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I've posted on here a few times over the past year and thought it's time I said hello again. Bought the first 2 parts of the 5exi-R kit about a year(!) ago. I've had all sorts of reasons as to why it's not been started yet but I think I'm finally ready to spend some time on it.
I think I've just about worked out how I'm attaching the various bits of metal. I'll be using steel Avdel Monobolts plus Sikaflex bonding for the floor, probably the same for the bulkheads (as I don't think the aluminium makes a difference), and rivnuts for the centre tunnel floor.
Might well give the inside of the chassis a squirt of some brand of rust prevention oil as well after drilling.
If anyone spots an obvious no-no here, please let me know!!
Then I'll have to start thinking about the steering stuff. Seems a bit daunting as there's mentioning of shortening the column. I'm sure I'll be back with a few questions when I get on to this.
Good Luck with the build, are you planning on keeping the car normal or thinking about changing a few parts on it as your going, may be worth a read through a few of the threads to see what a few of us have changed. Im sure the others wouldn't mind sharing a few of there ideas.
It'll be my first kit-car build (in fact my first building of anything not using wood!!) so aiming to keep it as normal as possible. From what I"ve read on here though there doesn't seem to be a "normal" 5exiR build. Bit concerned that nobody seems to have stuck with Marlin's engine mountings so hoping that all you R builders are still reading this forum when I get to that bit
One mistake I have made was to buy Marlin's box of tricks to start the car with, whatever you do. BUY HONDATA!!, there box is 'crap' cant even get the engine to run correctly so am now changing to HONDATA, looks like your a little way from it yet, but worth keeping it in mind and if your not sure about the bet route to go, its quier to ask on here as most of use have sadly found out the hard way, by wasting time and money.
With regards to engine mounts and the car in genral, it was designed for the rover k-series not the honda k20, so its does lack a few parts which are needed to make it a better car. The mounts in my car are bolted solid, so you dont get any movement on the mounts, jsut vibrates the chassis a lot and is annoying, I'm not a million miles from you which is good an a few other builders are around your way, once you start building, maybe worth poting pics etc, if and whe you have a problem to see if any of us can help. im not much on some things our the car doesnt have them and its a different chassis, btu may be worth going to the track day at Llandow to see a few exi's and take lots of pictures.
I've stuck with the Marlin mounts for the K20 engine. Seems Ok - pretty rigid installation so a fair amount of vibration mind you. But then, it is a sports car!
Another thing you'll really want to change for the honda engine is to fit a hydraulic clutch as the cable option (as per marlin's demo) is HEAVY!! Worth thinking about this early as you will need to modify the bulkhead/pedal box to incorporate a TypeR master cylinder. There are a few threads about clutches knocking about...
I've had the Hondata in mind as the only non-standard item. I'm OK with computer-type stuff so I'm hoping I'll be more comfortable with that side of things. I like the idea of playing with the point the VTEC kicks in
Hadn't considered the clutch so cheers for the heads-up Ric. I'll search for those threads and see if I can make sense of them.
And it's a relief to know that Marlin's mounts work for some people
