China HDI Estate

[tomcannon]

Hi there, I have said hello in the newbies section and thought I would start my project thread.

I picked her up yesterday and the first thing I did was give it a good clean and check over today, she has very light scratches all over so could do with a good MOP.

Anyway, here's some pics as she stands today.

See how high she stands up front compared to the rear, any ideas on rough height difference? I want to drop the front to match the rear but not sure how much it needs.





Here's a picture of the beam which was put on for the last MOT, I'm not sure why I took this photo, hoping maybe someone could shed some light on why she's so low on the rear, not that the photo would help to identify this!



Fog needs replacing.



Engine bay.



The rear wiper motor didnt work and the wiper was snapped so I decided to remove totally for now, I'll see how I fair without one and may find a replacement, but it looks nice without.





So that's it so far and this is what I intend to do:

Drop the front, preferably on Eibach's, roughly 40mm to match rear. DONE
Sort body work, pull out dents and MOP, then decide which panels need replacing.
Replace drivers mirror cap with a china one.
Remove pointless cone filter and install K&N panel filter. DONE
Re-spray roof bars matte black. DONE
Spray tow bar matte black. DONE
Replace passenger fog as its rusted. DONE
Remove rear wiper. DONE
Remove drivers rear mud flap. (Passengers is missing and I prefer the look without.)
And to finish it off nicely, a remap. (Although this may happen first!!!)

If I can do the above before summer I will be happy, then:

Rear tints.
Black masks.
New summer alloys, either challengers, those similar pug ones (I forget the name, 16"), or refurbed cyclones.

As for the K&N I'm not sure what to do with it, keep or remove? Bear in mind it's getting a remap soon as so would the K&N help for better performance gains or would I be better off with standard box and K&N panel filter? Unless it's going to help after the remap I would prefer to remove it, Im not a fan. Although maybe I should keep it because it add's 10BHP over the standard setup!!! (or so the women selling the 'state told me while I was test driving! :liar: ) I couldnt help but laugh.

Hope you all like, It should look nice once I get stuff sorted.

Any help, compliments or criticism is much appreciated guys, Tom.

EDIT: Forgot to mention... It has WORKING Air Con! :o

[ginge191]

fine example there pal!
as for the rear, it seems a fairly standard ride height to me, doesnt look lowered or raised...

[Connor]

That beam is the same as a gti beam, so if it was replaced, it might have been replaced with a lowered beam

[tomcannon]

fine example there pal!
as for the rear, it seems a fairly standard ride height to me, doesnt look lowered or raised...

Cheers mate, fair enough, I'm certainly not complaining it just seems lower than any other 306 I've owned, is it just an estate thing, extra weight maybe? Either way, saves me lowering it I suppose!

[tomcannon]

That beam is the same as a gti beam, so if it was replaced, it might have been replaced with a lowered beam

Ahh I see, that's what I was thinking. I think this is the logical explanation.

[ginge191]

If yours is lowered, only by about 10-20mm, taking into account the donor car it could come through, the extra estate HDI weight could cause this - looks spot on though

[Foxy-jim]

Looks really nice mate! Best colour too!

[tomcannon]

If yours is lowered, only by about 10-20mm, taking into account the donor car it could come through, the extra estate HDI weight could cause this - looks spot on though

Oooh thats a tidy example, who's is that? I do like diablo, my first was a diablo. I think it seem's the same height as mine really so probably standard.

[Jonny81191]

I'm now on my 3rd estate, and they have all been that height at the rear. A 40mm drop on the front will get it nice and level!

[tomcannon]

I'm now on my 3rd estate, and they have all been that height at the rear. A 40mm drop on the front will get it nice and level!

Sweet, 40mm was my estimate too, do eibach do a 40mm drop? If not what springs would you recommend guys?

Cheers, Tom.

[ginge191]

Oooh thats a tidy example, who's is that? I do like diablo, my first was a diablo. I think it seem's the same height as mine really so probably standard.

googles


but thats just an example - check out Cully's estate and dum-dums old estate, whoever owns that now - VERY clean examples of estates. oh and chap called Warlord0, but he's not here, he has responsibilites elsewhere

[tomcannon]

Oooh thats a tidy example, who's is that? I do like diablo, my first was a diablo. I think it seem's the same height as mine really so probably standard.

googles


but thats just an example - check out Cully's estate and dum-dums old estate, whoever owns that now - VERY clean examples of estates. oh and chap called Warlord0, but he's not here, he has responsibilites elsewhere

I have read all three project threads a fair few times and have collected a few ideas from them all, very nice, I really liked dum-dums, I think it was the rinjanis. I may have to get some black ones to match the masks.

Unfortunately mine is not as clean as those were (or at least looked in picture). Mine has a fair few marks and scrapes which needs sorting first, but hey, all in good time.

[hbomb1905]

Looks like a nice straight motor!

Good luck with the mods mate should be a nice motor!

and get the engine bay cleaned! haha

[Connor]

Do not put black wheels on it... please

[tomcannon]

The engine bay will be getting cleaned soon as I get time and it isn't bloody raining! Dont worry Connor, I've had a change of heart about the dark wheels, I think silver suits the china really well, but I also think the black masks do! I'm thinking a darker than standard (but not too dark) silver. But that's a while down the road yet as I want to get the other bits sorted first so plenty of time to deliberate.

[Foxy-jim]

Anthracite?

[tomcannon]

Anthracite?

I really dont know yet, I'm gonna have a real good think. Plus whatever wheels I buy, probably challengers or similar will most likely be silver to start so I'll see what they look like silver 1st and base it on that. I might just get a mint set, not bother with a re-spray and forget aout the black masks.

Tom.

[Dum-Dum]

All meridian estates sit nose up by about 20mm as standard.

Mine looked alot more level with 40mm springs on the front.

Before






After

[tomcannon]

All meridian estates sit nose up by about 20mm as standard.

Mine looked alot more level with 40mm springs on the front.

That's really nice, I like the dark wheels. Argh, I'm really stuck in two minds what colour wheels to go for. Maybe meet in the middle, what do you all think of shadow chrome? Like this for example:

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewit ... 7376149967

Sorry about the lack of link, I'm on the phone.

[Matt]

IMO I think they look awesome!!!!!

[tomcannon]

IMO I think they look awesome!!!!!

I do too! But everyone I seem to have said it to has thought I was taking the piss! Ah well, if I like it then that's all that matters. Hopefully
I can find a decent cheap set that need a refurb and I think that'll
Be my choice. Then I can get my black masks and tints to match!

[Foxy-jim]

The wheels actually look quite good like that!

[tomcannon]

A quick "I'm bored" Mockup!



I apologise for my poor photoshop skills! Feel free to show me how it's done!

Tom.

[Foxy-jim]

Could look good with some more lows!

[Connor]

IMO any much lower than that, would look silly, but thats me and I dont like the tyre being in the arch...

[Foxy-jim]

I dont htink that is even lowered at all?

[tomcannon]

I dont htink that is even lowered at all?

It las been slightly in that 'shop. I only want a 40mm drop to match the rear really, I'm the same as Connor, don't like the tyre in the arch look either.

[Foxy-jim]

Fair enough! Its more practical tht way!

[Connor]

Fair enough! Its more practical tht way!

And better looking

[Foxy-jim]

Hmmm not sure if I agree there!