Battery tray supports made from right-angle steel. I'm using Cleko-Locs to temporarily hold them in place, which will eventually be replaced with rivnuts.
The battery tray from the 414.
I've mounted the battery as far to the rear as possible, so that the handbrake cable can run across in front of it.
10/04/05
After reading David Golightly's article about seats on his Onyx Firefox Clubsport build diary, I've decided to have a go at building my own seats. This should save a fair amount of weight and will allow a flatter, straight-legged driving position (which should please my Chiropractor).
To make them, I ordered a full sheet of 1.6mm aluminium from Resurgem Engineering (the most friendly and helpful company I've dealt with in ages). The sheet was then cut by them into 4 pieces and the two sides of each piece were folded to make 4 large "channel" sections as below.
The aluminium channel as received from Resurgem Engineering.
Two pieces were then cut out of the sides.
After heating the aluminium across the fold line, the seats were bent into position. The triangular off-cuts are riveted in place to hold the sides in the new position.
A bit of trimming and shaping produced the finished basic shell.
17/04/05
This afternoon's job is to remove the engine and gearbox, then separate them so that I can check the condition of the clutch.
Ready to lift.
The clutch was in very good condition - it had obviously been replaced fairly recently. The clutch pivot arm was rather dry and stiff, so that was stripped, cleaned and greased. I should have some spare time in the evenings this week, so I hope to have everything back together by next weekend.
18/04/05
With the engine and 'box out of the way, I made a new brake pipe for the N/S/F. The new, lower engine mountings brought the upper gearbox selector arm very close to the top of the subframe where I'd originally routed the pipe. It's now mounted to the front of the chassis.
24/04/05
I did indeed manage to get the engine and 'box back in during the week. I've also ordered the extra-long battery leads I'll require and a custom-made aluminium fuel tank. Hopefully, I'll get the engine running before I go on holiday.
The new seats bolted in place. They are already surprising rigid. I'll add two vertical bars to the seat backs, which will be braced to the upper rear chassis rail and/or the roll bar. Cushions will be made from 40mm firm foam and covered in vinyl. Titanfast trim has been added to the edge of the driver's seat. I didn't have enough for the passenger's seat, so that has been added to my Stoneleigh shopping list.
The new, lower seats meant that I had to alter the position of the instrument cluster again. With that done, I routed the speedometer cable to the engine bay. For ease of access, I didn't want the cable going through the fibreglass scuttle panel, so it goes through the top right corner of the O/S/F bulkhead. There was just enough room to fit it between the throttle pedal and the brake/clutch pedal box.
07/05/05
I had a very enjoyable day at Stoneleigh last Sunday. Saw lots of great cars, met some old and new friends and managed to get everything on my shopping list, including some good bargains. Highlight of the day was being hurled round the local roads in Clem Robertson's Cosworth-powered Quantum Xtreme. Flippin' heck, that car is quick! Right then, back to reality...
Time to sort out a fuel system. With the help of those nice chaps at Millard's, I found a suitable small fuel filter with 8mm push-on fittings (a Purolator F67221). It's held in place with two 51mm tool clips. I've also made a small bracket (arrowed) to hold the handbrake cable away from the fuel pipes. The boot floor panel has been modified to fit on top of the chassis members, rather than underneath them.
The fuel supply and return pipes and the handbrake cables all clipped in place. I've christened this area "The Snake Pit".
Another view of The Snake Pit