Right then, while waiting for Vosa my mind is turning to what happens after SVA.... current plan is to lift the 1.8 zetec and replace it with a turbo engine. Plan is a Rover T16 with a Toyota W58 gearbox. I will then have a spare Ford engine that I may replace with a 2.0L and drop it into one of these little tin cans!
I really fancy one of these French fillies with rear wheel drive and 160bhp.....

As requested some pictures of my rad mount. They are not very neat but are out of sight and do the job remarkably well. Aluminium brackets riveted to the chassis tube at the bottom as described in the build manual. The original top brackets, one of which can be seen in the picture of the top mount were to far back to fit the hoses etc, so I made brackets that bolt to the top mounting plate on the chassis that also serve as handy earthing points for the front lights, and the rusty Sierra horn bracket I've reused!

Quick update, nothing much happening ATM, waiting for Vosa to give me a date for SVA. There is a small amount to fettle, boot lid, fog light switch, and chassis number to stamp on. Then some fettling with polish to make her shine.

Since my successful track day I've got the carbs off and I am checking the settings, float height etc and strengthening the return spring. I'm going to try putting a spring on the end of the throttle return cable so when the throttle is opened the cable pulls the spring giving a good pull back. Just thinking of some ideas ATM.

I've now fixed the cycle wings on. They are glued on with some horrible super sticking window bond PU adhesive. Just hope my initial trials in getting the wheels off is still OK!
Thinking along SVA lines I've made a front indicator mounting/bumper bar. Bent some bits of tube up welded them together and with a loop round the bottom will give me a bracket to mount the front reg plate off. Not sure on the look yet but it may grow on me.


The landmark today is I've posted my SVA forms requesting a test date of 2nd June. That gives me plenty of time to sort all the last little bits out, get some insurance, have a pre MOT and think of anything else that may need attention.

Some more pictures from the track day!

Today saw me at Teeside Autodrome for a track day. Arrived just after 8am due to slow traffic on the A19 and A66. Good selection of cars, a lot of Westfields, but not as many bike engined cars as I thought would be there. Temporary front cycle wings made out of the side of a washing machine. Worked a treat and looked quite good as well!

Went out on a 3 lap intro behind the pace car to get used to the track. After the introduction we were out on the track. I got going and found there wasn't much top end revs when I thought I could smell petrol. As I backed off to pull in... Boosh! steam everywhere. The top bleeding pipe had blown off and sprayed water everywhere. Fixed that by flaring the pipe a little and holding it on with a tie wrap. Out again and within 2 laps the temp was up to 110deg. In again to find the water rail cap bubbling away. Another couple of goes and still running very hot.

With help from the guys around me I decided to take the thermostat out as the top pipe to the rad was a lot colder than the rest of the system. Out again and the temp stayed down at 70deg and dipped on the back straight. Excellent, now the fueling. The car was very quick through the twisty bits and due to the throttle running on a bit I only used 3rd and 4th all the way round. Out on the straight I could get it up to 5500rpm in third but only 4K in top. Everything flashed past me on the straight. I had a meddle with the carb settings a few times, and ran it without the airbox but deciding the main jets were too small I concentrated on getting some laps in and having a good time.

Couple of points from the day, the throttle needs a heavier return spring and the carbs need setting up correctly. Not too difficult, just need a rest for a bit as I'm aching all over!!

So with 88 miles on the clock from today it's SVA next. Just a few bits to dress up and we should be on the road soon!

This weekend has seen me working towards tomorrows track day. On Saturday I started it up and found the exhaust blowing and it was running like it was only on 3 cylinders. Pulling the plug leads off one by one only made it worse.

I checked the carb settings and balanced them, still running real rough. Thinking the easiest thing to do so close to my outing was to put a new set of plugs in. So, off to Halfords and once in the lumpy running was gone. Some silicon on the blowing join and that cured the blowing.

Today I've been checking round the nuts and bolts to make sure every thing is tight and fitting the body work. Made a neat holder for the battery out of a piece of stainless that came from a deep fat fryer! Loads of other little jobs that has seen me in the garage till 10pm both nights!

Been out to pick up the trailer I'm borrowing and last thing is the second seat and harnesses in just in case I get any passengers tomorrow.

I'll post some pictures of the day when I get back, hopefully in one piece!

The last few days have been really busy. I always said that the last thing I would do on the car is fit the front cycle guards and thats whats happened. I PU'd and rivetted a 4x6" piece of ruffed up ali to each stay. This should give a good large surface area contact between it self and the cycle wing.

After checking whether I could get the wheels off without removing the guards its all go. I trimmed the front back and fastened them on with tape and carefully removed the wheel. Everything looked OK so I'm ready to glue them on with some PU adhesive. However I'm a bit put off because it can take a couple of weeks for the PU to cure and I have the track day in 4 days time, so I've decided to do the track day without any front guards and stick them on after. Hope it doesn't rain!

Fitted the rear boot cover. I've trimmed it with small rubber U trim and fastened it down with PU. it was loaded up with bricks and bits of lead to weigh it down while the PU set.
There's a cut out in the middle so I can get at the handbrake cable and other bits under there. I got a piece of 25mm angle to trim the edge where the internal panel drops down into the cabin. I used some rivits to hold this and theres PU underneath as well.

YZF1000 mirrors arrived yesterday so a quick sit in the car holding the mirror and a few holes later they both on and should give me a good rear view for SVA.

I wasn't too happy with the look of the supplied fixings for the harness. My fault, I told them that was what I wanted. The top mounts were the same as the bottom, clip on through eyes. They just didn't look right on the car so a trip to the scrap yard and I came away with some Ford Ka buckles, swivells bolts and covers. I think they look a lot better and should be no problem for the SVA

Battery clamp to manufacture, body work bolted on this weekend and on the track Monday. I'm going to have ago at checking the tracking and balance the carbs before I go and fingers crossed it will be a dry day!

Made a little bracket for the air filter then fitted the front cycle wings tonight. Thought it was going to be a daunting task but turned out to be quite straight forward. Cut the wings stays down to equal length so there is about a 20mm gap between it and the tyre then carefully removed two fillets on each wing to slot over the stays. I want to bond them on with PU adhesive but I need to check whether I can get the wheels off. The guards have a fairly big wraparound and are tight against the sides of my 205's so I may have to make them removable. I will be cutting back the front so that may allow the wheels out. Need to get it outside to check, it's too tight in the garage.

I've been going at it hammer and tongs since my last post. With the end in sight I have booked a track day for a bit of a shakedown.

I visited MNR last week and got all my paperwork for Vosa and the Dvla filled in, I'm just holding off sending them in until I've done the track day to see if anything falls off or I blow the thing up! I checked out a freshly SVA'd car in the workshop thats given me inspiration as the two guys had just picked the kit up in December and it's on the road now! There was two of them mind, I'm doing this on me own.

I've made a final fit of the scuttle, sorted the airbox out and started fitting the front wings. My goal is to get it finished for the track day 21st April then send the forms off and make it SVA friendly for the big day.

It's really come together lately. A few weeks ago it seemed like there was loads to do, now Its nearly all done. Just need to finish off trimming the cabin with some edge trim, secure the inner panels properly and fit the boot cover. Arches on and and I should be ready to go. Fingers crossed!

Working from the back forward I've been concentrating on the cabin. With the seat in place I've been able to adjust the height of the steering column properly and get everything inline. The pedals need a little adjusting as the brake is a little to far forward and there's not much room for my big feet!! I'll let the pictures show how far I'm on. With the light nights now I'm going to get it outsdie to get some decent pictures!