Ian's S4s refurb

[silverfrost]

I love home made tools, my specialist box is full of all kinds of welded spanners and sockets each serving a purpose in lifes little car complication areas 

[Jacques]

Ian, I used a wera rachet with an open end spanner head on it, and tilted the wera ratchet in an angle ( can have more angles by press of a button). Worked for me.

I seem to remember there are nuts and big washers to support the coupling.

Jacques.

[Chillidoggy]

Aaaaaaaargh! I've just had a look at that Wera ratchet. OMG! Complete tool pornography, and I am now unable to continue to live my life without one.

[swindon_alan]

10 minutes ago, ian29gte said:

Complete tool pornography

And you thought that my "man's screwdriver" and "penetrating fluid" references were bad...

[Chillidoggy]

To be fair, Jacques did at least omit any the smutty innuendo, though if he'd posted a photo, well that could have been a dodgy moment!

Even if I didn't need a Wera ratchet, I'd still have to buy one. It looks wonderful!

[silverfrost]

Spanner monkeys are so easily pleased its wonderful 

[swindon_alan]

Unfortunately spanner monkeys also end up with spanner rash, my hands are shot to bits after fixing my turbo on Sunday 

[Chillidoggy]

Wera ratchet is now on order with adjustable crow-foot spanner. There now follows the usual agonising wait for delivery. I'll be into cold turkey soon.

[Bibs]

Saddo!

 

[Chillidoggy]

1 hour ago, Bibs said:

Saddo!

 

 

Saddo?

Engineer is the word you're searching for!

[Jacques]

Oh that was easy! Should maybe promote the aquisition of a Sport300 soon?

Ian, you know those Wera tools, they come in three different sizes?

Jacques.

[Chillidoggy]

4 minutes ago, Jacques said:

Oh that was easy! Should maybe promote the aquisition of a Sport300 soon?

Ian, you know those Wera tools, they come in three different sizes?

Jacques.

 

Yes, Jacques. I've ordered the 1/2" ratchet.

I do have  a set of Wera Joker combination ratchet spanners, they're almost too good to use on a grubby old Esprit!

[Jacques]

Indeed they are good!

Regarding the ratchet sets, they all come with the same parts and smart bits and bobs. Great for working on the Esprit. I bought mine as a celebration, when I bought my Esprit. I think they are intelligent tools; made by german steel, not chinese btw.

Jacques.

[Chillidoggy]

'Intelligent tools'.

I shall have to find somewhere to use that phrase.

[Chillidoggy]

Finished the rad-pack yesterday.

I've been quite pleased with myself because the pile of bits on the garage floor has been slowly diminishing. I did however omit to put the piece of ducting in that fits behind the front grille, and had to take both the GRP duct covers down to fit it, but overall it's looking good.

The Spal fans come with 6.3mm vertical 2-way connectors, and are, as per bloody usual, nothing like the ones on the Lotus, so I've ordered up the female halves and connectors for those. I'll jury-rig the connections until they arrive so I can make sure they run OK. One thing I noticed  while I as checking the wiring was that that the revised wiring diagram sction of ML shows 10amp fuses for the fans, they the service notes show 15amps. And the car has 15amp fuses fitted.

The red silicone Chinese hoses (maybe that should be 'chilicone'?) will be OK I think, apart from thre colour, which I think looks a bit naff. But at £57 for the complete set of hoses I can't complain. I had to cut about 20mm off the top hose where it fits onto the radiator, and the run is not perfect, but once it's full of coolant I reckon it will be fine. The bottom hose fitted perfectly. I did clean up the stubs and smear some blue Hylomar round them before clipping them up, so hopefully they'll be leak-free.

I fitted the new, 90 degree rubber elbows with 200mm long legs I'd ordered for the front of charge-cooler radiator. The originals are now obsolete, and the longer legs allowed me to cut them to the correct length. Fitting the LHS duct with the horns in was challenging, it's a good job it's all plastic to allow for all the pushing and shoving. I ended up removing the alloy charge-cooling pipes to do that, then bolted them back up afterwards.

With my air-con man threatening to go on holiday, I need to get the coolant circuits charged next so I can run the engine and get the system commissioned. I've got everything crossed that there's no leaks this time around. Wish me luck, it took ages to get the air out of the charge cooler circuit last time, poxy thing.

I also need to take care with the engine oil level because the oil coolers have been out and the pipework drained. I'm guessing there must be a couple of litres in them, but it will need close monitoring. I might simply change the oil and filter at the same time, but to be decided.

 

[Chillidoggy]

Surprisingly, I managed to replace the oil filter with relative ease, and didn't have to remove the plenum support strap. This early success has however been tempered somewhat by the 2 hours I've taken so far to fill the charge-cooler coolant circuit. I swear it would be quicker with an intravenous drip like they use in hospitals. At least then I could leave it to sort itself out. The engine cooling circuit appeared to fill with remarkable ease though, so I'm still expecting something to go wrong with that, although I haven't spotted any coolant dripping from under the car yet. There's still time, but I need to get a start out of it this afternoon, the I can get on with the front suspension job, before moving on to the brakes.

 

[Chillidoggy]

Finally gave up for the day after spending most of it on the coolant-filling palaver. The engine circuit at least seems to be giving up its air slowly, and I've managed to get another litre into the charge-cooler circuit, but the pump is still pushing air around. I guess that's what you get with new coolers. The last time I had to do it, it took about a week to rid the system of air. I think I shall upgrade the pump at some point.

Front suspension is now torqued up, although I've left the steering arms and dampers off in case I can sneak the brake cconversion past Shan, as the lounge skirting is now collecting dust, and I'm getting grief about it.

On a more positive note, the engine fired up as usual, which means I can now get air-con man in, in the hope that the system no longer leaks worse than a government department. It also means that, if the rest of the work goes well, we'll be able to make it to MBW, which I'll be pleased about as I'm looking forward to seeing Barry in his mankini, draped across the bonnet of his V8.

[silverfrost]

Glad all is going to plan Ian, now put down those spanners and get that Skirting fitted, like she who must be obeyed has asked you to do.  

[swindon_alan]

19 minutes ago, ian29gte said:

I'm looking forward to seeing Barry in his mankini, draped across the bonnet of his V8.

[Chillidoggy]

On seconds thoughts.........

[Barrykearley]

I ain't loosing that much weight before then for anyone........but I've just reheated the leftover Indian from last night for tonight's tea - so that might take care of itself tomorrow.

and I draw the line at waxing 

[Chillidoggy]

Good grief Barry, can't you find a more appropriate avatar? Maybe one from the 'customer service' department at Fawlty Turbos?

Anyway, just had it confirmed that air-con man is coming tomorrow morning which was a bit unexpected, so I have to get my finger out and jury-rig the fan electrics up again. I'm still thinking of starting the front brake conversion; perhaps with some sweet-talking (bullshit in bloke-speak) I might just sneak it in. If I manage to get that done, it's on to repairing the gauges, sorting out the dash lights and then re-installing the binnacle from hell.

[Sparky]

You really need to better secure those gauges.

[Chillidoggy]

2 hours ago, Sparky said:

You really need to better secure those gauges.

 

Only when you're driving. Just because you haven't got a turbo or oil pressure gauge doesn't give you the right to knacker other people's.

[Barrykearley]

3 hours ago, ian29gte said:

Good grief Barry, can't you find a more appropriate avatar? Maybe one from the 'customer service' department at Fawlty Turbos?

Yeah thanks for that - indeed the customer service is shit. Last Wednesday they were in machining and due out Friday. Friday they weren't sure and thought it might be Monday - today they advised another couple of days - apeshit just about covers my response to that !! Should now be despatched tomorrow - and no doubt it will be via a single winged bloody pigeon.