My tyre shop was having problems sourcing the 165's so I've opted for 185/80's now. A bit taller and wider, they should be fitted on the car by the end of the week.

A case of three steps forward and two steps back at the moment. Still waiting for parts to arrive through the post. Had a spot of bother with the RX8 gearbox conversion which required more work on the clutch release arm and bell housing. I've found that a Range Rover slave cylinder will fit in the tight space between the back of the engine block and the release arm. So final fitment of the gearbox for the fourth time in the morning !

Tinkering with the gearbox to get it right will be well worth the effort. Keep up the good work!

Nothing major, just a clearance issue with the clutch cover fouling some webs on the inside of the bell housing. Two minutes with angle grinder to trim the webs down a few mm. I needed to tweak the release arm to find a few mm behind it to give some clearance at the front for the release bearing. They don't tell you that when you buy the adaptor plate, " it all simply just ", bolts together !

Westfield built one of their cars at Stoneliegh many years ago. Start to finish in a weekend. Whilst I was there I watched one of their blokes "fit" a rear light unit with self tappers so long they went that far through the grp wing and touched the tyre ! He didn't bother to drill a hole first so you hear the GRP cracking as he pushed it through, nice one!

Westfield's mechanics were probably in a hurry because there was a crowd of Caterham's lawyers outside about to storm the building...

The tyres arrived and are now fitted to the wheels. Fitted the hub adaptors and turned down a set of wheel nuts to allow the wheels to fit properly.
I've had the body on a couple of times and decided to raise it 3" over the internal framework. My reasoning being;
1/ To bring the lower sill of the body flush with the bottom of the chassis rails.
2/ Allow for softer springs so the axles aren't fully extended as at present. I hope to see a 3" drop with the softer springs.
3/ Effectively lower the seating position so you feel lower down in the car.

Decided on the final finish at last, I'm going for an aluminium look in the same way as the Testarossa I built. I'll apply the same detailing on the Formasa, think it will look the part, its not a million miles away as it stands ! I think I can recreate that dirty, bare aluminium finish once again like the car in the video below !

You've seen this before but something similar !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttl-kF8Rbuo

Never get tired of that video :hail:

Anyone having trouble with couriers at the moment ? I ordered all the parts to make my exhaust system a couple of weeks ago. Delivery was expected last Wednesday but nothing turned up. I waited until Friday and followed it up with the courier who said it was delivered and signed for ! Not by me and not by anyone next door or down the road !
I've got my money back so I'll re-order and wait and see I suppose, what a pain in the a**** !

Stuff does seem to be taking a fair bit longer to arrive at the moment.

There are a few exceptions - Amazon Prime gets you most things on next day delivery for a modest price premium, while I ordered a ciggy lighter (phone/sat nav charger point) for my Speedster and a few other bits from Alan Schofield last week and they arrived within 48hrs.

https://www.alanhschofield.com/ourpa...1999912IV.html

A couple of recent photos showing the wire wheels fitted along with trial fitment of the body again.
Still a couple of jobs to complete internal framework then it can be bolted in for good. I need to attach upper seat belt mounts for the 4 point harness's and finish some of the tunnel section welding that is best done off the chassis.
The exhaust parts are on order, again, so that will be done soon. Planning to use the Scimitar pedal box in modified form !
Before the body is fitted for the final time I want to have a running, rolling chassis just to make sure everything works, probably another week away yet.

Looking good!

Awesome, that looks very mean.

Too cold in the garage today ( -5c ) so I've ordered a few more parts online. MGA rear lights will look the part. I've also cut a set of four blanks for the coned rear tail pipes. They will need to be rolled into cones soon as I get a chance to visit the sheet metal shop up the road.

Managed to roll up my exhaust cones and finish building the complete exhaust system. The rolling process is a bit trial and error but the results looked good, in the end ! I found an online calculator to work out the angles and allow me to make a card template.
Rather than go with cherry bombs I've found a pair of oval boxes that fit neatly in front of the rear axle. A coat of high temperature black paint will finish it all off. Thanks to Custom Chrome for suppling the tube with flared ends to my specifications.

Here is the cone calculator link ;

https://craig-russell.co.uk/demos/cone_calculator/

what a tease i thought we were getting a pic of the flared ends

coming together nicely by the look of it

You really want a pic of my flared end !

oooer ! yes please

A bit more progress over the last couple of days. The Spitfire fuel tank has had brackets made to hold it in place. I fabricated a frame which is bolted partly to the chassis and partly to the inner frame structure.
With the last couple of weeks being so cold I haven't done as much as I hoped, but catching up now !
A couple of photos showing the rear part of the exhaust complete with tapered tips !

oooh!nice tapered tips

Looks the business! Well done.

More goodies turned up today. the engine is now fitted with an Accuspark electronic ignition system complete with uprated coil, plugs and a new set of quality leads.
I've made up some brackets to support the modified Scimitar pedal box in the correct position. Made them adjustable so the pedals can moved back and forth a couple of inches to suit the driver.
New mountings for the steering column are done and these are adjustable too allowing standard or raised positions.
I think I've got around the lack of speedo drive cable from the gearbox and found a GPS unit in the same style as my existing Smiths gauges, not expensive either, result !

Hello Lucky@lemans,
This might be of interest to you. Have a look
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lowrider-....m46890.l49292

Regards
Kuba

Thanks for the link Kuba but I've already found a set of wires for my car. I prefer the proper knock on splined wheels but these might be of use to someone out there.

Not a problem. Hopefully someone buys them, I'm myself tempted but I have no use of them at all. I know that you are constantly have a project on the go so thought about you.
Regards
Kuba

I've spent a bit of time finishing those half completed jobs that for some reason simply don't get done ! The exhaust system has been off and has had a couple of coats of high temp paint from front to back. The internal frame has come off for the final time and is now finished in a black paint job. I gapped the valve clearances and fitted the rocker box covers. New plugs and leads are in place.
The long list of jobs is getting shorter, the internal frame will be back on along with the body. Ali panel work next followed by the wiring !

Still working around a few jobs prior to fitting the body for the final time. I've just about finished the steering column which need to be extended by 150mm or so. My fancy tubular exhaust manifolds got in the way a little but after a small adjustment with heat and a large adjusting tool it all fits ! Some of the ali panel work can be done at this stage too whilst access is good. Gone are the days of laying on my back in the footwell ! Waiting on a special BSPT threaded elbow that will fit in the tank and once modified with am 8mm tube extension will form a new fuel pick up pipe. For some reason the Triumph specialists no longer stock them .

A recent photo showing the internal frame in place and the aluminium panel work underway. The upper part of the bulkhead will be completed once the body is refitted. The detail jobs take the most time but I'm happy with progress so far !

A couple more jobs completed today including replacing a broken wheel stud. Worth a mention only because it could apply to any of the older donor cars being used under a Formosa or any other kit for that matter. The wheel stud I replaced had broken when I fitted the wire wheel adaptors. I felt it go when tightening up the nut to hold the adaptor in place. Easy enough to replace, just a matter of removing the hub assembly and disc from the hub. I replaced all four as a precaution. I bought them from one of the Scimitar specialists.

Very good point. I once had a bugeye Sprite and had several studs break while removing the wheels for new tires. As a precaution, I replaced all of them. The car was only 10 years old at the time.
Be careful out there.

The studs on the Scimitar are the button head type and it was the button section that sheared off.

I did take a photo but for some reason I can't load anything up at the moment !

I see said the blind man...

The body is all mounted up and bolted down. Door hinges to do and finishing the front bonnet hinges. The rear lighting and instruments going in next and final wiring jobs to do ! I'm still have problems loading photos so they will have to wait !

Slow progress over the last couple of weeks but getting closer ! The detail little jobs take up so much time. The doors are hung, the instruments are in, the ali panelling work is just about complete. A few more new parts turned up in the post so I can finish off a few more jobs. New remote brake servo to fit. Neat all in one fuse box to go in and complete the wiring. The bonnet is hinged at the front and lifts up 90 degrees so excellent access. I've fitted inertia reel 3 point seat belts rather than harness's. A full harness is great in a race car but not in a road car, too restrictive for my liking. Fitted so the belt runs over your left shoulder in the drivers seat. I've seen this done to good effect in some of the Cobra replicas and in the Formosa allows for an easier installation.

Some recent photos;

Very nice!

Good work! The body moulding looks really top quality so shouldn't take too much prep for paint.

I mounted the seat belts centrally in my Spyder as they wouldn't have been high enough at the sides and it worked really well.

The body is excellent quality and won't take much time to prep. I might be changing my mind again with final colour choice, perhaps ! Originally thinking of an aluminium paint finish but now leaning towards a dark racing green like the old Jaguar racing green. I think it will contrast well with the ali panelled interior etc. What do people think ?