The sound no Ultima owner wants to hear!

[Storer]

And no, it's not the one Can-Am owners dread.........."I'd like a cut and blow dry"...............(sorry, couldn't help myself)

After fitting a replacement rear damper, which has cured my annoying tapping that has taken me 12 months to find, as it sounded like it was coming from the front of the car, I did a few other jobs and with other distractions forgot to clip my rear clam...........................

30mph saw it open, break the gas struts and grind down the road.............

Yes, I could have cried.



As you can see it ground two holes around the number plate and chewed the rear of the spoiler.

I thought I would be heading to France in a Merc SL.

However, after an hour with a sander and fake carbon wrap and a mod to the gas struts I am still going in the Ultima.



It will need considerable repairs when I get back but from 4m away you would not know it was not a normal finish.

It is not the trip I had envisaged but at least I am still going in the Ult.

Paul

And no, I didn't have the Factory warning system, but will have one in the future!

Edited by Storer on Tuesday 18th June 22:20

[dudleybloke]

could have been worse and the temp fix looks pretty good.

[356Speedster]

Ouch! Good fix tho', very imaginative, looks OK in the photos

I walk around the car and try all corners before setting off, threads like this have made me paranoid! Great thing about the Can Am, you can put your left hand up and check the centre catch from the driver's seat too!

[Pb3]

Very sorry to hear/see that, you are not the first and probably not the last!

I am paranoid too and wonder what some people must think if they see me going around the car trying to break the rear clip off to test it is actually closed. Mind you I do the same thing with the front door when I leave the house for more than one day, but that is enough of that.

Your wing looks like it came off quite likely though, my wing is I think, from the first car to suffer your fate... I bought it from gtr clive after he extensively rebuilt it!

Have a safe and uneventful journey.

[highflyer]

We need to be more vigilant with our rear clips or find another way of fastening them down, because the insurance companies are going to put our premiums up, or stop insuring them altogether, its hard enough now to get a reasonable quote, Hegarty have already mentioned that's one of the reasons they don't insure Ultimas any more, and gone classic only.

[Stig]

highflyer said:

We need to be more vigilant with our rear clips or find another way of fastening them down, because the insurance companies are going to put our premiums up, or stop insuring them altogether, its hard enough now to get a reasonable quote, Hegarty have already mentioned that's one of the reasons they don't insure Ultimas any more, and gone classic only.

Fit the factory warning lights - job done.

[F.C.]

highflyer said:

We need to be more vigilant with our rear clips or find another way of fastening them down, because the insurance companies are going to put our premiums up, or stop insuring them altogether, its hard enough now to get a reasonable quote, Hegarty have already mentioned that's one of the reasons they don't insure Ultimas any more, and gone classic only.

I just got a quote for less than half what I paid CCI last year from of all places Adrian Flux!
CCI have countered with a much better offer as a result and for a little more ££'s than Flux include the 5 track day cover.

I was thinking of fitting aero catches but they are going to be a bit tricky to fit with any success.

[Storer]

I will fix mine myself without going through my insurer.

On a brighter note I am writing this post in my room in Le Mans. She got me here and still looks like the post plastic photo.....

The weather was crap. Very wet most of the way down.

Paul

[GTR-TT]

Been there, done that

(the carbon venturi took the hit though so no damage to the actual rear clip)

[Crazy of Cookham]

Factory warning system way-to-go. After reading story of how someone lost rear clip some years ago, I check and check again but still warning system has saved me on more than one occasion. "Some say" I have job remembering the day of the week let alone if rear clip done up!!!

[GtrMan]

I am still in an early build process but I thought of this a lot , I am adapting the safety warning kit supplied by the factory , the warning kit will feed two relays (one for each led) and will cut the ign crank switch , for testing with the clam open one has to close the locks with a screw driver , for sure trying to close the clam with closed locks will show ...also added a buzzer on each led .

Edited by GtrMan on Saturday 22 June 06:02

[Steve_D]

GtrMan said:

I am still in an early build process but I thought of this a lot , I am adapting the safety warning kit supplied by the factory , the warning kit will feed two relays (one for each led) and will cut the ign crank switch , for testing with the clam open one has to close the locks with a screw driver , for sure trying to close the clam with closed locks will show ...also added a buzzer on each led.

The LED and buzzer will be fine.

Switching out the ignition may sound like a good idea until something fails in your circuit and cuts the ignition at an inopertune moment (mid overtake).

Steve

[Life Saab Itch]

I removed the rear clip the other day and once the gas struts are removed it is surprising how all the weight is in the rear of the clam. You only need to lift it up about 2-3" for it to be past the point of balance. I presume the air pressure under the clam would be enough to start raising it.

[mt308]

Steve_D said:

GtrMan said:

I am still in an early build process but I thought of this a lot , I am adapting the safety warning kit supplied by the factory , the warning kit will feed two relays (one for each led) and will cut the ign crank switch , for testing with the clam open one has to close the locks with a screw driver , for sure trying to close the clam with closed locks will show ...also added a buzzer on each led.

The LED and buzzer will be fine.

Switching out the ignition may sound like a good idea until something fails in your circuit and cuts the ignition at an inopertune moment (mid overtake).

Steve

I'd agree with this. I have the LED factory option and it does the job fine, and has already reminded me to close the lid properly once (one side wasn't properly latched). Well worth the money (not that expensive from memory), and for any builders out there very easy to fit whilst you are doing the rest of the dashboard. Probably fairly easy to retro fit too.

Mark

[GtrMan]

Steve_D said:

GtrMan said:

I am still in an early build process but I thought of this a lot , I am adapting the safety warning kit supplied by the factory , the warning kit will feed two relays (one for each led) and will cut the ign crank switch , for testing with the clam open one has to close the locks with a screw driver , for sure trying to close the clam with closed locks will show ...also added a buzzer on each led.

The LED and buzzer will be fine.

Switching out the ignition may sound like a good idea until something fails in your circuit and cuts the ignition at an inopertune moment (mid overtake).

Steve

I quoted the Crank switch , (start button) not the full ign switch, another feature would be some of those locks used in motor sport.

[Steve_D]

GtrMan said:

Steve_D said:

GtrMan said:

I am still in an early build process but I thought of this a lot , I am adapting the safety warning kit supplied by the factory , the warning kit will feed two relays (one for each led) and will cut the ign crank switch , for testing with the clam open one has to close the locks with a screw driver , for sure trying to close the clam with closed locks will show ...also added a buzzer on each led.

The LED and buzzer will be fine.

Switching out the ignition may sound like a good idea until something fails in your circuit and cuts the ignition at an inopertune moment (mid overtake).

Steve

I quoted the Crank switch , (start button) not the full ign switch, another feature would be some of those locks used in motor sport.

Aah, sorry missed that. What happens if the engine is already running......now I'm getting silly.

Re the motorsport latches/locks....these suffer the same problem in that they can be forgotten. The latch warning switches are the way forward and I would recommend them to all builders/owners.

Steve

[GtrMan]

Steve_D said:

GtrMan said:

Steve_D said:

GtrMan said:

I am still in an early build process but I thought of this a lot , I am adapting the safety warning kit supplied by the factory , the warning kit will feed two relays (one for each led) and will cut the ign crank switch , for testing with the clam open one has to close the locks with a screw driver , for sure trying to close the clam with closed locks will show ...also added a buzzer on each led.

The LED and buzzer will be fine.

Switching out the ignition may sound like a good idea until something fails in your circuit and cuts the ignition at an inopertune moment (mid overtake).

Steve

I quoted the Crank switch , (start button) not the full ign switch, another feature would be some of those locks used in motor sport.

Aah, sorry missed that. What happens if the engine is already running......now I'm getting silly.

Re the motorsport latches/locks....these suffer the same problem in that they can be forgotten. The latch warning switches are the way forward and I would recommend them to all builders/owners.

Steve

Good point Steve....it can be done to ....well the leds (leds can be changes to flashing type)light and the buzzers are on , if you can hear them!!!!
Well thanks for the idea ... I might implement it in my highly modified wiring diagram !!!!

Edited by GtrMan on Saturday 22 June 12:22

[spatz]

I have a 10mm LED going RED if the latches are not both closed, never missed it so far, nu buzzer necessary, bright red is quite informative.

[Storer]

Ok, so I'm home so what to do with the damage?

I was planning to try to top 200mph this year but I have decided to leave the repairs until the winter and continue to enjoy the car for the summer as the repairs will probably take about a month. So no chance of 200mph until 2014.

I have asked Andy to get me a price on the wing replacements - end plates and top wing. Please don't scare me Andy!!!!!!

The glass fibre repairs will wait and I can replace the plastic if I need to. It may not look great but it is not bad either. Damage limitation for now.

These cars are too much fun to miss a summers motoring!


Paul

[UltimaCH]

Summer is short and doesn't last very long, so enjoy the driving as much as possible.