brumster

Yep, looks like an S2000 lump

Blimey - so the "head restraint" portion of those seats are actually supporting your back ? So your head is way above the line of the rollover bar, presumably? This does all just look such a load of hassle for you, and I know we talked about it at club night, but you didn't strike me as that tall a chap sitting down !! I wonder if this whole palava has stemmed from the seats - they just seem to high, or don't let you sink down enough - which is a shame because I've not seen any other S7-type car have to go through this ordeal to pass IVA on the harness mounting points..! Good work though

Unless it's horrendous weather, myself and the little'un will be coming as she's quite keen to camp. But with no weather gear, I won't be putting her through the long journey if it's horrendous (a little bit of rain, as we all know, is no issue provided you're moving!). Probably up in convoy with the rest of the Midlands squad, by the sounds of things. Will play it by ear, basically.

Sorry, I misread "bullet" as "rocket" for some reason! Apologies! Paul is right, you won't be 2.5:1 on 1st then (or very unlikely).... As for final drive, only you will know what diff you've got fitted most likely 3.65:1 if you've got a common Sierra diff....?

I wouldn't worry to much then, given you're usage. It depends on the ratios you get but in general you get a taller 5th for cruising, but a horrendously short 1st gear that's next to useless compared to your bullet. You currently have a 1st ratio of 2.5:1; the 5 speed will be more like 3.16:1 or 3.36:1. Depends how you find your current gear setup! But if you like the ratios from 1st to 2nd and are not fussed about top end economy, I would stay as you are unless you plump for a 5 speed with something like the BGT gearkit with revised ratios - these transform the 5 speed to something nice and useable, lovely set of spaced ratios. edit: P.S. you can have a fiddle with this :- http://locost7.info/gearcalc.php

Warwickshire/Worcester/West Midlands meet. It's here :- http://www.tobycarvery.co.uk/stonebridgeislandcoventry/ Google maps link :- https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=CV7+7HL&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=CV7+7HL,+United+Kingdom&ll=52.445691,-1.689019&spn=0.010058,0.027874&t=m&z=16&vpsrc=4

Will be there, and hopefully in the Hood this time if the weather holds out (though they reckon not !!)

Radiator-wise, I used a Seat Ibiza turbo-diesel rad from the mid-90's :- Looking at the 2B though it seems quite narrow, I'm not sure it'll fit in, but it was ideal for me because it's not very tall, perfect width and the hose take-offs were in just the right position. It allowed me to move it up into the nosecone good. Fan-wise, look for a decent SPAL item on ebay. Don't bother with the £30 copies, they simply don't move the air as like a proper £80 SPAL one does. I've since dumped the one in the picture for a "puller" that goes on the back of the rad... If you've got a friendly local motor factor, ask if you can flick through his radiator parts book - that's what mine did when I found this Ibiza/Polo diesel rad. Just have an idea of the dimensions you need, then look through the catalogue - particularly at small family hatchbacks with big diesel engines plenty of capacity in those rads!

Chris, did you not find the LSD made the car more understeery? Which diff did you fit, out of interest - the standard XR4x4/Cosworth viscous one?

Try to go with a modern, fuel injected engine if you can. You'll love it more in the long-term; there are no down-sides to it. It'll perform just as well as a carb'd engine at the top end, but should prove more tractable everywhere else, the starting will be better, the economy and the emmissions should be better overall too. A lot of people are put off by the complexity. If you're the type who knows how to properly set up a twin DCOE setup then there's no reason why you can't set up a fuel injection system with a bit of reading, common sense and if need be a laptop. But let's face it, most people just run the car over to a rolling road and pay someone to sort it out, which is far easier and quicker!

Get them ceramic coated I can put you in touch with a company in Lichfield should it interest you...!

They're brand new as in new supplied late 2009 and never used ever since - still in packaging. I just wanted white, that's all, so if I can sell them and order new ones with GBS I'll be happier than having to spray them. They are the conventional wings as opposed to the "sports" ones. Say £100 for the nosecone and £80 for the front wings. The rear wings are the early type where it's just fibreglass outers and panelled mains, say £20 for those making it a round £200 for the lot.

Well, I've done it, am now the proud owner of a Zero kit.... Away in storage now until the winter when I'll start the build. It anyone is interested in the green nosecone and wings, let me know Very tempting to get cracking on it but I don't have the time, space or money yet - need to get the rally season over with and get some use out of the current 'Hood over the summer... so no rush. Happy chappy, though, saved a few quid... thanks to Gaz and Richard for some useful info...

C&U Regs :- http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/part/II/chapter/E/made Section 34 Key bit, I suspect, is whether you deem your view of the front of the car as adequate while looking over the top of it. Or, more importantly, if a police officer or court of law would agree with you

I changed engine in another car a couple of years back (same type of engine but a new capacity and number on the V5) as part of a registration of a plate transfer. Provided no further details/receipts etc and the V5 came back all good and updated . I guess at times you can be lucky and it creeps through unnoticed...

Ah ok, I see fairy nuff! No manual is fine - like you say, if previous experience fails me (which it more than likely will) I have the wonders of this club to pull me through!

Well, help me out with the joke It's either (a) funny because there's stuff all else - which is good news as far as I'm concerned! or it's ( funny because I've missed such a stack load of other things that I don't know about, in which case, I'm all ears

Ta muchly

Looking at an unused kit on ebay... could be a bit of a saving over new. I'm aware (thanks to Gaz of the chassis differences with the early Zero kits, but in terms of the kit contents, is there anything I should be aware of and make sure is present? Obviously I'm aware of all the items on the brochure from GBS - chassis, nosecone, 4 arches, panels, finishing strips, lights, wishbones+bushes+bolts, arch brackets, etc. but what else? Chassis plate, manual/CD.... what else? Anyone got a list? Or anyone aware of items that the 2009 kit didn't include that maybe newer ones do, for example? The other point is, are there any parts on the current GBS/Kit Spares shopping list that *won't* fit the earlier Zeros? I doubt this but just checking - for example dashboard panel, windscreen, fuel tank, etc. Otherwise I could have found what I'm after

No, not at all, I mean using the Exmo as a donor and carrying the reg over, then doing IVA all above board. Not interested in having it potentially confiscated and crushed!

Well, I was toying with transplanting the Exmo into a Zero at the end of this year... but being a road car I really don't fancy all that cage. It's a lot of bits for the money but I'd always have the niggly feeling at the back of my mind that certain bits wouldn't be the way I wanted them ... I think if it didn't have the cage I'd give it a look-over. Wouldn't really be fussed for the V5, engine or gearbox Being the "race" are there any aspects that won't make it through IVA? Or does "race" just mean fully caged?

I take it the cage is pretty integral, looking at it?

I'm not sure about the IVA relevance of this, but just an observation - the apparent gap on the trailing edge of the bonnet; is that free air into the engine bay? If so, would that not be considered a risk in a car with no windscreen - I am thinking of fuel/water/fire issues under the bonnet escaping into the face of the occupants. If it's sealed, then ignore me ;-)

Unfortunately it's my birthday and I'm out with family for a meal, so will miss this one, sorry shame as I got the car out at the weekend for a blast, and enjoyed it (think I saw you tootling past the house too Steve?!). Would be nice to attend the meet in the actual car for once Have a good one and see you at the next one...

Sorry for your loss; I appreciate where you're coming from. Our dog, Grace, sends her commiserations too.... She'd tell you herself if you could make out what she's saying, the daft ha'peth.