East Kilbride Build

[tojeiro]

Ordered my Protech Shocks today after some discussions with the Protech team. Final choice was 7" spring (1" shorter than standard MX5 spring), 350lbs on front & 175lbs or rear (only road use for me). Probably couple of weeks as they are busy but I am off to USA end of next week so no major rush. Director came on and after explaining a few of us are interested he did me a good discount for the set which placed them only slightly above the Vmaxx extremes which seems great value to me.

[tojeiro]

As mentioned earlier my required modification to the fire wall panels meant that there was now about a 1/2" gap above the top of the standard transmission tunnel.

My original design (before mods to remove gearbox) used some boot seal from the donor to seal the joint between firewall and transmission tunnel. While it seemed OK I was not very happy with the rigidity so to solve this and the new gap issue I did some redesign.

by -Tojeiro 74-

With this arrangement it seals nicely, is rock solid and I can remove when required. Not so bothered about perfect appearance as it will be fully trimmed.

by -Tojeiro 74-

Would like to go for a round top tunnel in the future but can't bend thick aluminium plate easily and not sure I want to use a thinner gauge with a prop shaft so close by.

Also somehow lost the handbrake switch (or didn't come with donor) so spent a couple of hours making a new switch from my box of random bits.

[tojeiro]

With the nice weather recently we've been out in the evenings in my MX5. Lesson learned is that living in Scotland some form of heater is going to be essential if my other half is going to join for days out.

Saw this in one of the magazines some time ago and decided this would be fine for some basic feet and face deicing . Four outlets so will add two vents in the dash and pipe two into the footwells.

by -Tojeiro 74-

Ordered the snazzy bulkhead connector to join everything up, although having previously chopped the donor heater hoses i now needed replacements. Using man logic a complete set of silicone hoses made more sense than buying two standard heater hoses.

Wife is working the bank holiday tomorrow so aiming to make some serious progress.

[R2S]

Do you have heated seats? This is the route I went down.

[tojeiro]

Got no seats yet, struggling to find something I like that is narrow enough and IVA compliant.

Considering some cheap narrow fibreglass buckets for IVA then look at other options later. Would like to have removable headrests to run without when I have no passenger or parked up.

Also need to match my interior trim

by -Tojeiro 74-

Focusing today on panelling under dash area and handbrake tunnel.

[R2S]

My seats are variation on Cobra pattern built specifically for Replicar and supplied by Interiors Seating who fitted my own heater units for £10 per seat.  Went to get details for you but just discovered they have recently stopped doing car stuff although I understand the guy who did my seats, Ashley, may have set up his own business (dont know where or have name though; assume it will be local to old place which is in Mansfield not a million miles from MEV HQ).

 
The red is not as bright as it looks in photos and closer to the sample you pictured. 

[tojeiro]

They do look nice. The issue does not seem to be overall width but width at back where the gusset is and stops most seats going back.

Your seats are obviously more rounded at the back than a standard MX5 seat which maybe helps. I am not very tall at 5' 10" but still feel I need the seat quite far back to get the right position (want to sit nice and low)

Intratrim do the Saturn with removable headrests and the right looking dimensions, going on vacation in Wales in July so might try and negotiate a day over near Telford to have a closer look and also talk about colours. Distance to suppliers is a bit of an issue living in Scotland.

Great plans for progress today did not materialise into results, did about 6 hrs and all I seemed up manage was to reroute some parts of the loom and make cardboard templates at least twice, suppose it's cheaper than scrapping aluminium sheet.

[tojeiro]

Managed an hour in the garage at lunch today as it was too wet to walk the dog (sorry Cullen)

by -Tojeiro 74-

Using my home cooked low cost sheet bender, I managed to make some curved sheets.

by -Tojeiro 74-

Looking at just a top piece to fix to the standard tunnel and a full curved piece for the rear section. Set-up gives some extra strength and rigidity and was able to use thinner 2mm sheet.

by -Tojeiro 74-

Needs a bit more fettling at the joint to match the curves but more than pleased for 1hr work.

Bribed the dog with biscuits not to tell my wife he didn't go to the park today.

[R2S]

Like the bending rig, think ill do something similar for my trans tunnel bending; I think Im reverting to flat tunnel top as this will allow me to fit stuff (not sure whether top fit sound system, blue tooth etc) on top. Ive done away with the chamfer of original tunnel and mine will be symmetrical. Ive come up with what I think is a neat solution round handbrake but will post photos once completed.

Oh and the dog in my photo is a JackShit (I kid you not), has the worst of both breeds chews everything to bits, nothing is safe, and mental as anything.

[tojeiro]

Another new toy so that I can start work on trimming my Replicar interior, how hard can it be ?

My other half is now certain that I have lost the plot.

by -Tojeiro 74-

[martinw]

I think you should at least make a matching waistcoat for Cullen (....to match his scarf...) otherwise your "no walkies" secret may get leaked

Martin

[gwnwar]

R2S.. You better put the seats up, the dog is eyeing the front corner to chew on.. Do like the seats..

[tojeiro]

Been away in US for a week but a cancelled family barbecue today got me a few hours in the garage while watching BTCC (every cloud silver lining)

First job was to finish off my tunnel fabrication. Just to bolt it down now but need to pick up some weather seal strip for the joins to the chassis as I want it to be weather proof but still removable.

by -Tojeiro 74-

Next job was to drain the coolant and fit my bulkhead connector for my new compact heater. Measured 10 times, pilot drilled then opened up with my large taper drill.

by -Tojeiro 74-

Debated on buying this part originally but it's a quality part for the money and looks much better than a couple of grommets and makes the interface completely watertight.

by -Tojeiro 74-

Had to remove my coolant bottle but lots of measuring and check fitting means all fits spot on. Having cut the original coolant hoses when I deleted the original heater meant that had to buy a new set of silicone hoses. Just waiting on some new hose clips to finish off.

by -Tojeiro 74-

While the coolant was drained I also changed the radiator which has been on the shelf for a while.

by -Tojeiro 74-

One of my more productive days.

Next job list:-

Fit and wire the heater on the inside passenger side bulkhead
Fresh new antifreeze coolant fill
Fit new Protech Shocks (should be here soon)
Aluminium bulkhead cover
Finish wiring routing under dash

Getting closer to that momentous day where I can do the first trial fit of the body.

[R2S]

Any chance of a picture of the bulkhead just to the right of the one showing the connectors (which as you say looks quality)? Id like to see how you have tackled the interface with the curved chassis rail with the sheet fitted externally rather than in cockpit.
Thanks

[tojeiro]

Sure, I'll dig out the photos of the process I did. I take dozens but only save the posted ones on Photobucket. The rest get dumped on a spare hard drive.

You have to deal with the curved tube either way although suppose on inside there is less intrusion.

It's maybe not something others would notice but it would have bugged me being different on both sides.

Think I still have the cardboard templates on the shelf, if so I could stick them in the post if you want to follow the same outside fixing.