This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.
Good news - the Chief Financial Officer (Hello Love!) has signed off on the purchase order for the rest of the car.
And as luck would have it, I found a bit of spare cash down the back of the sofa.
I'll be ordering the rest of the body work, the exhaust and the windscreen. Any ideas how big a van I'll need for the jaunt down to Credition? Do you think I'd be able to get it all in a Disco, if I can persuade my mate for loan? All of the rear seats come out IIRC.
I carried most of the body home in a Scenic so it should easily fit in a small van. The biggest part is the rear tub but even that is not very wide.
Check the parts carefully! One of my bonnet tops was slightly distorted and had a dent. And whoever cleaned up the nose section had chopped away a little too much where it fits around the suspension turrets. And make sure the bonnet sides are louvered - a pain to have to go back down to have them done later.
If you are going for side exhausts don't forget there is a small chance they will be not allowed with the new IVA test...
Oh - and don't forget to get a spare wheel cover. Expensive to have it posted later.
Good to se you getting the rest of the kit!
Now you can have fun cutting and drilling the bonnets
I picked up all the body pannels in the back of my Rover 75 estate.
I didn't have an exhaust system and picked up the windscreen separately. I'm not familiar with a Disco but my guess you should be OK. (Just make sure all the bits have arrived before you travel hone
I already have my nose cone, so no worried there. Not sure about the louvres - won't I need to cut the holes for the exhaust first, before getting them done?
As for the spare wheel cover, I was planning on getting a fitted canvas / PU cover rather than a hard cover, what with all the hassle over getting a spare wheel that fits, and the fact that I have 5 matching refurbed BBS wheels.
The exhaust - I'm going to have a chat with Terry about that. I'd like to know what Marlin's contingency plan is regarding IVA...
Had a chat with Terry today. She's aming to have my bits ready for me by the 3rd of April -That's everything bar the windscreen.
I'll have to pick that up at Stoneliegh, as they're having a mare getting the glass. Aparently the last lot was bad, and they've had to order a new batch. Problem is that they take 2 months to fullfill Marlin's order.
So there you go - I won't be tempted to fit the windscreen prior to the test!
I'll have to pick that up at Stoneliegh, as they're having a mare getting the glass. Aparently the last lot was bad, and they've had to order a new batch. Problem is that they take 2 months to fullfill Marlin's order.
hhmmm.... did Terry mention what the problem was with the glass??
You have me worried that I might have one from the 'previous batch'!
I'm not sure how the screen on the Sportster is made, such as does it have a plastic layer bonded to it? I have been thinking about getting security film added to it, should something hit and smash it won't turn into 1000's of bits.
I'm not sure how the screen on the Sportster is made, such as does it have a plastic layer bonded to it? I have been thinking about getting security film added to it, should something hit and smash it won't turn into 1000's of bits.
I believe that its triplex glass. That is two layers of glass with a plastic film between them. In that case it should stay in one piece if it gets damaged - the same as a normal windscreen.
Apparently the last lot had BS Kite Marks in the middle of the screen.
Right in your field of vision.
So that'll be an MOT fail then...
I could tell Terry wasn't particularly impressed with the suppliers! If you can see clearly through the glass in front of you, I think you'll be OK.
Thanks, mine is Ok, then. I was worried it was something more subtle!
Terry is always un-impressed with her suppliers!!
But its not just us... I was slightly amused to read in this months Kit Car magazine that Nigel Dean (famous for his superb builds) was supplied with the wrong size rear wings for his DAX Rush and that was getting full public exposure!!
I'm not sure how the screen on the Sportster is made, such as does it have a plastic layer bonded to it? I have been thinking about getting security film added to it, should something hit and smash it won't turn into 1000's of bits.
I noticed yesterday that my windscreen logo says "Laminated".
Didn't think the rear tub was going to go in at first, but after several false starts and a lot of jiggling, we managed to get it in the Laguna, along with all the other fibreglass bits, exhaust system, windscreen, side panels and other sundry bits and bobs.
I didn't get my wing stays, as apparently Mark has redesigned them (he didn't elaborate as to how, but he did mention he had thrown all the old ones away), and they'll be sent up later, along with my bumpers.
I also didn't get the silencers, as it looks as if the exhaust fabricators forgot to deliver them with the pipes - so Mark is going to get them sent to me direct from the builder.
Didn't think the rear tub was going to go in at first, but after several false starts and a lot of jiggling, we managed to get it in the Laguna, along with all the other fibreglass bits, exhaust system, windscreen, side panels and other sundry bits and bobs.
I didn't get my wing stays, as apparently Mark has redesigned them (he didn't elaborate as to how, but he did mention he had thrown all the old ones away), and they'll be sent up later, along with my bumpers.
I also didn't get the silencers, as it looks as if the exhaust fabricators forgot to deliver them with the pipes - so Mark is going to get them sent to me direct from the builder.
I'll have to crack on now. No excuse!
You'll have hours of fun in the garage now!
Keep us all posted on the wing stays as you know a number of us have had issues with them comming loose or breaking.
Did Mark offer any opinion on the Sportster passing the new IVA test? The latest Complete Kit Car magazine has an interesting write up on an IVA test run, highlighting some interesting challenges.
Re wing stays - will do. I know some of you have had some problems with them, that's why I mentioned it.
As for IVA, No - Mark didn't, I didn't think to bring it up TBH. I was more worried about getting it all in the car, so I didn't have a wasted journey!
Anyway, it's the 'issues' involved in building that make it so much fun!
hone
Doing it December makes it quite a bracing drive.