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.
Now what Mick? I for one will miss your reports. Don't be long.
Dave
With advancing years, I'm not sure that I've got another build in me. The only one that I'd definitely go for would be a Sherpley, but so few were made (I think I've heard 12?) that the likelihood of a part completed project coming up is remote, but never say never!
Thanks for kind comment regarding my posts, given the many hiccups along the way so far, I'm sure there'll be a good few more to report on before the thread morphs into 'on the road'.
At 74 I'm close behind, but, I've got enough toys to play with. A series 1 Landrover with a dodgy gearbox and a Marlin roadster needing refreshing. 'You don't stop playing with toys when you grow old, you grow old because you stopped playing with toys'! But I have noticed some things have got a lot heavier in the last 30 yrs.
At 74 I'm close behind, but, I've got enough toys to play with. A series 1 Landrover with a dodgy gearbox and a Marlin roadster needing refreshing. 'You don't stop playing with toys when you grow old, you grow old because you stopped playing with toys'! But I have noticed some things have got a lot heavier in the last 30 yrs.
You could easily create your own Bentley lookalike. There are lots of options if you use a commercial vehicle rolling chassis. Probably not many old Sherpa's about which had the leaf spring front axle but still lots of other potential donors. You don't need much in the way of pre moulded parts, at least half the car is flat panels. The main body tub could be made from plywood and clad with leather.
Molleur, Why would you want to stop? You'd have nothing to live for, doing stupid(?) things is what makes life worthwhile. Growing old is inevitable growing up is optional.
Never said that I wanted to stop. Looking ahead to a possible
Morgan F2 replica from scratch. I can get a Kent engine and 4 spd gearbox locally.
Build the front suspension and use a shaft driven motorcycle rear.
I blame my parents. If only they hadn't bought me that Meccano outfit for Xmas '52.....
Regards, Mick
Ditto Mick. My Dad brought in a Morgan 4-4 in crates around 1953 and I
assisted with the assembly. He also raced the second Healey 100 ever brought
into the USA.
Progress is slow but sure at the moment, none of it really worth a picture.
Now that the body's bolted down, it's just re-assembling all the pre-paint bits and pieces. I've bought a re-build kit for the DCD and will post an engine bay picture once it's all put together. I'll try and get one of my driver's side footwell today as it's forecast sunny. The aluminium side to the gearbox cover was fairly simple to fabricated but needed contortions to fit, as did the right angle speedo drive which would have been a doddle pre body mounting .
Feeling pleased with myself that the transmission tunnel saga was complete, I remembered that I hadn't secured the thick earth lead with the clips I'd riveted under it, so the side panel had to come off. Worming my way upside down into the footwell, I managed to contort myself sufficiently to correct this omission, reminding myself that my spring chicken days are long gone. Whilst the ally panel was off I decided to add a rudimentary clutch foot rest, something that came in very handy in both the A352 and its Marlin predecessor. Tin snips, three bends and four pop rivets later this was in place. I bolted the side panel back for what I hope will be the last time: I'll put a couple of Tech Screws through the bottom flange into the GRP floor to make it fully secure. I trial sat in the drivers side to make sure that it was possible to operate the pedals OK. The well is so narrow that I think feet bigger than my size 43s in anything other than very light shoes would have a problem.
I fitted the back body items last week, finding that the silencer was too close to the fuel pipe from the bottom of the tank. I bought another stepped connector, this time longer with a 20% bend from the invariably excellent 'Any Exhaust Part' Ebay emporium. This took the silencer well away but I still added an ally heat shield. Belt and braces, as ever.
The bulb socket and terminals in the number plate lamp didn't inspire confidence, so I fabricated another LED 'bulb'. This consists of four white 12v LEDs Araldited together in an ally mount which I riveted to the body of the lamp. The 60s style reversing lamp also has one of these concoctions.
I'm waiting on two new 4" instrument dash gaskets before I can bolt the dash back and crack on with connecting the front loom to everything.
I don't seem to have got a lot done this last week, although I've spent quite a bit of time in the cave. The depressing weather doesn't help, neither does my being full of cold. The dash is now in place and the front loom installed. Everything bar the lights and indicators is connected.
Today's forecast is once again for rain so I'll concentrate on refitting the scuttle brace and steering column. I offered up the former yesterday to find that the car seems to have changed shape as the brace doesn't fit as it did on fabrication. Weird!
I also had a close look at the so say 'refurbished' callipers yesterday. The nipples are seized and the pad pins have their ends painted over. The pads are new. I don't hold out much hope for them so would one of you knowledgeable chaps tell me what their type number is please as new ones will likely be required?
Today's forecast is once again for rain so I'll concentrate on refitting the scuttle brace and steering column. I offered up the former yesterday to find that the car seems to have changed shape as the brace doesn't fit as it did on fabrication. Weird!
I also had a close look at the so say 'refurbished' callipers yesterday. The nipples are seized and the pad pins have their ends painted over. The pads are new. I don't hold out much hope for them so would one of you knowledgeable chaps tell me what their type number is please as new ones
Regards, Mick
There is a brand new pair for sale on eBay £88. Just search for Triumph spitfire brake callipers.
.
