81 Storm

[The Autoad]

So picked up this mk1 Storm on the 21st June 2009 with the Lilac Trailer supplied by Knights Light HaulageTM



Got back all safe and sound to the Workshop for recommissioning







The car has been stored in a dry garage certainly for the past few years and by what i can tell from the history, most of its life, so it is in very good condition. It has been restored at somepoint over the years, treated to a new sill, new wings and a respray. More recently fitted are new brake callipers and hardlines. the interior suffers no rips or tears. The cosmetics just need a good clean up.

the car was taken off the road due to a running problem, thought to be electrical and further investigation seems to bear this out. So it was time to recommission and sort out the gremlins:



This was a very old immobiliser that only wanted to switch off some of the time in order to get any kind of response from the ignition switch, so that was binned for a starters to eliminate it from the running issue.



I replaced the dash loom with a complete spare that i had and knew to be good



which got everything bits working again -now all three speeds of the fan work for example

and hey kids, remember to gain those extra concourse points you need to have this widget in place to hold your loudspeaker wire in place ;)



The dash is ok, a few cracks but nothing too major, and the 'face' is unscuffed. I'll just keep my eye out for a perfect one on my travels.



The running issue has been traced to the feed wire to the fuel pump, there is power from the ignition to the fuse box and the relay seems to check out fine, so next job is to run a wire from the fuse box to pump to prove conclusive. Again, a spare rear loom awaits if required. If that don't work its time to eliminate other things!

[The Autoad]

Not done too much on the car lately as the empire has been expanding, been recommissioning the unit next door

However, today managed to get back on the jazz amongst numerous other things and ended tying myself up in knots with the fuel pump wiring. I can get it working with a jumper directly from the relay contacts, but not to switch on with ignition. So do find a help post in the electrical section!

In the meantime, i'm going to need a new fuel sender and tank. Its a bit ikky.




So will replace everything in this area, and also inspect the fuel lines.

And started stripping out the interior to clean up the car and the leather seats. Strange sound deadening stuff in the boot!


So a few jobs to do, but i'd rather get the car sorted first time than have to return to niggling issues!

[monzajake]

god sake where did you get that gem from....... please god let me find one as good as that or even just a shell ....

[The Autoad]

you'll find one bud!

Thanks to Pete I have managed to sort out the electrical problem, there was a wire missing from Pin A8 to the pump feed. Fashioned a new wire and plugged in with the correct connecting pins that I had in the spares that came with the Redroc shell from Mr.B. He's still sorting us all out with parts!

Result is the pump is go so now to fit a new one.

But first, to remove the past it tank, old pump and accumulator etc.





Rear beam came off with no issues but rear shockers were very stubborn. Its going in the bin anyway.

And lets take a look under there. Not bad, areas around the chassis mounts need some attention and a bit of welding on the ns.



So have got a new tank, zinc primed painted and stone chipped, new fuel pump and new accumulator. Replacement filler neck from Alexander (cheers bud) and a new fuel pump basket purchased at Inters from Crazyquiff all painted up and ready to fit:


And these arrived in the post a few weeks ago

[The Autoad]

Work trundles on.

Stripped back as much rust as i could, treated, then welded a repair. Primed, seam sealed and stone chipped.


New tank fitted plus new exhaust


New pump, accumulator and neck sorted


Rebushed the rear beam. Recommend powerflex bushes -easy to fit, each bush is in two halves!


and here's a trick if its helpful, when fitting the rear beam i usually raise it up on a trolley jack enough to fit the brake hard lines to flexy hoses together, then raise the beam and bolt it to the car body. Much easier than struggling when the beam is in situ!


Have had this Weitec GT suspension kit sitting around for two years, it was originally bought for Redroc. So pleased that i can finally put it to good use!
Also took the opportunity to refurbish the rear brakes.


hello cheeky


Car is back on its wheels now, ready to turn attenton to the front suspension and brakes.

[The Autoad]

last couple of Sundays...

So I move to the front of the car.

To find this new calipers, discs and pads and braided hoses. Not even run in. I check all is kosher and leave them there!


Moving on to fit the front suspension.


Refitted the dash and refitted the handbrake and cables inside the car


Piglet then helped me bleed the brakes, the m/c looks to be quite new and the brakes work quite well, we'll see what the braking pressure is like on the MOT and the the discs, pads, shoes and drums need to be run in. But I can skid the car, so....it must be running!

Thats right, fired up after a few splutters and held idle nicely.

However, the return fuel pipe had a right old leak, and the send line wasn't looking too clever either. So I took a punt and ordered a set of braided fuel lines from CrazyQuiff Mk1 Golf Emporium and am very pleased with the fit and quality of the lines. They are the same length as the original hardlines and very easy to fit.


After that no issues at all, so i fited the decent set of wheels and tyres from the GLS (under resto) and took the car for a blast around the farm, testing the brakes, the gearing and getting the engine up to temp until the cooling fan kicks in and out again. Happy to report all seems to work as it should, including the electrics. Had two other opinions on the cambelt, it too looks very recent, so decided to change when it starts looking tired.


Just got to clean it all up now. First wash to get the dust off, more washes and polish to follow


And made a start on the interior with leather cleaner and restorer

[GTXTRA]

that looks bloody superb Ant.

[markh]

Top work Ant How much are the braided fuel lines if you dont mind me asking ?

[The Autoad]

thanks guys.

£129 Mark, which is in the upper price range but they are a straight fit and forget item, took me twenty minutes to fit once i had removed the old pipes. I am converted.

[ianaudia4]

I got a set of the fuel lines as well, perfect fit.

[Ryan]

Looking good Sir!
Meant to ask you - what's the exhaust (Jetex?)

[The Autoad]

yes mate, Jetex 2" jobby. A perfect fit for the car and much better than the 2.5" on Redroc, both in fit and sound. I'm going to treat Redroc to one of these in the new year, very impressed.

I'm easily impressed and converted these days...

[monzajake]

that's just sexy...
Im going off to have a cry wishing i had a mk1 like that, hell i'll even part with the monza, for a non-sunroof 81 met blue one again....
On the up side, we'll see

[Bill]

Very impressive, a credit to you mate.

[monzajake]

I think you should of painted the fuel tank straps !
But there again im soooooooooo jealous