Project Exocet John & Luke's build

[jgilbert]

Nov 13, 2013 11:48:22 GMT tlight said:

Sorry, can you add eBay link ?
Tim

Tim,

This should work.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=171173050376

[tlight]

Thanks.

[jgilbert]

So latest update. New toy purchased. Just have to learn how to use it now!


Back to the build, like a number of others we have purchased some Photon headlights. Expensive but they do look nice. My only complaint would be that the wires from the back of the headlight could be neater and longer.


So the plan was to fabricate a bracket that suited both the style of the exocet and the headlight. Decided to try to use round bar as the main bracket material. So ended up using 10mm solid bar. Hopefully IVA compliant. First job was to heat up the bar and bend it into shape. Old 2" pipe fitting seemed ideal for the job.


Once we had formed the top frame of the bracket we cut and filed a piece of plate to the right profile. This is what the the headlight will attach to.


Spent a lot of time experimenting to get the right shape for the main 'base' plate that will attach to the chassis and which the bar will be welded to. Ended up with this design.


First mock up in the vice, prior to tack welding.



Starting to look ok.

Bottom support bar cut and tacked into position. Also you can see at the top, the inner plate that will be welded to the exocet frame and which the headlight bracket bolts onto.


Trial fit on car (headlight thread needs to be reduced in length).






Think its a bit different. Hopefully will look a nice job when welded up and powder coated. The 'open' style and using round bar is our attempt to mirror the chassis. Just indicators and side lights to think about now.

[biggunz]

Looks great! Love it!

[tlight]

Very nice idea!

[tom]

Nice job. How did you get on with the welder? I'm planning on buying one and teaching myself so that I can weld various brackets etc to mine.

[jgilbert]

Thanks for the positive comments.

Tom, re the TiG, early days yet but RTech units seem to get good reviews. It helps a lot if you can already gas weld as the arc creates the molten pool which you need to add filler to. Where as MIG the wire melts necessitating the need to add filler.

Still need to practise. Still better than Christmas shopping!

[jgilbert]

Headlights done.

[gwnwar]

Very nice job looks good and flows with the roll bar..

[jgilbert]

So, made one of these today for the Exocet.

Anyone got any ideas what its for ?

[gwnwar]

Looks like it could be a nerf bar or plate holder for front of car

[tlight]

Isn't it in the horizontal plane, so more likely anti grounding / skid feature ?

[mrjingles705]

I'm going to go with boot hinge (the straps at the bottom acting as a check).

[tlight]

I've changed my mind - same as above Mr Jingles , but other end, bonnet

[jgilbert]

Good effort people. So, it is a type of Hinge and its for the front of the car.

Any further ideas?