So with an agreed date with Oli at Preptech to get the cage mounts installed, along with the new harness mounts for the end of December I need to get the shell ready. I have decided to get the shell seam welded this time to stiffen it up with one eye on turning it into a 170 car next year.

This means the engine and box need to come out, as they are coming out anyway its no big deal. The only problem is with my workshop full and now a Yellow ZR 160 joining the Red Rover 25 out the front of the workshop I have to revert to my youth and do it on the drive. Picking the best time of year a wet Saturday in December especially after spending a fortune on the Osteopath to put the back right after the accident this makes perfect sense…NOT!

One thing that strikes me is after just working on 160’s for the past two years I had forgotten how much more room there is on a non-aircon, non ABS, 1.4 ZR. My knuckles are relieved and 2.5 hours later including a trip back to the workshop to get tools I had forgotten and the engines out.

Finally Oli said he needed the wings out the way to do the job properly so a spare 45mins this week is filled removing the front bumper and front wings. In the process releasing 2 kilos of compost from behind the splash guards. Joking aside – if you own a ZR then its worth stripping these out and cleaning them or rust will love it!