MadaboutKitcars

Thanks Jack and Kon. Some steps make a dramatic impact but others like this week when I have been doing some more mundane but equally important tasks.
I've been doing some more wiring before refitting the dashboard surround. Hopefully this will be the end of the wiring which can take a surprisingly long time for very little to show.
I been running in some extra cables like a supply to the boot for a boot light, some speaker cables and an aerial cable to the boot. The aerial will be fitted after the IVA test.
I've also been connecting up the interior light cables and running supply and illumination cables for the heater control. Plus a lot tidying up to make all the cables secure and IVA compliant.
All the unused wires to the ECU have been terminated in insulated closed end connectors and then encased in some conduit.

Unused ECU cables by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

And then tied up under the dash.

Under dash wiring (passenger side) by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

This required the 'head in the footwell' pose

Then taking a break from wiring, I made up a mounting panel for the intermittent wiper control unit. This will be later fixed at a convenient point along the lower edge of the dashboard surround.

Wiper delay panel by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

So a few more nibbles out of the elephant and edging slowly towards the finish line

Stay safe.............peter

Your little wiper delay panel turn out nicely!
Another small bite.

I feel your pain!


Very neat work! Small steps maybe, but you're getting there

Regards, Mick

You never stop learning things...

A little lesson on the Ford Sierra steering column that might be useful to other builders.

After what seemed like hours of sitting in the drivers seat fiddly about with wiring to make it all neat and secure I noticed that I had a small amount of play in my steering column around the lower of the two upper column bearings (labelled C).
I know the IVA inspectors are hot on any play in steering components so decided that I had better investigate now before I refitted all the dashboard. I had theorised in my head that the lower bearing might be worn or the thrust washer might be missing.
Here's a useful Ford diagram I found on line....

Ford Sierra Steering column by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr


So I removed the upper outer column which is just two bolts and I immediately saw the problem. The lower thrust washer (labelled B) was the wrong way round.
I swapped it over, bolted it back up and fitted the steering wheel. Problem gone completely with no perceptual play. I must have assembled it incorrectly about 8 years ago when I cleaned and painted the column.
I feel a bit of a dummy for doing this but really glad I found it now before the IVA test!!
More progress to report tomorrow....
Stay safe, Peter

Sometime the simplest jobs....

Thanks to Jack and Mick for your kind comments on last weeks update.
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I'm trying to complete two tasks per week and this weeks tasks looked like some easy wins.
My list simply said "recover windscreen trim and fit Interior light and mirror" what could be simpler?
First, I had to push the car out of my garage to access the loft above and the car is certainly getting heavier with so much now fitted. Luckily, the windscreen trim pieces were in the box that I packed them in 8 years ago! And on first sight didn't look to bad.....

Windscreen trim by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
Windscreen trim by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

But when I started to strip of the old covering I found the rain had soaked into the foam backing and rusted the metal former.....

Windscreen trim by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
Windscreen trim by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

So I first stripped of any remaining paint and glue with some paint stripper. I then coated it in some de-rust gel to remove most of the rust and after that sanded it smooth. A coat of rust converter and then some new black paint restored it back to almost new condition.
Then it was recovered with some new foam and cream vinyl. I then trail fitted the interior light and mirror before refitting to the car.

Windscreen trim by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Having connected up the interior light I decided to test it by connecting the battery. As I reconnected the battery there was a spark and a small pop sound. Hmmmmmmm
I checked the main fuse panel and sure enough Fuse 2 had blown which is the supply to the courtesy lights. The interior light has three connections Earth, Perm supply and switch supply. The colours of the wires match the Sabre loom so I just connected them up.

Interior light by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

It has three wires because like most interior lights it has a little slide switch which over rides the door switches. After a bit of head scratching and studying the switch I realised it was designed for a 'switched earth' circuit but the Sabre loom is a 'switched live' circuit. (This was my scribble on the bench)

Interior light connections by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

The simple solution was to swap to 'switched live' by swapping the purple (permeant supply) and the black (earth) wires. The wires are soldered to the light fitting so quite easy to de-solder and swap the wires over.

Finally, I could screw it all back in position....

Interior light and mirror by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

So I got my tasks done this week but it took much more time than expected but it's all part of the fun

Until next week, stay safe, Peter

Doors, locks and latches.....

For once my lack of updates is because I've been very busy in my garage. I finally decided to tackle the re-assembly of the doors. The original builder had made a start on the doors but I don't think they were ever finished as the locks didn't work and the electric windows weren't wired up.
For those of you not familiar with the Royale Sabre, the doors are a complex GRP moulding with an internal steel support frame. Working on the door locks is like key hole surgery and a pair of very long nose pliers are essential.

Drivers door by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

One of the benefits of my build being over an extended period , I've been able to accumulate new latches, exterior handles and internal handles. The doors are designed to use either Ford Sierra or Ford Granada locks and handles. I'm using Sierra latches and Granada handles as these are nice chrome versions of the cheaper black plastic Sierra ones. It's a bit of an adventure as the build manual leaves little detail on how the latches and handles should be assembled.
The locks are fiendishly complicated to understand how they operate and I hoped it would become clearer once they are connected.

Drivers door lock1 by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

The tab on the left with the red clip is for the external key lock. The other left tab with the yellow clip is for the external handle. The tabs on the right are for the internal handle and lock. Ford designed them with a primitive central locking system but I have decided not to use this for a number of reasons and I figured that on a two door car it wasn't really a problem.
I manged to source new locks from Germany.

Drivers door lock2 by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

The Royale build manual advises that it's not possible to use the original Ford lock barrels as the GRP doors are thicker than the Sierra steel door skins. The ones that came fitted to the car are very rusty so I bought these off a stall at Stoneleigh. The tab is far too large and had to be modified.

Lock barrel 2 by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

The Ford lock 'red tab' has a total travel of only18mm so I had to create something that translates 180 degree rotation to a 18mm travel. This is the third option that I came up with and seems to work. The small bush in the centre is welded to the tab but is a bit rough as I had the welder turned up too high. The washers at the base are Araldited on just to hold them in place while the 5mm countersunk screw is tightened.

Drivers door lock adapter by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

With the key lock and adapter in place I then had to bend up an operating rod to connect the two. Here it is shown in the locked and unlocked position.

Drivers door lock rod 2 by Sabrebuilder, on FlickrDrivers door lock rod 1 by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
Rotate the key and it is in the locked position. The metal bar in the middle is part of the steel internal door frame. Bending and shaping the rods is a very tedious and frustrating job with much cursing.

Next, I fitted the exterior handle....

Exterior Locks by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
And then bend up another rod to connect the extrior handle to the latch mechanism. The original Ford rod turned out to be the right length but the wrong shape so with more bending and more cursing...

Outside handle actuator rod 1 by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
Outside handle actuator rod 2 by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
So now I had an external key barrel lock and handle that seemed to work so I moved on the fit the interior handle....
The original builder had used the Sierra handles but I wanted to use Granada chrome handles.
Interior door handles by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

It soon became obvious that I need to fit the door card to get the position and height of these handles correct. Here's the GRP door card being fitted to align the interior door handle.

Door card by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

I've fixed the interior door handle with these two strips of galvanised steel.

Interior handle fixing 1 by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

And then make up another actuating rod from the handle to the latch....
NOTE: the following fitting is incorrect. Please see Post #538 below for the correct fitting.
Interior handle actuator rod by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
Which had to be supported half way along with one of the original Ford clips.

Interior handle actuator rod by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

At this point I decided not to fit the actuator rod for the internal lock as with a soft top car this would be a security risk. It would be easy to put a wire or stick between the top and window and flick the lock off.
But now I was stuck as the logic of the Ford latch mechanism didn't work.
To cut a long story short I found adding a spring in place of the interior lock appears to work.

Interior handle actuator rod by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

The spring allows the fourth operating leaver on the latch to be moved when unlocking with the key and pulls it back to the locked position when the key is moved to the locked position.
Difficult to put it into words but it appears to work.

This has to have been the most frustrating part of the build but I feel I'm nearly there.
Of course, I've still got to tackle the electric windows but I may do the locks on the passenger door while I can remember how I did it!

So until the next update, stay safe........

Peter

That must be the most complicated door of any kit car! And the fibreglass mouldings are amazing. I wonder if they were made from a mould taken from a "real" steel door? If not they must have taken many many many hours to design and make.
Looking forward to seeing the end result!

Cheers Robin

Yes, it surely is. It doesn't look exactly like any Sierra doors I've seen on line but I'm guessing that this must have been the starting point. Perhaps they modified a steel door and then took a mould?
As you say, the amount of work creating all the drawings, jigs, tooling and moulds for the Sabre must have been a huge project. John Barlow (the designer) must have envisaged selling a much higher number of kits than the 150 that were made. Even the door cards are a custom moulded GRP part.

Not a huge amount of progress since my last update but I have now fitted the grab handle to the drivers door.
The grab handles are screwed to a threaded plate that sits behind the door's inner skin. But the grab handles and securing plates were missing from my car, presumably lost somewhere along the way?

As the grab handle support plates were missing , I made some up from 4x35mm bar simply because this is what I had in my stash. The outer two holes are threaded to take 5mm fixing screws and the two inner holes are to fix the plate to the door inner door skin.

Grab handle and support bar by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

You then fix the door trim panel in place and drill the holes through the trim panel and inner door skin to get the holes aligned.
The support plate is then pop rivetted to the inside of the inner door panel. The pop rivets are just to hold the plate in place until the fixing screws are done up. A very neat solution.

Grab handle fixing by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

The keen eyed might notice that the self tapping screws I used to fix the inner handle have now been replaced with M4 nuts and bolts. The original builder had used self tappers but the RMC build manual says to use nuts and bolts and who am I to argue with John Barlow!

I've started fitting the locks to the passenger door now, so no updates for a while...

Until then, stay safe,

Peter

Taking a break from working on the door locks and latches I decided to refit the dashboard surround which I haven't done since recovering it.
I then discovered that the heater demist pipes fouled against the body tub just below the windscreen. A quick check in the build manual confirmed that these should have been fixed at 45 degrees.
I had to remove them and refit correctly like this...

Demister vent connection hose by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Then I was able to refit the surround and dashboard....

Dashboard and surround by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

And just for future reference this is the surround's centre mounting fixing.

Dashboard surround support fixing by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Once the steering column controls wiring is securred I can then test it all again

Until then, stay safe.........

Peter

Not much progress in August due to grandchildren school holidays, days out and a short holiday.

But I did have some garage time yesterday and fitted and tested the windscreen wipers. The dashboard and steering column switches are all back in so I was able to give the engine a good run and I was pleased to find it started first try.
When I first installed the wiper system I had no windscreen so was not able to fit and test the arms and blades.

I started with the usual safe test with drinking straws to check the sweep angles looked ok.
(You will have to click on the picture to see the video clip)

Windscreen wipers 2 by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr


That looked okay so I proceeded to fit the arms and blades. The arms need to be shortened and the crank angle tweaked to get the blades close to the windscreen lower edge. I started with the far left wiper arm and worked my way across.

Wndscreen wipers 1 by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Despite all the rain yesterday I was testing inside with a bottle spray so the real test will be in the real rain :-)

Progress will be slow over the next few weeks so that's all for now,
stay safe,

Peter

Okay, so here's a quick update of what I've been up to in my garage....

Apart from the pull handle fixing, I've finished the locks on the passenger door.
(Glad that's over as it's the fiddliest of jobs)

Passenger door by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

The cut out for the passenger door latch had been poorly cut so I had to fill it, reshape it and paint it before installing the Ford latch. I had sourced some brand new Ford fixing screws but they were too short due to the thickness of the GRP. But I found some yellow passivated Torx screws on ebay that look professional. I also bought some matching yellow passivated bolts for the door crash protection bars fixing.

Door latch by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

When I first installed the engine I used a two port heater valve between the engine and the Sierra heater matrix.
It dawned on me one day that this was a potentially a big mistake as it means the coolant doesn't circulate through the BMW M52 cylinder head when the heater valve is closed. Whilst looking for a solution on ebay I came across a VW/Audi three port valve that was similar to the two port valve I used initially.

Heater valve comparison by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Luckily, the new three port valve is almost identical in size to the original, the same mounting hole dimensions and has the same electrical connector, making it a relative easy swap.

New heater two way valve by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Here's the new valve installed. The main work was re-routing the hoses and adding an additional return flow hose for when the valve is shut.

New two way valve installed by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Hose work complete. The air vent had to be repositioned due to lack of space.

New heater valve installation by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

I've wired up this temporary switch to control the heater control valve. Testing confirmed that I can now switch the coolant on and off through the heater matrix.

Temporary heater control switch by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

That's all for now........

....peter

I'm now back working on the doors again......
The next job on the list is to refit the door windows and their electric winding mechanisms.
I started by refitting the window channels and some new velvet covered rubber channel runners. I then trial fitted the window glass and quickly discovered that it clashed with interior handle control rod. It was then that I realised the control rod has to be fitted above the inner door skin (i.e. between the inner door skin and the door trim panel). At first this looked like a lot of re-work but I manged to rebend the existing rod and cut a new slot for the supporting clip.
This is how it is supposed to be fitted....

Internal handle control rod by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

A couple of hours of knuckle scrapping and it was re-fitted correctly.

Also, potentially fouling on the window glass was the nut and bolt I fitted to stop the lateral movement of the handle. The new arrangement consists of an aluminium strip bolted to the handle and then fixed to the inner skin well away from the window glass.

Internal handle fixing by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

The window glass now slides up and down smoothly, without any issues.

I'm now working on fitting the weather strip but I also need to fit the chrome strip and the wing mirror as you can't get to the fixing nuts of these once the glass is in place.

Until next time, stay safe..........

............peter

Work continues on my the doors for my Royale Sabre.....

The original chrome decorative trims are badly corroded and didn't shine up when polished with chrome polish.
When I bought the unfinished Sabre it came with an incomplete set of new trims. I have decided to use the new trims on the doors but they had the remains of the welded on connections for the chrome plating process. It took me a good few hours with a 'dremel' type grinding wheel and a set of needle files to remove all the debris.

Door Chrome decorative trim by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Door Chrome decorative trim by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

The original chrome strips had fixing studs welded or maybe braised to the strip.
The new strips have a slot but no fixings in the box.
Whilst looking for a solution, I found that if I shaved the top off a m4 button head screw it would slide into the slot but would rotate when you tried to tighten them. So I got some flange head stainless steel screws and by shaving the head and then grinding off two parallel edges these homemade fixings slide into the slot but don't rotate when tightened. It took me about an hour to make 8 fixings.

Chrome trim fixing by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Here's the first chrome strip now fixed in place.....

Door Chrome decorative trim by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Moving on, I next tackled the mounting of the 'wing' mirrors.
I'm using Tex 'e' approved wing mirrors to avoid any issues at the IVA test. I had to profile the back of plinth to match the curvature of the door.
Nothing seems simple on these doors!

Wing mirror mounting plinth by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

I refitted the window channels and trimmed the new flocked rubber window channels to the door top profile. Filing out the top of the doors to match the shape of the channels is another tedious time consuming process.
I then moved on to fitting the window glass weather strip....
The weatherstrip was cut to size, trimmed at the ends to fit over the channels and then fixed to the door with small self tapping screws along it's edge. (poor photo warning..)

Door window weatherstrip by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

I'm now moving on to re-installing the electric lift mechanism and windows....
Until next update, stay safe........

...peter

So, next up is the re-installation of the window lift mechanisms and windows.

First, I washed out all the old grease and generally cleaned up the mechanisms. I then re-greased all bearings and gears. The original builder had already modified the mechanisms with the new upper stop plate and removed the lower stop plastic insert as per the build manual. I then fitted new plastic wheels (thanks, Mike) and liberally coated the wheels and the runners with new grease.

Window winder mechanism installation by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr


Then, following the build manual instructions I fitted them to the door and windows. The instructions worked fine for the drivers door but for the passenger door I couldn't get the wheels on to the window runners. I ended up dismantling the mechanism from the plate, fitted its wheels to the window runners and then installed the plate afterwards. Not easy but it is just possible to install it this way.

Window down.......

Window fitted - down by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Window up............

Window fitted - up by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Both mechanisms work fine and appear to stop at the right places although I won't know that for certain until the doors are re-hung on the car.

All was fine until I realised that I had forgotten to fit the chrome strip to the passenger door
All I can say is it's quicker when you've done it before

Until next time, stay safe........

.......peter

Not a lot of garage time over the last week or so, but I was keen to tick of a couple of items of my task list.
One quick job on the list is to fix a label specifying the type of brake fluid which is required for the IVA.

Brake Fluid Label by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

This is a little bit of 'belt and braces' as the little yellow symbol on the brake reservoir cap should be sufficient but it is a little bit faded and I didn't want a potential failure point for the price of a sticker.

Next, having used the 'new' chrome strips on the doors, I decided to swap the chrome strips on the bonnets to match. I made up some more modified fixing screws but then realised the new strips didn't have any holes for the bonnet catch pins. Luckily, I had found the pins in the box of bits that came with the car.

Bonnet Catch Pin by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

With the strips in place I could drill the holes for the catch pins through the bonnets.

Bonnet Catch by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Very pleased with the end result now they are all in place.

Not exactly huge progress but it's nice to cross another couple of items off my list.

Until next update, stay safe...........

...........peter

Looks good, like the precision / detail on stuff like this.

Your achievement

Enjoying myself everytime I read about your procedure, reasoning and achievment and wish I was 20 years younger.
Wishing you all the very best with your project, it is wonderful.
Also take this opportunity to wish you your family and all your followers a happy Chrismas and a prosperous 2022 and may we soon get rid of this wretched Virus.

Hi Amir,
thank you for your feedback and I'm glad you enjoy reading my updates.
May I also wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and safe New Year.
Let's hope we all get back to some kind of normal in 2022!
cheers, Peter

Not a lot happening in my garage at the moment but I do have one more update for this year.............(to follow....)

One more update....

Not a lot happening in my garage at the moment but with six grandchildren I've been kept busy helping Santa getting ready for Christmas.

But I have just time for one more update...

Call it a bumper Christmas edition , if you like......

Way back in the first Covid lockdown back in May 2020 (remember that?) I worked on the centre consul but I never got around to putting the pictures on here. I started with this from a Ford Sierra that I picked up from ebay for a few pounds.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

It didn't really fit the Sabre but it had a useful armrest and cubby hole/storage compartment. So, I cut two pieces of plywood and balanced the armrest on top to see if it looked okay.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Happy that it looked okay. I carefully cut the plastic storage compartment from the old Sierra part and fitted it between the two plywood sides.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Trying it out with the armrest which is hinged to the cubby hole.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

I then cut two more sides to double the thickness of the sides and curved the top edges.
I then made up a piece of plywood with a slot for the handbrake and an aluminium plate to take the window switches.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

I then filled the screw holes and smoothed all over. Followed by a coat of quick drying clear varnish.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

To cover it in vinyl, I started by making a brown paper template. I was keen to cover it in one piece without a join.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

The shape of the brown paper template was then transferred to the back of a piece of cream vinyl.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

The vinyl was then cut to shape.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

I then started gluing with contact adhesive from the back face.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

This is the adhesive I used from Woolies.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

This is part way through the trimming and gluing.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Looking good......

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Lining the storage box was very tricky with glue getting everywhere.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

I then covered the handbrake gaiter cover.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

I then covered the switch plate and fitted the switches.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

I then re-covered the armrest with some closed cell foam.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

Progress so far. I need to cover the armrest in vinyl and make a gaiter for the handbrake.
Something for another day when the weather is a little warmer.

Centre Consul/Armrest by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr


Well that's all folks for 2021

Nice work on the centre console, trimming takes a lot of skill to get it right.

Sadly that's a skill I have yet to acquire - back in '89 I tried to fit a headlining and ended up with my head glued to the inside of my beetle.

Anyway, have a good Christmas and enjoy all your grandkids, especially the bit where you get to give them back

Happy christmas everyone!

I'm back!

Well after Christmas and the new year I took a short break from car building to carry out some important home improvements. Still got lots to do but my New Year resolution is to 'finish' my Sabre this year, so I better crack on ......

So, I was back in the garage this week tackling something I wasn't really happy with last year.....
Whilst browsing the internet over Christmas I came across these motorised door lock mechanisms. There are multiple sellers on ebay but this set cost me just

Remote door locks by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

And for an additional

Remote door locks by Sabrebuilder, on Flickr

And for an additional

I'm back!

Well after Christmas and the new year I took a short break from car building to carry out some important home improvements. Still got lots to do but my New Year resolution is to 'finish' my Sabre this year, so I better crack on ......

So, I was back in the garage this week tackling something I wasn't really happy with last year.....
Whilst browsing the internet over Christmas I came across these motorised door lock mechanisms. There are multiple sellers on ebay but this set cost me just

SECOND TRY, STILL NOT WORKING>>>>

Aaaaaaargh!!

Sorry folks but this website is broken and it's not possible to post without multiple tries and editing.

JG can you take a look at what's wrong?

'Preview' works fine but when you hit the 'submit reply' it looses most of the post'