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Ericholm 250 SWB Build thread

23 Aug 2015, 5:49pm
I've lots of electrics and tinkering to do before I get to the doors, also take rear-end off and refit, specifically getting the Fuel cap and filling fitting correct so the body goes flush.....Also not sure how the door skins go on? I know there is lots more fiddling to do with locking systems, so getting a lot more done before attempting that. Will start listing lots of parts on ebay now to clear some space.
23 Aug 2015, 6:04pm
Good to see you today Andy, hope you found some other useful parts as well as the spot lights.
Due to head gasket troubles on my other car, I should be jamming some camping gear into the 250 and going to Ipswich for the Street Rod Nationals this coming Bank holiday weekend. Well worth a day out on the Sunday (public day) with several hundred hot rods, customs, American cars and even a lookalikeish Ferrari!

Cheers, Bob.
23 Aug 2015, 8:10pm
Nice to see you too Bob!

Today I bought £185 worth including:

  • 2 x Lucas L576 Fog lamps
  • 40 x male and 40 female crimp connectors
  • 8 x flexible cable clamp/ties
  • Spring compressors
  • Fine drill bit for detailing
  • Stepped hole cutters for drill
  • Set of Bullet wing mirrors
  • 2 x cans for satin black spray
  • Boot latch switch for boot interior light
  • 2 x chrome washer jets
  • Cig lighter and USB adaptor
  • 1 x hotdog and 1 xCheeseburger and a bottle of Sprite
  • 2 x Front number plate screws
  • Large bag of 4mm long screws and locking nuts


Probably some more things but can't remember :eyebrows:
23 Aug 2015, 8:34pm
ericholm wrote:
Today I bought £185 worth including:
1 x hotdog and 1 xCheeseburger and a bottle of Sprite


A proper 2 course meal :smile:
23 Aug 2015, 8:41pm
y cymro wrote:
A proper 2 course meal :smile:


Well it was our Sunday lunch so I had to splash out :pop2::pizza: :bounce:
23 Aug 2015, 9:52pm
ericholm wrote:
More adjustment to the front end today means that I get get the bonnet all the way down and locked, just some adjustments to do to line it up.

DSCN4519 by eric holm, on Flickr

As always loads more photos on: https://www.flickr.com/photos/134265488@N05

Also went to Newark Autojumble today and got lots more lovely parts for the build, can you believe I bumped in to Hurnleft! :biggrin:

And there was a red tribute MX5 250 GTO there, what were the odds!


Are you keeping a log of your build time ? Just wondering the KitCar article this month quotes around 320 hours ! Assuming you have the parts to hand I can't see why it would take that long . If I were working a 40 hour week on this car conversion I would say a maximum 4 week build or 160 hours including prep and paint at about 5 days.
23 Aug 2015, 10:11pm
Sorry no time sheets being filled out, not sure of the purpose of that for me that is. Am keeping track of spend and will release all figures at end of build. My time is free and not costed also I think everyone has their own pace. I spent months working every now and then on the interior and also prep'ing the car before the build, brakes, springs, etc. I think the poeple who can best advise are those doing it all the time and probably take their pace and double or treble it for a first timer.

I guess I have had around 7 full days on mine since the kit arrived on 1st Aug, it will give you an idea. 1st timers are going to make some mistakes as well as there is no manual! just this great forum, without it I would be loathed to take it on.

I know my 2nd one will go together much faster! :flame:
24 Aug 2015, 8:14am
Looking good.

I am trying to work out what you had to remove / re-position at the front to get the bonnet to clear.

In this first photo it looks like you just removed the power steering cooling loop and the fan cover but in the photo from your flickr page it looks like you removed the fan altogether (I can only link to your flickr pics).


https://www.flickr.com/photos/134265488@N05/20809972372/in/photostream/

If you did have to remove the whole fan, are you planning the Land Rover replacement Chris has talked about or something else?

I will be doing this to mine soon so very interested.
24 Aug 2015, 8:31am
WorldClassAccident wrote:
Looking good.

I am trying to work out what you had to remove / re-position at the front to get the bonnet to clear.

In this first photo it looks like you just removed the power steering cooling loop and the fan cover but in the photo from your flickr page it looks like you removed the fan altogether (I can only link to your flickr pics).


https://www.flickr.com/photos/134265488@N05/20809972372/in/photostream/

If you did have to remove the whole fan, are you planning the Land Rover replacement Chris has talked about or something else?

I will be doing this to mine soon so very interested.


Good morning!

I had to remove the whole fan and cover, grind/cut away some panels and re position the pipes, I took photos all the way and the one you see above shows the front end resting on the fan housing so it is not all the way down.

As I dont know yet how much space is between the back of the new grill and the radiator I don't know if I will be fitting any fan there yet :icon_cry:

Cheers
24 Aug 2015, 9:00am
Thanks - I will be facing similar challenges. :-(

Can you trim the bonnet lip at all?

I will be asking the same questions on MobileRobbies thread as his obviously fits.
24 Aug 2015, 9:22am
Hold the grill in place, duct tape it and you see how much space you have, most difficult is cars with AC, since the fan cover is in the way, but take that away and you should be fine...
24 Aug 2015, 9:25am
You say we just need to remove the fan cover?

Eric is saying that he still doesn't get clearance.

Can you post any pictures of your car front with the bonnet raised so we can see how you have done it please. If you just post the links I can turn them into the pictures for you.

Thanks
24 Aug 2015, 9:26am
Eric; what switch did you ise for the bootlid light??
24 Aug 2015, 9:27am
To WCA: i have posted earlier something about the 2 different fans there can be mounted by BMW, but in both cases I got it all set up with the originals in place
24 Aug 2015, 9:28am
Hi,

I didn't want to trim the lip, but that was my fall back plan :icon_wink:

With my wheel sizes my ride height is going to be pretty high so the lip will be noticeable, although will likely be behind the reg plate.

I had most of the problem not with the fan, but the metal pipes and their position, luckily there was plenty of adjustment with the fitting brackets to persuade them to get out of the way!
24 Aug 2015, 9:30am
Yep, I got the cooling line in place by bending the brackets and refit them nearer the fan
24 Aug 2015, 9:31am
Ok. I guess I will wait until I get my bonnet and see how hard to hit things :-)
24 Aug 2015, 10:02am
mobilerobbie wrote:
Eric; what switch did you ise for the bootlid light??


Hi, I only bought it yesterday and have not fitted it yet, its on my long list of todo things :icon_wink:

i'll take a picture when I get to doing it and need to think about where and how to mount it also.
24 Aug 2015, 10:06am
WorldClassAccident wrote:
You say we just need to remove the fan cover?

Eric is saying that he still doesn't get clearance.

Can you post any pictures of your car front with the bonnet raised so we can see how you have done it please. If you just post the links I can turn them into the pictures for you.

Thanks


This one shows how much those pipes need to be into the car to get the clearance, anyhow for my car at least...Those pipes need to go as near to the Aircon radiator to make the front end come down nicely without any interference. BTW the bonnet is fully down in this picture

DSCN4473 by eric holm, on Flickr
24 Aug 2015, 5:04pm
hi Andy
Great to see it progressing. Im so pleased you went with the long exhaust tips. By the way Ive just bought a perfect pair of all black Rover 75 seats which are much lower as they are manual adjustment. Im going to fit them to mine. I believe they came from an early model. Did you see the article in Complete Kitcar magazine?
24 Aug 2015, 8:25pm
Hey Richard! hope you are well and probably feed up of answering the phone as it must be ringing off the hook. I have seen the magazines, 2 of them only online, haven't been through WHSmith recently as been out of country and now back at work:whip:

Will pick up a copy when going though the airport next. From the photos Iv'e seen it looks amazing and gives me that little bit of inspiration encouragement we all need in the middle of a build.

Ha ha we can joust when we meet next :fencing: with our cars in reverse :thumb:

Yep all going well and loads more parts turned up today including bump stops for rear suspension, just waiting for extra thick pads and coil overs so can fit, hopefully I can get the issue with ride height and wheels sorted.

I still have those seats, looks like there is no takers yet, what it needs is for them to be promoted somehow to get more interest in converting Rover 75 seats for use in a Z3... :eyebrows: or maybe someone passing Milton Keynes who needs a pair may take pity on me and give me 1 metre square space back in my overloaded garage. :pray:
25 Aug 2015, 8:10pm
Boot switch pictures,

About 70mm in length, sprung loaded, normally closed when switch at full height (i.e. when boot open)

£2.00 from Newark auto jumble

Archived forum photo
Archived forum photo
Archived forum photo
Archived forum photo
Archived forum photo
28 Aug 2015, 5:56pm
Just a little "over-tyred" at the rear???

Looks good with the door skins on though.

Seeing the registration on that VW- should've got a Z300S ???