221 replies to this topic

[Vinay-RS]

I love the design of that gauge pod. It looks really good and suits the dash setup perfectly. 

Is that crackle black paint? It looks really nice too. 

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Here's a project I've been working on the last couple of days.

When the superchaged engine's in the car I'll be needing a boost gauge. I went for a VDO one as they have a kind of retro, OEM look. Unfortunately I had to order it from Australia as they don't seem to do the 15 psi version over here.

The next issue was how to mount it whilst keeping the standard look of the interior. I started by making a wooden mock-up the size and shape I wanted.



Using that I was able to trace the outline of the shape onto paper, scan it in and refine the outline on the computer.



The templates were transferred onto 2mm sheet metal which was bent and then welded up.



Everything was then cleaned up, sand blasted and a hole punched using a 52mm Q-Max cutter.


 
The finished piece was given 3 coats of wrinkle finish paint and cured in the oven. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Just like that!

[Mini Manannán]

Podtastic!  Lovely job Jon.

[MrBounce]

That pod is great. 

[podifold]

Thanks guys.

 

I really enjoy fabricating little projects like this from scratch and couldn't be happier with how the pod turned out. There's two captive nuts welded to the flanges on the underside of it that line up with two holes already in the parcel shelf. When mounted here the line of sight is perfect whilst driving - just outside the steering wheel.

 

Wrinkle finish paint is awesome too! I got a better finish with this go than I did the first time and I think that's because I sprayed it on thicker. Might have to redo the heater parts at some point.

Edited by podifold, 07 July 2016 - 11:03 AM.

[slidehammer]

Very impressive work, no wonder you are pleased with the end result. Keep it up.

[DannyTip]

That pod looks great but won't you be having oil pressure and a few others too?

[podifold]

I know I probably should but I really want it to look as standard as possible without gauge-overkill.

[podifold]

Today I mocked up the clutch pedal set-up in the vice. All the correct brackets and gaskets were used as well as some 2mm thick washes simulating the thickness of steel where the 4 studs of the pedal box would pass through the bulkhead cross member in the car. The hydraulics were connected from the master to the slave cylinder and the system was bled to get the air out.

 

 

With everything now working exactly as it would if it was installed in the car I was able to take up the slack in the pedal and find the correct point to tack weld the new bracket to the clutch pedal. Once that was done I carefully cut away the temporary piece that holds the two ends together then had the clutch pedal welded up properly.

 

 

 

With that done I can send the whole lot off to the powder coaters and have them back in time for when I do the big swap over in a few weeks.

Edited by podifold, 08 July 2016 - 03:26 PM.

[Domeo_Jones]

This is literally amazing. Love it. Your work is incredible unfortunately im now going to have to 'borrow"a few ideas and add about 5 years on my restoration.

[Domeo_Jones]

Oh, and I can still adjust the height using a length of hex bar passed through a pair of drilled tower bolts.
 Am i being a bit thick but how can you adjust the height of the mini with a bit of hex bar? What does the hex bar go into?

[podifold]

The top of the Hi-lo adjusting bolt has a hex head it goes into.

[Domeo_Jones]

Arh.... of course....see silly me.... blooming brilliant idea tho fella... amazing fabrication.

[podifold]

So, after some testing the clutch spring isn't giving anywhere near as much assistance as I need.

 

I know why. It's to do with the length of the lever arm on the ring welded to the pedal. On the VW Golf pedal it's a good 30mm longer but my issue was space was limited and the amount force the spring would exert was always going to be unknown until I built and tried it.

 

I could start again with a redesign, and I'm fairly sure I could get it to work, but I think I'll go back to using a remote servo on the clutch line. It worked really well last time and the only reason I didn't want to use it again was because I wasn't happy with it mounted under the wing. However, I've done a trial fit and I think if I'm careful with the positioning I can get it mounted in the Clubman's engine bay and get it to clear everything.

 

[Rocket.]

Love the idea of this project !

 

Always loved the idea of a sleeper build

 

Keep up the good work