"taking Oval To Blue Horizon" Lenny's Build Thread 2010-2015

[Lenny]

Update:

Very busy few weeks coming up to CausewayCoast Ford Fair on 02nd June,

I've entered the focus in to the show this year, I initally thought I was purchasing an admission ticket to view the ford fair show, but later realised that I've actually entered the car in to be part of the show lol shir why not...

I've a few things to get done before then though.

Lots of self pressure 6 days off work and 4 pay days left before the show.

Car progress is as follows:

RS led rear light units are on the way from european-parts Germany after 3 weeks waiting list for ford to supply the part; given next Monday is a bank holiday I'm expecting delivery on Tuesday/Wednesday of next week.

Lowering is happening next Thursday 09th May,

fitting the Eibach pro kit with adjustable rear camber; Drops Front 20mm & Rear 30mm

Vinyl Ford "GT style" side strips on the way from DMB in Metalic Grey

Should look like this but different colours:

Once the stripes arrive; I'll contact my local window tint place and have them fitted to the car aswell as 30% front windows (except windscreen) and 35% rear windows,

Purchased a 250ml tin of "Hammerite Smooth Silver" to re-do the rear drum brakes as they are s bit faded, (almost 3 years since painted last)

Also gotta touch up the tip of the front splitter as its scuffed,

I may leave this job until the final 24hrs encase it happens again lol

This will be a tight schedule, I'm off work next thursday and Friday to get it serviced and lowerd, hopfully get the drums painted then too, but I'm back in work Saturday and working 6 day weeks until the day of show on 02nd June.

As result I can't gurantee every Sunday will be dry and sunny for waxing the car, and i dont have a garage or Gazebo to cover the car so I've booked it in for a wax in the local valleting centre on the 1st June prior to making the 242mile trip from home to Causeway Coast.

Hopfully I don't get too excited and land the car in the wrong field between here and there lol

I'll keep the thread updated with progress along the coming weeks.

[FOCA]

I like the "GT" style stickers!, Hope you get it all done in time - looks good to me as it is anyway!

[Lenny]

I like the "GT" style stickers!, Hope you get it all done in time - looks good to me as it is anyway!

Thanks very much foca mate,

DMB have dispatched the stripes earlier today and I've picked up the very last tin of hammerite smooth silver off the shelf in my local DiY store, RS tail lights are also on route,

The only thing I'm rolling the dice for now is; the window tinting,

Id book it for next week but I don't know how much ford are going to charge for lowering and service,

So it will have to be the week after next and hopfully he's not too busy to do it as he specialises in shop fronts, business fleets, window tinting and signs. I've gotten him to do a car for me before and he is top quality,

Im anxious though as i don't like relying on other people lol

[Stoney871]

The car will do you proud mate.

[Hassen]

Awesome to hear you entered the car. I reckon it will look top notch once you get it waxed etc. Fingers crossed all goes to plan.

I am trying to convince the better half that it would be a great trip to the Causeway on the Bank holiday in June. Still working on that plan. Would be a nice long drive from Tullamore

Best of luck and keep us posted as usual.

[Lenny]

The car will do you proud mate.

Thanks mate, hope the weather is good on the day,

Awesome to hear you entered the car. I reckon it will look top notch once you get it waxed etc. Fingers crossed all goes to plan.

I am trying to convince the better half that it would be a great trip to the Causeway on the Bank holiday in June. Still working on that plan. Would be a nice long drive from Tullamore

Best of luck and keep us posted as usual.

Thanks would be a nice weekend if you could make it, lovely scenary around there too,

Hoping to get all foc members togeather after the show for a photoshoot,

I'm not familar with the area though so I'm hoping theirs an FOC member attending who can lead the way to a good gathering spot to get some pictures.

Next week should be the busiest of the 4 weeks coming up to the weekend of fordfair I'll keep the thread updated as long as my 7" tablet allows, because it fell on the tiles today:

[Lenny]

Spotted this Disco down town today,

This is the exact type of tint id like to get on the front windows and perhaps 5% darker on the rear windows.

[FOCA]

Sorry to hear about the tablet - if you tape it up (strong gaffa tape) it might last for ages yet (stops the splits/ cracks spreading)- i had one lasted yor years like that (just gradually disintegrated) - looks like the glass cover and not the lcd screen itself

I was looking to get my glass tinted and i spoke to a pro who advised me to watch that the original glass already had a slight tint in it so adding more may make it a bit darker than expected

[Hassen]

Sorry about the tablet Lenny. Hope it's salvageable but if not I highly recommend the Google Nexus 7. I adore mine!

As for the Ford Fair, it would be awesome to make it and get a few pics of everyone and their cars. Have to work on making that happen.

How are you getting on with the mods so far Lenny? Everything on track? Can't wait to see the car lowered!

[Lenny]

Sorry about the tablet Lenny. Hope it's salvageable but if not I highly recommend the Google Nexus 7. I adore mine!

As for the Ford Fair, it would be awesome to make it and get a few pics of everyone and their cars. Have to work on making that happen.

How are you getting on with the mods so far Lenny? Everything on track? Can't wait to see the car lowered!

Thanks mate,

I took Foca's advise and taped up the cracks so its working quite well as we speak lol

Plans are written in a recent post there; mods are on track so far, fitting the RS tail units next Wednesday when they arrive

Booked lowering for next week,

Lowering 35mm Rear 22mm Front will drop the rear to be sill level with the front. Really looking forward to it

Side stripes are on the way in post so hoping to book window tinting for in 3 weeks and get them to fit the side stripes too.

Then I've just to vallet, wax, touch up the splitter and re-paint the rear drums.

FordFair will mark the first day of modification holiday.

No more updates from 05th June until mid November

[b4zz]

liking the sound of the plans fella and im sure the car will do you prowed

[Hassen]

Wihee! Bring on the Ford fair I say and best of lucks for the coming weeks Lenny. Hope the weather holds up :)

[Lenny]

liking the sound of the plans fella and im sure the car will do you prowed

Wihee! Bring on the Ford fair I say and best of lucks for the coming weeks Lenny. Hope the weather holds up :)

Thanks guys,

Bank holiday weekend is holding up delivery times,

Silvatec rear indicator bulbs arrived today,

I'll update tomorrow if the l.e.d tail units arrive,

Then again on Thursday evening when its been lowerd on eibach's

[Preee]

Hope they arrive tomorrow Lenny :) , i'm sure they will m8 , don't forget your bestest camera we don't want any grainy 8bit pictures :)

[Lenny]

Hope they arrive tomorrow Lenny :) , i'm sure they will m8 , don't forget your bestest camera we don't want any grainy 8bit pictures :)

I've just tracked them there a minute ago and when I checked earlier it said they were last scanned in UK at 01:05 on Saturday morning,

Now it tells me they arrived in Dublin at 04:58 on Saturday morning,

Bank holiday Monday held them up, so your right mate they will arrive tomorrow at last.

Been looking at QR barcode decals on e-bay

Looks like an excellent idea, I've asked a seller if I could link my build thread to a QR decal and stick it on the windscreen next to my tax disc.

[Hassen]

I like the idea of the QR code link. That would be pretty sweet if you can get it working.

[Lenny]

Todays update:

Ford l.e.d tail light units finally arrived from ford,the manufacture date stamp is 18/04/13

They were built nine days after I placed my order with european-parts in germany I've been waiting almosr a month but well worth the wait, ive also got a fitting guide for these is here:

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/43587-guide-fitting-ford-rs-led-rear-light-units-focus-mk25/?p=259053

Here are some images:

[b4zz]

im liking the led tail lights.

do they just plug straight in or have you got to change any wires or anything.

[Lenny]

im liking the led tail lights.

do they just plug straight in or have you got to change any wires or anything.

Thanks Barry,

Straight swap mate, just unplug the existing unit and plug in the led.

No stripping cables, no tape nothing extra required when fitting to 08-10 facelift model.

I've created a fitting guide: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/43587-guide-fitting-ford-rs-led-rear-light-units-focus-mk25/?p=259053

[Brigante]

lenny mate the cars looking amazing

the led rear lights look the business

be better if they was smoked/black units though lol

EDIT: removed plug ;)

[Lenny]

lenny mate the cars looking amazing

the led rear lights look the business

be better if they was smoked/black units though lol

if theres wasnt a risk of it being damaged in transit i'd sell you a rear heated privacy glass windscreen to finish the back end off

would work better than tinting it cause a tint film would damage the rear screens heating element should you remove it

Thanks mate,

I was looking at a smoked tint film for over the rear lights but I don't want to effect the surface in the event of the tint not working correctly,

I plan to have the side and rear windows tinted next week or before the end of the month,

I am aware that if removing it can break the element lines in the heater on the rear window but I like risk ;)

I love the way you compliment my car then plug your own item too mate lol

[gforce]

Those LED lights are class. Don't think I've ever seen a set myself, but even in photos the difference in output looks amazing.

Would love to fit a set of these myself, but think (cos I'm a cheapskate!) that I might have a go at upgrading to 2.5 clear lights first and maybe wire in additional LED strips as per a guide on here. Local breakers got a facelift in recently (good of them to let me know as I asked in the past to be kept informed in case I wanted to gleen a few upgrades off it!) so thinking about taking a look over the weekend. At least that way I could already have a facelift loom conversion made up if I did decide to go for the LED versions down the line.

Think them being clear works well against the silver body too, tinted rear screen will finish it off nicely.

Think removing tint is safe enough re the elements, as long as it's done properly and car taken (I'm sure you've seen Mighty Mods episode on how NOT to do it!).

A previous owner of my car removed tints, badly, and left a layer of glue on the back three windows, which I didn't even notice til a back seat passenger touched it! Took me a lot of time and elbow grease and trialling many different solutions to get it off, but I got careless when using a blade on the rear screen and nicked a few of the heater element lines. Need to get this touched up as after using the rear screen de-mister since it has left scorch marks on the screen. Marks wiped off no probs and I haven't used it since, but I'd say it'd burn through any tint film applied...which is another reason I've decided to go for blinds instead! ;)

[Brigante]

Thanks mate,

I was looking at a smoked tint film for over the rear lights but I don't want to effect the surface in the event of the tint not working correctly,

I plan to have the side and rear windows tinted next week or before the end of the month,

I am aware that if removing it can break the element lines in the heater on the rear window but I like risk ;)

I love the way you compliment my car then plug your own item too mate lol

sorry Lenny mate there was no plug intended

i've edited my original post :)

was just saying it would be a good mod if you actually could source a screen over your side of the pond

i was actually thinking of gary when i said it as it happens cause i knew he had this very problem removing the tint glue from his rear screen as he just said above

[Lenny]

Those LED lights are class. Don't think I've ever seen a set myself, but even in photos the difference in output looks amazing.

Think them being clear works well against the silver body too, tinted rear screen will finish it off nicely.

Think removing tint is safe enough re the elements, as long as it's done properly and car taken (I'm sure you've seen Mighty Mods episode on how NOT to do it!).

A previous owner of my car removed tints, badly, and left a layer of glue on the back three windows, which I didn't even notice til a back seat passenger touched it! Took me a lot of time and elbow grease and trialling many different solutions to get it off, I've decided to go for blinds instead! ;)

Thanks Gary i did see the mighty mods video lol

And I don't intend on ever removing the tint once applied, also the blinds are excellent, I had them fitted once but the only reason I didn't keep them is because I have a 5 door and when the rear windows were down the blind began to shake,

But on a 3 door they won't have that one and only problem I found.

Here is the focus with blinds fitted:

The mk2.5 you mentioned sounds good too mate, nice of the breakers to contact you about it,

I'll keep an eye on your build thread for some updates across the week in the event you find anything worth removing from it.

sorry Lenny mate there was no plug intended

i've edited my original post :)

was just saying it would be a good mod if you actually could source a screen over your side of the pond

i was actually thinking of gary when i said it as it happens cause i knew he had this very problem removing the tint glue from his rear screen as he just said above

No prob Charlie mate,

I was just having a laugh about you plugging the tinted rear window,

Thanks for the offer but I'll go with tint.

[Lenny]

Update:

I had arranged a service and fitting of lowering springs for last Thursday at my local Ford dealership,

Unfortunately this didn't happen as planned due to the previous Monday being a Bank Holiday,

My wages was delayed 24hrs

So I managed to get a booking with Ford for Friday morning instead.

Changed fuel filter, pollen filter,brake fluid, Glow plugs, cleaned brake drums aswell as the standard service.

Arrived in Ford at 11:35am service Complete at 2pm

Fouth service complete.

I had booked for lowering on the same day but the ford etis system says it will take a total time of 3.5hrs to replace all four springs from start to finish and since it was then 3pm and they finish at 6pm sadly there wasn't enough time to complete.

So I've booked lowering for next week instead, they wrote on the back of the service invoice that lowering will take 3.5hrs @ 75.00 per hour exc. VAT@23%

End result with discount given; its costing 240.00 to get the lowering kit fitted next week,

He said if it takes longer than 3.5hrs then there's no extra charge so I'm happy with that;

I was disapointed that it didn't get lowerd this week but its certainly being done next week. :)

Expecting DMB Graphics delivery to arrive early next week, consisting of two 14" grey website decals "www.FordOwnersClub.com" to fit on the bottom of the rear side windows just above the sills the day before FordFair,

Also in the delivery will be Ford GT style side stripes in Graphite grey to match the rear diffuser section.

Going to call the local automotive tint application expert tomorrow and arrange tinting aswell as stripe fitting for next Friday or any day onwards from then when available to do it, hopfully won't cost be too much as the service&lowering went over budget, if the tint goes over too then I'm screwed.

Took some time yesterday to polish up the exhaust tips, came out better than expected.

I like the idea of the QR code link. That would be pretty sweet if you can get it working.

Finally this week:

I've purchased 2 QR Code decals from here: http://www.ebay.ie/itm/220966493519?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

They can print them in various colours aswell as for internal or external application.

I've requested one for internal application to fit in the windscreen above my tax disc to be scanned from outside through the window,

And an external application one to fit on the lower corner of the rear window as it will be tinted,

Both QR decals will link to this build thread,

I don't have a smart phone personally but I'll find someone who does to confirm the link functions correctly lol.