Thanks for all the positive responses, well here we go…
So the basic car is a ’04 147 GTA in straight non metallic black which I believe is quite rare, the interior is black with grey inserts, which I have to say is my favorite colour combo.
The body work is in pretty good condition, some small scuffs on the front bumper that look like they may have come from it being towed.
It also has an Autodelta Quad exhaust that will go as they really aren’t my cup of tea, so if any one is interested pm me, or it will be going up for sale in the coming weeks in the classified section of the forum.
It has 61k miles on the clock, Autolusso did the last service in June 2009 when it had 56k miles had a Q2 & PF pads installed. At the moment it doesn’t have a service book, but I believe that Ned is on the case trying to track it down, but considering the whole of the engine is being rebuilt this shouldn’t be to much of a problem.
The engine is a real mess so the front of the car is coming off and the engine is coming out and getting stripped. The plan is to give me a new block which will be bored out and prepped for a full AHM 3.8 conversion. If anything can be salvaged from the original engine then it will be moved over to the new engine, but the rest of the rebuild will be a mixture of new parts and those taken from Auto Lusso’s very extensive breakers yard and part bin.
So far my list of alterations are as follows.
3.8 AHM conversion and full engine rebuild.
Strip and rebuild gearbox, then powder coat, colour TBC
New Clutch
Lighten Flywheel
Aluminium undertray
PF pads with braided hoses
FSD and Eibach’s. Although I am now seriously considering some KW V2/3
Eibach ARB front and rear
Strutbrace (Wiechers Aluminium Probably)
Powder coat the majority of the engine, and sub frame colour TBC
Set of 18” Alfa Multispokes to be powder coated anthracite
All dents (all very minor) removed, bumper, bonnet and wings to be resprayed
And to finish I am considering either getting the car covered in paint protection film or taking it to G Techniq in Kings Langley as the finish they put on cars is just :wow:
I am considering removing the snorkel from the intake box as I know there are some people who have done it on here with good results as I know Ned isn’t keen on induction systems and having been hydro-locked already I don’t want lightning to strike twice!:tut:
The only real question mark is over the exhaust, I don’t know which way to go yet, I am leaning towards V6 cat-less manifolds from a GTV etc. and equal length front pipes. I plan on keeping the original cat more for sound baffling than anything else, and have a cat back system, either a Supersprint powerloop, or a Pud/Wizard system.
Once everything is on this will all be rounded off with a full custom remap. With graphs and the like with final HP and torque figures.
This will still be my daily driver for some time so I don’t want it to sound too lairy. Even if the performance maybe on the lairy side! I will point out that I’m not looking for a total track weapon either, and I would like to keep the car day to day drivable, I’m wanting something a bit “special” for the road that looks stockish, but can wipe the smiles of the M3 driving estate agents/Unimaginative VAG drivers/Type-R Chavs (delete as applicable)!
Any thoughts, and input welcome, at the moment nothing is set in stone, other than the fact that the deposit has been paid and the 3.8 is going in.
All I know is that I can’t wait for the car to be finished, and I know that I’m in good hands with Ned, Pud and the rest of the Autolusso guys.
Photo’s will follow.:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs: