Order Blydenstein B+ cylinder head. At last.

Fit ATE discs. Start on Quickrak but discover that coupling to steering column is multi splined on the current rack whereas the Quickrak has a single flat. Trip to Vauxhalls needed then. Pity, I was looking forwards to this.

Things are looking up. The brake discs have not warped yet. There is still some vibration at motorway speeds. One of the alloys is a bit warped I suspect.

Spend afternoon and evening fitting Quickrak. Akward job.

Hey this Quickrak is amazing. It's upped the fun factor another notch. Bends on A roads are great, roundabouts are great, only mini roundabouts take some effort. The car feels faster as well. Consider the change to be similar to rebuilding the suspension and fitting a lowering kit. It doesn't add any performance on paper, but the way the car feels is much more satisfying and entertaining.

Receipt for the Blydenstein head arrived today. He also included some useful information on bedding in a head (500 miles "within the speed limits", bit of a grown up boy racer?) and the cokin up process. "Maximum power and efficiency will be reached when the cylinder head has covered 3,000 to 5,000 miles". Why? Because "clean cylinder head combustion chamber surfaces do not produce optimum engine efficiency as they tend to cause: 1) extra heat loss, 2) loss of swirl, 3) lower compression ratio ". So there you go, all you polishers!

Now that I've pumped up the front tyres from below pressure (25psi) to a bit over (35psi) the steering feels fine around town. Now that I like it I decided to fit it properly. Go round scrappies and remove a manual rack from a C reg MK2. It's got a load of bits on it I need.

I'm sitting at the computer typing this when a Securior van pulls up. It's me B+ head, wooo hooo hooo wahey.

Spend afternoon doing the Quickrak properly and removing all traces of the PAS pump and pipework.

I can't wait any longer, I'm going to have to fit the head.

I've just found an excellent tuning site.