MadaboutKitcars

Ha ha ha classic very funny ed!

Looks great m, that's kind of what I've been planning. Glad to see it work. I'm also trying to think of how to successfully halve the windscreen to remove the passenger side section while driving solo.

T

Had it's first a run out today.

For these of you that have never taken a first drive in a car built by yourself just have a look at Viatron video clip!! it really is that scary and he was only driving around his yard

As I turned the first hard corner the was a clunk, thud and a rattle!!!
Something fell of I am sure but I stopped, check the car, walk the area but found nothing. So it was a very carful slow drive for the next few miles eep:

55 miles later and the car is running fine, even touched 70mph, although the rear light lens do fall off at some point along the way.

On the whole the car drives fine but, speedo needs moving, sticky N/S/F calliper, cooling fan needs upgrading, some vibration from the prop shaft at "high speed" , brakes feel a little soft, gear change is nice and positive just a few improvements but you easily forget these when you apply the power as this little car has all the torque of a Massey Ferguson tractor on steroids,

This little car is FUN, big time

The only problem or should I say inconvenience I found was the heat from the engine. On a winters day this would be fine, even welcome but on a warm summers day it's bloody hot.

So now for the boring part, any body know a cheap painter???

That 'clunk' could be the rear leaf spring moving sideways. Check that the studs holding the spring plate to the diff haven't come loose. Mine did that twice so I put the studs and nuts on with a drop of thread lock (loctite) and I haven't had a problem since.

Now I'v done a few mile I'll get the car on the ramp some time over the next day and check it over.
My experience say you always find some think a-miss.

the car ready for it's first outing.
This was before the clunk and rattle!!
Later the O/S back light lens fell off some where between my house and David's house, oops



Action snaps on the way to Castle Combe.





It was a good day out, many thanks for the invite.

After waiting 6 weeks for a buyer to complete I have decided to paint it and get it on E-bay.
It's been sat in my garage since the last post but still fired up first time and the run to the painters reminded me of just how much fun the little car is




As the body bolts on I did offer to remove the whole body for the paint but this was turn down as he thinks the prep will be easier with the body on.

The colour is going to be GULF RACING blue and orange.

Will keep you posted

Looking forward to seeing the Gulf colour scheme.

Forgot to ask is that a Sammio in front of you in the Castle Combe photos?

Good luck, Paul.

Yep, that's No 48 Trevor's old car.
A local guy brought it and has owned it ever since.


PS, He was only in front because I didn't know the way

It's now in the paint shop.




Pull 2 pins, unplug the lights and the bonnet is removed





I think this photo really make a statement and explains the "lump" in the bonnet

The engine is a great fit, can we have photos as it evolves...

That's just what I plan to do

Bonnet now in primer



This is the final colour.



Hoping to get some colour on the bonnet tomorrow.

The blue looks lovely.

Are the paint shop doing the final body work prep too?

This is after most of the prep work has been done.





The body will be removed for the final prep so soon ready the first coat of primer.

Do you keep the bolts? or do you change to allen key bolts... and do you paint them/or Stainless steel...

GARYH, I think I'll bolt the body back on using domed allen bolts, painted to suit.

Took the body off today which only took about 20 min to do!!
Here the chassis, body and bonnet out in the sun.



The body is now in the oven ready for it's final rub down and first coat of primer.




Just for "Mr T" here a few moon-buggy shoots.





Unlike other moon-buggy's I can drive this one, now that's got to be a first
If it's quite on the estate tomorrow I'll take it for a spin

Not quite...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcD9RJUnOf4

The suspense is killing me
The prep is to a high standard.

Its going to look great

Got in this morning to find the first coat of primer has been applied



Looks better with the light on



All looking good for a weekend finish

While the body was placed in the sun to harden the paint the bonnet was painted.

Rare snaps of a painter in action.





The end result.



Looking good

Very nice.

In fact, that is close to the light blue I was going to paint my car.

Just remember that not everything in Gulf colours looks sporting.





Jokes aside, I am looking forward to seeing this completed.

Good luck, Paul.

Funny, but I think these guys are all local nutters.
One lives just around the corner form me and he still has the car parked on his drive

Looking good with a great finish and the colour will look fantastic. Can't wait to see the whole in that colour in day light.

Good luck matey.

With the body off I decided to move the digital speedo. It was at bottom right of the dash but almost impossible to read when driving.



I move it onto the steering column. This also means the mode controls can be accessed, they are two buttons on the rear of the unit used for trip, total mileage, KPH/MPH ect.





All I have to do now is fill the 65mm vacant hole the speedo left in the dash

how did the painting go is it finished ? Very interested in seeing the result

Got the body back from the painter today.





I'll start bolting it back on in the morning.
I am also going to revise the rear lighting over the weekend.