tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80196335239273291182024-03-13T10:53:22.363-07:00Dodolly BlueDodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-56887044930671874382010-04-03T09:01:00.000-07:002010-04-03T09:01:38.393-07:00Updated photos for April 2010A recent batch of shots of the freshly detailed 220 - now the sun has finally come out there will be photos a-plenty lol!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DiUQxTXdZC8/S7dmKeeHG3I/AAAAAAAAACs/IlqIua7r5Tw/s1600/20-03-10+011+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DiUQxTXdZC8/S7dmKeeHG3I/AAAAAAAAACs/IlqIua7r5Tw/s640/20-03-10+011+edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DiUQxTXdZC8/S7dmSdJdKyI/AAAAAAAAAC0/gsunNmP5824/s1600/20-03-10+002+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DiUQxTXdZC8/S7dmSdJdKyI/AAAAAAAAAC0/gsunNmP5824/s640/20-03-10+002+edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-76290843596876913762010-04-03T08:46:00.000-07:002010-04-03T08:49:39.215-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DiUQxTXdZC8/S7diy02fSxI/AAAAAAAAABc/y02KEpQDris/s1600/220+desktop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DiUQxTXdZC8/S7diy02fSxI/AAAAAAAAABc/y02KEpQDris/s640/220+desktop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-54072485586916310702010-03-21T11:44:00.000-07:002010-03-21T11:44:04.713-07:00A one man mission.Well not quite.One man and his understanding missus lol!!!<br />
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But putting it bluntly,im very much geared up with this car to go further with it than any other project i have undertaken.<br />
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Dont get me wrong,i wont be handing over 5 grand for a supercharger conversion nor will i commit a good £1500+ for a re spray,but i will be pushing every aspect to select the right choices for this car.<br />
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The ST220 as a model of car is very much being elevated by its generation of owners who i feel are not like the original 20 grand plus buying punters the first time round.<br />
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What i mean by this is the second wave sale phenomenon which ive seen with the ST24 and ST200 cars.<br />
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I vividly recall when nearly all were left standard due to the enormous outlay the car presented when new plus the average age of the buyer of these cars was credibly higher than you might find nowdays.<br />
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So an expensive taste just got a lot cheaper.the 220 is a terrible investment from new and im glad i had to wait so damn long for the prices to fall to what is,a sensible deal and gives you a lot of car for the money.<br />
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Serious competitive car rolling at very reachable cash.Id even go as far as to say its the purchase of the decade car wise.What else can you buy for 4-5 grand that delivers such a feeling as one of these?<br />
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The old 24 and 200 suffered many slings and arrows in there time.Grandads cars and sporty taxi's to name a couple.You were always asked where your pipe and slipper were and some of this crossed over to the 220.<br />
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I guess it all begun with the exec/middle management or sales rep image and its grown into a tired stereo type of wannabe racer dads hacking it across country trying to grasp a seam of there youth all the while making trips to Asda and picking up the kids after school.<br />
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What you see in abundance is a younger crowd and perhaps more willing scene now these cars have come done so much in price and left a wake or many years to divide them from there costly warranty period.<br />
Would you dare add and modify a 20 grand car during this period in fear of killing all hopes of warranty and being left with parts and fords exorbitant labour charges?<br />
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Now days you dont have that.You just need to justify the petrol costs to yourself and then to everyone who asks 'how much does that cost to run then??'<br />
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answer .>> > lots lol.<br />
Its my little crusade to elevate the 220 even thou my modding peers are very much in the ranks pushing it along before i even appeared.I wont to give it a nudge more and i believe the recent feature in PF has done this already.<br />
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Even if this reward is a small but humble nod from the RS and cossie boys as if to say,your acknowledged but dont get carried away lol.<br />
but then we are gracefully rewarded with a car that isnt spending half its life on the hard shoulder or with smoke pouring from it either and every git in a mile radius trying to race you.<br />
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The ST220 hasnt quite had its day yet.Like the 24'200 before it these cars are now being appreciated.Hell,you cant even visit a ford forum of any kind without seeing a clutch of them whereas years ago there might be the one if you were lucky.<br />
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Im not a massive follower of mondeo owner clubs athou i am a registered user on many.<br />
Not to make me the greatest hypocrite that walked the earth,ill explain.<br />
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As valuable as these sites are and i find them extremely useful on a number of levels,but sometimes it can get a little serious.<br />
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Dont get me wrong thou,ive seen serious on a whole other level with some car makes clubs!!! <br />
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I like to wander a great deal across all the known ford clubs as much as possible.<br />
The main reason is to get to know other owners of all cars and make friends.<br />
Cos after all the whole scene is pointless without all the characters it creates and it very much does this.<br />
People online are a curious breed and forums seem to bring out the worst in some.<br />
Like being drunk and thinking its ok to blurt out just about everything and anything thats bobbing about your tiny mind and in the belief the whole world wants to know.a little bit like this blog really lol.<br />
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But back on track>>>><br />
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I created a forum of my own in network-220 and i think it has its place.If again,it helps elevate a model of car a little more then im happy.If its just aplace people like you 'wander' in and out of,then by jove your just like me!!!<br />
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End of rambleDodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-63609495549920804032010-03-21T11:13:00.000-07:002010-03-21T11:13:02.770-07:00Polish car washs and why you really shouldntIt never fails to amaze me that the time and dedication that has gone into such cracking motors is being undone on a fortnightly basis by a team of half wits that share the same line of latitude as us and little else.....oh yeah,our housing system but lets not get side tracked.....yet<br />
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What is the fascination of spending a fiver to let a bunch of opportunists who are using this job as a quick means into the community who use the same rags,sponges etc to lacerate your fine ride.<br />
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When you weigh up all the time you put into the cars build from ICE to fitting suspension and when it comes to the final finish,you allow a pack of baboons arse's to wipe over the motor.<br />
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Lets get some facts straight.There not Polands finest detailing export nor do they actually give 2 sh*Ts about the car.Its cold hard cash nothing else.<br />
The speedy ambush this clan of dodgers bestows on you isnt a sure sign of expertise or willingness to work.<br />
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Its getting your sorry ass out as fast as possible so they can set there scratchy tools onto another unsuspecting numbnut and make "money".you know the stuff dont you?? the paper stuff you get every week that pays bills and sometimes allows you to fit lovely additions like big exhausts and elaborate ICE systems.you know,the stuff you have been doing 'yourself'!!!!<br />
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you scoff at the sheer sight of some soap dodger trying to clean your screen at a traffic light especially when hes asking for a quid for the pleasure yet you will part with 4 more because 'i hate washing mycar'<br />
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listen:<br />
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YOUR CAR IS SCRATCHED TO F*CK.ITS LOOKS HORRENDOUS ALL DOWN TO THE FACT YOUR LAZY SIMPLE ARSE COULDNT BE BOTHERED TO DO THE JOB YOURSELF.<br />
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come show day,people like me will be looking and thinking 'that would have been a nice car if it wasnt for the cobweb sh*t scratchy f*ck finish that you couldn't bothered to attain'<br />
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but on the flip side,you will be emailing people like me asking for a machine polish which i will then undertake for many many hours of passion and the old cliche blood sweat and tears.<br />
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I would imagine the brisk reward for the ole jelopy at this point is to take it.....yup,down to the Poles and then them undo everything i just strived to achieve.thanks.<br />
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Its a small but significant rant in a world that constantly blows my mind.hypocritical weirdness at its best.Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-62810141437850761042010-03-21T06:28:00.000-07:002010-03-21T06:28:20.077-07:00Performance Ford Vs FastfordOk so we know these are the UK's 2 leading ford mags.What they offer seems to differ from sheer brute force to more accessible cars.<br />
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But lets get one thing straight from the get go.There does seem to be a divide in the buying public for these publications and from all the comments ive read over the years,it isnt just 2 camps of people.Its more like three.<br />
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So who are you???<br />
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1:the complete motor sport big budget track nut who wants to see more of the same.<br />
they relate directly to big budget,big boost crazy ass cars lol.money is seemingly no limit.<br />
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2:the aspiring owner who owns just about any spec ford but likes to read the above and aspires to own something very special.<br />
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3:the day to day car owner who modifies to a budget and has a respectable fast road car.this owner relates more to features that are within reach. <br />
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So what i have found now,is you are constantly pulling in one of two main directions which is clearly the unreachable motors and the very accessible with a little saving and a lot of home grown talent.<br />
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If you go too strongly in either direction,you alienate the other group.And if you strike a balance,there are still those who are literally counting off whos featuring and what type of car it is.<br />
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Im standing firmly on the side that says a mixture of everything is best and to behonest i feel the comments of late are innaccurate and out of date!!!<br />
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The mags have evolved as the cars have changed in line up.People arent tolerating just RS and cosworth features anyway.The new wave of ST cars has swept the board and the focus RS has carved out a deserved place for itself albeit largely unfeatured as of yet as a modified car.<br />
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Ive been very lucky in that 3 of my main projects in a row have gained a feature and ive been asked many times what would make a feature car??<br />
Hoenstly?? i havent got a clue other than to follow your gut feeling on something and dont be too aggresive with your ideas.<br />
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Dont be dated before its had a chance to shine.Be clear what your after and then slowly and surely build it up.<br />
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Lots of fine detail always wins over rather than big bolshy add ons.A car that you have to stand back and appreciate due to its accumalated features is far more credible than a big lairy paint job and a huge body kit.<br />
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There are cars that havent been featured heavily and this will always stand in your favour.Cars that are otherwise seen as dull or middle of the road also play the under dog card and therefore what you go and do will have an automatic impact.<br />
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The sheer fact is,dare to be different needs to be thought out and this can never be rushed.Its not a race!!!! The more complex the process was to accomplish a modmeans it stands a chance of not being duplicated nation wide in the blink of an eye too.<br />
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I personally found the following to be true:<br />
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Be completely open to all ideas and search far and wide.World wide searching for inspiration and even twisting existing ideas that didnt come together right on other motors.<br />
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Wheels maketh the car or so they say.This to me pins down the whole look.The wrong choice means your fighting against a style that they are dicatating.<br />
Dont stick on massive motor sport wheels if you want a euro dub look cos it will take a genius to make the clash go together.<br />
Unless this is your big idea in the first place,choose wisely.<br />
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Once the right set of wheels have been pinned down,think about how subtle or how agressive the overall look will be.Take your time choosing all manner of ideas.<br />
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The ride height of any car can massively chance its look.even down to an inch at a time it can start to look very different.<br />
Exhausts send out a message and some times classic ideas are best followed,too many mixed model shapes and designs can elevate the car to a more fad status rather than well thought out.<br />
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If you want a cheap project dont worry.It can be done and usually come off looking just as good if not better,than a lot of expensive builds.<br />
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But crucially,everything you add must be perfect.No scratchs,digs,cuts,blemishes,scuffs,marring etc.If you want anyone to take seriously what you have done,make it the best you can do.follow guides,ask for help and re do a bad job till its right.<br />
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i have put my money where my mouth is numerous times and the lasest one is my rear lights.<br />
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there not perfect so guess what?? i bought another set lol.re masked them up,polished them and added the carbon strip.now they ARE perfect and no one will find any flaw of any kind in them.factory spec modified and thats my term lol even if the mags are pushing OEM+ 1<br />
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If you spend several 1000 and leave the rust bubbles,more fool you.<br />
always clean the car up when you kick off.The better the paint,the better the base you have to create something.<br />
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Even this can be done in stages so you can save for one area and move onto another.<br />
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my bottom line on this is,feature cars are chosen because you have the passion and its clear to see.Ive been critisised once or twice for over posting pics or getting too carried away updating it but imo this is what people thrive on.<br />
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Its what i thrive on when i see all the cars online.If someone is so excited about something so simple,then im usually hooked!!! If its a cheque book car that doesnt have the personal attachment of the average Joe on the street,then it usaually leaves people cold cos they cant relate.<br />
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I like to think people relate to me cos they know i work silly hours,sacrifice so much and work so hard on getting it right.i appreciate each and every car thats online as long as its done with conviction and belief.<br />
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Now the clincher.If you dont submit your cars,how will anyone know to feature it??<br />
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i have this gem straight from the editor of PF when we were chatting at my last feature shoot.<br />
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He said in no uncertain terms,they arent getting enough every day fast road cars cos you arent sending them in!!! so how can they broaden the publication with some balanced motors.its up to you!!!! so get stuck in,believe in yourself and your vision and see it thru.Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-4154440804936110452010-02-12T10:10:00.000-08:002010-02-12T10:24:28.635-08:00New exhaust plus mag feature!!!!!!!!!!!Its been all go go go the last few weeks.What can i say other than i was very pleasantly surprised to be asked if we would like a feature with performance ford magazine for there monthly show stoppers section.<br /><br />Obviously in sheer disgust we refused.....no actually i bit there hand off for it because i had no plans to submit it for a feature entry for at least another 8-10 months.<br /><br />There has been so much to tick off the list i would have felt cheeky to put it forward,but then to some degree your car is never 'ready' and this alone means alot of people dont get to see it at shows nor a publication.<br /><br />This is however,our 3rd foray into the world of car features.I feel somewhat spoilt in this department and very humble that we have had the chance to shout our corner for a 3rd time in a row now.<br /><br />A side note to this and perhaps worthy of its own blog entry is the hierarchy that a lot of people pick up upon with these types of magazine.What i mean to say is,you do have a level of car that seems to go into the performance car mags and it usually rides along with double the bhp or more,a track like set up and a budget of a small third world country.<br /><br />So after several pages of arguing the toss on passion ford,its clear you will always have 2 camps of people.Those who want every day realistic fast road cars,and those who pay there hard earned to read motorsport track weapons where the sky is the limit.<br /><br />So where do we fit in????<br /><br />From my perspective i think its because there hasnt been more than 2-3 mentions for a car thats been around for 8 years now.So the ratio of ST220 per rolling magazine year has been unbelievably poor until now that is.<br />Barely a month back PF featured a ST tdci and mine will be out for aprils mag and prior to all this we had Martins ST24 with 220 engine project.So to some degree its getting more exposure thru what ever means.<br /><br />So then...exhausts!!!! this is food for thought and the whole subject still raises a few grins and is a never ending hot bed for argument and contention but i still maintain little to no gains are made from the cat back.<br /><br />So why the hell did i rush about like a loony getting one fitted??? you may wonder.<br /><br />This is purely from an aesthetic point of view seeing as it was being shot in a studio for the feature and i felt a standard 8 year old wafty looking system wasnt the best foot forward when everything around it has been dealt with.<br />Plus its 8 years old and could do with a freshen up as its fords finest er...mild steel jobbie.<br /><br />Th choices at such a short time frame were limited to a custom pipecraft system but this meant leaving the car for days to find a slot to get it on the ramps.<br />Then it was a mongoose system for a lofty £600!!!! fitted no less but still...<br /><br />Then finally AmD came to the rescue as it were.£490 fitted for a milltek system and that was that job done.2 days to spare!<br /><br />Must admit im loving the perfect balance of volume and tone.Nothing too overbearing and a lovely pop and burble on over run.<br /><br />So nearly 500 sheets poorer we trek down the A21 and finally reach the studio.We are greeted by large security gates and then greeted by a rather finger licking good aston DBS sitting in the grounds car park.<br /><br />It was a long ole day then followed by a near rear ender and a puncture!!! but,it was worth all the hassle.<br /><br />The mag comes to us in a couple of weeks and i feel its been a stunning journey from the escort RS2000 thru to the st200 and now this car.Deserved??? juries out,but is it a good feeling??? hell yeahDodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-73363235079426601992009-12-20T04:52:00.000-08:002009-12-20T05:00:34.492-08:00Dodolly Blue 2010: Whats instore??This for me is a big looming mother of a question and id like to say i have it all mapped out in my head,but in truth i really dont.<br /><br />I have a series of little ideas i want to see and bits and pieces that would make a nice addition,but whether the missus can stomach more spending or i run out of steam,we await to see which arrives first.<br /><br />i dont think in all seriousness ill lack in enthusiasm.Its a cracker of a car to live with and the fact its coming together makes you push even further forward with just as much vigour as when you began.<br /><br />The main things to do:<br /><br />full cat back stainless exhaust system.ideally a hayward and scott but looking likely to be a pipecraft system due to cost.ie: it saves me £150-200 using piecraft but you dont suffer for quality quite as much as you would think.<br /><br />a fully enclosed induction kit which i have all sorted in my head.<br /><br />remove and colour code the centre radio and gear stick surrounds perf blue.<br />either a flip out DVD radio or a suitable double din stereo to fill the current 1 din and below void setup.<br /><br />Wolf make a rather nice rook lip spoiler which id normally turn and run a mile at,but this is rather nice.<br /><br />id love to get the roof panel carbon sheet skinned.but its another 'will it wont it' look ok kinda mod.<br /><br />the list is actually very long and most of which is going to be made up as i go along like always.<br /><br />There are things ive done which are being made common place.whether this is to do with me or total co incidence i dont know for sure but its a pain and maybe i need twist on some ideas currently in placeDodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-14500330559496988482009-12-20T04:41:00.000-08:002009-12-20T04:52:51.047-08:00Being original and doin your own thing....Is it ever actually possible? lol....<br /><br />sometimes you wonder if its a strive to make your own identity or to distance yourself from the masses of standard cars.<br /><br />And from my point of view,it kinda encompasses both of those aspects.But inevitably as soon as you come up with an idea or use a certain part,its gone.Vanished into common place modding and forgotten.<br /><br />As far as i can see i have had the first set of 19" DOTZ roadsters fitted and ive seen one set of 18's since but apprently there now 'common'!! <br /><br />Yeah that will be as common as Tomason's then? lol<br /><br />It really doesnt matter what you go for,if its working and it strikes a chord,then you can pretty much tick it off as a consumed mod amongst the masses.<br />Its both a compliment and a small kick in the pants but hey,you did it to stand out and if it means you have found a like minded crowd,then thats not a bad thing is it?<br /><br />The only way of making mods very unique to to price them out of the general market for the next guy to think 'ill tackle this on the weekend'.<br /><br />But then its another can of worms spending beyond your overall project budget.<br />So then lastly its exposure.And this is one area im good at cos making a name for yourself for better or worse is still exposure for what you are doing.<br /><br />Im a big believer in projects succeeding thru self publication and PR across the forums and shows,mags and assorted galleries online.<br /><br />Proof in the pudding of which ive seen time and time again,is people spending 1000's upon 1000's and it striking a minor chord of 'wow' thats impressive but it doesnt have a home based feel of struggle,cost and achievement about it.<br /><br />But if you spend a lot of time being excited about what you do,and let people in on it and share the base experience,then you can quickly drum up a lot of respect and admiration for a simple low cost project cos you believe in it.<br /><br />So therefore everyone else will.<br /><br />I dont think that cheque book cars suffer completely with it i just think largely so and again only cos the distance a car like this drives between creator and community because it lacks working class every day realism and feel.<br /><br />I have sworn to myself that if i ever did win the lotto!! lol,id set up a range of wheels and parts from all the ideas i cant flesh out with my own cash.spooj branded aftermarket stuff thats all limited run specialised application.<br /><br />you could even offer a designer package where i would enlist the help of a very good CAD designer and bring full start to finish packages together ala Chip Foose...<br /><br />just removing the foose and bringing on the spooj pmsl....yea rightDodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-43732142438043199002009-11-22T15:45:00.000-08:002009-11-22T16:24:19.671-08:00Bolt on bad boys:I do love a mythAs for air filters and cat backs,panel filters,cones,boost valves and an endless stream of so called solid mods its all basically a lot of tosh imo.<br /><br />Not exclusively an opinion i tag to every solitary item or just think everyones wrong lol.Far from it.I hold the concepts in high regard and the science is solid for the best part.<br /><br />What annoys me is the sheep aspect of modding a car or specifically an engine.<br />We know the limits of a n/a engine so why on earth waste money on very small bolt ons when the real restrictions are SCREAMING at you!!!<br /><br />The amount of times ive read 'i just bought a full cat back system so i reckon thats another 5-10bhp'......ay???? since when??<br /><br />Maybe the case on a turbo car cos any restriction at all is magnified 10 fold when you rectify it but on a n/a engine,pathetic panel filters DO NOTHING!!!<br />cat backs do reliatively sod all either so by all means by a system,dont full yourself into thinking its anything like 'full' and enjoy the 304 grade stainless,gurantee and a nicer exhaust note.<br /><br />A panel filter is 90% of the time a pony idea.flawed by the box and flow restrictions already in place.The box usually large and plastic,is being heated up a fair amount and will stay this way with or wihtout a panel filter thrown in with k&n written on it somewhere.<br /><br />the overall draw rate from this small enclosed environment means you havent actually changed anything that can be measured for purposeful gains.<br /><br />This is exactly why compeition teams all around the world make custom carbon fibre sections to open up the breathing space to something twice if not 3 times the area and using a cone filter with cold air ports fed straight to it.<br /><br />SO when you see this winning formula,the first thing you do??? keep it strangled and add a pony upgraded panel filter.<br />And people think im mental when i say i can feel the difference when using different fuel and the same bunch think a panel filter can be felt lol...sweet jesus.<br /><br />Your expensive system is missing a vital part and thats a one off manifold where a majority of the restriction is taking place.Most modern cars now have the cats sitting quite close to this and somer are very intergrated like the 220 is.<br /><br />You would need a good £700+ to get this manifold made spot on and decatted with the best lenghth primary and secondary sections worked thru for opimum torque/bhp balance depending on your exact spec and requirements.<br /><br />But a bolt on cat back and you want this to make power? how exactly?<br />It will share the same bore as the OEM system and just uses slightly different boxes.<br />Ok so the wadding and baffle pipes have come a way since the older systems,but most OEM's arent actaully that bad anymore.<br /><br />Unless you have a system that reworks a flawed shape and get it straighter,you have to ask yourself,where do 'you' think the improvements were made???<br /><br />most OEM exhausts arent restrictive as you think past the cat.A minimal required amount of backpressure is usually well balanced and maintained.<br /><br />So we have a panel filter and cat back....well like i said,IMO this = no power .<br />At best its a couple of bhp so dont sweat it.<br /><br />If you do go for a cone,then bear in mind the rules of encloser and cold air feeding.<br />With this in mind,im after a K&N apollo filter which is indeed very large and fully enclosed with a direct fed front mounted cold air feed.Completely sealed no less.<br /><br />Im using a bluefin re map which despite my overall doubts has proved useful.Is it anything like a full custom map? no and it was never going to be,but for what i expected for £230,it has given me what i asked for.<br /><br />really expensive plugs and leads...now theres a hotbed.does a iridium plug and veryr well shielded set of leads for £100+ do anything? IMO no not a lot.<br />if you mismatch the heat rating of a plug you can do more harm then good.<br />massively overlooked and i think always will be.but again,OEM is nearly always the best option in this area too.<br /><br /><br />so what does work then? <br /><br />cams,gas flowing poorly cast heads,port matching for the same reason,proper management,one of manifolds,correct fuel mananement and this doesnt mean a power boost valve or a fuel pump much more ferocious than you could ever need nor does it mean crazy over sized flow rate injectors.<br /><br />im rambling so im off,but im sure i will word this better when im not massively tired but the basics i do stand by.<br />The man on the street is trying way to hard and expecting much more than he can ever attain.<br />buy the car,afford the budget and think big.you might end up divored and dissalusioned but at least you will have a basic concept of tuning and why it costs works teams hundreds and 1000's in development alone.Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-59067796322766874152009-11-22T15:31:00.000-08:002009-11-22T15:45:01.552-08:00Modifying:Are there any rules?Its another post spawned from the previous ramblings in this arena and an area im not good and done with just yet!!<br /><br />Its a frustrating game but modifying a car is a complex business or at least it sounds like it is when you read all the feedback people offer to other car owners.<br /><br />From the outset if you have never modified a car,it is complicated but can only be more so if you allow it to be!!<br /><br />They say the wheels maketh the car and to a large degree im going to have to agree.<br />The wrong choice will turn the look right over on its head,so i would always suggest spending more time getting this right than just running with your wallet and what you 'think' is trendy regardless of the fact the wheels you chose are 15 years out of date not to mention they were so iconic for all the wrong reasons that they dated in the first place lol,and then the fact the car dictates its own lines and shape.<br /><br />dont fight it.if the car has an overwhelming look about it then try and follow its own simple rules.<br /><br />So yes,we have established there are rules as such.But this is down to eye candy modding and a little bit of motor-art i think.Its all physics when you choose extra parts like spoilers and bumpers.If it changes the car too much,you have lost before you even started.<br /><br />I buy a car i really want and then spend a few weeks seeing every single car out there for basic ideas.Sometimes you invariably rob an idea but thats perfectly fine.<br /><br />If it works and its popualr,a good chance is had to say its a good idea.Not always but a good chunk of faith can be invested in popular modding.<br /><br />Then theres your take on an idea.If its possible to twist and shape it further and add a missing element then go for it.On occasion you will even see ideas that are so damn obvious and yet no one has jumped on it.<br />This is your rare chance to establish yourself and to say 'i love this,and i can turn my hand to it'.<br /><br />Dont leap before you look.Ok so im already well into this as above but seriosuly,ask about and phone people,talk talk talk.Scoop up as many right click and save pics you can and think.<br /><br />I have been accused of running a re occuring theme several times over but ill maintain its what i like most,and no two cars allow you to pull off the same thing over and over wihtout a twist.So i have run it for 3 cars now and if you look at them side by side,you will see a massive difference in impact and tweaks on the theme each time.<br /><br />so i personally know what i want from the outset,but every project gives you a new way to make it happen.<br /><br />Asking for opinions is fine to some degree,but as of an earlier blog,dont let others literally dictate if its fine or not.If you cant judge for yourself what you like,you are basically screwed lolDodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-54958622838835532682009-11-15T05:08:00.000-08:002009-11-15T05:23:34.165-08:00The skies the limitSo heres another food for thought and one i know most of us have entertained.<br />If money was no object and we're talking big lottery win here,or perhaps a cheeky £45m on the euro lotto!!<br /><br /><br />So you have bought the AM or maybe splashed on a Lambo,Ferrari,Porsche etc and now your keen on doing some big things to your everyday car that took so damn much to make happen.<br /><br />All the overtime and saving,ball busting to get the bits done and now you can practically click your fingers and get it done...LARGE!!<br /><br />Thinking so far outside the box you can now easily get a rear wheel or all wheel drive system made to your spec.You can actually have a hand in co-designing the requirements and spec of some tech gear for the car.<br />Have pieces made one off and get firms to tool up for one run!! And you never know,you could get into this with such a passion you could even stamp then with your own branding and sell them on for cheap as chips money to fellow car modders all across the UK who are paying way too much to get the job done.<br /><br />Ok,so you might not take the Robin Hood ethos to the car modifying world but you can def get some parts on the car that no one else has done.Your imagination is now your only weakness so with all those Mil in hand,dont let yourself done.<br /><br />Just think,it means having one off wheels designed by you,cut for you and then presented to you alone.You have seen brakes on something but want them converted for yours,...job done.<br /><br />Any paint job of any colour and as many coats as it takes.<br /><br />I know deep down i would leave this mondie in the wings for at least the first year while i thrashed the dream car out of my system.And when my feet came back down to earth i would really settle into a big project.<br /><br />The overwhelming problem is not the result but the sheer possible rejection from everyone in the community who would resent a big million pound build more than they detest 'cheque book' cars already.So imagine that amplified 100 fold.<br /><br />But heres your connection i think.When you do make parts as mentioned above,you can offer deals and help people out to bridge the gap when it comes to specialist needs.<br />Put as much back into the scene as you are taking out and i think you could strike a balance.....In the absense of balance you are going to look a giant schmuck and just another rich tosser.And we have enough of those in this country we dont need another one....<br /><br />Id def consider a 4x4 conversion on the 220.As much as i love the wheels id get 20" one off rims make from a design id work over for as long as it takes.<br />Custom suspension and full adjustable allround.<br /><br />Id take a long time to think over the paint.Either re done to a very high standard or a one off paint nicely mixed from a few other ideas.<br /><br />It could take a couple of years to really get sunk into but imagine what you could achieve.I think getting so involved would result in a line of wheels not just one set lol and lots of one off part ideas for what people were crying out for.<br /><br />ok so maybe there would be a little Robin Hood going on,but that kind of money is pretty sick if you dont feed it back into the world and share it.Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-39255986951241058172009-11-15T04:59:00.000-08:002009-11-15T05:07:40.315-08:00Ding dong the wheels are on!!!!Finally got the wheels of my choice bolted to the car.<br /><br />Opted for Dotz roadsters in 19" x 8 fitment and by eck there hitting the spot for me.<br />I knew it would work but didnt know what they would look like in the flesh and thankfully,the pics didnt lie as they sometimes do when buying bits and pieces.<br /><br />It does mean another chapter to complete next year but i feel this will be the final one.Id like to run it and show for as long as possible and providing petrol doesnt rise to £2 per litre,fingers crossed we will run it for a good while longer lol<br /><br />anyhoo,heres some updated pics<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Picture002small.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Picture006small.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Picture007small.jpg">Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-69495965141306624532009-10-11T18:29:00.000-07:002009-10-11T18:54:11.292-07:00Can i have chips with that?The elusive world of 'chipping' now theres a hot bed of discussion that arises each and every day on car forums.<br /><br />Mine is a car equipped with an OBD-II port much like a lot of cars from the early naughties onwards and it provides you with a means to diagnose and also interestingly,to tune.<br /><br />Ive spent a lot of time (like i always do),researching facts and figures,opinions and then weighing up all the facts omitted,to conclude what option to take when it came to flashing a new map onto the 220.<br /><br />Now despite the fact the dreamscience unit seems to be a very comprehensive blighter you cant ignore a couple of key facts.<br />It costs £500 delivered,its gone out of production from now onwards so future support is limited to non existent,its still generic.<br /><br />Ive tuned a few cars now to various stages but always emphasised them to be fastroad cars rather than mind shaking track weapons.Mainly cos my budget has never allowed for the mega cash sums required for such toys,but i also appreciate the confine of what its supposed to achieve in every day terms of what the limits of said track car can be too.<br /><br />I tuned a couple of escorts and on both occasions used a datek unichip to dish out more precise orders.This time round i have taken the plunge into the world of handheld ECU flashing and opted for a bluefin by superchips.<br /><br />But why use a generic map over custom like a unichip?<br /><br />Well what i found is you need substancial mods to make sense of a custom map and when you literally bolt on a couple of very low key mods like filters and exhausts,this rarely demands anything so specific.<br /><br />The only complete worrying variable everyone seems to overlook is the engine build and possible losses thru the build and/or running losses elsewhere.<br /><br />Hence the time honoured exclamation 'my car made XXX but my mates made XXX' and we are both running the same setup,how come?<br /><br />So once you have factored in build losses which can be easily explained by the smallest variation in piston size for example,clutch and box condition,binding brakes etc,you can see why a generic map might not cater for all and for some its an actual power loss to s significant degree.<br /><br />We started our quest many months back by having the cars power measured and compared it with cars on the day that had rolling road runs elsewhere and were making the same power on the day we ran.<br />Seemed a good 'control' to use and it seems to be as solid as you will get.<br />We used a hub dyno which obviously doesnt suffer from idiosynchrocies a traditional rolling road does,ie:tyre pressure and strapping pressure.<br /><br />You can still manipulate a run with braking and a few other little tricks but for the sake of argument,it felt like it was going to be the most accurate figure i will get imo.<br />And we achieved 240bhp and 217lbs torque.Not a DTC in sight and fuelling was pretty good all the way thru with a minor dip up high and slight rise down below.<br /><br />So after having this info i have installed the bluefin and tried to take it as objectively as i could.It cost me £234 versus £300 for a lot of flash installs and DS charge £500 for the unit as said above or £300 for a flash install at there HQ in Hull.<br /><br />It feels lively low down and by god you feel the smoothness of this map across the range.midrange pickup is notable and it generally feels like its shaken off a cold you never knew it had in the first place.<br /><br />So ok,it was favourable for me but i have heard numerous feedback comments suggesting it hasnt done a damn thing for some others and i still believe this game of chance is down to the above.build losses and anomalies related to mileage,fuel type and quality,mechanical failure etc.<br /><br /> i have yet to roll this car to see how the power has changed but im fully expecting the biggest gain to be the maps delivery of which as said,is stunning.<br />well worth the £234 but for someone else?? who knows.<br />It is a game of chance without doubt as generic mapping will always remain hit and miss.<br /><br />Im not a firm believer that a panel filter and a off the shelf exhaust pulls a decent figure.i think fully enclosed breathing one way or another is the only way to go.<br />standard box restriction plays a key part as does exhaust systems that arent sufficiently tested for the car as a few milltek owners will tell you on rolling road day.<br />a decent set of new plugs and leads and no fault codes is a good starting point.<br />knowing your car completely is also a key way to understand whats happening when you change something too.<br /><br />I think a custom map on the trusty unichip may well have found a more pinpoint figure but i now weigh up the overall costs and balance whats a sensible outlay and what i will actually get in return.More so than every before as i have spent a crazy amount over the years buying many different filters,exhausts,boost valves....you name it i tried it lol.<br /><br />had over a dozen rolling road runs with various cars and attended a lot of rolling road club days with different cars and models.Enough to say i can see a pattern forming when it comes to power modifications on naturally aspirated cars.<br /><br />ie:go get yourself a turbo if you want gains lol<br /><br />We have seen before and after figures for decats,chips,systems and manifold mods,flowed heads,wild as you can cams,balanced bottom ends complete with lighter flywheels and uprated clutchs and ATB's and you would be very surprised at how dissappointing these figures have been for the large part.<br /><br />So all i can say is whata i said earlier.know your own car and dont be too upset if it doesnt respond like one in a magazine or your mates car.1/1000 is the going belief to hit a blueprint build by sheer accident lol so no major shock if one engine runs so far under anotherDodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-45408332320455181172009-10-11T15:40:00.000-07:002009-10-11T15:44:51.514-07:00Big wheel,little wheel cardboard box!!Im scratching my noggin trying to make up my mind about the right wheels to go for.<br />Im down to a couple of finalists for this but cant help wishing this god forsaken wheel size was slightly better catered for.Doesnt seem to be a massive amount of affordable options.<br /><br />And by this i mean the continental and US import wheels are horrifically priced and er....styled on occasion lol.<br /><br />So i need 5 x 108 with an ET ranging from 52 right down to 40 at the absolute max but ideally 45.Wheel width not exceeding 8.5" and in some cases with the wrong offset combo,this is still going to cause issues.<br /><br />Zee germans really do make a mighty fine rim but there either the wrong side of 2 grand or impossible to get hold of.<br /><br />I think im dead set on 19" wheels but possibly not the RS focus wheels anymore due to them becoming very popular,secondly there actually alot of money when you price up tyres and spacers that are required....and thirdly do they look just a bit too OEM considering the way 220 wheels look anyway?<br /><br />Yup thats what i thought lol.Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-11720629541490997152009-10-11T15:10:00.000-07:002009-10-11T15:39:11.434-07:00Car modification: who do you do it for?It struck me recently that the whole car modification scene is def not quite straight cut stuff as you once might have thought.<br /><br />If you ask anyone on any car forum this question 'who do you modify for',you will get an almost unreserved answer, 'i modify for myself,to please myself', followed by, 'If someone doesnt like it then thats there problem not mine'.<br /><br />But i thought to myself is this actually true?<br /><br />When you consider a ton of posts on forums where someone asks for your opinion if a set of wheels looks nice? why would you ask if you were only pleasing you?<br /><br />Ok so you "value" other peoples opinions but isnt this the same thing? Arent you really asking for general approval?<br /><br />Im starting to believe this is more the case than ever before.<br />Those who spend 1000's on there cars who compete in modified national events are trying to do something that catches your eye but stay within the realm of what the scene is dictating.<br /><br />Trend setting is a big thumbs up in my book and taking risks with ideas can only be a good thing.But who gets to say what is cool,nice,tasteful,amazing and whats utter tosh,trying to hard,old hat or just plain tacky?<br /><br />The whole subject is a double edged sword in my honest opinion.Ive seen it dozens of times and been on the other end of it too.When you show what your doing,what choices you made and you sometimes get an overwhelming thumbs down.<br /><br />So ok,its not a case of whos right and whos wrong,but clearly you need to respect the fact that a whole community of like minded folk all thrive on each others ideas,passion and forward thinking.<br /><br />This also works in reverse doesnt it.If you have total approval from bumper to bumper would you still ignore the masses and take it apart and go another route?<br /><br />I get the feeling the whole subjective attitude to making a car in terms of 'its my car and i modify to please me',isnt as truthful as it once appeared.<br /><br />There is the outside chance your right and you need to see a project thru so all the parts come together as a whole and it just simply works,simple as that.<br />And there are cars that regardless of the mega cash that went into them,the owner just had zero taste whatsoever and no amount of telling them cuts it lol.<br /><br />So amongst us all there is a dying breed of modders who really are switched onto there own taste and wont care for any outside remarks.To the point of taking it very personally indeed.Like the car has become there one and only means of expression and therefore deeply personal for it.<br /><br />I cant knock that cos i can relate but it obviously opens a can of worms cos some replies arent as kind as they could be despite the culture for open forum discussion.<br /><br />I have asked once perhaps twice for suggestions over a part for a car ive owned and both times i came away feeling it hadnt changed what i wanted or my opinion of where i was going for the final projects look.<br /><br />I think its fair to say you need to flesh out all your ideas in once form or another to learn for yourself whats good or bad.Even if several hundred people are screaming 'dont do it'!! lol,sometimes learning the hard way,is the only way.<br /><br />Having chewed the fat over it im still not convinced we all modify purely for us.<br />Im of the belief now that you do seek some approval for what you strive for.<br />Even the merest recognition that you hit the right spot usually does the trick.<br /><br />And yes,it is a very personal expressive thing to modify a car and christ knows why it becomes so serious but it does.From the choice of spark plugs right up to big custom bumpers and foreign wheels no one knows about.Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-67205200659481762372009-10-11T13:47:00.000-07:002009-10-11T14:07:04.461-07:00Detailing Vs the valetThe whole concept of car detailing has def made its presence felt over the last couple of years.Never has there been a time when washing a damn car been so involved and comprehensive.<br /><br />There is a product for every single inch of a car and taking into account the wide variety of paints,plastic types,tyre compounds and variety in trim build,you can begin to see why it is known as detailing.<br /><br />So where does the valet end and the detail begin?<br /><br />Its def throws a few questions into the mix such as,'what have i been doing wrong all these years' and 'is this just another marketing ploy for the big wig wax companies to make big cash'?.<br /><br />I think to some degree its been motivated by those in the trade,those on the shp floor so to speak in the valet world that have demanded more and there customers some of which have spent several hundreds of thousands of pounds on exotic metal,that require a more time consuming specialised end result.<br /><br />But the difference between a £25-40 valet from the local eastern blockers and a £90-150 basic wash detail is actually quite staggering so i have found out for myself.<br /><br />Technique,tools for the job,products and knowledge cause a clear divide between the two houses of all that is 'wash'.<br /><br /><br />What got me into the deeper side was hearing so many misnomers and silly mistakes being made,assumptions that a product will do this and that or how many hours someone has spent and the end result isnt great.<br />I was extremely guilty of being in this division and through pure learning and a passion to take things up a notch,i largely found out for myself in my own time,with my own targets.<br /><br />the most common misconception is the actual terminology on the basic level and what you actually need to do to make products work.<br /><br />The time old T-cut is still proving to be popular but scarely no one uses it correctly and then perhaps not every one is full aware of what its make up is and what its actaully doing.<br /><br />Ive heard all sorts of strange things like 'leave it on the car and it will burn your paint', 'use loads of it for a faster job'....'doing it all the time strips your paint'..<br /><br />ok,so the last one has a smidgen of truth to it but perhaps this applies more to the single stage paints that modern paint packs.<br /><br />Polish itself is an essential tool and when you use very little,work for very long and recognise most polish in halfords contains a lot of fillers,you will see a good result and know why.<br /><br />Fillers and masking agents arent a dirty word either.poorboys much loved blackhole is essentially polyfiller for paint work as is the slightly more demanding autoglym super resin polish.<br /><br />But these are essential tools of the trade as retaining a swirl free finish after say,a paint correction day,isnt as easy as it sounds.<br /><br />And some all in one products really stretch the boundaries of truth claiming to paint clease,polish and wax at the end!??! seriously you wont find an all in one that effectively ticks all 3 boxes.<br /><br />But anyway back to the top.<br /><br />If you could get everyone who loves this side of car care to try a few more daring products,you would see a big shift in product availability and this would start to show itself in the highstreet stores.<br /><br />Sadly most of my time is spent directing people to websites to obtain the best stuff.<br />but we are winning the war with the little battles.<br /><br />The adage you get what you pay for certainly applies to this arena.Just be careful you pick the right people to undertake the job or better still,learn and do yourself.Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-57319711586230188462009-10-09T11:58:00.001-07:002009-10-09T12:14:56.647-07:00Along came another Dodo, V2 The story continuesAfter much searching of the classified car pages of which there are a considerable amount, i came across an ST220 that was literally calling my name from afar.<br /><br />We had paid a couple of visits to some 'perfect examples' only to find a lot to be desired was putting it lightly.A category D with a lot more to tell than its insurance prefix was the final straw for me.<br /><br />Its always a child like feeling when entering into the shady world of car purchasing.<br />For one, you feel lost with no current car!, you are giddy and over excited about the prospect of getting what you want.A little akin to writing a xmas list and finding most of it under the tree.<br /><br />And the immature way a lot of us buy cars where you need to compose yourself to take it all in and not end up with an over priced lemon.<br /><br />Somewhere in Surrey there she was....<br /><br />A 2002 model which at first wasnt lighting my touch paper,but as i dug deeper we were looking at a very special example.<br />It was showing a mere 25k miles and every inch of it inside and out,every nook and cranny backed this up.<br />It felt tight and new on the test drive.Razor sharp steering compared to the slightly more loose feeling of the older mk2.<br /><br />And by god it did shift!! Plus its a saloon model which really did it for me.<br />Something about the mk3 shape that for me doesnt compliment a hatchback gate but totally suits the lines of the car with a saloon backside.<br /><br />Not an inch of the car was modified and this is strangely comforting to me not only because you have your blank canvas,but you can also relax knowing the odds of it being hammered around town doing 'look at me' noisy parade laps is distinctly less than a fully kitted out car.<br /><br />So the first thing on mu agenda was to detail it for the first time in its life!!<br /><br />It had clearly seen a few car washes but this is never a big problem to rectify.Much deeper wounds def are and i would leave very deep issues to a body shop,but for actual nose to tail condition,it was looking very sharp.<br /><br />I set about debadging,modifying the front lights with the now classic black eye look,enlisted the help of a very good friend who kindly lowered the car on PI srings much like he did on dodolly blue 1!! <br />It was Deja vu for Kev all over again...and again...<br /><br />I love making all the small but worthy modifications because as a sum of the parts,this you can see all over nicely in a truly subtle way that doesnt actually scream 'modified car' at any point.<br /><br />It may be a tad louder once the wheels finally go on next year but im keeping the style and choice a closely guarded secret for the sheer fear of duplication somewhere else lol.<br /><br />Seen it happen so many times to so many people and it takes the jam right out of your doughnut lets just say!<br /><br />We installed Bluefin to the cars ECU this week gone.Have to say its a nice inclusion to a rock solid engine.We already have a good 240bhp to work with and i dare say its a few nags more now,but the biggest thing you notice and adore is the way it transforms the drive.<br /><br />Much more levelled power,smoother gear changes as the power seamlessly moulds thru to the next gear and onwards.<br /><br />We have ourselves some big plans for the car and the list is very long.Im hoping that by next show season,ill be most of the way there provided i keep doing the overtime that is...<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture002_400x205.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture006_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture008_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture014_228x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture015_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture023_355x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture045_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/cyc222_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/cyc11_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/cyc4_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/ghosttown_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/speedydodo_400x267.jpg">Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8019633523927329118.post-82395997481238140042009-08-19T10:06:00.000-07:002009-10-09T11:56:04.538-07:00In the beginning....there was dodolly blue 1Behind every show car there is a story and this car is starting to tell its own tale.<br /><br />Ok, ok....so its a Ford Mondeo ST220 and not a Porsche or a Japanese import wearing a massive kit and making sonic waves up and down the high street, but it has a certain panache of its own i believe and its yet another working mans fastford's.<br /><br />But we're jumping the gun slightly as there is a significant chapter that ,...it began with Dodolly blue 1 which was also a Mondeo but the previous mark the ST200 V6.<br /><br />I had basically run through all my ideas modifying this car and then got into detailing in a big way and caught the attention of Dodo juice which was flattering, and from then on we had some chats which developed into the concept of an official show car of sorts.<br /><br />The ST200 (Dodolly blue V1) also bagged a full fastford magazine feature which topped the cake with a very satisfying cherry adornment for all my hard work and the patience of all those around me!!<br /><br />To this day, dodolly blue V1 is in very safe hands after selling it to a friend on the fordstownersclub and he has scooped back to back show wins this year all thanks to a mutual dedication from my ownership days, to his constant improvements and tweaks.<br /><br />Suffice to say the original standard is being maintained and the 'look' and ideas moved forward for another direction.<br /><br />It wasnt all tea and skittles for this first dodolly blue creation, oh christ no!! lol<br />Along with the joys of car ownership, we had to replace the lower wishbones and then i decided to freshen up the drop links and top mounts for good measure.<br /><br />The infamous 'tick of death' that can plague these engines loomed over mine like a scene from Dracula where Bela Lugosi enshrouds his victim with an open cape.<br />It was a serious bite and left me a grand lighter to get the front bank fixed.<br />In retrospect i think i would have rather bled to the tune of a grand than actually hand it over lol.<br /><br />Luckily, the remaining jobs were all modifications and its a journey of self inflicted costs and blood sweat and tears,but hey...its pain with permission lol.<br />I think overall running costs hurt that bit more because you never actually asked for the problems to arise in the first place but shelling out several hundred on wheels is actually ok!?!<br /><br />This brings us neatly to the overall costs and lets just say it was a lot cheaper than my 2 previous project cars.I had gotten massively into the RS2000 i owned.<br />Also fastford featured, it was ticking all the boxes for me when abruptly we discovered we were to become parents the following 9 months later....<br /><br />So a 5 door car with a sporty promise is exactly where dodolly blue 1 came in and the rest is now history.<br /><br />Im closing this chapter with some pics of this car in its final day in my ownership.<br />Just after the feature i had to have a last drive before handing over the keys.<br />And yes,i will always miss this car along with the escort purely because you put so much of your self into them each time.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture015_1024x683_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture021_1024x683_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture028_1024x683_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture032_1024x683_400x267.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v44/RSPOOJ/Dodolly%20blue%20resized/Picture040_1024x683_400x267.jpg">Dodolly Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400912128302037637noreply@blogger.com0