My XR4x4 project - going Turbo Technics.....

[robbie1988]

This is the car as it came:

It has an RS 4 spoke wheel and a modern CD player but this goes completely black so isn't out of place when folded away.

The car came with 35000 miles and plenty of original paperwork. I intend to restore the car as well as add my own mark to it along the way.

Pics I took originally;











Sorry if there is a lot here but copied it off the other forums:


I know it needs lowering but already got the suspension here but thinking of having them refurbed and repainted before fitting them on.

Sits a little better anyway thanks to a slightly lower offset:






Managed to get some time on the XR over the last few days....

Box of goodies arrived,

This week have managed to get the following changed:

- fuel filter
- spark plugs
- HT leads
- distributor cap
- rotor arm
- ignition coil
- Powerflex FARB bushes



Denso spark plugs in



New distributor cap and rotor arm fitted



Bonnet off while I tried another one on courtesy of Geogh - many thanks matey



Powerflex front ARB bushes




Boot finally cleaned out so it isnt disgusting and managed to get nearly all of the marks out as well



Also got the new dealer plates through from DMB Graphics so got them fitted as well




First decent trip out next week in it as well









Yesterday had a ride to Abrahams heights and then a cracking drive around the area:








With plenty spare parts sitting about and new parts on there way I managed to get a few hours getting bits prepped.

I have accepted the car wont be resprayed this year as want to get everything else done to prevent a nice respray getting ruined by doing other jobs around it.

So I started on the engine bay which needs cleaning up:

As the parts came:




Cleaned and abit of polishing done





Spare rocker covers nitromorsed and left overnight ready to be tackled tomorrow (other rockers will be coming but doing these anyway)



Also a big thanks to TT225 off XROC for sorting me a Collins Powerchip module for the car - fitted it tonight and took it out for drive - feels smoother and slightly better through the midrange but really had to concentrate to notice. Should be better with the Pipercross twin cone on which is on order and the exhaust which is a month or so away




Should be able to get more done tomorrow all being well





Big thanks to Mich at MB Motorsport in Hebburn - got the rear springs on and got the brake fluid changed and bled up. Also did some cracking work on the exhaust.

I wanted the car to sound like a proper V6 and the Magnex backbox made no audible difference - just looked pretty. After getting the car up in the air I asked Mick to cut the two centre boxes out and put some 2" mild steel pipe in instead. Also got the backbox mounted better whilst on the ramps along with new clamps and exhaust rubbers.

I will be getting a full stainless exhaust sorted but seeing as the original ford exhaust is still in great condition seemed a waste of money when I can get this knocked up for a fraction of the price.

With the car on the deck and sounding awesome I got some pics in and a quick video:

Pics:











Well its Heaves Hall RSOC day tomorrow and wanted the car looking alot shinier.

I couldn't get the car machine polished in time by any detailing companies so decided to buy my own gear again.

Went for a rotary polisher instead of an orbital with a selection of hex pads and Mazerna polishes (500, 2300, 4000 & 4500).


My process:

Cherry snowfoamed

2 bucket wash with G3 shampoo

Bilt Hamber medium clay bar over all the panels

Mazerna 500 polish with hex pad

Mazerna 2300 polish with hex pad

Mazerna 4000 polish with hex pad

Mazerna 4500 polish with hex pad

Lime prime lite to remove polish residue

Poorboys black hole applied with a machine polisher

Buffed off with machine polisher

Coated in Dodo Juice Banana Armour

Final coat by hand of black hole



Some pics:


As I started





Clay bar on each panel came off like this each time:



Starting to get a shine on:



My masking up to stop to much polish getting on the rubbers and glass:



Wing after polish and door before any applied:




Finally got a shine:



Wheels cleaned, glass cleaned on drivers side and all sealed and waxed:





This is the finished drivers side versus the not started passenger side:




Passenger side waxed up:



Passenger side finished:




Also made a start on the interior but only got the rear done in the time I had left.



Quick 2 minute job blacking up the chrome inserts on the front bumper:



Got a full day tomorrow on it and should be nice and tidy then, shame the paint has lots of deep scratches on the bonnet, front passenger wing and rear drivers quarter - these cant be brought out with the polisher and dont look great but never mind.

Rob


















































Detailing Day 2

Alot of delays due to the weather today but never mind got there in the end.

Today had plenty of rain in the morning so got a chance to see the panels I had finished beading:





Once the weather got better I managed to get the following done:

- front bumper
- rear end
- wheels sealed
- tyres dressed
- passenger foglight replaced as original glass was cracked
- interior completed








All ready for RSOC at Heaves Hall tomorrow





Well bit of a big step for me and the car today. I have just been on a 500 mile round trip to collect this:

Turbo Technics Twin Turbo 225 conversion but with some other bits as well.

The airbox isnt here but is in the post to me all being well

Also got near brand new SFS Performance dump valves

Heads have had new valve stem seals and the valves lapped in. Going to strip and inspect everything then paint it and fitting!














Also got this as an added bonus - full XR4x4 wiring loom with spare ECU's



Happy as hell now haha

[JFB Tech]

You'll need to take the Powerchip off the ECU when you fit the turbos, I tried leaving my Superchip on my DOHC when I fitted the TT kit.  It detted like hell on boost.  The chip will have changed the ignition timing, optimising it for NA and using up some of the safety factor that Ford built in to cope with poor fuel Octane rating.

[robbie1988]

Yeah just making a list of what needs removing and is going up for sale.

Pleased I never bothered with much N/A tuning haha

[Marc]

Looking very nice! And with the TT kit it will be even nicer to drive. 

[turboshed]

nice and shiney!

well if you fit that kit ditch those old tt boost hoses and fit new silicon items,those hoses and not even corded and are probably over 20 years old!! doomed to fail under boost.it will make it into a different car.

[robbie1988]

Well here we go started getting some other TT bits sorted:




Will be on cleaning and painting parts of the kit tomorrow as off work for abit so will try and progress the car abit.




Another day another few jobs done....

Got the airbox lid cleaned up and decided to go gloss black with the logo polished:

Before:



Now:




Hasnt come up to bad considering how bad it was when it arrived.

Also the intercooler got some attention:

Before:



Now:




Was just going to be black but ended up making a template and doing just a black Turbo Technics logo with the rest silver.

Called in to pick the paint up this morning and was talking to the lad about the plans for the car and mentioned I wanted new back brakes as still on originals from 1990 haha.

Turns out he had some sitting on the shelf so snapped them up for £20:






Well somehow I ended up with some new wheels, I really need to stop buying things as the Sierra now has 3 sets of wheels.

Always loved the Azev wheels on Cosworths and RS Turbos, found a set reasonably local at a good price so snapped them up.

17x8" with 235/40/17 tyres (2 with good tread but will get a brand new set of decent tyres when they get refurbed).

Only wanting bigger wheels as want bigger brakes for when it goes twin turbo.

These will be refurbed in a nice metallic silver and hopefully have brand new centre cap bolts and centre cap stickers for when they are painted.





Just been away as well and got some snaps whilst away:






Rob

[robbie1988]

Turns out the wheels aren't even Ford fitment - was sold them as Ford ones however they appear to be Audi 4 stud

They are 4x108 with an offset of ET30 but the centre bore is 57mm and Ford centre bore is 63.3mm

Gutted as really wanted these to work, shame its cost me for the wheels and the petrol cost picking them up.

Pleased I didnt order my tyres like I nearly did last night!

Rob

[cossiemk2]

Auch that's a bummer.

Don't you know a machine shop that can machine the holes out for you?

[Marc]

Isn't there a spigot ring in there that can be replaced? I also bought a set of TSW Hockenheims from an Audi 80, changed the spigot ring over and fitted them to the Sierra.

[capri v8 driver]

Azev wheels need to drilled or machined out. There is no spigot ring.

Its not expensive to have that done. 

[robbie1988]

Picked up a full front end set of Powerflex bushes and also a Cosworth FARB so just need the shackles and am sorted there.



Also made a start stripping down the turbos ready to go off for refurb's and get manifold and downpipes cleaned up and painted:





Also got the rockers assembled onto the heads - just need to get a bolt sorted as one is missing:




Tomorrow going to get some quotes on rebuilds and start sorting more parts

Rob

[Dave]

Most machine shops can do the wheels mate so that's not a problem.

Getting the tyres under the front wings may be more of a challenge lol!


If it's a proper turbo rebuild company send the turbo's complete & they will come back looking like new.

Don't waste your time doing there job that you have paid for.

[robbie1988]

Wheels have been sold on already haha - not worth the hassle.

[robbie1988]

Well got the front end sorted with all the Powerflex bushes, also cleaned down and painted the steering arms, driveshafts centres and the TCA's themselves.

Arms stripped of old bushes:



Painted and new bushes in:




New top mounts:





View once finished:




And yes the dampers do let the finish down haha

The old bushes:





Also set all the suspension to give a slightly firmer ride as felt a little bit soft on its previous setup.


The twin turbo manifolds and downpipes have been cleaned up and painted in hi temp paint (700 degree apparently):






Also a big decision has been made and once I finish a few jobs I am on with, the car will be getting put up for sale. I didnt plan it this way but missing my trackdays and dont want to ruin the Sierra tracking it and ruining a good original car.

[Dave]

To be honest mate the TT 2.9 Sierra's are not very reliable on the track due to the turbo's are too small & create way too much heat both intake & EGT.

As you turn up the boost it just gets worse & worse until two turbo's last 5k between rebuilds!