While I have yet to purchase them, I have at least chosen my wheels.
I will be going for a set of 17in BRM style from Image Wheels
Probably 8in front, 10in rear although that is subject to change, just short of £2000 with all the options I want. Best get saving…
Picked up a fabricated original style pedal box, off either a CAV or SPF I believe.
Removed the front roll cage and trial fitted the dashboard
I’ve got one vent to go in
Worried at first it was too large assuming the back of the dash fitted to the flange but realised after seeing some other dashboards that the centre only pokes through.
I have 3 of the gauges to go in
Along with the tacho
Holes for the smaller gauges will be cut by forstner bit to 50mm then enlarged as required with gentle sanding.
This btw is my forstner bit
I do have one ‘slight’ issue that the tacho is designed to be driven from an 8cyl engine and 1UZ-FE is run as two 4 cyl engines. If I was just to plug it in I will under read by 1/2. I don’t see this as an issue as I plan on mostly running the instruments via CAN-BUS with an adapter, it’ll need some custom circuitry but someone helpfully pointed out the other day that one-off circuit boards can be had from $10 for 10.
Fitted the Corsa ‘B’ EPAS column
Along with the steering rack.
Need to drill the chassis for the lower rack mounts but want to ensure I’ve got no bump steer first.
Also need the drop link altered and at some point to sort out the connection between the Corsa EPAS and the steering wheel!
I picked up some ‘cheap’ hartwell latches off ebay, brand new. Liquidation / Ex-MOD sale, very pricey when new.
They’re not the same as original, a bit too long and narrow.
They are *very* nice however and at £25 a set of 4 though I figured it was worth a punt.
I wasn’t planning on getting an engine quite so early in the build but I made a silly offer that was accepted.
So I’m now the proud owner of a 90k 1991 Lexus/Toyota 1UZ-FE, as standard power output is 191 kW (256 hp), torque of 353 N·m (260 ft·lbf). A bit more should be released with a decent exhaust but I’m not after massive power, it should do nicely for now.
So with only a little bit of pain it was squeezed into the Mondeo of many miles.
Then with a tiny bit more grief and a bit of help unloaded and dropped into the car.
The engine actually wants to go back about 3cm and the viscous fan coupling will be removed so there is plenty of room at the front, no bulkhead bulge required.
Doesn’t sit too high in the rear view either, although the Lexus badge will have to go!
Mount points on the engine (4 bolt holes roughly centre of image) line up pretty nicely to those on the chassis (black thing sticking out at the bottom of the image).
The oil filter (left of that image) will have to be relocated as it sticks into the chassis. Not sure what to do with the oil/water cooler (pipe coming out of the side of the block).
Only issue with the fitment is that the rear exhaust outlet is *very* close to the chassis, I may have to modify it slightly.
I have a gearbox.
It’s an Audi 01E out of a Skoda Superb 2.5TDI. Bit manky at the moment but should clean up nicely.
Seems I’ve been rather slack with my updates. Fear not, the car on the other hand has progressed quite a bit.
Right hand side wheel arch.
Front panelling.
Left hand side wheel arch
Rear bulkhead
Right sill
Right rear sill
Left sill
Left sill side
