3 Mar 2013, 4:21pm
Nice colour didnt take you long to prep and paint.
tlrtone's Miglia Speedster build...
3 Mar 2013, 9:31pm
+1 on the nice engine colour. 
6 Mar 2013, 4:48pm
got round to putting my own website together ... [url]www.mymigliaspeedster.co.uk[/url]
lots more pictures of the build.
I am aiming to get the engine built this weekend - unless the obligatory Mothering Sunday stuff gets in the way!
Also, since davecymru has mentioned getting up to Stoneleigh, I was going to try for that as a target date, so my rough plan works out like this:
10/3 Engine & gearbox built
17/3 Chassis Stripped
24/3 Chassis Painted & assembled
31/3 engine in and Frame on
7/4 wiring done and body on
14/4 Seats and interior mounted
21/4 Doors hung and body prep started
28/4 Painted
2/5 Interior & exterior fitted and MOT'd
simples!
lots more pictures of the build.
I am aiming to get the engine built this weekend - unless the obligatory Mothering Sunday stuff gets in the way!
Also, since davecymru has mentioned getting up to Stoneleigh, I was going to try for that as a target date, so my rough plan works out like this:
10/3 Engine & gearbox built
17/3 Chassis Stripped
24/3 Chassis Painted & assembled
31/3 engine in and Frame on
7/4 wiring done and body on
14/4 Seats and interior mounted
21/4 Doors hung and body prep started
28/4 Painted
2/5 Interior & exterior fitted and MOT'd
simples!
6 Mar 2013, 9:09pm
What about the DVLA bit?
6 Mar 2013, 9:22pm
what can possibly go wrong? 
6 Mar 2013, 9:24pm
Hi Gary, i will book it in for two weeks time. So it will be road worthy. Just for further reference they did say they needed the car almost finished.
So body fitted, doors on, engine in but not needed to be run, interia fitted (seats and belts). Its not a bad thing as it needs to be done anyway, but where as before they would let you go down without a bonnet and engine they want to see it further on.
So body fitted, doors on, engine in but not needed to be run, interia fitted (seats and belts). Its not a bad thing as it needs to be done anyway, but where as before they would let you go down without a bonnet and engine they want to see it further on.
6 Mar 2013, 10:38pm
What about the DVLA bit?
Oh that little thing
6 Mar 2013, 10:41pm
what can possibly go wrong?
Bad weather
No money
No time
Grumpy missus
Wrong parts
Fail mot
Unimpressed visa inspector man
.............
Have I missed anything?
6 Mar 2013, 11:24pm
Hi Gary, i will book it in for two weeks time. So it will be road worthy. Just for further reference they did say they needed the car almost finished.
err, I think we may need to wait until Mid April then..
11 Mar 2013, 10:46am
not a lot done this weekend due to Mothers Day duties, but have been collecting everything together for the engine....
new valves will go in the head this week and hopefully I cna get the engine build in the next few days. That will be that job out of the way then.
I have cleaned and painted the gearbox in the same blue - it was reconditioned about a year ago so apart from new mounts, that should do it for that.
Next up is the chassis, but it has started to snow here so I won't be working on that outside for the next couple of days at least! I might have to paint the Spitfire petrol tank I have.
Mike has called me to say my kit will be ready this week, so I better crack on!
new valves will go in the head this week and hopefully I cna get the engine build in the next few days. That will be that job out of the way then.
I have cleaned and painted the gearbox in the same blue - it was reconditioned about a year ago so apart from new mounts, that should do it for that.
Next up is the chassis, but it has started to snow here so I won't be working on that outside for the next couple of days at least! I might have to paint the Spitfire petrol tank I have.
Mike has called me to say my kit will be ready this week, so I better crack on!
11 Mar 2013, 7:27pm
Bloody hell , that engine looks the part, better than black well done
11 Mar 2013, 8:41pm
Yep, proper show car shine on that motor, well done.
12 Mar 2013, 8:35pm
ooh, looks like we are all one big happy family again!I've been moved....
12 Mar 2013, 9:14pm
Welcome "home" Tony. 
I had a look at your new build website the other day.
Sounds like your first build experiences have influenced the final kit design.
Good luck, Paul.
I had a look at your new build website the other day.
Sounds like your first build experiences have influenced the final kit design.
Good luck, Paul.
12 Mar 2013, 9:32pm
Yes, welcome back Tony. Good luck with your new project, I guess you're Mike's guinea pig...
12 Mar 2013, 10:20pm
thanks. It is good to be here.... again 
Mr T, funnily enough I went to Mike's on Saturday to pick up my frame, but while I was there, I asked if I could 'borrow' his welder to make some mods to it. If you remember from my Sammio build, my little mig welder kept cutting out and as my mum alwasy said - if you don't ask, you don't get!
I wanted to move the tank to the rear and put in a luggage space as that was really useful in the Sammio. The end result was that I left my frame there and Mike said he will use that to be the 'standard build' now
I quite like the idea of being the guinea pig if I can help influence the design to make it better for others in the longer run!
This is the "modified" frame...
When I got home I started putting the engine together....
New valves ground in....
Pistons in with new rings....
I am just waiting on the new thrust washers from Rimmers (i'm tightening up the end float from the standard 8-14 thou to around 3-4 thou) and then the crank can get put in and the engine closed up and built.
Mr T, funnily enough I went to Mike's on Saturday to pick up my frame, but while I was there, I asked if I could 'borrow' his welder to make some mods to it. If you remember from my Sammio build, my little mig welder kept cutting out and as my mum alwasy said - if you don't ask, you don't get!
I wanted to move the tank to the rear and put in a luggage space as that was really useful in the Sammio. The end result was that I left my frame there and Mike said he will use that to be the 'standard build' now
I quite like the idea of being the guinea pig if I can help influence the design to make it better for others in the longer run!
This is the "modified" frame...
When I got home I started putting the engine together....
New valves ground in....
Pistons in with new rings....
I am just waiting on the new thrust washers from Rimmers (i'm tightening up the end float from the standard 8-14 thou to around 3-4 thou) and then the crank can get put in and the engine closed up and built.
13 Mar 2013, 9:00am
You make it look so easy, are you reading how to put engine together or do you just know?
13 Mar 2013, 9:01am
Looks like good progress so far. Like the fuel tank position, after all, that's where I've put mine.
Engine's also coming along nicely, you do appear to be missing a couple of cylinders though. I'm sure I could only count four, is that right?
eep:
A more serious question now - what's the access going to be like to the engine with a fixed front end?
One of the nice things about Gary's original design imho is the retention of the tilting/removeable front end. This gives superb access for in situ maintenance and future engine/gearbox changes.
I've already taken the engine and gearbox out of mine with the body bonded on (to fix a leaky oil seal) and it was a piece of cake with no bonnet fitted. With the weight of the Vitesse engine and box swinging around I wouldn't be confident about posting it in through an oblong hole between the wings once it's painted.
Speaking of which, I'd better get out into the garage while there's still some daylight left...
Engine's also coming along nicely, you do appear to be missing a couple of cylinders though. I'm sure I could only count four, is that right?
eep: A more serious question now - what's the access going to be like to the engine with a fixed front end?
One of the nice things about Gary's original design imho is the retention of the tilting/removeable front end. This gives superb access for in situ maintenance and future engine/gearbox changes.
I've already taken the engine and gearbox out of mine with the body bonded on (to fix a leaky oil seal) and it was a piece of cake with no bonnet fitted. With the weight of the Vitesse engine and box swinging around I wouldn't be confident about posting it in through an oblong hole between the wings once it's painted.
Speaking of which, I'd better get out into the garage while there's still some daylight left...
13 Mar 2013, 10:22am
You make it look so easy, are you reading how to put engine together or do you just know?
Gary, I have put together quite a few engines (car & bike) over the years, so they are all a similar process. I have the Triumph Workshop manual and Google to check up on tolerance, guidance and best practice!
I just love the internet and forums for that sort of thing. Like it is advised by some credible engine builders to reduce the crank endfloat from the standard 8-14 thou to around 3-4 thou.
Engine's also coming along nicely, you do appear to be missing a couple of cylinders though. I'm sure I could only count four, is that right? eep:
A more serious question now - what's the access going to be like to the engine with a fixed front end?
eep: A more serious question now - what's the access going to be like to the engine with a fixed front end?
Yes, Mr T it is only a 4-pot this time - but it is the 1500 MG Midget engine (same as the Spitfire 1500 one), so should go nicely. Although a standard Herald 13/60 gearbox with no overdrive for now. I am considering in future a 5 speed conversion using a Ford Type 9 gearbox and adapter kit from jigsaw racing.....
Regarding access, this was a key area I was worried about. I even asked Mike about the possibility of converting it to a flip front!
However, when I was there on Saturday, we had the body on to make sure that the frame mods worked, and actually the bonnet opening is HUGE so there is absolutely no problem with access! the engine will come out with the gearbox attached and not touch the sides! Even a 6-pot will be okay.
One of the things that i didn't appreciate is that the bulkhead is sat about 8-10 inches back and so you get more space around the engine. This does mean that the gear stick needs to be adapted to shift backward - Mike is doing an exchange kit for this!
Hopefully in about 3-4 weeks I will have the rolling chassis and body on so I will take pictures to show you how it all looks in the engine bay.
I think Mike is building a customers car as well at the moment, so he may beat me to it!
15 Mar 2013, 12:21pm
small pictorial update as I built up some of the engine last night...
checked the endfloat and ordered the new thrust washers accordingly.
then the bottom end got fitted up and pistons in...
checked the endfloat and ordered the new thrust washers accordingly.
then the bottom end got fitted up and pistons in...
15 Mar 2013, 6:38pm
Hi guys its the weekend again
Well i thought id put up a couple of pics .
I ve been asked for me to build a Miglia speedster for a nice german customer Thomas , i thought before i left work tonight id show how easy it is to fit the body, I had taken me less than an hour from bolting frame down and placing body on .
The other thing that was asked about , i think mr Towed was how much engine space you had, well this should help. No extra bulges or blisters . This is a 1500 spitfire with the twin carb. Plenty of room for six pot and v8 too.eace:
Well i thought id put up a couple of pics .
I ve been asked for me to build a Miglia speedster for a nice german customer Thomas , i thought before i left work tonight id show how easy it is to fit the body, I had taken me less than an hour from bolting frame down and placing body on .
The other thing that was asked about , i think mr Towed was how much engine space you had, well this should help. No extra bulges or blisters . This is a 1500 spitfire with the twin carb. Plenty of room for six pot and v8 too.
eace:
15 Mar 2013, 7:54pm
Ooh. Nice. Another twin humper.
Don't think I'm racing you Mike as I'm only doing mine in the evenings
I might come down for a nosey then soon to get some ideas.
Don't think I'm racing you Mike as I'm only doing mine in the evenings
I might come down for a nosey then soon to get some ideas.
15 Mar 2013, 8:07pm
Nice! Do say hello to the mad German from me the next time you see him
15 Mar 2013, 8:10pm
Nice! Do say hello to the mad German from me the next time you see him
Do they call him Micha?
15 Mar 2013, 8:31pm
Nice! Do say hello to the mad German from me the next time you see him
He loves your old sammio by the way dave