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It's a big step cutting out the door shuts, cills and bulk head, but it really works with your seating position and roof arrangements.
The midget screen also works, did you consider the cobra screen at all?
No,
I always have intended this to be a budget build and midget bits really are cheap and cheerful (screen £20 and roof frame £30) so a replica cobra screen was definitely out. I considered an mgb screen but it would be a bit too wide as a cobra one might also be. I called Gary for a measurement of the g46 cockpit and obtained the width of a midget screen from a MG specialist. The two measurements were near enough as were the length of the door tops (thanks Gary) and a proportioned measurement from a scale mg midget drawing on google images. Based on that I ebay'd a screen and a hood frame. I also got a couple of rusty doors complete with all glass and winder mechanisms from a local classic restorer. As it turns out the sammio doors are slightly too long (one more than the other) so I will be shortening them a little. Concerns about being able to get in and out with the hood in place means that I am going to deepen the door skins by joining the part of the body below the door to the standard sammio door. This will make it easier to get my feet in and out and will allow the wind down windows to fully lower. The horizontal cut line in the photos above (80mm above the top of the chassis side rail) marks the bottom of the door / top of the door opening. The next step is to finish stripping the outer skin from the midget doors leaving the inner frame intact to be bonded into the extended sammio outer skin. This will give mounting points for the winder mechanism and window guides as well as hinge mounting points. I hope to use the scimitar hinges. As they designed to be mounted on flanges at right angles to the cars centreline some changes will be required to the 45 degree angled front door returns.
There, that's all of my current wish list out in the open!
With the two sides of the cut section moved back different amounts, the scuttle top was twisted so I cut it above the car's centreline. I then adjusted the screen position to get the edge where it meets the quarterlight pointing towards what will be the front shutline.
I then moved each side of the body to get the overall screen movement 5" to the rear and the screen square to the body. The right side ended up 6" back and the left side 4" back.
Hi Rob, thanks for asking. Build has been on hold since the beginning of this year. Since my wife decided to join me in retirement a year earlier than originally planned I have switched my attention to transplanting the innards of our old caravan into a newer van to provide a cheap motorhome to go travelling in. I hope to finish it in the next couple of months and then swap back to the car.
Reluctantly considering selling this project which hasn't moved any further forward since my last post. Any interest out there for this very rare (and unfinished car! )
Thanks micky. Basically as it is in my build thread but I will be keeping the engine and gearbox for another project. Best for anyone interested to pm me and then discuss over the phone as there is a lot to talk about. I.e. parts for and ideas about hood, doors, wind up windows etc. Chassis is se5a, new outriggers then galvanised. All suspension new ball joints and polybushed (except rear longitudinal links - original bushes good), all brakes overhauled, rear axle new seals, steering rack new boots & track rod ends.
I would direct postrenal buyer towards your thread as it explains very well exactly what they are getting .
As you intend to keep the engine/gearbox I can supply an original Ford V6 + overdrive gearbox which might help.
Personally, having built one I do not want to take on another one but I am interested in the rolling chassis.
