Scottie's Tribute A352 build - Page 88

Scottie22 · #**1741** 15th January 2015, 20:39

I thought we'd done that one?

Doesn't look cool enough! :-)

davecymru · #**1742** 16th January 2015, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottie22

For a long time now my bonnet has been held open by the pink clothes prop
which I originally bought to hold the windscreen in place while I was working on it.

It occurred to me that if I ever get to Stoneleigh, the car may not look too cool with the pink thing stuck there, so for a while, I had been pondering on how I would replace it.

The bonnet strut need to be long enough to hold the bonnet open, but had to be much shorter when it was stowed. , it had to be adjustable somehow.

Over the last few months I had given this problem a lot of thought

Today, I had a sudden flash of brilliance, ( that does not happen often, I think the last time I had one of those, was when I was a schoolboy)

Anyhow, I decided to use the Triumph boot lid strut, which would be ideal, as it was extendable, so would close up for stowage under the bonnet.

ohh.... good timing that man, i'm possibly fitting my bonnet this weekend and i've been pondering/worrying about struts.
My initial idea was just to get some shaped steel rod, but i'd also kept looking at those old Triumph extendable thingies and wondering if i could get more inventive.

humm.... some more pondering to do i think

Scottie22 · #**1743** 16th January 2015, 11:34

Davcymru said: "wondering if i could get more inventive"

You mean like WCA, and go the 4 x 2 route? :-)

landmannnn · #**1744** 16th January 2015, 11:58

Powered bonnet lifters?

Scottie22 · #**1745** 19th January 2015, 09:11

I have had another minor setback, I posted earlier about the hidden stereo not working correctly, and having to remove it to sort it out.

Well I did get it going and replaced it back in the car, , but when I came to try it out yesterday, a sort of spot check if you like, it did not work, so I left it, with the idea of retuning later.

When I came back to it, it had actually started working, and was blaring out music very loudly.

Not really what I want, so at the price I paid, its not even worth sending it back under guarantee, so I have ordered another one.

This has to be done at this stage because of the constricted space problem.
I cannot start paneling around it until it is working okay.
Its bad enough trying to get it out and putting another one in now!So watch this space.........

Paul L · #**1746** 19th January 2015, 15:37

Scottie - I don't want to be the merchant of doom, but...

If this first radio has been so unreliable, will a second one be any better?

It sounds like access to the radio will be even harder when the car is finished, so it might be a false economy using a "cheap" radio.

Just a thought.

Good luck, Paul.

PS
I liked how you made your new bonnet stay.

Scottie22 · #**1747** 19th January 2015, 16:10

Paul, when I fitted the stereo unit in the car, I also fitted one in the wall next to my bed.
Every night when I go to bed I play music on the unit, and it has always been perfect, so I have no reason to think that another unit would not be the same regardless of price.

When it arrives in the post, I will test and fit it in the car, I have no worries on that issue.

You are right about the access, but a friend of mine came up with a good idea.

I was explaining how hard it was to get the bolts and nuts in place on the unit, and he suggested that because it was hidden out of sight, I should fix it in place with cable ties, then if it had to come out it could be snipped out.
Much easier than fiddly nuts and bolts, so that is what I will end up doing I think.

I will bear the cable tie routine in mind for future awkward tasks that are not visual or structural.

Paul L · #**1748** 19th January 2015, 18:11

Fair enough Scottie.

Perhaps you could use the "tested" bedroom radio in the car & put the new one in the bedroom?

Cheers, Paul.

Scottie22 · #**1749** 19th January 2015, 19:33

That thought had occurred to me, but being basically lazy there is too much work involved, so I will just test and fit the new one Paul.

Scottie22 · #**1750** 20th January 2015, 16:30

So, the new stereo arrived in the post today, which I thought was good, as I only ordered it on Saturday.

I went out to the car and had the faulty unit out in about 2 minutes!
I have got slick at this operation now.

The new unit which I tested extensively first, went in the car, but took a little longer to fit.

I did use cable ties, and that proved to be a good idea, which I will keep in mind for future projects. It was certainly easier and faster than fiddly nuts and bolts.

I have the "faulty" unit on the bench rigged up, and it seems to be working correctly, which to me is really fu**ing irritating to say the least.

However, what is most important is that the replacement unit in the car works correctly every time, as it should, so that result as left me a happy bunny.

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Barry Stard · #**1751** 23rd January 2015, 18:37

I love your a tension to detail Scotty. Very impresssed with your build so far, when r u hoping to b on the road?

Scottie22 · #**1752** 24th January 2015, 09:03

Good question Barry!

As you may know, I am building the car out in my front garden, albeit in a tent for protection, but with the weather like it is at present, I am finding it hard to gather enough enthusiasm to work out in the cold for long periods.

Hopefully when the weather improves, so will my work-rate.

WorldClassAccident · #**1753** 24th January 2015, 09:06

Stoneliegh isn't until May 3/4 so relax. :-)

Scottie22 · #**1754** 24th January 2015, 09:15

What I need is stronger motivation!!

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WorldClassAccident · #**1755** 24th January 2015, 18:40

But you have ambition Scottie, never forget that

You know that means you are going back to the...

...your journey continues to ....

...the tent of frostbite

Paul L · #**1756** 24th January 2015, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottie22

What I need is stronger motivation!!

How about ...

Get back in the tent do some work on your car, or this guy will pay you a visit.

IanA · #**1757** 24th January 2015, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottie22

I am finding it hard to gather enough enthusiasm to work out in the cold for long periods.

So don't do that- I got myself a mechanical one hour timer- I now do things for only an hour at a time outside then do something else for an hour indoors before returning...

Drummajor · #**1758** 25th January 2015, 07:54

I built mine outside on my driveway , took took 3 months.
So its possible.
Keep going

Scottie22 · #**1759** 25th January 2015, 07:56

If that works for you Ian, it is a good idea, but to be really honest, I also find it difficult to work on the car for short periods too!!

I try to find small stuff that is time consuming that I can do inside, like soldering connections to switches, and bits of wiring loom which I can fit to the car later.

As long as I do something, I am moving forwards to completion however slow.

I hate the winter! It must be the car builders biggest enemy,
apart from the DVLA that is!

jones · #**1760** 25th January 2015, 09:05

Haha Scottie I completely agree, although I have been going out just to have an hour or so on the car and 5hrs later the light is going and my wife stopped bringing me cups of tea so i have to stop. I am contemplatingdoing an hour or so today - but no shelter and what feels like 1 degree out there is not the motivation I needed. A quick visit to this forum should inspire me to embrace the winter chill