Exhaust (Hokey Cokey) o

After much deliberation  still couldn't get the exhaust to fit always seemed to be the left side sticks out more than the right 

nearside sticking out 

After measuring everything found that the only difference was the  pipe marked nearside was 37mm longer than the drivers side.

After  a call to Andy he told me this is for the off set of the "V" engine (which makes sense) but should only be 20mm !

This all started to fit in to place now as when i fitted the pipes one of the pipes stuck though the rear mounting 18mm more than the other one .

Confident i cut off 17mm off the pipe at the cat end ( didnt want to touch the other end as there is a kick welded into the pipe .

pipe marked with masking tape to get level cut 

Now it all fitted and was level  my next issue was the drivers side was further out than the other  resolved this by notching the back plate to allow me to slide the exhaust over 

Driver side notched to slide over 

Finally all fits and level  just need to witness mark it all and then take it down once again to apply exhaust sealing paste but that's for another day.

Dash Wiring Stalks

 Final bit on the wiring was the stalks .

GD supply the stalks with a nice SS bar that screws in 

Started by cutting off the stalk ,then drilling and threading a hole in line with the stalk 

cut 

Tapped and ready to fit 

The Wiper Stalk was more difficult as it was hollow behind  for this i used epoxy first and the drilled and tapped as normal 

Other makes are available !!

Then cam on to the wiring using the tech files from the disc the wire numbers and colours  can be found ,I used the dash wiring diagram to confirm the wires and numbers 

The wiring was straightforward as there was a key for numbers and colours 

The wiper was slightly more complicated ( or i was being thick ) 

There was no wire mark for the wash or the horn ,going back to the drawing of the dash i could then work out the 2 missing cables for W and WH ,

I don't intend to have intermittent wipe on my car as hoping the wiper never get used so plan to make intermittent connection (J) speed 1(53)  and Speed1 -speed 2 (53B)  ,i am considering joining speed 1 and 2 together otherwise if i select speed 2 by mistake the wipers will stop .

need to think about that over a beer  

Dash wiring (IGN)

 Last couple of jobs before i can go for a power up is the Ignition switch and the steering stalks ,

The ignition switch is the Lucas type ,It threw me at first as i expected the switch to be

 OFF-AUX-IGN-Start  however it isn't mine is AUX -OFF-IGN- Start  

there is no wiring diagram in the box and nothing i could find in the web about wiring so after a bit of time arrived at 

Contact 1 also being at the top ,

I looked at the cables in the loom and they are 6mm so figured should use the same ,with the GDkit comes the spades and the housing for the plug so that was easy and soldered them for piece of mind however on the switch end that was another issue should have used yellow crimps due to the size of the cable but, as i was presented with double connections came up with another  idea 

first i split the cable into 2  then put the insulation back on  , I could then use 2 blue terminals on both of the connections 

insulation slides back on (note the heat shrink) 

crimped up 

Once crimped i the put heat shrink on the join , repeated this for the AUX and IGN 

heat shrink applied 

Completed 

Exhaust(ing) Time

 I have opted for the unbalanced system  so comprises of 2 straight pipes with a cat down to the rear axle 

seemed to be straight forward and fitted easy .

Put the A clamps on the top to help with ground clearance

The silencers also seemed to be easy as they just slot on the ends of the pipe and the cherry bombs on the back of that 

Only problem i have now is the dvrs side is straight but the passenger side is pointing outwards 

Enough for today time for a beer and a think ( and Steve's input ) 

+++++++++++++++++++

Update silencers went back to GD as one of them was not quite right when put back on the jig 

That should help to square things up (hopfully ) 

Wiring ish

 I decided that after speaking to other owners  there is a small type of people that have no respect and open door of there cars !! how rude 

to combat this i have  installed a very simple alarm the idea being that once switched on (with a key switch)  as soon as the door is opened an alarm will go off . adding to this i also thought that i would install Bluetooth speakers for when i am stopped 

I purchased  a motorbike sounder as it is loud enough and draws little  current when activated 

 

sounder behind the dash 

i was planning to use the courtesy switches which then reminded me to look for the connection 

i found it in one of the multiplugs that connect the dash as there is no dash wire for this i took the wire out and joined it to mine.

courtesy wire joined the other two are light feed and spare 

 

This is work in progress so more to follow  wiring diagram 

i also intend to fuse the aux socket separately and run a new wire to it so i can use this as a battery charger if reqd  

 

Steering assembly part 2

 Once i had fitted the steering wheel it just looked too low  and I couldn't get in the car very well.

GD open day was coming up so good time to catch up with everybody and have a measure .

My steering hub was 50 cm from the floor and on the gd day everybody elses was 55 to 57cm 

eventually realized what i had done .

i have fitted the steering hub under the bracket as it wouldn't fit on the top but .... it needs to be on the top

In order to get it to fit i had to cut off the corners of the steering hub 

red mark shows were i cut ( forgot to take another pic ) 

It then fits on the top and my height is the same as all the others very happy and great to catch up with all the owners .

fitted 

Now of course nothing fits on the other end 

I had 2 choices one was  to push in the steering shaft in so the rods would still fit  which i was reluctant to do as then the bracket to hold the column would then not have enough meatal to grip or 2

cut down the shaft by 30mm 

i chose the second .

Again Steve's welding services to the rescue 

Needs shortening by 30mm 

He did this by removing the socket shortening the bar and then assembling it all back together 

Just a pile of bits 

Looks the same but now 30mm shorter 

Fitted in finally together with the bracket that seems to be different to all the other cobras i saw 

Enlisted the son in laws help to fit the bracket 

Bracket fitted just need to fit the alumin surround 

Happy all in 

More wiring (boot)

 The number plate light gets its feed from a connector next to the fuel tank and goes in the boot at the hinge, I thought i could combine the two and place a boot light in the circuit  .

Started by glassing some wood each side of the boot and then a bit a 10mm heating pipe to hide the wires .

one side done ( hard to glass upside down ) 

Then moved on to the other side ,used p clips to secure the wire up to the light and all done

 

Handbrake

 Fitting the handbrake leather cover was next ,started off easy put a tie wrap on the top bit and then folded over to make it look right ,

Then i could see no way of securing the gaiter ,look at other blogs and they had a bracket which i haven't got, and figured that no one will see it anyway so .

brainstorming we came up with the idea that by welding the the 2 bolts on the handbrake could then use those to trap the gaiter .

bolts welded by my welder 

Then the gaiter could be fitted and using wad punches to make holes in the leather 

Holes in the leather 

in place 

Carpets next part

 Got a bit of time in the garage to day and was getting frustrated as the the next job was to fit the side carpet.

I was struggling with this because i didn't have enough power in my left arm to fit it and tuck it behind the pedal box .

Steve dropped in for a Tea and assisted ( well fitted it ) and it looks good Thanks Steve well worth the tea and the Subway .

Fitted the Stainless steel finishers to the windscreen stanchions as well these fit on the bottom button head so had to be careful not to disturb the washers behind it .Very  happy with how it all looks .

Drivers side 

always seems to be cables everywhere 

Steering Assembly

 Tackling the steering which seemed straight forward ( o silly me )  

There are three bits to the steering  so started with  the lower section  removed the nut slid it over the spline and re fitted 

Lower section ( courtesy of Dales blog )  

Then to the middle section which has a rose joint that needs to be pushed on and fits in a pre drilled hole in the frame .

It soon became apparent that the heater isolators that I had fitted earlier were now in the way and had to be removed .

So not to be beaten Steve came up with the idea of moving them to the stainless steel pipes that go across the body so that's what we did  just in case i get too hot .

front section so close to the pipes had to remove the isolators 

isolators now in the cross pipes 

The last section fits on the bracket but can be adjusted up and down as well as in and out .

the issue here is that once the column is secured it can no longer move.

This will have to be left  until the dash and seal is fitted so i can see were the wheel wants to be  

I bought  a steering wheel from the scrappy so i could see were it would sit and my nice sister in law supplied me with a "cute" cover for it !!!

No words are necessary