Mikeb's Builds Thread

[adrianreeve]

Mike

No idea if the engine runs, only just wired the megasquirt up, and still waiting for an exhaust, but if it's a duffer, I know where you live!!! Sure it'll be fine, it's unusual for them to wear out. Hope so, cos like you said, trying to find a pre 95 one is getting really hard!

[MikeB]

Did some more welding on the chassis including tacking the the steering rack frame mounts on. I'm sure there is a dimension wrong in the book for the steering rack mount spacing

Got bored with welding so made some interior panels out of the ally I had knocking around the garage, it will be more difficult to cut once the build table has gone so a good job out of the way just need to order a new peice for the floor and bulkhead. I used a jig saw with a ali blade in it (I think wood blades work ok to) this seems to give a nice neat cut and a lot better than the angry grinder or aviation sheers.



I found this picture of my old chassis just after I sold it, a lesson to all if you have to sell up keep your chassis somewhere for the amount of cash you get for it you might want to build again. The good news is I'm nearlly back to where I was!

[MarkB]

Wood blades in a jig saw work well on ali, fine blades just clog up that's why angle grinders and cuttings discs are no good. Pendennis use what look like small woodsaw blades in 4" angle grinders, now they are scary things to use

[ozzy1]

I'm sure there is a dimension wrong in the book for the steering rack mount spacing

I think there is an amendment from the book angle to 108' i recall.

[MikeB]

its not the angle, your right there is a mod for that, its the spacing between holes, .

[MikeB]

Chassis chassis, oh chassis, hope your happy now that you nearlly b*****y finished.
Well there we have it, chassis number 2 finished. A massive milestone. Really looking forward to the next phase of the build, a lot less angle grinding and welding. I'm proud having done the chassis but its a long slog!

Painted it with epoxy mastic from rustbuster, just used the cheapy spray gun that came with my compressor, it looks good. The standard finish is a gloss black, I bought the starter pack but will need another to do underneath and a second coat. I used some wet and dry/wire wool to rub down the chassis finished with a wiper over of thinners, note to self don't leave a big roll of wire wool around when grinding, well that is if you value your garage!!!!


IMAG0224 by mjb22001, on Flickr

IMAG0218 by mjb22001, on Flickr

IMAG0219 by mjb22001, on Flickr
I've also added a second plate for the zetec engine install after IVA from recollection its in the right place so should save me welding come upgrade.
I notched the top rail to clear the cvh thermo housing and added a 25mm rail behind the notched one to add the strength back into the chassis.
I've also left off two of the diaganols at the rear to fit a bigger fuel tank, the roll bar rails will add the necessary support in this area, its pretty tough as is!

[MikeB]

Talking about carbon wings, forgot to say I have got these beauties.


IMAG0225.jpg by mjb22001, on Flickr

They are very very light (not that FG weighs much) and they look niceeeeeeee.
There's a guy on locostbuilders that makes them.
I believe they retail around £170- £200 for fronts.

[baz-r]

Originally Posted by MarkB

Wood blades in a jig saw work well on ali

i use cutting fluid for drilling and jigsawing ali works wounders and cuts like lighting

cooling with duck oil/wd40 also works as when the blade gets hot the alli welds its self to the blade keep the blade cool and the sh1t dont stick simples

i got air shears tho

[MarkB]

Another neat trick is a dry bar of soap rubbed on the blade... works on grinding discs too so ali doesn't clog the disc..

[John.W]

Another neat trick is to buy a cutting disc for aluminium.