How it all happened
Well... after the timing belt jumped (it wasn't snapped - but it wasn't in the right place - note to all; change it religiously) I had the car staying at the mechanics in Ipswich (at this point I really needn't say any more - it is Ipswich after all
).
He's a great Mechanic, but where the car sat wasn't very secure, i.e. right next to the footpath.
Firstly someone walking past decided that the rear spoiler would look far better on their torana, gemini, XD ford (that's about the depth of variety back then)
After that, and when the stripped engine was sitting in the boot (so imagine the cars stance with no motor up front & most of the motor in the boot) some REAL bright sparks smashed the drivers window to break-in & then...
I do have to pause here...
...then this waste of valuable oxygen tried to hot-wire the car to steal it
. I wonder if they checked to see if the battery was connected or not
.
So after that, & when I had to leave the state for 7 weeks I brought the car onto the base for security.
Oh the Irony
.
After I returned, a guy from work said that my car looked as though my wheels had been stolen - I thought he was kidding - you know like, "ha, ha... very funny".
Not only had the 16" Hockmesh style mags been stolen, but the thieves had gone to the trouble to fit 13" steel wheels in their place (to cover their tracks? or perhaps they thought I wouldn't notice
). As the standard size wheel is 15" & the brake discs filling most of the space inside the rim, 13" just didn't cut it - so they removed the calipers and sat them on the ground, inboard of the rims. Whilst at it they also removed both front seats, which revealed the 50WRMS x 4 Alpine Amp under the drivers seat, so they grabbed that to. Upon further investigation they discovered the custom built, twin chamber sub-box with 2 x 10" Alpine VR subs mounted & sealed to the back of the rear seat. So they removed all of the engie parts out of the boot, removed the rear seat, unbolted the sub-box, refitted the rear seat & put back the engine parts into the boot (that was very nice of them to clean-up after themselves
). To complete their shopping list they added my rare Momo Steering Wheel and Momo gear knob.
Needles to say I wasn't sure whether to laugh at the irony or cry. I laugh about it now but it sucked the joy out of owning the VR4 & I just couldn't get back into repairing it very quickly (as at one stage I bought a new steering wheel to repace the one stolen that'd fit the momo boss still fitted to the car, then dicovered that the boss kit had since been stolen as well)
That was about 5 years ago.
An epic story made into 'just a long one', I bought a vr4 half-cut, found a vr4 club & after a couple of years (maybe more
) I finally pulled my finger out and, with the help of some great mates from the club, installed the engine. Slowly the car will come back together, but it is NOW actually happening.
As for my plans for it, nothing over the top as I actually want to drive it, not constantly fix broken driveline/engine components or have fuel/ignition/running issues plaguing me.
I managed to find a set of front seats just after the original set had been stolen & Mitsubishi Parts Center tried to kill me with shock (price to replace 2 front seats - $5127.00). I found them from the place I ultimately got my front-cut from, Asian Auto Spares in Slacks Creek. I asked if he had any, or could get any in, to which he replied no. As I was walking out his front door I noticed a set of seats under another set whose trim looked familiar. Sure enough they were the right ones. Price - a pittance at $150 for the pair.
So hang onto your seats fellas & thanks for the offers - much appreciated.
Next step from here - replace all the old rubber (pipes, tubes, belts), site and mount the intercooler once it's been tested, modified and cleaned-up then add the intercooler piping (might go to 2.5" - which'll mean new pipping required) and then send off the computer for chipping.
..........
