I was busy in the garage this afternoon, making up some bonnet stays like Robins. I've poached the rivnut bearing idea attached to the side bonnet panel, but have my own twist on the stay clips when they're stowed.

http://www.greatoldone.co.uk/Sportst...nkedstayup.JPG

The drivers side one had to be cranked to clear the master cylinder.

http://www.greatoldone.co.uk/Sportst...edstaydown.JPG

The stay clip is a brass 50mm cupboard catch, which is a perfect fit for the 6mm round bar I used for the stays. The catch has two spring loaded ball bearings that spring in and out when you clip the stay in.

http://www.greatoldone.co.uk/Sportst...sstaycatch.JPG

The other side has a straight stay, but is mounted to the plate that holds up the AFM, as I couldn't get to the bonnet panel due to the long mounting bar.

http://www.greatoldone.co.uk/Sportst...2/psstayup.JPG

http://www.greatoldone.co.uk/Sportst...psstaydown.JPG

Both stays are different lengths, due to the locations on each side, but I've tried to make both sides open the respective bonnet side to the same angle... I think it's pretty even. If you squint. ;)

http://www.greatoldone.co.uk/Sportst...hbonnetsup.JPG

I've taken them all off and have sprayed all the parts with chassis black, and I'm going to add some heatshrink to the tops of the stays to stop the paint from flaking off in the clips.

Neat. I've been thinking about the problem for a long time without coming up with a good solution. Off to B&Q for some 6mm rod and cupboard clips.

Like Chris I wondered for ages what to use until I came across a couple of spare BMW brake pipe clips. (The ones from the rear suspension arms) These work great but I don't know how long they will last with the constant pinging in and out of the bonnet stays. I know what to do now when they fail!

Robin

ooo very nice :D

It looks like the gooster is going to fly! :smile:

You better keep that garage door locked...

It's OK - I've got some heavy duty jesses wrapped round the diff, tied off to a bolt in the floor. She's not going anywhere. ;)

Jason, are you into birds of prey? My wife and I are members of the Hawk Conservancy at Andover and regular visitors. In between running, car building and birds I also am a (very) amateur photographer, and have had a few photos published.
Attached is a photoof a black kite.

Sorry to go off subject.....

Meanwhile I've got just the speedo to sort out before re-applying for IVA. I decided to move the pickup from the tail of the gearbox to the diff. ETB supplied two new magnets to stick onto the nose of the diff and I managed to destroy the pick-up when removing it. A new one is now waiting at the Royal Mail parcel office for collection so you can guess what tonights job will be.

I've been to several birds of prey exhibitions in the local area, and have seen the falconry displays at Warwick Castle several times - they're always an impressive site.

I'm not an afficiando though - most of my knowledge on the subject comes from reading too many fantasy books set in medieval worlds and playing way too much Pendragon ;)

oo I've not been there in a long time now! Never thought to go there an take pics :D

Just got off the phone with Terry regarding my MIA bumpers.

Apparently other work has taken priority over my fully paid order, outstanding from February when my stage 3 kit was ordered and I can enjoy another month's wait for them. :(

Could someone please take some measurements of their bumpers (all 4) for me? I may look into getting some made up by a local engineering firm.

Also the windscreen escutcheons.

Ta.

Other work?? Must be over run with new orders??

I'd stick to pestering rather than getting them made somewhere else. The bumpers are substantial items with curved formed and polished Stainless faces so probably quite expensive as a one off. The windscreen escutions are complex laser cut stainless pieces and not easy to measure once fitted. (I thought you weren't having a windscreen?)
Just email Terry every week and she'll get the message :wink:

In the course of wiring up the dash, I have found out that the fluid level switch on the coolant header tank is open when the float drops, and closed when full.

I have it wired up to a warning light on the dash, and of course it's always on at the moment, unless I unscrew the switch and pull it out of the tank.

How can I make the light come on if the fluid level drops? The only thing I can think of is a normally closed relay, activated from the float switch. If the fluid drops, power is cut to the relay coils and the switch springs back closed, turning on the light.

Is there another way? Am I (as I'm always doing) complicating matters, and it can be done in a much easier way?

Ta,

Jason

Unless you can take the switch to bits and re-fettle it - it has to be a relay. Use a low power one though - one of the little read switch jobies would be sufficient.

Robin

Here's the latest. You've already seen the video in the electrics thread, but here's all the piccies since the last update.

http://www.greatoldone.co.uk/Site/Bu..._the_Loom.html

luvely jubbly
 

The car is lookin great- dinky number plate lights,do they allow number plare in without modification? Who makes those?Iva on the way?

Yep - no modification of plate required. You can get them from CBS:

http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/aluminium...ed4-1724-p.asp

Bit expensive, but good quality.

Jason,
your car is looking superb, well done.
I guess it's just the interior and seats and you'll be off to VoSA for your finals!

Two little things I spotted in your pictures.(hope you don't mind?) That handbrake button will fail the IVA radius test and one of your pictiures shows the upper wishbone stud with very little thread sticking through the self locking nut. The IVA men look for two clean threads showing and I believe sometimes take off the plastic nut covers to check!

...peter

Good job I still have the manky plastic sleeve for the handbrake then! :)

The plastic button is still on it - the aluminium button sits over the top.

I still need to go round and check all the bolts again, but thanks for spotting the upperwishbone nut.

I've made a start on the interior - I've been busy bashing alumnium sheeting for the boot and side closure panels. I think the neighbours will be happy when I'm finsihed this part, as it's involving a lot of banging, clattering and swearing. 3mm ali sheet can be quite resistant to bending where you want it to. ;)

Yup - They took EVERY cover off on my test to check....

Robin