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Post by Fin on Mar 11, 2017 18:14:03 GMT
While we had the chassis off to measure the flooring, I decided to still the nagging voice inside which wasn't happy about my having centred the clutch plate by eye, so I bought a centring mandrell, and did it properly. Slipped in the prop shaft, and re-bolted the PPF and we were back to where we were. Yesterday I'd stripped the donor tombstone seats of their rails, and spent most of the afternoon searching for info on what I thought would have been a fairly easy process. The MEV GRP seats seats were the very first thing I had bought, but came without the MEV mounts, so bought a pair from Stuart, along with the bonnet hinge, when we changed the flooring sheets. I knew they would have to be located and glassed in place, but thought it would be fairly easy to mount the rails. Being without a welder, I'm going to have to drill the cross-spars and insert crush tubes, and then bolt them into place. I had already figured the ends of the rails would need to be flattened down to seat on the rails, but the one under the seatbelt clip is made of an angled plate which I can't see how to "flatten" without compromising its strength & integrity.  The hole/rail centres are already pretty tight, and flattening will only make to rail centres slightly longer. We also offered up the seat onto the mounts to check height and freedom of forward/backward movement, and noticed that the seats put the driver's head pretty damn close to the line from the roll-bar to the front chassis. My question, is this already TOO close for both safety & IVA? Helmet will push it a bit higher too, but fortunately, I don't have the hair problem!   |
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Post by Stiggy on Mar 11, 2017 18:51:26 GMT
A roll bar is not a requirement for IVA. The picture shows how they stupidly assume that the windscreen frame performs some sort of roll over protection. The lower picture is one of hundreds on the net showing what happens to a screen on a soft top car in a roll over. No substitute for a roll bar.   |
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Post by bignik on Mar 11, 2017 19:09:46 GMT
Hi Fin, I had the same concern being 6'5, in the end a mild tilt backwards of the seat got my head lower and at the same time gave me a bit more leg room.
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Post by Fin on Mar 11, 2017 19:21:34 GMT
A roll bar is not a requirement for IVA. The one in the picture on an approved race car looks suspect. "Suspect" is one word for it! Any suggestion on flattening the angled rear rail mount? |
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Post by mikeeyboy on Mar 11, 2017 21:30:13 GMT
As you say the rear angled mounts make bending it almost impossible. I cut a line down that angle with a grinder and then bent it. Once it was bent in place I ran a weld bead down the join to make it one piece again.
If you do not have a welder or someone who can, a big vice firmly secured and a lot of brute force may bend it just enough?
If you can cut them and bend them into place, i would be happy to weld them for you, would just have to get them to Sheffield.
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Post by Stiggy on Mar 11, 2017 23:03:12 GMT
Exocet does not use those runners, you need the ones without the seat belt mounts attached. IVA is an issue with the type you have as belt anchor points will rely on the 8mm bolts holding the seats down. You need to use 12mm bolts for the seat belts in the floor mounting plates.
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Post by Fin on Mar 12, 2017 0:28:49 GMT
Exocet does not use those runners, you need the ones without the seat belt mounts attached. IVA is an issue with the type you have as belt anchor points will rely on the 8mm bolts holding the seats down. You need to use 12mm bolts for the seat belts in the floor mounting plates. Was planning on fitting harnesses, but even so, was of the impression that even the old tombstone seats intact were fittable? So, what type of different runners do I now need? |
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Post by Stiggy on Mar 12, 2017 8:52:38 GMT
below is a picture of MKI seat runners, very easy to bend flat. You then shorten the wire between the two for the release catch to work on the GRP seats.  |
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Post by mikeeyboy on Mar 12, 2017 9:28:54 GMT
Stuart, if you are not using seat belts then i assume that becomes irrelevant? I'm using a harness so can use 12mm bolts to the floor.
I cut the seat belt off the runner and cleaned it up, resprayed and it looks like a new part, 12mm bolts holding the runners through crush tubes.
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Post by Fin on Mar 12, 2017 10:38:36 GMT
After hours poring over builds and technical section, it's really frustrating that nobody has flagged this to say the chassis isn't forward compatible with other than Mk1 seat runners. Particularly as the build guide makes no mention whatsoever of fitting, and they just magically appear.
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Post by Stiggy on Mar 12, 2017 10:49:35 GMT
No magic required, but it is easier to use MKI runners, no reason you can't use MKII runners either. Just trying to help here, on a Sunday. I should get a life!
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Post by Fin on Mar 12, 2017 11:44:52 GMT
No magic required, but it is easier to use MKI runners, no reason you can't use MKII runners either. Just trying to help here, on a Sunday. I should get a life! Magic? Well, I've got to make that angle disappear - just like that! |
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Post by Fin on Mar 12, 2017 13:38:44 GMT
A roll bar is not a requirement for IVA. The one in the first picture is on an approved race car, it looks suspect. The middle picture shows how they stupidly assume that the windscreen frame performs some sort of roll over protection. The lower picture is one of hundreds on the net showing what happens to a screen on a soft top car in a roll over. No substitute for a roll bar. ] Pretty certain my SAAB Aero utilises the reinforced windscreen pillars and twin pop-up bars behind the rear seats. It was the first convertible to gain 5 stars for such in the Euro NCAP ratings. At least, that's the theory............... |
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Post by Fin on Mar 13, 2017 19:00:49 GMT
Well, my mobile garage guy does welding, so chopped a triangular fillet out of the seatbelt mount runners, and will then be able to flatten all the mounts to fit. Spent the morning marking and cutting the floor sections, and it went much easier and better than I expected. Started with a hacksaw, but quickly decided I'd get a more even finish with the jigsaw and a fine blade. A quick chamfer with a fine file and then the electric sander to even out the curves, followed by a final rub down with emery paper gave a really nice finish and a true match to the chassis lines.  De-greased and keyed the exterior with emery, but haven't yet painted it. Probably try black carbon effect film on the interior (Luke rebelled at orange).   |
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Post by miket on Mar 14, 2017 9:21:56 GMT
Looking good. You've probably picked up on this thought from your forum reading anyway, but just in case - try to ensure you don't put a rivet in where your seat bolts will be coming through.
Hope you're armed with a lazy-tong or better for the riveting job ahead!
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