Mev Exo-Eco

[Steffan]

edvb1 said:

Mistrale

I needed to put the radiator in front to fit the side cases. So this has a lot of modifications done to it to make everything work correctly.

I also kind of wanted a formula front end look verses the stock look and think I pulled it off.

Balance is the key but it sure takes a lot of time and trial and error to get to that point.

This probably would push the cost past what Scott feels is the sweet spot so I do not see him pursuing in this redesign.

It is something I wanted in my retirement vehicle so I put my sweat & equity into overdrive to get where I am now.

Edward

Edited by edvb1 on Monday 26th May 20:14

And a very worhwhile it has proved to be. I have been retired for some years and still build five kit cars a year. It does get easier with having solved the problems once but I still get flummoxed over things from time toi time especially with getting the injection systems to fire up. ECU's are not intuitive programming for Accountants.

I would expect you to get huge enjoyment from such an unusual and individual machine. My experience over umpteen years is that everybody likes the unusual individual cars. Enjoy the experience: your considerable efforts deserve reward. I find the camaraderie very encouraging at the various venues up and down the country and have done so for years. So much to see and admirecand try to equal as other new vehicles come along. It's a great hobby! And yours is an excellent build.

[edvb1]

Steffan

Wow! thanks for all the praise on my project. I hope it all turns out the way I dreamt it to be.

Even at the very end I had some setbacks.

The manufacture of my front shocks decided it was not cost effective after 7 week wait time and told me when I called they were not going to build them for me.

The Power Commander fuel module to correct the lean mixture with my new exhaust had the wrong plugs installed.

My fuel pump was shot so I could not do my startup last weekend.

The person at DOT was on vacation this week so that delays the registration process.

The good part is I found another manufacture that cares about my project and will build a pair of shocks within 3 weeks.

I have everything set to mail to the DOT to start the registration process.

I should know soon if I won my bid on the fuel pump I needed.

The Power Commander will work with my year Burgman 400 and I am working with the manufacturer to find the best way to correct the connector issue.

I am sure you have had your own issues but at 61+ you tend to mellow out a little.

Edward

[edvb1]

Well the big day arrived. I got my parts in today after wiring in the emergency jump/charger cable.

I installed the new fuel pump and adjusted the float so the gas gauge read correctly.

I ran the pump a few times to clean out any bad fuel at the line that connects to the throttle body. I connected the line to the throttle body and tightened the Allen bolts.

I purged the coolant line of any air bubbles and filled the overflow tank halfway up.

So here we go. Am I shocked! You bet your bottom as someone was looking out for me this day.

Edward

Part One
https://www.flickr.com/photos/18457639@N04/1431669...

Part Two
https://www.flickr.com/photos/18457639@N04/1431358...

[Steffan]

As I said earlier an absolutely superb build and presentation you could easily do that for a living. Then again perhaps not easily because there is as you know one he'll of a lot f work involved. The results are a tribute to your skill and your obvious focus on getting the presentation you wanted. Well done indeed.

I am not an expert on MSVA being mainly interested in four wheel cars with passenger spece inside. However I am still looking for a Berekely three wheeler I have had several and want another with a lightweight high power engine and all modern suspension. SWMBO would not take kindly to being left behind so a sinlge seater would be acquired at my peril. When you have my history for ruining marriages its s not worth the rsk. But as a proect that really is a credit to you. Well done again. How long will it be before we see the car on the road?

[edvb1]

Hi Stefan

It should be registered and on the road by the end of the month.

[Steffan]

edvb1 said:

Hi Stefan

It should be registered and on the road by the end of the month.

Excellent result. I assume it is MSVA and best of luck to you. That is a very nicely constructed and well finished car. I hope you get hours of fun from it and really enjoy the car you built. Well dove again.

[edvb1]

Thanks Stefan

Finally the Eco Exo R is totally finished and ready for inspection. Here are the final pictures and a quick video walk around.

I took it for a short spin and everything checks out and works great.

I started around Feb 10 2013 and finished today so that took about 14 months to complete.

I have my fingers crossed for the inspection that I am scheduling tomorrow.

Edward

https://www.flickr.com/photos/18457639@N04/1444263...


IMG_2395 by evanbelkom, on Flickr

IMG_2394 by evanbelkom, on Flickr


IMG_2393 by evanbelkom, on Flickr

IMG_2392 by evanbelkom, on Flickr

IMG_2391 by evanbelkom, on Flickr

IMG_2390 by evanbelkom, on Flickr

IMG_2389 by evanbelkom, on Flickr

IMG_2388 by evanbelkom, on Flickr

Edited by edvb1 on Sunday 15th June 22:05

[qdos]

Hope the inspection goes well, that really does look excellent!

[batbuilder92]

Excellent build, but what we really want to know ......Did it pass???

[edvb1]

Still waiting for the inspection date

[edvb1]

Tomorrow at 9:00AM the Trooper is coming to my house for the inspection. Fingers crossed it all goes well.

[rix]

No experience of kits and absolutely no engineering experience but this has really caught my eye!

A bit o/t but what is it about kits that prevent them from being a Lego kit? I always read these stories of various bits needing to be fabricated, redesigned, bodged! Is it that kit builders like things to be bespoke to their kit? I could handle a set of spanners but these things seem to be somewhat more involved!

[batbuilder92]

In the UK kit cars must be have an IVA test done at a VOSA test centre or in this case as the vehicle is a light car ( under 500kg) a MSVA ( motorcycle SVA) test done by VOSA as well. This is quite stringent.
In the good old days they just required an MOT test but that has not been the case for around 10+ years. In other countries different rules apply, in the US each state has its own regulations, I believe.
Is it more like Meccano than Lego, and generally there is a lot of bracket making and getting things to fit that will provide sleepless nights and eureka moments.
The MEV Exo-eco looks good, especially as a first build because:

It is small and can be built in a single garage
It is relatively cheap for the kit
It is single donor (a suzuki bergmann)
It require the cheaper MSVA test in the UK.
Bodywork is minimal and does not require painting.


If I had not built an MEV etrike I would have done one of these ( and still might).

[Sat351]

Most kit cars seem to be Lego builds, bits here and there, but mostly this is because the builder wants to be individual and wants to change things as they go, which is great as they get a chance to do some R&D and design work without having to mess with the basic design and chassis structure etc,

The Eco-Exo is as basic as they come and very simple to screw together,

Keep you eyes pealed as there is some new ideas coming soon,

[rix]

Interesting! Maybe my dad would like a project in his retirement (and he has owned a Bergman in the past!)

[edvb1]

The trike passed inspection today. No defects could be found. He thought it was one of the best he has ever seen in the six years he was doing this full time. That felt pretty good coming from someone that is strictly by the book.

Edward

[batbuilder92]

Congratulations Edward, go out there and enjoy.

( What is your next build going to be?)

[qdos]

Well done Ed, you should be very proud of your new machine and rightly so. I'd love to see it on the road.

[Steffan]

edvb1 said:

The trike passed inspection today. No defects could be found. He thought it was one of the best he has ever seen in the six years he was doing this full time. That felt pretty good coming from someone that is strictly by the book.

Edward

An excellent and not unexpected result in view of the outstanding quality of the build that Edward manage to achie no doubt with a great deal of appliication and hard work. I absolutely agree with the various comments on this thread of just how unusually well pressented this car is and the quality does shine throughout the detailing. I find the testers really are appriciative of well built cars and I can only admire the efforts of the OP in building an outstanding three wheeler.

I would be interested to hear the OP's estimate of the overall costs. It's a corking result and the OP can rightly be proud of his efforts. Well done indeed. All credit to MEV and Stuart Mills for the original design and kit production this is an excellent good looking and very different kit car. I hope the OP gets years of enjoyment he certainly deserves the praise.

[Woody]

Nice work - enjoy!
Looking forward to your thoughts & impressions of ride/handling etc.