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Post by Stiggy on Apr 22, 2016 13:49:07 GMT
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Post by einy on Jun 7, 2016 11:32:52 GMT
OK ... time for a bit of an update. Windshield frame fabrication is done, next step is to get the safety glass cut and fitted. Here is what the project is looking like so far:
(more to follow shortly ...)
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Post by einy on Jun 7, 2016 11:35:31 GMT
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Post by einy on Jun 7, 2016 11:43:22 GMT
I think I noted this before, but the basic side / top frame is 1/2" wide x 5/8" deep x 1/16" wall c-channel steel, with 1/8" wide 'backing plates' welded where I bolt into the Exomotive sourced Sport windshield frame. In addition, I have welded 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/8" wall angle steel along the top run for increased bending resistance. The backing plates are filed to fit inside the Exomotive frame's channels, so there is no perceivable front to back wiggle when bolted in. The bolt in screws are 10-24 stainless oval heads, and I'll cut / file them to length so they JUST use up all of the threads in the plates they screw into, but don't project beyond that. Glass - per OH regulation - will be DOT approved safety glass, said to be 0.25" thick plus a little. I'm going to work with the local glass shop on sourcing rubber channels to take up the space between the inside of the steel frame and the glass, and see how it all holds up! Height of this assembly is dictated by OH regs - I have to look thru the glass when belted in. Also, I will fit a 'thumb screw clamped' manual wiper, again to meet OH regs.
Lots of messing around to get this to look like it does now, bondo, sand, bondo, sand, repeat .... !! |
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Post by zeitgeist on Jun 7, 2016 15:32:16 GMT
Looks good Einy. Looks like it always belonged there not an add on. I like how you dealt with the instrument cowl also. Do you "plan" on running it all the time after inspection or primarily just to get inspected?
I was at Mid Ohio yesterday and talked with a guy who had a Locost. He had an OH given VIN for it and said when he did the inspection in 2000 or 2001 he had no windshield, fenders or bumpers and it is registered as a 00 or 01 roadster not a 60's something Lotus or other clone.
By the way what front headlights and turn signals did you use as well as clamps? I have to get to this soon and have smaller headlamps but not a good way to mount them.
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Post by jwagner on Jun 7, 2016 15:40:00 GMT
That looks really good, and should shield you from the wind and bugs/etc. as well.
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Post by einy on Jun 7, 2016 18:36:42 GMT
Looks good Einy. Looks like it always belonged there not an add on. I like how you dealt with the instrument cowl also. Do you "plan" on running it all the time after inspection or primarily just to get inspected? I was at Mid Ohio yesterday and talked with a guy who had a Locost. He had an OH given VIN for it and said when he did the inspection in 2000 or 2001 he had no windshield, fenders or bumpers and it is registered as a 00 or 01 roadster not a 60's something Lotus or other clone. By the way what front headlights and turn signals did you use as well as clamps? I have to get to this soon and have smaller headlamps but not a good way to mount them. I'm going to see how it works once I get the glass in, but chances are I'll street run it with the windshield on. It's only 4 bolts to remove it if I ever want to take it off, however.
Headlights are the Dominator's from Exomotive's store. I like the looks, but even with uprated h4 bulbs, they are hugely ineffective at actually lighting up the road! That's why I'm running a pair of 5" LED driving lights inside the grill area. (You can kind of see them in the first picture I posted today.) Front signal lights were found in an old Custom Chrome motorcycle parts catalog that I had kicking around; clamps were e-bay specials typically used for UTV light mounts for our size tubing (1 3/4" OD if memory serves). Brackets were custom bent and shaped from 1/4" aluminum stock I had on hand from some long-ago project (annealing it with a MAPP gas torch really helps the bending process!).
Hope this helps !!
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Post by einy on Jun 7, 2016 18:37:17 GMT
That looks really good, and should shield you from the wind and bugs/etc. as well. Thanks for the kind words, Jim !! |
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Post by einy on Jul 25, 2016 22:59:33 GMT
All right ...windshield / wiper combo is finally done and mounted, tested, and stable. And, as required, I can actuate the wiper when belted in!    After a conversation with the Columbus State Patrol inspection station, they have seen an Exocet before (and passed it!), so I have an appointment set with them for third week of September. That's the good news; bad is that the actual guy who did that inspection is moving to a different post, WAY up North near Cleveland before my appointment date. So, I'll take a chance in Columbus, and hope his past familiarity with this car carries over to the remaining inspectors there. Yup ... I did have to wait that long to get in (they run through about 800 vehicles a week there - mostly salvage title inspections). So, fingers crossed, come the end of September I'm hoping to finally be 'legal' ... !!! |
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Post by zeitgeist on Jul 26, 2016 1:49:51 GMT
Congrats Einy. The windshield and wiper look very professional. Good to hear you are closer to inspection with hopefully good results. Are you doing fenders only or considering any bumpers?
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Post by einy on Jul 26, 2016 11:05:49 GMT
No fenders for now, and hoping that the Columbus OSP does not say "you need bumpers", like the Cincinnai OPS inspector did. The Exo that got successfully inspected by Columbus had a windshield / wiper, but no bumpers, no fenders. Hoping to copy that combination.
Sometime down the road I may install my fenders, but not completely decided on that yet. If I do, that kind of ties me to only using my wider wheel / tire combo. For now, I have the stock Miata wheel / tire combo on for 'commuting' use, with vastly different offset from my larger / stickier 'high grip' tire and wheel combo. I sort of like sliding around for now on the skinnier stockers ....
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Post by ashneyder on Jul 28, 2016 2:27:21 GMT
Looks very clean. Great job. What mirrors are these? Does a passenger side mirror articulate enough to be useful? All right ...windshield / wiper combo is finally done and mounted, tested, and stable. And, as required, I can actuate the wiper when belted in! After a conversation with the Columbus State Patrol inspection station, they have seen an Exocet before (and passed it!), so I have an appointment set with them for third week of September. That's the good news; bad is that the actual guy who did that inspection is moving to a different post, WAY up North near Cleveland before my appointment date. So, I'll take a chance in Columbus, and hope his past familiarity with this car carries over to the remaining inspectors there. Yup ... I did have to wait that long to get in (they run through about 800 vehicles a week there - mostly salvage title inspections). So, fingers crossed, come the end of September I'm hoping to finally be 'legal' ... !!! |
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Post by einy on Jul 28, 2016 11:22:58 GMT
Mirrors are leftover's from my motorcycling days ... 'general use' ones from EMCO, bought many years ago from Dennis Kirk. They are rigid enough, and adjustable enough to give good field of vision on both sides, especially when used in conjunction with the central convex (ATV type) mirror that I'm running.
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