Shaun's Exocet Build, Bristol/Bath

[shaun]

Hi everyone, here is the start of my build thread! Hopefully I'll keep it updated, if not, then please feel free to shout at me for updates!

In the day, I work in a kitchen extraction canopy, which provides me with some nice tools for sheet metal work! I also do stainless steel tig welding and mig welding

Ok, so picked up the chassis from the powder coasters yesterday, will try and get a picture up later!

I cut the floor pans last week, made a lot easier with access to an 8ft guillotine, and a set of shears! Will get pictures of these to, and if your building one, feel free to drop me a message and you can pop by and use them! Also have an engine crane if anyone would like to borrow it, rather than hire/buy one, also if you need any welding done then you can also ask!

I riveted the floor pans on when I got back from work, though 2 rivets were a bit to close to the inside edge of the box section, and the drill it slipped up the side, school boy error, and resulted in scratching the paint already! Oops! will try to get a picture ?

I think that's about as far as I've got so far! Will keep you updated!

[scooby1929]

I think you may well regret getting your frame powder coated so soon especially if you can weld unless of course you have already welded on brackets for supporting the rear tub, side panels, brake lines, radiator mounts, headlight mounts etc etc.
Also mount your seats before you fit the floor. Goodluck with your build

[Toed64]

You don't have to weld anything, if you choose not to... lots of the kits are supplied pre-finished from MEV.

[scooby1929]

I know you don't have to and that's the beauty about the mev but it makes life alot easier especially as Shaun states he can weld. Two fabulous builds on here are Tridents and John Gilberts and they used being able to weld to their advantage and both left the powder coating as late as possible.

[Toed64]

Apr 14, 2015 21:54:27 GMT scooby1929 said:

I know you don't have to and that's the beauty about the mev but it makes life alot easier especially as Shaun states he can weld. Two fabulous builds on here are Tridents and John Gilberts and they used being able to weld to their advantage and both left the powder coating as late as possible.

True, no argument!

[shaun]

Thanks for the replies

I know I should have left the powder coating till as late as possible, but I have a distinct lack of storage space, so at current it is sat outside under a tarpaulin and rain cover, and seeing as bare steel rusts rather quickly I thought I may as well have it painted than have it all rust on me!

Also any major things I should do in any particular order?

If anyone could post some pictures on certain brackets they've made up, that would be of good use to me! Just so I have some idea what I'm trying to achieve without totally guessing!

Also I don't suppose anyone has a flaring tool around Bristol I could borrow to flare 8mm copper for the fuel line? Or should I just reuse the originals? Or maybe just use rubber pipe? So many options!

Thanks for all your help in advance!

Will try to get the photos uploaded asap, never seem to find time!

[shaun]

Ok, here is a picture, hopefully!





If that worked then I'll take some more tonight! If not, then I'll have to upload them from the laptop and not my phone!

[scooby1929]

Ha ha I see now why you got it powdercoater first I think I would of invested in a large shed or workshop first though before commencing the build

[shaun]

Budget doesn't stretch to a nice workshop unfortunately! I have access to a workshop/shed on the farm, but it is shared, and I have another project in there at the moment which needs to be sold, and bit worried about getting the chassis damaged, due to the nature of farm repairs! Big hammers and lots of grinding, etc etc, plus it's no where near the house! But once it's driveable/rollable, I may use it more often!

Did a bit more tonight though,

Got one of the wheel arch supports on, sheared all 3 bolts and spent ages fixing it! But still, it is on now, but need spacers for wheels as its tight against the support, will give you a call in a minute thefreak!

Also pinned the fuel lines on, is there a minimum distance for the pipe clips to be apart? Or a recommended one?

Here's a few pics!









Also what length brake pipe is required front to rear? Or does it vary slightly? Thanks!

[scooby1929]

You can work out length once you attach on the little valve at the rear. Use some string from master cylinder to valve and leave long. Also worth putting on spring washers under the heads of the fasteners that support the wing stay think from memory they are m8. Also re torque the front hub and re index. Again from memory I think it's 300 mm max between supports on fuel lines.

[dave]

Nice colour choice definitely going to see you coming Can I ask where you got the fuel pipe clips from as looking into this at the moment
Cheers Dave

[shaun]

Hi Dave, they are 8mm cable clips from B&Q and were £3 for a bag of 20

www.diy.com/departments/bq-black-8mm-cable-clips-pack-of-20/177947_BQ.prd

They say black but they only have white in the store I went to, I also bought 6mm ones for the brake line just so the colour matches as black ones are supplied in the kit, I put 2 clips on with one screw as I thought it saved drilling to many holes in the chassis! I was going to have the chassis done silver but their colours looked a bit grey. So came out with green!

Thanks for tip scooby, will get some sprig washers! Do you know the torque setting by any chance? Thanks!

[shaun]

Ok, another little update, got all the wing stays on last night. used a tent peg to remove the indent out of the hub nut, fitted quite well!

Also managed to get the chassis lifted on, though it seems extremely tight on the fuel line so may have to lift it back off yet!

Maybe should have ran the fuel lines down the other side of the chassis? Will have another look today if I get a few minutes!

[shaun]

Ok, thought I would do another small update, though not had that much time! Chassis is all bolted down now still trying to work out what size wheel spacers I need! The will get them
Ordered up!

Managed to get the handbrake cable fitted in, they were extremely tight in the holes, probably a mix of the thickness of the powder coating and slight bit of corrosion in the alloy casting, bit of sanding with the dremmel type tool, they went in ok and retaining clips tapped on


Got the pedals and steering wheel in, though off the throttle cable hole, I started of with a drill and then filing, but got fed up of that so got a set of die grinder bits from the workshop and put it in the dremmel tool, and made it square, took no time at all!

Also, can anyone help with how the steering wheel mounts to the bulkhead, if I put it on the bolts attached to the pedals, then it runs on the bulkhead, should I just re drill 2 more holes? Any pictures of yours would be great fully accepted! Thanks!

Hopefully will get a bit more done soon!

[shaun]

Had another hour or so tonight! Managed to get the coolant system all connected, minus the header tank, might buy one of the Hyundai getz ones Dave found! Or is it possible just to make one? Is there a certain size it has to be? I think a nice stainless steel one would go well? Might have a think on that! Managed to get the 2 heater pipes linked, using a hose I found under the bonnet of a scrap Land Rover! It was already off, and the right length, just had to cut a bend off the top of it, almost looks like it's meant to be there!


Think I will tackle the airbox next? Do most people just get rid of it and use a cone filter? Or is there a place it fits neatly? Again, any pics would be great!