muddle of bits

Well, been busy at work, very busy, well into the night work type stuff and I was getting more than a little 'punchy'. But then I have an expensive hobby that needs regular feeding (being poor from the car at least keeps me thin). So what do I have that's not been posted? Well tonight's entertainments were going to be spent in the garage, although that was delayed by yours truly getting stuck in a quality traffic jam on the way home for a couple of hours. A different kind of late night from the normal, in fact I think I would have preferred being at work!

So things I have been at.

New 'new' old grill. This has been sprayed and is going to be fitted tomorrow.
Ironically I broke all the spraying rules and got away with it. Sometimes less thought about what your doing seems to work!

You can just make out my Noodle Dinner in this shot.. Add Marmite for taste..

Replacement 'chromed' side indicator bulbs.
I have no idea how a silver bulb flashes orange.. But it does!

Replace the strut braces Cusco label. Way back when I first got my strut brace (before my blog even!), I think it's probably the first mod anyone does. Well it was a second hand purchase and very much looked second hand the aluminium being badly marked I attacked it with some 240 grit sandpaper etc. So the Cusco Logo (or what was left of it) was the first casualty of war!

Replace the bonnet.. Yes you heard right, Ms Skyline is getting some more carbon.

Why the sudden panic? Well she is getting her photo taken! Now personally I really disapprove of people shouting and waving about their cars and most of them want something for nothing (well we would all like that). But as she is about as good as she will be for a long time and has no need for photo touch up (I have seen a well tatty R32 made to look new!) its time for me to get something to hang on the wall!

So providing everything goes to plan or not, read about it here... See, it's an adventure!

How to remove the door cards

Well as mentioned previously I replaced the internal door handles. Here is a quick run down on how to remove the door cards.

Passenger side.

1. Three screws along the bottom edge - remove
2. Lever up the cover in the 'hand pull' by the handle remove screw
3. Remove the internal handle surrounds. These are the most awkward as they slot over the back of the internal mechanism and clip to the front of it. Slide a small screwdriver in to release.
4. Lever off the lower cover of the door pull (where the electric window switch is) and remove screw
5. Lever out the electric window switch cover carefully and remove screw.

6. With a hand at the bottom edge and sides pull card towards you.

7. Lift door card up and off.

8. Remove electrical plug to window switch (very stiff)

Replacement handle is slotted into position and held with a screw

Drivers side.

1. Three screws along the bottom edge - remove

2. Lever up the cover in the 'hand pull' by the handle remove screw

3. Remove the internal handle surrounds. These are the most awkward as they slot over the back of the internal mechanism and clip to the front of it. Slide a small screwdriver in to release.

4. Remove the electric window switch panel. There are metal clips holding this in place, one in the centre near the door pull and one at the very end (dash end). Be careful when levering out!

5. With a hand at the bottom edge and sides pull card towards you.

6. Lift door card up and off.

8. Remove electrical plug to window switch (very stiff)

Original handle being removed

Finished job with all parts back where they belong

Conclusion: It's actually very easy to remove the door cards in comparison to other makes. You may want to do this just simply to cure an annoying rattle or to replace old door speakers. The only words of caution are don't try and force anything off! However the electric window switches on the drivers door are a bit tricky and it is hard to lever off without marking the surrounding panel (although it can be done). Also the surrounds of the door handles are a pain to slot a screwdriver in. If you look at the finished job picture, the best way to release the cover from the handle is to slot a thin blade screw driver in about 10/15 mm from the end of the handle. The actual clip is located in the centre of the lock end.

Hopefully this all makes some sense and each panel can be removed in about 10/15 minutes.

Small jobs make the detail

Chrome Door Handles

My new handles have been sitting in my kitchen for the best part of a month now and today the Sun shone warmly, the car was about as clean as it was going to get and I had started to 'tinker'.

Well it was no good, the job had been ignored enough, it was time to fit the new internal chrome handles to the car.
Having removed the door cards at various times it is now an easy job to take them off and the whole job, both sides took about thirty minutes. I had been toying with Aki's modification of interior lighting, although as I think that this probably needs a little more thought (on my part), I decided to just get on with fitting the handles first.
Naturally I took various shots with my mobile phone, alas I do not seem to possess the correct lead for it at my house! Never fear, posh camera was brought into play!

Passenger Side

Drivers Door

 As mentioned in my last post, these handles were original equipment on the four door model. Interestingly most of the four door levels of trim were of a slightly higher, more refined standard to that of the two door. Having this small amount of chrome actually looks quite nice though and ties together well with the stainless Skyline door sills and the chrome dial rings.. More of them next.


Rev Counter GTS Logo

A fellow Skyline owner created a rather nice logo to go on his rev counter. Much in the style of the GTR logo, his was white with a red 'S' detail. Well as the old saying goes 'if you don't ask, you don't get' so I asked if it would be possible to knock me up one, rather generously he said yes, just to muddy the water a little I then further asked if I could have black on red (as my dials are white).

GTS Logo (resting on my knee!)

 So quickly fast forward the passage of time and my new best friend Paul (Nitros on the Skyline Owners Club forum) made this up for me, dropping it off when he was up my neck of the woods.
Naturally I was not going to wait and stripped out the dash this afternoon.

GTS Logo Up Close

 Naturally sticking it on was easy and it almost gives a 3D effect when in position.

GTS Logo (How it looks 'normal')

Happily doing this little job helped me kill a few birds with one stone, as I wanted to 'adjust' my speedo by a factor of a couple of MPH and I had a plastic on plastic rattle on the right hand side by the vent. Now I can drive within the speed limit, no rattle and have a reminder of what car I'm in.. Just in case I forget...

Interior Modification - Door Handles

Am currently planning, have been meaning to get around to doing.. Internal door handles, these have been removed from a four door R33 and are exactly the same size and fitment as for all R33's with the exception that the handles themselves are in a rather lovely chrome finish. I suppose coming out of a four door does make them rare items too, I certainly have not seen them fitted to a two door (what's that telling me!).

I have got removing the door cards down to a fine art now having only recently had them off to cure an annoying rattle which I was getting in both doors. This turned out to be the screw that holds the metal bracket in place for the door pull and being of a large 'self tap' design they just would not tighten any more, allowing the bracket to vibrate. Anyway having recently removed it all and lovingly replaced it again, I'm kind of reluctant to do it yet again. Also the weathers been bad... excuses, excuses...

However I recently read on Aki's blog about how he had wired up LED's to the courtesy lights. This would be quite a boon to me as unlike Aki, I always have my main internal courtesy light turned off (personal preference). So a glowing door handle may be a sweet addition to the cause! Naturally this is only at the thinking about stage, I am actually feeling reluctant to do it just for the pain of wiring it all.

As a note to myself and anyone interested. Here is a link to Aki's post about what to do.

HKS Dress Up

Well whilst working on my gleaming engine bay the other night, with the acres of gleaming stainless steel there I felt that there was a little something missing. So decided to abuse my heat shield with a nice big fat sticker and luxuriate in the fact that I have the best turbo and accessories by getting a HKS logo to place on it.

After a bit of measuring and on line shopping, I managed to come up with a sticker from Sumo Power who supply genuine parts (at genuine prices!) here in the UK. It's going to be a tight fit, which may or may not be a good thing.. Will find out tonight!

Sticker Boy!

I obviously looked at the 'copy' stickers as well and am sure that they would have done as good a job, but can't be bothered with saving a few pounds, as normally when I do that it always comes back and bites me on the rear!

Bonnet Respray

Well after my minor hiccough I have got the car back from the spray shop. All in all they did a not unreasonable job. I was confused when the chap at the garage said what a hard job they had cleaning the silicone off the bonnet though. Especially as I never use it to polish the car... That is until I thought 'oh I know what I did' and remember using some cheap old rubbish to spray onto the bonnet to wipe it down... I bet that's where the dreaded silicone came from. Well why would I worry about what was going on there as it was going for spray anyway! Live and learn... As per usual.




Woodlands Body Shop Newbury

I would recommend the body shop as having done a good job at a reasonable price.
The only down side to my nice respray is the state the engine is in. They removed the bonnet for spraying and although they said they covered the engine, the evidence of my eyes suggests otherwise. This is particularly annoying as I had only just finished pampering the engine bay and it feels like I have slipped down the greasy pole to the bottom again. What with the dust that must have been blowing around in the paint shop and the rainwater, it has left me with what can only be described as a challenge.

Technically this is all my fault for messing up the paint on the bonnet in the first place. So I will roll up my sleeves getting on with the mind numbing tediousness of unbolting various parts, bashing my knuckles and generally getting a bad back bending over for hours! I'm sure it's good for my soul!

Event, MissBanzai Tunnel Run 10th March 2012

Missbanzai Charity Tunnel Run - 10th March 2012

 Lisa Rush is fundraising for Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospital Charitable Fund and donating your £8.00 entry fee.

Or you can now donate via text, this will cost £10 for your entry fee (but it is nice and easy)
Please a text “BANZ69 £10” to 70070

If you send your donation via text you MUST complete the gift aid form and write in the comments your forum and user name. If you do not do this we will have no way of tracking your donation and you will have to donate again on the night.

When donating via the web page please put user name & club in the comments – nothing else.

Donations made via the Just Giving site or text will go direct to the nominated charity, Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospital Charitable Fund.

Simple Rules

-Please arrive at the arena no earlier than 20:30hts.
-Entrance is via the go kart track entrance.
- As previosuly mentioned there will be a £2 per person cash charge entry fee on the gate to cover the arena hire costs and administration.
-When donating online in the comments please put your club name & forum user name - or in the gift aid comments box if donating via text.
-There *may* be a limited number of maps on the night but this is not guaranteed.

-Payments for maps can only be taken up to 13:00 on 10th March 2012 on the Just Giving site or via text. PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER AFTER THIS TIME or you will not be included on the list of maps for us to allocate on the night!
-Please remember to drive responsibly - anyone not doing so will be asked to leave the site.
-You will need to bring sat nav / London A-Z for when you get lost. A passenger / map reader is also essential!


Torque GT (Torque GT - Used Japanese performance car and import specialists, Honda, Subaru, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan and Mitsubishi), Modified Live (www.modifiedlive.co.uk), Detailing Jem (Detailing Jem - Home) and other companies will be awarding prizes on the night for the best turned out cars of the evening. The prizes could be awarded to any Jap cars from Civics to Skylines... so get polishing!!!
Prizes categories include
-Best car of the night
-Best Modified car
-Cleanest car
-Rocking rims
-Spirit of The Tunnel Run (This goes out to the team that has taken tunnel running to a whole new level, team dress up etc...)
And many others…
Prizes to be confirmed.

Monster Energy will be coming along to hand out drinks and goodies.

Hope to see you there!

Any questions please drop a mail to missbanzai@googlemail.com or post your questions here! We had approx 450 cars from various different Jap car clubs along last time, and have raised over £15,000 online for various charities to date, so make sure you come along and be part of it this and help raise some cash for a very worthy cause!!

*Please note MissBanzai.com will not be held responsible for anyone driving dangerously or misbehaving at the Arena Essex, please make this a fun and safe event. When driving on public roads please abide by the rules of the road at all times. We want to be able to run this event for many years in the future, please don’t ruin it for your fellow tunnel runners by driving dangerously or breaking the law*
Back for the first time in 2012 we present another London Tunnel Run, hosted by MissBanzai.com!

This is MissBanzai's 8th tunnel run and we have chosen The Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust to be the charity benefiting from money raised on the night.

Sadly one of the heads of the MissBanzai team lost her mother last year to Pulmonary Fibrosis. Her mother was treated at this hospital. The trust is also the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK, treating patients from across the country.

Money raised through the Charity sponsors pioneering research which helps to understand the causes of these diseases and develop new treatments.
Please read the details below and follow the donation instructions.

*** Japanese cars only - no exceptions -Non Jap cars will be refused entry ***

Start Point:
Arena Essex (RM19 1AE)
Date: Saturday 10th March
Gates Open : 20:30hrs
Gates Close : 22:15hrs

There is a £2 per person entry fee on the gate to cover venue hire and admin charges.

Maps will be handed out on arrival to those who have pre-paid through JustGiving.

There will be no entry to the site after 10.15pm so please arrive on time!
Last map hand out/registration will be 10:35pm.

This will give you plenty of time to meet your friends, have look around your fellow runners cars and have something to eat and drink.

To register for the event you need to donate a minimum of £8 via the following link. All monies go to charity.