To pass the time, clear a bit of junk, and stop scratching the GTi door, I had a look to see if anything was at all salvageable from the bonnet assembly that was standing up against the wall in the car port. Needless to say the panels were beyond repair, but some of the support tubes looked rescuable with a bit of KuRust and Hammerite, and the headlights of course had to come out. The buckets behind these were also shot, so that rear assembly formed part of my order from Moss, who conveniently posted the 15% discount sale I'd been waiting for in spring 09.
Hadn't bought anything since the Rimmer Bros 15% sale the previous year (mainly hoses and plugs etc) but now had a much better idea of what was needed. So along with the rear headlamp arrangement and a few smaller bits and pieces, ordered a set of EBC Greenstuff pads, some braided hoses, and the front quarter valances which were also rusted through.
Had blanched a bit on seeing how much the entire new steel bonnet assy would set me back (£900+, before painting) so dropped Geoff at Wins a line one Sunday to ask him to keep his eye out for a used, good-condition, Mk 4 bonnet, ideally in carmine red. Got in the office Monday morning to find his reply: 'strangely enough I have in stock a nice carmine red bonnet, £175+vat'. By the time I made my first ever visit to his place to take a look at it, he was shutting up shop to move to new premises up the road, so with the purchase of a copper brake pipe kit before we left, and being highly impressed with the bonnet that was in his new premises, I became both his last and first-ever customer in the space of an hour. Bonnet even included headlight assembly, so as Moss hadn't shipped my order yet, I was able to call and cancel those bits, saving £45...
The other good news re the bonnet was that he was happy to hold onto it till I got the engine in and deliver for about a tenner. Did I mention he's a top bloke? He even gave me a number for a guy with an engine crane for sale, although this turned out to be too expensive.
Still, that was a very productive day...
No comments:
Post a Comment