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I like your recessed floors. I'm going to recess the front pans rather more than the rear to accommodate my floor mounted pedals, which will also give me a bit more legroom than I'd otherwise have.
I can now also see how you'll be able to fit your seats with your centre outrigger where it is. on my shell, the rear 4" of the space you have your seats in is occupied by the front edge of the rear seat/luggage area, which is shaped to give that part of the shell some strength. Hopefully you can just about see what I mean in this pic -
The good thing for you, of course, is that you have a blank canvas so you can shape the structure inside and out to fit around what you want under it, while I somehow have to fit the parts I want into the existing shell. I did toy with the idea of putting a straight six up front but it'd have intruded too far into the cockpit once it was moved back far enough to clear the bonnet at the front.
I'll measure my engine later to see how it compares with the Mazdo motor, but I'm sure you'll get it to fit somehow.
Anyway, haven't you got some fishing to do? I think maybe you could do with some rest and relaxation, it's nothing to do with you showing me up by racing forward with a similar project to the one I've had sat in my garage for nearly four years. No, honestly...
lol yep going fishing this weekend so will not be on the cars. I looked at the floor pans and thought maybe I should lower the front too. But that's an easy alteration to do when they are fixed at the mo I can lift them out until I know what pedals I am using they can stay as is. I looked at beetle pedals but the driving position is much higher . pedal boxes are very expensive for what they are. I picked up a good 1600cc mk1 mx5 so weather and delivery permitting I will be shoehorning the engine in before fishing wish me luck
Just for reference, my Triumph engine is 560mm tall from the bottom of the sump to the top of the rocker cover, while the top of the rocker cover is 510mm above the top of the chassis, measured from the side rails just behind the front suspension turrets.
Just for reference, my Triumph engine is 560mm tall from the bottom of the sump to the top of the rocker cover, while the top of the rocker cover is 510mm above the top of the chassis, measured from the side rails just behind the front suspension turrets.
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what's 40mm between friends car should be here for 1ish tomorrow if the weather holds out it will be out the car quicker than I can fit it.I will at least be able to say yes or know to it fitting without making changes to the body
quick update we have an engine what a bugger to get in fouled on everything but its in and sat on engine mounts. Need to refit the alternator it will need ether a belt tensioner at the other side or fab a new bracket. more to follow latter
whoop whoop look what's just arrived for the US of A . we now have door handles lights hinges badges bonnet handle and a complete windshield frame. dose not look a lot for a grand still arrived in less than a week. need to by a screen now so I can set the frame to it and finish the dash.more spending oh and a petrol tank the mx5 one is bloody massive lol takes up most of the boot .
bit of progress this week foot pedals fitted, I've cut some steel plate out with the plasma cutter to hold everything in place welded some 30mm box section to it and in turn welded that to the chassis then fibreglass it in so its going nowhere. when the engine is next out I will glass it in from the back and make everything pretty on the engine fire wall side. after setting the pedals I dint like the foot potions so I have also sloped the floor off in the foot well that works better. also fitted the handbrake and steering column.back of the passenger fire wall has loads of room none at all on drivers side so I will make up a shelf for the battery etc. need to find a petrol tank so I can Finnish the boot off. next weeks job after fishing weekend.
finally got a petrol tank so set about making a cradle to hold it in while trying to keep it low in the boot. the boot is a good size in these because it should be the engine and I want to keep as much of it as possible.
Now the tank is in I can start forming the boot floor and walls, from the inside its starting to look like a car.
made a center tunnel to cover the gearbox and split it so it easily comes out easy also formed the rear seat still needs a lot of work . and yep I do need some more fiberglass
Cardboard and lino are out so it must be time to start on the boot,the hover box has a glossy wax coating brill for glassing it dose not stick. bit of very basic framework to hold it all in place 3 lairs of 600 csm and a lair of woven and we have part of a boot and wheel arches.
I am going to run out of resin already used my 5th tin this year, plan is to get as much as I can in with just one lair of csm then when I have more resin thicken it all in one hitainkiller:
I have made a fiberglass cover for the tank to protect all the vitals loads of tape and cardboard should just pull off when its all hard. just need to trim it down and tech screw it in place so I can always get at the tank.
car will have a lovely rear end when its all finished lol;
I needed an ignition switch but it was just as cheap to buy a complete power steering column off a corsa so we now have power steering. Need to change the steering wheel but not sure stock bug or chrome and wood.
good week on ebay bought a set of wheel adapters 40quid so I can look at getting the wheels on. Plus a full roll of core mat and two 25l tins of resin 90 quid always worth scanning fleby for anything close. should have my ZGT for September so that will be a busy month for now going fishing so no action till then.
Wow, such fast progress is making me dizzy! I take it the Corsa column has electric power assistance rather than hydraulic? Would be a nice mod for a six-pot car on wide tyres, are there any issues connecting it to the rack?
yep electric power assistance they sell controllers on flebay around £15 from memory its like a volume button more power more assistance. all lines up bang on using part mx5 in the middle. I fitted one on my Chevy they work a treat and are as cheap as chips
evening all well I am back off my hols my Zgt is going to be a while yet so some more time on the speedster. wheel spacers have arrived so I fitted the wheels I must have done something right they are bang on for distance from the arch both sides. I am not 100% happy with the area in blue I made it flatter first. Then changed it to what you see still not 100%
so now wondering should I go whole hog and put a roof on it. it would make it more usable and they are just as cool with a roof ,,,any thoughts anyone
Wheels look great, the rear 'hump' does look closer to the 911 cabriolet than the 356 but, based on what you've achieved so far, it shouldn't take too much work to flatten its curve.
Coupe would look great but sourcing and matching all the side glass and rear screen with frames and trim could become an expensive pain.
ok so I do fancy a coupe but need to think glass first VW beetle 1303 has a curved screen but I think it will be to high. shame I can get a full set of stock glass flat screen for £70 not to far away. Morris minor back window looks more in proportion easy to get just need to find one I can measure. MGB frame with glass but I think to straight.side and rear not so much a problem its getting the front right so any others I could look at.
split screen still has a curve on the edges so would it still work with just flat glass and look as good
loving the flat bonnet look too but dont think it would cover the engine big bump with a vent maybe now that would spark questions lol
I tried to buy some parts from the Speedster Clinic a year or two back. The order wouldn't go through on their website and I couldn't get a response from them from their contact details.
If you can get hold of them and they are still trading they'd be a great source of parts at reasonable prices in the UK.
ainkiller: 
