764 replies to this topic

[DaveJH]

Attention to detail is insanely good, as usual. This is one of those projects that has one frustrating part for the reader; knowing how great it will look finished and knowing how long it takes to make it look great! I just want to fast forward to the finished product now.

[gda]

Hi,
very nice job

[Tupers]

Thanks for the comments guys sorry about not posting any updates I've barely steped foot in the work shop since christmas let alone touched the car. I did however manage to drag myself down yesterday to do a little work on the centre console.

The opening for the gear stick was still really rough and I didn't have enough steel left around it to do a peened edge so I decided on a 4MM rod bar hoop welded in behind the hole.


After doing a few test pieces with my wire bender I made a full hoop slightly larger that the hole then cut off the excess and welded it together.




I placed the hoop on top of the hole to check how much more I needed to cut out of the console and then tacked it in from behind.




Then I welded it in from the top, I've also done the same for the hand brake opening.


I still need to grind down the welds but I think it's heading in the right direction and I wont have to worry about the gaiter snagging in the console.

[myredmini]

Read the whole thread, and theres some very impressive work is there a reason for the rear lights hinging up or just a gimmic ?

Keep it up

Dan.

You'll have seen he said its for the new filler neck location then
Not keen on the idea myself but then its not my car. why would there be sparks from the lights, i thought it was the idea to turn your car and lights off when you're filling up?

no I missed that, so sorry..

[Tupers]

I've been doing a few little bits and bobs today.

The corners of my seat frame where quite sharp so I chopped them off, welded them up and ground them down with a larger radius.




I finally got round to taking down the welds on my seat back with my new Roloc sanding discs.


While I was in the mood to make noise I flap wheeled the welds down on the centre console and took all the surface rust off. I had planned on priming it but I've still got things to finish on it so I gave it a wipe down with some WD40.




I also welded in a second brace to keep sides from flexing.

[Tupers]

I've always wanted to fit my head unit into the centre console but the position of the heater meant that this would not be possible. After talking with Matt about this he showed me these and fortunately that made things a whole lot easier.

I made up a cardboard model of the heater for a size comparison.


It should tuck out of the way nicely.


Now knowing that I could fit my head unit into the console I cut a nice big hole and fitted a cage.




I refitted the console to see how it looked, pretty snazzy I think you'll agree.


Seen as I'm not using the OG heater I don't need to have a console cut away nearly as much so I made a start on extending it to the bulkhead.





I also got one of these in the post this morning. It's a Tungsten Carbide Burr for my die grinder and by god is it handy.

[Tupers]

I commandeered Matts inter grips to make sure the extension was in place before I welded it.


Once I was happy, I welded it up and then smoothed it down with a flap disc.




It fits really nicely now, I just need to make some tabs to hold it to the bulk head. I'm also going to make a section of the N/S extension removable to allow me to get at the head unit wiring.




I've been getting more used to my new Carbide Burr and used it take down the welds around the gear stick and handbrake opening.




Seen as I'll have a decent amount of room under the head unit I'm thinking of adding a open glove box type thing. What do you guys think?

[olds_kool_lews]

still doing fantastic work on your estate as usual mate! i think the glovebox is a good idea, i think if left blank, it will be too big a flat panel, a glove box will fit in nicely, and you'll have somewhere to chuck your mobile and any other pocket crap whilst driving lol

[ajperry]

just read all the way through and i have to say absolutely awesome work! gonna look stunning when you're done and loving the centre console, rear seat fabrication, wheels..... i guess everything! top notch.

keep it up! can't wait to see the finished item!

[Tupers]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I finished grinding down the 'A' panel to wing seam today and found that the panels where slightly staggered. I could have just filled this but decided I'd rather do it properly so slit the seam with a 1MM cutting disc and realigned them.




The 'A' panel still want to a of dolly work but it's much better now.


I'm a bit ahead of myself with this but this evening I stared modifying a split Webber inlet manifold to run a HIF44 or maybe one of these.
Being a Webber manifold it's way long so I cut 35MM from the head side and I'm thinking I'll need to take another 10MM from the carb side.




I also started making the flange for the carb to mount to.

[charie t]

Looking good, but why didn't you just get an alloy one from minispares or simular?
On the lower dash panel migh be an idea to add a brace to support the rear of the head unit. Wobbly radio will bend your panels

Edited by charie t, 02 March 2011 - 01:14 AM.

[mini_mad69]

Your centre console looks great, but one thing, have you allowed for the fitment of sound proofing and carpet?


It looks a good fit on the metal floor, but with the soft bits im thinking it might not fit.


Or am I way off?



Either way, I absolutly love all the subtle little touches your doing, I wish I had the time to do this.

[benjy_18]

thought i should probably comment on your amazing work as ill be seeing it all first hand soon, im sensing a few stolen ideas on my car soon.

[Tupers]

Looking good, but why didn't you just get an alloy one from minispares or simular?

Mainly because everyone and their Mum has an inlet like those and I as I'm sure can tell like to be a little different.

Your centre console looks great, but one thing, have you allowed for the fitment of sound proofing and carpet?

It looks a good fit on the metal floor, but with the soft bits im thinking it might not fit.

Or am I way off?

Only a little ways off.

The carpet wont go over the tunnel, instead it'll just cone over the lip of the console that sits on the tunnel with a bound edge running along it.
I'm also going to be using a spray on sound deadening so I regulate how thick it is on the tunnel.

thought i should probably comment on your amazing work as ill be seeing it all first hand soon, im sensing a few stolen ideas on my car soon.

Cheers Benjy, I guess you're our work experience victim.



Dad and I took a trip up to Bristol to pick up a set of wheels I won on ebay the other day. According to the Wheel Dictionary they're Elco Falcons and weight only 2.7KG. That's 100G lighter than a Force split rim.

[olds_kool_lews]

really liking them wheels! they look a little like wellers! how wide are they?