MadaboutKitcars

Just put a blister on the interference with the dash pot.

Should be able to get away without needing to move the engine back and also won't be needing a blister or scoop.

Much as I like blisters and scoops, either would look a bit odd on the front of what's supposed to be a rear engined car, and although I'm going for the custom Outlaw racer look, I want the body to look like a modified original as far as possible.

So, one of the most common items added to Outlaw 356's is a through bonnet fuel filler to replace the under bonnet one on standard 356's, so I'll be putting a flip-top filler right over the front carburettor to hide the protruding dashpot.

Job done.

I think a blister would save a lot of angst. And Mr Towed has history in this dept.
Oops you posted in the meantime, good solution though.

Best idea!

How about

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Spitfire-carburettors-carbs-motorcycle-carbs-inlet-manifold/123087904945?hash=item1ca89c60b1:g:rY8AAOSw2QJa2LKP


Very flat so should give you plenty of clearance. I have a Triumph Trophy 1200 which uses the same 4 carbs, if they run a 1200 bike engine they should with a little adjustment suit the Herald engine. Mine has K&N pod air filters which does look very nice.

I like the idea of the fuel cap but in my mind it would need to be central for it to work. I do like the smooth flowing lines of the bonnet as it is.

Or Weber carb, bit pricey but I'm sure you could source a second hand one.

5QAAOSwrx5UVm5A" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-MIDGET-1500-TRIUMPH-SPITFIRE-1500-WEBER-45-DCOE-CARB-CARBURETTOR-KIT/361162496214?fits=Model%3ASpitfire&epid=2103508129&hash=item5416f658d6:g5QAAOSwrx5UVm5A

Looking good so far

I even like the yellow as it is

Dave

Can you turn the inlet manifold upside-down? to lose the height

Mr T - Good to see part of the body shell on, even if it is just a mock up.

Whilst the fuel cap does appear to be in the centre in these 'Outlaws'...






I am pretty sure wherever you needed it to be fitted would be fine.

It is certainly a clever way of creating a bit of room.

Good luck, Paul.

Interesting ideas, I had already looked at those bike carbs but decided against them as Phil J found that they have to be angled upwards to work so you lose the apparent height advantage.

The Weber will also stick out so far width-ways that it'd foul the inside of the bonnet as it slopes down towards the wing.

I'm pretty sure I can get the SU's under the bonnet one way or another so I'll be sticking with them.

Paul, you're right, I couldn't find an Outlaw 356 with an offset fuel filler when I looked through Google images. Mind you, I couldn't find a Lancia D24 Spyder in silver either...

Task for today was to offer the rear clamshell up to the chassis and work out how much the body needs shortening.

Not sure if I've mentioned it in this thread yet, but although there's only 8mm difference between the wheelbase of the Spitfire (2108mm) and Porsche 356 (2100mm), I managed to buy what is probably a Banham New Speedster body intended to fit on a Rover Metro/100, which is 2270mm.

So, rear clamshell supported over the back end of the chassis at the right height -



Plenty of space in here for a fuel tank and spare wheel -



And with the front clamshell lined up with the front wheels where I want them, you can see the problem -



Oddly it seems that I only needed to shave 110mm out of the body to get the wheels neatly in the arches. I decided that the easiest way to shorten the body would be to take the difference out of the door apertures. I also now believe that's where Paul Banham added the length anyway -



Leaving me with a body that's the right length now -



That's as far as I got today but slow progress is better than no progress at all.

That is looking great Towed. Good to see you back. Nice project which I am sure you will enjoy building and driving.

LOOKING VERY POSITIVE SO FAR ...Like the fuel cap idea ...my kind of solution !

I actually prefer the triumph engine solution being a bit of a traditionalist ...makes the whole 8 points thing a bit more obvious too ...

Banham 356 and 550 were definitely stretched doors , I have had both over the years ...

Cheers Gary, yes I'm feeling a lot happier about using the old Triumph lump for a number of reasons, the DVLA registration thing being one of them.

To get around 90 reliable hp out of it is going to blow about a £1500 hole in my budget that I hadn't really bargained on, but hey, you only live once.

I did a lot of surreptitious door measuring of real 356's and Chesil (et al) kit versions at various shows and I didn't find two the same, but they all looked much shorter than what I have, hence the decision to take a hacksaw to them.

Banham kit quality seems to get a lot of stick on the 'net, but mine seems pretty well moulded given the price. Will be getting on with it now the sun's (almost) out and I'm coming out of hibernation.

So, big box of parts arrived from Canley's yesterday so I'll be stripping down my Herald gearbox (ebay, 99p) and starting to rebuild it tomorrow. Should be interesting as I've never rebuilt a gearbox before.

If by some miracle I manage to rebuild the gearbox in a couple of hours I'll also refit the camshaft which has been reground by Piper cams to their 270 fast-road profile.

Timing the cam will have to wait until Canley's supply me with a rebuilt, unleaded cylinder head, which is currently on back-order (I believe they strip and build them to order).

Then with the rest of the day (!!) I might just get on with my work-in-progress rear deck cover -





Which, believe it or not isn't polished mahogany, but cardboard covered in parcel tape!


More later.

Nice toys.

Obviously I am a big fan of the power blue colour.

Let me know when you have this back on the road and I'll try to finally arrange my much promised trip to Norfolk.

Good luck, Paul.

Mr T - I'm sure you've seen this week's episode, but just in case...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjVrZiW_Pvs

Good luck, Paul.

Thanks Paul, hadn't seen it but it's very nice indeed.

Couple of little jobs to finish to get the Midget fully roadworthy - new shocks, oil change and recondition/balance the propshaft (I've outsourced that job) - then I can get on with my own Outlaw build.

So, no updates for a while as the very nice summer whizzed by and now it's nearly 2019.

Yesterday was the Brass Monkeys run from Brandon (Suffolk), through Swaffham and on to Wells Next The Sea (both Norfolk). I'd have loved to have been driving my Speedster (fingers crossed for next year)


The event is a very casual affair and attracts a wide selection of British classics, customs, rat-rods, US classic Muscle Cars and modern exotics.
Indeed, I followed a newish Lotus Elise with a registration ending 10TUS down to Brandon, easily keeping pace with it right up until the 40mph zone we were in ended, when it went off like a scalded cat while making a very agreeable noise in the process.

Among all the customs attending, this truck stood out for me for its elegant simplicity -



And just to show that the North Norfolk coast is a mecca for classic car enthusiasts, this Bristol Zagato wasn't actually part of the procession, it just happened to be parked outside a chip shop in Wells -



I have a few jobs to do to make Iris perfect - finish the hard top, a couple of oil seals to replace and a little attention to the paint, then I'll be getting on with my Speedster (finally).

Happy New year to all classic and kit-car nuts, and I'm hoping to see a lot more cars finished and on the road in 2019, including mine.

Soon I'll be able to start making use of the Outlaw Speedster parts that I've been gathering over the last six months or so, including:

...suitable seats -



...a 550 Spyder moulded flyscreen -



...and dash -



...a pair of Marchal fog lamps -



...and a pair of genuine Porsche European spec headlamps -



More updates next year.

Looking forward to the speedster updates mr T.

What colour will the hardtop be on the midget?

Funnily enough, I'm looking forward to the Speedster updates too.

Midget hardtop is going to be RAL 5011 Steel Blue, which is a very, very dark blue. Should contrast nicely with the Iris blue body. The perspex rear window and roof lights are also blue tinted so it should all gel together nicely.

[RIGHT][/RIGHT]Hi Mr.T,
Looking good so far. The body seem to be of a very good quality and shortening the wheel base was very straight forward. I am curious how you are going to mod the doors. I always liked the look of a Speedster and I wish you a good luck with the build. Looking forward to see the updates next year. Thank you for your advice and support with my build too and Happy New Year.

Regards, Deni

Hi Deni, once I've mounted the body onto the chassis via a steel subframe I'm in the process of fabricating and centred the wheels in the arches, I'll take a section out of the centre of each door.

I'll then 'glass them back together with the halves mounted in the door openings to make sure they'll fit. I'm also toying with the idea of bracing them internally with aluminium sheet, both for strength and so it looks like an alloy body if you look inside the doors.

I'm aiming to create 550 style interior door panels which have large elongated holes to give access to the simple door 'pulls' and will also allow a pretty unobstructed view of the inside structure of the doors.



Target is 'on the road' for Goodwood in September, so I'd better crack on with it!

Mister Towed – Great to see an update on your thread.

Although there is something funny going on with your most recent photos?

As they appear properly sometimes and then other times they are missing or a “X”.

I am sure all the lessons you learned during your Spyder build will serve you well in 2019.

Good luck, Paul.

I'm playing catchup on this thread/build, but i'm liking the way it's coming along!

Can i also spot some new toys since the Sammio build? i.e. the Clarke load leveling hoisty thingy (i think that's it proper name? )

Hi Paul & Dave. Still using Photo$ucket for pics so it's a bit hit and miss, I can't see the image of the Marchal lamps or the 550 screen myself today but they were definitely there yesterday.

I bought the load leveller thingy hoist to help get the engine out of the Midget as it doesn't have the luxury of a flip front like my Spyder did. I'm still toying with the idea of making the Speedster flip front, but the bonnet opening is actually very large so I might just leave it as Porsche intended.