ibrooks

I also do this as a matter of course nowadays but it irritates me that I have to. Given that we are required by law to have insurance I'd like them to be required by law to give me their best price every time rather than just what they think they can get away with - but I suppose that's retail. Unfortunately they all share data nowadays so how do we know they aren't actually price-fixing? The system stinks and the only reason I bother is that I'm legally required to so the best price I can get for number one is what I go for. If the government (and that's any government) had an ounce of common sense they would see that if they make it easy for someone to comply with a law they probably will. If insurance was a reasonable price people would be less likely to drive without. If taxation on fuel was sensible people wouldn't risk running on red diesel if public transport wasn't a joke more people would use it etc. etc. etc. rant rant rant. Sorry - just read the stuff about the guy who was fined for warning people about a tax camera so I'm in a particularly anti-authority mood. Who'll vote for me? Iain

I have fitted a 2B hood to my Cortina based s7 and it works just fine. The only problem was that the frames were too wide and too long. This means I had to cut a lump out of the middle of them and they are mounted further forward than they really should be so when they fold down they don't lie along the top of the rear panel. They actually sit on the roll-over bar supports - if this is the price I must pay to stay dry then it's well worth it. If anyone wants pics let me know (or give me a shout and call round to look at it). Iain

Yes guys I have an alligator bonnet. I haven't done it quite the way RHE suggested but it's similar and so the screen moves when the bonnet is opened. I quite like the system (modified like mine) as it makes life quite a bit easier in and around the engine bay so I don't really want to go the fixed scuttle route. Unfortunately it looks like I'll have to do without then as a removeable centre section of some sort would be the only real solution if I want to keep the alligator. Iain

and a nother!

Looks good and I would be interested in one for my 2B if it would allow me to use it as everyday transport. Just a thought on the doors have you seen the ones that were used on the Carcraft Cyclone as they would make getting in and out much easier and could probably be stored in the car when removed. It was a Sevenesque motor with a fixed front and rear screen. Instead of a fixed roof there was a fixed central bar (MR2 T-Bar style) which the doors hinged from. The doors also hinged at the corner where their "roof" portion met the door proper. When they opened they went straight up and folded in half to create a flattish panel sticking straight up in the middle. I've just re-read this and am hoping like the proverbial that someone will provide a picture coz I'm now confused and I've seen em . There was a Cyclone in the club area at Donnington - whose was it (some relative of Mr Sheens from memory?) does someone have a pic?. The reason behind this is also that maybe the central bar could be made removeable because otherwise I wouldn't be able to open the bonnet with the roof on. Iain Found some!

BMW's had a problem with fuels that have too much sulphur in them. BMW came up with a "wonderful" process whereby they used a chemical process to harden the Aluminium of the cylinder bores and therefore didn't put steel liners in their engines. This made for lighter engines but... If there is too much sulphur in the fuel and you draw water into the engine (damp air like we get on the odd occasion in this country) the sulphur becomes sulphuric acid. Now this stuff is corrosive to any metal but it loves reactive metals like Aluminium and since chemical reactions generally happen faster when they are warm (now where inside a petrol engine could we possibly get some heat from) the aluminium of the bores was simply eaten away. BMW now line most of their engines like everyone else but those with the engines that were made without are warned - don't use cheap fuel. High milers who managed to provoke the problem into occuring during the warranty period were laughing as BMW changed the engines for them. Those who do less mileage get stung as the problem will take four or five years to manifest itself. But still people buy BMW's Iain

The DVLA regs that cover this are exactly the same as those of us using a Sierra as a donor. BUT since the car you're wanting to build is similar to your donor you have a different option. Basically the original I.D. of a donor vehicle can be retained as long as enough parts are used from the donor (under the old scoring system that used to be used for kit cars to be registered under the donors reg number) and - from the DVLA "The body type is not changed and the appearance is not significantly altered." Outside of this you have to have an SVA test and it's this last bit that pushes the rest of us down that route. So long as you use enough of the Hood then my reading says that any LSIS can be built from the bits and still be considered the same car. You should be able to get the V5's make and model changed without anything other than a built-up vehicle inspection and it's attached declaration from you stating where all the parts came from. Of course as we've all seen each DVLA/DOT/VOSA jobsworth involved will have his own "special" interpretation of all that so you may have trouble getting the V5 changed to reflect the new model. If you didn't bother (my 2B was very nearly an S7). From a day to day point-of-view as long as the insurance company is informed of exactly what they are insuring then the only problem would be if an MOT tester refused to test the vehicle because his info says Robin Hood and what he has in front of him isn't a Robin Hood - does what you're planning look like the picture on your membership card? Then what does the MOT tester know differently? As an aside. A friend of mine once had a Discovery that was described on the V5 as a Montego because it was a pre-production testing vehicle. He had a raft of Land-Rover headed paperwork that he had to take to the garage to get the guy to write Montego on the MOT certificate at MOT time. Apparently there were a bunch of these that were used as final testing mules (in various parts of the world like the Arctic and the Sahara). Iain

You'd be twice as jealous if I told you what I paid for the S7. It wasn't a drive home vehicle as a result but it didn't take too long to get it through an MOT. It's a fairly basic motor and there are several jobs I'd do to make it nicer and personalise it if I was going to keep it but that would just take time away from finishing the 2B. Iain

I brought driving pleasure closer by buying an S7 I'm still working on the 2B so I'll sell the S7 once it's on the road but not before (wouldn't be without one now). Iain

Well as far as 2B's go I've got you all beat - mine's out of the first batch August 99. Is that something to be proud of or not? At least it means I got mine cheaper than the rest of you. Anyone else who was there that day who still isn't on the road? Iain

Or I have an Arc welder you can borrow and I have also just replaced my MIG welder so the old one isn't doing anything (it works fine but if you're doing anything big it tends to hit the thermal cut-out fairly quickly so you have to do somethng else for half-an-hour while it cools down again). Iain

Well guys glad you've all enjoyed it - come on Jim what did you get? - and what about mad-max? Brian did most of the legwork as a thank-you for the help he's had from the guys who've turned up at the classes where he's building a SubK. Jim then did the organising with Adrian. Hopefully there will be futher sessions and I'll get one or other of my Hoods down there. Iain

Thats a nasty cough Mat - you picked up a virus from somewhere?

Hi Bob, Not if it's standard. The 4x4 is the car you want for an LSD. Iain

Now I'm beginning to get worried here. I've recently sent the form off for my 2B (surely one of the last of the first batch that's not on the road yet). I used the figures you guys are quoting for axle one and two but I don't remember filling in a gross - please tell me I haven't missed a box on the form . Oh well we can but wait and see. Iain

He's such a nice boy when he thinks before he speaks isn't he You'll notice he's studiously avoided telling us where he is. Maybe he's afraid we'll come looking. Seriously Steve let us know and you can probably have a look at a car in the flesh anytime rather than having to wait for a show - and probably a ride and maybe even a little drive. If you're anywhere near me (Darwen) give me a PM and you can come and have a look at my Hoods (one of which is for sale - but don't tell anyone until the other one is on the road ). I'll drool over your Mini and you can also laugh at mine (two 1976 Clubmen in sore need of my attention). Iain

Ant, I got a kit from Frost (www.frost.co.uk) which is basically a pair of mole-grips with various attachments to crimp all sorts of these things. It also comes with many different types of fastener (including some poppers very similar to what came with my hood). If you want to make a bit of a trip (Darwen) you could borrow it as it is a bit expensive to buy just for the number of poppers around the hood (I also had a 40ft narrowboat to make a couple of covers for so it paid for itself a bit quicker). I know some have had good results with the posi method but I wouldn't recommend it as the resulting rivet in the popper isn't as strong and i've seen many of these where a couple of poppers are left on the car when the top is removed. Just a comment - I'm sure it's worked fine for some people. Iain

Joel is right. The Puregrot centre spigot is bigger than the Ford one. You can buy spacer rings to fill the gap (or get them made up). Many of the aftermarket wheels are made with the larger centre hole regardless and the rings are provided with the wheels. I have a set of Alessio wheels that came like this. Iain

Jase, Ask for wheels for a Capri, Cortina or MK1 or 2 Escort. They have the normal Ford four stud PCD and the same offset as the Pug (which just happens to be the offset used on most rear wheel drive Fords except the Sierra). If you get Pug wheels you will need special wheelnuts as their taper is different to Ford. Capri/Cortina/Escort wheels will fit straight on with your existing nuts. Puregrot wheels are good if they come cheap (free) and you only have to sort a set of wheelnuts. If you're buying new anyway then get the Ford fitting and save yourself the messing around. Happy Birthday Iain

Thanks again for all that. Will post again if I make the jump. Iain

But of course the rest of us are now wondering what you were actually searching for to find it

Thanks for that. Five speed boxes are available from Minisport at £1500 a pop - an expensive box but that's a brand new box and I'd be willing to spend the cash if it made the car useable (my insurance would save me a chunk of that - versus my Rover for the same usage is about £200 cheaper and what price a convertible versus a tin top). The motor I'm looking at is a Rossa which has an MG lump and box. Why are they nervous at speed? I would have thought they would be as good as a Mini from a handling point of view. It's also got both soft and hard tops - how quick/easy is it to remove/fit the hard-top? I'm just thinking that the soft-top would be quicker to use when out and about. As for a K3 - not interested Rover K-Series nuff-said and yes that is from personal experience (also see Jim's post about them from a few weeks ago). What's support like? either through the owners club or from GTM themselves? Iain

A quick blast down the motorway in a Hood on a sunny day! I've been stuffed up with a cold for the whole week :boohoo: and since the sun is shining I thought I'd come to work in the S7 today to cheer me up . I've been here over an hour and I'm only just beginning to sniffle up again . Doesn't half clear the tubes at 70 . Iain

Hi Guys, Anyone know anything about the older GTM's?. I'm interested in either a Coupe or Rossa (1 or 2) to replace my daily driver (and one of the Hoods). Has anyone on here had any experience of them or have one or know someone who has etc etc etc. Mechanically I know they're Mini's which suits me fine as I have two of those too so I know my way around the venerable A-series. What I'm interested in is would they make a good motorway tramper? (with a 5-speed box maybe - but if they're OK without that'd suit me just fine). Also how secure/weatherproof are the removeable tops on the Rossa's? as it would probably have to live outside. Any info much appreciated. Looks, rides and drives would be even nicer. Iain

So long as it don't hide behind the wheel when viewed from an angle there should be no probs. The specific angle it has to be visible at is part of the construction and use regs - someone must know it but I don't off the top of my head. I have seen sevens with the plate on the rear arch below the light cluster. This would increase the angle it can be seen at as it moves it away from the wheel. I'm also almost certain that it would have to go on the correct side but don't quote me on that bit. Iain