GranSport (Fuji White) Running report

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
Little pause for thought.
How much in labour charges has the skill of the OP saved him so far for the work he’s done to date on this Gransport?
Any thoughts.... Chris155 do you know how many hours you’ve spent....
 

Chris155

Member
Messages
196
Little pause for thought.
How much in labour charges has the skill of the OP saved him so far for the work he’s done to date on this Gransport?
Any thoughts.... Chris155 do you know how many hours you’ve spent....


It's kind of subjective in that I would expect a MD to know what they're doing thus cutting down on the time I've spent procrastinating but....

Gearbox oil leak; 20hours +
Rear arms; 3-4 hours
Track Rod; 2 hours + Tracking
Dials; 7 hours
Heater Matrix; 10 hours so far
Window; 2 hours and counting
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
I had the blower motor replaced on the hybrid 4200 and that was dash out job and was £800 labour. Took the guy 2 days but not sure if long or short days.
 

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
It's kind of subjective in that I would expect a MD to know what they're doing thus cutting down on the time I've spent procrastinating but....

Gearbox oil leak; 20hours +
Rear arms; 3-4 hours
Track Rod; 2 hours + Tracking
Dials; 7 hours
Heater Matrix; 10 hours so far
Window; 2 hours and counting
Wow, that is a lot of time and savings.....so far! You must have the patience of a saint.
Hope when you get it all back together you finally get the time to enjoy the car, trouble free.
 

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,515
Featured on Pistonheads this week. Reader's Car of the Week. Not quite Reader's Wives but good to see it getting positive exposure, so to speak. Hat tip to you for the work you have done and continue to do on your lovely car.
 
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Chris155

Member
Messages
196
Featured on Pistonheads this week. Reader's Car of the Week. Not quite Reader's Wives but good to see it getting positive exposure, so to speak. Hat tip to you for the work you have done and continue to do on your lovely car.

Not spotted that! Thanks.
 

Chris155

Member
Messages
196
What's the opposite of progress? Anti-progress? Un-progress?

Anyway, I digress.

The work we've carried out this weekend has not been entirely successful. We continued to strip the ducting away from the heater box;

IMG_2185-2 by Chris, on Flickr

Which eventually led to the separation of the two halves, leaving the air con cooler in place;

IMG_2196 by Chris, on Flickr

- The heater radiator in the bit in the passenger footwell

There wasn't much in way of evidence that the radiator has been leaking though;

IMG_2206 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2214 by Chris, on Flickr

And this is where the problems started. I've been told, by several sources, that the heater matrix is the same as the one from a Saab 9000. Which makes sense if you consider it - various parts on the car come from Alfa Romeos and the 164 uses the same floorpan as the 9000.

The matrix is the same size. But the outlet pipes are different. On the 9000, they leave the end cap vertically whilst on the matrix fitted to the car they are angled. In addition, the pipes on the original are different lengths, but they are the same lengths on the 9000 matrix;

IMG_2219 by Chris, on Flickr

Some of these issues we had anticipated and dismissed as being easy enough to work around. However, the real issue is the pipe diameter of the 9000 matrix is smaller than the the connecting pipes in the car and smaller than the outlet pipes of the original matrix.

However and to complicate things, I do not believe the heater matrix is the original as it is dated Feb 1996;

IMG_2216 by Chris, on Flickr

It also has a Fiat/Lancia/Alfa parts symbol on it, which makes me think it's out of a 164.

All of which means, if I had used the 9000 matrix, I think there's a good chance it would've leaked due to the pipes being too small. And I don't know what heater matrix it should have in it as the one in the car isn't original.

I've left it with my Dad who's going to do more research.
 

Chris155

Member
Messages
196
Moving on to today, I thought with the interior apart, it would make sense to clean it properly.

I took the centre console out, with considerable care as it's carbon fibre and stupidly expensive to replace. And the seats, which really are filthy;

IMG_2235 by Chris, on Flickr

As were the floor mats which I pressure washed to begin with;

IMG_2221 by Chris, on Flickr

As was the carpet, which we also removed;

IMG_2223 by Chris, on Flickr

Pressure washed;

IMG_2225 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2226 by Chris, on Flickr

Then attacked everything - mats, carpet, side panels etc with a rug doctor (for about 4 hours)...

IMG_2234 by Chris, on Flickr

And hung it up to dry;

IMG_2236 by Chris, on Flickr

It looked much better after we'd finished. The waste water in the rug doctor's tank was about as bad as I've ever seen it.

I took some pics of the interior after we pulled the carpet out;

IMG_2227 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2231 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2233 by Chris, on Flickr

Another advantage of taking it all apart was to ensure the car isn't hiding any crash damage, which has been a concern of mine, with it being an import. The good news (for once) is that it's all straight, with no corrosion.
 

Gp79

Member
Messages
1,393
Interesting points regarding the matrix date and alfa symbol, wonder what the history was??

I installed the Saab 9000 one without issue, one pipe on the matrix was slightly shorter but there was enough length in the hoses, you also mention the matrix pipe diameter smaller, again I had no issue with the original hoses sealing etc, I left the passenger side trim panel off so I could peep in and check for leakage over a few weeks and it only required a nip of the hose clamps once.

The heater core used:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-...127279?hash=item2851351d6f:g:DFYAAOSwyYFaBIva

Keep the posts coming as i enjoy this side of ownership as much as the driving.

Cheers Greg
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
Chris, a while ago I found a co who are making new heater matrix's out of brass and copper, (traditional style) sure it was on e-bay, but can't find it now, but will keep looking and let you know if i find it again.
 

RobinL

Member
Messages
456
You could try Cropper & Jones for radiator repair in Hooton, Wirral. I used them years ago. Good people

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
 

Chris155

Member
Messages
196
Now then, I've discussed the state of the seats / interior before now but here are some more pics to illustrate it.

One thing to note is that I took the pictures late on in the evening so I was under artificial lights which threw the white balance of the pics off. Idid try to rectify it but this created more issues than it solved.

IMG_2318-2 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2320 by Chris, on Flickr

I used some saddle soap and a soft scrubbing brush to clean them up. - At this point I'd just cleaned the seat base, there's a tide mark along the bottom of the seat back;

IMG_2322 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2321-2 by Chris, on Flickr

One down...

IMG_2323 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2325 by Chris, on Flickr

The rear seat was nearly as bad;

IMG_2327 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2331 by Chris, on Flickr

We also had another look at the heater matrix. This is the original part that came out of the car;

IMG_2309 by Chris, on Flickr

I reiterate that it is not the OE part. It has been replaced with what appears to be an older 2nd hand unit that also failed.

This is the Saab 9000 matrix my Dad sourced (on my advice - ooops);

IMG_2310 by Chris, on Flickr

Which has different outlet pipe dia (smaller) and they're not angled.

During last week and armed with the original matrix my Dad went to see a parts supplier some distance away. He came back with the heater matrix out of an Alfa 166;

IMG_2315 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2311 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2316 by Chris, on Flickr
 

Chris155

Member
Messages
196
He's also been busy cleaning the switches in the centre console up. In addition, the bolts were scruffy, so he sourced 2 different types of replacements and polished both sets up.

IMG_9056 by Chris, on Flickr

The paint on the gearshift paddles was also poor so my Dad also stripped the paint off them, cleaned them and repainted them;

IMG_9063 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9067 by Chris, on Flickr

In comparison, I've achieved very little. I put the capret back in the car, removing and refitting various bits and pieces numerous times as I kept missing bits out. I also didn't realise that the carpet is fitted behind the fuse box panel'

Wrong....

IMG_2343 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2345 by Chris, on Flickr

Riiiiight.... Only took me an hour to work it out.

IMG_2350 by Chris, on Flickr

I also found this random bit of design;

IMG_2338 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_2341 by Chris, on Flickr

It's a spare (backup) bonnet release cable.
 
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