WCA - Build thread 3
 

1st time I bought a TVR to convert but enjoyed it instead until I sold it to Chris for him to cut up a year later.

2nd time I bought a Scimitar to turn into a G46. I almost completed that before snapping my foot off meaning I could only drive automatics so that had to go.

3rd time lucky. Just bought a 2.8 BMW Z3

Now I know that none of Tributes kits currently fit the Z3 but I am sure Chris can work his magic to get bits of the A352/D Type/Mistral to fit.

Hmm, maybe a trip to Poole in the new car is in order to discuss what is possible...

Nice one, looking forward to seeing this one develop. :)

Its amazing how things have changed since we gosiped at the bath and west, when you first picked up the TVR!

I'm watching this thread with great interest, as if you follow the trend of previous experiences I'm waiting for the disaster to happen. Given the increasing level of issues during the last few builds, this time I have my money on meteor strike, or tsunami!

:) Only kidding matey! This time I hope it goes nice and smoothly and you finally get the car you deserve!

Thankfully the meteor hit last night just as the tsunami was about to drown me and vapourised all the water. Looks like my luck might be changing ;-)

Just posting this link up in case I need it later : http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=258312

Also, easy aluminium trim : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-Z3-...item51abde0134

Just a thought, could the kit be made to fit onto a 944 convertible? An expensive option but would be an exciting car :D

Think I'll finish my MX5 before suggesting this to the missus.

BMW 2.8 has 193bhp as standard which is okay. Sticking a 944 under the kit would just be silly.
Please do it!

WCA, what wiring loom did you get for the G46?

http://rapidfitlooms.co.uk/deluxefro...wiringloom.htm

They seem to have updated their website and prices. I thought I paid closer to £200. Well made loom. Clearly labelled on each connector. Paper description of wiring loom confused me a bit but a couple of emails and all was clear.

REMEMBER TO MAKE SURE YOU CONNECT ALL THE EARTH POINTS ON YOUR CHASSIS.

You would feel really stupid it you cooked a brake hose because the engine wasn't properly earthed to the chassis.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S...4+18.17.08.jpg

The shiney earth strap is me closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

The black tube above is the plastic coating burnt onto the brand new brake flexies.

After that everything went smoothly and all my switches and knobs worked first time once I created the 'dash board'

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2...4+12.06.36.jpg

I woke up early this morning so spent some time thinking about my build plans.

I want an A352 to look more like a Maserati 300S and have a BMW Z3 as the starting point. There are a few fundamental constraints that cannot be broken. One of the biggest constraints has been put in place by MrsWCA and therefore is unviolatable – The car must be comfortable, easy to get in and out of and have a roof. The second constraint is that it mustn’t cost a fortune to get finished. The definition of a fortune hasn’t been fully defined so I do have some wiggle room there.
The biggest challenge is un-Jaguarising the A352 and Maserati-fying it. I am not sure if those are words but you know what I mean. I will try to think of the issues with fitting the result onto the BMW on a different posting.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O...ront+Right.bmp
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Y...Front+Left.bmp
Let’s spot the differences and guess what we can do about them. Clearly Chris will need to cost the different options to decide what we do.
The Maser nose protrudes further forward from the lights and is lower with a bigger aperture.
Option A – Graft a new nose on the S352
Option B – Just reshape the aperture and lose the side lights ignoring the circular vents on the Maser
The Maser has various vents in front of the front wheel, in the bonnet, behind the front wheel etc.
Option C – Try to replicate all of these vents based on the pictures
Option D – Accept that pretty much every Maser photographed has a different configuration of vents and just put the ones I want it – Between front wheel and door, at the front of the rear wheel arch, possibly in the bonnet
The Maser has side exhausts
Option E – Replicate this with custom exhausts and risk burning MrsWCA’s beautiful legs
Option F – Lose the side exhausts but possibly fit a more fruity sounding exhaust to replace the existing one
The Maser has humps
Option G – Add fixed humps to the A352. This will severely impact the ability to open and close the roof which breaks the first constraint so is unlikely to be possible.
Option H – Add removable humps to the A352. Not sure if this is possible but perhaps a removable panel going over the folding roof with a couple of humps on it could be made. This would be only fitted if there was no possibility of rain when MrsWCA was in the car or if it wasn’t going to rain much and I was in the car.
Option I – No humps. There are some Masers around without humps so again, like the vents, this could be considered correct
The windscreen and doors are different sizes and shapes.
Options J– This is going to be taken straight from the Z3 unchanged
Option K – This is going to be slightly modified but is still dictated by the Z3


My current thoughts are:
Option A or B is totally determined by the cost involved. I want A but suspect it will be pricey
Options D & F
Option H if it is cheap enough, otherwise option I
Option J or K are really down to Chris and what is required to make it work.

A lot of people don't believe this but I have never had lessons in photoshop!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t...ifications.bmp

For a moment I thought Chris had finished the car already!

Looks like an Alfa...

Using one of these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Maserati-3...item19dba2d8b5

Glad you are still chasing your dream, WCA - good luck with the build, will be watching with interest..

Step away from the photoshop dude lol.....

I think you need to come and see me Nick. Love that Maserati.

I thought I would come down next Friday. I thought you might be a bit busy this week with Stoneliegh

Some of the dimensions are different between the Z3 and the Maserati, specifically around the doors and screen and the height of the body. I have been playing with the pictures again - photoshop users look away now.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-r...Comparison.bmp

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U...mparison+2.bmp

Wow, love the last render, will look awesome :)