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While I was waiting for my body shell, I had time to work out what I wanted to achieve and how I was going to do that.
Replicas are by definition frauds, and a lot of so called kit cars fall into this category also.
If a Jaguar based XKSS is a fraud, how fraudulent must a Triumph Spitfire based one
Be?? An incredibly naughty fraud I think!
Fraud it may be, but to be half believable, it must be a damned good one, so attention to detail becomes very important.
An XKSS is an iconic car, and a replica must have all of the salient features that make the car unique. After I finished the wheels to as good a standard as I could on my limited budget, I decide to tackle the very obvious side exhaust.
On the original car, the exhaust is on the left because the XK engine has the manifold that side. Unfortunately the Spitfire has the exhaust manifold on the right, which meant having to get the gasses under the car floor and out to the left side.
Because the finished car will be as low as I can get it, I could not use a large bore pipe
To go under the floor, for obvious reasons, then it occurred to me that I could , if I squashed it almost flat.
I worked out the surface area of the original pipe, squashed a much larger one, which when “flat” would give me a little more area than the original pipe and the problem was solved. All I had to do now was make it.
The whole thing including the silencer box was to be made of stainless steel.
I have tried to show the results in the pictures to follow, its not finished yet, but most of the hard work and problems have been sorted out.
The system is made from discarded stainless steel bits and bobs from my local scrapyard at peanut prices. The most expensive buy was the argon gas needed to weld it all up.
When I was posting the pictures of the wheels earlier on, I forgot to add the pictures of the modified spinners.They were really cheap off ebay, but are quite hefty. They are solid aluminium chromed, and weigh over 630 grams each. I was not happy with the small "toy" bolt which was supposed to hold them in place on the wheel, so I made some small mods,
uprated the bolt, and added a second one, as I just did not trust the way it was designed to stay on!
Going well - I like you approach to the exhaust...... If there's a way, you'll find it!
Now I'm betting you wrecked the drill bit doing all those holes in the stainless!
Nasty old stuff compared with mild steel (to drill).
Someone else said I must have wrecked the drill bits and hole cutters, but they are still in good nick considering what they've been through!
I take your point about stainless steel though, I don't even like welding it!
The body finally arrived, and one of the first things I wanted to do was put aluminium louvres in the bonnet.
The original car had I think 6 or 7 inch louvres, but because I chose a non flip front end, it came with an ordinary opening type bonnet, which due to the position and width, the full size louvres would not fit/be practical.
I went to B nQ and they had some cheap ally ones about 4 inches wide which I decided to fit.
The XKSS had more louvres on the nearside as that is where all the heat from the exhaust manifold needed to be vented, so mine had to be similar
to look the part.
I cut the holes, routered the edges out about half a mil so the alloy would sit almost flush, stuk them in with epoxy resin, filled and sanded. although there will vbe a lot of rubbing down to be done yet to get a perfect finish for a top coat!
Because I chose a non flip front, there were certain things under the bonnet that could not be accessed once the body was permanently bonded to the chassis / tub, Or it would be incredibly difficult to carry out repairs to master cylinders windscreen wiper motors etc.
So I decided to make an access panel.
When it came time to actually do the cutting, I was crapping myself as I have always been useless with a jigsaw!
But in the event it turned out not too bad.
I did not want bonnet straps on my car so went with hidden locks with a T pull handle under the dash.
The bootlid will be done in a similar way, a clean look with no handles straps or other stuff on show.
I had a go at the doors next, I wanted the illusion that the car is made from aluminium, so I lined the inside of the door skin with it, and the edges, so that it would be seen if some looked inside the door aperture
Scottie - Thanks for sharing your build in great detail, as it is very helpful.
Your attention to detail will result in a great looking car when it is finished.
I'm building a kit based on a Spitfire on the Sammio, Ribble & Miglia forum "next door".
I can see that you have removed the original bonnet hinge support brackets.
I thought that these needed to remain in place until the re-body inspection had taken place.
My understanding was that with the new V5 secured, it then became OK for them to "fall off".
If removing these brackets does not count as altering the chassis that would be great news for me.
As currently my bonnet hinges foul these Spitfire brackets & I need 'tie down' straps to hold it in place.
Good luck with the rest of your build, Paul.
P.S. Tribute - I know you are at the Exeter show, so this question can wait until your return...
Have you have any issues with re-body inspections for the A352 with, or without, these brackets?
You've worried me there Paul, I'm not sure where I stand on that one.
I looked at them and I could see a big weight reduction if they were removed!! Fingers crossed right now then!!
