Built by AvantKiwi

[avantkiwi]

Due to my wiring and battery being in front of the bulkhead, I have had to block off the bottom of the windscreen runaway and add a drain hose to avoid water dripping straight onto everything.
May still cut this down some to allow airflow out, but will start with this as the open floor should disperse most of the incoming air.



Have also got around to fitting my front indicators. Used a simple plastic pipe to extend them from the body.

[avantkiwi]

Few more small jobs done over the past week.

Gearbox has been refilled again with oil
Wind-deflector has been fitted
Wheels have been put on to allow fitting of the covers. Back covers were fine, but the front brackets hit my rims, so they will have to come back off and be bent accordingly.
Started to tidy up the wiring under the bonnet. Found what I think to be a faulty relay, so will need to spend some time investigating that.
Bonnet has had its front brackets bonded to the underside.
I also trial fitted the front brake hoses, but will need to get these redone. On full lock the straight connector I have on the caliper starts to touch the springs. Don't think Mr IVA would be to happy about that. Will trawl the forum for some inspiration there.

Still have a long list of small jobs to close off, but aiming for a late April IVA and subsequent show visits.

[unosteve3]

Hi very nice colours you have gone for it would be nice to see our cars parked side by side.Regarding your brake pipe touching on lock i had problems with that just a case of taking your time tweeking and fiddleing till it doesnt touch.I did put valve springs inside my rack to help with the steering wheel centralizing it does hinder your lock but can be removed later...good luck

[avantkiwi]

As stated in an earlier post I was not happy with the steering and extreme position of full lock. This was causing my break cables to hit the suspension which would be an instant IVA fail. Secondly it would cause my cycle wings to hit the body work (would expect that to cause a fail also) and third, I was just not happy about the extreme angle it would turn to. Under speed this causes me concern.
A short discussion on options with our "Oracle" and I was dismantling my steering rack and weld filling the last gap/tooth on each end of the rack. This may be drastic, but I am accepting of the wider turning circle and it resolves all three of my points above.
While I had the rack apart I also added some valve springs.
With the assemble complete and back in the car I am very happy with the result. Onto the next item - fixing and aligning the gear shift....

Quick tip to removing the Cover-cap on the steering column - Use some long-nose pliers and a crescent to undo and fasten the cap. Much better on the cap than a screwdriver and hammer!


Last tooth/gap welded over at each end (not the best photo sorry, but you get the idea)


Valve Springs in place

[barry]

Thanks for the tip on the valve springs. I was wondering how I would solve the same problem.

[avantkiwi]

Spent today filling the car with various fluids - Clutch is done and brakes were almost done, until I found a faulty joint on the front drivers side. Will need to get a new connector ordered and sent before I can finish bleeding the brakes.
Added 10 litres of Cooler/Radiator fluid, still need clear the air blockages as I know its nowhere near full yet. Anyone got any good tips for this?
With all this fluid now in, I was finally able to run the engine properly.
Had 1 false start where the car was starting but would then stop straight away. Quickly worked out the problem was very low fuel in the tank. The primer would allow enough fuel to be pumped to start the engine, but not enough to run once started. One quick trip to the petrol station - to find it was closed due to empty pumps. I had to raid the garden shed for the lawn mower fuel! Car then started and ran perfectly. Let it idle for almost 5 mins. Was great to test some of the systems and great to see both the temp sensors and rev counter working as they should.
Car is booked for IVA in early May, still lots of small jobs, but the list is getting ever smaller.

[jonb2010]

Good progress made

[avantkiwi]

Update on my progress over Easter.
Issue with the leaky break connector has now been fixed with a replacement.


Completion of my "rough" wheel alignment in true DIY fashion...


In order to get the correct toe-in on the rear I have had to swap the fixing nut from the inside to outside of the bolt/connector.


Internal sidepanels, seats and belts are now being fixed in place.


Next jobs are:

• Central cover and boots for gear lever and handbreak
  
• Bleed radiator
  
• Fix guards onto mounts
  
• General tidy up, covering sharp edges, capping bolts and tying loose wires
  
• Speedo calibration
  
• .......
  

Delivery to RTR for IVA is now only 3 weeks away.

[avantkiwi]

It was my birthday today, and as a present to myself I took the car out the garage for the first time and took it for its FIRST DRIVE....

This is the first time it has been off its blocks, down on its own wheels, and the first time moving under its own power.







How very very tempting it was to put the foot down, turn out the drive and keep driving. Common sense keep control and it was a very tame 1st shake down. Back into the garage now for a check over and finish off those final IVA jobs.

[sjf300]

Looking great, best birthday present this year!!?

[avantkiwi]

Back in the garage again, wings now on, second seat also fitted.
Mirrors have also been fitted since this photo was taken.
Lots of cableties, tightening, adjusting and tinkering going on currently.
Seems like that long list of last minute jobs is getting smaller, but still not near the end. Focus now is to get all the IVA relevant tasks done. 1 week left until I deliver it to RTR for my test!

[jonb2010]

Hope you get everything finished for delivery to RTR. Good luck with your test. You going to Stoneleigh ?

[avantkiwi]

I will be at Stoneleigh ;D, however my car will still be with RTR
Am aiming to take it to Newark for its first show outing followed by a trip to Goodwood FOS.

[avantkiwi]

Its only been one evening, but I may be having withdrawal symptoms already.
Dropped my car off at RTR yesterday for its IVA prep and test. The garage now feels very empty.....

[avantkiwi]

Its been a long 6 weeks waiting, only 1 more day to wait.
All going well, my test date is tomorrow (Tuesday). Fingers and toes crossed!