45 replies to this topic

[nicklouse]

 

 

 

the latest designs that people are doing with a proper adjustable top wishbone that does way with the top ball joint are much better.

Nick, have you got an example or listing for this?

 

see post at the top of page 2.

Edited by nicklouse, 18 May 2017 - 01:58 PM.

[Northernpower]

 

 

 

 

the latest designs that people are doing with a proper adjustable top wishbone that does way with the top ball joint are much better.

Nick, have you got an example or listing for this?

 

see post at the top of page 2.

 

Thanks

[grizzler73]

Rossabitz make the top locating kit, it is basically a chunky version of the steering arm location as under heavy cornering the steering arm flexed, it is also better located to get rid of the bump steer that the original GTM design also suffer from.

[morley]

This is the steering locking kit, it'll definitely be up to the job!

 

 

 

Bit of a push before house takes over, had a few hours on Sunday... still waiting on a date for completion/exchange. 

I got some bits from Derek to save myself some time and hassle. 

 

Made a start on the rear spaceframe, i'm hoping to get a few evening in this week and i'll have all weekend because the mrs is on a hen do... win!

 

 

 

Edited by morley, 22 May 2017 - 06:47 PM.

[tiger99]

That does look rather well-engineered, as befitting something vitally important!

[zeemax89]

Hi,  Great reading through you restoration details.  Is the protest still going?

 

could you offer some advise to clear something up in my own mind.  

 

When there rear engines cars are made, I always assumed they effectively moved the front subby to the rear of the shell and locked the steering arms.  Is that correct?

 

But my main question is how is the gear linkage connected to the gear lever?  I often wondered this and thought of 3 possabilities.

 

1:  flexi control cables

2: Complex solid shaft with joints to get to the rear of the box

 

and 3, which I thought could be a lovely solution.  Machine the selector shaft out the front of the box and weld on a boss with oil seal recess.

 

eagerly awaiting any info anyone can give me

 

thanks,

 

George

[nicklouse]

the rods are just used as normal but the one attaching to the selector goes under the gear box. the steady bolts onto the front of the box using some of the box to block bolts. gear stick action is retained.

 

this is the same for rod or remote gear change boxes.

 

engine conversions will just use longer cables if that is what they had.

 

some of the other rear engine Mini based cars  did have a rather more engineered solution with some fancy bits on the side of the box. cant remember if it was the Biota or the Unipower GT. some people did do their own linkages though.

[grizzler73]

Some people have converted a MGF cable gear linkage for the GTM, works well I am told. The important thing about the GTM linkage is that it moves with the engine, solidly mounted to it, with rubber bobbins at the gearstick end. It is actually a good change when set up and maintained well, the only drawback is the rod passes under the gearbox, so is somewhat exposed.

[morley]

Wow, 15 months since my last update!

 

 

Things have been real busy, although not on the coupe unfortunately. 

 

To cut a long story short, we brought our first house in June 2017.... completely gutted the place down to the bare blocks, and then working every evening and weekend, knock walls down, add new ones, add downstairs toilet, knock through kitchen diner, patio doors, windows, re wire, re plumb, boiler, bathroom, kitchen, flooring, doors, skirting, tiling, blinds etc...... the only things original are 80% of the windows, front door and the roof.

 

Unbelievable amount of effort and hard work, help from family members and luckily being a tradesman I had a lot of friends to help, a lot of big favours are owed haha.

April 2018 we moved in and last week the kitchen was finished! Still the odd job left to do

 

 

I may start a new thread but you get the idea

 

bathroom

 

Lounge

 

Downstairs loo

 

Was bedroom, now dining room

 

Kitchen

 

Kitcehn/diner

 

 

Not fully up to date but you get the jist..

 

 

 

We're both so happy with the result, and being done in what I think is a short amount of time... well working part time on it anyway, has given me a massive boost, feeling really positive and hopefully I can apply the same level of energy into the gtm, I want to keep the ball rolling!!!

 

It's still in the grandparents garage, looking sorry for itself. I haven't got round to clearing ours out yet as it's full of building materials. 

 

 

 

 

Here's a sneak peak of what I was getting into a week before we got the keys to the house...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MattMiniS96]

House looks awesome. Get on with the car.

[KTS]

House looks awesome. Get on with the car.

 

yep - what he said.

 

can't quite make out what's hanging off the engine hoist, but doesn't look like an A-series - suspect it has many many valves, and is that a ruddy great turbo on the back of it ?

[3000KV]

Hi, I have just started on my GTM coupe, hope to get an MSA log book for Rallying, where did you get the roll cage from? and did it come with a certificate? rgds Pete

[morley]

Hi Pete, cage is from www.ppcages.com it didn't come with a certificate.

 

They only had the jig for the 4/5 point cage, I need to get some rear stays added on to make it MSA compliant I think... it's a bit of a grey area with the coupes, If i remember rightly I was going to get a local scrutineer to offer his advice. 

[grizzler73]

Hi Pete, cage is from www.ppcages.com it didn't come with a certificate.

 

They only had the jig for the 4/5 point cage, I need to get some rear stays added on to make it MSA compliant I think... it's a bit of a grey area with the coupes, If i remember rightly I was going to get a local scrutineer to offer his advice. 

 

Rallying is very different to circuit racing (which I'm building for) , I could not get the 30 degree angle on the back stays but was told that lots of cars get dispensation, Lotus Europa is one for example.

I think you can also put in a diagonal from the centre of the main hoop down to the foot of the front  leg, this is a quote from the bluebook:

 

1.3.3. Backstays. These are compulsory and must be attached near the roofline and near the top outer bends of the main rollbar on both sides of the car. They

must make an angle of at least 30° with the vertical,must run rearwards and be straight and as close as

possible to the interior side panels of the bodyshell. Their materials specification, diameter and thickness must be as defined in 1.4.1. Forward facing stays are 

permitted if an angle of 30° cannot be achieved with Backstays, providing they do not unduly impede Driver and Co-Driver access to the vehicle.

 

Most important thing is to talk to a scrutineer!

 

Simon

[morley]

Ahh yes, forgot to mention, this one does have a diagonal from the centre of the main hoop to the passenger front leg. Just not shown in the pictures