The Never Ending Champion Project

[BazW]

Re: Track Champion

Looks terminal for my F28. The car is still a while off yet but its a kick in the nuts for it. Means trying to find either a good condition F28 ( and risk it failing again), one for spares hoping that its got the bits I need or something different. Finding decent F28s is getting harder and spares are just about none existent

Bollocks...not what I wanted to hear

[BenH]

Re: Track Champion

Have you tried dropping this guy an email to see if he has the parts? http://www.dorfbrunnen-garage.ch/englisch/aggregate.htm

[BazW]

Re: Track Champion

Been juggling three projects and while the GSi and it's issues have kept me busy but had a few hours on the GTE...




Looks worse than it is, the rust on the floor pan is surface rust...we've had weeks with no rain and just as I decided to strip the engine bay and interior we get 2 days solid downpour. The dash has come out as it's picked up a fair bit of damage over the years and I'll be fitting a mk3 dash instead, while it's out I'll be thinning down the wiring loom to get rid of more none essentials. I got rid of the ABS and under bonnet none essential wiring a few years ago so there isn't that much left to come out but it all helps. I've also been removing the sound deadening from the floor...my least favorite job.

The steering rack mount needs a little attention again. The bracing done last time has held up very well but as usual with bits like this it's the next weakest point that fails. In this case the mounting face has started to split where the rack bolts on. The plan is to weld a plate on to strengthen it and brace the two mounting points. Other than that there is no welding needed under the bonnet other than stitch welding so quite happy

[BazW]

Re: Track Champion

It's a sad day but I've come to realise I'm never going to get this car finished. I just don't have the cash, time or energy to get it done. I was trying to get a lockup so it could be stored nice and dry out of the way but it's not looking likely. It's been sat since july 2010 and I've done a few bits to get it prepped but nothing major towards getting it completed so it's going to get broken and sold on.

I'll be putting most of the bits on here but listing the rolling shell and leather door cards on ebay. It'll be a proper clearout as I'll be mk2less for a while yet as the van will be going in the new year too so the Zender splitter, fibreglass bonnet and everything else will be flogged

[Davey J]

Re: Track Champion

Head overruling heart is a tough one isn't it?! Hopefully it is the right decision and good luck with it all man.

[BazW]

Re: Track Champion

Biggest problem is space...if i had somewhere dry to store it it wouldn't be an issue but as it is it's on the drive and while it's not rotten yet, it won't stay that way forever. I'll be gutted to see it go, I've had it since 2005 and got a lot of good memories...be a very sad day when it goes that's for sure

[DarrenH]

Re: Track Champion

i dont want to bore you or make it about me, but i've had almost word for word identicle struggle with my red gte (also been sat since jul 2010)

whilst it isnt a financial burden as its off road, i still feels like a monkey sitting on my back. it cannot progress without cash and time, both of which are spread thinly on other supposedly non "project" cars. or you just go about living your life and 2 months pass, 4 months, 6 months. you walk past it every day and feel anxious, its like a runaway train.

it sounds like your are pretty set, but the van and mk3 seem more expendable ?? cant you just get a 50 quid 6x10 tarp and lash the gte up tight, come back to it another time ? i think you will regret it a couple years down the line if you get shot.

[BenH]

Re: Track Champion

That's what I did lol, wrapped it up in a tarp and forgot about it for 4 years or so till recently when I had the motivation to do somthing with it. I'm glad I did not sell it now.

[BazW]

Re: Track Champion

I've been trying to work out what to do for months...I must change my mind 10 times a day but it feels like the most logical thing to do. I'd love somewhere that I could leave it and soon as I'd had enough down tools, close the door and forget about it for a week or two. If it's sat on the drive i can't do that and with the dark nights drawing in I'm even less likely to want to do anything

The van is definitely going in the new year, it needs far too much doing for the MOT for it to be worth keeping. The GSi has plus points in that I don't need to do any bodywork at all, it's a very solid shell and I'm a bit more confident about throwing it round a track which is really all I want out of my cars at this moment in time.

[BazW]

Re: Track Champion

I'm not doing myself any favours by looking at old photos of it...

[BenH]

Re: Track Champion

Probley not at all I thought about getting shot of mine so many times over the years it was sat, or selling the bits when I was short on cash. But somhow I could never do it in the end, but you've got to do what's right for you really. Does it need a lot doing?

[BazW]

Re: Track Champion

Sills, rear corners and a respray for the bodywork. Being sat on the drive has taken it's toll on it and it looks tatty and picked up a few dents and scratches. It needs a bonnet after splatting a pidgeon on the lanes as well...fat little feckers leave a right dent when you twat them

[Belmont turbo]

Re: Track Champion

you could rent a council garage i do now £25 a month keeps it dry and out the way, bang some extra locks on to keep the local scum away just another option. All the years on here ive seen so many people get rid then regret it! the problem is the mk3 lol bet if you didn't have that to use you would soon find some motivation

mine also needs rear arches, sills and a respray i can't afford so know how you feel im always thinking i could brake it and buy an evo/cossie ect but don't think i could go though all the crap of building another when i wanted it back lol

[Pablo Escablanche]

Re: Track Champion

Gutted for you chap i have been where you are a few times ....sad times i promised the wife this would be my last project until i win the lottery lol. I must admit i dont spend lots on it anymore didnt even get it on the road this year there comes a time in a project when you think hard and long what to do a decision has to be made .........keep head high do what the hearts says ...yuck getting all mooosheeeee now lol

[DarrenH]

Re: Track Champion

every time i am laying under mine on cold concrete, rubbing down the same areas as my first gte, welding the same rotten bits and replacing the same corroded pipes, getting the same body shop to replace the same rotten sills and arches. i just think why the fk am i doing all this again ?

you will buy another mk2, and that will need the sills and arches and a respray too. but what it wont have is all the years and parts you already invested in the champ

for your own future sanity you need to mothball the champ