Most liked posts in thread: The Phoenix - The GP Roadster Project

It's not just scuffed. Most of the clips that hold the grille are broken, which is why I'm replacing it. Otherwise I'd just paint it.

But I'll probably toss it in the attic, in case I ever need it and can't get a new one. I can fab brackets to hold the grille, if it ever comes to that.

 

Got my custom length Whiteline front end links, so I had a little fun with cinder blocks.



Easiest way to adjust the swaybar end links I've found. Lowered the car on the lift until the weight of the front wheels was fully on the blocks, with the lift a few mm below the jack pads. adjust end link length until no load on swaybar. Lift car, move blocks to the back tires, lower and repeat. Then raise the car back up and lock down all the locknuts. Done. Super fast and easy.

And the car rides MUCH better with the pre-load gone. Noticeably less harsh. Huge improvement.

No, I wouldn't trust my life just to blocks stacked that way. The lift had my back.

 

Just don't use blocks standing on end and get under the car, without other support. Blocks arranged the proper way would be fine.

 

Modified my old cargo platform (that was setup for my hidden MiniDoMore hitch) to work with the MiniFini hitch. Just had to cut down the shaft and re-drill it. Perfect now!



Ready to haul more gear to MOTD.

Finished modifying and installing the rear interior panels. Not going for show-car pretty this time, just want something to protect the speakers and look better than bare sheet metal if someone sneaks a peek back there. The back will always be covered by the tonneau, anyway.



Found another one of my missing tow hooks, and dipped it to match the front one. Since one of my Rennlines was damaged beyond repair, and I can't find my other one...



I realized today, I'm the Imelda Marcos of car shoes. I currently have 19 tires for the GPR in my garage...

• Four Star Specs on the car
• Four NT01s on the track wheels
• Four new NT01s for when I need them
• Four Michelin all seasons on the GP 18" wheels
• Two almost-new Star Specs from the wrecked car
• A donut spare

And I have a new project... extreme makeover of my workshop / garage.



I built this about 10 years ago as a sculpture studio. It's been a few years since I've used it for that. It's my general purpose workshop now, and I could just barely squeeze the MINI in there to park before the manual conversion and all the extra parts and tools started taking over.

I think I have a plan to retain enough workbench and tool space, and get the lift in there setup for the MINI, with more parking space. So I can just roll in and put it on the lift any time, and free the other garage for the two primary cars, which will make the wife happier. Will be nice to have the lift setup all the time. I can move it back into the other garage easily enough if I need to work on one of the larger cars.

 

Yep, OEM hook. I have several.

The Rennline hooks are the only ones I've seen that are really beefy enough to use. And mine were used several times. The one that failed was a result of sheer idiocy. I really like them, but they're $$. I'll just use my dipped OEM ones until I win the lottery again.

 

Spent about 8 hours today working on the new lair for The Phoenix.

Before:


During (had to cut down my 500lb workbench by about 2' of depth):



After:


OMG that was a lot of work. I still have a few things in there that I'm going to take out and store in the attic. And a few boxes of parts that either go on the car, or that are going to be sold.

But, when I get the last of the stuff out, there will be plenty of room for the lift and tools, and plenty of room to work on the car or on the bench.



Win.

i'm so tired I can barely move.

 

Ordered more floor anchors for the MaxJax over the weekend. Thanks to the miracle of Amazon Prime... they arrived today. So, in typical fashion, I dragged my feet for a few minutes... then just did it.

After measuring 42 times and figuring out how to clear the garage door track, shelves, cracks in the floor, maintain minimum spacing to the edge of the slab, etc.... I rolled the car into the right position, rolled the columns in, and measured some more. Verified that I can use the columns in this position, with the car either nose-in or tail-in.



Then measured some more. And some more. Then when I was pretty confident I had everything in the right place, I marked the hole locations, and moved the columns.

Say hello to my little friend.


Drilled 10 holes, three times (pilot, larger, and final sizes). Cleaned them out well, and pounded in Wej-It anchors. Whoever called these "drop-in" anchors had a sense of humor. Because you pound the snot outta them with a BFH to get them in the holes. If they just "drop in", you probably gonna die.

One column set. This one allows enough space to walk behind, to access the front of the car.


And.... done.


I love it when a plan comes together.

Gotta finish moving stuff around tomorrow, and decide on final location for the power unit for the lift.

Eventually I'll move a couple of lights and raise the garage door so I can work in there with the door open... but it's not a high priority, because this garage has heat and air conditioning...

This space is perfect for working on the MINI. I could probably fit a couple of the other cars in there with the door open, but I can always roll the lift into the other garage in 10 minutes and have more space for the larger cars.

 

Never fear, it's safe and sound, 30 feet away in the other garage. I conveniently walk by it on the way into the house. :yesnod:

 

Yes, no, yes, no.

 

Moved the lift pump to its final position, reconfigured hoses and routed the far one across the ceiling. Nothing on the floor to drive or trip over. Win.