356 Speedster Flat6 outlaw build

[greg356a]

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the pics. It would suggest the screen follows SC correctly but my frame is more like a Chesil. I suspect Gary needs to buy parts where he can and designs and tolerance change very slightly. I know Gary cant get hold of the steel frames anymore. I will give Gary another call and maybe it would seam sensible to take everything to him to see if one of his current frames fits better. All part of the fun, or as they say across the pond - Let the Madness begin!

The other alternative is to try and bend the frame to match the screen, but at the extreme edges it needs to be less of a radius so trying to flatten or straight it out may prove quite difficult.

Unless you have any other ideas?

[mdmax72]

Taking it to Gary, if he has some frames in stock would be good to see any differences. If lucky you'll find one that matches up better with having to manipulate it to fit. Let me know when you going, if l can I wouldn't mind meeting you.

[greg356a]

Ok will do

[greg356a]

Great couple of days.
Wednesday went over to see Gary at Speedster Clinic. Gary was his very helpful self. If you recall I could not glaze the frame with my glass for fear or cracking the expensive heated screen. We compared windscreen frames, windscreens and agreed that the frame I had was most likely a Chesil frame which is different profile to Speedster Clinic's. Fortunately Gary had a frame that was a very good match to my heated windscreen. So we agreed a frame swap and I also got a free T Shirt! These cars are hand built and therefor over coming the problems is a big part of the challenge and fun, helps when people work with you

IMG_7979 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

Thursday morning over to see Garry at Classic FX to pick up the seats. Sounds like Garry had a major challenge to upholster the seats. Working without patterns, nothing to follow, a few brief notes from me and a lot of head scratching and material massaging the results are fantastic. The biggest problems amongst many was that I wanted the back of the seat left uncovered to display the head rests and chrome shell. Theses need fitting yet as they are only placed in position for the camera. The 911 RS foam padding should provide a much more comfortable driving experience.

IMG_7957 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

IMG_7960 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

IMG_7963 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

IMG_7959 by Greg Moore, on Flickr


IMG_7964 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

Also Garry made some very good roll bar covers. So IVA requires some form of impact protection on roll bars. I have some FIA approved padding and Garry made some zipped sausages to keep the padding in place. With the zip at the back it should be near invisible.

IMG_7980 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

So just need to get everything fitted up!

Many thanks to Gary and Garry

[KS]

Test to see if pic uploaded

https://flic.kr/p/WAtcWL

https://flic.kr/p/WZkcRp

Didn't work but does link you to pics. Help

Here you go...

[mdmax72]

Thanks Keith for posting.

[mdmax72]

Looking great Greg, some nice touches your doing.

[greg356a]

Twins enjoying the sunshine

IMG_7985 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

IMG_7990 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

IMG_8025 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

IMG_8029 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

IMG_8027 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

IMG_8005 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

IMG_8042 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

[greg356a]

Spent all day measuring, cutting, drilling, taping holes in the frame. Bloody frame/ screen still don't fit. Seems the angle of the horns are too upright. But then lay them back and the hardtop is out. I must have spent at least 5 days on this so far, I am a little closer but not much.

[mdmax72]

Hi Greg is that the angle of the screen needs to be for the hard top to line up??

Looking at the pics the screen frame sides still needs cutting down. Although I'm sure you know this.

Maybe a picture with hardtop and screen in place will help??

[greg356a]

Hi Rich,
Yea the screen in the pic is too high. Thought I could set it high in the frame and use it to get the correct datums working backwards.

The main issue seems to be setting the screen to follow the contour of the body means the chrome horns/ posts are at the wrong angle. They are currently more upright which means the frame then meets the hardtop at the front correctly. If I angle the frame backwards then don't think it will mate with the hardtop. I guess I was always hoping this was just a glaze and fit job, but like all goods things it will take some more work.

I think I am going to have to tape the frame around the glass and then try to determine the angle of the horns and grind to suite. The screen may need pushing towards the front of the car to match the hardtop. I have already taken a sliver of 4mm from the front of the horns to 0 at the back as per instructions. If I was just fitting the usual soft top I guess it would all fit.

Hopefully another days work will get me there. I don't plan to use any mastic at this stage to aid removal and painting later. Cant image this being an issue with IVA test.

[greg356a]

So manged to spend some time in the cave on seats and windscreen. I have re-fitted the seats several times to get them adjusted correctly. The seat position is designed with a lot of adjustability. The back of the seat can be changed to different angles, down side its all bolted together so to move one stop requires taking the seat out.

At last I have a windscreen that fits. I am hoping not to use any sealant prior to the test as will remove whole assembly again for painting. May need to use a little sealant to hold gaskets in place etc. The windscreen angle to the hardtop is still not really perfect but cant move the screen so may need to tweak the hard top. Should not be any issue for the soft top.

IMG_1491 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

Not quite sure what mister IVA will say about any of the sharp edges to the head rest pins, just thought they looked funky steampunk period. The pins work really well.

IMG_1492 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

Used some rally spec flame resistant padding and my better half run up the covers. They are zip on so can be removed if needed.
IMG_1496 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

And finally the screen in position. Yes plan to remove the frog tape at some point

IMG_1495 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

So close I can taste the test

Also decided to move the position of the door bars to make getting in and out easier. It is a compromise with the design of the cage. It is 3mm thick tube so its not going to bend in the wind.

IMG_1512 by Greg Moore, on Flickr

[greg356a]

Lot of work for a small update. The door bars are now welded and powder coated black. I managed to get the black padding on without cutting;

IMG_1540[1] by Greg Moore, on Flickr

[greg356a]

Ok, last straw this afternoon when the handbrake cable broke again.
So I am going to take the whole system apart and get new cables made by the professionals. I have contacted Cable-Tec in Nottinghamshire to get some prices and delivery times. Has anyone used them? or recommend another cable manufacturer?
This has pushed the IVA test back a little but should all be good in the end.

[mdmax72]

Hi Greg

You have to laugh, your handbrake as given you nothing but grief. Hopefully this time you’ll have it sorted once and for all.