cracking project you got there mate
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cracking project you got there mate
Nice build bud ,
Thanks
Had a nice package arrive today. Genuinely had no idea what it was until i opened it, as i think i must have bought it after a few glasses of wine.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...1.jpg~original
Came with two nozzles all pipework and a remote pull cord, so very happy with that.
I also got all the bits i needed to finish my dash from the scrappy this week. So got all mk1 switches, fuse box cover and a set of base clocks to mess around with
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...6.jpg~original
Original plan was to pop the glass out and fit a new panel in place of the rear one to house a stack rev counter and 2 gauges, But upon inspection it was obvious that would leave a horrible rough edge facing the driver where the screen was bonded on.
So instead i decided to do it the hard way, and cut the screen out, leaving the nice smooth bead around the edge.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...7.jpg~original
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...8.jpg~original
Took ages
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...1.jpg~original
Then went round the edges with various dremmel attatchments
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...4.jpg~original
Finished that for now, and quite pleased with it. Just needs a skim of filler to smooth the gap on the inside, then i can cut away the inner panel and replace it with the new one.
Left it like this for now as it has more strength with the old rear panel fitted. Sanding it was a nightmare, could have snapped at any minute
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...6.jpg~original
Thanks, still just seems like a tin box and an expensive shed full of parts to me, but hey ho.
Had a few more deliverys since the last update.
Pedal box arrived.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...0.jpg~original
Along with the new steering wheel, and a 3rd M/C so i can convert to Hydraulic clutch
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...9.jpg~original
And this Has just made me very happy.... I found this bag of bits down the unit.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...7.jpg~original
I needed the bag so tipped it upside down and found these.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...8.jpg~original
I was desperate for 1 and this now means i have no excuse for not finishing my dash and getting it flocked. I know how incredibly rare they are, and i must have kept hold of them for this very reason, cant remember though.
Anyway, couldnt resist fitting it, along with all the other blanks as soon as i got home.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...0.jpg~original
Also whilst having a bit of a clearout found a nice resin 52mm din panel for 3 gauges, which looks pretty cool.
Cant wait to get it finished now.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...1.jpg~original
Coming along nicely Craig! What make is the pedal box?
Cheers Simon. Its a new design, by a bloke called Neil Taylor at BrakeSpeedPerformance. Its basically a direct copy of the OBP pro race one, but is priced to compete with their entry level "super-budget" pedal box, which is a shocking design.
This ones OK, there are a few bits il change, but you get what you pay for.
that dash looks slutty
Cheers Matthew, got it trial fitted yesterday.
Time for a little update, been stupidly busy with work recently, but squeezed a day in to work on the car yesterday which i really enjoyed.
A bit of an odd modification il agree, but here goes.
Time to fit the dash, and make the cut-outs for the cage to pass through, So measured and marked, then cut them out with a 42mm hole saw.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...8.jpg~original
I purposely cut them a little short, as my original intention was to keep chipping away at them with the file until it was perfect, But once i offered it up i started thinking about lowering it a bit.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...9.jpg~original
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...2.jpg~original
Just balanced in place there, but 30mm lower than the standard position, which il come to in a second.
The idea is, that the seat is being lowered, the steering wheel lowered and the pedals moved back, so with the seat in position and the dash up in its original place i couldnt see the bonnet / scuttle, which might have been an issue.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...3.jpg~original
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...4.jpg~original
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...5.jpg~original
Unfortunately i wasnt able to take pics of it in the original position, as it would have meant making the cage cut-outs further into the dash, which then would have left a gaping hole each side when lowered.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...6.jpg~original
Still looks relatively tidy from outside
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...7.jpg~original
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...8.jpg~original
This is the new view taken from exactly eye level.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...9.jpg~original
Time now to remove the L shaped brackets.
So drilled out the spot welds and welded up the holes, as i plan to re-use them, just the other way around so they reach out further into the car
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...a.jpg~original
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...b.jpg~original
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...c.jpg~original
Got them welded on, the started on the side mountings. The lowest left hand one gets binned as its no longer required, and the other three get moved down about 30mm.
Pic below shows it pretty well.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...6.jpg~original
So again drilled them off, and welded them up. (shocking welds as i forgot my helmet)
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...0.jpg~original
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...1.jpg~original
And with a few minor tweeks, thats it fitted.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...4.jpg~original
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...7.jpg~original
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...9.jpg~original
Absolutely chuffed to bits with it. It took about 5 hours, but most of that was planning and fine tuning.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...3.jpg~original
Also been getting a few deliverys this week, So got my Stack st400 tacho, and 160mph speedo. Thats great as it now means i can run the gripper diff and still have an MOT friendly speedo.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...5.jpg~original
And i wasnt completely happy with the used OMP steering wheel i bought the other week, as it had a bit of wear on it, so bought a nice new one of those too.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...9.jpg~original
Cracking parts list your getting together there mate. The end result will be epic.
David.
this is going to be quite a weapon on the track, love it
love novas in white nice work mate.
stu
Cheers, I dont get a lot of time for it, but should be out again this summer.
Bought some Jenvey tapered ITB's for it this week too with MBE management. Will be running them on my Omex thoughn and selling on the leftovers, So the SFS Jenveys i have wont be used now either.
Would love to put a pic up, but theyre not here yet. :(
Extending the dash out 30MM; it's the little things like this...
Thanks. I think so too, but its the 30mm down which makes the difference for me.
Came home to another nice package today
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_0862.jpg
Had a bout of motivation this morning, so i set off for the unit to do some work on the floorpan. Had a really good day.
Started the soul destroying job of welding up all of the holes in the floor, which i made when drilling out the spot welds.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1058.jpg
Artistic shot that Amy took at luchtime (Big thanks for the Maccy D's)
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1059.jpg
Absolute nightmare. Every hole set the underseal on fire.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1061.jpg
But eventually got them done. Forgot to count, but think there were 80 or 90 to do.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1064.jpg
Then i messed about with the seats for a bit, And noticed that the position i liked wasnt possible with my Corbeau side mounts. Shame really, as they came in very cheap. They were left over from one of my seat purchases the other month.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1066.jpg
Instead of buying Cobra rails i just cut them a little to fit.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1068.jpg
Then spent a little longer sitting in the car, trying to work out the best poistion for the seat and pedal box, as well as making sure that the seat didnt obstruct the path of the door bars.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1069.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1070.jpg
Once it was in place i marked the floorpan, then started cutting some 2mm spreader plates for the rails.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1071.jpg
Welding was typicaly shocking, but nothing a little seam sealer wont hide.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1073.jpg
Had to bend the rear left, which was a bit of a pain, then cracked on with the last one.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1076.jpg
Again, not the best welding, but im using up the gasless wire at the moment.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1079.jpg
All drivers spreaders in, and MM perfect if my calculations are correct. Just need to get some bars in there now.
Will probably be a while before i get to work on it again, But just made 2 nice purchases, so a little mid-week update might be in order.
Couple more bits arrived this week. Firstly this, which i had been putting off buying as they are a little pricey, but couldnt really go any further with the steering columb mount until it arrived.
Very pleased with it. Excellent quality.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1092.jpg
And these, which pretty much speak for themselfs
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a..._1144-Copy.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a..._1145-Copy.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a..._1146-Copy.jpg
Bit of an ass twitcher testing them over the Wilwoods..... but they fit ok.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a..._1141-Copy.jpg
Very happy with them. Arrived this morning, just had them balanced up and all is ok so straight into dry storage for when the cars finished.
Love they wheels mate, can't wait to see pics of her finished.
David.
Thanks, But its a long way off yet. Im trying to work on it one day a week at the moment, which is a lot more than normal.
Had another stab at it today. Full day as i had to meet a customer down there at 8am.
Dealt with that then went straight out to buy a new Jack. Ended up with this beauty from Halfords. 2.25t with a 520mm lift, Costing just £39 on the trade card, which was a result!
Look how high it lifts!
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1153.jpg
So, After a bit of thinking i realised that welding in the seat rails with no engine fitted, would mean they would tip forward when it was re-fitted, so i weighed the front down with a few engine blocks and heads, then marked the spirit level along the o/s skirt, and jacked the whole car up onto 4 stands to the level of the car in its completed stance.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1155.jpg
Started measuring up for the driver rails
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1157.jpg
Fitted both then ground off the messy plug welds in the floor, just in time, as i then accidently chopped through the cord, which was hilarious
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a..._1158-Copy.jpg
Idea was to get both brackets fitted on the middle of the 5 holes, allowing a little forward / fackwards movement for short ass / lanky drivers.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a..._1159-Copy.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a..._1160-Copy.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1163.jpg
Final positioning see's the seat shifted right over as far to the tunnel as possible.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1166.jpg
Leaving room for the door bar's, But unfortunately not a great deal of room for my shifter, which might need to be raised up significantly. The handbrake also has to go back around 6", as its currently where the shifter needs to be.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1167.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1168.jpg
All good, Happy with the seating position, and got plenty of room for the pedal box, so next is to get that in on a false flat floor, and then see where the steering wheel needs to be.
Can't beat a nice high lift jack! Welding/seat rails/seat etc looks great.
Rofl at cutting through the cord, something I've always been worried about doing but never done lol
Are those discs for welding up the drain bungs? Do you gain much from doing that, as I've seen how much of a pain it is without having holes to brush metal filings/dirt/water out of
Bloody hell you have a good eye. Yes i have 20 or so, but until they get welded in they are being used as very handy spacers.
Not sure on how much it helps the shell, but i would preffer to do it anyway before paint.
(Oh, I did notice earlier that your alt belt had flipped over, Didnt like to say though. Love your thread / Car)
Fair play, I wash my footwells out with water and drain it so wouldn't be able to live with no drainage.
Now whose got the good eye! lol Noticed that myself earlier also, you should mention anything you see wrong though!
Quite a big update, considering not a lot has happened, But basically went down there intending to spend a full day getting the seat finished and the front section of the cage located.
To call it a nightmare is an understatement, Put the seat in place and the bars i had welded in nowhere near ran through the holes i wanted to use on the seat mounts. Not even close. Couldnt understand it, as they are completely spot on. I have been using the rear step in the floor pan to take my measurements from, which is perfectly straight.
Picture here of how i wanted to mount them, With a straight edge to show they are level.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1172.jpg
And this is how they are, after being bolted to the seat, putting the seat where i want it, then removing the seat but leaving brackets in place.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1170.jpg
As you can see the mount closest to the door sits about an inch further forward than the one closest to the tunnel.
I couldnt work it out, as these next two pics show the rails are square, (may have to zoom in) and the seat had been fitted pointing dead straight forwards.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1173.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1174.jpg
This picture shows where the back of the seat mounts would be in order to get it straight. (left hand side of the straight edge)
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1175.jpg
So, Once i had convinced myself the rails were straight, I rang a friend who simply said "go and get the other evolution and try that". I had been doing the work with one seat, as i take it home at night incase the mice get it, so popped home, got the other seat, fitted the side mounts and it fitted perfectly.
Further investigation shows that the seat i started with is badly warped, so after speaking to the supplyer it is going back for an exchange.
These picture's show it with the mounts fitted, and on a dead flat surface
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1177.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1178.jpg
And this is what happens if the mounts are all pushed into their seated positions. Which was the decider as i couldnt put up with a wonky seat.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1185.jpg
That doesnt instantly explain why its pissed front to back, but is a good indication that the seat is the problem.
So, onwards and upwards, Quite literally actually, as whilst i was at home i picked up my lid, and found that with the seat where i wanted it, the helmet hit the cage.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1186.jpg
Decided that instead of dropping the rails down, which actually wasnt really an option, i would re-drill the side mounts, as to be honest i would have quite liked to have layed back a little more anyway. That meant altering it to miss the harness slot too though.
With that done, the back of the seat now hit the cage main hoop before the centre holes were on the rails, so i had to either make some L brackets on the fronts of the rails, or run some forward facing box to drill and fix to.
I thought the box would be a better bet, so cracked on with that
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1190.jpg
Made some forward facing tails for my own seating position too, then zinc'd, but on reflection will probably need to triangulate those
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1203.jpg
After that was sorted, and with the seat back in place it was still posible to ever so slightly scuff my helmet on the cage, So decided to make some extra feet to lift it up another inch or so.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1192.jpg
A little crude at the moment, but il fillet the ends and get them welded properly by the guy who's doing the cage.
Main thing is though that this has now got the cage well away from my head.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1197.jpg
But the downside is that the front section is now just a fag paper away from the windscreen.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1193.jpg
Hopefully wont be an issue though, and still a little room for trimming and pulling it back into the car a little retaining the height.
Final seating position.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_1194.jpg
All done for a while now as i have a bit of work to be getting on with. Will hopefully get another day this weekend, and plan on getting the bulkhead drilled for the turret pickups, so that i can tack in the front section and get the roof bar bent and tacked.
Still enjoying it though...... Thats the main thing.
Great effort your putting in mate, really like reading how youre doing, makes me feel a bit better about mine when i see the all the hard work your putting in!
Thanks very much. I do enjoy doing the work myself, Il have a look at your build now, must have missed it.
Spent a bit of time on it yesterday. Really wanted to get the windscreen bar bent so i could drop the tube bender back. First was to finish those extra feet for the front of the cage so it could be tacked into place
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6370236f.jpg
Then after taking many measurements started preparing to bend a piece of CDS tube. Using a 2.65mm wall thickness, and using Lee's advice i plated one end and packed it tightly with damp building sand.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3115fede.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1bd61a99.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps93e55d4a.jpg
Then capped off the other end and started preparing the bender.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9cf4af02.jpg
Its got old imperial die's fitted, and none quite fitted the tube perfectly which i imagine would have resulted in a crush, so i chose the one with the closest fit and cut an alloy plate to drop in front of the former, which my reasoning suggested would form around the tube and take up the free space at the top and bottom of the tube.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1bccd030.jpg
First bend was the upward kink in the middle, which went well. Much better than i expected to be honest and only a very slight crush.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps70b607e5.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2c1a8296.jpg
Then measured up for the outer kinks, which was a little more technical as the tube had to be MM straight. But using my nice new table it was pretty simple to just mark a center line and measure down to the work-surface.
Came out spot on first time. Still cant quite believe it myself. Pic below shows a comparison between the old bar and the new one. The old one was a bolt in section, But was always in my opinion too low anyway, so instead of copying it i made my new one lift up a little more.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9f889c87.jpg
Next was to profile the ends, which was a nightmare.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdfd7a88f.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1dfc81df.jpg
Really didnt want to mess it up, but measuring for them took some real thinking as the bar doesnt just rise up in the middle it points forward towards the top of the windscreen too. Not able to fit it in place due to being too long until cut meant i had to get it right first time.
Got the bar fitted exactly where i wanted it, and miraculously that too was done right first time. Bit of a moment where i wanted to cry when offering it up as it looked like i had done a mirror image of what was required, but then i realised i was offering it up the wrong way round, and once turned 180deg it fitted perfect.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7c10d9c8.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2ff95cbb.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0ff085a4.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psad0417a1.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1fb0d1bc.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse7acda4f.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4eb42be1.jpg
Absolutely chuffed to bits with it and i would expect it to be probably the hardest bar in the whole cage to get right. Doing it first was not wise atall, but at least now i feel at ease knowing that none of the others can be anywhere near as technical.
Onwards, will be doing another day on it soon, so will hopefully get the firewall cut out and drill through the bulkhead to pick up the turrets.
I found similar with my seat mounts, they didn't sit exactly flush on the floor, however bolting them in seemed to straighten them up without too many problems
Those front cage legs look like they sit far too low, shouldn't they be closer to the top of the A pillar?
I welded my rails in as close to the floor as possible and my helmet is still close to the top bar too, have to remove the padding if I'm using a helmet.
I wouldnt want to force a fiberglass seat into a position it wasnt resting in, it will constantly be under stress. I took it back and they have another new one waiting in store for me to collect.
Yes, The cage fits like crap, always has, changing it isnt an option though. It cant really go through the bender, and cannot be lifted up any more as the 45deg bend will hit the windscreen.
The only fix would be to fabricate new front sections, which i cant do myself due to the mandral bends required. Cant order them as they will 100% not match my feet or dash cut-outs, meaning the only option's are to either trailer it 120miles to Custom Cages or put up with it.
I have done the best i can with it, and its better than last year. The roof will have twin diagonal's meeting the windscreen bar with kink's downwards too, so will tuck up close to the roof.
how thick was the steel you used for your spacer plates and the box section for the seat rails?
Quote:
Turbojolt
How thick was the steel you used for your spacer plates and the box section
for the seat rails?
Seat rails are 25mm x 25mm x 2mm
Spreader plates for seat rails are 2mm
All of the cage feet and spreaders have wall thicknesses of at least 3mm, and are constructed in a way that would transfer any downward force into the floor.
thanks mate, im just trying to price up how much doing the seat rails like that will cost me :thumb:
A 2m length of that 1" box section cost me £6, and the gap you are bridging is near enough 500mm, so if you only did the left to right bars for both seats and got them all right first time it would be very cheap.
cheers mate
Had another few hours today so cracked on with another roof bar. Again went well, wont bother posting up the progress pics as the proceedure was the same as the first. Just doing the bends now as i have had the tool a few weeks now and although the guy hasnt asked for it i would quite like to drop it back without him needing to.
Tempted to do a cross in the roof, But this one took 3hrs and was a bit of a pain. Still got it right first time though with no waste other than the slithers i had to trim out for the profiling.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6936ade4.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0b4b9fc7.jpg
Why the bend in the roof bar? (ive only seen them straight and normally a cross)
Is the bend cause it meets the rear hoop instead of the hoop to front cage join?
Which cage's are you referring to? The Hockley and Custom Cages ones have either no roof bar or a single diagonal. Cant recall a single off the shelf cage which has twin diagonals in the roof, i may be wrong though if you have seen them.
Doing them straight would be silly, as at the lowest point they could be 3" from the roof skin. The most effective cages will be as close to the outer skin of the shell as possible.
Had a few hours to kill earlier so did a little bit more on it.
Realised i didnt have a decent cutter for the bulkhead, so instead of driving accross town to get one i started work on the rear diagonals
First one in, which was pretty simple.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7f384e0a.jpg
Upper of the second took some thinking, but with a little trial and error the first cut bar fitted in the end.
Getting some nice profiling too.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0f218a85.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps42d8cc43.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse883a618.jpg
Getting there.
Nice work, I find profiling rollcage tube ends a very satisfying job (when it goes right!)