A Few Progress Photos...

A Few Progress Photos...

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Builder

Original Poster:

1,225 posts

243 months

Friday 5th October 2007
quotequote all
crafty said:
I'd suggest making a removable panel with all the gauges and switches in it like I did - it will make your life a WHOLE lot easier.... esp if (when?) something goes wrong. I made mine out of black perspex, and built the front of the dash out to make a recess... you can see below how the leather tucks in behind the perspex.

If you are going the racecar look with no dash covering, you could make the removable panel in alloy and get it powdercoated matt black.
You did a beautiful job, Grant. Mine will be much more simple. Perhaps in the future I will make some mods to the dash. For now, the instruments go right into the existing fiberglass with no other panels or covering.

I really like the removable panel idea. That will be my first dash mod down the road.

Test fitting the fuel filters and pumps...



Edited by Builder on Friday 5th October 05:51

crafty

2,291 posts

238 months

Friday 5th October 2007
quotequote all

.... if you are thinking of doing it in the future, save yourself the nightmare and do it now.

1. You can try different layouts if you use a panel. I drew dozens of layouts in CAD and decided which one I liked. Then I made the panel and installed it and I didnt like it... so I made a new panel. It wasnt until I put them in place that I could see the issues.
2. You can pull the wiring through the gauge hole to hook up the gauges and extend the loom where necessary - but trying to put the brackets on the gauges is a complete nightmare in the standard setup
3. There are the obvious advantages of being able to pull the panel out when things dont work.

Builder

Original Poster:

1,225 posts

243 months

Friday 5th October 2007
quotequote all
I hear'ya... If I "F" it up with my first design, I will end up making the removable panel. Looks like it's going to be okay. Still, it's tempting.

How did you anchor the removable part?

crafty

2,291 posts

238 months

Friday 5th October 2007
quotequote all
I added two layers.. I did this because I needed the dash a bit wider on the passenger side in order to fit the head unit over to the left otherwise it was hitting the AC ducting. The dash is tapered, so by bringing the face out about 25mm I got the extra width I needed.

Because I was covering mine, I did it in MDF board and glassed it in.

If you were doing a stripped out version without the dash cover I suppose you could just put rivnuts in the original dash.

Hope these sketches explain it adequately.... Im sure others will agree that getting to the dash later (and even during fitting and shakedown) is a pain in the ass.




Builder

Original Poster:

1,225 posts

243 months

Friday 5th October 2007
quotequote all
Okay, yes. I see how you've built it out. Future ass pains noted...no doubt.

I am going to print (plot) my dash 1:1 scale and use that as my template, then see what challenges are presented to make a removable panel. If it's not a big deal, I will make it.

Since I am not covering the dash, I don't want an unfinished edge around the panel. Perhaps the edges would look okay if routed (fillet or chamfer) and flamed. Maybe I can find an affordable carbon sheet. Man, that stuff is $$$$.

Builder

Original Poster:

1,225 posts

243 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
When the instruments get here, I will make a cardboard dash panel and see how everything fits. That will tell me if I can make the panel removable.

With a little "kitty hair" and Bondo, the dash crack is now as smooth as (fill in the blank)...



This battery cutoff is from Watson's Street Works and is designed to work with a remote control.


The in-line fuel pumps are Walbro 255 lph. The lower filters are 100 micron Peterson AN-6. These will feed into a Y-block and a 45 micron filter into a regulator. The LS7 has a "returnless" fuel rail, so the fuel will go out of the regulator pressure guage port to the rail. The return line comes out of the bottom of the regulator and will be split to both tanks using the upper -6 port by the filler. The bottom edge of the pump is just above the bottom edge of the chassis.

Builder

Original Poster:

1,225 posts

243 months

Thursday 18th October 2007
quotequote all
Engine bay getting closer...


Screens going in. Must be almost ready to drive!!!


Edited by Builder on Thursday 18th October 16:41

Builder

Original Poster:

1,225 posts

243 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Had to do it. I wanted to check the engine bay for obstructions and get some pictures as reference to locate peripherals moving forward...










Steve_D

13,751 posts

259 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
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Scott
This has got to stop.



Put down your tools and go install some lights in that fabulous workshop then you, and we, will be able to see what the hells going on in there.

Steve

Builder

Original Poster:

1,225 posts

243 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Steve_D said:
Put down your tools and go install some lights in that fabulous workshop then you, and we, will be able to see what the hells going on in there.

Steve
Ha! This weekend is my last intructing weekend at the track for the season. I am not going anywhere, or doing anything else, until it is running.

I will try to illuminate the photos a little more. My low-light vision is getting really good! Pretty soon, I will be able to work with no light at all. wink

San Diego GTR

469 posts

208 months

Saturday 20th October 2007
quotequote all
Scott,
Ditto on the lighting. It looks like you're on some sort of movie set or something.

What are you planning for the rear trans mount? I had to fabricate one but I was wondering if you had another solution.

Also, where are you mounting your dry sump? I've mounted mine about 5" behind the a/c dryer and it seems to fit well and keeps the lines as short as possible.
Paul

Edited by San Diego GTR on Saturday 20th October 21:20

Crazy of Cookham

740 posts

256 months

Monday 22nd October 2007
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Interesting to dry fit engine so early on im build. Did you really go to the trouble of putting on the gearbox as well? cannot see how it would have gone in otherwise. Just put mine back in over weekend and not a job I would choose to do too often!

Builder

Original Poster:

1,225 posts

243 months

Monday 22nd October 2007
quotequote all
Crazy of Cookham said:
Interesting to dry fit engine so early on im build. Did you really go to the trouble of putting on the gearbox as well? cannot see how it would have gone in otherwise. Just put mine back in over weekend and not a job I would choose to do too often!
Yes, the trans is bolted to the engine, but no clutch or starter with the test fit. It doesn't take long with the engine hoist...maybe half an hour. The adapter plate is bolted to the trans. I guess this won't be possible with the actual install. For the test fit, it's really only two pieces...engine and trans.

There are a few items I wanted to test for; trans mounts, dry-sump oil lines, fuel balance pipe, shift cable lengths, throttle cable length, trans fluid pump and cooler location...

Builder

Original Poster:

1,225 posts

243 months

Monday 22nd October 2007
quotequote all
Is there any reason not to panel this part of the chassis (red area)? I want to use these spots to mount some stuff.

Thanks!

-- Scott



bluesatin

3,114 posts

273 months

Monday 22nd October 2007
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Crazy

Surprised you did not get those friendly people from Wooburn mill to help you. Takes about 2 hours all in!

bluesatin

3,114 posts

273 months

Monday 22nd October 2007
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Crazy

Surprised you did not get those friendly people from Wooburn mill to help you. Takes about 2 hours all in!

Crazy of Cookham

740 posts

256 months

Wednesday 24th October 2007
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Blue. Yes did it over Sat as back on road for Sunday. Two hours!!!, Clutch through to road including suspension rebuild, and reline brakes, I don't think so. Have you been practicing clutch changes for Le Mans.

bluesatin

3,114 posts

273 months

Wednesday 24th October 2007
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3 people and it take no time!

k wright

1,039 posts

260 months

Thursday 25th October 2007
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If you have a cable shifter you can use the factory oil tank for the dry sump, make sure that you specify if you want something other than -12 fittings on your return line.

Yes, paneling the above mentioned areas does add to the places that you can mount things to.

Builder

Original Poster:

1,225 posts

243 months

Thursday 25th October 2007
quotequote all
Thanks, Ken. The trans has fluid spray bars pointed at the gears which use an external pump and cooler. This area will be used to mount them.