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Post by R2S on Sept 4, 2017 7:21:53 GMT
Bearing in mind ANC have now gone live I was wondering if builders had any thoughts on suggested minor mods that might help Andy in the new venture (accepting he is free to choose whether to adopt or not).
I know these suggestions/ideas will be contained in your build threads but I thought it might help Andy if we pulled out these suggestions to save him having to trawl through everything.
For those later/current builders it would also help if you identified anything you'd picked up from earlier builders, who now post on a less regular basis, if at all, that you adopted.
As a starter for ten I suggested a bracket for the flexi to hard brake lines at the front welded in during fab might be a good idea as this position must (or have I missed something) be in the same location for all builds.
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Post by ancsportscars on Sept 4, 2017 8:09:15 GMT
Always happy to take on board any suggestions for mods. All will be given due consideration and provided they are viable from an economic point of view, could well be incorporated. Have any present builders got a pic of where, exactly, these flexi to hard brakeline brackets should be situated? In the meantime I have a few ideas of my own. For example, I intend to offer the option of simply keeping the power steering. I have a slight disability in my hands (Dupuytren's disease) which means I can find steering a little uncomfortable. My experience of driving the MX-5 is that the power steering isn't over assisted anyway and still gives plenty of feedback to the driver. I realise the Replicar is probably around a third lighter, but I think anything to make the car easier to drive can only be a good thing. Without wishing to be deemed sexist, it could well mean that wives and girlfriends may then be encouraged to drive the Replicar for themselves which should make ownership more of a shared family affair. To that end, I will be looking to add brackets to the chassis to mount the power steering reservoir and will have to look at how to mount the pipework in front of the rad. (Again, any pics showing present builders solutions to this are appreciated.) Andy.
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Post by tojeiro on Sept 4, 2017 11:47:27 GMT
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Post by Stiggy on Sept 4, 2017 12:05:35 GMT
we don't weld brackets on as builders use different length hose. One critical point for IVA is if the hose can contact the tyre, wheel or moving suspension regardless of steering position. Hence the only way to get the mount in the right place is if everyone used the exact same length hose and type of flexibility, steel braided will bend differently to a rubber one. Some builders will wish to keep cost down and use the donor parts and others may want pretty coloured ones.
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Post by ancsportscars on Sept 4, 2017 12:45:19 GMT
we don't weld brackets on as builders use different length hose. One critical point for IVA is if the hose can contact the tyre, wheel or moving suspension regardless of steering position. Hence the only way to get the mount in the right place is if everyone used the exact same length hose and type of flexibility, steel braided will bend differently to a rubber one. Some builders will wish to keep cost down and use the donor parts and others may want pretty coloured ones. Stuart does have a very relevant point. In the past on my kit cars I've had to put say a 1/4 twist in the flexi to ensure it doesn't foul the suspension/steering etc. during its full range of travel. Stiil, its something I'll look into when my demonstrator chassis is ready to be trial fitted to the PPF. Andy.
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Post by R2S on Sept 4, 2017 12:57:19 GMT
we don't weld brackets on as builders use different length hose. One critical point for IVA is if the hose can contact the tyre, wheel or moving suspension regardless of steering position. Hence the only way to get the mount in the right place is if everyone used the exact same length hose and type of flexibility, steel braided will bend differently to a rubber one. Some builders will wish to keep cost down and use the donor parts and others may want pretty coloured ones. Mmmm aren't they fixed on the donor? Dont notice multiple locations on the MX5 dependant on whether you have OEM or aftermarket pipes Also the aftermarket pipes we all buy are for an MX5 not a MEV Replicar or any other kit for that matter and are designed to fit the fixed location on the MX5. Im off to the workshop later and will take some dimensions which others can then compare to their builds. I really didn't want to start grinding off powder coating (that Ive paid for) to start welding on brackets. Albeit I am a novice (and slow builder) I have fail to see how a fixed position, as per donor, would be a negative and prevent different hoses being used. Or am I missing something? In respect of IVA surely something fabricated via a jig in manufacture would be a better (more accurate and repeatable) option? btw as per my original post these are only ideas for consideration and as i have already addressed this issue I am only trying to pass on the benefit of my experience in adding value to a great original design for the benefit of others (the purpose of the forum?)
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Post by Stiggy on Sept 4, 2017 14:17:50 GMT
you missed my points ! Firstly I said, builders may use different hoses, agreed? Secondly I pointed out that some will have steel braided and others rubber, agreed? Some will have them made up at varying lengths, agreed? Why would you want to weld to you powder coated chassis ("that you have paid for") when you can bolt to the subframe? Have you had experience of IVA and how critical they are with regards (quite rightly so) to moving parts wearing out brake pipes? I have, one more than one occasion. The MX5 would have the same issue if the builder/mechanic used different type/length of hoses. MX5 has hoses body mounted.
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Post by tojeiro on Sept 4, 2017 14:30:48 GMT
Andy, agree this front brake hose mounting was a bit of a time consuming pain.
As you have just one product to focus on I would suggest that you offer profitable options like this.
i.e. £200 option includes ANC braided hoses (cost circa £70) and mounting brackets welded to frame before powder coating.
I'd have paid the extra to save time and I'm Scottish so hard to part with money 😀
I can see Excocet owners building to a strict budget but expect Replicar builders are going to spend the extra in these areas anyway.
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Post by snowbird1 on Sept 4, 2017 15:20:52 GMT
I made bolt on brackets that where in the same position relative to the suspension as the original: I intended to chisel the brackets off the donor but forgot, welded on brackets would be good.
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Post by ancsportscars on Sept 4, 2017 15:29:22 GMT
Andy, agree this front brake hose mounting was a bit of a time consuming pain. As you have just one product to focus on I would suggest that you offer profitable options like this. i.e. £200 option includes ANC braided hoses (cost circa £70) and mounting brackets welded to frame before powder coating. I'd have paid the extra to save time and I'm Scottish so hard to part with money 😀 I can see Excocet owners building to a strict budget but expect Replicar builders are going to spend the extra in these areas anyway. It's a possibility. Like I said, once I've got my chassis sitting on the PPF, then I can experiment with bracket positioning/length of flexi so as to prevent fouling of suspension/steering components. Thus I should end up with a set length braided flexi for a given bracket position. The actual cost of manufacture and welding of the brackets to the chassis is negligible so would be included on all chassis. I can see Stuart's point of view in so much as if a future builder then decides to not use the recommended length and type of flexi hose, then problems could still occur at IVA w.r.t said fouling. A scenario could then arise whereby the builder blames myself- the manufacturer,on a public forum for their IVA failure - stating something like 'ruddy ANC, bloomin' useless! Used the bracket on the chassis to join the flexis to the brake lines but still fouled the wishbones'...etc. Not the sort of publicity I would like. As regards offering the braided hoses as an optional extra -rather than a recommendation, I'm not sure. I feel too many add ons to the initial kit price could deem it too expensive to potential customers. However, I promise to give it all due consideration.
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Post by ancsportscars on Sept 4, 2017 15:36:24 GMT
I made bolt on brackets that where in the same position relative to the suspension as the original: I intended to chisel the brackets off the donor but forgot, welded on brackets would be good. I'm guessing you used the original rubber flexis as well, then - and presumably, ended up with no fouling etc?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2017 15:55:28 GMT
Hi Andy. Welcome to the wonderful world of forum debates :-)
On brake lines I think if you were welding on brackets you would also have to put the brake lines in the kit. I built a Westfield a few years ago and they fix every bracket to the frame but also supply all the fittings. The Replicar was never this kind of a kit and requires some thought on how things are to be achieved. That was what I wanted, a bit of a challenge in a build.
I think the starting point should be your thoughts on how you want the kit to move forward. Keep it simple and let builders come up with their own solutions or a kit that comes with a manual that needs to be followed to complete a build.
I am sure if we know how you see the kit developing the builders can help with suggestions that follow your ideas.
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Post by R2S on Sept 4, 2017 16:15:56 GMT
Ok as promised dimensions from my build which uses braided hoses. Mk2 98 MX5 donor From my build Looking down on bracket (trying to explain the alignment with subframe bolts) As per others comments I too would have paid the extra to have the brackets fitted and hoses supplied. Hope this proves useful.
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Post by ancsportscars on Sept 4, 2017 16:44:27 GMT
Hi Andy. Welcome to the wonderful world of forum debates :-) On brake lines I think if you were welding on brackets you would also have to put the brake lines in the kit. I built a Westfield a few years ago and they fix every bracket to the frame but also supply all the fittings. The Replicar was never this kind of a kit and requires some thought on how things are to be achieved. That was what I wanted, a bit of a challenge in a build. I think the starting point should be your thoughts on how you want the kit to move forward. Keep it simple and let builders come up with their own solutions or a kit that comes with a manual that needs to be followed to complete a build. I am sure if we know how you see the kit developing the builders can help with suggestions that follow your ideas. Fair comment. My first build was a Tiger Avon, which lets face it, is at the opposite end of the spectrum to Westfield when it comes to 'Sevens' and quality of the kits. But then, this is also reflected in the price of the two kits! The Avon needed a lot of ingenuity on my part just to get the thing bolted together correctly - never mind the bodywork! Also, as I decided to go down the BEC route and fit a 'blade engine, I had to create my own engine cradle, exhaust system etc. as there was nothing on the shelf and Tiger were not interested in the least in helping out with suggestions/ideas - even though they had just started to produce their own B6 BEC. It is said if you can successfully build an Avon - then you can build anything! And, in all fairness, building that car gave me the confidence and skills to then go on and build the more complicated Cobra replica and then to where I am today. As an aside, I notice the Avon was up for sale last week on ebay. It was good to see it's still going strong and looks essentially the same as when I built it and on the road some 8 years ago in 2009. So I must've done something right! I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if all potential ingenuity is taken away from the builder by providing a kit that contains every conceivable part and simply bolts together (a la Caterham) then the price is inevitably going to rise to suit. Not only that - but I think it takes something away from the build experience itself and the ultimate sense of achievement when the car is finally on the road. The cars too, would have less possible scope for individuality which is a shame. So I see Replicar sitting somewhere between a 'Seven' and Cobra replica w.r.t price and ease of build etc.
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Post by gwnwar on Sept 4, 2017 18:07:02 GMT
FYI.. Not all years MX5 had the loop in front of radiator.. Guess if bracket is put on and not needed you could always mount the horns there..
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