This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.
...once you've got the floor roughly sorted i'd suggest placing the seats in position and then putting the main part of the shell on just to see where the tops of them fit
Thanks for everyone's kind words of encouragement.
I've had to admit defeat with the MGB seats today. I hadn't actually read DC's comment above about trial fitting the seats into the shell once the floors have been dropped but it seemed like a sensible idea anyway. I knew the seats would fit if I could get them close enough together - one reason for going for a very low profile prop-shaft tunnel. What I hadn't bargained for was that the main chassis rails are in the way and push the seats outboard as you go down
OK, so they'd be fine for a really steep banked racing circuit, but they're not much good for anything else. As they're just too big they'll be going back from whence they came, ebay, over the weekend while I search for some narrower alternatives.
I did manage to console myself by making a start on my prop tunnel and, yes, that is an off-cut of plastic guttering.
Oh, and my wife has just said she likes the idea of red leather. I think she's referring to the seats so I've either got clearance to increase the budget or my luck could be in when I get home from work at 3am tonight...
I like the original thinking, just don't screw the handbrake to it!
Ha ha! No, that wouldn't work. Handbrake is an umbrella handle style from an ancient Austin A55 van that will run alongside the gearbox cover with the cable running back inside the cockpit alongside the prop cover in a polished copper tube. That's the plan anyway.
We used Morris Minor seats in Ol'66 but they needed fettling - not a 5 min. fix !
Seat choice is quite important - balancing looks and comfort.
You could fabricate some simple straps to support the pans after they are glassed , glued together - something similar to heavy duty fuel tank straps in style...
Your car is coming along very nicely and it looks like you have a good new mate in Phil .....how good does his car look in the sunlight ? and its stance is really good too...
I love the fact that there are some very nice examples being created ...nothing wrong with them at any level , budget is cool as well - Pats car proves that but the fact that examples that will hold their own at any car show are being built as well is good for the product and hobby....
I know about Barry's car , but which other one is he building ?
Yes, he has another body to build the race car with but you'll have to ask Phil for further details as I feel a little out of my depth answering questions about his next project. Seeing how industrious Phil is though I'm sure it won't be long before he needs another one.
just to help you guys i am going to build a out&out racer.... got some bits running round in my head but as yet i have not got body ..but have a good engine and lot's of dreams looks like i be on my way to pool again... but got to get barry car done first just dreams at mo but they do come true as all sammio builds no.
Phil, I know where your coming from, I've had similar thoughts for hillclimbs sprints and track days, but not many circuits down, I've got a rolling chassis and a head of ideas and the possability to get it street legal but I must finish Skippy (paint) and a few alterations next winter hense the slow application of paint thats it with the Sammio's loads of options, PAT
it all take's time and money but u got to do it , life is to short .. think in of a space frame and move in engine back a bit have had a word with gary about a one peace body and poss /a roof but its a little way off yet.
no prob its the bonnet at the back just have in a meg/ tidy up to day was out in car with barry yest/day around sandringham took so video try i put it on how u geting on
no prob its the bonnet at the back just have in a meg/ tidy up to day was out in car with barry yest/day around sandringham took so video try i put it on how u geting on
Wow, jealous as... Hope the video uploads ok.
Been working myself so no more progress since the setback on the seat front. I'm currently awaiting info on exact dimensions for some Cobra style seats and/or shells that're on ebay at the moment, and I can't finish the dropped floors until I know how high my replacement seats are going to be.
I'm leaning towards buying the shells (if they'll fit) and having them trimmed locally. As luck would have it I put an old push-bike out the front of my house last week with a note saying 'Free, please take me away' and the chap who politely knocked and asked if he could take it is a classic car trimmer from Fincham. Can't find his business card at the moment but I did find him on 'Yell'
I'll be taking this picture with me when I visit and asking if he can do something similar in dark red leather, maybe with a row of eyelets down the middle -
Anyway, enjoy the sunshine today Phil and feel free to drop in for a cuppa and a chat any time, especially if you're in your Spyder. I'm off until Thursday now so will be putting some hours in on my project with any luck.
Yep, me too. It's a Porsche 718 RSK Spyder - the car that inspired me to want to build a kit car when I saw a GP Spyder over thirty years ago. I'm hoping to achieve the same luxury race car look on mine.
Oh, and it says a lot for Gary's design that the Sammio Spyder is the first kit car I've seen in more than thirty years that could seduce me away from my beloved 718.
Just a couple of hours working on my low-profile centre tunnel today due to being tired and grumpy after getting by on just four hours sleep a night for the last few days.
Started with a bit of old plastic gutter, some ply and glass fibre materials.
Then fixed the gutter in place with a couple of well placed screws and some left over kitchen brackets before screwing some timber rails to the floor to contain the edges.
Then plopped the glass matting and resin mix over the top.
Hopefully I'll have a nice strong prop tunnel in the morning...
Success! I now have a nice, home made fibreglass centre tunnel. It needs another coat of resin as I tried adding the 'tissue paper' (?) that came with the kit after coating the glass matting with resin this time and it didn't all stick down.
Although I'm happy with the bits of fibreglassing I've done so far I am rather pi$$ing in the wind as far as how you're supposed to do it due to the main focus of the instructions that came with the kit being geared towards ensuring you don't poison yourself whilst using the rather toxic materials.
If anyone out there has any hints and tips they could pass on regarding the best way to lay up fibreglass I for one would be an avid reader.
I've also cut in the lowered battery tray, plastered filler into the remaining holes in the bulkhead and given some of the chassis another coat of red Hammerite today. It all looks a bit of a mess at the moment and has been completely disassembled so I can work on the individual bits. Will be doing some sanding and painting tomorrow so there should be something worth photographing by the evening.
One slight fly in the ointment that's reared its head is that the bonding paste I bought from Glasplies doesn't seem to be what I actually ordered. I went for white special -
Lowered battery tray now blended in and sprayed. Also sanded down and painted my fibreglass repair in the driver's footwell -
Having a rethink on the seats at the moment, I can't seem to find any that I like that will fit and not cost a fortune. I can find reasonably priced ones that I don't like. I can find ones I like that won't fit. I can find ones that I like and will fit but cost seven hundred quid a pair so it's looking likely that I'll be making my own seats...
I can take some pics tomorrow of some fibreglass shells we can offer ....might be a bit of you , might not...we used them in the 550's and I still have the mould.
I might just be interested at the right price Gary. What are the dimensions and are they a similar shape to these RSK ones? Also I'd be looking for them to be ready a bit quicker than the tonneau...
Oops, just noticed your pm Gary. Looking forward to getting my tonneau at last.
I'm currently awaiting info on exact dimensions for some Cobra style seats and/or shells that're on ebay at the moment, and I can't finish the dropped floors until I know how high my replacement seats are going to be. 
