I do like a project I am on my 6th tribute build with one on order but always wanted to have ago at my own kit /rebody.got this today with the doors not sure of the plan one thing I do know is I am going to need a lot of fiberglass and possibly some wheels
could not afford the middle so I just bought both sides I have got the doors that will keep the draft out lol
all ears for any chassis Ideas or re boby don't really want to go the bug route.
lol thought it may get your attention mister Towed, no roof but have doors wheel track dose and does not matter. it will be a convertible not having the middle bit means a bit wider or narrower can be accommodated. for now its wall art till I get the"Eureka!" moment . I need a chassis I can not plan anything without measurements. there is a Triumph spitfire Chassis not far away £300 with the engine and v5 that should mean no IVA wich is a must as it would never pass one now days. must admit I am quiet looking forward to building a body .at worse I will have some cool wall art for now
pievalley chassis do look good and mgf running gear is very well priced the only mgf I ever drove was a 1.8 and handled lovely much better than a mx5 . would think its that gray area again iva, would depend how good you mot tester is or how knowledgeable to spot a new chassis and raise the question
body arrived Thursday so I hit google for measurements to start having a play this weekend. because the car is just two halves it was like a jelly out the mold .it took forever to get it something like in line measure and move umpteen times door gaps are pretty spot on so I am hoping the rest is far away.
I set it up on ladders guessing I could use them as level ground and looking at pictures of a speedster its pretty straight all round the sills
next job try to rough in some structure to the body, I wanted to work inside out so as not to build on top of what I have got but under it. if that makes sense. it can be cut and modified latter when the body is stronger. I left the edges of the fiberglass mat clear of resin so when I am ready to add structure it should tie in better.
I latter cut a V each side of the engine lid opening to pull it down on the soft top its not as steep an angle this body would have been hard top.
at least its starting to firm up the body joining the two halves back together even if it is just roughed in for now. making the boot lid and opening or is it engine lid is going to be interesting one and is going to need some planning.
4 days work and starting to take shape now it almost looks like a car almost. waiting on resin and reinforcing glass to stiffen it up touch wood should be ok to flip it in a couple of days .I was surprised how thin the glass is I am use to tribute builds 6 to 7mm, this can not be more than a couple of mill in most places. when its upside down I will go go over most of it to build it up . best getting looking for a chassis one I had lined up I lost .
lucky at the mo only working first thing in the morning and late at night so have all day in my garage, I could cope with working these hours long term. may happen yet.
Mister towed what are you using for a window screen on your build did you get it with the kit. I have had a look around you are looking over 1k to buy the correct setup. must be something out there cheaper than that
Well I had the same idea as you but can not do that now, lol one to ponda on for a bit .it crossed my mind to make a metal frame out of some U Chanel and cut and weld the round parts. then have the glass split in the middle like on the old moggy minor . going to need something for the roof long term I may make a hard top to remove and possibly a soft top .as my kit is home made at least the middle part nothing stock will fit. if it dose I will be very lucky for it to follow the profile and width nothing is ever that simple.
fill sand fill sand been one of them days I can still taste the dust.another day of sanding I should be able to start thinking about how I am going to make a bonnet. now that's a tough one
I looked at the same company earlier 360 for a stock screen still a lot but I think I could make a frame to fit that the profile looks not far away. Its miles off for now. I will keep an eye out one may pop up
whoop whoop I am at the smile point when you step back to check what your doing. all been well l will have the bonnet made tomorrow bare bones ready
cheers and thanks for the info Mister Towed, I will give them a ring when I have it sat on 4 wheels .
bonnet inner skin sorted, I have some 6mm high density foam that I am going to lay on the top and skin and glass over it to crate a sandwiched. I will have a look tomorrow its was already pretty stiff two lairs of 300g Woven Roving 2 of 450 csm and two of 300csm
Hi paul L ,the blue material is good old lino flooring off cuts grate stuff for shaping and bridging gaps the glass will not stick to it so its easy to pull it off when ready. I made up a rough frame out of MDF then shaped the lino over it, set it behind the body. trimmed it back when it was hard and glassed it in front and back the body is so thin it was on a couple of mm to build up. it was all set to eye with a bent taped measure bugger when you dont have any stright lines to work off
some progress over the last few days ,I had some fire escapes replaced at work that were made out of 2" box steel seemed a shame to waste it. So I have framed out the inside of the main body and supported front and back at the top till I get it on a chassis .if nothing else its rock solid now but will still lift off when I need it to.
outer skin of bonnet now on rear boot lid made
loads more filling and sanding to do ,I found a vintage speedster parts supplier in the states just waiting on shipping costs then we should see a big jump forward
believe me if they sell anything to do with speedsters I have been on there web site Im from Yorkshire we dont like wasting money up north.I found rusty tubs expensive look at 356A Speedster windshield post $225 or $95 with vintage.speedster emblem $25 or $46 the VS emblem karmen Kollection was selling the £30each they are $11 that's a good mark up. door hinge best price I have found $24 or a light weight alloy one for $750 EACH
wtf excuse me
deffo going to need some more fiberglass now body off for a spot of sunbathing
while put some extra fiberglass on all the joints and the areas that will be used to support the main body
got the welder out to go over all the welds now the body is off under and over and it bloody packed in after an inch add another £150 for a new one bummer
and body back on again decided to change the front around a bit more filling and sanding but taking shape
I have been looking for a chassis for a while managed to get a fully rebuilt spitfire one yesterday hoping to have if for next weekend. Not 5 minuets after putting the phone down did I get offered another fully rebuilt one typical but not complaining 400 quid all new ready to go. steel is here ready to chop and change things and I have a 1840cc MX5 sport lined up to pull all the parts from if things go to plan that should be here for the weekend too.The inner fame work has all the body bolted to it so it ridged I hoping to just notch out the frame I have made around the chassis and weld it on with some extra steel work off the out riggers and chassis rails. Well that's the plan, I do need the chassis here to make the boot inner frame and inner panels as its just an empty shell at the mo. headlights should be coming from vintage parts but still waiting on the shipping quote any problems I will get some early bug ones there always on ebay . this like my other cars is not a copy of anything I am going with the flow and changing things if I dont think it sits right it will get changed. do like the low slung wide boy look tho in black proper outlaw.
mister towed ware did you get the wheel adapters form to fit the bug wheels on your chassis
