Bodywork always take longer than you think, I've been fiddling with that for several month :lol: Looking good! :D I messed up a bit putting the latches in - hole on the passenger side door is a bit bigger than it needs to be now... :) Nothing that can't be fixed later though.

I made some really nice progress today. :D

Started to fit the doors and rear tub.

Results on my Flickr site as usual....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peters-bmwmarlin/

Lookin good.....

Robin

Yeah - looking very good Pete. :icon_biggrin:

Thanks, guys.

I re-hung the drivers door today with some better spacers to make sure I was happy with its postion before proceeding.

After that, I spent the afternoon finalising the rear tub postion and installing the Marlin supplied new striker plate.

Took quite some time to get in right postion but the sound of the catch closing is terrific.

Lots of detail included in my pictures as it is not covereed in my 'build manual'

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peters-bmwmarlin/

Now I just have to do the passenger side.......

Looks great Peter :D You'll be catching me up soon!

As I started at least a year before you, I thought it was time to get my finger out and make an effort to get this car finished!
:lol:

I've been cutting a piece of plywood for my boot floor today....

:frusty: :rant:

you have been warned ...............

:nod:

yeah, that looks like a fun job, probably why I've not started that one yet :D

Hi Peter

So are you going to create a paper template so we can all copy it :eyebrows:

Having built a couple of wooden boats from scratch a few years ago (and there isn't a single straight line in a boat) I found there is a very usefull tool when you have to make an irregular shape. Basically its just two pointy sticks clamped together with a big bulldog clip. It allows you to take precise inside dimensions and transfer than to whatever you are cutting out. Works like a big inside caliper.

The other thing I found is that it easy to remove material (ie the wood) but not so easy to stick it back on again if you remove too much LOL.


Robin

Very true.... ;)

Hi Robin, good idea about the pointed sticks, it would have been ideal!

I was only thinking tonight about cutting a paper template fot cutting the carpet or lining to go in the 'boot'. I guess I could cut some more but that would spoil all your fun :D I tried to get a template copy off Simon at Marlin but he was reluctant a said that every car was different. It will depend on the rear tub final position.

cheers

Peter

Lots of time consuming (and back aching!) little jobs over the last couple of days
* exhaust heatshields fitted
* exhaust joints sealed and re-fitted
* rear lights - earth cables installed
* speedommeter sender wiring
* rear bumper holes drlled and tapped

not a lot to see but some pictures here...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peters-bmwmarlin/

Looks great :D

Where did you get your SVA friendly tail pipe covers?

Car Builder Solutions, £11 each. Mine are 2" diameter.

Thanks, looks like need to place another order with CBS! Although I might get the car SVA'd first see if it fails :confused: - this is where my plan of 4 pipes comes back to bite me in my pocket :lol:

I finished fitting the boot floor today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peters-bmwmarlin/

I was going to finally fit my floors today but one thing lead to another...

Whilst fitting the brake light switch (for which you need very long arms) I noticed the brake servo extension piece was neatly bolted up with a 8mm bolt and lock nut but very little of the bolt was sticking out of the end of the lock nut.
I've seen lately some SVA failure reports for having lock nuts without the sufficient number of threads exposed. There was no way I could get to this bolt without removing the servo. Bad enough now I thought, but almost impossible after the floor is in and the bonnet sides on, so I decided it had to come out. What a waste of time, but now it's done and one less thing to worry about. I've notced a few other bolts down there that need changing as well.

Whilst under the car I took another look at the clearance of my propshaft gearbox flange. It doesn't seem to touch but it is very close to gear change mechanism. I think it is because my gearbox is too high at the back.

I am going to take another look tommorow and see if there is some way of dopping the back of the 'box a little. Not sure if there is enough flex in my exhaust pipes?

So bad news and good news....

The bad news is that raising or lowering the gearbox made no difference to the gap between my propshaft flange and the gear change mechanism.

And the good news is that the gap is only about 1mm but pretty well fixed so shouldn't be a problem. I also didn't need to modify the position of my gearbox mounting bar.

I will have see in practice if it touches when he car is on the move...

Better get on with it.. :D :D :D

Quick update on progress over the last week or two, dodging the rain showers.

I've fitted the rear wings and number plate lights, fog light and reversing light.(sorry no pics yet)

Today, I fitted the rear 'hamburger' lights and the fuel filler cap and hose.(Drilling 135mm diameter holes for the lights was a bit scary and I had to buy a new piece of fuel hose as the piece provided by Marlin was hopelessly too short.)

Not much to show, as the wings are off again, so that I can remove the rear tub to finish the wiring, seat belt slots and fuel tank breather pipe.

All these small jobs take longer than expected!

Just a couple of pics here...............

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peters-bmwmarlin/

it is amazing how much time the small things take! I've been taking it easy the last few weeks so I've not done much!

My supplied fuel hose was far too small as well, you have to wonder why they bother supplying it!