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.
Trouble with me is that, where engineering is concerned, I'm a bit of a perfectionist I'm afraid. My original plan of chucking a fun car together quickly is turning into a major detailing exercise. The reality is that I want this car to be as good as I can get it so I can enjoy it for years to come.
You are right Mr T, and I am the same, but I do know that when you are restoring rather than building a completely new car (ie a new "kit car" for example) you should be realistic and practical. I am building mine to enjoy, and have done everything I can think of to enjoy it (not repair/replace things every other week) for a long time hopefully.
I know that some things could be better, but then again, everything falls into that category, even the professional builders don't get it all right!
I really enjoy the build process, but can't sit and look at things for too long, I just have to get on and do it. I do a lot of 'planning' in my head, and on paper, and a lot of research, so when I embark on it, it ends up being straightfoward!
Anyway, I look forward to parking our Sammio's next to each other later this year then!
Just some black gloss engine enamel Chris.
Cleaned everything else up. I didn't want a multicoloured engine bay, I am not after a show winner, just clean and tidy and period looking.
A gallon of unleaded petrol and a paint brush one evening got everything clean!! Just had to keep the daughter out the garage as she smokes!
Wow, just add Sammio, metal framed designer sunglasses and Matt Monro singing 'On days like these' playing on the wireless for my idea of heaven. Just watch out for the bulldozer at the end of the tunnel.
Hi Tony,
regards your seat idea, excellent, that's what I want to do. Just be aware that there is a regulation in the MOT testers manual about folding seat that must lock in the up right position. The standard Heral seat just has a spring clip arrangement that supposedly keeps the seat from moving forwad. I would say there would be no nood for some complicated locking mechanism just something simple that stops the backrest flopping foreward. Of course if you are that way inclined you could use something like a simple bonnet catch type affair, which if you had a plain black knob cable like an aftermarket choke cable to release it, it would keep the back up and keep it locked so any potential thief would not know the seat folded. just an idea
OK GUYS, who's been messing about with my laptop key setting!!
OK, so I keep forgetting to check my spelling etc before I hit the submit reply button. Put it down to old age and excitement about a possible new(ish) chassis. Yeehaa!!
If its too dear to deliver, might have to throw a sicky and strap the thing to my pickup and hope I don't get involved in a prang! Mmmm what were you doing on the M6 130 miles from your sick bed Mr. Norris - Well, well, I, I, Don't know Boss, I must have been delirious!! Sleep driving
Rocker, I am going to make a steel frame which will be locked into position with a t-handle lock. The removable t-handle will have a place in my side pocket so the actual catch will be hidden adding a little extra security to my luggage compartment.
I am sure my ideas will change as I am almost at that stage now and will have a good look over the next week or so.
Looking very nice indeed. Any reason why you didn't angle the sides of the luggage bay out to the outboard uprights of the frame to make the usable space bigger?
Looking very nice indeed. Any reason why you didn't angle the sides of the luggage bay out to the outboard uprights of the frame to make the usable space bigger?
I didn't angle the sides as they would have hit the rear wheels. I did consider a curved side which would also double up as the inner wing, but decided I wanted to crack on rather then delay getting the steel box section properly shaped .
Ahh, I see. I'm aiming to maximise the luggage space on mine so I can tour it across Europe some day...
Me too Mr T. Although the bench back seat will need to be fitted a little further forward and tilted at the bottom so it will have a bit more storage behind that anyway.
My other half is getting used to travelling light as we have done some touring on my motorbike. So any more space is a luxury to her!
I have a friend with a hotel in Austria ([url]www.pensionhausmaria.com[/url]) and some friends in the Pyrenees ([url]www.lessorbiers.co.uk[/url]) where we are at the moment, so I hope to do a two week tour next year to spend a week in each.
Sorry for not reading back through your thread but are you planning to make your own bench seat? I only ask because I'm struggling to find a pair of seats I like the look of that are within my budget of cheap as possible, so I'm toying with the idea of making some seat frames myself and having them upholstered professionally.
Any reason why I can't make bomber style frames out of plywood and have them padded and upholstered?
Yep I am making my own seats for mine. Hence why I haven't lowered the floor pans. I am hoping to make up a folding bench seat back and then individual seat bases out of wood and foam which will be clipped in. Well that's the plan over the next few weeks anyway!
Started to get the wiring in this evening. I modified the Vitesse loom by stripping it down and then hanging it in the car where I wanted it, then wrapping it all up with black tape. I then extended or shortened the wiring where necessary, and soldered all the joints, covering them with heatshrink tubing. I used the same coloured/guage wires out of a couple of secondhand Triumph looms that I won on ebay. Hopefully that will help minimise any problems in the future.
I am putting in a centre console, so hence the mess in the middle for now. I will tidy that up later.
It is a lot easier with the body off, and I think I am nearly there now, with a couple of other minor bits to sort out.
I am tidying the wiring up considerably, by running all the engine bay cables low down and branching up where needed. Again all wrapped in black tape to hide it as much as possible.
Hopefully the weekend will be nice and as there won't be any fuel to get anywhere, I will have to stay at home and get the body fibreglassed on!
Ooh, miles and miles of electric string. Nightmare. At least it looks like you'll end up with a professional job if you're soldering and heat shrinking the additions to the loom. Keep up the good work!
Firstly I modifed the lowering block that comes from Gary. It comes as a box section which is open at both ends, and when I clamped it up, it bowed out and I was worried that it might work the bolts loose. Simple modification is to weld a plate on each end to stiffen it all up!
