Underside, suspension, brakes, bodykit refurb of my 2001 Allroad tdi

**zollaf** · 07-09-2016,08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Crasher

A local powdercoater would have made your life much easier, awesome work.....

just done my 80, rear axle, shock towers, front subframe, axle mounts, all for 120 notes.

**Col** · 07-09-2016,09:18 PM

Thought it was a bit too rusty but then you mentioned you live on Skye...

Top, top work.

**Crasher** · 07-09-2016,10:22 PM

Originally Posted by zollaf

just done my 80, rear axle, shock towers, front subframe, axle mounts, all for 120 notes.

We have just done the front subframe, wishbones and ARB on an 88 type 85 Coupe, I will post some pics if I get chance. We are lucky in having several quality powder coaters within a stones throw, one new chap I have found (who did the coupe work) was super quick and good.

**zollaf** · 07-09-2016,10:42 PM

yeah, we have one place that does it properly about 30 mins away, which is close round here. they are proper fussy about things and do a proper job. cant get anything else done proeprly mind, if it does the job or looks ok from 10 paces then thats considered fine around here. feckin yocals.

**Crasher** · 07-09-2016,11:04 PM

Engineering shops, a dying breed. One local firm left and tiny, I had to send a VR6 block away hundreds of miles to get it bored and 100's in another discretion for balancing and 100 ish in another for porting and valve seats, 5 years ago I could have had it all done locally.

**zollaf** · 07-09-2016,11:08 PM

oh you want to try living out here. in milton keynes i would remove a head and take it to the local engine shop in bletchley. they would sort it out and i would collect it ready to bolt back on. now its a case of using whoever is prepared to do it, although i have found a good place in pembroke who seems keen to do anything to engines. most of the work i now do myself and get the machining done locally.

**Crasher** · 08-09-2016,12:01 AM

It is a sign of the times, engines are so much longer lasting than they once were and when they do break, a rebuild is out of the question financially so it is a used engine or the end for the car. 30 years ago I was doing head gaskets and worn crank rod bearing regrinds on a daily basis, now it is rare work. When a modern engine does break, they are either unrepairable due to manufacturer engineering choices or the complexity exceeds the value of the vehicle.

**zollaf** · 08-09-2016,10:02 AM

very true. i have just rebuilt a rover v8. bottom end was fine so didnt touch it, bores were fine, so heads off, new timing chain and gears, all new seals gaskets, core plugs. cost me 200 quid and took a day. proper engine. 150 bhp from 3.5 litres. you get that from 1.2 litres today, but nothing warms the heart quite like the exhaust note of a rover v8..

**JMR1** · 08-09-2016,09:53 PM

That's a fantastic job you have done....especially as it was a salt corrosion damage. That's a restore job not too many would be prepared to take on,, real labour of love. Well done, I hope that you are rewarded by many more years of pleasurable driving in it.