Ericholm 250 SWB Convertible Build thread
 

Ok, so have started the body strip down in anticipation for 2 pallets of wonder parts arriving this week.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=577
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=575
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=573
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=574
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=576

You can put the rear alloy crash bar back on if you want.

One of the Z300S selling points for me was to be able to retain those front and rear.

Hi,

Does it need it? i.e for the kit parts to fit too?
Also what about the wheel arch inners are they still needed or optional?
And can I fit the rear with the original sills in place or do they have to come off?

Thanks.

Interesting thread
 

Thanks for posting photo's of your build. I'm sure it will be followed with interest.

The rear crash bar isn't essential, the kit panels aren't attracted to it, so leave it up to you.

Rear arch liners can be trimmed on their out edges and refitted. Front liners need extensive trimming to allow front body section to be raised and lowered but still offer some protection of the engine etc from road spray. I personally ran the SWB prototype for 5 months, into the winter months, without any arch liners install and didn't experience any problems.

The sills are the first panels that need to be fitted due to the rear top bolt holes being covered by the rear end section.

Thank, so is it drivable on the roads with sills, rear end and boot? I think I will put rear alloy bumper part on as need to secure exhausts to something solid.

Yes it would be drivable, the rear wings will be proud of the Z3 doors without the new skins fitted but you can't fit them with the old Z3 bonnet still In place. I hung the exhausts off of the crash bar on the prototype with some simple gallows brackets.

Iv'e created a Flickr repository and will be uploading all pictures of the build there as I go.

Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/134265488@N05/

Cheers.

Back end stripped, sills removed, and Fuel pipe extension fitted

https://www.flickr.com/photos/134265488@N05/

Not the same without pictures and pictures aren't the same without words...

test
 

Understood........

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/365/2...7292c89b_c.jpgDSCN3912 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/353/1...0a2328f3_c.jpgDSCN3915 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/479/1...0bce71c7_c.jpgDSCN3910 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/293/2...12f835ae_c.jpgDSCN3909 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/281/1...481d7b3d_c.jpgDSCN3905 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/520/1...d550057d_c.jpgDSCN3903 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/436/1...7f29deb1_c.jpgDSCN3901 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/548/1...387e7b61_c.jpgDSCN3899 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/363/1...60d414f2_c.jpgDSCN3898 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/409/1...fc8ea0fe_c.jpgDSCN3886 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/374/2...b9d3bcf8_c.jpgDSCN3888 by eric holm, on Flickr

What a great build to follow, very detailed...:kiss:

Watching with great interest, can't wait for the next installment...

Kit is supposed to arrive tomorrow, sills and backend will go on first. I count 23 jobs to do to get it driveable (Legally) then will take to get exhausts fitted whilst 1/2 Z3 and 1/2 SWB, its gonna look a little weird for a while :wacko:

23 Jobs?
 

Could you list them?
Thanks,
Mike

2 sills
Boot lock
Boot latch
2 boot hinges
Boot stay
Boot rubber seal
Boot inner part
2 rear lights
2 indicators
2 no. Plate lamps
Number plate
2 reflectors/fog lamps
Fuel pipe
Fuel cap
Rear body kit section
Number plate trim
Then thinking about wether to mount old z3 aerial and fitting inside of arch

That should get me road worthy

Small glitch with delivery of kit, so expect it to arrive tomorrow morning (Saturday), I think its going to be a nice day. More photos as I get going...........

Arrived.....Excited!!!:peace::peace::peace:

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/341/2...9bf59f4c_c.jpgDSCN3935 by eric holm, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/327/2...f5f58485_c.jpgDSCN3956 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/392/2...77976c4f_c.jpgDSCN3938 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/530/1...34bd9271_c.jpgDSCN3940 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/519/2...8b1fc0fd_c.jpgDSCN3942 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/264/2...6b47c007_c.jpgDSCN3944 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/...5e063a3f_c.jpgDSCN3945 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/409/2...7bdbd647_c.jpgDSCN3946 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm4.staticflickr.com/3830/...f2a1fa67_c.jpgDSCN3950 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/...3cd70c29_c.jpgDSCN3952 by eric holm, on Flickr

More on.... https://www.flickr.com/photos/134265488@N05/?

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/555/2...b1303b14_c.jpgDSCN3984 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/339/2...deb9a744_c.jpgDSCN3961 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/524/2...420f1940_c.jpgDSCN3964 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/407/2...95b7eb47_c.jpgDSCN3970 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm4.staticflickr.com/3691/...433be488_c.jpgDSCN3972 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/339/2...c50c9c62_c.jpgDSCN3973 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/455/2...cb7d6ab8_c.jpgDSCN3975 by eric holm, on Flickr

That's it for pretty much 1.5 weeks as have other commitments, will continue to post when back up and running.

Just a quick warning before you glue and fix it all into place, double check the petrol pipe is well sealed. I did the same to my fuel inlet and discovered the other day it was leaking, fortunately I had planned to take it apart to do spraying so will fix it then. Thought I'd sealed it well, put enough sealant in and around the pipe. Good luck with the build
Andy

Started to build once again,

Rear Wiring all extended
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/297/2...37fac1ce_c.jpgDSCN4000 by eric holm, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/271/2...271fb728_c.jpgDSCN3997 by eric holm, on Flickr

Adjustment of fuel pipe (Vent and overflow to allow for extension
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/538/2...e1ec8b80_c.jpgDSCN3990 by eric holm, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/263/1...80c5bf11_c.jpgDSCN3995 by eric holm, on Flickr

Removal of spare wheel holder and sealing of holes
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/531/1...e2824f55_c.jpgDSCN4003 by eric holm, on Flickr

Fitting of rear lights
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/312/2...0bd98c6c_c.jpgDSCN4005 by eric holm, on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5620/...69078244_c.jpgDSCN4014 by eric holm, on Flickr

Fitting of Aston cap
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/474/2...98481aae_c.jpgDSCN4015 by eric holm, on Flickrhttps://farm1.staticflickr.com/541/2...23cc2239_c.jpgDSCN4016 by eric holm, on Flickr

Ready to fit rear end
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/387/2...f2446fd3_z.jpgIMG_1824 by eric holm, on Flickr

Hi Andy
Looking good.
I have high expectations of this build as you are so meticulous.
Would have liked the recessed filler cap on ours but we had time constraints to get it to press.
Just starting on a new Kalifornia build which should be much better than the prototype from what we have learnt.
Did you see the Kalifornia on the cover of Kitcar Magazine, out now?

Brilliant resource thread - thanks for documenting so well. :thumb:

Thanks for the comments!

Haven't seen mag yet as in Italy. Looking forward to seeing it though. I bet your phone will be ringing off the hook.....

Well cracked on today and have completed rear end first fit:

Boot hinges
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5738/...c312fc95_c.jpgDSCN4219 by eric holm, on Flickr

Number plate Plus lights and boot lock
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5705/...6bee4f72_c.jpgDSCN4223 by eric holm, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/661/2...90e2c09a_c.jpgDSCN4224 by eric holm, on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5779/...317ba709_c.jpgDSCN4242 by eric holm, on Flickr

Reflector/Fog light fitting and testing
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/606/2...c6585676_c.jpgDSCN4243 by eric holm, on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5776/...2f14184d_c.jpgDSCN4245 by eric holm, on Flickr

All finished and ready for the road, Exhaust fitting tomorrow....
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/618/2...a6c331bc_c.jpgDSCN4250 by eric holm, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/728/2...665edc96_c.jpgDSCN4252 by eric holm, on Flickr

Loads more build photos on: https://www.flickr.com/photos/134265488@N05/

Many thanks for the build photo's, and for the ones from the Italian museum.
Can you tell me please where did you get the rear reflectors and boot lock?

Oh, and the hinges!

Boot lock Europa spares flat hook type bn3bll £6 http://www.europaspares.com/flat-hook-latch.html

Boot hinges, any triumph type external chrome or internal modified mx5 type http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOOT-HINGE...item3a96068f27

Fog light Ebay, dont have link :icon_rolleyes:

Thanks Eric!

Eric - I like your approach of doing one section of the build at a time. :cool:

In fact, I love the idea that you could now take this for a drive to road test the rear end.

The "raised" character number plate looks good too.

Good luck, Paul. :)

Exhausts fitted today, with a drive from Milton Keynes to Nuneaton, round trip.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5629/...beb7e823_c.jpgDSCN4314 by eric holm, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/678/2...071611df_c.jpgDSCN4316 by eric holm, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5778/...99e7631e_c.jpgDSCN4311 by eric holm, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5811/...90439071_c.jpgDSCN4306 by eric holm, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5752/...3da4f4fe_c.jpgDSCN4301 by eric holm, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5822/...767cdd45_c.jpgDSCN4297 by eric holm, on Flickr

Loads more photos on: https://www.flickr.com/photos/134265488@N05

Many thanks Paul L - Needed to get back end on to get sizing and dimensions for Exhaust fitting, So it was bit of a rush job, now will take back end off and refit this time taking care with lines and finish.

Can't take credit for raised number plate as 'nicked' the idea from Plastic Porsche on forum!

Great progress, exhaust setup looks superb, what does it sound like

Thank! Hopefully it sounds like a 1961 Ferrari :horn: Although how can I ever tell? Guess I could upload a youtube video of it, but I am sure it wont do it justice.

Its 'bassey' with the hood up, it must amplify the noise. It has a fantastic crackle that was always there but was suppressed but now is unleashed and I got to say that the pickup is much better at lower revs, I am very pleased with it all round in terms of the look (although detailing still to be done) and the sound is tremedous, just like the Nubodi Prototype I went to see last month.

Mine is a 3.0i so not sure what a 2.8, 2.2 or other might sound like.

Its going to cost me a fortune in fuel just revving it to hear that nice pitch :eusa_dance:

Check out my blog where I compared before and after fitting a k&n filter. That was recorded on a mobile phone held just near the steering wheel.

No, it does not do the sound justice but you can still really hear the difference.

Record, upload to YouTube and post a link here.

Cars need more than photos

Hi, yes I watched it and can hear a difference, obviously difficult for me to do a before and after, will give it a go though at some point. I'm taking a day off tomorrow from build after doing around 20hours commitment on it in last few days

I film loAds of stuff on my phone that I never use. Every now and then I discover I need something I filmed a while back.

The. Sound comparison is a good example. It was a pointless performance test as I had a passenger and an empty tank but I recorded anyway. I didn't use it for performance but for audio instead.

The past is a valuable thing, they don't make it now. If you record as you go you might find yourself going back to old bits.

I really recommend it now photo, film and storage is. So cheap/free

Hi Eric - can I ask - where the cars up on the post ramp are those stock BMW 17" wheels?

If they are I'd be forever indebted to you if you could run a straight edge up the face of the wheel and see where it hits the rear wheel arch - inside/on the lip or outside.

It looks to me like they won't go up into the arch and if that's the case it may scupper my idea for the big rims tucked up in the arches. I can gain some room by going 215 tryes and stretching but not a massive amount.

As I understand it stock 17" BMW wheels are fronts: 7.5" wide; et 41 and rears: 8.5"; et 41

Largest offset I can get on the Axe wheels I want @8.5j is 45mm so only 0.4cm reduction in poke over stock.

Be really grateful for you help - cheers, Scott