My rebuild

[Storer]

She is away for paint now. Probably about 6 weeks before she is back.

I have spent a lot of time on the bodywork. I have made a few changes and the number of times I have trial fitted panels only to find they are not quite right and had to remove them for more work, I have lost count of.

Stripped the seats (I am going to repaint them) and made a new plywood board to go behind them so they are off to the trimmers next week.

The guy painting my old girl has got an Austin 7 he is working on for Tony Dron and a lovely little Alfa 2 litre V8 mid engined sports car (worth seven figures apparently). She should be in good hands.

When she's back she will be off to the trimmers for the dash and doors to be trimmed. I am resigned to the fact that she won't be finished until next year at this rate. But I am still enjoying the experience.

I think I am going to have a go at sorting the engine myself next. I am trying to do as much as possible myself. I find I am learning all the time and enjoying the experience.


Paul

PS. Got to sort the electronic dash before the trimmers. A little advice required.

I find that as the years pass I need glasses for close up work these days and I am not sure I will be able to read a pure digital dash. I wanted an AIM but not sure if I will be able to read it without glasses (which I don't need for anything over about 1m away). I am now thinking an SPA will be a better bet despite not being able to give me all the info I was hoping for.

Any thoughts?

Edited by Storer on Sunday 18th September 21:49

[Storer]

Being a sad git Steve I was hopeing for some element of lap timing and also being able to fit it to receive inputs via can-bus from the ECU.

Have you experience of the SPA dash?


Paul

[Storer]

Hi Keith.

Have you fitted the SPA yet and if so how was it wired?

There is a much smaller gap between body and sidepod now and getting in behind to rivet a plate on would be a bu**er of a job now the top of the centre section is fitted!



Paul

[Storer]

Thanks for the info Keith. I will give him a call.


Paul

[Storer]

I have spent a bit of time sorting the mounting of the aircon compressor and alternator myself. It took a fair bit of research but the saving was worth it I think.



The parts are either home made by myself or from the states and are used on other GM engine fitments.

Paul

[Storer]

Two steps forward and one back!

I fitted the door windows and windscreen yesterday. The windscreen was fine but I was not happy with the door perspex. I should have bitten the bullet last night and removed them but instead I thought I could fix things (without removal) today.

Big mistake!

In the light of a new day I decided they had to come off again. The bonding agent sticks like st in 12 hours flat. Suffice to say new perspex and a partial door respray now required. Bu**er!

A bottle of wine tonight to ease the pain.

Hopefully a better day tomorrow...................please.


Paul

[Storer]

No Dom, I think I will stick with silver and black/cf (for now).

Slightly better day today. Started badly with the centre console not fitting between the seats. I tried it before the car went to the trimmers and it was fine but once the carpets (up the sides as well as floor) and leather was fitted, it fouled on the driver's seat.
There was no alternative but to remove the leather and CF and modify the ally underneath to give more space. I managed to refit the CF and replace most of the leather before calling it a day.

Got to do a bit of pa pier-mache at the weekend to model the SPA dash and Ford indicator surround. I knew watching Blue Peter all those years ago would come in handy one day.

Paul

[Storer]

Gosh! What a blast from the past....

I suspect if you look at my other posts after the last post on that thread you will find more of the rebuild.

It is over 4 years since I finished (if an Ultima is ever finished) the rebuild. It has completed 4 trips to Le Mans and back and covered over 11500 miles. I have had to repair the rear clip after a slight mishap, replaced the front clip with a modified one, fuel supply modifications etc. etc.





As I said at the start of that thread it was not going to be a build site, which is why you need to look at other threads I started for more information.

She is fun and not just for me. It turns heads wherever it goes, especially in France and most people like it.


Paul

[Storer]

Thanks. I still find it fun/an event to go out in. I also like making the upgrades/modifications.


Paul

[Storer]

Another plus point is servicing.
My car cost about £225 this year including plugs and leads.

My Le Mans companion this year spent over £1500 on a water pump, 2 lower wishbones and a tyre on his 911 before our trip!!! In fact he wouldn't tell me how much it cost.

.


Paul