Okay. Time for more update.
Date: 17 Jan 2019
Distance: 258648km
1. Lock.
The lock drove me bananas. Barrel was fine, I found getting the springs right was troublesome. Suggest you photograph every damned angle you know you'll never need, before disassembly. I had it apart 4 times and still couldn't get it right. Had to hand it over to Jon with an apology. He sorted it out, aparrently I had spring in the the wrong place; it's all sorted now and I have full central locking restored, including deadlock. Woohoo!
2. Rear End.
Rear subframe mounts replaced (Meyle)
Rear trailing arm bushes replaced (Lemforder)
Differential Bush replaced, along with diff cover gasket and fresh oil
My freshly-repainted 13.5mm rear antiroll bar installed with Lemforder drop links, BMW bushes, new brackets, bolts, hardware.
Brakes bled, handbrake adjusted. It's now AWESOME.
My new 13.5mm ARB bushes will be returned, they're measuring 12.5-12.75 internal diameter!
Jon at Auto38 has done beaut work. If you're in Wellington - or away from Wellington and want quality work, you know where to go!
Test drive:
It took just one T-intersection and a couple of curves to reveal the improvements. The bushings and bar have really tidied up the rear end up, consistent tracking; but most of all the drive out of the corners! Though that drive provokes INSTANT UNDERSTEER™. This makes getting that 20mm front bar and the HD endlinks installed (along with new bushings), a priority. I’ve never been a fan of understeer.
I took my neice for a manual gearbox driving lesson yesterday, while she was visiting. She got her licence with just two pedals. It went well, no burning clutch, no frayed nerves. She even managed her first ever manual takeoff without stalling.
Next steps (February):
Front ARB - 20mm, endlinks & bushings
Gear Shift bushings and short-shift
Power Steering Fluid flush
Clutch Fluid flush
Need 51mm Front Strut Housings, and make a decision on springs. Also look into new steering coupling.
I'm ordering more of the cooling system hoses too.
I'm very pleased with progress on Grey Thunder. Becoming very drivable, and soon will be great fun.