project - "BLUE AVENGER"

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

hi guys, thought it was about time i put up a thread about my coupe and what i'm gonna do with it!!!

can't think of a name so any suggestions welcome, as i think it does deserve a name lol

to put you all in the picture this will probably be a fairly lengthy little project because of:

1. lack of funds as currently still looking for work having been made unemployed in september Confused

2. i'm not in the slightest bit technically minded when it comes to tinkering with engines etc so it's all a bit of a learning curve

3. i've knackered my knee at the minute so i'm a bit less mobile than normal!!

so here she is, this is the coupe i picked up about a month ago from 'chubnut' before he buggered off to NewZealand!

here's some of the things that need done (and not in any order of priority!):

new aerial for stereo (bought, only needs fitted)
new gear knob
new interior or retrim (think prefer idea of swapping out the whole interior for a fresh new one unless i can get some blue dash/trim pieces)
new alloys
new multi function temperature sender to resolve the coolant gauge/temp issue
check dashboard (dodgy clock, and no temp displayed)
install remote locking
install new stereo/bluetooth/nav/ double din
check heating (some vents blocked?)
aircon retrofit
new bonnet and passenger side wing (rusted and think beyond repair) - new wing sourced and poss bonnet
replace mirror complete drivers side
door lower trim sections on both sides - sourced
few little dents to be sorted out
new rear wiper blade
gearbox mount
new steering wheel - 4spoke sportier wheel sourced
headlamp wash to be checked and parts replaced
new pass/side headlmap wash required complete
engine undertray - possibly sourced
respray, engine clean and full valet once everything else finished.

so there we are, think that's about it for now, at least that's what's intended so far. All suggestions etc would be most welcome Very Happy

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:44 pm

Lots of plans there then!

My first job would be lots of degreaser under the bonnet to clean that engine up nicely Very Happy

Newbie Joined: Jan 22, 2009 Posts: 16

yeah nice long list there good luck with it keep us posted with the progress

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

yeah plenty to keep me (and any techy helpers i can rope in) busy Very Happy

as for degreaser, i wanna get the engine tip top before i do that!!

went up to my garage on monday with all intentions of getting my m8 to take me and her out but she wouldn't bloody start!!!! battery is flat as a pancake Sad

can't think what i've left on or that that would have drained it in a short time!! although i did leave the stereo face plate off and this silly little light was flashing like crazy!!!

Bandwidth Buster Joined: Aug 12, 2006 Posts: 803

Im sure thats my old car,if it isnt it is its twin.VNP?

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

must be twin Very Happy

not VNP

Bandwidth Buster Joined: Aug 12, 2006 Posts: 803

oh well,just checked the DVLA and it says it doesnt exist anymore Sad

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:07 am

audibits probably gave it a good home Crying or Very sad

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

well bugger me, didn't realise it'd been so long since i'd posted that my motor wasn't starting!!!! anyways, now going like the clappers lol, whipped the battery out and recharged it, had left an interior light on!!

so not sure how much to try and get done before the meet at errol on 14th june, think it'll probably be the temp sender which i'm still trying to source!! get my new aerial on, new door trims and new steering wheel. then gonna get a proper valet done and see what difference that makes to it.

also, if anyone knows of a bonnet and passenger side wing, let me know. also i'm looking for a full interior. seats, dash, door trims, headlinings the lot!!

Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 8:26 pm

Are you sure it's the MFTS itself or is it just the plug?

I had probs on the S2 and it turned out to be the plastic plug had cracked, let moisture in and the connections were corroded - you can buy the plastic plug seperately for about £1 Very Happy

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

fairly sure its the temp sender, or so i've been told, although i'd prob rather try the pound option first lol just to be sure!!

this link details the problem!!

bloody £94 + vat for the part from audi, europarts still not got back to me.

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

right, update Very Happy

not picked up yet but will be getting my mitts on this temp sender while i'm down south.

also, on the lookout for (already added a post in parts wanted but i'm adding here too or everyone else to see on the main page)

looking for passenger side front wing, bonnet and passenger side headlamp wash unit complete

also anyone had any dealings with any of those mobile wheel refurb companies? specifically one called wicked wheels (seen a van running around forfar and wondered if they're any good) or anyone got any other recommendations??

cheers

chris.

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

another update,

not been much happening, but now i've got a new job the incoming cash flow should help things progress at a better pace.

car got a quick clean on the outside and a hoover inside to make it reasonably presentable for taking to the errol meet tomorrow, just interior plastics to sort out while i'm there tomorrow.

also had fantastically good intentions of taking loads of pics as i fitted a new beesting aerial last night, however, as things progressed the pics became much more infrequent after the first 2-3, and i became pee'd off with it as the connector was wrong on the aerial i'd bought and i found an extra couple of connectors that i wasn't sure where to put them.... pics to follow to see if anyone can shed any light!

picked up a new mtfs however when i went to meet a mate to help fit it, i found a flat battery again (follow on from my earlier escapade of leaving my interior light on and flattening it!!) so forked out today for a new battery (£38 plus vat from my local motor factors, D&A Factors Forfar although they have a few branches over scotland). Fitted this and goes like a dream, turned over first time Very Happy

the only other thing i've done today is fit a new rear wiper blade (also from D&A, although i think i could have fitted a larger size (put on a 16 but they said there was an 18 too, although it won't be used that often so the 16 will do just now and does look like the one that was on before if i remember rightly (it got launced when i found the blade was knackered)

so there we go, the list gets shorter, although again its only minor jobs that have been tackled!

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:50 pm

Certainly looked good today - Really like that colour too! Very Happy

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

cheers owen

some way to go 'til i get it the way i want it, but yeah i like the colour too, that won't be changing Very Happy

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

right about time for an update, been too long with not much doing!!!

battery went flat again, bloody thing, anyway, after a bit more investigation there was a dodgy solenoid in the boot, so quick fix later and all ok again on the charging front.

next hurdle is MOT Confused

booked in for monday, brakes were needing done, and the temp sender has been replaced Very Happy

woohoo lol, but i'm also now on the lookout for an alternator as think mines is on way out. seen a few bits to pick up from audibits on ebay so that should help get a few things out the way.

also, felt project 'wotsitsname' deserved a name change, so please welcome project "BLUE AVENGER" to the fold! thought that had a better ring to it Very Happy

i'll keep you posted on how things fare wi the MOT.

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

right so, update, sorry not done it earlier!!

failed initial mot, as i thought it might, considering i hadn't done anything with it.

so here's an extensive list of what was required:

wishbone bushes, front and rear
1 x brake hose replaced

not fared too bad considering, some guys have seen it in the flesh and may have thought it needed a little more, i certainly thought it might!!

advisory on discs front and rear (front slightly worn, rear slightly pitted), think there was something else but i've left the note in the car so not got the details to hand.

anyway result today is that retested and passed, yay!!

temp sender has been installed, now i have a working temp gauge and no warning light coming on. however, don't think things are quite right as one minute gauge reads low, next its higher, then its lower again Sad

also got a bit of an iffy idle.

waiting to get my hands on an alternator, courtesy of wildoliver, cheers, then that will get replaced too.

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

checked my mot sheet and advisory was for:

offside rear brake pipe slightly corroded
front & rear brake discs as detailed above
slight play in nearside rear anti-roll bar linkage

So as mentioned, was expecting worse, so pleasantly surprised/relieved!

so those to sort out, idle to sort out (i've cleared out breather pipes since the meet at Errol, as suggested and it certainly helped) but it's still there. also found a blue connector behind the radiator that wasn't plugged in and that seemed to help a bit too (any ideas what this was?)

then once those are sorted out the car's getting a LONG OVERDUE thorough cleaning inside and out, and engine bay too.

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

so inside and out has now had a good clean Very Happy

looks 100 times better, although the thorough outside clean now shows just how marked the exterior is and in dire need of a respray.

got 'new' wing mirror and alternator today (thanks to wildoliver) and rear wiper motor on way. also got a snip on a good as new front wing (tenner plus postage on fleabay) so that will be on shortly once some other bits have been sorted out on fleabay and combined postage kicks in Very Happy

got some new front wiper blades (courtesy of www.wiperblades.co.uk) aeroblades that seem to work a treat, and a snip at £14.35 delivered

so some pics, as i know everyone likes some pics Very Happy

some before shots:

and some afters, more to follow tomorrow if the weathers good!

anyone who's seen her knows what it was like so hopefully these clean pics do her justice!!

started having a go at the engine and its come up ok (didn't quite go for the nogin approach wi the powerwasher, but seems to be doing the trick!!)

anyone know where i can get a decent storage cover for while i have it sitting in my garage? even just sitting for a little while (week or so) seems to pick up all the dust in the world!!

Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:01 pm

Absolute beauty that car-well done you!! Very Happy

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

cheers owen

what is it they say - slow and steady wins the race!!

i'll get there eventually Very Happy

Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:25 pm

Yes it's looking good now, nice one! Cool

Chop chop under the bonnet Wink

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

not had chance for much recently, however i've got my hands on front wing Very Happy

, driverside mirror, rear wiper motor, alternator, new grille with quattro badge (only to find out the badge is just a clip on! could have just had the clip on!!), gearknob. so planning on getting my hands dirty friday when i have some time or possibly thursday.

gonna give the engine a blast wi the hose, someone said as long as you keep the engine running it should be ok?? have some superduper (apparently) cleaner to spray in the engine bay to get rid of any crap.

new temp sender and all seemed ok with the warning light on dash, have checked header tank and all seems ok with it. so why the heck is this warning light coming on permanently now!! its coming on as soon as i start the engine whereas before it could be a while before it came on.

Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:32 pm

Gunk is the best stuff but autoglym engine degreaser will work too.

I'd still be very careful when washing it off. Try to avoid the electrics or at least cover them with plastic bag, cling film or the like.

Once clean and while still wet, spray all over with autoglym vinyl and rubber care spray. It will look like crap but don't worry, when it's dry it's ace and doesn't flake either. Wink

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:08 pm

skipped through the thread, and can't see the pictures @ work (not your fault Wink

)

Anyway- Phil has an Audi 90 quattro with a blue interior- I think the dash etc. is blue, and I'm 99% certain the dashboard and bits are interchangeable ? The car is eventually being stripped....

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:29 pm

only just seen the cleaned up car pics and it looks ace mate.
thumbleft

the one thing i would do though is cover up the wood veneer trim. imho it looks horrendously orange against the blue dash and door cards.

I got some carbon fibre trim from halfrauds for £25 and the wood veneer is long gone! Wink

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Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

no pics at work as i've not really done any!! or at least nothing of any consequence and interest!!

jobs ((that are easy for non mechy like me!)(with pics)) to do:-
replace front wing
replace driver side wing mirror
replace lower door rubber trim
install rear wiper motor
finish install of new aerial ( it's in place but not connected, i'll take it all off and do some pics from scratch )
replace steering wheel

might try and pop out some dents myself as well, failing that i'll get a local guy to do it before i have her painted!

thanks for the headsup on the interior, i've been meaning to call olly (wildoliver - sorry if you read this and i still haven't called you!) as he has/had a blue interior which i was thinking about - funds permitting. Depending on situation with that I may be interested in this.

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:46 pm

I meant I can't see the pictures when accessing this thread while I'm @ work- I'll see them when I get home Wink

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:51 pm

Coupe and 90 interiors would be different wouldn't they? Confused

Site Moderator Joined: Aug 11, 2008 Posts: 1652

ah ok lol