Practically Classics Forum

I just did a little check on the DVLA (UK version of DMV)website
Looks like I will need to have the car inspected for a report!
I would have just used the recipt from the scrapyard but!!!!
I can't find it and it was over 8 months ago.

DVLA will need written evidence of any changes to engine
number and cylinder capacity (cc). Written evidence can be:

* a receipt for the replacement engine
* written evidence from the manufacturer
* an inspection report provided for insurance purposes
* written confirmation on headed paper from a garage if
the change in engine size took place before you bought
the vehicle

Thats more money I will need to fork out! this just got a lot more
expensive and time consuming to what was planned.

When I emailed the various companies about getting the ecu sorted out.
I included a ink to the build on neons.org which includes my ranting on the subject!!!
I think I shot myself in the foot on that score as the companies I asked about them
being able to do the work would be able to see my ranting on the subject!

I have had 2 replies to my enquires.

Darren from http://www.ecudecode.co.uk based in Westbury in Wiltshire.

I believe I can help with this. If you send your engine ECU.
I will take a look and get back to you.
The charge will be £80 + insured P&P if we can help.

Daniel from http://www.ecurepairs.co.uk based in Plymouth in Devon.

I have read the post with much interest but unfortunately there is not a lot
I will be able to do mainly because as you may understand there is not a real
market for Chrysler ECUs in the UK thus making some investment on equipment
to do these ECUs wouldn't be worth it, thus I would advice you to go for the
$100 option that you had been offered. Sorry I couldn't be of any more help.

The offer Daniel has referred to is an old quote from an American company on a thread
I wrote on SKIM/Immobilizer disabling and removal .
http://forums.neons.org/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=374463
Which is easier to get done in the USA as Chrysler/Dodge vehicles are more common.

My emails are to find a UK based company who can do what is needed over here
and not have to wait on the posting delays and customs charges.
If I can find companies in the UK to do things then other people have Chryslers and
Dodges over here can get much needed work done easily and not be forced to scrap
a vehicle because they can't get the work done!
Oh and once the quotes are in I will be able to find out pricing before I send it off.
Lets see the good, the bad, and the ugly pricing!
Sorry rambled!

After checking that the thin paint that was applied via a spray can had dried.
I sanded the intake manifold back, and gave it a coat of paint from the tin.



At least it covered well this time especially with it being a lot thicker paint.
So much so I hung it from the rafters in the tool shed to help it dry.



If there had been a little more space in there I might have done some other stuff.
But the paint will take a few days to a week to cure properly.
As we are expecting high winds and rain over the next few days of what is left of
that hurricane. I don't know what I will be able to get done outside or in the shed
with the manifold hanging there.

The Fuel Filler Neck arrived this morning at 9:42, Luckley for me my
parents have this week off work so they signed for it!

I have put the replacement next to the original, bit are off 1997 Neons
Mine has spent it's life in the North East of England (manly the coastal
areas according to the cars history). While the replacement is off a
Neon that has spent it's life in Texas. Boy can you see the difference
even at a distance!







For added protection I will clean it and give it a lick of hammerite paint.

It has been a bit too dangerous to do things outside!!
The strong winds have blown tiles off the roofs of the house and garage.
It's scary when you can hear the tiles being moved by the wind.

So I will be in my little tool shed today.
I will clean then paint the fuel filler neck might be painting it black or
silver not decided yet. Then might sand and add another coat to the
intake manifold.

The fuel filler neck got it's first coat of silver paint.



I cleaned all the rust and dirt off the front right brake caliper,
then it got a coat of red.

Well the paint was dry.



The flex hose is now connected ready for the tank.



I put gasket paste both the the copper pipe and the quick release connector.
The paste acted as a lubricant to get the hose on, and when it set will add,
to it sealing the join.



Yes I put 3 jubilee clips on the hose end which was slid over the copper pipe.
As there was no proper ridge to grip it to better to be safe than sorry!



On the fuel filler neck that I took off there wasn't am earthing strap, there is on
this one and I will connect it up later.



Yes that is a new connector pipe £44 from Rycroft/Kings the Chrysler/Dodge
dealership.




So! thats the fuel pump connected up.

Forecast is for heavy rain till Monday!!
I think I will try out some treatment for the rear leather seats.
The bottom has been removed so I'll move it to the tool shed and
try and bring it back to life.

In between the showers this morning I managed to get the grinder out!
I cut the exhaust pipe just before the join after the cat.
This will allow me to put the engine in more easily and fine tune the
rear engine mount bracket, plus I think the exhaust pipe might need to
be shortened by an inch or two!



Here are some photos of the rear seat bottom cushion, and what I'm up
against! I think that as the car has been standing that salt! has been
coming out of the leather, and might be blistering the leather
elsewhere!





I have applied an oily type of leather feed which is used by horsey
types on there leather saddles etc.



It will be reapplied every couple of days if I see some improvement.
However after the first coat it has shown how bad the leather is.

Is the leather too far gone, or do you think it can be saved?
Any suggestions on how it can be saved?