Slow Progress

So work has been going slow lately. Really need to step the pace up again. It's getting to the point now where most of the major stuff is all stripped off and i'm (need to start) refurbing parts ready to be put back together.
The only problem is, I hate body work and cleaning parts! Love painting, hate the prep! Same old story... so the motivation has been lacking.

So far though, the engine bay is starting to look a lot less cluttered and more manageable to work on.
So i've fitted the new BMC. Finally got the right one delivered and got my money back from the wrong one!!
Turns out the old BMC that i've removed had been fully rebuilt as well! All new internals, filter and outer cap - so that's for sale ;)

New and old. Much larger bore on the rear one!

The new larger bore BM57 fitted and plugged in :D

Next on the list was the old intercooler. I didn't plan on replacing this right away, but got offered the Norris one cheap so couldn't resist. So, i've stripped out all the old intercooler piping, the intercooler itself with all it's attachments (dropped out nicely all in one unit). That was all a lot easier than I expected to. Probably only took about 20mins from start to finish.

Stock IC setup all out in one piece. Good condition minus the rusty brackets!

Whipped off the turbo heat shield as well to cause I was bored! Wanted to have a peek underneath too and a look at the turbo. Look for any tell tail signs of leaks or cracks etc.. All looked ok! Doesn't say much but i'm happy with that for now!

Manifold with a couple snapped off bolts! Oops :D

Other than that, found a load more surface rust... nothing fatal looking, just need to get aggressive with removing it all and prepping to paint. I don't want to have to strip the whole engine bay for paint, rather just treat a few areas, but we'll see how that goes once I start digging!

No more hidden side mounted IC - Little bit of surface rust as well. Again nothing major 

Original IC pipe hole... bit of rust. Just gonna cut it all out!

Last but not least... a concern! BALL JOINTS. I f***ing hate these little bar stewards. The main BJ's (giggidy) on the lower control arms will not budge for love nor money! I've just chewed the rubber housing to sh*t so they won't lost long now! Going to take the hub/lower control arms to a garage and have them pressed out ready for either sand blasting or just grinding clean ready for a fresh coat of paint.
The track rod ends however.... are starting to resemble something found on time team!
Cue angle grinder with a rust remover! Failing that looks like I may have to buy some new ones!

Here's one I dug up earlier!