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-   -   Mister Towed's SWB 250GT SEFAC build. (https://madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5343)

Scottie22 23rd March 2015 15:34

Nice one Towed!

(You sure that's not the Lloyds Bank horse?)

Paul L 23rd March 2015 17:50

Mr T - Great job on the wheels. :cool:

I'll be interested to see what your running total of build hours ends up at.

Good luck, Paul. :)

Mister Towed 23rd March 2015 19:46

Ha ha, I suppose I could always change the background colour to green if I get an angry letter from Maranello's solicitor. After all, I'd rather get on the wrong side of one of the biggest banks in the world instead of the Cosa Nostra. :(

I'll be keeping a running total of hours put into this project Paul - I estimated that I put about 2,000 hours into my Spyder to get it on the road (about 1/4 of the total you and Scottie have put into your own cars?) - but I'm hoping to keep the hours down to three figures this time round.

I'm also aiming to keep a better grip of the budget this time too - my garage is full of parts I bought for the Spyder but decided not to use - so there'll be no more alcohol fuelled 2am ebay impulse buys, instead I'll be careful to choose only the parts I need and look out for the bargains, like the seats and a set of wheels at only a hundred quid a piece.

IanA 23rd March 2015 21:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Towed (Post 64789)
Thanks guys, the additional holes were worth the effort (and a couple of broken drill bits).

It took about three hours per wheel. They needed quite a bit of sanding and the steel between the holes is about 7mm thick. Drilling each 2mm pilot hole took around 3 to 4 minutes, but the 4mm and 5.5mm bits then powered through in around a minute each.

Yes they look really good. Boron steel drill bits would have saved some time there...

DSG4ME 24th March 2015 08:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Towed (Post 64803)
Ha ha, I suppose I could always change the background colour to green if I get an angry letter from Maranello's solicitor. After all, I'd rather get on the wrong side of one of the biggest banks in the world instead of the Cosa Nostra. :(

You could also reverse the horse. There was a Ferrari replicator a few years ago who had the prancing horse facing towards the right side. Many people didn't realize the difference.

Can't wait to see it finished ;-)

Mister Towed 24th March 2015 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSG4ME (Post 64811)

Can't wait to see it finished ;-)

I can't wait to see it started!

Off to see a potential donor today.

It's a...

It's a... 1.9 :peep:

WorldClassAccident 24th March 2015 09:00

I say nothing

redratbike 24th March 2015 09:10

the straight six 2 litre as your number one choice would at least have a decent noise from the exhaust to back up the looks...
.
.


back to the badges saw this on a karma/dino thing

..



http://www.kitcarcollection.com/used...20%281%29.jpeg

Mister Towed 24th March 2015 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by redratbike (Post 64814)
the straight six 2 litre as your number one choice would at least have a decent noise from the exhaust to back up the looks...
.
.


back to the badges saw this on a karma/dino thing

..



http://www.kitcarcollection.com/used...20%281%29.jpeg

Struggling to find a 2 litre with a/c and cruise control (both pretty much essential for personal reasons). There was a 2.2 with a/c in Coventry but it sold yesterday. :(

I've never driven a BMW of any sort before, so I'll reserve judgement until I've given the M44 engine a chance to prove itself.

After all, if your daily driver is a 500bhp AMG Merc, pretty much any of the Z3 motors are going to feel a bit tame, even if you are merely a passenger in the AMG as the electronics do all the gear changes for you, back off the throttle if it thinks you're caning it too much and applies the brakes if you try to corner faster than Mercedes think you should.

Sing la la la la, la la la la...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0nlygb1Qfw

redratbike 24th March 2015 14:59

i believe cruise control can be reto fitted
Z3 Cruise Control Retrofit Kit" (PN 65 71 0 007 353) please note this is froma usa website

also heres a company of fthe web http://www.motormods.co.uk/cruise_control.html

added expense yes but not a show stopper maybe?

WorldClassAccident 24th March 2015 16:08

It is not that the 1.9 is gutless, it is that it is unpleasant in character.

You know the discussion we had with Rene about the pleasure of driving rather than the simple efficiencies of driving?

For this one I have swapped sides. Yes, the 1.9 is an engine and it is capable of powering a Z3 but it removes pleasure from the process compared to the 6 cylinder versions.

Cost bites you once. Regrets are there for life.

Mister Towed 24th March 2015 16:49

Cheers Redrat, I'll take a look at the retro-fit cruise control as it'll open up the field of potential donors for me.

People who bought six cylinder Z3's seem to have ticked all the show off options: nasty colour combination leather seats, vulgar 18" black alloys, chrome windscreen surrounds etc, but skimped on things like a/c, cruise control and servicing. :(

That meerkat sticker did make me smile, I might try to get my hands on a pair of these instead though -

http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/...psx4qfxohr.jpg

...but I'll probably fit more authentic badges to the car. ;)

Speaking of which, this turned up in the post today -

http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/...psomnpjvfv.jpg

Genuine late 50's/early 60's part which looks suitably weathered for my preferred patinated look. Bit of a bargain too as it was roughly £300 cheaper than the only other genuine script I could find for sale -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ferrari-Me...item4acba27f4f

So, back to the issue of a potential donor. ebay had a 98,000 mile car in silver in the dealer classified's for just under £2k, and it was only 35 miles away.

It looked pretty good in the pictures so I took my better half and went to test drive it today with a view to potentially buying it. OK, it was a 1.9 M44 engine car but I wanted to give it a chance to impress me despite the poor (undeserved?) reputation.

The ad stated it had air conditioning, cruise control and service history, calling it a 'stunning example'.

On arrival it was parked right at the front of the forecourt, presumably to attract people in to view the other stock, and I have to say we were stunned when we saw it. In fact my wife was so stunned she refused to get out of the car. Our car that is, not the Z3, which was a mess.

It had no air con, no cruise control, it was full of fag ash and there was mildew on the seats. The service history turned out to be a sheaf of MOT failure sheets padded out with Chinese restaurant menus and the MOT had expired.

Under the bonnet the engine looked fine - no oil leaks and the oil was nice and clean - but some boy racer had fitted an aftermarket induction kit that looked cheap, nasty and unnecessary.

To be fair it started on the first turn of the key and sounded fine mechanically and not bad aurally (I think the four pot might even sound pretty good with the right exhaust fitted), and I was surprised how quickly it picked up and lost revs (I expected it to have a much more pronounced flywheel effect).

I'd asked the dealer if I could take it for a test drive (even though there was no way I was going to buy it) as I wanted to see if WCA is right about the M44 both sucking and blowing.

Key in hand, a quick walk round the car to check a few essentials revealed a tyre that was balder than me and a handbrake that didn't work.

So, I still haven't ever driven a BMW as I didn't want to risk my licence or my life driving a piece of crap death trap on the public highway. :(

I appreciate your post btw WCA, I know you don't rate the driving experience the 1.9 gives but I still want to see for myself as one man's meat, etc.

Oh well, the perfect donor's out there somewhere...

GazDavies 24th March 2015 17:53

Have you seen this one Mr T?

I know that it is quite a distance from you but I looked at it and the only reason that I didn't go for it was that the rear window was missing and he was waiting for a replacement (I didn't test drive it as it was pi$$ing down). I intended to go back for a test drive but viewed another the next day which I bought.

The car is clean enough and the engine sounded sweet. The paint had been touched up badly on the sills but that shouldn't matter if its to be used as a donor car.

Its only a few miles down the road from me if you would like to go back and take a further look and some pics for you?

IanA 24th March 2015 18:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Towed (Post 64812)
It's a... 1.9 :peep:

Each to his own. I have to say that when I saw WCA's Z300S with an engine bay full of engine, I was sold. Hence my 2.8. Sometimes I wish it had cruise control...

Mister Towed 24th March 2015 18:43

Thanks Gaz, that one's actually in my ebay watch list. The mileage is a bit high for my liking at 130,000 and it is a bit far to travel (albeit just down't rerd from't inlaws in Blackpool). I'm sure I'll be able to find a decent example a bit closer, but thanks for the offer to check it out for me.

Mister Towed 24th March 2015 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanA (Post 64835)
Each to his own. I have to say that when I saw WCA's Z300S with an engine bay full of engine, I was sold. Hence my 2.8. Sometimes I wish it had cruise control...

Don't get me wrong, my ideal donor would be a 2.0 or a 2.2, but I won't turn my nose up at the 1.8 or 1.9 until I've driven one, which I wasn't able to do today. :(

I want cruise control as I suffered an injury at work back in 2007 that means I need to be able to move my right leg around while I'm driving longer distances. I get by with the Spyder as I only take it on longer runs two or three times a year, but I want the SWB to be a daily driver.

As such, a/c, cruise control and reasonable insurance and fuel economy are more important to me than outright powerrrr!

I'm in no rush to buy a donor at the moment as it could still be another 21 months before I can buy the kit, so I'm going to take my time and test drive a number of different cars/engine sizes before taking the plunge.

Having said that I'm kicking myself for not acting on this one sooner -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3910821902...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

All the reviews I've read suggest that the 170hp 2.2 is the pick of the Z3 engine range. And there's one for sale 8 miles from my house...

WorldClassAccident 24th March 2015 19:12

MrTowed - I recommend you do try the 1.9 and then a six cylinder. This is the internet and i could be talking total bollox like most people seem to (not on this forum obviously).

i need to drive an auto for injury reasons. It is important to get a car you can actually use. Persevere and you will get the right car I am sure.

Danny_HUFC 24th March 2015 20:36

If your really wanting to keep costs down, why not go for somthing like this....

http://www.hbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/zyview/...ding/R=5836366

Ok, maybe no a car C as it requires a ViC check and they might be a bit funny if you turn up with a tribute swb and not a z3, but certainly look at cat D cars that dont require a VIC check. Youl pick 1 up for pennies!

Mister Towed 24th March 2015 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny_HUFC (Post 64842)
If your really wanting to keep costs down, why not go for somthing like this....

http://www.hbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/zyview/...ding/R=5836366

Ok, maybe no a car C as it requires a ViC check and they might be a bit funny if you turn up with a tribute swb and not a z3, but certainly look at cat D cars that dont require a VIC check. Youl pick 1 up for pennies!

Cheers Danny, I've bought cat D cars before and never had a problem.

With the Spyder I ended up spending more time restoring the donor than building the car, so this time I want something that is fully mot'd and roadworthy to start with. Plus I've promised my wife that she can drive it around for a month or so in the summer before I start ripping the wings off, so it needs to be roadworthy.

I've decided I might need to up my budget slightly to get a decent donor and I've now shortlisted a handful of 2.0's. None of them are particularly close though, I'd have been gutted if I'd driven 100 miles + to see the piece of crap I looked at today.

redratbike 24th March 2015 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny_HUFC (Post 64842)
If your really wanting to keep costs down, why not go for somthing like this....

http://www.hbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/zyview/...ding/R=5836366

Ok, maybe no a car C as it requires a ViC check and they might be a bit funny if you turn up with a tribute swb and not a z3, but certainly look at cat D cars that dont require a VIC check. Youl pick 1 up for pennies!

Ha ha great minds think alike I wears looking at auctions yesterday


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