From This in October 2024
To This In March 2025
The C63 AMG Build
Welcome to the LMS #02 car build.
The build process will cover the entire process from the time we stripped the donor car to the first test day at Morgan Park.
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This process all started in October 2024 when we took delivery of the shell from the team at AMG Spares on the gold coast, who specialise in the the supply of AMG parts from salvaged vehicles that are statutory write-off as we as repairable write-off vehicles.
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This W204 C63 AMG was destend for the scrap yard, was straight as a die with zero damage but shed been a water damage writ off she was perfect for out build.​ It takes around 48 hours to trip a W204 down to the shell to have it ready for a roll cage to be installed. We removed everything leaving only the front and rear cradles in to we can roll the shell around. As you can see from the photos it was in fact stripped bare.
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The only part we need to leave in is the dash as its near impossible to get that dash back in after the cage is install as the reo bar behind the dash used mounts that are mm away from the main bar so its easier to leave it in.
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It also helps the fabricators when it comes to the placement of the bars for the roll cage. When it comes to the cage design we need to follow the Motorsports Australia 3rd CATEGORY – TOURING CARS as well as the SCHEDULE J – SAFETY CAGE STRUCTURES for the roll cage guidelines.
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Links
The Roll Cage
The process of getting the roll cage installed takes time and its important to have a highly experienced fabricator, who's able to follow the MA SCHEDULE J – SAFETY CAGE STRUCTURES guidelines.
For this build we engaged the services of Matt Gilmore for KCK Lubricants, KCK lubricants is an Australian owned company who blends, manufactures and bottled their own engine oils, right here is QLD and are used Australia wide in all forms of motorsports.
Lucky for us, Matt is also a very skilled fabricator so the shell was shipped of and 3 weeks later the cage was in.
After some cleaning we then shipped the shell off to get a paint job.
"KCK Lubricants has been developing and refining its range of oil products since 1982, many top level motorsport teams have used and still use KCK’s products with great success in a wide variety of motorsport disciplines"
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Links
- KCK Lubricants - Fabrication Facebook
- https://kcklubricants.com.au
- SCHEDULE J – SAFETY CAGE STRUCTURES ​
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The Paint Job
The painting off the cage was next on the list so after a thorough clean and some preparation work, we shipped the shell off to get a coat of paint.​​
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We choice a darker colour for the roll cage so it was close the shell colour and were please Justin Kahl from Prostreet Fabrications. was able to provide the service.
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Justin's attention to detail was what I was looking for and that proof is in the pudding.
The process took about 4 weeks and on the 24th of December 2024 it was finished which meant I could start moving all the running gear from the OG over to the new shell.
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Links
- https://www.facebook.com/prostreet.fabrication
https://https://www.facebook.com/prostreet.fabricationwww.facebook.com/prostreet.fabrication​
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The process of moving everything over
The process of moving all of the main running gear from the OG to the new shell started by removing the workshop spare front and rear cradles, that we use to move the car bodies around.
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We never had any intentions of reusing any of the wiring from the OG in the new shell due the many additions, cuts and repairs over the years so I decided early on to start things like brake lines, heat shielding, lights first. ​The process was made a lot easer with a car of each of its own hoist. Later in the process we we hot a point were there was more in the new shell than the OG so look out for those photos.
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I started on the rear end first, with some new rear lights and some heat sheilding. The new heat shielding was important the older parts had some damage missing the screw lug to connect to the bumper.
The new shell and the OG all ready to go up to a hoist.
Passenger side heat shielding and boot vent installed as well as the bumper support bracket.
On the inside of the boot I installed a neca duct to mount and fan onto to assist in removing the hot air from the boot. This was exiting the driver side boot vent.
With the bumper I then attached the new MCA Gold, custom made shocks to the rear of the car in preparation of the rear cradle being atthaced.
With the diff cooler installed, i could run the first of the -6 braded lines to the cooler.
The rear reinforcement bar is critical to protecting the car body from any rear damage that may occur in the event of rear damage.
Driver side heat shielding and boot vent installed as well as the bumper support bracket. I also installed a new exhaust mounting ruber.
Once the lights, boot lid brackets and lights were in it was ready to attach the bumper.
Before the cradle in installed, I need to install and 2x2 -6 AN bulkhead oil line connector to allow form the gearbox and diff oil cooling lines to access the boot sapce were the coolers would be.
The process of installing all of the lines for the Diff cooler, fuel lines, fuel return line as well as the 2 transmission lines took some time swe need them to have the ability to move freely and not need restricted by the rear cradle, once installed.
Rear cradle removed from the OG
With the rear cradle installed I cold connect the brake lines and a wheel so we can see how that sites,
Rear cradle ready to be installed.
I could also then in stall that transmission and Diff cooler equipemnt.