After much in the way of procrastination, I finally grabbed my power drill and attacked the MV6’s already heavily modified boot lid in an attempt to fit the rare Irmscher wing that I’d managed to source. My intention was to position the freshly-painted part alongside the car’s rear lip spoiler, although whether or not it would sit pretty remained to be seen (dealer fit options at the MV6’s original point of sale allowed for one spoiler or the other, but never both!).
Fortunately, my caffeine-fuelled calculations were bang on the money, and I’m really pleased with how the rear end of the car looks now that the work is complete. That said, the nearside Cadillac Catera inner taillight lens was beyond filthy, and with no sure-fire way of removing dirt from the sealed unit, I was forced to import a replacement from the good ol’ US of A. Yeehaw!
In other news, I removed the car’s 18-inch staggered Ronal Irmscher Sport Star wheels in order to protect them while tinkering continues. This reminded me that ‘wrapping each rim in new rubber’ has been an item on my to-do list for a while, yet an online search proved that few tyre manufacturers produce a matching set of boots in the required 235/40 (front) and 265/35 (rear) profiles.
Thankfully, Japanese tyre giant, Falken, came to the rescue with its Azenis FK453 offering. Ideally suited to staggered applications, this fast-road rubber is claimed to be among the best tyre designs that the company has ever produced thanks to a silica-enriched compound and an asymmetrical variable tread pattern that has been influenced by the firm’s experience in competitive motorsport. For the MV6, that equates to excellent performance in all weather conditions, high-speed stability and a quiet ride – attributes that are perfect for my planned European road trip.
Needless to say, I popped down to my local tyre fitters without hesitation! Before long, the chunky five-spokes were being clothed in fresh FK453s, and I can’t wait to put them through their paces. In the meantime, however, I’ve opted to preserve them in a set of Richbrook wheel and tyre bags. Often seen at the nation’s racing circuits, this convenient wheel storage and transportation solution features a handy labelling system, carrying handles, tightening pull-cords and useful wheel nut storage pouches. Each bag is a super-snug fit and ideal for taking care of my Sport Stars.
Lastly, I was recently chatting with Total Vauxhall feature car owner (and all-round good egg), Carl Evans, regarding the benefits of using Mk4 Astra GSi brake cooling ducts. By the end of our conversation, I’d ordered a pair in the hope of being able to modify each part so that they would bolt to the bottom of the MV6’s wishbones without complaint. As you can imagine, a process of trial and error followed, but I’m confident that they’re in the right place and that they will channel cool air to the car’s front brake discs. Only time will tell!
THANKSFalken
01962 794801
http://www.falkentyres-uk.comRichbrook
01328 862387
http://www.richbrook.co.ukBang tidy:
New rear taillight in place:
My trusty Swedish workhorse hauled the new Falkens home:
A tower of Falken's finest!
Wrapping the Sport Stars in new rubber:
Richbrook wheel and tyre bags should keep the rims out of harm's way:
Modified Mk4 Astra GSi brake cooling ducts applied to my Powerflex-equipped new genuine GM wishbones:
