i go. After spending a few months looking for a reasonable cheap VX220 n/a, driving all over the west of the UK (and driving my girlfriend mad at the time!) i finally found a nice little 2003 VX in Southampton with front end damage, i was originally looking for a complete car but this one seemed a very easy repair and looked in perfect pre accident condition.  vx220 1.JPG   54.48KB   26 downloads The damage to the front looked like this  vx220 5.JPG   62.99KB   16 downloads I gotta say, i havent been this excited since i was 20 and buying my first calibra turbo

[The Batman]

so: crashbox radiator radiator surround horn alarm siren clam headlights the rest of the car looks mint! perhaps fit a charge cooler

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

crash box will be a pig to do hopefully another fix vx on the road good luck in the project

[moneyhunster]

PART 1 Remove all the damaged parts. Removing the damaged clam proved a mission on its own, spent the whole of a sunny sunday with the car parked in the garden armed with an angle grinder, stanley blade and a scraper. Finally i was left with this.  crash box removed 3 small.JPG   74.08KB   13 downloads

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

did you use a mask to protect your lungs

[moneyhunster]

blimey you guys are quick, im sitting here uploading my progress and you have visited already

[moneyhunster]

did you use a mask to protect your lungs

hahaha yeah my body shop recommended it majorly, i can see why now!

[moneyhunster]

PART 2 Refit new crash box and radiator surround Ordered the Special glue from vauxhall, £40, i was expecting something other than window sealer!! At least that was the instruction leaflet supplied with the kit. The crash box was ordered from the lotus centre and at £385 i was not expecting what i got! Black to start with, i thought it would be white! Looks like they spent a decent bit of time on it too. I was supplied a radiator from the chap i bought the car from, it was the all aluminium one for the lotus, seems a lot lighter than the original one too. Radiator fan came from a member on here. many thanks to cthomas443 for that. Got the radiator surround from village fox in wales. This is what she looks like now  Front ready for clam small.JPG   53.28KB   13 downloads Filled the car with water and blead the system to try up and down the road. What can i say! WOW I cant wait to get the rest done now and get it on the road, it felt so quick, steering is a lot lighter than i imagined, No rattles or weird steering problems to note either. Excellent

[Zoobeef]

Nothing wrong with breathing in some glass fibres Healthy

[moneyhunster]

PART 3 Remove the interior (what there is of it) Guess this bit is not going to agree with everyone but i like my music and as this is going to be my everyday car i wand a slim bit of comfort! Removed the seats, passenger one was a total nightmare as i didnt have a tool to get to the front bolts.  seats out small.JPG   36.33KB   7 downloads Next was the rear speakers and surround, removed and ready for my hertz components  Speaker surround ready for fitting small.JPG   40.63KB   5 downloads Now to prepare the bare interior with soundproofing, what a bugger this was to do, i was recommended to put the sheets in the oven prior to fitting, all this was too late as i had already cut the sheets and placed them in situ, next i had to spend about 2 hours heating it up with a heat gun to fix!  floor soundproofed 3 small.JPG   43.89KB   7 downloads My alarm arrived today, im a big clifford fan so opted for the clifford Concept 650 mk2 with a few extras a couple of which are dual zone proximity sensor to warn off young lads wanting a look inside. I also bought the intellistart remote start so i can leave the car running if i need to stop for a few minutes keeping the car cooling itself.  Alarm n bits small.JPG   39.38KB   4 downloads Hopefully this will be fitted after the weekend.

[moneyhunster]

My heater box has some cracks so i decided to remove it and seal it up, after removing it it almost fell apart in my hands, i have repaired it best i can and wrapped it in tape to seal it completely but im not happy with the result really. Could this be fabricated out of aluminium? is there any reason why i cant do this? Gonna see a chap tomorrow who makes lorry buts and other aluminium bits including tool boxes. other than that i think i might have to replace it as its niggling at me sitting there in the car. does anyone have one?

[Zoobeef]

You dont hang around getting it repaired do you. Good work

[rob999]

I think IvarS is selling a heaterbox if your struggling. See the car parts for sale...if it's not already sold... Check, just saw your post to him. Keep up the good work

Edited by rob999, 21 September 2010 - 06:19 PM.

[moneyhunster]

You dont hang around getting it repaired do you. Good work

I was planning on doing it over the winter but soon as i got it home i couldnt resist doing something to it, after driving it up the road im keener than ever.
Still i want it to be a good job done so the rest is likely to take a bit of time, im keen to get the clam though, at least then the spray shop can book it in, so thats likely to be the next purchase other than the heater box.

[moneyhunster]

Im desperatly in need of a nearside turbo headlight if anyone has one

[fred666]

What Hertz mate? Im sup[rized you've got away with adding weight in the from of Dynamat without someone picking up on it lol Great updates

[moneyhunster]

What Hertz mate? Im sup[rized you've got away with adding weight in the from of Dynamat without someone picking up on it lol

Great updates

Haha yeah i was waiting for that one too, saw how harsh some were on others posts, i expect someone will pickup on all the cables once i start the audio/video section!

Hertz Mille (Components)

Thanks for your carpets mate, i think they will go down over the sound proofing a treat.

[fred666]

Carpets AND sound proofing?? Good choice on the comps. Where are the tweeters and crossovers going? I need to get some Rainbows in mine at some point

[moneyhunster]

Carpets AND sound proofing??

of course.

Tweeters will be going where the tweeters are now, i think i have the touring model so i have tweeters in the front already, just need to dynamat the pods they sit in! They should sound awsome as they point direct at you.

I have an Alpine DVD pop out screen and phone going in with components being driven active if i can so i might not need to put the crossovers in, failing that i may cut a crossover sized pocket in the foam backing on the rear of the shelf to keep them out of sight.

You might like whats going to power the system PUPPY POWER
 amp.JPG   36.41KB   4 downloads

[fred666]

You are one brave man posting that pic up lol Pure SQ system then, would love to hear this all finished good luck with it fella.