Scott's Exocet mk3 build.

[scottyboy]

My name is Scott Hamilton, I'm based in Fife near StAndrews. I'm about to build an Exocet so I thought I would try to do a build diary on here, computers are not my thing so excuse any mistakes.

I have always been passionate about cars and anything with wheels and an engine, now in my late 50's my enthusiasm is as strong as ever. I have built and owned a few interesting machines from a Dutton Melos in 1985, a Marlin Berlinetta in 1993, which I still own and rebuilt a couple of years ago. I have also built and raced Brisca F2 stock cars and raced Quad bikes. So when I thought about trying the odd track day I had to build something rather than just buy it!

I liked the Exocet because it has a reputation for being easy to build with good handling and performance. It also has a roomy cockpit to accommodate normal sized people unlike many Lotus 7 types.

[scottyboy]

This is the donor car. '07 2l Sport, 68k miles. It drives very well but has failed the MOT due to rust.

[miket]

Welcome aboard Scott. It's a bit quiet on here compared to a couple of years back but it's a good place to do your build log. Good luck with the build.

[scottyboy]

May 24, 2022 12:18:58 GMT miket said:

Welcome aboard Scott. It's a bit quiet on here compared to a couple of years back but it's a good place to do your build log. Good luck with the build.

Thanks. The focus seems to have moved to Facebook, so I'm doing a duplicate build diary on there. This place is good as a searchable record though.

[scottyboy]

I got hold of the donor car in December 2021, then just after New Year I ordered the kit. I was quoted around 12 weeks for the kit to be made which would give me time to strip and refurbish the donor parts. Well life got in the way and little has been done to the donor. At Stoneleigh in May '22 I learned that the kit was pretty much ready for collection. So on Thursday 19/5/22 me and my pal Kenny hired a van and drove 800 miles round trip to collect the kit.







I have ordered quite a few extras such as an exhaust, brake pipes and lights to try to speed the build up, lack of spare time is my biggest problem.

[hutchey]

Welcome to the madhouse.
Have a read through some others build threads too.

[scottyboy]

Now that the kit is here I need to get on with stripping the mx5. The kit is in the garage so the mx5 has been relegated to outside, meaning I am at the mercy of the weather but at least I have more room to work. I want to try to keep the body weather proof so I hope to leave the doors and roof on for a while. I'm lucky to have space to store the body until later in the build, less chance of getting rid of something I need for the Exocet. What I need right now is the wiring loom and the power plant frame.

The seats and some of the dash removed. 

[scottyboy]

The radio and heater control facia came out next, followed by the instrument cluster. The Haynes manual warns to store it like this to prevent  grease leaking onto the display.





The instruments are held by 1 screw at the top and 2 at the bottom. This bolt on the right of the radio was tricky to find, Haynes doesn't mention it.





The steering column was next. Remove the pinch bolt at the rack, accessed by removing the wheel, then pull. Stuck fast! The splines put up a fight but I won!

[scottyboy]

The dashboard came out next. A couple of hidden fixings.

This screw hidden behind the speaker grill



Also need to undo the nuts on the long bolts on the passenger airbag.



Then the top pulls off. The guide says the demist duct comes with it but mine broke, annoying but not needed. The bottom plastic dash has lots of screws but comes off easily enough.

[scottyboy]

To get the heater out I drained the coolant at the bottom left of the radiator, after removing the engine undertray. 

The undertray actually has sides and 2 bolts and 1 plastic trim fixing are behind the inner wing splash guard. Look out for the ABS wire.




After disconnecting the heater and aircon pipes at the bulkhead, taking appropriate care with the aircon gas, the guide says disconnect all the multiplugs and remove the crossmember with the heater. I decided to unbolt the heater from the crossmember and so had to undo less plugs. I will leave the wiring loom in place until I need it.

[geoff]

Glad to see another builder on here, I also use this forum as a diary of my build, my thoughts were that I would print it all off at the end for IVA evidence.

Great to see your progress Scott.

[scottyboy]

Hi Geoff,I had the same thoughts about IVA. I am following your build on here.I have a similar build diary on Facebook, MEV Exocet mk3 build diary, mainly for friends who are interested, rather than post to my personal FB.

[scottyboy]

I don't have a car lift but I do have access to a forklift on the farm.









It's time to get under the car and see what needs to come off before I can lift the body off.

[scottyboy]

I removed the front bumper to make it easier to take the radiator off. I also removed the power steering pipes and reservoir. There is no way to disconnect the ECU, the guide suggests cutting the casing off. I decided it was easier and safer to drill out the tamper proof bolts, simples!







You can then undo the multi plugs. I disconnected the fuse box so now all the wires on the engine stay with it as the body comes off.

[scottyboy]

I decided to just cut the brake pipes as new ones will be fitted. There is a brake pipe bracket at the front that needs to be unbolted because it is attached to the subframe, if you miss it the hard pipe will stay with the subframe and stop you lifting the bodyshell.

The ABS multiplug needs to be disconnected, at the front it is obvious. 






At the rear the multiplug is in the boot, the drivers side is easy but the passenger side is behind a metal cover that protects the fuel filler pipe.