Back in the garage the other day, and I decide once and for all: that ball joint is coming off TODAY. There was no turning back, no backing down, and certainly no mercy.

I attacked it with the splitter again, but once again, I was repelled. I got two hammers this time, and once again, the balljoint refused to yield.

A new tack was needed - I was filfthy, sweaty, and not getting anywhere fast. If I carried on, I was going to break something else. Time for a little subtlety, and a search on BlatChat.

Apparently a two inch screw and a nut, when unwound, would pop the joint. I didn't have a two inch screw, but I did have some screws, and some nuts, and socket and a washer. So a tool was fashioned, and positioned between the upright and the balljoint...

A few tentative turns, and it worked! It was so easy, I don't think I'll ever bother with any other method ever again. Not that I'll need to, as Arnie's fancy top joints eliminate the need, but it's stored in the memory bank.

So the other joint is now in, fitted, and the centre is precisely 63mm from the wishbone on each side. I'm yet to measure it on the ground, but I'm sure it'll be fine, as that is the same as it was for the balljoint. I've done a rough calculation that because the joint sits slightly higher than the old one, the camber will be slightly more negative, and a touch of toe out introduced, but the amount will be so minimal, I can't see me noticing. All good!

So what's left to do now? I'm acquiring an Apollo tank, and have found the last silicone hose I need (apart from the heater bypass), so at some point, I will need to drain the coolant and oil and fit those.

I need to finish the fog light box, and glue the lens back together, and fit the carbon fibre indicator cones.

I need to finish fitting the boot cover too - the harness bolt holes are slightly too small so need to be opened out a touch, not easy on the new carbon fibre type cover! The last few poppers need to go on too.

Once that's done, and the harnesses are bolted back on, I need to refit the roll over bar with the strut tower bolts - I believe CC use capheads now, and I have a couple I think might be appropriate, but I need to check these won't foul the coilovers.

Then it's the turn of the petty strut... Drill out a few rivets, locate the boss, drill a hole and fit. Sounds easy, probably will be.

What else? Perhaps a good clean up of the underside - brush off the dirt and loose powdercoat, and cover in hammerite.

I'm half tempted to take a few cans of Rustoleum to the body, the aluminium is looking tatty, and a cheap paintjob might be in order - if the worst comes to the worst, I can always shell out on a decent paint job... I think I'll hang back on that for the time being though.

So much to do, so little time...