MadaboutKitcars

Last major interior panelling job - finish off the rear of the cockpit and join it to the body shell lip to provide strength/support.

It's worth pointing out that the rear inner lip of my cockpit was a bit.... wonky! But I know that with the shell mounted any cut-n-shut would be a nightmare! (Ref my and Pauls experiences of fibre-glassing upside down! not together I hasten to add!!!) So I decided to work with it and then in the future add something to cover any nasty looking bits.

First I removed the existing rivets that held the top of the rear panels to the frame and added some L-section on top. Then riveted it all back in place.



Then I added another strip of L section alloy on top of that and inside the lip to join that to the shell.
Note the "join" where there are no rivets where I had to split the long single length in order to work around the wonkiness!



This has resulted in a very strong and stable rear lip, tested with a bit of jumping up and down. So I'm happy that's not going anywhere!
Also note the 6 riv-nuts I fitted as I want a removable centre panel "just in case"

And with the initial rough-cut panel held in place with button headed, Allen bolts it looks just how I wanted it!



Just some cleaning and tidying to do. And I'm also not sure if I'm going to put filler over the join of the shell and strengthening yet.... I'm still pondering that one

Dave - Nice work on the panelling.

I've come to the conclusion that "wonky" represents the 50s racing equivalent of "straight".

Good luck, Paul.

Brown Paper envelope has turned up
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Seems to have DVLA on it
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And
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I am no longer the owner of a Triumph Vitesse, what is in my garage is now a Triumph Miglia!!



I'll update the registration thread in a mo. But just in case anyone is interested, the process i followed was to do EXACTLY what the DVLA asked for, no more, no less (well... an ikkle bit more, but i'll explain below ).

So the initial application contained 3 things:

- V627/1 Built up vehicle report - content as pilfered from the Ribble version and reworded slightly to suit Miglia stating that it was a body conversion and that all that i wanted was to change the name on the V5 from Triumph Vitesse to Triumph Miglia.
- V5C - I noted on here that the colour was changing from Green to Red, and that the body type was changing from Saloon to Sports
- Miglia Receipt

That was sent off.

Waited 3 weeks.

Got a letter from DVLA asking me to provide a photo of the car - BUT - this was in relation to changing the "body Type" part of the V5.

So i sent off a printed photo of the car in the garage, but as the number plate wasn't showing (this wasn't requested, but i know others have been asked) i also included printed photos of the VIN Plate and Engine number, and i stated that i had included those as when i did my Sammio those were inspected.

Waited 2 1/2 weeks.

New V5 arrived stating:
Triumph Miglia
Sports
Red

Fantastic to hear, dave, top work
Best,
Tim

Neat panel work Dave it looks the part, are you looking at painting the ally or leaving as is?

Dave - Many congratulations on the V5C.

There is clearly a lot to be said for keeping it simple.

Quite by chance, my V5C also arrived today, but I've had to send it back.

So can I just check how your original and revised V5C was laid out?

Has it gone from:
Make - Triumph
Model - Vitesse

To:
Make - Triumph
Model - Miglia

Or is "Triumph Miglia" now the Make with the Model line left blank?

As my original V5C has Spitfire 1500 as the Model and that is all I wanted them to change.

It is a shame I didn't see this earlier, as I have already sent a note to the DVLA.

Mind you, if the new name has to fit in the Make space, then I need to shorten mine anyway.

Cheers, Paul.

As far as the interior is concerned I'm in two minds about painting the aluminum, as even though it will be bare for-now, eventually i am likely to cover it at some point in the future. So i may keep it bare to avoid any paint scratching/flaking in the future?


My V5 now says: Triumph Miglia on the Make line.
Previously under the old VOSA system with my last build i had, had my V5 changed to
Make: Sammio
Model:Spyder

But given the latest DVLA guidance and the sort of things that I've been reading recently about what Swansea is saying, i.e.
"that wasn't a Triumph model so we can't change it to that"

Having the Make as "Triumph Miglia" actually makes sense, describes the car and i'm fine with that.

Although after doing some pondering about this, i wonder if having this change in place now opens up the model field on their system? as i can't imagine that there are any pre-set models under the "Triumph Miglia" Make? (just a thought)

Although there is always the chance that they may still insist you stick with one of the Triumph ones?

Dave - Thanks for the feedback, as that makes a lot of sense.

Shame the DVLA didn't mention this, as my new name has exceeded the V5C "Make" character limit.

Cheers, Paul.

Well here we go again, it's time for...

Filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding.......



And while this time I'm not going to have the bonnet problems i had with my Sammio i do get to experience the fun of hanging and gapping doors for the first time!

Hopefully i should break the back of this over the weekend (famous last words?), although before i go too far i do need to do some measurements on chassis height because if with the existing setup the chassis is currently level, then I'm going to cut and lower the rear arches to address the gap. But if the chassis is currently higher at the back then I'm going to get an extra lowering block to bring the back end down and leave the body alone.

funfunfun

Fast work to get to the filling and sanding stage in six months as a hobbyist, Dave, well done!

Only Patoune gets things done quicker and he's a pro with a fully equipped workshop and a team of spannermen at his command.

The solid donor looks to have helped enormously though, I was still welding my chassis after six months.

As for the ride height front and rear, I'd make sure the suspension is fully settled before modifying the bodywork. After all, your Spyder looks like it lowered itself an inch or more at the back once you started driving it -

Towards end of build:


Waving it away with a tear in your eye as I recall


You might want to consider removing a leaf or two from the rear spring too. I know you've gone with Spitfire swing spring at the back again, but did you ever manage to sort out the handling on your Spyder?

(Quote from your build thread, Feb 2012) -

1. Its DAMN quick! Or at least it seems like it when your @rse is only a few inches from the road

2. Its bleedin skittish! I'm going to have to take some time to get used it it or i'm going through a hedge, backwards

I know 'uprated' springs are fashionable amongst the track-day bores, but mine was very skittish until I softened the suspension front and rear, now it sticks to the road like glue and doesn't knock your fillings out when you run ants over.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing this one finished so crack on!

Cheers matey.

What a great photo-comparison, thanks for that memory jog! Plus it made me smile on an otherwise gloomy Friday morning

Given what they show, i think i'll raise the Miglia front end slightly just to level things out for the moment and then re-evaluate the rear end after a few weeks of driving

As far as the suspension on the Miglia is concerned i have set all of the shocks to their softest setting to start with and I'm also a lot happier knowing exactly what size/rating my springs are this time around as it was a bit "suck-it-and-see" with the Sammio!
Also i now know Merlin Motorsport have a huge range of different springs in stock at very reasonable prices and are only 15mnis from my office.....

Hi Davecymryu can you tell me how to find the thread for your sammio build it looks fantastic. I have looked but can't find it. Miglia's looking great. cheers ufo17.

Go to the Sammio/Ribble page. Click 'Views' on the right hand side of the page to rearrange the individual threads. DC's build thread will then be about nine down from the top.

UFO - Or you can look at the first post on the "Useful Info" sticky (On the Sammio/Ribble Page) where there is a photo of Dave's car and a "Click Here" link.



Actually, allow me...

davecymru - Click Here

Cheers all, and thanks Paul.

UFO - you may also be interested in my Sammio running report thread:
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3505
It's along the same lines as the "Mr Towed on the Road" thread, but was only over the space of a year and I wasn't quite as imaginative with my thread naming


And bringing things up to date, this week has been all about the bodywork. The first round of filling and sanding has gone well and I've done the front-to-back seams. I even blasted them over with a bit of primer when they were done just to perk up my spirits!



Then it was more filling on the rear


and on the front edge of the bonnet


Then out came the fibreglass filler as I had to rectify a boo boo I made fitting one of the rear lights. A cardboard tube was made the same diameter as the hole I want. That was taped in place and some card taped behind the remaining gap. Then in was glooped the filler


Then I used the remaining mixed fibreglass filler to build up the top of the passengers door to the same height as the cockpit


more to come...

There are 4 fabrication tasks that I've been putting off, but I've got to the point where they are the 4 main fabrication tasks left:
1) Make a grill! mumblemumblemumblemumble.....
2) Fit the chrome mesh to the side vents
3) Fit the door locks properly
4) Do something with the filler cap

Seeing as I've been doing bodywork and seeing as it could have been the most involved task, I decided to get no.4 out of the way!

So on the Miglia the fuel tank sits much further back than my Spyder, so the fuel filler is in a much more angled section of bodywork.
My initial idea was to sink it slightly in order to keep it horizontal, either with:
A) a lowered, bonded and melded in fibreglass section
or
b) a fabricated metal panel that would angle from the front to the back but would bolt on top of the shell.

In order to get the filler cap low enough and still able to open here's the hole I ended up with!!



I didn't like this!

So I've gone with option
c) Make a panel to allow me to bolt the filler on at an angle and use flexible filler hose! This is CONSIDERABLY simpler than what I was planning!

So some scrap steel was found, a hole cut at the right point and trimmed roughly to cover the big hole I'd made. BTW that hole is, by accident, perfectly sized to access everything on the fuel tank should the need ever arise!


Initial test fit looked good! It allowed the filler to be angled just right without putting any stress on the fibreglass


Any visible bolts on this build are going to be Allen headed, so I drilled some holes at regular intervals and dropped in some bolts and I was very chuffed with the result as it is right in keeping with the look of the interior!


A quick test showed that the plate allows the filler to open without fouling the body shell and it kept everything firmly in place


And here's a good shot demonstrating the angle everything is now at:


Obviously I will tidy things up and then paint it the same colour as the car, but I'm tired now and it's cider-o'clock!
But given what a faff I could have had with fibreglass or welding something, I'm quite chuffed with what I've ended up, how relatively simple it was and how it looks

Dave - Nice work on the petrol cap.

Can I ask a daft question, are the bolts just biting into the fibreglass?

Good luck, Paul.

Cool solution to what could of been a complicated task.

The bolts go straight through and then have large penny washers, spring washers and a normal nut on the back.

Obviously it helps if you have a small child to-hand to assist with tightening things up!


Note: While my son was doing the test-run with me on this, i spotted that the rear deck really is quite thin and flexible! Had i spotted this before i fitted the shell then i would have glassed some bracing on the back. But as it stands, and with no wish to upside-down Fiberglas with everything in place, I'm going to have to have a ponder....

Cheers Dave.

I am really tempted to steal this idea, as the time for drilling the hole for my own filler cap is fast approaching.

Given your last point, I might also add some extra matting around the hole itself while the body shell is still off the frame.

Good luck, Paul.

Dave,awesome work so far. The bodies are advertised as 3x 900 layout,in my book that makes them around quarter of one inch(5-6mm) thick. My buddy assures me that is incredibly robust and is more than enough strength wise. So don't worry too much about the flex.

humm... cheers matey.

No update for a while, but lots of little bits have been going on.

Firstly the doors, the catches are in place and i've decided to go for a pull-cord style handle utilising some of the old brake and clutch cables i have laying around. That needs a sturdy anchor point on the other side of the door, so i got a couple of big UNF bolts and drilled holes through them large enough to loop the cable through:


and then made up some large flat penny washers to spread the load. Job done

Those will now be painted the same colour as the body to make them blend in.


Then it's been lots of sanding / filling / sanding / filling / sanding ...
I'm getting there, with the bonnet now virtually done



And the passengers side door also nearing completion (ignoring the chunk i took out of the gel coat on the body when i accidentally wacked it with the powerfile )



And Towed was right that the rear spring is starting to settle, but i think that some minor work may be needed with the rear of the rear wheelarch? We'll just have to wait and see...

Can you tell what it is yet?



Yup, seeing as Poole is the black-hole of Grills, i've had to take the plunge and make my own.

ATM i'm still experimenting. i've cut a load of slits ar regular intervals in alloy U channel.
Then attached L section brackets to those and L section bonded to the inside of the shell. The idea being that when it's all complete i could remove it by drilling out the pop rivets (at least that's the theory!)

Top bonded in place



Bottom bonded in place



I'm not going to fit the vertical slats until the shell is painted, so back to my filling and sanding

Spooky!

I was also playing with my grill today, and it too is an alternative to the beer grate one I ordered that never made it out of the Poole Triangle.

The good news is that your build is really coming together nicely.

Good luck, Paul.

Getting parts out of Poole needs to be done in John Le Carre stylee - you meet in a picturesque European City centre and your money walks slowly across the Town square only once you see that the parts are present and in one piece. And keep scanning the roof tops for snipers as double crosses are common...