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Post by JIDiesel on Jul 7, 2014 2:22:18 GMT
Driving on the wrong side of the road and other fun from America.
Just want to introduce myself, I am John and I have never attempted to build a car. So what am I doing here? I am asking my self that question right now. Well, one thing I know. If you don't know how to do something find someone that does. So here I am.
Last year I decided I needed a hobby other than work, I have always loved the idea of kit cars, but the closest thing I have ever come to one has been in a remote controlled model. It is not that I am not Mechanically Inclined, I just have never thought of myself as a car mechanic. I can do the basics. Change tires or is it tyres, as you from across the pond would say. Service the basics, oil, filters and the like.
So in November I took the plunge and ordered an Exomotive, Exocet Sport. and now it is setting in my driveway.
So my adventure begins here with my NB1 a 2000 Miata LS Sport and this frame.
To the online build guide I go, starting with step one.
I hope that everyone is willing to help, looking to the experts here, this is you reading this. Many thanks in advance for all the questions that I may come up with. I have been a forum member since January and have been reading as many of the forums as time allows, so far I am very impressed with the builds that I have viewed.
My pit crew consist of my three children ages 11, 8 and 3, my wife and myself. This is going to be fun or an adventure to say the least.
More to follow soon,
John
P.S. I have a couple of trumpets for sale, if anyone is interested. Would help towards parts for the build.
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trident
Senior
Improvise, Adapt and Overcome
Posts: 629
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Post by trident on Jul 7, 2014 7:43:05 GMT
John welcome
Along with a lot of others on here this is my first build as well. I'm sure you will get all the help that you need, I certainly have. Good luck with the build and keep the updates coming. Good luck.
Chris
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Post by doubletrouble on Jul 9, 2014 17:21:53 GMT
Have fun with the build and enjoy it!
Do not let it stress you - walk away - and come back after days, weeks, months - or just have a few beers!
I am going to finish mine in 2, 3 , 4 maybe 5 years - who knows!
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Post by dougamor on Jul 10, 2014 0:06:07 GMT
Greetings from Tampa! I'm basically in the same place as you. No experience and a YOUT as an assistant. I've got the frame on and am muddling thru the fuel line and brake like hook ups. If you don't have metal working tools, get them. You'll be fabricating little bits and pieces before you know it. Read enough threads and you'll have things sorted out and speaking with an English accent! Cheers!
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Post by jgilbert on Jul 10, 2014 22:44:12 GMT
Greetings from Tampa! I'm basically in the same place as you. No experience and a YOUT as an assistant. I've got the frame on and am muddling thru the fuel line and brake like hook ups. If you don't have metal working tools, get them. You'll be fabricating little bits and pieces before you know it. Read enough threads and you'll have things sorted out and speaking with an English accent! Cheers! From across the Pond. I agree re basic metal working tools, part of fun is designing brackets and alike. Make everything in card first. Its a lot easier to cut card and bend it to see if your idea works rather than cutting metal. Good drill bits, files, hacksaw (good blades) and a simple small sheet bending machine (in the UK we have ones that fit into a bench vice) all help. You don't have to be an ace welder. A simple but effect trick if you need to joint two plates is to drill the top plate a couple of times. Clamp together, and then strike your arc in the hole. This produces a 'spot weld' type of effect. Ideal for non structure welds. Half an hours practise and your be an expert. On the subject of an English accent, I was once asked by a California lady "Where did I learn to speak English so well" true story! and she wasn't impressed when I told her "England, the same country that inverted the language!" Anyway good luck and Cheerio. |
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Post by JIDiesel on Jul 11, 2014 2:53:26 GMT
Greetings from Tampa! I'm basically in the same place as you. No experience and a YOUT as an assistant. I've got the frame on and am muddling thru the fuel line and brake like hook ups. If you don't have metal working tools, get them. You'll be fabricating little bits and pieces before you know it. Read enough threads and you'll have things sorted out and speaking with an English accent! Cheers! From across the Pond. I agree re basic metal working tools, part of fun is designing brackets and alike. Make everything in card first. Its a lot easier to cut card and bend it to see if your idea works rather than cutting metal. Good drill bits, files, hacksaw (good blades) and a simple small sheet bending machine (in the UK we have ones that fit into a bench vice) all help. You don't have to be an ace welder. A simple but effect trick if you need to joint two plates is to drill the top plate a couple of times. Clamp together, and then strike your arc in the hole. This produces a 'spot weld' type of effect. Ideal for non structure welds. Half an hours practise and your be an expert. On the subject of an English accent, I was once asked by a California lady "Where did I learn to speak English so well" true story! and she wasn't impressed when I told her "England, the same country that inverted the language!" Anyway good luck and Cheerio. Thank you for the tool suggestions, these will be very helpful. Your welding Technic for the "Pinch Weld" is an interesting I would have never thought about trying something like that. I have lots of experience in brazing and soldering many types of rarer metals but have not ever tried arc welding. Looking forward to trying something new. |
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Post by JIDiesel on Jul 11, 2014 2:58:58 GMT
Have fun with the build and enjoy it!
Do not let it stress you - walk away - and come back after days, weeks, months - or just have a few beers!
I am going to finish mine in 2, 3 , 4 maybe 5 years - who knows!
I am looking forward to the build, most definitely not going to let it stress me out. So with that in mind, will it be a Lager beer or a Cider beer. decisions, decisions. Cheers, |
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Post by doubletrouble on Jul 11, 2014 16:32:44 GMT
Have fun with the build and enjoy it!
Do not let it stress you - walk away - and come back after days, weeks, months - or just have a few beers!
I am going to finish mine in 2, 3 , 4 maybe 5 years - who knows!
I am looking forward to the build, most definitely not going to let it stress me out. So with that in mind, will it be a Lager beer or a Cider beer. decisions, decisions. Cheers, Why not mix the cider and lager and have a snakebite..................... brings back memories of my informative years! |
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Post by JIDiesel on Jul 13, 2014 18:35:52 GMT
Day 2:
The assembly begins.
My wife sets up to engine turn polish the floor pans. This process took longer than I thought it would, but it was well worth it.
Now installing the first panel, drilling for the rivets.
Don't forget the RTV.
Now for the rivets.
Sample of the polished side.
The floor pans are on, end of my first day of the project.
It is nice to have accomplished something on the build. I will tackle the tear down of the car soon.
I feel a little strange disassembling a perfectly working car. But this is the point. I have grown attached to Little White while waiting on my frame to be built.
Next step: balance of the floor boards.
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Post by jgilbert on Jul 13, 2014 22:07:34 GMT
Wow! lots of rivets with a small rivet gun. I managed one rivet with the same sized gun and then decided I needed a 'lazy tong' gun. Nice work.
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Post by JIDiesel on Jul 14, 2014 16:05:36 GMT
Wow! lots of rivets with a small rivet gun. I managed one rivet with the same sized gun and then decided I needed a 'lazy tong' gun. Nice work.
Now that "lazy tong" would have been nice to have, I have never seen one of those types of rivet installers. That would have been more affordable that the powered one I saw for $85- that I didn't buy. Well this is a live and learn type of project. After I do the firewall I plan on installing the trans tunnel with machine screws so it can be accessed. Me with a thread tap, this will be good. I am starting to take bets on how many taps I might break. |
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Post by Toed64 on Jul 14, 2014 17:53:41 GMT
You might consider investing in a Rivnut tool. You'd get a much better fixing than that of a tapped hole in a 2mm wall box tube.
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Post by JIDiesel on Jul 14, 2014 21:44:45 GMT
You might consider investing in a Rivnut tool. You'd get a much better fixing than that of a tapped hole in a 2mm wall box tube. |
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Post by JIDiesel on Jul 29, 2014 22:48:22 GMT
Taking suggestions for seat mounting options. I am looking to install aftermarket seats, having trouble coming up with a suitable bracket for the seat to be mounted on. Any ideas? What did you do for your seats? photos?
Thanks,
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Post by linuxd00d on Jul 30, 2014 17:33:49 GMT
I'm struggling with deciding how to mount my 17" Kirkey also. There's a detailed write-up on the topic on this blog: conflictedracer.wordpress.com/Also, Warren posted a diagram of his method on the GRM thread a few months back. |
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