Astra GTE 16V Champion Edition

[Ronin]

Some of you may have seen this on migweb, but for the rest of you, here's my little project.

Bought it in 2003, and modded it mildly, with just wheels and suspension, but came into some bad luck when an uninsured driver drove into the side of it, and I couldn't claim anything from anyone - in fact I'm still waiting for the MIB to contribute to the repair work. I vowed that I wouldn't change it due to it being a Champion Edition, but then decided 'f*** it', I'm not selling it so what the heck!

I've been heavily influenced by modified Dutch Kadett GSi’s (http://www.nukey.nl/gallery/ (nukey.nl)) , and with a little help from one individual (fluent in English), I managed to track down a number of parts in which to mimic their style.

Here's how she was in all her glory before the accident
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/champion.jpg

...and the nice modification added by the uninsured driver! :mad:
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/dent.jpg

After which I set about drawing up plans and finding the right body shop willing to do the work. Apart from the damaged panels, I decided a full restoration was a good move and added new wings all round to the already descending list of things to do, such as:

- Irmscher style front splitter
- JMS rear skirt
- M3 sideskirts
- Bad-Boy bonnet
- De-locked doors
- Colour coded, handles, bump strips and skirts
- Irmscher tinted rear light clusters
- Bee-sting roof aerial
- Remove side repeaters
- Remove rear fog lights
- Remove number plate light
- Remove headlight washers

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/plans.jpg

Here are the photos I have of the work in progress to date.

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20002.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20011.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20012.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20022.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20003.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20004.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20013.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20014.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20015.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20016.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20017.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20018.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20019.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20020.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20021.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Astra%20progess-%20001.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Astra%20progess-%20004.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Astra%20progess-%20006.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Astra%20progess-%20011.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20038.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20039.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20041.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20042.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20043.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20049.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20050.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20051.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20054.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20057.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20058.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20059.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20060.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20061.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20062.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20063.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20064.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20065.jpg

EDIT* All of the above added to keep this all in the same thread :thumbsup:

ORIGINAL POST

Only just got it back from the body shop, so it still needs tinkering with before it can go back on the road, but here are some photos:

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/IMG_2332.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/IMG_2334.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/IMG_2336.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/IMG_2338.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/IMG_2339.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/IMG_2340.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/IMG_2341.jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/IMG_2343.jpg

[astramad]

i like the bottom spoilers and wot or where did you get the fuel cap cover very nice

[Graham]

Yes nice touch with the fuel cap.

Spoilers look very nice esp the rear.

Must admit the Mk2 does look good with the bad boy bonnet.

[Ronin]

It's a Deawoo Nexia filler cap mate ;)

[Dan Gliballs]

I've been following your progress on Mig, and WOW what a stunning result!!! :)

Notice the gutters peeps ;)

[Ronin]

Cheers mate :beer:

[Steve Heley]

Excellent stuff.. very smart.. :)

[Gteman]

Looks really good.

Some nice touches

Does the filler cap need the nexia quarter panel.

I was thinking of fitting a full nexia quarter till i noticed the different fuel caps.

[Ronin]

Does the filler cap need the nexia quarter panel.

No, I just got someone to cut me out the filler cap and about 4 inches of the surround, and the guy that done the work simply cut and welded that section into the new rear quarter.

Original
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20022.jpg

Nexia filler in
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20026.jpg

..and with the cap on
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20036.jpg

[Belmont turbo]

looks well mint love that front splitter where can i get one

[Kris]

I do love the work gone on with your champ .What was the name of the German company who you got the rear slitter from ,or even the website ?.

[Ronin]

Ah man, if only I could give you the answer to that. Again it’s another one of the parts I got from Germany, but it was also the last one this company had! I'll see if I can find the name of chaps I got it from, you could always send them and email and see if they can give you an alternate outlet.

[Ronin]

What was the name of the German company who you got the rear slitter from ,or even the website ?.

JMS - I believe it's a copy of the original Zender rear apron. Wasn't cheap though mate, paid about £150 for it, and its fibreglass not ABS.

www.jms-fahrzeugteile.de/

[Kris]

Ill have a look ,tbh i think ive asked you this and iirc so did half the mk2 owners on Mig ,lol

[Ronin]

Front splitter was off this ebay shop:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/TP-Shop

[Tom]

OMG Thats feckin gorgeous !! ( nearly as nice as mine lmao :p )

Nah very very nice matey really like it alot, fuel flap does look sweet :cool:

I wasnt too keen on the smoothed roof rails but seeing the finished result I`ve changed my mind, looks ace.

Are you going to colour code the boot handle or do it black ?

Oh and please please tell me your goin to be fitting black mesh ??

[Ronin]

Yes mate, gonna be blacking out the boot grab and the scuttle panel. And of course I'm going to be using black mesh! lmao

[astramad]

i do like the smoothed rails ive only seen it done a few times round here but the ones ive seen all seem to have cracked over time is this the norm or is it just been a cr*p job done to start with

[Tom]

Yes mate, gonna be blacking out the boot grab and the scuttle panel. And of course I'm going to be using black mesh! lmao
Good stuff lol Ive redone the handle on mine in black now as the paint had started to come of it :rolleyes:

Might nick your idea of smoothing out the numberplate light :cool:

Is it lowered 60mm at the back ?

[Ronin]

Well the guy whose done mine said it won't guarantee it, but he has experience in doing them before. He said that he's used various different gauges of metal to do them, and said his best results (i.e. not cracking) have been with 18 gauge, which is what he used on mine, fingers crossed it'll survive. There is also very little filler on my rails, which aparently helps.

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/astra%20025.jpg

[Ronin]

Might nick your idea of smoothing out the numberplate light :cool:

If you do, I can recommend a nice little LED replacement unit which you can mount under the boot grab


Is it lowered 60mm at the back ?

No it's just a 35mm drop all round, it just looks lower because it's on the drive and the handbrake is on ;)

[astrasteve23]

that looks very nice! one of the best looking GTE's about.

[Ronin]

Thanks mate.

[Tom]

If you do, I can recommend a nice little LED replacement unit which you can mount under the boot grab

No it's just a 35mm drop all round, it just looks lower because it's on the drive and the handbrake is on ;)
Oh right, looks like its on its arse to me lol !

[AstraPower]

that is one gorgeous motor mate....very impressed!

[Sipo]

I put a post up ages ago trying to find out about that rear splitter, looks awesome. The car as a whole looks brilliant mate, well done to you!

[GazJevs84]

looks good mate gis a call when u r selling it lol

[ashtray]

lookin good :)

[Ronin]

Here's what I've been up to this weekend, finally got round to meshing the front grill, and painting all of the gubbins behind it black.

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Image(164).jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Image(165).jpg

And done all the wiring... The fog lamp is now in the offside reverse light, and the LED units tucked under the boot grab now do a grand job in the absence of the bumper number plate lights.

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Image(169).jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Image(170).jpg

Also on the list was to snugly fit the filler cap release button to the vacant choke panel. A large dollop of silicon sealant and 4 clamps seems to have done the trick.

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Image(166).jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Image(167).jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Image(168).jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Image(172).jpg
http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Image(173).jpg

[Kris]

Loving it :cool: ,nice touch with the fuel filler button .Is that from a Nexia aswell ?

[Ronin]

Sure is mate

[Kris]

Hmm i think a trip to the scrapys may be in order

[Tom]

Tell me more bout these leds for the number plate pretty please lol

[Ronin]

:D Wondered when you'd ask. Got them off ebay, thought they'd be ideal, and they are.

Link to auction (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8016543539&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsearch%2F search.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D8016543539%26f vi%3D1)

[Tom]

:D Wondered when you'd ask. Got them off ebay, thought they'd be ideal, and they are.

Link to auction (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8016543539&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsearch%2F search.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D8016543539%26f vi%3D1)
Nice one, will see if he`s got any left.

They do look good :cool:

Ive done that same as you with the fog light into the light cluster, did you use an led bulb for it ?

[Ronin]

I've not found a bulb yet, I ordered some mirror finished red lamps from some company online, but have received nothing - they've not even taken the money from my account! What exactly have you used? I don't want the colour of the bulb to show up in the lens.

[Tom]

I've not found a bulb yet, I ordered some mirror finished red lamps from some company online, but have received nothing - they've not even taken the money from my account! What exactly have you used? I don't want the colour of the bulb to show up in the lens.
Ive use one of these led bulbs : http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=44&products_id=1070&osCsid=47109a63a7e36947b34605678dac206e

It seems ok but will only really tell if its bright enough at mot time, but you cant see the bulb through the lense at all ;)

[Ronin]

Nice, I think I'll give that a go, annoyingly it doesn't give a light reading on that website, so as you say, won't know if it's bright enough to be a fog lamp.

[Tom]

It is very bright out side the cluster, you cant stare at it lol, its just because the clusters are smoked.

You have to rewire the light cluster to use that bulb though, as in run separate wires from the fog light supply to the bulb. other wise it wont work.

[Ronin]

Huh? What do you mean? I've rewired the reverse light so that it's now the rear fog light. Is that what you meant? Is this lamp not just a straight replacement? Fortunately my reverse lens is not smoked, so the light should be crystal clear.

[Tom]

Have you just swapped the reverse light wire for the fog light wire ? If so the led will not light up.

For some reason on the mk2 its wired backwards lol so the earth of the bulb is the positive if you get what I mean.

The led wont light up because it is polarity sensitve i.e. + to +

The way Ive done it is cut through the tracks on the cluster then solder new wires on to the tracks going to the bulb, then connect the wires to the foglight supply.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b302/TomGTE/stuff306.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b302/TomGTE/stuff307.jpg

[Ronin]

Ah ok, I get ya... Nice to see a bit of Silicon in there... love that stuff. Won't have to worry about getting my head round that, I'll just pester my old man to take a look, he's a sparky, so if he can't figure it out then I'll sell him on ebay!

[mking]

well nice and smooth looking mate. just little touches you've done make the car look ten times better! like the filler cap and coluor coding, and no roof rails, looks mint! where's your number plate light though?

[Ronin]

Under the boot grab, mate.

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Image(170).jpg

[mking]

Under the boot grab, mate.

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/wip/Image(170).jpg


good idea, i'll bare that in mind. was it abit of a sod wiring up? (feeding all the wires through etc...)

[GazJevs84]

i am loving that number plate light mod i may give this a go

[mking]

thinking about it though, could be fiddley.

[Ronin]

Well to be honest it's bodged at the moment. I'm on the scout for another set of electrical contacts, the same as the ones used for the rear wiper motor. Gonna use that to feed the supply, as running the wire through the existing tubing is near on impossible!

[Ronin]

I was about to pop a thread up on my latest ventures and though I should really update it in my original thread, but this is so far behind it needs a little updating so here's a little photo diary of bits done in the last year, and other threads regarding the Champs progress.

The start of the conversion, I got hold of the front brakes first and tarted them up. http://www.astra-mk2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4117

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/brakes/Image(174).jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/brakes/Image(177).jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/brakes/Image(178).jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/brakes/Image(189).jpg

Next came the engine conversion June 2006. Kev Read did the honors as he does with so many Mk2s now, but he went well out of his way here and even sourced a nice donor for me. A trip to Yorkshire later and this was my engine to be.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/Donor2.jpg

So I dropped the car off with Kev and LET him do his thing....
http://www.astra-mk2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6449

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/let%20conversion/pic01.jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/let%20conversion/pic04.jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/let%20conversion/pic05.jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/let%20conversion/pic08.jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/let%20conversion/pic12.jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/let%20conversion/pic18.jpg

Few arty ones from when I got it back

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/10-08-06/IMG_0010.jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/10-08-06/IMG_0001.jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/01-08-06/001.jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/01-08-06/004.jpg

http://sharpey.sirrar.dk/mig/01-08-06/005.jpg

Poked about in the engine bay a fair bit after it returned, painting bits and adding bits of bling etc
http://www.astra-mk2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8567

http://www.sharpey.sirrar.dk/Mig/strut%20brace/001.jpg

http://www.sharpey.sirrar.dk/Mig/strut%20brace/005.jpg

http://www.astra-mk2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12155

http://www.manorizm.co.uk/car_stuff/SPARKIE/02.jpg

http://www.manorizm.co.uk/car_stuff/SPARKIE/05.jpg

Replace my stealth shelf with one even more stealth and original looking

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/shelf1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/shelf2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/shelf3.jpg

Boost gauge went in. Started to realise I couldn't see it a full boost so I dumped it on its side, now I can see the full curve without breaking my neck

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/gauge.jpg

There's lots of other little bits I've done, but I don't wanna clog this page up too much.

After this point I got hold of all the necessary bits for poke the car up to Evo5 standards. I sent it down to V-Tuning where is stayed for a while only to be returned only running 6psi more that I had it running at with the bleed valve. Henrik at V reckons there's a crack in the wastegate preventing the car from holding any more than 15psi so this needs to be sorted. I would have left it with him to do only I needed the car for the SE vs Eastern Mig Rolling Road day where I got a shocking result considering what Henrik has told me.

277bhp / 310lbft Was really pleased with that considering... roll on 18/22psi :)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/IMG_0041-1.jpg

Other than Micky sorting a number of bits on the car like the gearbox, clutch, fuel lines (to name a few) and thoroughly embarrassing me on the way home from my MOT we're pretty much up to date now

:bananajump:

[Ian T]

Some lovely pics there Chris... :)

Ian.

[Ronin]

Right today and yesterday.... You may remember me posting up about the rear discs I bought to match the fronts, well finally got round to fitting them over the last 2 days.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/rb03.jpg

Before I took the wheel off, here's a before shot.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/rb02-1.jpg

Took this opportunity to clean up the dust cover and the rear beam as it was looking very shabby.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/rb03-1.jpg

On they go... Was pretty straight forward, I only wish I had of known there were 2 tapered sleeves inside the disc that hold the bearings in place... got one out and the bloody thing still rocked, then realised there was another one! :hissyfit:

I couldn't see them through the amount of grease in the old ones...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/rb04-1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/rb05.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/rb06.jpg

If you haven't already noticed, the disc is on the wrong way around, I noticed this after take the pics, but fear not I've swapped the over now.. :duh:

Now they look a little more in unison with the fronts

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/rb07.jpg

While I had the back up on stands I got myself under there and disconnected my back box for some much needed love. The bloody thing is straight at last!!!!

:Banane47:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/rb09.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/rb08.jpg

[richie00boy]

Nice work, good touch painting the 'hub' bit of the disc.

[Ronin]

Well they only go grotty, and the bell on the front is the same colour ;)

[Tom]

Looks great! I love attention to detail like that :grinning-smiley-043

[Dale]

looking great love this car!

[Ronin]

:: July Update! ::

After much sitting around scratching my head I got something finally in motion and today stood around with my hands in my pockets while Micky kindly fitted a new(er) turbo to my beast. :bow:

As you may know I was told by Henrik at V-Tuning that my turbo was under performing and that the wastegate was more than likely the reason. I've been meaning to remove it at send it away to be looked at for months, but didn't fancy tackling the task myself (because I'm a pussy - and don't have all the tools or the patience to do it).

Paul (I'm the only gay with a GTE) Gardner managed to get his hands on a stupendously clean turbo after one Mr Read blew his car up. Having realising it was chamber No#3 that had blown and not his turbo I near enough ripped his arm off for said part.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/17072007165.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/17072007163.jpg

As you can see it looks like it's never had a hard days' work in its life as a turbine, and was assured to be A1, not just by Paul and Kev but by it's original seller, Henrik at V!

So this morning I hooned it over to soggy Kingston and let Mr Taylor loose on my car, again... A greasy spoon café breakfast and a few hours later I had a new turbo fitted.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/21072007166.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/21072007167.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/21072007168.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/21072007169.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/21072007171.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/21072007174.jpg

After a phone call and a few test drives up and down a 1/4 mile strip of residential road terrorising local traffic and emptying my fuel tank, we got it up to and holding around 18psi of boost, which is the correct figure for the Evo5 ecu. Gonna give Henrik a phone call on Monday to get it set up correctly, as it's feeling a bit jerky on full load/boost. Nearly there now...

A good days work, my thanks to Micky for his graft and Paul for giving me first refusal on the turbo :thumbsup:

[Sipo]

Looking good my man. What do you mean when you sat the discs are on the wrong way around?

[Alex mac]

Looking good mate, as always

Should go well when you get it set up

@Sipo, the discs can be put on the wrong way around when they are drilled or grooved by thedirection of the lines, when put on the wrong way they do not clear the dust build up or de glaze the pads as designed

[Ronin]

August 6th:

After having had my tweeters trial fitted in about 3 different location near the A-Pillar I finally decided I was gonna go for the TomGTE approach, sink them in the speaker grill.

Pulled the grills out and checked to see if there was enough room underneath to allow me to sink them and leave a flush finish.

Bit of masking, bit of marking and measuring and here's the current state. I've stuck the surrounds in with some black mastic adhesive which I'm gonna neaten up once it's dried.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/06082007185.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/06082007188.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/06082007189.jpg

Quite pleased with them so far. I'll pop a photo up with the tweeter in situ tomorrow.

[Ronin]

Let the mastic dry sufficiently over night and went to plumb the tweeters in today. Due to the slight depth of the tweeter I found myself having to cut away a tiny amount of the centre section between the speaker and the heater vent to allow the grill to sit flush.

Here's the final outcome.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/07082007190.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/07082007191.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/07082007192.jpg

[BrightSpark]

nice touch, love all the little mods they make a difference

[Tom]

Looks good matey :thumbsup:

[Tibs]

Fantastic details there, looks great, as usual!

[Ronin]

This has been the general story of my car since it's been turboed....

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/Eurohoon07008.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/Eurohoon07200.jpg

I've finally had enough of all the boost hoses popping off on my car; while it's off the road for now I've attacked this issue by stripping the whole induction system down and assessing the best solution with the least number of joins. I also discovered that I had some precarious sized hoses joined to each other which needed addressing too.

My worst culprit to date has been the pipes joining the turbo to the intercooler. I had a 51-45mm bore 90 degree reducer joined to another 45mm 90 degree hose then into a 45-51mm joiner into yet another 90 degree 51mm elbow.... Why!???? :confused: So, done some measuring and have addressed the erratic bore increase and decrease and now have 1x 90 degree 51mm bore and a 135 degree 51mm elbow coupled with a massive 6" joiner pipe held on by 4 jubilee clips,,,,, I'm going hardcore :D

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/01122007272.jpg

Also bought another long joiner to replace the one that popped off at the Ring earlier this year with the attempt to cure all the coupling hidden behind the bumper.

I've also taken the opportunity to bling some bits up true slingy style :applause:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/15112007266.jpg

More photos to come.....

[GazJevs84]

They look good mate hope they cure the problems bud

[Ronin]

Right finally got all the bits I needed this week, so I used the 2 dry days this weekend to good use. Using the 2 new hose setups I've successfully managed to negotiate them into position (with a little trimming here and there), and finally got the intercooler central in the bumper.

Here's the setup

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/19122007276.jpg

...but I've changed the 90 degree reducer on the right of the intercooler for this little setup as the hose wouldn't reach the IC. :duh:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/15012008294.jpg

So here it is all back on

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/27012008303.jpg

Here's the view from the turbo round to the intercooler

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/27012008307.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/27012008308.jpg

..and from the other side and up.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/27012008309.jpg

Ignore the dirt and dew on the bumper, but look how nice and central it is,,,,, KEV!!!!!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/27012008304.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Ronin_from_Mig/27012008312.jpg

Just need some life in the battery and I'm laughing. :Banane47:

Also realised my oil cooler has slipped, so I'll move that.

[MK2-JOHN]

Good job there Chris, looks much neater with the IC centered properly

[mick g]

That looks like a proper job mate.What happened to the oil cooler, have the zip ties come loose?

[Ronin]

Another one of Mr Reads makeshift efforts. I'd not realised it sat so low until now, got to at least get it tucked behind the top grill.

[PaulGTEturbo]

Countdown timer till pop time again............12:45:00.....beep beep beep

:Banane47:

[Ronin]

*******! It'll find a weak spot somewhere, but not between the bumper anymore, not with 2 jubilees on each join!

[PaulGTEturbo]

*******! It'll find a weak spot somewhere, but not between the bumper anymore, not with 2 jubilees on each join!

thats what mine has........and guess what........

BANG!!!!

[Ronin]

What are you saying? Its a good idea to have a weak spot otherwise something more important will go pop!?

I think you just have gay luck!

[Tom]

And the winner of the most jubilee clips on the boost pipe circuit competition is ... Ronin lol :p

[Ronin]

Spot the paranoia! :(

[GTEGirl]

"sold with extra security measures...."