Timmeh's Mk2

Hey Timmeah, your car looks really great its a credit to both you and Juiceman. Its definately a headturner. I will look forward with interest to its future progress

Hey Timmeh!

Great looking car!

I think the vacuum takeoffs should be your first job - about the only thing that detracts from the appearance of the whole car

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Originally posted by Juiceman

As I've said eleventy billion times, I couldn't be happier with who I've sold this car to.

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Cheers Josh!

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Originally posted by GeoffWade

Hey Timmeah, your car looks really great its a credit to both you and Juiceman. Its definately a headturner. I will look forward with interest to its future progress

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Thanks, I look forward to it too!

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Originally posted by Avon

Nice ride, and nice photos. What lens are you using (and camera too while I'm here). Must be 10 or 20 mm to get that wide angle?

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Yes indeed, I used my Sigma super wide angle 10-20mm on a 40D for most of the shots. One of my favourite lenses! It's fantastic for automotive or aviation interior shots, plus some exterior stuff!

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Originally posted by Paul Dunstan

Hey Timmeh!

Great looking car!

I think the vacuum takeoffs should be your first job - about the only thing that detracts from the appearance of the whole car

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Great, suggestions are always welcome! Thanks.

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Originally posted by Phil

Welcome back Timmeh

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Thank you sir!

Hey Tim, you can just bung the vacuum things off on the inlet manifold when you chuck that pedal box in because they're only there to give vacuum to the booster! I didn't like the way they were set up, but that's how it was on the manifold when I got it and I went "meh, it works so I'll leave it, can't be stuffed" Hahaha.

Welcome back Timmeh. Good to see you back ito teh small Fords. Whatever happened tothe Mondeo? didn't you hurt yourself back iirc)? If so, hope all is well again.

Still got my RS, bought a 99 Mondeo with Cougar mags, just about sold the Mini and doing an Anglia. Busy....

Great to see you around again.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention...Cracking looking car too.

Great to see you about again.

good to see another escort in newcastle.all it needs is a nice xe front lip under that nosecone to finish it off.

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Originally posted by maxrs
The Heater will be sent tomorrow Timmeh[:I]

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Hey mate, the heater arrived, cables and all! Score! Thanks a heap for sending it, looked like a pain to wrap for posting!

Today I took the brake master cylinder out to be sent away for re-sleeving, plus I disconnected the brake booster to respray.

I also started removing the dash, and the wiring is a bit of a jungle underneath. I do this sort of work on aircraft, but have a few connectors that were not connected to anything - can anyone identify what they used to go to?




Unidentified Plug 1



Unidentified Plug 2



Unidentified Plug 3


Lots of fun to be had under the dash, that's for sure.

un id plug #1 looks like it might goto heater fan switch?

in the background, that fusebox, josh and timmeh, is that an aftermarkt one or such? or is that a second escort fusebox?

doesnt look to be 30 years old but you never know..

Timmeh, lovely car mate-looks brilliant!!
just curious as to where you got/can get those door trims???
(or are they custom made)
cheers
Ben

Yep, they're custom!

No way that's awesome! That must have been done about a month after I got the car, because I sent it in to get the brakes overhauled and it cost a fortune, but I was only 16 then so I didn't care to look at the receipt to see what was done, so that would explain the hefty price tag hahaha. Nice one! So I guess you'd be pleased that you don't have to spend heaps of money on something that's being changed eventually anyway!

Those plugs I believe are for console/dash switchs that you may or may not have like rear screen, lighter, hazards and low/high beam on the dash lights. Could be wrong.

Great car and pic!!

Michael

Hi Tim

Looks like a nice car with a few goodies.

unidentified plug 2
Its hard to see in the picture put the two pin plug looks like it is also connected to the dimming resistor so should go to dash dimming switch.

unidentified plugs one and three certainly look like the hazard and two speed fan heater switch plugs but it looks like the harness has had a few mods may have do a little more investigation just can't remember off hand which one is which.

Thanks guys, helps me out.

Been working so much lately that I haven't had a chance to tackle the wiring, but I have made some progress on the heater boxes. I have both of them apart, ready to rub back, prime, paint, and resurface the deflector plates. I've also made up a few replacement resistor packs for the low speed fan setting, to replace the deteriorated factory ones. I'll put some pictures up soon!

Both heater cores will be taken to a radiator shop and get them restored, I am assuming both leak where the entry and exit pipes are, but both need a proper clean regardless!

No problems, I'm learning as much as anyone else when people ask questions and Josh answers them!

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Originally posted by Brace


Hi Timmeh very nice car wood be proud to have in my collection
have fun driving. Brace

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Thanks mate, still got alot of work to go though.

Made up some resistor packs to replace the old rusty broken ones in the heater boxes, they slide into the same cavity and plug into the same connectors.

[8~2] I miss it still so much!

Nice Job. Keep up the standard of workmanship.

So some progress towards getting her registered in NSW...

Josh, I have some questions for you, but I'll list them at the end to make them easy to find hehe.



The Eski came out for a wash today so I could start giving the paint a comprehensive Meguiars treatment, although it'll need a fair bit more work in this department.

Did a lights check and approximately half of the lights work, but fortunately a fair few seem to be bulbs. The high beams don't work, I seem to remember this being a problem on my old Escort too. From memory the high beams don't have a relay so the switch gets carboned up.



Unidentified relay above, one of my questions below Josh!



Another unidentified terminal board, plugs don't seem to plug into anything?
Some of the wiring under here was just scary, live wires alarmingly close to earths and other components.



Gauges held in by rubber bands! Makes them easier to remove hehe.



I removed the gauges from the passenger side dash. Not sure exactly where I'll relocate them to yet, most likely the old stereo location...



I'll probably cover the gauges holes with one of the only parts I kept from my previous Escorts. Thanks to wifey for the hand modelling!

Jobs left until rego:
- New exhaust that actually makes it to the back of the car haha
- Get all lights working
- Get new number plate light holders
- Get new gauges mounted somewhere sensible
- Re-assemble the heater box now that the core has been repaired and the resistor pack is made, and install it

Other jobs:
- Respray the blacks
- Fix the passenger front winder
- Get the old window tint removed / replaced
- Install the electronic ignition kit


Josh, some questions:
1. Did the reverse lights ever work since the gearbox change?
2. Did the high beams ever work?
3. Do you have any idea what the blue relay is that was cable tied up near the steering column?
4. Any idea what the terminal board is in the pic above?

Hey Tim.

1. Did the reverse lights ever work since the gearbox change?
Nope, from memory I accidently snipped the wire while cutting the top of the tunnel. If you pull the carpet up you'll see you're able to unbolt the part around the shifter on the tunnel so you'll be able to solder it back up easily that way. It was one of those "gonna do" things.
2. Did the high beams ever work?
The inside high beams worked once and I have no idea why. The outsides did used to work though.
3. Do you have any idea what the blue relay is that was cable tied up near the steering column?
I tried to figure this out at some stage too, but I have no idea. It was already there before I bought the car.
4. Any idea what the terminal board is in the pic above?
That was the beginning of the wiring for the ignition unit. The end in the picture hooks up to the unit and I think the wiring on the other side was just rolled and taped up waiting for time/motivation to hook it up

elec ignition. Yeah I watched the videos today too, I miss that idle. And the fuel pump!! There was so much more potential with the car that I never got out of it. That motor is a freak of a thing when it's tuned right.

PS the exhaust was also a "gonna do" thing if I ended up keeping the car haha.

Also I was going to do the exact same thing with covering the gauge holes in the dash. Great minds think alike (or something)!!!

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Originally posted by Mickas

She has a beautiful hand

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Haha thanks, I'll let her know!

Alright, so after the birth of our first child, time to get this Escort back up the priority list!

I have finished the basic wiring in the cabin. I have all the required wires to where I want for the stereo, which I will hide in the glovebox I think. Also got them ready for the new VDO gauges that will go where the stereo would have gone from factory. Unsure if I will do electronic ignition before or after rego though.

I've got some flexible plastic primer and some urethane type satin black spray with which to redo the cracked black gloss paint on the RS nosecone. I've pulled the indicators and headlight surrounds off, got Ford badge off that had been bolted on (Josh that was a nightmare to get off!!! Massive overkill for a badge!!), and ready to start sanding.

I've pulled the front left hand front door trim off and disassembled the window winder that doesn't work. Josh you were right, it's the bit of metal with the slide cut into it that actually holds the glass that has rusted right out.

I bought an disassembled single spinner 3.5 ratio diff for the car too, the welded diff is too scary and a pain for moving the car around without leaving giant black marks everywhere. It'll do until I either break it or can afford an LSD. In the couple Escort builds I have done, I have never assembled a diff so will learn something new, which is what my Escorts are all about.

I replaced all the globes in the car and cleaned up some earths so all the lights are working now, except some parts of the headlights. Going to ditch them for a halogen kit though. I can't stand sealed beams. I also got some new number plate lights from someone on this forum - champion. They are great.

Jobs left until rego:
- New exhaust that actually makes it to the back of the car
- Replace the headlights with halogens
- Fix the passenger front winder
- Get new gauges and mount them
- Respray the blacks
- Re-assemble the heater box now that the core has been repaired and the resistor pack is made, and install it

Other jobs:
- Get the old window tint removed / replaced
- Install the electronic ignition kit
- Give the car the Meguiars treatment head to toe

I still need to buy:
- VDO gauges
- Halogen replacement light kit - sealed beams are hopeless. Does anyone know the kit I need for this? I did buy one for a previous Escort but sold it!
- Window winder part for LH front window

More determined than ever to have this on the road sooner rather than later, unhappy it hasn't happened by now!!

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Originally posted by Juiceman

Progress makes me happy Congratulations on the new born mate, that's awesome news!

I've got a gig somewhere in Newcastle next Friday, if I have time I would like to try and organise to see the car or something if you're around!

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Thanks mate. It's our first kid and a real shock to the system, but good fun. Not letting it stand in the way of the Escort any longer though!

Of course you're welcome to drop in to check out the car anytime you like. I usually finish work early on Fridays so send me a message when you have a time and we'll work something out.

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Originally posted by Timmeh

Made up some resistor packs to replace the old rusty broken ones in the heater boxes, they slide into the same cavity and plug into the same connectors.

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more info please!
what resistors are they?
where did you get that board from?
cheers

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Originally posted by Timmeh

Good questions. The stuff is at home at the moment. For the board, I just bought a normal kit board from richard Smith and cut it down to size, then put three resistors in parallel because one resistor became like lava almost immediately with the fan current. Three spreads the load a bit more!

The little unit should simply slide into the existing heater assembly and plug into existing plugs. I'm about to reassemble my heater box and install it in the next few days.

I made a spare one so provided I don't destroy my first one installing it, I can send one your way if you like?

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that would be awesome.
the only problem i have now is that i have a steel cased heater box, which i dont think has a slot for the resistors.
might be able to glue/silicone the board to the case though.
thanks mate.

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Originally posted by Timmeh

I might be able to make up something a little more suitable for you. Do you have any photos of your box before it went in for mounting ideas?

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nah, i dont have any photos.
i think it might be from a MK1.
might just have to enclose the resistors in a small box.

That looks a thousand times better already!!!

So far I have dodged the need to sell her, so the build to get her back on the road continues.

Been doing alot of investigation into some parts I need, next target is the halogen conversion kit while the headlight surrounds are off being sprayed.

I still can't work out where to put the gauges I want, without looking like a ricer. Still working on it.

I did fit the window winder part from Jaycees (thanks again, very nice to meet you and some great cars - especially the one in the works! I am jealous!), so the passenger window works once more. Woot!

I am yet to read up on assembling this diff as well, I need to work out what tooling I need to buy, if any, and get it assembled.

Jobs left until rego:
- New exhaust that actually makes it to the back of the car
- Replace the headlights with halogens
- Get new gauges and mount them
- Respray the headlight surrounds
- Re-assemble the heater box now that the core has been repaired and the resistor pack is made, and install it
- Soft mount the fuel pump, it's crazy loud

Other jobs:
- Get the old window tint removed
- Install the electronic ignition kit
- Give the car the Meguiars treatment head to toe

I still need to buy:
- VDO gauges
- Halogen replacement light kit

I'd also love to work out how to make this bad boy start more easily - the very high compression makes it difficult to start quickly, unless it has just been running. Maybe the electronic ignition will help?

The cranking and the fuel pump were my favourite things hahaha. I'm glad you've managed to keep it, if anybody was to buy this car off you it'd have to be me!

So the sealed beam to halogen conversion, including fitting relays for low and high beam and fuses for both, takes longer than expected. Took me all night to complete the job.





I notice that the halogen replacements I have are a flatter type rather than the older more rounded type, but they were all I could afford at the moment and I am not sure if I care enough to chase up the more rounded ones. All the same to me.

Once I align them I'll fit the freshly sprayed headlight surrounds and it's on to the remaining jobs. I think I'll put the car on stands and tackle the reverse light, fuel pump soft mount, and diff replacement next.

Looking good Tim!

Car got a major workover with some Megiuars polish, stone chips touched up etc. Next is the awesome wax they make to protect it.

New Ford badge for the front ordered today, as well as a black stereo with subtle red lighting that should suit the car and not stand out too much.

On to preparing the reverse wiring for when the switch arrives.

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Originally posted by Bloodyeck

Tim the car is looking good. I especially like the 13x7 Superlites. Can you recall the brand of the flexible primer you used on the nose?

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Thanks mate! I used K+H Plastic Adhesive Primer, specifically for flexible parts like bumper bars. I can't really give it the thumbs up yet because the paintwork is only a month or so old now, the proof will be in a few years time if the blacks are still ok. Sort of hard to give advice on it now, if you know what I mean...

Tonight I routed the new reverse earth wire to the reverse lights, ignition power to the reverse lights also, and the RCA cables, remote bass control, and ignition wires to the amplifier location in the boot.

Hopefully the Type 9 reverse switch shows up soon and I can get to fitting that. Also will be good to get the amplifier installed and complete the stereo peripherals, then it's just a case of putting the head unit in when it comes.

I can't get over how well the car came up with the polish work. Just need to finish the wax on a cool day and she'll be looking extra sweet! Then time for some more pics.

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Originally posted by Juiceman

Show us pictures of it when it's waxed up! I have no idea how to polish a car properly haha,so the only time I used polish on this car was to get rid of the soot stain after the dirty 1600 came out!

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The paintwork definitely needed some attention!

It responded so well to the first coat of polish that I gave it a second polish and then two coats of Megiuars tech wax and man it has come up a real treat, so shiny and smooth and the red is really rich and deep now. I'll get some pics on the weekend, I can't wait!

Also got the reverse lights wired up and working, so that when I touch the new wire to ground, both reverse lights come on nice and strong. All I need is that replacement Type 9 switch to arrive, install it and hook up the wires, and that job is done.

Just finalising the stereo amplifier install so I can put the rear seat back in.

I've decided to put the replacement gauges in the pre-cut holes in the dash for now, angled towards me, and see if it's acceptable or not. Let's face it, it's not actually that far away from the driver! And if I don't like it, I'll just fit the RS trim piece over it and
cut them into the centre console. It's not like I am doing any more damage to the dash. Thanks to all the suggestions and photos in the Help thread for this, I'll run with Sean's setup if I can't stand this one.

Good times.

Heh sort of...

Having our first kid and going from two incomes to one saw a need to reduce costs, and I had to give up something... I think when you spend so much time doing jobs on the car and not enjoying it on the road, you start to get a bit disillusioned with the whole thing and selling it came to mind. I talked myself into the idea that selling it was the right thing to do, and then I went through all the good things the car has going for it in order to advertise it. After I put it out for sale, I realised selling it at this time would be a big mistake and had a big change of heart.

It was sort of for the best because the car had a few more issues than I thought when I advertised it, although I have addressed some of them already. I hate the idea of selling something and the new owner being disappointed.

But yes, I won't deny that some of the change of heart comes from spending time making it look nice, rather than chasing electrical gremlins and other such things.

[:I]

Don't sell Tim. I went through the same scenario when kids came onto the scene. Sold my twin cam Escort and have regretted it ever since. In the long terms you'll get over living on baked beans.

Finished the amplifer install and tidied up some more wiring in the dash.

Found that the rear parcel shelf speakers need to be properly mounted, so add that to the list. Fortunately no one has hacked into the parcel shelf, but the standoffs are not big enough at the moment so have to look into that problem. Otherwise all the stereo wiring is complete and awaiting the head unit only.

Fun.

Yeah thanks. I have had previous Mk IIs and while it's not the same as listening to the prestige sound in the Fairmont (aka Escort tow car), it was still ok and handy on long trips. I plan to visit my brother and friends in Wollongong (roughly 3 hours away) and with the Type 9, the engine should sit low enough to comfortably enjoy music without any issues.

A lack of those mid-range speakers in your Mk I would certainly not help matters, that's for sure. They are very important in a loud car!

I spent today tidying up the garage, putting up new shelves, getting rid of some junk and mounting some power points. It was great to have a break in all this rain, and with more on the way, it was nice to make the most of it.









And a couple shots of the Scort back in the garage, nice and shiny compared to earlier thanks to the days of paint treatment.





Good times.

From a plug. It's a product by Arlec that I bought at Bunnings, basically an extension cord with twin power points every metre or so.

And thanks.

Also have to add how deceiving the lens is, it doesn't look like there is a good two metres of free space between the back of the Escort and the rear roller door, when there is. Doesn't matter though!

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Originally posted by Timmeh

From a plug. It's a product by Arlec that I bought at Bunnings, basically an extension cord with twin power points every metre or so.

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Wow, that's the first time I've seen them before. I thought you may have been doing some DIY wiring for a second and had to ask [:o)]

The car is looking great Timmeh!
how come your toy planes don't have any wings??? or is that the other hobby you have put to the shelf to keep the escort???

So the build continues...

Did the stereo install, that all works ok now. Couldn't end up mounting those massive 6x9 speakers on the rear parcel shelf without cutting it, which I wasn't willing to do, so I ended up fitting 6 1/2inch slim Pioneer speakers instead on mounts, and the sub fills the rest of the sound in fairly well.

I was sure the radiator looked suspicious so today I ripped it out and took it into the local Natrad. Sure enough, it was cactus. I'm getting it re-cored with a nice fat 3-row core instead of the skinny standard core, and will fabricate some thermofan brackets instead of bolting the thermofan straight through the radiator core like it was before. Also getting the overflow line position swapped 180° so that I can run an overflow tank for the radiator on the opposite side to the oil catch can.

The VDO white faced gauges and sender units rocked up so I will be installing those, and also the Type 9 reverse light switch rocked up so I'll be installing that this weekend also.

Jobs to go:
Install gauges
Fabricate brackets for thermofan
Buy thermofan temp switch
Install re-cored radiator when ready
Install new reverse light switch
Soft-mount the fuel pump
Install the single spinner

Then the car should be ready for rego!

I'll put some photos up this weekend when I get some more jobs done.

So much extra money and time spent on the car that wasn't originally planned... [xx(]

Ok so the rear speakers turned out like this:



Hard to tell but the mounts are carpetted in the same carpet as the parcel shelf.



Nice and subtle I reckon, and haven't cut into the parcel shelf. Sound is ok, the sub has enough fill to compensate.

So today I moved on to mounting the VDO gauges. I was planning to just fit them back into the passenger dash but I felt too guilty for taking the easy way out. I had a man-size can of harden up and went about fitting them to the centre console where the ashtray was. The facia on the ashtray was already broken anyway and the switches on either side were missing so I wasn't too heartbroken, plus they look good on Sean's car. I fabricated two identical 3mm aluminium plates, and use them to sandwich the centre console panel. The gauges hold the two panels together and the small cutouts I made in the centre console mean that the gauges fit snugly into it and stop it from being able to slide sideways.

Don't worry, it is not staying that large, square, and silver.



Now I need to reduce the panel overall size and shape it to look the part, and then a few coats of a satin black should finish it off.



The inside of the panel could do with a clean, but the gauges sit in there nicely. Also I will be rotating the gauges so that when everything is running normally, all the gauge needles face the same direction, like any good car.



They'll sit in the car like this, only the panel won't be so large and it won't be silver. Also note the RS trim panel covering the existing holes on the passenger side dash where the gauges were. Oh and the glovebox will be going back in of course.

So then I got the radiator back from the local shop, who usually does a good job. I inspected the 3-row re-core and they have done a good job physically, but they have done the lousiest job in the world giving it a real half-arsed coast of paint. I mean seriously, who looked at this and thought 'that's a good job, the customer will be happy with that'?



I don't know if I am being too picky, but I couldn't fit the radiator to the car looking like this. The other painful thing was that they forgot the overflow hose that they promised, which I returned for. When I got home, I realised I also gave it to them with a radiator cap, which was also goners. Stuff it, I needed a new one anyway.



Rubbed it down, what a waste of my time. Part of me was thinking that I should have just forked out for a new alloy radiator, but anyway I got it done.



Looking a bit better. Notice the nice mark down the core on the left hand side that was there when I picked it up too. Can't say I am overly impressed all round. The tabs on the bottom right of the core are the core specs.

So I fabricated some brackets to mount the thermofan to the radiator without just bolting it straight through the core, like it was before. Just need to finish them on the linisher and paint them and fingers crossed it'll all fit. It's going to be tight.

I also bought a nice small alloy catch tank and will tap some fittings to let me use it as an overflow tank. Still not sure how I am going to mount it yet but I have a few ideas.

I'm stuffed, time for a hot shower and a drink.

Also I would be taking the radiator back to the shop who re-cored it for you and making them move the overflow feed, I can understand why you would be disappointed...

Oh yeah I see that now, they didn't put it on straight.
You've got more patience than me, I wouldn't have even taken it home, I would've just said do it again, paint it properly and don't damage the fins this time. Now you've had to redo a job that you paid them to do.
I have no time for workshops anymore if you hadn't noticed haha. I've only ever used shops for things on very few occasions, and almost everytime it's been a disaster. Like the balancer being bashed on with a hammer on the Skyline by a renowned Sunshine Coast performance workshop...

Ps I forgot to say now fantastic the guages look now. That's exactly where I wanted to move them to. Top marks! I'm not sure what all of the switches on that part of the console were originally, but one of the missing holes (the one with remnants of glue around it) was a button for the windscreen washer. I remember this too well, I really should be forgetting it because now I'm sad hahahaha.

You're doing a remarkable job Tim. This car is much better off in your hands.

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Originally posted by Timmeh

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this looks sick, tho with some carbon fibre vinyl wrap instead of satin black!

So neat!!!

great car love it