Tightening the alternator belt is a thorough swine. It took about half an hour to get the alternator lower bolt free. In the end, a compination spanner was used with a ring spanner on the open jaw to get a bit more leverage. "Dink!" The joint broken, I managed to loosen it further before levering the alternator mounting ear through the hole on the adjusting bracket, tightening it up well and then doing the top bolt up.'
The rest of the spheres came off and were replaced with the reconditioned units, the dampers were all replaced with new ones and the new set of winter tyres were fitted together with good Christian wheel nuts. All back on the ground by one o'clock. Pumped the car to an indicated 400PSI each side and released the pressure a couple of times to release the air as far as possible. Ride height looks ridiculous, higher than Cheech and Chong but still only about 345mm. Jumped in and took the car round the block. Ride a bit stiff but mugh more fluid over bumps, brake feel much improved. Need to fine tune the fluid and get a vacuum on the system in order to get it absolutely right. Need to check the pressure gauge calibration which is at best, approximate. Need to check tyre pressures. Need to reconnect the engine bay temperature sensor which I suspect I have bashed with the header tank while shoving it out of the way. Need to clear up the garage.
That was the big job done. The summer wheels can be refurbed before the car gets a set of better boots, a few polybushes where I find a need for them and a four wheel set up once I can remove the fake allen bolts to make a good plane surface for my fiber lasers to be mounted to.
Lessons learned: You do not need to drill holes. You do not need to remove the main engine cover nor any pipe from the header tank. Watch the ambient temperature sensor though when you push it out of the way.
Tomorrow, bucket and sponge time then a shakedown run to a pub lunch to avoid the inevitable heavy defeat for Saints and the WWF1 parody of motor racing.