Vixen - body mods - advice and guidance
Discussion
Dear all,
I am making slow but steady progress on my Vixen teardown and rebuild. I am starting to research ‘improvements’ to the body so if the purists could bear with me, I would appreciate advice and guidance on possible mods to the Vixen body.
[apologies to those that own the pictures that I have used below ......]
Roof line leading edge
Steve Joyce has been super helpful guiding me on modifications to the roof line leading edge. As I understand it, at speed the leading edge of the roof can flex with the risk that the glass can become dislodged. I believe the usual fix is to stiffen the roof line leading edge (with a strip of steel or wood?) and then hide this inside of the headliner. Here is a picture of my roof. Does anyone have advice on whether the strengthening should be on the leading edge (ahead of the thick strengthening line – see picture) or after the strengthening line? Does anyone have a picture of the modification before the headline is fixed in place?
Footwell vents
There are two tubes from the engine bay into the footwells. I guess these were coupled with a louvred vent in the car (my interior was stripped before I received the car so have no history to see). Is there any merit in keeping this, don’t you get just hot air from the engine bay? What have others done?
Bonnet and valance
I have had a suggestion that I consider having a lightweight bonnet made? Is there really much weight saving to be made? It is true that the bonnet is pretty hefty but does not seem worth it to me. Any views?
What is the consensus on a chin valance? How much air gets under the front of the car and does it make the car unstable at speed? Here is a good example I like but I guess this is going to take a lot of work to build. I have heard that other builders have used an MGB valance and then worked from there. Is this worth the effort?
Fuel tank protection
I am not keen on the idea of using the fuel tank as a rear crumple zone. The good news is that I already have a new fuel tank but think that some rear protection is needed. There is a fellow in Canada who has done some impressive work on his 5000M. Does anyone have any examples and picture of having done this on a Vixen?
Roll cage
This should be a ‘must’. I see the advice that Caged is the best place to buy the roll cage (any other advice?) but would appreciate some advice on the best design? The roll cage above has one horizontal bar which is good for the harness straps but I guess is not as strong as a diagonal bar. Here is another example from Neil / Heightswitch and someone else.
Actually, I would have thought that the design should be an X but this might be overkill (no pun intended).
Neil / Heightswitch – I can see that you have made strengthened plates that the roll cage bolts onto. For the connection behind the seats, I guess you have cut a hole in the fibreglass, how did you seal the hole once the cage is bolted in? How did you attach the harness on that corner? How did you seal the hole for the rear connection? Also, what are the short vertical bars at the rear of the cage (just stop the diff holder)?
Thanks everyone.
Nigel
I am making slow but steady progress on my Vixen teardown and rebuild. I am starting to research ‘improvements’ to the body so if the purists could bear with me, I would appreciate advice and guidance on possible mods to the Vixen body.
[apologies to those that own the pictures that I have used below ......]
Roof line leading edge
Steve Joyce has been super helpful guiding me on modifications to the roof line leading edge. As I understand it, at speed the leading edge of the roof can flex with the risk that the glass can become dislodged. I believe the usual fix is to stiffen the roof line leading edge (with a strip of steel or wood?) and then hide this inside of the headliner. Here is a picture of my roof. Does anyone have advice on whether the strengthening should be on the leading edge (ahead of the thick strengthening line – see picture) or after the strengthening line? Does anyone have a picture of the modification before the headline is fixed in place?
Footwell vents
There are two tubes from the engine bay into the footwells. I guess these were coupled with a louvred vent in the car (my interior was stripped before I received the car so have no history to see). Is there any merit in keeping this, don’t you get just hot air from the engine bay? What have others done?
Bonnet and valance
I have had a suggestion that I consider having a lightweight bonnet made? Is there really much weight saving to be made? It is true that the bonnet is pretty hefty but does not seem worth it to me. Any views?
What is the consensus on a chin valance? How much air gets under the front of the car and does it make the car unstable at speed? Here is a good example I like but I guess this is going to take a lot of work to build. I have heard that other builders have used an MGB valance and then worked from there. Is this worth the effort?
Fuel tank protection
I am not keen on the idea of using the fuel tank as a rear crumple zone. The good news is that I already have a new fuel tank but think that some rear protection is needed. There is a fellow in Canada who has done some impressive work on his 5000M. Does anyone have any examples and picture of having done this on a Vixen?
Roll cage
This should be a ‘must’. I see the advice that Caged is the best place to buy the roll cage (any other advice?) but would appreciate some advice on the best design? The roll cage above has one horizontal bar which is good for the harness straps but I guess is not as strong as a diagonal bar. Here is another example from Neil / Heightswitch and someone else.
Actually, I would have thought that the design should be an X but this might be overkill (no pun intended).
Neil / Heightswitch – I can see that you have made strengthened plates that the roll cage bolts onto. For the connection behind the seats, I guess you have cut a hole in the fibreglass, how did you seal the hole once the cage is bolted in? How did you attach the harness on that corner? How did you seal the hole for the rear connection? Also, what are the short vertical bars at the rear of the cage (just stop the diff holder)?
Thanks everyone.
Nigel
Hi Neil,
It will be a road registered car that I plan to take to the track from time to time. At most it will be gentlemanly track time, not going to be trying to win any prizes just exercising the car.
So I am planning on doing sensible upgrades and safety stuff rather than seeking to beat anyone.
Thanks
Nigel
It will be a road registered car that I plan to take to the track from time to time. At most it will be gentlemanly track time, not going to be trying to win any prizes just exercising the car.
So I am planning on doing sensible upgrades and safety stuff rather than seeking to beat anyone.
Thanks
Nigel
Neil - many thanks - appreciate the advice on the cage but a rear cage is all I have in mind as I could not consider myself in anyway a serious driver on the track. Got it on glassing up the floor (where the cage attaches). What are those little vertical tubes on the back of your cage?
Daza - thanks also - it does seem that roof strengthening is a must, it rains very heavily here in Asia! I gather from your feedback that it is the leading edge that needs to be strengthened. I can see the paper rope products online - is this stiff enough, why didn't you decide to bond in a strip of wood to give even more strength? Do you have any views on whether a TR6 valance is better than an MGB one as a starting point?
Anyone have any views on protecting the rear fuel tank (this is surely the most important) or those footwell vents (does anyone keep them)?
Thanks all.
Nigel
Daza - thanks also - it does seem that roof strengthening is a must, it rains very heavily here in Asia! I gather from your feedback that it is the leading edge that needs to be strengthened. I can see the paper rope products online - is this stiff enough, why didn't you decide to bond in a strip of wood to give even more strength? Do you have any views on whether a TR6 valance is better than an MGB one as a starting point?
Anyone have any views on protecting the rear fuel tank (this is surely the most important) or those footwell vents (does anyone keep them)?
Thanks all.
Nigel
Hi David
Very good points - many thnks.
On the cage, I plan to have the rear cage only and change the seat so that there is no scope for my head to meet the bar.
On the fuel tank, I live in Asia where it is customary to use the telephone, drink coffee, watch TV and many other things in the car rather than pay attention to any small British car stopped at the lights in front of you. So, I am rather more worried about rear impact than side impact. In the example above, there is space to put a cage around the tank (and I also have space). I was also considering a fuel cell but cannot get over the cost (maybe I should). I was also thinking of putting foam inside the tank but don't think it will be that useful. Another idea was to put foam around the outside of the tank as well so that if there is a puncture it would not spray onto the fuel pump. Any advice?
Nigel
Very good points - many thnks.
On the cage, I plan to have the rear cage only and change the seat so that there is no scope for my head to meet the bar.
On the fuel tank, I live in Asia where it is customary to use the telephone, drink coffee, watch TV and many other things in the car rather than pay attention to any small British car stopped at the lights in front of you. So, I am rather more worried about rear impact than side impact. In the example above, there is space to put a cage around the tank (and I also have space). I was also considering a fuel cell but cannot get over the cost (maybe I should). I was also thinking of putting foam inside the tank but don't think it will be that useful. Another idea was to put foam around the outside of the tank as well so that if there is a puncture it would not spray onto the fuel pump. Any advice?
Nigel
David - thanks for the extra musings. I already have a new tank (previous owner) and have some space around the tank that helps.
Neil - all fair points on safety. I guess I am more relaxed on what I can see in front of me and having been rear ended 4 times in the last 9 years here (always stopped at the lights) I may be over sensitive. I think I am going to add foam and move the fuel pump and add an electrical cut out for the pump on the dash. Maybe even some extra baffles to stiffen the rear end of the car in case of a minor bump. Thanks for the explanation on the vents. I am in the tropics so don't think I will be needing demist!
Daza - thanks for the extra thoughts.
Nigel
Neil - all fair points on safety. I guess I am more relaxed on what I can see in front of me and having been rear ended 4 times in the last 9 years here (always stopped at the lights) I may be over sensitive. I think I am going to add foam and move the fuel pump and add an electrical cut out for the pump on the dash. Maybe even some extra baffles to stiffen the rear end of the car in case of a minor bump. Thanks for the explanation on the vents. I am in the tropics so don't think I will be needing demist!
Daza - thanks for the extra thoughts.
Nigel
The picture above is from the Canadian fellow with the very nice 5000M. It looks like he has an easier chassis to with (compared with our Vixens). Here is another picture from his build where he has fabricated two loops around the tank that are then bolted through the rear bulkhead to the chassis. I guess there are some holes in the rear bulkhead and once the body is on he bolts in the fuel tank carrier and glasses up the gaps.
The Vixen is more of a problem since there are not any obvious chassis rails to bolt onto. I had hoped someone had done this before ... but I am now thinking not. I will give it some thoughts, mock up some pictures in photoshop and go through it with my fabricator.
The challenge with watching out for those behind is that once I am stopped at a light or right hand turn, I am vulnerable, no running away from careless local drivers.
The Vixen is more of a problem since there are not any obvious chassis rails to bolt onto. I had hoped someone had done this before ... but I am now thinking not. I will give it some thoughts, mock up some pictures in photoshop and go through it with my fabricator.
The challenge with watching out for those behind is that once I am stopped at a light or right hand turn, I am vulnerable, no running away from careless local drivers.
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