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Johns Roadster
jps - 15/2/18 at 12:33 PM

I've actually been chipping away at this build for a long time, and very sporadically updating my blog but am now going to try to get it complete before the proposed IVA emissions changes come in. Given I will actually be working quite a lot on it and hence will actually have regular updates - i thought it worth posting a build diary on here. (I do have a build thread on http://www.roadster-builders.co.uk/ but I think there's no-one using that now and likewise the Haynes forum is rather quiet)

I've used LCB extensively for info, both by endless searching but also posting plenty of questions (thankyou to all of you for the replies) so thought I'd postup onto here.

Here's some major steps picked out just to set the scene of where i've come from, and got to, with the project:

July 2012 - I bought a 'part done' project from a chap up in Norfolk. Not sure how long he'd had it, but he'd decided to sell up. I was told the chassis and wishbones/uprights were from Talon Motor Fabricationbut sadly had no paperwork to confirm. But the welding and measurements looked good. Although it rolled about there was still some fabrication to do.

You can see pics from collection here: A good start


A week later I went out to a little garage tucked away just off the A1 near Wyboston in Bedfordshire and picked up a 1.6 Ford Sierra aiming for a) as much stuff from one donor as possible and b) an age related reg plate.

Pics of the sale here: A willing donor

I then mostly got my workspace setup and pottered about wondering what the hell to do.

January 2013 I collected a full set of GRP bodywork from Equinox in Kent, bought mainly because it was a good price at the time. See: Bodywork collection

Then I faffed around quite a lot more, doing quite a bit of 'prototyping' - i.e. knocking things up that I knew I would not use - just to practice all the cutting and measuring and things. Probably worth it for practice but probably a bit of a waste of time too.

September 2013 I borrowed a MIG set and got help to get most of the chassis fabricating done (I thought!): 1st 'final' fabricating'

May-June 2014 I finally bought a MIG myself and then did more fabricating (but now I know not final!) before painting: 2nd 'final' fabricating

July/August 2014 The chassis got a coat of paint: Painting the chassis

October 2016 I shifted my project from my in-laws to my own house. A house I didn't own when I started the project and which, when I moved into it, a year into the project, had no garage and was half the size. A family home for me, my wife and my two small boys, who were not born when I made that trip to Norfolk in July 2012(see where the time went??!!).

October 2017I rivetted and bonded the internal panelling: Transmission tunnel side and bulkhead and then a few weeks later the floor panel. This really represented a big step. I think (hope?) I will never turn the chassis over again now!

February 2018 I'm currently working hard on getting the GRP bodywork fully prepared for fitting. I am nearly there, but have identified some MORE fabricating I need to do - to relocate the diagonal roll bar stays - but am really focussed now on getting this step complete. Wanting absolutely perfect panel gaps and alignment is not conducive to speed with this job, but it's something I won't compromise on. Fibreglass cutting ongoing


Of course, in and amongst these 'big steps' there has been lots of graft which takes time but doesn't give visible progress. But i've also gone at things very cautiously and probably made myself more work in doing so. I have also done plenty of random small jobs, and LOTS of putting things into the car and then back out again to position things, to make sure clearances are OK, etc, etc. I am hoping siome of this will pay off now as I put a big effort in to pushing on.

[Edited on 15/2/18 by jps]

[Edited on 15/2/18 by jps]

[Edited on 15/2/18 by jps]

[Edited on 15/2/18 by jps]


jps - 29/3/18 at 02:54 PM

Well, all the snow and some seasonal 'flu hasn't helped progress loads but I have got a few things done. Most satisfying is actually completing something (so many of the jobs keep going on and on!!), i've made a seat subframe from scratch and, today, got the drivers seat mounted. Just need to get the column and pedals in to fine tune the position but I only need to drill a pair of 8mm holes to change the mounting position!

There are a few photos on my blog

Other work has been ongoing but progress is all a bit random (I have to group together all the 'noisy' tasks for each Sunday morning because I am doing most work on the car starting at 4am before I go to work...) I'll post up the other things as i actually get jobs completed - I expect there's only so many "I cut another bit of fibreglass" updates people can tolerate when all they want to see is a picture of something actually looking done!!!


jps - 15/5/18 at 08:54 PM

Another (minor) milestone passed, i've stripped, cleaned up and painted my engine and gearbox . Tomorrow morning i'm getting an order finalised with Burton Power and once the gaskets arrive i'll be able to do the, rather more important, mechanical stuff!

[Edited on 15/5/18 by jps]


jps - 24/8/18 at 02:58 PM

I've found myself running out of space in the garage. This is partly because I have the wishbones, driveshafts, hubs, etc all laid out on a pallet on the floor. So, given the engine is nicely painted up and I have still been agonising over whether I have the 'E-max' engine or not (which determines if I can happily buy a 2.0ltr cambelt or not), I decided to finish off refurbing the back end running gear.

A few photos on my blog here...

LCB was, as always, great for advice on how to get the old bearing races out of the hub carriers (40 mins @ 200deg in a fan oven worked wonders), whether or not Hammerite was any good (I saw enough comments on here saying 'yes' to be convinced) and how to correct the hamfisted scoring I put into the hub carriers when I punched out the old races with a screwdriver... It was also on here that I saw a tip-off to get an electric impact driver from Lidl which has worked OK so far, and found someone with a better set of keywords to use to find the 'banana' washers I need for my CV joints. Hopefully i'll get the back end bolted up next week....


jps - 16/12/18 at 07:48 PM

A bit late in the write-up, I did finish off my rear hubs and get the diff & driveshafts all bolted up, in early Sept - and then get the whole car onto 4 wheels for the first time since 2012! It has cheered me up immensely about the whole job now it looks a bit more like a car!

A few pictures on my blog here


jps - 16/12/18 at 09:08 PM

Some slightly more recent work, i've done a few bits to get the engine and gearbox into a slightly better state than it was when it came from my donor and then fitted it into the chassis, so I can start positioning things more confident that they won't foul stuff...

A few pics

on my 'blog here


jps - 3/3/19 at 02:49 PM

Another step closer, my calipers are now all refurbed and ready for a final fit.

A few pictures on my blog here


James - 3/3/19 at 10:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jps
but am now going to try to get it complete before the proposed IVA emissions changes come in.



Glad to see you're cracking on apace.

I've been away for a while and hadn't heard this- sounds like bad news!

In brief, what are they changing?


jps - 4/3/19 at 09:40 AM

quote:
Originally posted by James
quote:
Originally posted by jps
but am now going to try to get it complete before the proposed IVA emissions changes come in.



Glad to see you're cracking on apace.

I've been away for a while and hadn't heard this- sounds like bad news!

In brief, what are they changing?


Short answer is "nothing". There were proposed changes which would have basically meant that older engines (like the Pinto i'm using) would have been judged against much more modern standards at IVA. Thankfully there was so much feedback to the consultation which opposed this that the proposal was dropped.


James - 4/3/19 at 11:35 AM

Good- thanks for that!


jps - 8/3/19 at 06:14 PM

Today i've put the repainted timing sprockets back on and (possibly!) refitted the timing belt. Some pictures on my blog here

Some sprockets had got moved about a bit since i'd taken the timing belt off - and (see here: https://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=212359) I am fairly sure that the old belt it was not set up exactly correctly when I removed it anyway.

So - as I have a completely standard engine - putting my trust in the TDC mark on the crank pulley and the advice about the keyways lining up vertically - I turned Number 1 piston to TDC and turned the cam sprocket to the TDC marker with both the inlet and exhaust valves closed. Then I made sure that the distributor arm was pointing at the Number 1 cylinder contact.

I *think* this is correct, my understanding being when number 1 piston is at the top of it's compression stroke both valves will be closed and the spark will be sparking (and the rest of the cylinders will synchronise accordingly)- but very happy to be corrected now if i've got this wrong!

[Edited on 8/3/19 by jps]


jps - 5/6/19 at 09:33 PM

The end of March saw me using up what was left on the years annual leave, and making a bit more progress with the car...

Clutch pedal/cable (hopefully!) done: Clutch part 1 and Clutch part 2

Coilovers specced, ordered, and partly fitted (with all the necessary final cuts to the bodywork identified and marked out!): Shocks

Front bulkhead cut to fit and (despite the lack of photo evidence) fully drilled, deburred and cleco'd in place: Bulkhead

I've also been grappling with the seat position/harnesses and the final lengths of tubing for the rear roll hoop. Pics, etc to follow!

[Edited on 5/6/19 by jps]


Elmof1 - 12/6/19 at 12:49 PM

Build is progressing well. good work


Abe - 12/6/19 at 09:19 PM

Good blog Enjoyed looking through that, keep up the good work mate.


jps - 10/2/20 at 12:21 PM

Well, the remainder of 2019 didn't work out the way it was supposed to. Unfortunately my mum passed away in the autumn after a rough few months. That coupled with a job change kept me out of the garage quite a bit, although I did occasionally chip away and make a bit more progress. However I am resolved to crack on so Dad can see the finished car whilst he is still about!

I am sure that everyone is the same in that, if doing a second car, the learning first time round would make things much quicker! I have found this most clearly with the fibreglass side panels on my roadster, specifically the cutouts to allow the front suspension to pass through. Finally though, I feel that i'm there, and barring any final tweaks once the steering rack position is corrected for bumpsteer, I am happy to now get the sides bonded on.

Blog post, with a few pictures, here.


big_wasa - 10/2/20 at 12:35 PM

Trust me, second or third build life just happens and gets in the way.


40inches - 10/2/20 at 04:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
Trust me, second or third build life just happens and gets in the way.

Perhaps a bit extreme, but my first was 18 months, the second 13 years


jps - 29/3/20 at 04:46 PM

As mentioned earlier - I have gradually worked away at the seats , making the subframes, mounting and positioning the seats, then cutting out the harness slots, all inter-linked with making up the rear rollhoop stays and cross bar .

And i've also bolted up the steering column in it's 'final' position.

I'm now a bit stuck on several fronts, as I want the welding on the rollhoop finished before I bond on the side panels (because I want the rollhoop doing insitu and the heat would probably cause problems given the proximity to the fibreglass), and much of what I want to do next is reliant on the side panels being finalised, to give definite reference points to the scuttle, nosecone, etc.

Hence I moved onto the braking system, and found out today that the front flexi-brackets are not going to work as is so will need to be remade...

[Edited on 29/3/20 by jps]


mtt mark - 30/3/20 at 06:47 AM

quote:
Originally posted by 40inches
quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
Trust me, second or third build life just happens and gets in the way.

Perhaps a bit extreme, but my first was 18 months, the second 13 years


Ha that's nothing, my brother bought a Westfield kit in 1999, and I built a gp4 escort rally car. Escort has done 20 years rallying, Westfield is almost finished.


jps - 12/4/20 at 02:40 PM

Hopefully this will prove to be the final installment on the pedals/pedalbox. All welding finished, stripped back to bare metal and repainted.

Blog post, with a few pictures, here.

A handbrake cable arrived from Classimo 2 days after ordering, and i'm just waiting on the arrival of a Fiat/Lanica brake proportioning valve (as commonly mentioned on here), which I am optimistic will prove OK at the IVA, before I start trying to finalise the brake system!


jps - 7/6/20 at 10:34 AM

On the whole this lockdown hasn't helped with progress, trying to fit in home-schooling and child entertainment as well as getting as much of my work done hasn't left much energy or free time.

But - I have finally settled on the rear upright orientation, driven mostly by the routing of the handbrake cable.
Blog post, with a few pictures, here.

For some variety I spent a bit of time making a bit more progress on the interior panels. I'm not happy with one of the pilot holes I have drilled in the main tunnel panel - so will be looking into how one 'moves' a hole a couple of mm to one side once the pilot hole is already drilled....
Blog post here, CAD process clearly documented!

Then, with a view that i'll be focussing on getting the braking system done next, I spent some time mocking up where the rear flexi lines will run. The brackets I originally welded in place are no good, but rather than weld new ones i'll using aluminium angle and rivet/bond them on. It's surprising how few pictures I could find showing how others have routed their flexi's with a disc brake rear end so here are mine!.

Most recently I have been trying to work out where to place the Fiat/Lancia/Lada brake proportioning valve. It's getting surprisingly busy in the right handside of the engine bay given the elongated clutch cable, and I have a plate with the VIN on it welded to the bulkhead immediately above the pedal box, so I think it'll have to mount it a bit higher up than I had hoped... Pics here

[Edited on 7/6/20 by jps]

[Edited on 7/6/20 by jps]


jps - 28/6/20 at 04:11 PM

Made a bracket for my brake proportioning valve, decided my first effort was rubbish, now halfway through mk2...
Blog post, with pics, here.



jps - 19/7/20 at 05:22 PM

After a bit more welding/grinding out/re-welding, i've got a bracket for my brake proportioning valve that i'm reasonably happy with, and which fits neatly into the space to the offside of the steering column. Still needs a coat of paint, but then i'm on to running some hard brake lines. Feels like a big step forward, given it shouldn't be that far from here, to having a working brake pedal. Eek!
Blog post, with pics, here.

I've also decided that I need to bite the bullet and just pay someone else to weld up my rollhoop, and modify my exhaust manifold, rather than kid myself i'll be welding at the standard i'd be happy with for those jobs in the foreseeable future...


jps - 31/7/20 at 05:33 PM

Inspired by Voucht on here/the Haynes forum, i'm going to remote mount the brake reservoir from my Sierra donor, using the same sort of bracket/mount folded from alu sheet. Blog post, with pics, here.

Getting pretty close to the point of plumbing a brake system now, can't put it off for much longer!


jps - 26/8/20 at 08:35 PM

Over the last couple of weeks I finally sorted out for a local fabricator to weld up the rollhoop. Cue some frantic evenings of doing the final bits of prep as best I could (grinding out some old welds - not *all* my work! - that really didn't look good enough), and getting the car stripped down as much as I could - to avoid any risk of things getting damaged whilst it was being worked on...

Blog post, with pics, here.

In other "two steps forward/one step back" news, I decided to cut off the front flexi brackets and grind everything back to flush, so I can re-position them. mk2 flexi brackets will be aluminium angle riveted/bonded in place - after some searching on here demonstrated plenty of other people have gone about things this way....


jps - 31/8/20 at 12:44 PM

No pictures, but I’ve stripped the front suspension off again this weekend and touched up various bits of the front end of the chassis, where it had been scuffed. I had a leftover spraycan of POR Blackcote, which was the original topcoat for my chassis, which looks to have worked out ok. But once the side panels are bonded on I expect any touch ups will need to be by brush.

I can see it being an ongoing issue, so interested how others deal with this. I’m inclined just to use a basic black gloss paint from Screwfix/B&Q or similar...


jps - 18/9/20 at 08:50 AM

As always - one step forward/two steps back...

Having touched up the front end, I then scratched some of my fresh new paint - filing away at the steering column extension where it just makes contact with the chassis rail! I will replace the extension section anyway, in such a way it doesn't make contact, but had wanted to avoid rubbing off the new paint before I do that. Ho hum...

Then I spent a good few hours taking the advice from the thread on touching up the chassis, and have comprehensively rubbed down the visible chassis rails in the cockpit area, and made a start of priming with red oxide. Hopefully i'll get that finished, and some top coat on, this weekend.

Edging ever closer to bonding on side panels...!


ianhurley20 - 19/9/20 at 08:32 AM

quote:
Originally posted by jps
No pictures, but I’ve stripped the front suspension off again this weekend and touched up various bits of the front end of the chassis, where it had been scuffed. I had a leftover spraycan of POR Blackcote, which was the original topcoat for my chassis, which looks to have worked out ok. But once the side panels are bonded on I expect any touch ups will need to be by brush.

I can see it being an ongoing issue, so interested how others deal with this. I’m inclined just to use a basic black gloss paint from Screwfix/B&Q or similar...


I agree with your choice of touch up paint - I used Aldi black rust prevention paint which I now use instead of Hammerite as it costs pence and does just as good a job. Keep going, one day it will be nearly finished (they never are fully finished )

[Edited on 19/9/20 by ianhurley20]


jps - 23/10/20 at 11:13 AM

Well, i've initiated my own version of the 'Which paint is best' adverts that appear in Practical Classics/etc. Although I don't plan on blasting my car with salt water if I can avoid it...

From the edge of the scuttle forward, the existing POR-15 and POR-15 Blackcote has been sprayed over with an additional couple of coats of BlackCote. Finish remains about as even as it was before - not very. But at least everything is covered. (*Edit - apart from the bit I scratched with a file after I had painted it - AAAGGHH! This'll be touched up...)

All of the visible parts of the chassis in the cockpit (also with existing POR-15 and Blackcote) have been rubbed back to flat, primed with two coats of Screwfix red oxide then top coated with at least two coats of B&Q Fortress Metal paint. All done by brush - first a cheap one, then (lesson learnt!) a more expensive 'Harris' brush.

Having to apply paint outside, and so dodging showers/high winds/cold weather on the odd days I get time to work on the car, means it really has taken the best part of 8 weeks to get this finished.

I'll get some pictures up on my 'blog soon, but will be putting the side panels back on this weekend to drill for rivets/etc - and hopefully to do final cuts to allow the front brake flexi's to be fitted up.

[Edited on 23/10/20 by jps]

[Edited on 23/10/20 by jps]


Deckman001 - 23/10/20 at 12:02 PM

Hi ya,

Now's a good time to get your chassis number sorted and welded into your car ? ( Unless you already have one that is )

Jason


jps - 23/10/20 at 01:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Deckman001
Hi ya,

Now's a good time to get your chassis number sorted and welded into your car ? ( Unless you already have one that is )

Jason


Cheers - did that in 2013! When i first painted the chassis!


jps - 7/11/20 at 09:00 PM

Finally got round to adding a 'blog post with some pictures of the chassis re-painting here.

[Edited on 7/11/20 by jps]


jps - 7/11/20 at 09:54 PM

After cutting off the welded on brackets for the flexi brake lines - which were too close to the suspension brackets - i've made some which will be riveted and bonded on. I've also re-done the bracket which will hold the brake reservoir, having tried swaging some holes on Mk1 bracket, it was looking a bit tired... A few pictures here.

Having lined up the new brake line brackets, I then had to open up the GRP side panel which I think went pretty well. Pictures here.


jps - 17/1/21 at 09:20 PM

The culmination of a few hours grabbed here and there over the last few weeks, i've just got the inner cable to shorten (haven't decided whether to join in the middle, with some wire clamps, or fit a new 'hook' on the end) and some rivuts to fix, but the handbrake cable routing looks to be sorted out. A few pictures here.

[Edited on 17/1/21 by jps]


jps - 19/10/21 at 08:48 PM

More 'one step forward - two steps back' having thought i’d got everythng lined up, but not committed to drilling the necessary holes at the time... But now it's done and i've got the rear, and front, flexi-brake line brackets fixed in place, the p-clips to secure the handbrake cable in place and the rear end of the chassis mostly repainted. A few pictures here.

Over the last few months I've also re-done my drivers seat subframe, and will add some pics of that shortly. It's all progress, albeit slow...

[Edited on 20/10/21 by jps]