Mister Towed's Tai Chi build - Page 53

oxford1360 · #**1041** 11th January 2013, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Towed

I'm very pleased with the look and I might even spray the wheels to match at some stage...

Silver wires look great, but every time that I have seen them in colour they look even better.

This pic converted me -

Mister Towed · #**1042** 12th January 2013, 09:18

Each to their own, but I really, really don't like black wheels. They're turning up on everything now: corsas/saxos/imprezzas/mercs, they were even a bloody option on my 79 year old mum's Nissan Note 1.6 automatic for Christ's sake.

I blame that Richard Hammond off Top Gear. When he ordered a Morgan Aero 8 a few years back he special ordered it with black wheels (perhaps to distract the eye away from the general fugliness of the rest of the car). The production manager at Morgan tutted through his pipe and frowned, but sent a chap in a tweed jacket down to Halfords to buy a can of oven enamel anyway. They then charged The Hamster seven grand to spray it onto his alloys.

Once done, I guess it was too hard for him to admit how horrible they looked after wasting so much TV licence payers' money on them, and, because Hammond wears a leather jacket and smokes his opinion seems to matter to the rest of the herd, so, black wheels became cool. In the words of Jim Royle 'My Arse!'

Phew, feeling a bit better now the voices have stopped...

Paul L · #**1043** 12th January 2013, 16:21

Mr T - Grille is looking good.

And I'll be stealing your "safety" mesh mounted inside it idea too.

Cheers, Paul.

davecymru · #**1044** 12th January 2013, 18:34

With the angle the 'chip cutter' sits at, I'm not 100% you need the grill behind it as virtually nothing got through mine. Well...... not in any large pieces

Mister Towed · #**1045** 17th January 2013, 08:49

A few people have commented on their threads that everything seems to take longer than expected when building one of these cars. It's now twenty months since I bought my donor, and twelve months today that my first deadline to complete my Spyder, my 50th birthday, passed, and it still isn't finished

Over the last year and a half I've: bought and stripped down a worn out classic and made a (small) profit selling off the redundant parts on ebay

Renovated a rotten chassis, learning to grit-blast and weld in the process

Fabricated custom parts like the radiator fan-shroud, fuel tank frame and dropped floors

Had new friends drop by along the way

Bonded on the body and got it through a rebody inspection

Burned the candle at both ends on occasions, but it's not affected my health...

And brought it to the point where it can be driven around and only really needs paint and final fit of the lights and trim to finish

It has very much been a spare time project and I'm still enjoying every minute spent working on it, even when things don't work or have to be redone because I'm not happy with them. I'm now confident it'll be on the road soon (a Jamaican word meaning an indeterminate length of time that's probably still quite some way off) and I'm really looking forward to driving it to Goodwood.

I'd recommend it to anyone.

phil9 · #**1046** 17th January 2013, 09:07

if it take years to do and u r enjoying it, that's all that matters.. then the fun with start ....and when u look back you have done it all your self ....and thats just great as a lot of guys have no idea how to change a plug ... let alone build a car well done dave

CarNoob · #**1047** 17th January 2013, 09:50

looking good cant wait to see it in paint.

oxford1360 · #**1048** 17th January 2013, 11:13

That's a coincidence. I went through your thread from Page 1 on Tuesday because I realised that I had joined the forum when you were on about Page 25.

As you say, when progress isn't as swift as you would like, it is worth reminding yourself what you have done (and learned) whilst doing a full-time job and dealing with life in general.

Top car building!

Mister Towed · #**1049** 17th January 2013, 11:36

Thanks for the support guys, it's much appreciated. I'm also glad I've been able to help a few people along the way. Should be more progress from me once the snow clears...

garyh · #**1050** 17th January 2013, 13:09

No rush, T... you'll be tinkering with the car for years.

oxford1360 · #**1051** 17th January 2013, 13:12

When I was toying with the idea of fitting larger brakes on mine from the outset (I have a spare set of Vitesse uprights and calipers), a friend said, "Don't. If you do it now, what will you have to do when the car is finished? This is a life project, there's no need to rush." He is right.

garyh · #**1052** 17th January 2013, 13:24

I must admit being a lot more patient with this build, but that is mostly because i am married and can't just pay for things willy nilly.

oxford1360 · #**1053** 17th January 2013, 13:26

Being married often prevents anything willy nilly.

Paul L · #**1054** 17th January 2013, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Towed

... I'm also glad I've been able to help a few people along the way...

You sure have.

And it is the journey you have made building your car which is so inspiring.

Good luck with the finishing touches, Paul.

Mister Towed · #**1055** 19th January 2013, 19:36

Interesting donor for anyone lurking with intent to start a project here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/hot-rod-tr...item1e765c8eac

Would need to ensure the v5 could be transferred though.

redratbike · #**1056** 19th January 2013, 23:17

Better one here
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-He...item3f210c3825

Mister Towed · #**1057** 20th January 2013, 09:03

Yep, that looks pretty good. You'd just need to source or fabricate a front bulkhead (could a Cordite one be made to fit?) and find a propshaft and you'd have a really good basis for a Spyder. Nice one.

AndyP57 · #**1058** 20th January 2013, 10:04

I've just cut the bulkhead off the shell I'm using for Navigator demo 2. If anyone wants it I'll let it go for very little plus delivery. PM me if you want it.

Mister Towed · #**1059** 21st January 2013, 07:56

Won't be getting much done today due to weather and sore throat

I have just bought an aluminium, dual core Honda Civic radiator on ebay though for a total of £37 including delivery from, erm China...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1210537775...84.m1497.l2649

It's a bit of a risk as they've only got one sale under their belts and it's likely to take about three weeks to arrive, but even if the revenue people put vat and import duty on it it'll still be under fifty quid.

Sole reason for buying this is that I've knackered my standard Civic vti radiator. While I was making the bonnet hoop I managed to thump a three metre length of strap iron into the core near the top.

Two bottles of 'rad weld' haven't stopped it leaking when it gets up to temperature and now it's scrap

You can see the problem in this pic - the dark vertical line about four rows wide near the middle of the radiator is coolant seeping out.

A standard replacement would've been £40, but seeing as upgraded alloy ones have been selling on ebay for around £50 I thought I'd hold out for one of those. I'll let you know whether it's a worthwile buy when it arrives...

phil9 · #**1060** 21st January 2013, 08:12

be nice to see it when it comes... not a lot going on here as. work.. work.. work..getting a bit p/off now.. back in at 12 to day for more gritter driving ...get this out the way then back to work on cars.. hay then goodwood