wheels and grill

[Budapeststu]

I was planning to wait until I have all the current work done but I have to give you a taster. The wheels have now been painted and the centre caps were successfully painted black by Jesse. They look absolutely gorgeous! When I have the photos Jesse took during the process I'll post those too. For now I've got these mobile phone pics just to give you the general idea.

I ceremoniously cut away the chicken wire from the grill about an hour ago and the grill is now removed. I have a piece of 316 grade steel mesh, which I got off Ebay and Jesse will now have the whole grill re-chromed and the new grill mesh fitted. As soon as it's re-fitted I'll let you know.

These have to be the two easiest ways to make an older 4200 look young again. I'm delighted with the result so far and look forward to the grill being finished early next week.

 

[BigFoot]

Nicely done!

 

[Budapeststu]

Thanks, Bigfoot! The Pirelli P-Zero Nero's look the business with the gloss black wheels.

 

[lozcb]

You really have brought the car along leaps and bounds since you first got her well done , its a credit to you and the guys doing your work , do give the Vredsteins a thought when you next purchase tyres i think they do the job enormously well and look cool aswell, looks better now that she's lowered a tad

 

[Emtee]

Hi Stu, they look the dogs! Have you got a flake in the black?

 

[Budapeststu]

Hey Miles, What do you mean by a flake?

 

[Budapeststu]

Thanks a lot, Loz. I'm just loving making a 2002 car look like it could be a new car. The basic shape of the 4200 is a classic and it's so easy to bring the overall look forward a few years.

The Vredsteins do indeed look excellent, I'll keep them in mind for the spring of 2011. If I want to get mine lowered am I right in thinking that Formula Dynamics is the place to go?

 

[Emtee]

Hi Stu, Sorry, I meant is there a metallic flake in either the paint itself or in the lacquer over the paint? Cheers, Miles.

 

[GTS 08]

wheels look great.

Ross Packhard is doing mine next week - painting them glossy black - 20 inch neptune - with the official glossy black centre caps.

nero on nero.

 

[Budapeststu]

Hmmm, good question. I'm waiting for the full story and pics from Jesse, which I'll post as soon as I have. There is a sparkle to the finish for sure. I know the wheels were stripped down to the metal and they added a bunch of layers including a powder layer or something. I'm not sounding very knowledgeable here so I'd best get Jesse to give the complete picture.

We've had so much fun over the past couple of weeks with discussions of "chroming my nuts" and the likelihood of my nuts rusting. Somehow it just never gets old

 

[Emtee]

I polished my nuts at the weekend. Comedy gold.

 

[lozcb]

Thanks a lot, Loz. I'm just loving making a 2002 car look like it could be a new car. The basic shape of the 4200 is a classic and it's so easy to bring the overall look forward a few years.

The Vredsteins do indeed look excellent, I'll keep them in mind for the spring of 2011. If I want to get mine lowered am I right in thinking that Formula Dynamics is the place to go?

The car can be lowered without having to fit the FD springs , mines lowered 15mm front and back, saying that the FD springs are stiffer and therefore can go lower and increase the handling quite a bit , best fitted with the sway bars at the same time that will really make the car handle brilliantly , make the rolling boat effect a thing of the past

regards loz

 

[Budapeststu]

Hey GTS, those I have to see. Looking forward to photos when they've been done.

 

[Budapeststu]

Thanks a lot, Loz. I'll add this as a potential future improvement. It's amazing that you can take a supercar, albeit a slightly flawed one for £20k or less and then with really a minimum investment, make it run as good as a Gransport. Or am I being over-optimistic?

 

[lozcb]

Thanks a lot, Loz. I'll add this as a potential future improvement. It's amazing that you can take a supercar, albeit a slightly flawed one for £20k or less and then with really a minimum investment, make it run as good as a Gransport. Or am I being over-optimistic?

As regards performance there is very little in it , handling the GS wins hands down with the uprated steering rack and suspension settings but only just oh and slightly faster gear changes, sport mode in the 4200 is the same vitually as normal mode in the GS , whether thats worth the 10K premium is in the eye of the beholder , at present im not getting the benefit of the faster gear changes on the GS as the clutch is on its way out , and the kis setting is way off where it should be , everything will be sharpened up once the clutch is done .... hopefully

regards loz

 

[Budapeststu]

Mine's a manual of course, Loz but I can't tell you how different the car felt and even sounded after the clutch change on mine. It's been 5,000 miles of joy after an initial 2,500 of wondering if I'd bought the wrong kind of car.

 

[lozcb]

Mine's a manual of course, Loz but I can't tell you how different the car felt and even sounded after the clutch change on mine. It's been 5,000 miles of joy after an initial 2,500 of wondering if I'd bought the wrong kind of car.

Manuals are great cars , only thing to keep an eye on is the gear linkages , they do wear continually and need adjusting around every 5K plus miles , easy to do and no big deal , you will soon realize when 1st and 2nd get a little notchy far cheaper than renewing an F1 pump

regards loz

 

[Budapeststu]

Ooh, 1st and 2nd are notchy now, in fact 1st to 2nd when cold is quite a challenge. I'll get the linkages looked at when I get the exhaust fitted. Larini only charge £30-40 to ship to Budapest so I'll have the work done here, rather than waiting to get back to Blighty.

 

[GTS 08]

Budapeststu - dropped her off this morning to get done - I've posted under general maintenance.

when she's all gussied up I'll send pics.

 

[Budapeststu]

Super! Can't wait to see what the 20's look like. My grill is almost done, the retaining screws were so badly rusted they need to be replaced and the guy's who's taking care of it is having new ones manufactured! There's no lack of creativity over here, I'll say that much.

Next step is the Larini exhaust and then possibly getting him lowered a little and maybe some FD springs.