TeamCannonball

For the first time on one of these trips the cars are actually getting work done, the only reason for this is that we all want them back again!! The BMW was making some nasty rear end noises (just like its owner) so was shipped off to the garage for a CV joint to be replaced. The GTI also developed some nasty noises from the front, wouldn’t idle properly and the suspenion was not feeling great.

Last weekend we went up to Coverntry at 6am to collect a Bilstein Sportline kit and got on with fitting it. As the shocks came out the sorry state of my GTIs suspension became clear. The shocks had nothing left in them and even worse late in the afternoon we discovered the metal spring mounts on the back were rusted through and definitly not safe. First thing Sunday we jacked Neo up but hers were not better. It was not a promising situation as no where was open so I tried the chap behind Tescos who was breaking a mk2. He didn’t have the parts but pointed us towards a gem of a scrappie that’s open 7 days a week!

The scrappy had a white mk3 that had been nailed, it looked quite plain and sorry for itself. As we stripped off the suspenion and found the mounts to be perfect little Rich looked at the brake discs. They were huge, G60 sized in fact. So we popped the engine and found a VR6 nestling there!!!! That car may get a visit soon and have its engine removed. Imagine what a V6 would be like in a mk2?!

With the parts sourced we got the car back together. The first test drive revealed a few noises so back to the workshop and we tightened down the front mounts then play time!! With the uprated pads working on new discs it wasn’t long until my brakes were billowing smoke!! Better than Chris in the Boat though who pushed his engine and popped an oil seal, his smoke was blue!

This week the car got sent to a garage to have the cambelt done, the tracking and camber sorted since its now lowered and the noise fixed. Turned out to be the front wheel bearing which had rusted in side. Looking at the bits that came off it was a good thing to get it all done. The boat is also ready and the BMW seems solid aswell.

Last minute preparation is now underway, viper striping cars, fitting electrics and getting kit together then we are off!

Andy