I could have lent you the tool...

Dammit... cheers 5SGTE!

5SGTE
I could have lent you the tool...

Part 3/4
 
October 2015
 
The new front rotors are a thicker than standard so the standard studs wouldn't be safely long enough. So out with the original ones in favour of  some cool looking ARP Extended Studs w speed nose.





 
November 2015
Refurbished rims were ready (only the fronts)



 
December 2015 (30th)
Brake installation front and rear.


Double checked, and checked again.
Everything match-marked and torqued correct.
New braided lines both front and rear.


 
2016
 
January 2016
Brake installation front and rear complete.


Triple checking torque and match marking everything I touched.

 
Bedding in
Adhered to both run in procedures from RDA and Wilwood.

 
Extra stuff:
Removed cruise control guide from throttle pulley.
Was bugging me for a little - no longer served any function.
Before:

After:

 
Motor mount
(No photos atm (I’m sure I've got some.. will update later))
Removed the under body shrouds to inspect the throttle cable, and resting on one of the shrouds was a lone bolt, clearly from somewhere important.This wasn’t there pre track day spanner checking, I suspect it happened at the track.
Lucky nothing else happened as a result.
After some research, turns out the front motor mount is prone to cracking chassis side in AW’s pushing more power than stock. The 20v does, and the firmer motor mount bushes no doubt contributed.
This would have to get fixed post paint.


 
Paint Condition






 
Off to Paint.
Finally able to drive again, It was long overdue for new paint in sections.
The paint was average in sections but rapidly broke down because of poor storage while the car was stationary.
 
Back from Paint.
Not at all impressed upon closer inspection. Not what I paid for. It had to go back.

 
Not sanded or prepped in sections.

 
Not even painted in sections…





It had to get sorted but only after the motor mount was fixed.
 
Off to Trackart.
Off to have the cracked motor mount repaired and reinforced.
Andrew at Trackart reinforced the area with a custom formed plate to protect against it happening again.
 
The damaged area, you can the hole from the removal of the loose piece of cracked steel that used to contain the nutsert. Area cleaned, free of paint and prepped.

 
Mock fit

 
Development of reinforcement

 
Developed reinforcement with vertical flanges for extra strength/rigidity

 
6 weld plugs added for peace of mind, extra security.

 
Done and metal sealed/painted



 
 
Cheers Andrew.
Highly recommend Trackart and anyone tracking or putting more power through the AW. Simple preventative solution availble especially to reinforce before a crack develops.
 
February 2016
 
Back from Trackart.
Woo hoo!
This was honestly the first proper drive, since the track day.
On the way home from Trackart through the Dandenong's via Olinda.

 
Off to Paint V2
Car went back to paint to correct the previous job’s shortcomings.
 
March 2016
 
Back from Paint V2
Back and better for it.
Still not 100% happy but far better than it was.
(**Somewhere before the track day the roof and right rear quarter were resprayed and the rust blister cut out of the fender - will update.)
New paint now covers:
> Roof
> Rear right quarter
> Hood
> Headlamp covers
> Eyelids
> Front bumper
> Both LHS and RHS fenders




 
Almost there. Almost up to current day.

END update 3/4

Your car looks great.
Good idea repairing the brakes. Most people never bother.
I am quite interested in seeking this motor mount you had made up. Thinking i should do the same.

Rims (front) look fantastic!

Wow I cant believe a shop would give a customer their car back looking like that!

great that they re did it but still... what a joke.

Loving the updates so far!

Cheers Barry! Thanks. I felt I'd come this far it'd be rude not too! Updated and included those photos above.
Certainly worthwhile reinforcing especially if your mount hasn't cracked yet.

barry
Your car looks great. 
Good idea repairing the brakes. Most people never bother. 
I am quite interested in seeking this motor mount you had made up. Thinking i should do the same.

 
Thanks mate! Will get around to the rears hopefully later this year.

5SGTE
Rims (front) look fantastic!

 
Less than ordinary! Really glad they fixed it up no hassles. Cheers Eric!

Eric
Wow I cant believe a shop would give a customer their car back looking like that!
great that they re did it but still... what a joke.
Loving the updates so far!

Part 4/4

 
March 2016
 
Great Ocean Road
All good! All fixed! All fresh! Ready to drive! All is good again.A few of us planned an early drive down the great ocean road.Pulled the covers off the day before for a spanner check, oil check etc
 
Windscreen cracked. Bottom of the A pillar.(Perhaps a sign, didn't drive but co piloted the roads were super wet and greasy.)
 
Only 9 stationery days after the last use, but parked on non level ground perhaps the chassis flexed?! Because stiff suspension?! Curious.

 
April 2016
 
Windscreen ReplacementFound it prohibitively expensive to source a genuine OEM windscreen.RACV Autoglass had the best as far as I could tell with great product and installation warranties.
 
Cracked glass out and check this > Rust on the windscreen edge of the roof.
 
** A while back in the thread I had a leaky spot from above the rear view mirror.No doubt it wasn't sealed properly. This wasn't the original glass, replaced by a previous owner at some stage.The RACV Technician suggested when it was installed it wasn't sealed properly and/or care wasn't taken this being the common result. Gutted because OCD, and the roof had JUST been repainted... I could've fixed it then.The proper fix will have to wait.



 
Because the A pillar trims have to come off to remove the glass, I re did the trims.

 
Glass was in, trims could get painted and put on the following week.
 
NOPE.
 
A week after the glass went in the trims didn't fit. They were out bigtime.RACV Autoglass and I worked out the new glass is 1+ mm thicker than OEM. So the trims have to go on whilst the glue is drying to compress the glass and glue down into position. Hot tip for anyone replacing AW windscreens.
 
A new windscreen was fitted the following weekend. Mid April 2016
 
Current day.
Thats it! Up to date =)
 
Learning something new at every stage. Far more attached to this car than I could have ever imagined and better for it.
The people you meet, the places we go, the scenery we soak in, and the tarmac shuffled across with friends brings great experiences and the biggest smiles!
 
Hat tip to the Midship Runabout 2 Seater.
 
As of June 2016

I had a cracked windscreen and rusty upper rail. I also suspected a rust bubble (per Wheeler dealers) or stiff suspension had been the root cause.
 
Then I heard it crack again on the new screen as I was lifting the bonnet. And the crack was in exactly the same location, drivers side lower left. And Looking closer at the drivers side hinge, it behaves like a see-saw. As you lift the bonnet the upper corner of the bonnet swings down and comes very close to the windscreen. On mine, it just makes contact on the lower drivers side edge of the screen.
 
Some of you may be fine (build variation) but its worth keeping in mind for anyone with accident damage, a non-original windscreen or is missing the windscreen lower plastic support block. And especially anyone who gets a mysterious crack here when you cant remember being hit by a stone.
 
Avoid repeating my mistake. I definitely dont recommend opening to maximum and "checking" if you have the same issue. Do take a look at the very top corners of your bonnet. Is the paint here sound or has it already been chipped due to some softer hits?
 
If you have any doubts, open you bonnet with the stay prop handy and only high enough to slot it in.