The Kebab

[hurnleft]

Originally Posted by ericholm

Nice one Bob!, steering wheel looks ace!

How are you going to get the horn working on that wheel?

Andy

Thanks Andy,

I'll fit a new horn button on the dash or centre console. I might use a start button, that would surprise any would-be joyriders.

Cheers, Bob.

[Mitchelkitman]

That green bit....... Is it an air spoiler/splitter!

[hurnleft]

Originally Posted by Mitchelkitman

That green bit....... Is it an air spoiler/splitter!

I shouldn't have shown that, it's top secret and still in the development stage. All I can say is it should be a big improvement on the tiny ashtray currently fitted.

[hurnleft]

I've just had number 1 coil pack replaced. The mechanic said it was damp around it. I've had the car out in some very heavy rain in the past and wonder if the gap around the centre bonnet may have let water in which has gathered there.

Not a problem for me now as the bonnet is sealed but possibly, for those that prefer to keep it as opening, worth sorting a rain gutter/seal.

Cheers, Bob.

[ericholm]

Originally Posted by hurnleft

I've just had number 1 coil pack replaced. The mechanic said it was damp around it. I've had the car out in some very heavy rain in the past and wonder if the gap around the centre bonnet may have let water in which has gathered there.

Not a problem for me now as the bonnet is sealed but possibly, for those that prefer to keep it as opening, worth sorting a rain gutter/seal.

Cheers, Bob.

Good advice!

[Mitchelkitman]

Originally Posted by ericholm

Good advice!

+1

Water ingress can indeed be a problem, and 'altering' panels (ie new bodykit) requires a look to see where water will end up! I recall the FWD Escort (mk4?) which had a problem where the gutter on the inner wings/ bonnet shut had clips holding the washer tube inserted through square holes. Rainwater dripped through the holes and onto the battery, but caused no immediate problem to the battery (being reasonably 'distilled' water) except that it overflowed the acid in the battery, which then rotted the battery tray and bulkhead under it! Nasty!

[hurnleft]

Not much visible change today but I've had an electrician here doing some jobs.

The horn which was originally on the steering wheel is now rewired to an 'engine start' button which will go on the console somewhere.

The high level brake and rear light is wired up and has a rear light cut out in case an MOT man doesn't like a central rear light.

The rear fog light in the rear window is wired. The hang down one will be replaced with one that folds out of the way and only shows at MOT time. There may be a cut out switch installed later in case there's an MOT issue with it.

Also the alarm has a new light and the second number plate light is now wired.

Next on the list is an outside opening passenger door as I know that's an MOT issue.

Cheers, Bob.

[Egdik]

Hi Bob

As you are a local, I thought it worth letting you know about a 'Family, drive friendly' trackday at Snetterton on Sunday December 6th. 9 - 4pm Road legal cars only, that must be driven to the circuit. 20mins sessions; 3 groups: Experienced; Intermediates; Novices. £80

Contact Kidge on kidge.elder@btinternet.com or robert on robert.bensley@btinternet.com

Kidge.

[hurnleft]

Sounds fun, I may be up for that,
Cheers, Bob.

[hurnleft]

I picked up the black seats and carpets this week.

One point that may be obvious to some but wasn't to me is that when I tried to fit it, the drivers seat electric motor would only move one runner. I knew it must have been ok when the guy I bought them off removed them or he wouldn't have got to the bolts. When I took it back for him to check, the answer was obvious to him, I'd picked up the front of the seat by what looks like a rod but is actually a plastic covered cable. It had pulled slightly out of line. I quick move of it and all now works fine.

Cheers, Bob.

[hurnleft]

Not much happening at the minute.
MOT repairs last week. 4 metal brake pipes and a couple of suspension bushes.

The current little project is to make the centre console a bit different.
I've checked what Geoff is doing and adapted his idea.

The heater panel now has mesh with an alloy backing with the horn (start) button where the clock was and the other panel will have 3 flick switches and the socket for the sat nav fitted.




The shortened console will have the mesh fitted at the bottom in a form that's not fully decided yet as I tend to make it up as I go along.




Big news is that I've booked it in for the start of Feb for the body to be finished and the paint job done (dark blue of some sort)


Cheers, Bob.

[Roadster]

I like the use of the mesh reminds me of 007's centre console in the db5 goldfinger.

Chrome rings for the heaters are cheap enough and might add to the period look

[hurnleft]

I've looked at the chrome rings but at £20 for them, I'm having a look for an alternative first.
Partly because I'm tight and partly because I like to make bits out of other bits. The alloy is from a shop display stand and the mesh is Mitsubishi vent mesh and the back of an old heater.

Talking of James Bond, I've ordered these to go on the switches.





Cheers, Bob.

[Mister Towed]

Nice to meet you today Bob. Your car's looking great and it'll be even better once the paint and interior are done. It was drawing lots of positive attention in Wells this afternoon, and deservedly so. To my eye the Tribute 250 SWB conversions just look right and I'm really looking forward to getting one myself.

[hurnleft]

Good to meet you too, your "Lancia' caused a lot of head scratching as well. It's that patina paint finish, you can't fake it you know!

Cheers, Bob.

[Triumph Special]

It looks terrific, I bet you can't wait to get it in paint! In terms of usability and the overall package, this kit is up there with the best. I love the Coupe, but will bow to GF-pressure and go for the Kalifornia, in very dark green with wide steels.

[hurnleft]

Hi all,

I've started fiddling about with the dashboard facia as tomorrow it gets changed to the black one so I needed to know if the eyeball vent idea would work.

I'm only making small changes to things, not altering to the standard of Richard from Nubodi and his excellent Beemarrari style alterations.

I've only done one so far as I had one spare net come with the new dash. The louvres were removed as a lock (they just unclip) and the main flap at the back refitted to it's side control.

After some cutting and filing, the Mazda MX5 eyeball went in ok. This left 4 corners to be filled, so I cut 4 little pieces of black plastic from a Saab door kick strip (which I had lying around in case it was ever useful) and boded them in. When firm, the eyeball was pushed back in and bonded.

The rear flap still works fine from the slider on the side.

The eyeballs came with the chrome trims which will probably be cleaned and reused, but first I've ordered some adhesive chrome strip to tidy up the black edges.

I'm off today to see the painter to check a couple of paint samples that he had mixed up in small amounts and is spraying onto some metal so the I can get a good idea of the coulour. I'll then pick one and the paint will be ordered.

Cheers, Bob.

[smash]

That's brilliant! Love the fact it retains functionality but looks retro and disguise origins.

Love it but suspect you may have single handedly boosted the prices of MX5 vents on ebay!

[hurnleft]

The vent idea seemed better than it was as when the drivers side came out the old dash, I realised the light switch was part of it and the vent itself smaller.

I'd like to keep the original light switch to save wiring complications so I may put a blank where the vent was and fit my 'start' switch in there.

Dash and front carpet were swopped over to black this morning so I'm much happier about the colour.

Still got 2 more eyeballs so plan to fit those in the middle space as the car soon gets warm inside.




The paint samples were done so the painter sprayed both colours on the wing so I could decide on preference. Fortunately I chose the correct one as my wife picked the same one when I got home. It's not that easy to see in the pictures put the chosen one (front of car) has a petrol green tinge and the other is more towards a lilac tint. I'm really glad I didn't just choose from the colour charts as the colours look very different when on the car. I didn't want a metallic for ease of touching up paint chips.

Cheers, Bob.

[Mister Towed]

Liking both of those colours Bob, got to agree that the aquamarine will look terrific though.