Hi All,

Just for giggles (and because I like reading other peoples build diaries) I thought I'd start a rebuild diary.

History.
I had rather a shaky introduction to kit cars. Those of you that have been around a while may remember a chap by the name of Chris Darby, I won't share all the gory details but suffice to say our relationship didn't end well and my part built MK ended up going back to MK to be finished at great expense to me. Anyway eventually I hit the road in July 2009 :




and had a good few years hooning around.

Fast forward to Brands Hatch April this year and in a moment of stupidity I decided to go out in the rain... lack of skill and r888's resulted in this :



So I stripped it down and took it to Andy Bates to see if it could be economically repaired (I have no welding skills in fact my wife would argue I have no skills at all but thats another topic for discussion):



We decided it would be cheaper if I got a new chassis from MK and rebuilt.... Sooooo that is where we are at! Rebuild parts from MK turn up tomorrow and then the fun begins!

Hope I haven't bored you too much. If you need a lesson on how to learn the hard way then feel free to subscribe

Thanks

Dean

Always interested in a build diary. Its the closest I will be for a while before I get to build 'fresh'.

On another note you mentioned:

Brands Hatch April this year and in a moment of stupidity I decided to go out in the rain... lack of skill and r888's resulted in this : (Damaged rear end)

Where did you come off and how?

I was at brands in November last year and went out in the wet, with R888. I found it very hard to drive and span twice on clearways, luckily only collecting grass and no other cars or tyre walls. Just wondering if you can share your experience and thoughts as I need to learn how to drive in the wet!

I think my problem was not softening the car for a 'wet' set up and not running out to edge of the track. I was affraid of coming off!

Oh and if you want to delete this post so it does not ruin your build diary, feel free. I wont take offence.



Good luck with the rebuild, Bizz

best of luck and keep us all posted.

I span my car the other day on a damp roundabout, luckily was only doing about 30 and I didnt hit anything, I found it good for inducing the realitys of rear drive though

quote:

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Originally posted by bi22le
Always interested in a build diary. Its the closest I will be for a while before I get to build 'fresh'.

On another note you mentioned:

Brands Hatch April this year and in a moment of stupidity I decided to go out in the rain... lack of skill and r888's resulted in this : (Damaged rear end)

Where did you come off and how?

I was at brands in November last year and went out in the wet, with R888. I found it very hard to drive and span twice on clearways, luckily only collecting grass and no other cars or tyre walls. Just wondering if you can share your experience and thoughts as I need to learn how to drive in the wet!

I think my problem was not softening the car for a 'wet' set up and not running out to edge of the track. I was affraid of coming off!

Oh and if you want to delete this post so it does not ruin your build diary, feel free. I wont take offence.



Good luck with the rebuild, Bizz

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Blimey that was unlucky, didnt even look like you were pushing too hard. did you catch a kerb/white line or just plant it a little too much?
Is that a brands hatch borrowed helmet for a mate or an instructor with you?

[Edited on 16/7/12 by loggyboy]

I competed in the Gti championship for 2 years, and they run the Toyo R888's as the control tyre, which are useless in the wet! Very twitchy and can't handle any standing water. At silverstone i think nearly everyone had a 'moment' on track.

its handy if you have a spare set of wheels with road tyres/wets fitted, so if the weather turns you can simply bolt them on.

look forward to the build pics!

C.

I have spent some time at brands on r888's in my seven, found them to be pretty good in the wet apart from standing water, but my experience is any tyres on a seven in standing water is terrible. However you do have to be a considerable amount smoother than dry laps.

Anyways Good luck with the rebuild, i'll keep an eye on this post and hope to see you at some Essex kit car meets and on track soon

[Edited on 16/7/12 by eddie99]

quote:

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Originally posted by loggyboy
Blimey that was unlucky, didnt even look like you were pushing too hard. did you catch a kerb/white line or just plant it a little too much?
Is that a brands hatch borrowed helmet for a mate or an instructor with you?

[Edited on 16/7/12 by loggyboy]

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I think one of the big problems with a Se7en in the wet, is there is very little weight pushing the tyres down thru the water.
Admittedly some tyres will be better than others.

I stuffed mine on 888's in the wet at brands back in jan lol

Ok update time.

I had a good day in the garage today and made some progress (well to page 17 in the MK build manual ).

My attempt at a height adjustable build table ish, A motorbike lift rated to 500kg :




Floor in (Lazy tongue rivetters are gooood!!) and chassis flipped :




My sou chef :




ran brake and fuel lines :




Fitted the front suspension. The front wings are on because I took the whole lot off the old chassis as one part.




Mandatory cat picture :




Fitted some prop catchers.... you never know! Also fitted the diff and rear suspension, I forgot to order a new stub ball joint thingy (The old one is bent) so I need to phone MK on Monday and sort that.




I might get a few hours in the garage tomorrow so hopefully more progress.

Got a few hours in my man cave today.

Steering stuff in :



Fitted my electric reverse :



and my prop :



Realised i'd put my prop catchers on too low so they have come off for now.

Radiator and lights on :



Back panel in.... this is all going too well



Handbrake cables and handbrake fitted :



I must say i am at a distinct advantage of fitting parts that are already modified to fit the chassis so I guess this is why I haven't hit any stubbling blocks yet.

I guess I will have to go to work during the week so I doubt i'll get much done..

Thanks for reading!

Got some time in the garage this weekend, progress has slowed somewhat As I've started on the birds nest that is the wiring.

Got the tank in :



Bought an engine hoist off the bay, got the engine in the air so I could drain the oil. and check everything over :



Mandatory cat picture 2 :



Engine in... It was just after this I realised I had an outstanding task to tap the sump for an oil temp sender... oh well, I'll drop it later before I get the car off the stands.



On to the job i've been dreading, I labelled everything before I took it off so hopefully it won't be too painful :



getting there :



Small horn in



And thats it for this weekend. I thought I'd have all the wiring done by now, tbh i'm not far off (whether it works is another matter). If I can get some time in the garage during the week I'd like to finish the wiring so I have next weekend to concentrate on bodywork.

If anyone is still reading hope you had a good weekend too


[Edited on 29/7/12 by blueskate]

Weekend fun and games! My hands are starting to resemble a war zone...

Spot the cat competition.....




Rear tub on (I used the old one as a template



Most of Saturday was spent getting the side panel on... what a ball ache!



Sunday was set aside for the other side panel :



I tapped the sump for an oil temp sender as it's last location wasn't giving acurate readings.




Thanks for looking.... or not. Kind of lonely here... maybe i'll start posting pictures of naked ladies to provoke a response. Maybe I should start an intellectual conversation... Can we fix the double dip recession.

Looking go to say we only dropped the chassis of a few weeks ago.keep up the good work

Thanks Danny

Thanks Danny, got to keep the momentum going or i'll lose the will to finish it

Agreed, looking good/good pregress...

Keeping up a quick pace is how I work if I can!

Keep going mate your old chassis is getting there now not long hopefully and i will have it on wheels with a thunderace lump in just got to get time to put it on our huge metal work bench and make sure all is true now before welding in the new bit danny supplyed

quote:

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Originally posted by Stickboy
Keep going mate your old chassis is getting there now not long hopefully and i will have it on wheels with a thunderace lump in just got to get time to put it on our huge metal work bench and make sure all is true now before welding in the new bit danny supplyed

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One of the things which I learnt on Porsche's kick plate at their Silverstone facility recently was that if the back end goes you don't lift off.
To most of us lifting off the throttle is an intuitive thing to do but as the "consultant" sat beside me explained it effectively slows the back end inducing the spin.
That's even more important in our Se7ens as they are so light on the back end.

BTW wondered what he was up to when I was on their skid pan and his hand suddenly gently grabbed hold of mine - "Hello what's going on here" I thought.
Equally gently he placed my left hand onto the steering wheel saying "I always feel much safer when people have two hands on the wheel"! - point well made and taken.

BTWx2 - if you ever want a truly awesome driving experience go on one of their half day courses. Not the cheapest but I'll guarantee you'll learn huge amounts about your driving style. 15 Consultants gave one-to-one advice and they want/encourage you to explore the cars' capabilities and limits (unlike some circuits so-called experiences). The course ends with three hot passenger laps with one of their consultants - inevitably you think you're quick until they drive you!

Cheers, Pewe10

Wow what a weekend!

Got the nose cone and scuttle on, and fitted the bonnet catches :



Fitted the exhaust :




Ran the throttle and Clutch cables (no piccies... it's boring anyway)

Thought I'd test the engine. Two hours later and I still couldn't figure out why it wouldn't fire. I was getting a spark, I had fuel pressure, but the injectors weren't firing... I stripped off the power commander to rule that out... Nope that wasn't it.... Anyways moral of the story...... If a tilt sensor has the word up written on it.. It probably means that's the way up it goes . The tily sensor cuts voltage to the injectors if its upside down (Evil Keneval must have disabled his...):



Here is the obligatory start vid.

First Restart..

Finally, I got the drivers seat in...



I have a problem with the brakes not working so thats what needs to be sorted next.

[Edited on 12/8/12 by blueskate]

I take it you're going to have to get a new IVA, but what is stopping you from chopping up the old chassis to beyond recognition then just putting the VIN on the new chassis? Apart from the obvious legal aspect

Quick question have been thinking of using the bike hoist for my build. Guessing it won't be good enough to do the chassis with due to lack of height but has it worked for the rest.

quote:

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Originally posted by vanepico
I take it you're going to have to get a new IVA, but what is stopping you from chopping up the old chassis to beyond recognition then just putting the VIN on the new chassis? Apart from the obvious legal aspect

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quote:

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Originally posted by Padstar
Quick question have been thinking of using the bike hoist for my build. Guessing it won't be good enough to do the chassis with due to lack of height but has it worked for the rest.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Peteff

quote:

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Originally posted by vanepico
I take it you're going to have to get a new IVA, but what is stopping you from chopping up the old chassis to beyond recognition then just putting the VIN on the new chassis? Apart from the obvious legal aspect

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Why ? It's just a rebuild to original specification using original manufacturer parts so it doesn't need a new IVA. Unless he let the vin go with the old chassis when he sold it.

[Edited on 1/9/12 by Peteff]

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Ok, update time again :

I've been a bit busy the last few weekends so progress has slowed a little. Anyway I am getting there :

I fixed the brakes eventually, stupid standard problem with the Sierra rear calipers needed to be turned around when bleeding!

The car is now on it's own wheels for the first time! :



Out in the light of day! Another dreaded job done, fit the rear wings, Left side is done. I'm waiting on some parts to do the left side as thats the one the got smashed to peices :



I have completed a few more jobs so will get piccies up during the week. Currently I'm battling with the indicators as they seem to have a mind of their own!