Radiator and Some Shiny Bits

20th April 2002

 

Well Autoquip didn't have any hose, or exhaust gaskets or even a set of sparkplug leads. In Paignton there is an MG garage "Modern Motoring", David the proprietor dug round and found me a peice of hose just the right size.

 

This was the last peice of hose I needed, or so I thought. I have to think of some way of connecting the header tank, but I'll worry about that later.

21st April 2002

I went to my first Cobra Replica Club meeting today. It was good to catch up with some people I'd met at the show in Exeter. Seeing these cars drive off and me getting back into my 406 has really spurred me to getting on with my Cobra. I didn't take too many photos and those I did take were pretty poor, so I'll try harder next time.

 

23rd April 2002

Been talking to different people and the consensus is that the header tank should be fitted so that half way up the tank is no lower than the hieghest water level in the system. The header tank should also fill the system through the lower radiator pipe. I've decided to put a 15mm piece of pipe into the lower radiator pipe just under the front cross member (see picture above).

I also ordered all the catches and locks for the bonnet, doors and boot.

 

28th April 2002

It's been a busy week this week so I haven't done much, it rained most of yesterday so I stayed in and did some decorating!

Today I soldered up all the fittings to make the lower radiator pipe, it will need to be cut to length later. I was suprised how much heat was required to solder 35 mm copper pipe!
I bent up a clamp from some mild steel I had, once I've drilled the bolt hole I'll paint it.
This is how it will fit together.

 

I've noticed on several cars that the clove box does not hinge open. Instead two prongs stick out the bottom and locate in the dash.

I've modified mine in the same way and a friend has agreed to cover the dash for me. I need to make a cover plate to go along the botton edge of the glovebox opening just to finish things off.

Currently the prongs are bolted on but I was going to use some Araldite jut to be sure.

 

30 April 2002

Today I ordered the windscreen and wiper motor kit. I was going to try and find a Marina wiper motor as I'd heard it might fit, but to be honest it was easier to order the kit. Hope they will be here by the weekend. I also ordered the ignition leads and air filters from Rimmer Bros, do you think I could start it this weekend? It must be close, Although I do need to find a header tank.

Tonigt I fitted the boot hinges, this took quite some time to get right, even now I don't think it's quite right, I'll have another play tomorrow. I was going to fit the struts and lock but ran out of time :-(

One thing to point out is the hinges are 'handed' to account for the curve of the body shell, just as well Peter pointed that out cos to be honest I hadn't noticed while unpacking them!

28 April 2002

Spent all day to day playing with the car. The first job was to finish fitting the boot. Fitting the numberplate light was quite straight and acted as a temporary handle to open the boot.

The manual describes how you have to remove excess fiber glass to anable you to fit the boot lock. This is a fiddly job, which took a bit longer than I thought. One day I will make a polished aluminium plate to cover this hole.

 

Next job was to fit the gas struts. Nothing too difficult here, just position the brackets as specified in the manual and bolt it all together. I did flatten the brackets that fit on the boot a little, just to make them fit my boot better.

One word of warning, don't let the boot fly open by itself, the struts are quite strong and the body bends where the lower brackets are fitted!

 

Attention now returned to the front of the car, namely the windscreen. The sreen arrived with two side frames which are screwed on then the windscreen drops into place and a couple of G-Clamps held it in place.

 

Not completely sure about the correct measurements for fitting this, so I'll wait and talk to DAX next week

 

Now the screen is in I can fit the wiper motor. As the manual says this need a bit of thought. As it happens Malcolm was passing and noticed the Cobra on the drive, so stopped to help for a while :-)

The manual describes where to cut the holes for the two gearboxes so that is straight forward. When positioning the wiper motor make sure cable is as far into the motor as possible.

I had to cut down the two spacers that fit between the gearbox and the scuttle otherwise there was not enough thread to fit the nut. Also the rubber washer wouldn't fit, so I've left that off and will need to use some silicon when I do the final fit.

 

So here it is. It looks as if the wiper arms need to be shortened, but I want to check this with DAX first, hence I couldn't finish fitting the wipers.

 

Exhaust and Lights
Home
Header and Breathers