John Bonnett
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| posted on 29/5/15 at 08:16 PM |
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A few more pictures follow. The interior is now in and finished although the seats have yet to be re-upholstered; a job for when the car is being
painted.
The replacement cylinder head arrived today and hopefully we'll be up and running over the weekend.
So, all going well.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 2/6/15 at 03:54 AM |
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With the replacement head fitted I did get the engine running and actually drove the short distance down our lane from my workshop to the house. Here
are a few pictures.
But the drama continues. There is a problem with one of the DCOE40s. Petrol is leaking out and it is not obvious even when stripped down where the
problem is so it is going back to the engine builder who supplied the package. While it is away I may well fit a pair of SUs so that we can make the
MOT booking for next week.
So to finish the car I've just got to build up the driver's door.
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HowardB
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| posted on 2/6/15 at 06:16 AM |
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That is incredible....
so impressed, a work of art 
Howard
Fisher Fury was 2000 Zetec - now a 1600 (it Lives again and goes zoom)
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adithorp
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| posted on 2/6/15 at 06:43 AM |
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Seems a shame to paint it.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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rdodger
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| posted on 2/6/15 at 07:31 AM |
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That looks just Amazing!
Fantastic work John.
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ettore bugatti
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| posted on 2/6/15 at 09:48 PM |
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Agree, it only need a polish not paint.
Just out of curiosity, what grade and thickness aluminium did you used?
And is it recommended to anneal the material when the final shape is achieved?
Again, it looks great.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 3/6/15 at 01:52 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ettore bugatti
Agree, it only need a polish not paint.
Just out of curiosity, what grade and thickness aluminium did you used?
And is it recommended to anneal the material when the final shape is achieved?
Again, it looks great.
It was made from 1.5mm thick in either NS3 alloy or pure aluminium 1050A. The only annealing was done in small areas like for example when forming
the recesses for the bonnet catches or areas where quite severe stretching or shrinking was needed on the rear upper corners. But in general the
panels were wheeled up without annealing.
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ettore bugatti
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| posted on 3/6/15 at 08:31 PM |
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Thanks!
I'm just re-reading N. Lockwoods' Designing and building a sports car and he seems to re-anneal a lot.
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 4/6/15 at 02:37 PM |
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Wow, not looked at this in a while, but what a job! Amazing work and an amazing looking car!
My Build Thread
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fesycresy
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| posted on 4/6/15 at 02:55 PM |
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I wouldn't have the balls to paint it.
Simply superb.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 5/6/15 at 09:03 PM |
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Thank you all for your very positive comments; very much appreciated. Believe me, the photos do flatter the car and hide the multitude of highs and
lows in the bodywork. It really does need to be painted not just to hide the blemishes but also to make it usable throughout the year in all weathers.
Nothing corrodes quicker than aluminium exposed to a salt solution.
The car is pretty much ready now for the MOT which is booked for next Tuesday. It was a pity about the problem with the DCOE40 but while i am waiting
for it to be repaired the engine is running very nicely on the twin HS4s which I fortunately had on the shelf. I've had to modify the plumbing
to suit and although it is not as neat as it was, I hope it is still acceptable.
The interior is now in with the driver's door being the last thing to build up.
So fingers crossed for Tuesday and the MOT.
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Pojo
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| posted on 6/6/15 at 07:05 AM |
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Good luck with the MOT. Awesome project that deserves maximum respect for the craftsmanship involved. :
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 9/6/15 at 09:18 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Pojo
Good luck with the MOT. Awesome project that deserves maximum respect for the craftsmanship involved. :
Thank you very much. In fact, we did it. The car passed with no advisories which was a terrific milestone after three years and three thousand hours
of work.
And thank you, everybody, for your encouragement and support.
John
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rdodger
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| posted on 9/6/15 at 09:28 PM |
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Well done John
What's next?
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mark chandler
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| posted on 9/6/15 at 10:02 PM |
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That's perseverance for you, congratulations John.
Off to the French Alps for a tour now?
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ceebmoj
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| posted on 9/6/15 at 10:16 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by John Bonnett
three years and three thousand hours of effort
Wow. Often when looking at other projects I wish that I possessed the skills displayed. Statements like this make me realise that its patients and
determination i need.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 10/6/15 at 05:08 AM |
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Barring any unforeseen unpleasant surprises, our trip to France, once just a dream, should be a reality. I enjoyed the build but now all i want to do
is to drive the car and get some enjoyment from it.
To anyone who fancies trying their hand at metal shaping, I can assure you that anyone can do it. I didn't start until I was turned 60 and
learned all I know from Ron Fournier's excellent videos. I a now nearly 73 and this is my second project; the trials car being the first.
As for the next project, I've not decided what just yet, but there definitely will be one.
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SJ
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| posted on 10/6/15 at 07:07 AM |
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As others have said, the car looks amazing and is an absolute work of art.
Stu
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Badger_McLetcher
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| posted on 10/6/15 at 05:03 PM |
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I may have dribbled slightly... that's lush!
If disfunction is a function, then I must be some kind of genius.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/6/15 at 08:09 PM |
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A couple of final jobs completed before we set off for France. One was to fit a towing eye and the other, to replace the tired and sagging rear
spring. Had I realised that the spring was sub-standard, I would have replaced it early on in the build when fitting it would have been many times
easier. But it was well worth the effort with the raised rear end and improved ride.
The trip to France is going to be a bit of a leap of faith with less than five hundred miles on the clock since the car went on the road but hopefully
all will be well.
[Edited on 22/6/15 by John Bonnett]
[Edited on 22/6/15 by John Bonnett]
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 28/7/15 at 12:51 PM |
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I'm pleased to report that all went well in France and that the toolbox remained unopened for the whole trip. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole
experience and the wonderful reception the car received wherever we went. We were away for two weeks and covered 1300 miles door to door, much of it
in 30 degree plus temperatures which the car coped with rather better than did we.
Just a few pics
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[Edited on 28/7/15 by John Bonnett]
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pewe
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| posted on 28/7/15 at 02:10 PM |
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John, total respect for having seen it through and brilliant end result.
Question is - what's the next project?
Your band of followers need something to keep them entertained.
ATB, Pewe10 
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 28/7/15 at 02:31 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by pewe
John, total respect for having seen it through and brilliant end result.
Question is - what's the next project?
Your band of followers need something to keep them entertained.
ATB, Pewe10
Pewe, very good to hear from you and thank you so much for your kind words.
There has to be a next project because at the moment I'm like a ship without a rudder. Having said that, the car is not quite finished because
despite a lot of opinion against it has to be painted and the seats reupholstered which will be done after the Coupe Florio speed hillclimb that we
are lucky enough to have an entry for, and a further three weeks in France.
http://www.lacoupeflorio.com/ This will take us to October.
But what the project will be, I haven't decided. Trouble is, I've blown a lot of money on this one and without selling it I'd
struggle to get funding for a new one past management. However, I think this is a very pretty car based on an MG Y chassis. In many ways similar to an
AC Ace.
[img] [/img]
As soon as I make up my mind I will let you know.
regards
John
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rdodger
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| posted on 28/7/15 at 03:16 PM |
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Glad to hear the car was trouble free on your French tour John. We expected nothing less!
Now that is a pretty car and looks like a challenging build. I'm sure you are up to it though!
It would seem a shame not too. 
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 6/9/15 at 12:06 PM |
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We've just returned from France having competed in the Coupe Florio hill climb in Saint Brieuc. We were really lucky to have an entry knowing
that anybody can apply but at the end of the day there are only ninety places and they select just the ones they want. Sadly, a dose of food poisoning
prevented my driving the final run but here is a clip of my second timed climb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-rtCbygnIM
[Edited on 6/9/15 by John Bonnett]
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