I doubt that's true, and you'll probably find your insurance company will do their best to wheedle out of making full payment in event of a claim.

Hmm. I need a new pair of fronts, the tyre bill may just have gone up.

I'll check today and get back to you this evening. I was going on advice from a classic tyre supplier and hadn't looked it up in the legislation...

Just a thought: can you get a V rated space-saver spare?

Just googled and my tyres are okay. Dunlop Sportmaxx Z rated

Z rated only actually means in excess of 149mph but tyre manufacturers have added

W if it is rated up to 168mph
y if it is up to 186mph
(y) if tested in excess of 186
And they leave is as just Z if it above that apparently

The Dunlops are what came fitted by Kleemann when it left their factory so I should be okay.

That will be helpful :smile:


Doubt it, I think mine has 'use up to 55mph' or similar moulded on the sidewall.

Direct from the horse's mouth today (a contact who's a collision investigator) -

You can be prosecuted (and under some circumstances imprisoned) for fitting tyres with a speed rating below the design speed of the vehicle.

To clarify that, the construction and use regulations are ambiguous, stating that the tyres must be suitable for the purpose to which the vehicle is being put.

The Motor Vehicles (approval) Regulations quoted by IanA above (and which I'd never heard of, so well done for finding them!) however, state that the tyres must be speed rated not below the maximum design speed of the vehicle.

Where the Courts are concerned, if two pieces of legislation seem to contradict each other, it's the one that hangs you that stands.

According to my contact, if you fit lower speed rating tyres to your car than it should have, the chances are nobody will ever notice (I don't believe it's even checked on the MOT).

But, if you are involved in a serious injury or fatal road traffic collision, your vehicle will be checked over in fine detail by a trained collision investigator, which includes checking the speed rating of the tyres fitted to the car against its design speed. If they are found to be incorrect, it is highly likely that you will be prosecuted for dangerous driving or causing death by dangerous driving, and such cases have been successfully prosecuted in the UK.

So, I would strongly recommend that you fit the correct (or higher) speed rated tyres to your car (I certainly will be) as the 'wisdom' on the net that you don't have to is wrong.

Where the Z3 donors are concerned, this means H rated tyres on 1.8, 1.9 and 2.0 models, V rated on the 2.2, 2.8 and 3.0, and W, Y or Z rated tyres on the 3.2M models.

Just a thought...going by the thread title is Geoff actually getting a car????????

That`s the plan , Geoff .

Oops. :(

Good advice T

We've all jumped on the thread and no sign of your car bet you can't wait

It has been a fair while but it will be worth it , thanks Geoff .

Geoff, I saw yours when I went to collect mine yesterday.
When it's built the fiddly bits will all have been worked out already so it should be a smooth build.

Mine was the first customer car that Chris had finished, and as you'd expect there were one or two small issues which will soon be sorted for future builds.

Having driven mine the 250 miles home yesterday, I'm in no doubt that it will be worth the wait.

Cheers, Bob.

heres how it does looks in real life

http://www.supercars.net/carpics/423...FACHotRod3.jpg

I think the whole restomod thing is definitely the right way to go. Maybe Halibrand style wheels rather than wires and maybe they're a tad too big lol!

But I gotta say....I think it looks bloody awesome in black :)

here you go

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...1&d=1427485649

I like that!

And suitably sized wheels are available:

http://www.seven82motors.com.au/for-...-wheels-range/

My original choice of Classic Mini door handles has proved problematic when connecting the Mini lock/key mechanism to the Z3 door latch unit. Changing the linear movement of 15mm in the mini lock (at 45 degrees when mounted of the SWB door skin) to the 40mm vertical movement required at the Z3 internal latch using cantilevers working in a reversed ratio (small movement to large) has given an unreliable solution. So, a new solution has hopefully been found with these handles and there attached mechanisms:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4003682559...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

They are readily available at reasonable cost, look period and that fact that they are Italian is a bonus!

I will update once I have test fitted one.

Good evening , any body want to buy a set of classic MINI door handles? :icon_smile: never raced or rallied! Geoff .

I was going to fit the Alfa handles to your car Geoff, so happy to take the Mini ones you provided in Part exchange :yo:. The Mini boot handle works just fine.

GTO Engineering can sell you a pair of repro ones:

http://www.gtoengineering.com/produc...s-swb-et00122n

I hate to think what they cost!

A60 Austin handles are nice but don't think the mechanisms will work, as the Mini ones:

http://www.bmcfarina.com/contents/en...Rear_Door.html

Thanks Chris , Geoff .

Try MWS in Slough (England!). They list this one for the Z3 1.9 but I don't know about a 2.8. The price for an e-type replica is £200 + VAT.
http://www.mws.co.uk/custom/FitmentG...ke=BM&CarYear=
Sadly, MWS reply is "Wheels at the size you request would have to be made as specials and the cost of these is very high"

Here you are Chris, I found these on ebay. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1511385147...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
They are also available from Alfaholics in the UK.
Problem is they are for a left hand drive car so the lock is on the passenger door for a UK car. Not sure if the buttons are interchangeable.

Door handles
 

For those interested in historical accuracy, I got this genuine 275GTB handle from "new old stock" via ebay, sadly, they only had one. Note the Ferrari had a separate key mounted on the driver's door only.

Bearing in mind the need to match the Z3 door mechanism, I found these "new old stock" (no more left)

Any update on the Alfa door handle front? Have you managed to get them to work yet? Only I can source a pair locally and am champing at the bit to buy them...

What is needed from the bonnet of the z3 ...hinges and latches????

Is the inner bonnet frame needed ???

Come across a few front damaged cars at good prices that would be ideal for conversion.

I have only gotten as far as to mount one handle on temporary brackets to judge how things will work. Everything is backwards in relation to the location of the Z3 mechanism, meaning swapping handles from side to side and adding some fabricated levers to the Alfa workings to reverse their action and move the connecting rods above the Z3 gubbins:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psckkuryjw.jpg

I am almost certainly positive that they might work, maybe. Just hedging my bets there.

The double skinned GRP front section of the SWB kit comes fitted with captive bolts/nuts that require the standard Z3 bonnet hinges and latches to be retained, but the Z3 bonnet can be sold off if in good condition.

Thanks Chris

Sounds good to me. After all, a probable certainty of possible satisfactory operation is a solid gold guarantee in the specialist car world.

More importantly they look the part. If all else fails I'll just fit them for the style they'll impart and bung a wrought iron hasp and padlock on for access and security. After all, with no IVA to worry about I can pretty much do what I like! :rockon:

(...and before I get any disgusted from Braintree posts about safety, I'm joking about the hasp). :yield:

Oh, and I also thought that if the mechanism won't play ball I could always go with solenoid locks/door release with a hidden mechanical override in case of battery flatness. Just a thought.

And what's wrong with a wrought iron hasp and padlock? Most Transits have them, especially white ones. :icon_wink:

Door handle and door skin
 

Take a look at my thread on F275gtb/z3 for an alternative solution. The reverse curve at the top of the door made it impossible to lay the 275 panel on top so I have removed the door skin completely (apart from the area around the handle in order to locate the actuating mechanism).

Finalised side window frames will be show in the next few days. They are bolted to the Z3 doors and will include double channel rubber seals, Land Rover latches and toughened glass.[/QUOTE]

Hi Chris,Your frames look very good if you are thinking of making them in aluminium this might be useful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doVIQ4y29NE

Hi Chris,Your frames look very good if you are thinking of making them in aluminium this might be useful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doVIQ4y29NE[/QUOTE]

Very interesting. Thank you.

I have been asked by several customers to compile a list of basic items required to build an SWB, The following are examples, there are limitations on the size of rear lights due to body recesses and we have set the kit up for Mini door handles, but all other items are down to personal choice:


7" Headlights with side lights + buckets

http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/product/7--he...bly-with-side/



Chrome headlight trims, MAKE SURE THEY ARE THE TAPERED TYPE

http://www.retroclassiccarparts.com/...for-triumph-tr



Rear lights

http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/product/l539-...--tail--pair-/

http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/product/l539-...icator--pair-/



Front indicators CLEAR LENSES WITH AMBER BULBS REQUIRED

http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/product/l594-...icator--pair-/



Side repeaters (front wing). Example for style, but your choice

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-FI...item35da2f95bd



Fog light Example, your choice. REVERSING LIGHT TO MATCH? NOT REQUIRED FOR MOT

http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/product/1253-rear-fog-/



Reflectors. Example of period correct for SWB, but your choice

http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/product/lucas...ectors--pair-/



Washer jets

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MI...item418580ccc8



Numberplate lights x2

http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/product/550-t...lamp--frogeye/



NUMBERPLATES: UK STANDARD SIZE, OBLONG FRONT + SQUARER REAR

Mini boot handle

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MI...item1c4e51bded



Bonnet pins, Example

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BONNET-PIN...item19eedbb0e8

Geoff's SWB is now coming together:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psx0rgs9ts.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...pslwlanbmb.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psdhhfz3az.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...pszr3nad5n.jpg

Looking good Geoff.

I like the colour for some reason.

Cheers, Bob.

Great progress from yesterday afternoon, its a very well designed kit to even be hung together in such a short time.

The wheels look great, it will be nice to see the car side on once it makes it outside

I'm glad that Chris and Dan dress up to trim the excess fiberglass from the kit for the customer and get covered in dust,

:bathbaby:

Evening Bob , thought you would , Geoff .