WCA - Build thread 3 - Page 29

WorldClassAccident · #**561** 7th May 2014, 14:25

Don't worry, I will be!

Still not open but at least all the dirt and crap that has fallen out while poking and prodding should lighten the front of the car up and counteract the effect of the re-enforcing weight

WorldClassAccident · #**562** 8th May 2014, 08:16

Still can't get the bonnet open but found another thread that I will leave here in case anyone else gets this problem : http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=441868

The more I google the worse this looks!

People are talking about $800 work at a garage or cutting out things and the main point of access appears to be through the kidney grills at the front which I don't have. If I work out a solution I will photo and write it up.

Your best bet would be to pop out your corner signal light and pull on the black cable - Another option not open to me!

AndyP57 · #**563** 8th May 2014, 10:15

Good luck. I'm sure you'll get it open 'somehow'

Scottie22 · #**564** 8th May 2014, 10:30

WCA, found this on the net , means sod-all to me , but may help you?

Remove the bottom panel under the bumper, and the panel inside the wheel well.

Reach inside with a coat hanger, and pull the latch towards you, this will pop the bonnet and allow access.

You may have to remove the bottle for better access.

Let me know if it works!!

WorldClassAccident · #**565** 8th May 2014, 11:19

I have found quite a few different examples of how to free the bonnet. I will be writing another How To guide as soon as work gets out of the way.

This video is useful to see where the bits are : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_73XgTOYjY

WorldClassAccident · #**566** 12th May 2014, 13:22

The outside of the car is good now - except for that fact that the rear needs fixing after being remodeled by an inattentive Kia driver - so I thought I would revisit the interior.

Chris told me at Stoneleigh that the passenger airbag wasn't fitted to the UK spec cars so I had a little look

He was right, all that was there was a hole. I thought that would be about right for a glove box if I fitted a liner and a hinge. If I did that I wouldn't need the standard nasty plastic one. A few people had commented on the comedy clock so I was already thinking about revising that bit.

Anyway, one thing led to another and this happened

I will now be thinking about how to create a new interior to hide the wiring and modern switch gear but maintain the functionality such as electric hood, heated seats and air conditioning...

WorldClassAccident · #**567** 17th May 2014, 18:28

Started trying to understand the electrics a bit which meant kneeling on the carpet in the passenger foot well. There was a damp feeling down below, good with a woman but less si with a car so I took the carpets out. This gave a better view of the wiring

Lots of wiring

Lots and lots of wiring

Removes some sticky cloth tape

and taped back the wiring I didn't need

Then started on a frame for the centre tunnel

Happy so for. More tomorrow.

WorldClassAccident · #**568** 24th May 2014, 12:59

Well I seem to have managed to delete all but four of the pictures showing the progress to date. Never mind, here are the four

The frame with a couple of holes near the middle to fix something to

Here are a couple more holes at the rear to fix something to

Here is something fixed to the frame. This will be acovered to look nicer

Scottie22 · #**569** 24th May 2014, 13:36

You surely have not done away with that marvelous little clock?

WorldClassAccident · #**570** 24th May 2014, 15:06

Add a bit of pretty play, some carpet and a metal gear stick surround and it all looks a lot better I think

Clearly there is more work to be done. Who thinks a Cuckoo Clock would be a step too far?

Scottie22 · #**571** 25th May 2014, 12:49

The cuckoo clock in the picture looks great WCA, but its about 35 degrees out of line...........

Hammy · #**572** 3rd June 2014, 13:28

Hi mate, dash is really starting to take shape and looks loads better.
Would you be able to help me do some of those overlay sketches you did for your original concept? I have a genuine Lotus Europa body and want to overlay it over an MX5 or Mk2 MR2. Any help much appreciated mate.

Hammy

WorldClassAccident · #**573** 3rd June 2014, 13:50

The overlay sketches? Do you mean this sort of thing? If so, it really isn't anything clever or that technical.

I used MS Paint as it was free and easy to use and then did the following.

1) Find a side on picture of car 1 on the internet and take a copy or screen shot.
2) Open Paint and paste in the picture
3) Find a side on picture of car 1 on the internet and take a copy or screen shot.
4) Open another instance of Paint and paste in the picture
5) Use the square select tool to copy the 1st car and paste it below the 2nd car
6) Use the resize tool to stretch and shrink the car you have just pasted to the right size.

The resizing tool isn't that precise and I didn't bother with any measurements. In fact because I needed the whole car body to be a bit taller when I stretched it I ended up with oval wheels. Also you can see where I cut and paste bits of the car to change the length of the door as the reflection line is broken up into chunks. If you look closely you realise just what a crap job I did and if you look at what I acheived with the interior of the real car you will see I am not much better away from the computer.

It was really just a bit of fun rather than trying anything sensible. I am sure others on here can give you far better advice on doing proper diagrams.

WorldClassAccident · #**574** 5th June 2014, 13:44

Well I dropped the car down to Chris for him to slap a new back end on and not sure what to do. I wandered down to the garage and it all seemed a bit empty.

Anyway, I spotted the remains of my 'Painting plastic Chrome' experiment so I thought I would share some pictures.

First I took an old and unused bit of plastic to try the paint out on. This was the bonnet catch shroud.

I sprayed it with the super chrome paint and...

On closer inspection I an confirm that it looks like plastic sprayed with silver paint

I still decided to do the centre vents and you can see how close (NOT) the colour of the paint is to the colour shown on the lid

I thought it might be because the plastic wasn't totally smooth but interestingly the wooden bench which is definitely not smooth seemed to get a better chrome look finish