........And so it begins again............my wife is slowly recovering and, as far as is possible, life is returning to normal (although with an added 'carpe diem' urgency to it).
Which means I'm now about to start hammering the Lotus. I really want it MOT'd by May 3rd - I'm going to meet some friends on 4th May and I'd like to use it for that. Even if it means that, at that point, the interior isn't in the best of places.
To that end however I've got a list of things to do (and expenditure);
recondition waterpump (£150 - pnm engineering).
make new crash structure boards for the front (nil £ - already have plenty of marine ply).
new tyres - going with 205 50 15's......unless some 215 50 15's pop their heads up at not mentally deranged money. 4 tyres - looking at camskill (£60 a tyre or just over for toyo's so £260 all in perhaps)
new carpets and underlay - (nil £ - have it already and going to make them at home)
new headlining (veltrim i think - circa £40 to £50 quid - I really want to try and lift the current interior, that has suffered, prior to my ownership and needs properly sorting out)
new seats - (RX8's - £150 or so) - although I've refurbed the existing seats........I'd like to try and lift the interior into the 90's.....if not beyond!
Fit new fuel pump
Fit new lights (bought land rover innards - £35 all in for each side)
Fit new radiator (£80 or £90 - can't remember now - for an MGTF) - needs tabs that locate and hold the radiator, transferring over to the new radiator from the old.
Sort out passenger door frame. not looking forward to this or the cost..........
fit new passenger side latch into main door frame - it's frustrating - i only need the front leg of the frame, the rest of it is fine but hey ho. No choice.
Buy and fit rear driver's side seatbelt metal (under the car). £35 i think, passenger side is in fine fettle.
repair rear exhaust hole
buy and fit exhaust header brass nuts for missing ones (£3? ish - not expensive).
Repair front splitter (the fibreglass kit as £12 from memory)
refettle all interior (and boot) carpets - re-stick down loose trim etc etc (nil - already have the glue/clamps etc etc)
New front door speakers - not mucking about with these - going for a straight swap (in size).........or might look at it in greater detail when I get there. £30 for the speakers I imagine.
The dash needs re-trimming too. the leather is in dire need of sorting out.......but the dash has got to come off to sort. and for me this is a worrying job. It feels complicated (but 7 nuts?) and putting it all back also gives me sleepless nights.....but I've also got to test the interior fans/blower etc etc. the material on the flap behind the glover box has turned to dust too. I don't know how much this is going to cost. With the kids into horse lessons (where they go and look after the horses too, I've got a lot of leather conditioner, moisturiser - for want of a better word). Ideally I'd like to try and fix the existing dash than recover.
Also need to properly check everything in the passenger side footwell (where I found a dead rat..........but I can't get my head in there to really have a good look). the relays and wiring etc etc etc.
Also under-bonnet sound deadening needs sorting (£50?). Worry about that later mind......
So there's £800-£850 to spend.
Oh. And I want a special gearknob too - one that I think will lift the interior, or certainly add something. It's not garish or anything.......
Onwards!
More progress as I go.
My youngest wants to do tiktoks (she's 11) so apparently I'm getting my own channel..............