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4 minute(s) of a 40 minute read
6-9-2017
Looking back on my previous posts, I see that I should explain what happened to the Nardi steering wheel idea. I did in fact order and receive the wheel, but when I installed it on the 505 I didn't like the way it looked. I really wanted to, but I just didn't. Then I tried it on the 406 Coupe and it looked great, so there it stays. The hunt for the perfect wheel for the STX continues, but I have some possibilites now including a Renault Fuego sport steering wheel that bolts right on and looks really good, or maybe something like the Grant wheel that I am saving for the Danielson project.
10-22-2019
Over two years since I last updated this. The car is sitting in Cayley now, much as it was when I last posted. I now have a parts car for it - another '87 STX with body damage and rust but a low-mileage excellent-running ZN3J and a PERFECT dashboard. I have been considering a few options moving forward. The 406 Coupe platform is going to become my focus, but I want to build a couple of interesting RWD Pugs still, and the STX has a place in my plan. I have dramatically pared down my project list, and there is only one 505 on the list now - the '87 STX. So now the question becomes: How best to build it?
I think that the most interesting idea is to build this '87 as something of an homage to the Danielson 505 V6 cars - which means installing a Phase I dashboard. That means I can make use of the nice blue Phase I interior I have, except that I want to retain the '87 blue leather seats. I will have to mock this up to see how it looks, but I think the later leather seats sort of resemble the Recaros used in the Danielson cars. Naturally I'll use the three-spoke Grant steering wheel I have and the short-throw shifter is still on the menu.
The 505 sunroof cables are problematic, and the sunroof in this car doesn't work in any case. In keeping with the light/simple Danielson theme I think I'll just fit a tinted tip-up unit in place of the OEM sunroof assembly. This should shave a few pounds from the roof and lower the car's center of gravity as well.
The body kit stays. May source a Euro front bumper or fit one from an '89 to tidy up the front end. Euro rear bumper as well would integrate better with the body kit as it was designed for those parts.
Teves Mk II ABS system and zero-offset front end will be retained, the only modifications being lowering springs and braided stainless brake lines.
As for the engine...I could go one of several ways with it. My 604 project is slated to get a turbo 3.0 PRV based on an Eagle Premier engine, but I may go high-revving NA for the STX using a 3.0 Premier block and liners and a 2.5 Renault crank to bring the piston speed at 7000 rpm to the same value as the ZN3J at 6000 rpm. I still need to think about this, and John Lane gave me a lot of food for thought in the previous comments here.
I am in the process of aggressively culling my herd to make room for my projects. If I don't start now I will never get them done.