MadaboutKitcars

I did consider some fancy hoist to lift the bonnet off the car and than replace it with the one one the holder. I looked at various pullies and hooks and thongs and then decided that for the few minutes it takes to swap them, I will put one on the carpet. It is the storage that is more of an issue. They are slightly too deep to hang from the ceiling.

More front ends might upset MrsWCA more than I wasn't to. She keeps saying she doesn't understand why I need two. Mints you, after a particularly nice bottle of Bordeaux last night she sort of agreed to me buying a fourth car so you never know...

Hopefully photos of the car by the weekend, probably followed by removing the bonnet again so I can paint prep it in the garage

Buy yourself an auto z4. I could come in handy for the future tribute line....

She wants 4 seats and comfort. She is pining for comfort of the Audi A8 or Merc CL600 I had. Apparently 2 x 2 seater back convertibles is enough. Just browsing E39 M5s at the moment

Could make the stand double-sided.

Hmmm...

Finish is looking good

Another day older, another day closer to death but on the bright side I did get my bonnet catches fitted


I replaced the washers with this strip of metal as the washers fell off.


The plan it to fit it a bit more firmly and then body filler over the edge. I am planning on reducing the gap around the bonnet nice and even. I have watched this YouTube clip - how hard can it be?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gms-PS2GcOE

It is still too wet to fit the electrical connectors and too dark now. I was thinking of cutting out the vet in the bonnet. What tools do others use for this?

Angle grinder with a 1mm cutting disc might be a bit awkward to maneuver.
Pepper drill it and grind the edges away with a Dremel?
Hand cut with a hacksaw blade?

Multi-tool

I can't speak from experience, but how about using one of those multi-tool things? (With a vibrating blade). You would have to sandwich the bonnet between a block of wood or similar underneath, and a heavy weight on top to make sure it's absolutely rock solid before cutting it.

I'd just go through at one point with my powerfile, then use a hachsaw blade ( or better still one of those carborundum grit blades (not as precise as hacksaw blade, but cut easier)

Keep Cheerful !!!



When I use a (stainless) mudguard washer to reinforce a hole in grp, I drill a 1/8" hole as close as I can to the edge and pop a rivet through. With some mastic behind it as well- it's not going anywhere.

Hacksaw blade in a holder gets my vote for cutting that vent. The wider the blade, the straighter the line.

When I use a (stainless) mudguard washer to reinforce a hole in grp, I drill a 1/8" hole as close as I can to the edge and pop a rivet through. With some mastic behind it as well- it's not going anywhere.

It has 4 bolts at the moment with nice big washers to prevent pull through. I will need to check the thickness of the glass vs length of rivets but you are basically describing my plan.

Hacksaw blade also looks like what I will be doing and clean off with a Dremel file

Thanks

The correct answer to "What tool" is the Dremel cutting wheel for the rought cut and then the sanding wheel for the fine shaping. The results looked better when I had wiped the dust and debris away





And I have just spotted it has stopped raining so might even get the electrical connectors for the Barchetta fitted

One side of the Barchetta now has a Superseal connector for the front lights.

Mark the wires


Cut the wires and see what stops working


The Superseal connectors are a bit fiddly to fit but hopefully will work. Anyway, rain and darkeness have driven my back indoors.

WCA.....i notice that the clip on the bottom of your bonnet strut is not fully 'home', so be ready for it to pop off anytime and the bonnet to smack you on the head.....

Both sides of the Barchetta bonnet wiring now have Superseal connectors and all the lights work correctly. Result!

Didn't get hit by a collapsing bonnet although I did manage to smack my head against the bonnet when I stood up.

Off to get the car washed before attempting the bonnet swap.

I am a bit apprehensive about that bit as I struggle to move the bonnets around when on crutches with just MrsWCA to help but hey, what's the worst that could happen?

Back indoors without the bonnet removed/replaced

This rain is getting right on my tits!

The rest of the day looks like a write off for outside work : http://www.raintoday.co.uk/mobile

Now, there must be waterproof bras available somewhere for saleound:

I tried googling Wet Tits and got distracted before reaching any waterproof lingerie

Not raining!!!

My mate is coming round about midday to give me a hand lifting off the Barchetta bonnet and fitting the SWB so once I have finished my coffee I shall wander outside with a hammer and angle grinder to optomise the profile of the front of the car.

Hopefully I will get away with a bit of judicious trimming of the fan fairing as I don't fancy the faff of locating and wiring in new fans but we will see.

Hopefully on the road today!

I get as far as opening the bonnet before the rain starts again!!!!

Time for some planning I guess. The main issue with the SWB compared to the Z300S is the distance between the front of the car mechanicals and the front of the bonnet. On the Z300S there is lots of room but on the SWB there isn't.

Admire my wonderful crutch as you gawp at the length that gives plenty of space for fans and cooling loops


You can see I have already removed the bumper bar. Either I don't crash or I crash backwards in a ball of flame. You have to show commitment sometimes. Also note that the various brackets are not really trimmed cak much


I think I will need to trim back the bits marked in red, push back the loop with yellow arrows and I am not sure about the green bit


The two pipes disappearing to the bottom right are connec ted to flexible pipe just out of sight so hopefully it is just a case od 'adjusting' the mounting brackets.

Well that was a fun few hours.

Remove the cooler loop with pleasingly unseized nuts


A bit of angle grinder action to remove the unnecessary flanges


Flanges from both sides and a plastic flap are now removed


The CAI pipe and another might need adjusting later


Much neater


New SWB Bonnet roughly in place and it is clear the front aircin fan will need moving


The hidden bolt is behid a little plastiic panel on the right


Just about fits with the cooler hoop and fan removed. Well fits enough to realise the hinges are a bit out


The gaps on the passenger side after adjustment


Gave up and trimmed some of the body back to give clearance more easily


Cooler hoop now tight against the metal plate


And the aircon fan? In bits and to be replaced by a smaller unit or two


All finished in time for tea



Now to wire in the lights etc

Looking good, well done on the progress.

Andy

I wasn't sure when I saw the photoshop ideas

But I think it works well and Chris has done well blending the z300 into the 250.

Are you happy with the look Nick?

I am happy. It looked more cohesive when I went out for a drive and it got wet so the front and back were both shiny black.

Need to sort out e alignment on the front wing drivers side but I think gag is because when removing the Barchetta bonnet the gas strut pushed it out of position.

Something for later, I am off to soak in the hottub. Working all day on my hands and knees has taken its toll.

Looking good nick. When you get the front end painted, i think you should get the silver painted under the bonnet. I know its under the bonnet and not visible but i think (in my opinion) that it looks like a more proffessional finish.