Skip to main content

MadaboutKitcars

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.

Mister Towed's Tai Chi build

17 Jan 2013, 10:07am
if it take years to do and u r enjoying it, that's all that matters.. then the fun with start ....and when u look back you have done it all your self ....and thats just great as a lot of guys have no idea how to change a plug ... let alone build a car well done dave
17 Jan 2013, 10:50am
looking good cant wait to see it in paint.:bounce:
17 Jan 2013, 12:13pm
That's a coincidence. I went through your thread from Page 1 on Tuesday because I realised that I had joined the forum when you were on about Page 25.

As you say, when progress isn't as swift as you would like, it is worth reminding yourself what you have done (and learned) whilst doing a full-time job and dealing with life in general.

Top car building!
17 Jan 2013, 12:36pm
Thanks for the support guys, it's much appreciated. I'm also glad I've been able to help a few people along the way. Should be more progress from me once the snow clears...
17 Jan 2013, 2:09pm
No rush, T... you'll be tinkering with the car for years.
17 Jan 2013, 2:12pm
When I was toying with the idea of fitting larger brakes on mine from the outset (I have a spare set of Vitesse uprights and calipers), a friend said, "Don't. If you do it now, what will you have to do when the car is finished? This is a life project, there's no need to rush." He is right.
17 Jan 2013, 2:24pm
I must admit being a lot more patient with this build, but that is mostly because i am married and can't just pay for things willy nilly.
17 Jan 2013, 2:26pm
Being married often prevents anything willy nilly.
17 Jan 2013, 7:52pm
Mister Towed wrote:
... I'm also glad I've been able to help a few people along the way...

You sure have. :cool:

And it is the journey you have made building your car which is so inspiring.

Good luck with the finishing touches, Paul. :)
20 Jan 2013, 10:03am
Yep, that looks pretty good. You'd just need to source or fabricate a front bulkhead (could a Cordite one be made to fit?) and find a propshaft and you'd have a really good basis for a Spyder. Nice one.
20 Jan 2013, 11:04am
I've just cut the bulkhead off the shell I'm using for Navigator demo 2. If anyone wants it I'll let it go for very little plus delivery. PM me if you want it.
21 Jan 2013, 8:56am
Won't be getting much done today due to weather and sore throat :(

I have just bought an aluminium, dual core Honda Civic radiator on ebay though for a total of £37 including delivery from, erm China...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121053777578?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

It's a bit of a risk as they've only got one sale under their belts and it's likely to take about three weeks to arrive, but even if the revenue people put vat and import duty on it it'll still be under fifty quid. :)

Sole reason for buying this is that I've knackered my standard Civic vti radiator. While I was making the bonnet hoop I managed to thump a three metre length of strap iron into the core near the top. :eusa_doh:

Two bottles of 'rad weld' haven't stopped it leaking when it gets up to temperature and now it's scrap :(

You can see the problem in this pic - the dark vertical line about four rows wide near the middle of the radiator is coolant seeping out.



A standard replacement would've been £40, but seeing as upgraded alloy ones have been selling on ebay for around £50 I thought I'd hold out for one of those. I'll let you know whether it's a worthwile buy when it arrives...
21 Jan 2013, 9:12am
be nice to see it when it comes... not a lot going on here as. work.. work.. work..getting a bit p/off now.. back in at 12 to day for more gritter driving ...get this out the way then back to work on cars.. hay then goodwood
21 Jan 2013, 10:35am
phil9 wrote:
be nice to see it when it comes... not a lot going on here as. work.. work.. work..getting a bit p/off now.. back in at 12 to day for more gritter driving ...get this out the way then back to work on cars.. hay then goodwood


You're doing a great job keeping the main roads clear round here, Phil, so thanks for that and keep up the good work. :hail:

I've just been outside and cleared the snow and ice of our daily drivers as my wife has to work this afternoon too and I wanted her to have the choice of her car or mine.

The real irony is that my Spyder is sat in a nice, dry garage, wearing brand new winter tyres. I chose them because a/ I liked the tread pattern, and, b/ because I've always found mud & snow tyres to be really grippy no matter what the road conditions - wet/dry/ even lanes covered in muck by Norfolk's land-owning Gentry. They just wear out faster than summer tyres, but that's not really an issue with these cars.

Anyway, can't wait to get my car on the road and really looking forward to Goodwood. :hippie:
21 Jan 2013, 4:21pm
Wife went to work at one-thirty, so I thought, sore throat be-damned! and went out into the garage to start tackling one of those little jobs that's been annoying me for a year or more, the side mirrors.

I don't know if anyone else has had issues with the location of their 'door' or wing mirrors? I have a vague recollection of Dave C possibly saying his were useless. I tried mine in several different places: on the 'door' tops; ahead of the fly-screen; a little way down the side of the body. No matter where I put them I couldn't get the required rear three-quarter view I wanted. the driver's side one usually gave me a great view of my right shoulder while I generally couldn't see anything at all out of the passenger side one, even if I could see the mirror, which I usually couldn't. :(

So, as I actually want to be able to see cars coming past me before I change lanes on the motorway I decided I needed to do something about it, and it occurred to me that if they were a bit higher they might actually be of some use. So, an hour with some sheet aluminium and a tape measure and I now have a 'streamlined' alloy pedestal for the driver's mirror that raises it three inches and puts it where it'll actually work as advertised.











I'll be making another for the passenger side tomorrow and I'm expecting them to blend in with the body pretty well once the silver paint's applied and the protective plastic is taken off the aluminium to leave it shiny.

I'd be interested in people's thoughts on this one, anyone got a better solution?
21 Jan 2013, 4:29pm
Just looking at my own pictures and I really rather like it, but I'm thinking I might 'box in' the sides for a more finished look.
21 Jan 2013, 4:34pm
I think that that is rather reminiscent of the way that they would have solved the problem in the 50s. We know how the D24 grew various bits and bulges as time passed.

As you were describing it in the text I was thinking that it might look odd, but from the pics, I totally agree with you. And, once the silver paint is on it will look very functional.

Most importantly of all, you will now see what is behind you. Nice job.

PS You've swapped the steering wheel.
21 Jan 2013, 4:50pm
That's the cheap nasty steering wheel that came with the donor. It's gone back on because I did a bit of fibreglassing round the edges of the cockpit the other day and didn't want to get resin on my shiny wooden one. :)

They ally mirror pedestal is really growing on me too, I wasn't too sure at first, but the more I look at it, the better it gets. Can't wait to make the second one now...
21 Jan 2013, 5:20pm
Agree with O, i think this is what you would have come up with the night before the big race... Scrutineers! i wouldn't box them in.
21 Jan 2013, 7:22pm
I like it!

I ended up positioning mine so that they looked nicest which meant that while I did get the drivers side useful, the passengers side was there largely just for decoration!

That said...... I found that when driving I normally just looked over my shoulders anyway, especially on the motorway!

I'm not sure about boxing them in, perhaps mock it up with cardboard just so you can "compare & contrast" :)
21 Jan 2013, 9:33pm
Mr T - I seem to have been looking at those photos for a while now trying to make up my mind. :rolleyes:

I guess having seen so many cars with the mirrors bolted directly to the body work it takes some getting used to.

It is the final shot showing the angles of mirror mount & the bonnet scoops that makes it work for me. :cool:

My only concern would be how easy would it be for some low life to nick them?

Cheers, Paul. :)

PS
Love the "Hall of Mirrors" self portrait reflection in the close up photo. :icon_wink:
21 Jan 2013, 10:09pm
Wow, a very similar idea on what looks like a period racer. Do you know what car they're on?