nelmo

Sounds like a trip - I have never worked with carbs and you have ensured I never will - fuel injection is the future. Actually, sadly, even that is going - amps and volts are next...

I've just got back from a week-long trip to the Scottish borders - details in my blog: https://zerolifebuild.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-middle-earth-tour.html

I would get him to put it through an MOT - that way you have some check on it's condition and you can then go up there and drive it back. With the price of petrol, £350 to get it trailered down is a good price

No rubber in mine, if that helps? Mine was bought from GBS so no idea what its from (Cortina?).

Weird - works for me (obviously)...maybe try on a normal PC rather than a phone? Is that an iPhone? They are sometimes a bit hyper-protective over what you can click on...

I didn't use a water rail but several pages in my blog may help. This one in particular has a diagram that may be useful: https://zerolifebuild.blogspot.com/2016/04/28.html

Well done... Fun, innit?

I do wonder sometimes what has happened to people on other forums for them to ask us to be nice. We're always nice... For my flash button, I just bought a non-latching switch and wired it into the same circuit as the main beam switch. It did help that I made my own dash wiring harness so I knew where the wires all went - that's always the hard part of any electrical work. Without knowing your wiring schematic, it's difficult to be any more use.

Best bet is to email the DVLA and ask them. It may also have it in the IVA manual (available to download online)?

GBS also seem to be the best prepared for a Mazda donor - I believe they have special chassis mods to allow the Mazda engine to fit better, for example. There are probably 4 main kit makers; Caterham (although they don't like being called kits and they come half-built anyway), Westfield, GBS and Tiger. There are numerous other smaller makers (MNR, Exocet, MEV etc). Do a search on here - pretty sure the question of 'which kit?' has come up numerous times.

Yeah, you can say that again - at Stoneleigh, GBS were advertising a new Duratec engine on their stand for £3k, which didn't sound too bad until you realised it didn't include the £1200 TBs, the £1200 gearbox, the £500 sump, the £800 ECU, the alternator, water rail etc, etc. I think they quote around £23k (or is it £28k?) for their Ultimate build which is all new parts? Probably cheaper than Westfield but not by much... Sadly, you have missed the days of those surplus new Zetec's that Ford had and were selling off cheap (I paid £900 for mine).

Urgh, it wasn't the bung, it was the whole rad - it sits a couple of inches forward of the old one, so no space in the nose. Judicious use of a hammer, Clarkson-style, has allowed me to move the whole thing back and I think it's sorted now... I'll update my blog (link below) when It's finished, should you be interested.

Older cars do get corroded but no idea if that is for the reason you say - I would have thought powder coating would be good enough as there is no metal-metal contact, no? My car is 5 years old now and the powder coat all looks good and I assume the steel underneath is OK. You need to consider what you want the car for - exocets are much less practical than a normal 7 and are more of a day out fun car whereas a Zero or similar can have doors and roof so can be used for longer trips etc. If you're worried about the corrosion thing, look at a Tiger - very similar to the Zero but has GRP bodywork.

Anyone fitted a coolex radiator to a Zero? My original GBS-sourced rad got a leak, so I bought a coolex. Fitted today, all seems fine although it does sit about an inch further forward because the bracket flanges are on the engine side, unlike the previous one. Tried to fit the nose on but thunk - it's catching on something. I think it's the drain plug underneath which the GBS rad doesn't have. Just wondering if anyone else had this and how they resolved it. Only thing I can think to do is cut a hole in the nose for the plug to go into (the hole will be behind the number plate, so not visible from the front). Any other ideas?

I don't recall, it was 5 years ago...but I'm sure that will work...if not, it will reply back with the right one.

I don't think you need any details - I just emailed them to ask what the process was and the next thing I know, they've sent me a VIN number!! I didn't even ask for it...

If you're happy to get to Tamworth, our own club member, Rich, is your man. Runs his own garage (GBC) and has personally fixed my car a couple of times. You can message him on here @richyb66 or email him: richyb66@yahoo.com Highly recommended...

Jees, sounds horrendous . Never used a grinder in my life, hope I never have to...

Wow, those are looking good! I'd better wash mine now... Should be there around lunchtime.

Ask GBS?

Whoah, that's a full-on restoration job you've got there - good luck!

A great day out, thanks for sorting out lunch, Derek. Full details and BAFTA-quality video here: https://zerolifebuild.blogspot.com/2022/04/whats-that-smell.html

Ah no, I assumed you were given the route when you paid? Is New Lodge Farm the official halfway stop? I think I remember that....

Thanks Derek... please don't wait for us anywhere, we've got a long way to come and I can't promise to get there on time. At worst, we'll be at the Bell for 2pm.

Will it be possible to add my son into the lunch booking?