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.
Drew a line under the cooling system today by fitting an electric fan from a Discovery . Its bolted to an extra tube fitted between the frame at the front and 4 tags to pick up on the bolt holes ...easily removed if the rad needs to come out anytime ...
Gear knob arrived ...The Hurst shifter and round ally gear knob really look the part ...
I'm waiting on a new 121mm hole saw and the rest of the gauges ...I can then cut out the dash panel , fit gauges etc...
I also fitted number plate lights , refitted the rear lights ( properly ) , fitted striker plates and fitted seat belts so that I can make the templates for the cover panels and also the ones to box off the door shut to bulkhead area ..
Here's a better picture showing how the new door styling will look ..not bonded yet , but easy to see how they differ to the number 1 version on Graham's car ...
Dash starting to take shape .......offset steering column is a necessary requirement to make the setup work with seating and pedal positions dictated by the Scimitar chassis ...when sat in the car it is no worse than the offset steering on the Vitesse and Herald built cars , but in a picture without the steering wheel in place looks a bit odd ...
set of after market gauges , chrome toggles , dash mounted battery cut out switch and a floor mounted dipper switch all help keep it looking period .
''Lucas'' Battery fitted and I have started to run battery leads etc...
Getting close to tackling the dreaded wiring .......
not huge but you can get a tyre inflating aerosol , brolly , pac a mac and your sandwiches in there ..!!
Made a start on the aluminium work in the cockpit too ... got the tunnel fully clad with the top main section and the piece around the gearshifter removable and an inspection hatch in the side of the tunnel to gain access to the shift linkages ...
The panel for the ignition , starter button and indicator switch is removable too for ease of wiring up and future access....
I also started to fit side pieces , door pillar to rear bulkhead closing panel etc.
I want to run the wiring through the cill area under this aluminium strip , so will bond it to the body once the wires are in place ..
Seat belt panels will be fitted when the seat belt grommets I have ordered arrive ...Land Rover Discovery ones ..seat belts can go in at the same time ...
Still got lots of aluminium to fit , but it is starting to take shape ....
Got about half a day in on the car today ... I'm waiting for the bonnet to come back , not a problem , as there is plenty to do , but its all the boring , non photogenic stuff really ...
I am rubbish at wiring ...I am not confident with it , I can fault find , wire up ignition system , indicators , horn , lights etc...all as individual jobs , but when faced with a total re-wire I go cold ...I will be getting assistance with it , but in the meantime , I have fitted the fuse board , ran the front loom to the front , left the dash bit hanging in the footwell and ran the rear one through the passenger cill area to the rear and have connected up the rear lights , incorporating a series of linked earth wires all bolted through the chassis at a common point ...
I got the passenger door skin bonded on ...
and have made a start on the drivers door ...I bonded the bottom edge on as it lines up nice ..when this has cured I can bond the front edge then the rear as a separate task as the skin has a slight twist in it and bonding front and rear separately can correct this ..its minimal , but the skins line up so nicely generally , its a shame not to do it properly rather than just glue it in one go ....
finished the day faffing around with the air filter that needs modifying to clear my homemade throttle and choke bracketry and had a bit of a play with the seat belt grommets ...
My first kit car wiring job was pretty poor attempt but it did work and was reasonably reliable. For my second build I planned ahead a little and had an idea after looking through some old Haynes manuals. My dad had a HC Viva once, the wiring drawing was really simple and easy to understand. That loom was the basis for all my subsequent builds, even to this day. Combined with a second idea, to use quality trailer cable the whole thing came together. I run a single length of trailer cable to the rear, rear lights sorted. A second run to the front, that's the front lights sorted. A third run into the engine bay and that's most of the engine bits sorted. There are a few variables but most kit cars only need a very simple loom and this idea has worked for me.
Car is booked into paint for 21st May or thereabouts ...A prolific Sammio builder locally has been given the job ...Eric sorted it out and told me today ...so I have to find a day to do some final snagging before she goes !!
She will have her wiring dealt with at the same time as I don't really do full wiring jobs ... looking forward to seeing her afterwards ...
Car went off to Bisto34's workshop yesterday ...
All strapped down and ready to leave ...
The extra length of the long nose is very evident when the car is viewed at this angle and height ...
The car is expected to be away for a month to 6 weeks , paint , wiring and MOT work etc... a bit of fitting up afterwards and she should be good to go ...
I will update with bodyshop pictures as she progresses ...
The car is pencilled in for a magazine feature as soon as she is ready ...
Not 100% sure it would work. Understand the red (obviously) and the grey but fancy something individual and it has always been my favourite E-type colour by far.
