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Ah, of course, i see that from ur other pics. Thx have a great3 weekend!
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Must remember... never set myself deadlines....
Ok, so i'm a week(ish) behind where i wanted to be but i have now: * Finished fitting the steering. * Had tyres and tubes fitted to my nice shiny 14" wire wheels - went for 175,70,14 in the end * Undersealed everything * Trial fitted the body so that i could redesign the exhaust and finish fabricating the bulkhead. * Modified the exhaust. * Finished the bulkhead (as far as it's going until the shell is on) and fitted a lowered battery tray. http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psa80edd69.jpg That has now been sealed, etch-primed and painted black since i took that photo. I had pondered leaving it shiny (too much cleaning) or painting it body colored but i thought that Black would be easiest in the long term. And I've now started refitting the wiring loom: http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psef6304d3.jpg This one has fuses!! You can also see in this pic that I've stuck with what is quickly becoming Miglia tradition and I've re-worked the frame around the steering wheel so that i can place the dials where i want! Plus i also want a glovebox! (posh, i know!) PI do like a bit of on-the-fly Heath Robinson fabrication :) So hopefully this weekend the wiring will all be in and i can test that everything works. Then plumb in Clutch and Brakes. Then it can go onto it's wheels! :) At least, that's the theory.. |
Love the ally front bulkhead and 'pans, very jealous indeed. :)
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Beautiful dave!
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Dave - Whilst I didn't mention it at the time, I did think your deadline was a tad optimistic. :icon_wink:
Having said that, it is all looking good so far. :cool: Good luck, Paul. :) |
Dave looking great, its worth making the effort on the details. :thumb:
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I like the alloy Dave looks really professional and well done. I went with the ally chequer plate, partly for strength, but mostly because I had it given to me for free........ needs must as they say. keep up the great work and up dates.
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And after a long weekend, the front of the bulkhead is etch primered and painted.
New battery clamps fabricated and the battery is fitted. Air filters are on (left protective covers on them for now!) New points, condenser, plugs and leads all fitted. The Final lengths of brake and clutch lines were run and attached with my nice shiny rubber lined P-Clips! (another thing i promised myself i would use on my next build ) The new +ve and -ve power lines have all been made up and clipped in place and the wiring loom has been run back-to-front! Obviously the loom is still loose at the ends until i fit the shell (you can see the front part cable tied to the front cross member in my 2nd pic) , but i will be wiring up and trying all lights and indicators and dials, gauges and switches "before" i fit the shell as i'm not messing around with the shell fitted like i did with the Sammio! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps7a44a6a1.jpg Note: Rocker cover breather filter is on order! Then i realised that as i'm using a totally std cooling system i could fit the expansion bottle. So i found where the old panel had been.... carefully stored.... (cough)thrown(cough) and removed the expansion bottle bracket. That was stripped, primed and painted and then a length of alloy angle was riveted to one of the front frame uprights to give me just the position i was after to mount the bottle. http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps2ae3f519.jpg It's a lot lower than it looks in that photo and the top is below the cross member. I've also fitted the wire wheel adapters and with any luck tomorrow i'll try and start her up!! :) |
And before anyone else spots it, yes the clutch line is clipped to the bulkhead atm, i was on-a-roll by that point and not thinking! That clip will be removed before i try to start the engine! :)
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Coming together very nicely. :cool:
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Good luck, Paul. :) |
So did it start alright?
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Not exactly :(
I tried starting it but got no-joy and I spotted a few things that needed addressing. So, in the spirit of this build, I'm not messing around and i'm going to address them properly. The story so far.... I have replaced the plugs, leads, distributor cap, rotor arm and coil. I've now fitted one of those "in distributor" electronic ignition kits. I've picked up a new timing light and I've tested the wiring is all working and I can see that i'm getting sparks. But it was being, what is technically known as, a bit of a bugger! So... The carbs are now off as they were the pime suspect and were also leaking slightly, so they are going to be stripped and inspected as i suspect the starting problem is a mix of crud from the new/old fuel tank and the floats not being set right. The exhaust manifold was also blowing slightly, as when i refitted it i just reused the old gasket (i know, i know), so the manifold is now off and I'm waiting on a new gasket from messers Rimmer. At the same time as all of that...... I have now filled and bled the clutch. I also tried to bleed the brakes but the bleed nipples on the rear cylinders (the bits I'd not changed!!) were seized solid :( so I've replaced both the rear brake cylinders and now have a fully bled brake system :) I've also run all of the wiring for all the rear lights (brake/stop, indicators, numberplate light) and they have been trial fitted and are now all working. I've also run the front wiring and i've removed any excess extensions (i.e. for dual lights) and the horn has also now been trial-fitted, tested and is working. I've also wired up the fuel gauge and that is working. (i find wiring quite relaxing!) So i'll sort out the Carbs hopefully tonight and then the manifold tomorrow night and then everything can be rebuilt on Wed and try again! The lesson from this last week is - the bits I've assumed didn't need replacing, did! Although on a positive note, the way things are going, when i do come to fit the body, i will already have everything mechanical and electrical in place and working, which is one thing i did want with this build :) |
Exhaust gasket changed and carbs rebuilt - there were a few odd things that needed sorting but it's been a long day and I need wine, so for now i'll just say...
IT STARTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D |
Congrats!
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Multi-part update time :)
First, on my old Sammio Spyder i had 15" wire wheels with 165 80 15 tyres, giving a total diameter of: 64.5cm TBH, they were too big! as my bulkhead exploits with the hammer and welder proved. So on the Miglia i've gone for 14" wire wheels with 175 70 14 tyres, giving me a total diameter of 60.06cm and what a difference that makes. In a good way! So with the engine started last night, the new throttle linkage was fabricated this morning and the car put onto it's wheel for the first time since it went in the garage a few months ago. The engine started and it drove out of the garage with no problems at all!!!!!! :D MOON BUGGY!! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps57c54cc6.jpg http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps4aa37c17.jpg http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psfa73eeaa.jpg http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps9dc04f54.jpg http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps8cf5c989.jpg |
So.... will it fit?
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps75b5eb33.jpg YUP!! :D http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps1c8ea3fc.jpg I and sit much lower in it that i did in the Sammio as you can see from the photo (i'm 6'2") It's not bonded in yet, but i can see that only minor jiggling is going to be needed! :) http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psa320e7ad.jpg And the bit i was worried about, the rear end, seems fine! phew! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps2179f95f.jpg |
The Cobra Cub bucket seats are perfectly sized and exactly what i was after!
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps2bde6b50.jpg As you could see above, they give me a lovely driving position and i do feel much lower down than in the Sammio and the view over the bonnet is much more impressive that little bit lower! :) http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psc33c57c6.jpg And the initial body on-off-on-off--repeat... jiggling to sort out the steering wheel and pedal position really paid off! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psa8227def.jpg It's like it was tailored just for me. Oh.. it was :) Finally i was never really sure about cutting and extending the gear lever, so after getting an idea from one of the old-timers when i went to the Mark Moor International vehicle festival, i talked to the very nice chap at Spitfire Graveyard (http://spitfiregraveyard.com/ I can't recommend them highly enough!! ) and told him what i was upto. We figured out that one of the Spitfire gear levers was cantered over considerably more than the Herald/Vitesse one and should give me the reach and clearance i was after. About an extra 2 / 2.5 inches, or so. As you can see two pics above, it seems to have worked a treat! Here's it is in Neutral http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psc60dfc61.jpg and in 1st / Reverse / 3rd i still have a few cm's to the dashboard! :D http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps5e550279.jpg Yes... you need long arms to use it. But did i mention i'm 6'2"? :D All in all a very, very productive weekend and now i have to spend some time with the family before they forget what i look like :) |
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Before I got side tracked on body work, I was really hoping to have a working moon buggy by now. :rolleyes: There must be something very encouraging about knowing everything worked before the body shell goes on. Good luck, Paul. :) |
well done your flying along, looks like a real sports car now, you will be on the road in no time, keep up the good work and the photos.
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Nice work on the bulk head paneling, it looks the part. It must be a pleasure to fit the body and it all looks ok, so no fiber glassing for you then. I think if i had not had to do as much with the body i would of been nearly finished by now.
Keep up the good work and posting the pictures. |
Inspirational stuff, Dave! Just getting close myself - resorted to using an original Vitesse bulkhead which means shortening the rear of the bonnet/extending in front of the screen, to cover the gap, but I can do fibreglass more easily than I can do welding!
Found the 1" spacer on a rear swing spring sits down nicely at the rear, but I'll be driving 'uphill' until I sort the fronts - shorter coils I hope... Looking forward to seeing the next installment! Richard |
Dave - you are really encouraging me with your progress. I get to pick mine up on Sunday, and I will have some different issues (mine is Spitfire based, so Mike has shortened the body and had a new sub-frame made up). But two questions for now:
1) What gauge ally did you use in the end? I want something robust enough but without building a battleship :-) 2) Why do you think the gear stick is so far away? Is it because on a Sammio the driver is effectively sitting in the back seat of a Herald? I ask because when I tried mine down at Mike's I felt itr was a long way under teh dash, yet on my car my seating position should be the same as the Spit. Anyway, really good to see that - and your comments on wheel sizes has been noted. When I was with Mike he had a car on 15s and it looked teh biz, but I saw some Dunlop tyres at the weekend - crossplies - and they look like what I am after, but they have a tall shoulder to the tread, so am having second thoughts (again) about wheel sizes. Cheers. |
Cheers guys. It really does feel like i've got to a new "stage" of the build as a result of this weekend! :)
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I've seen the extensions people have used but i was sure there was a way of sorting it out, without cutting. My old Sammio had a lever that was very tilted (don't ask, long story) and i liked the feel but i never knew where it came from, now i know. Please remember that my comment of "feels a long way away" comes from sitting in and driving the car once out and in to the garage. So i will have a proper feel (phanaarr) over the new few weeks. |
Busy busy busy this weekend!
I didnt have chance to do anything in the week so I've been playing catch up as i still want to try and make the last show of the year at the Bath & West in November (snigger away!) Time to strap it all in place and jiggle things about. so to speak! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps2cf4d114.jpg Got the rear end centralised and the wheels as central on both sides as possible. It was more level than this by the end and the new swing spring is still settling down so the camber on the wheels no longer looks quite so drastic http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psb3a18cdd.jpg Just resting on the frame the front end needed some fettling! The reinforcement Mike has added in the bonnet is quite.... extreme! good, and please don't' think i'm knocking it. but there is lots of it :) So a jack under the front and a sanding wheel on some of the reinforcement and i got the front nicely positioned in the end but this is how it started http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps690efe82.jpg I have been wondering how to fix the front, then i saw my enormous pile of Alloy Angle and i had a <doh> moment! Front now fixed in two strips either side makes it very firm! I will add more before i'm finished. http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps99e3f45b.jpg Then the Fiber Glassing began! Long strips along the entire length either side first. You can also see the mod to the bonnet reinforcement in the background. http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps0c1475f3.jpg Then bulkhead to scuttle, and can i say that upside down fiber glassing is HORRIBLE!!! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps2b7b9a38.jpg Then i did both sides of bulkhead to the body-shell sides, but i was a bit to sticky to take pics of that by then!! |
Also with this build i want to reuse as many bits-n-bobs from teh original Vitesse as i can and one thing i always had in mind was to reuse the rear view mirror.
Here is how it started. http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps12171bbe.jpg Pins were drilled out either sides and the bottom mounting point was sawn off. Then it was reprofiled with the power-file, prinmered and painted and it now looks like this! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps9d80644e.jpg I was originally planning to fill the holes on the sides, but tbh once i saw it painted they just make it look that bit quirkier! :) I'll mount it during the week as i'm fitting the dash, seating, seat belts, mirrors and aero-screens in place before i start on the interior panneling |
Hi dave did you ask for the reinforcing on the bonnet or did mike supply it that way, also did you receive your front grill. Keep up the good work it's looking really good, strong, and very neat.
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Dave - Great progress. :cool:
Did you use any bonding paste, or just the fibreglass, to join the body shell to the moon rover? Good luck, Paul. :) |
Just pop rivets and fiberglass used so far. I might use some bonding paste on the rear where it touches the frame. But atm I've got an enormous tub of bonding paste and not a lot of bondage to do!
The reinforcing on the bonnet was done for me and i can see where Mike screwed the bonnet on to the shell to get it all aligned before adding it! It's a quality item, but when i see what Paul is doing with the rope i do wonder if it's overkill? It'd be interesting to hear Mikes experiences with the bonnet that led him to doing things this way? Unfortunately..... i wasn't clever enough to screw the bonnet and doors in place when i was lining up and fixing the main tub on, so i do have a little bit of remedial.... reshaping, work to do on the doors/bonnet and that is totally my fault! <doh> we live and learn! No grill yet :( It was meant to be here weeks ago! TBH i had exactly the same grill delay issue with my Spyder! For some reason Poole seems to be a bit of a Bermuda triangle when it comes to fabricating grills! ;) |
I found with the Sammio that the key to getting through a build is 2 things.
1) Have lots of little jobs in your mind so that if you can't do one, you can do another. 2) "A Little and often" makes more progress than you imagine. So while i "need" to finish off some of the fiberglassing and start on the interior paneling. It's cold! And I've had a long day. So I've sorted out the dashboard layout instead :) As much as i admire Towed's dashboard and where Paul's is going, i still want to get this car on the road and enjoy it and leave myself some jobs to rework over time. So for now - it's cheap and cheerful :) And TBH i'm actually surprised how well it looks just with the std dash blank and the gauges and switches fitted :) and spending some time adjusting the frame behind that areas really paid off! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psa8fa873f.jpg Gauges are just resting in place atm, but i think it's turned out very well!! I'm also going to make up a small alloy panel to go on the dash over the steering wheel column. The hole above the wheel in between the 2 large gauges is an idea "in progress" atm so, more later if it works. and if it doesn't then ignore you ever saw it! :) I also mounted the modified Vitesse rear view mirror and again i'm actually a little surprised at how well it just... fits! :) |
looking good - not sure on how I want my dials but this is a starting point - I was tempted by central, like my Spitfire (mk 3) but I like how youyrs has started
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Looks great dave, that mirror solution is exactly what i plan to do. Did u have to extend the steering column at all?
Tim |
mumblemumblebloominbonnetmumble
So today it was time to mount the bonnet hinges :)
I had a rummage through my bits boxes and found the two Peugeot hinges that I'd originally bought for the Murcielago kit that I was going to try years ago but never started. These would have been used on the boot lid and are made such that they bring it out-n-up. So ideal for rear mounted hinges for the Miglia bonnet I thought. Everything planned and I fabricated some mounting posts, welded in some captive bolts to make my life easier and bolted them between the frame and the bulkhead. Here's the drivers side one just in front of the brake master cylinder: http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psbdb5701d.jpg Then I mounted the hinges and carefully fitted-removed-fitted-removed the bonnet so that I could fabricate spacer blocks http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps61dd598a.jpg With everything in place I trialed the arc of the hinges to see if my out-n-up theory would work and it looked promising http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...pse191089c.jpg But...... At the back of the bonnet opening there is quite a big lip! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps957914f2.jpg And that coupled with how quickly the bonnet tapers means that it just wouldn't work! :( By this point I'd lost a bit of skin from knuckles and gained a few minor burns and it was a bit of: :frusty: :cry: :rant: Then I remembered...... :idea: The other day someone mentioned using Mini door hinges.... Now chance has it that I already have a set that I am going to use for mounting my doors! So..... Looking at the angle of the LH side hinges and seeing where that naturally sat on the curve of the bonnet. Then looking at the angle of the RH side hinge and seeing where that naturally sat on the curve on the other side of the bonnet. . . . 20mins later . . . http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psf2cd434a.jpg http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps5f9d9893.jpg HAPPY!!!! :peace: Yes you can see in those pics that I need to do some minor fettling of the bonnet, but that is largely due to the current reinforcement and should be easy to alter (famous last words?) At the rear edge it's a bit more pronounced atm, but nothing that a load of slits with a 1mm cutting disc shouldn't sort! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps90d837be.jpg And better still, the mounting posts from the original hinge idea are in exactly the right place to mount my bonnet pins! :icon_lol: So all in all, result! I'm not totally how sure it's going to look with 3 sets of those hinges (bonnet and doors) but if it does look too "in your face" then i'll just paint the bonnet ones :) Now I need to spend time with the family before they forget what I look like, but before I go a few of you asked what my bonnet strengthening looks like atm, so here's a pic: http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps7094f8c4.jpg :peace: |
You really should try a pair of 2CV door hinges.
I think there just what you'r looking for :icon_cool: You keep threatening to to call-in and have a "nosey" so why not call have a "nosey", a cuppa and check out the said items? :tea: |
You could spray the same colour as the car? Then they would blend in...
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The MX5 units are a nice simple fix as well , for a hidden hinge arrangement.
Tribute remove them on their 250 kits so should have a few pairs laying about . |
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I think I have a couple of pairs kicking about too.If you want them , they are free , just pay the postage ...about £6 nowadays .
looking at your bonnet shut , I would guess that maybe the hinges have bottomed out and sit at the wrong angle to allow the bonnet to close properly , this can be rectified by grinding a bit of the hinge shut area to increase travel or correct the angle by mounting the body mounted piece on a little plinth to raise it neither of those solutions is ideal in my opinion. pm me if you want them. |
It may b a silly question but have we tried the herald v/ vitesse door hinges?
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hummm.... I'd not thought about the Herald door hinges, I think I let mine go with the doors to a very nice man with a beard. ok... so 90% of the very nice men who had parts also had beards... but I ramble..
EL PRIMER - Thank you for your very kind offer! I'm almost tempted to have those hinges off of you just you to tinker with. But as I'm happy with the way the Mini hinges are progressing it seems a shame to have those off of you in case someone else could use them! That aside, I thought I'd better post the rest of what I've been up to this weekend as things are progressing apace now! All of the bonnet reinforcement was cut away, which seems like a hell of a shame, but makes the bonnet much more adjustable and a ridiculous amount lighter! I also fitted the drivers seat so that I could start to work on ergonomics! With that in place I fitted the side mirrors from the original Vitesse and I'm very happy with how they look and more importantly, I'm impressed with how much rearwards visibility they give me! Which makes a difference to the Bullet mirrors which is had on the Sammio! I've also made a first stab at fitting the aero screens. http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps52f5df16.jpg Then I fitted the new lighter and more flexible bonnet and refitted the hinges with big penny washers to help the stress (I might make up plates eventually to replace those and bond them in place) Note: You need to use LHT on the right side of the bonnet and RHT on the left side and it works and looks a treat! Then I fettled the edges with the flap wheel in the angry-grinder and it really started to take shape! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psb2785cc4.jpg Then I reused two of the mounting holes I'd cut for the rear-hinge experiment as mounting holes for the bonnet pins and they are ideally placed! http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps56fffa61.jpg And in traditional fashion for me, the pin mounts are currently a bit Heath-Robinson and _far_ too over engineered! But they work, so will do for now :) http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psaea776e6.jpg Finally I cut the hole in the rear deck and fitted the filler cap that came free with the Spitfire tank. That'll do nicely for now! :) http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps764b18f7.jpg |
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