Rich's Exocet Build

[hutchey]

It's been months since the frame came back from the powder coaters and I have lost all enthusiasm now. It's just a big pile of parts in a heap in the garage taking up space now!
Time, physical help and lack of interest have all taken their toll now.
I'd promised myself and my Son that it would be ready for Stoneleigh this year but I can't see it being ready at all in 2019.

[hammy3601]

Keep at it mate, we've all nearly bailed at some point or another, your project looks great!

[jason82]

I wonder if MEV would be interested in putting your car on the demonstration stand at Stonleigh ? I know that you live in Kent, but it would be a good feature idea to get the car from where it is to IVA standard, & people could volunteer to work on your car for free. MEV benefits, you do, & it adds a feature & something really interesting at the show.
I remember years ago that MEV done a car build demonstration similar to this. This would be just the ticket to draw people into the show.

[hutchey]

Finally had some time back on the car and got the pedals, tank, fuel and brake lines all in place.
Steering is in and connected but not checked the relation to height and reach for the driving position.

The standard suspension isn't working, it's too stiff and the springs aren't sitting in the cups or tops of the shocks, leaving the top rubbers wobbling about. Ride height looks good though at 16cm from bottom edge of the chassis to the ground, wishbones parallel to the floor.

Exhaust is sort of in, mid section CAT is on and I've welded up a bend to get through to the rear end but made a mis-calculation on the final angle so now need to do a bit of welding / manipulation to get it to meet the back box. May need to change the rear mounts too now.

Wiring loom, hmmmmmmm, no idea if I've removed too much yet. Canister and ALL of it's wiring and solenoids are out, as is the old alarm system with the wires soldered back together.

Power steering is almost reconnected, new coolant bottle is in and ready and Bonnet and radiator fitted but off in case of accidents in the garage,

The fuel filler is a problem as the tank has 2 outlets, one small for breathing and the other filling.
The filler comes out the tank at 38mm OD and then all the IVA Aero Caps are 51mm OD so I need to do at least one join here safely.
Then what to do about the smaller hose as it won't fit onto any aero filler cap so does it get blocked off? Will this cause filling problems and overspill?
Is it a vented or unvented system on these things - everyone says something different.

Wheels and tyres will likely be up to 15's and going from an ET42 down to an ET15 as I have put on 25mm spacers. So this should take my offset to be almost Zero.
Anyone see any problems here?

I'm getting ahead of myself here but with LED front, rear and side indicators, I presumably need to get a new LED Flasher Relay of some sort?
Same for the Hazards?
I'm planning on changing the standard hazard switch to one of the Savage Billet Aluminium ones so need to see which wires to keep and which not to use?

For IVA, do we now need an internal Brake Check switch that has to be reachable by the driver? Is the one on the master cylinder not enough now?

I've got IVA proof mirrors ready and once I have the wheels I can then fit the wings and brackets to hold them in place.

Handbrake is in and connected but I need to alter the adjusters at the 14mm nut, the caliper and on the actual ratchet to get the best of it.

We've cut out different size cardboard templates I made for the steering wheel sizes and have settled on a 285mm one for after the IVA test.
Might put a quick release on but am a bit weary of these if my lad is driving on a track day. Any better ones to look at that are 100% safe and lock well in place?

Harnesses, we're opting for the 4 point with the longer backs to wrap round the harness bar and then use the D shackles to secure them. Seems to be a better option than drilling through my tube and putting in 8.8 grade bolts right through with nylocks?
With these, I'll need to cut the holes into the back of the seats and am not sure on the height and angle requirements other that the IVA book saying that you can't have the angle less than 90 from the angle of the seat back.
Any ideas folks?

SO we're getting there and our trip to Stoneleigh has renewed our vigour to get this car at least started and moving on its own asap.
If not then my son will be on my case again.

Stoneleigh was ok this year, less manufacturers and stands this year and only a few Exocets on show sadly but the crew that was there were their usual joyful selves and very helpful and great fun. We need more MEV's to come next year.

[hutchey]

Car is driving now, still lots to do though.
Put wings on
New custom fuel tank to order and fit
Immobiliser to finish
Swap of hazard and fog switch to a savage style
Dash pod to fit
back box to fit to the main pipe

[hutchey]

Well we were supposed to be going for IVA on the 1st April but that's gone by the wayside obviously.
So yet another promise to my lad that we'd be ready for Stoneleigh this year has also failed - hopefully they will put Stoneleigh back on later this year, failing that then maybe Newark.
Couple of jobs I've had to redo as I wasn't happy - the fuel filler as I had a custom tank made and raising the wheel arch brackets to get the right clearance.

[mprmurray]

Have you had anything relating to your iva date yet?

I was hoping thatbas your were originally due at the start of April you would have something quite quickly to give us all hope that we may yet get a date before the summer is over.

[hutchey]

Not yet. A couple of others have rung them and they are not yet open.
Mrs is waiting for the same type of inspectors for her lorry and they are talking maybe coming back in July. That was as of late last week so not sure how Boris's news yesterday may have changed things.
If I get mine in July then I'll consider myself lucky. Anyone who hadn't booked and got a date will probably be from Sept or Oct onwards. That was the overtones I got.

once I hear I'll ping out an update on here and the FB pages.