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That works for me. Although I would have to remove all the rubbish that stuck to it when it drove through a scrap heap... I get you on the extra stuff, but guess it is a part of his “style” of build. Your vision. Your vehicle. I would leave it as is. P.  Thanks Paul. I think overall, I prefer the idea of the chopped glass. Of course, another way to pull it down visually may be a dark tinted 3” strip at the top of the screen once the frame is painted black. Cut it. From the side it looks great. Also- you can cut that flat glass yourself. it's not bad, many vids are out there on it.  Morning grenade I get your mind, and as mentioned before…. Prefer the chop. But will hold off a bit. I think it looks better chopped... Sooooonnn…..😀 Old Fiat Panda screen glass has the correct markings, is flat and can be cut down, being used quite frequently for BIVA builds Cool advice, lets see how it all unfolds. I had a chopped one in my VW Roadster, which used a Beetles flat screen. I also had a bit of an issue when I first fitted the BMW Mini seats, as the top of the surround was in my eye line, but a slight tweek of the mounts sorted that. Loving this build! A mate in Florida suggested I would be driving it more than sitting at traffic lights…… He reckons a twist of the head is a small price to pay. Saying that, I suspect one does tire of it eventually. For now, other jobs are more important I guess. |
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I think overall, I prefer the idea of the chopped glass. Of course, another way to pull it down visually may be a dark tinted 3” strip at the top of the screen once the frame is painted black. You could do that while getting on with the important mechanical jobs. |
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Jan 27, 2022 11:18:34 GMT
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I think overall, I prefer the idea of the chopped glass. Of course, another way to pull it down visually may be a dark tinted 3” strip at the top of the screen once the frame is painted black. You could do that while getting on with the important mechanical jobs. I tend to agree here, get the pedal box and steering wheel in to make sure the seating position is OK then worry about the windscreen. |
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Jan 27, 2022 11:23:00 GMT
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You could do that while getting on with the important mechanical jobs. I tend to agree here, get the pedal box and steering wheel in to make sure the seating position is OK then worry about the windscreen. A mock up of the dash should be considered part of the look too. |
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Jan 27, 2022 12:33:15 GMT
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I think overall, I prefer the idea of the chopped glass. Of course, another way to pull it down visually may be a dark tinted 3” strip at the top of the screen once the frame is painted black. You could do that while getting on with the important mechanical jobs. You could do that while getting on with the important mechanical jobs. I tend to agree here, get the pedal box and steering wheel in to make sure the seating position is OK then worry about the windscreen. I tend to agree here, get the pedal box and steering wheel in to make sure the seating position is OK then worry about the windscreen. A mock up of the dash should be considered part of the look too. Well. Mate Martin who does the disability conversions popped in unexpectedly to sniff around. Thankfully I could take a break from my desk. He was always pro-chopping But sat in the seat with screen up and I could see that maybe if was pushing it with a chop. So I asked him to take a pic for me so I can see the proportions The result it seems would suggest holding back on even the 50mm chop for now. The seat height is fine on the chopped screen. However, mentally adding the roll bar behind and above the seats somewhat seems to be wrong. So for now, I think leaving it alone will be the answer.  Leaving more time for the important stuff over the weekend. Day job has now fully kicked back into gear. |
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Jan 27, 2022 15:55:25 GMT
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Some sound logic there, would look a bit odd with the roll bar higher than the screen!
So now that decision has been put to bed, what's next on the hit list?
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Jan 27, 2022 16:23:46 GMT
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Given you now have all the major masses fitted the ride height looks pretty level and not ridiculously high, certainly good enough to get started with.
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Jan 27, 2022 16:47:57 GMT
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Grizz, You've probably thought of this and researched it yourself in an earlier entry which I've missed (easy to do in a thread like this that gets updated so regularly due to your rapid progress). Now you have decided on seats, have you checked where the top bar of the windscreen will be in relation to your eye level when sitting in the driver's seat? I had a beach buggy a while ago with a chopped screen. The seats were already bolted to the floorpan, so no way they could be lowered and the top rail of the 'screen was right in my eye line when driving. It was really annoying and uncomfortable having to duck your head down or tilt it to one side to see under the windscreen frame when driving. It wound me up so much I sold the buggy after a couple of months as that ruined the pleasure of driving it. I had a similar issue with a buggy in the past, I ended up changing the seat frames as the line of vision issue was annoying me so much. Luckily it did not work out too costly |
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Jan 27, 2022 17:13:37 GMT
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Some sound logic there, would look a bit odd with the roll bar higher than the screen! So now that decision has been put to bed, what's next on the hit list? My suggestion is: steering column - which includes the dash support - and linkage to the rack clutch and throttle pedals That will allow the wiring looms to be hung wherever various bits of them need to go - some like the engine ECU will be sited differently to the Mazda Fuel system That will allow a number of small doable in an evening jobs to be completed: radiator supports, wiring the lights, engine plumbing, throttle cable and all the other jobs that look quick but suck up a lot of time and resources. I would make getting it running a priority, as that is a big morale boost |
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What a week. Tomorrow blocked for building this thing. Despite the options did include having a go at this little car. But it won’t get the RR on the road.  Day job first though. . |
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But it won’t get the RR on the road. I'm ringing at High Halstow Saturday morning. Would you like some help in the afternoon? |
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Jan 28, 2022 10:21:17 GMT
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But it won’t get the RR on the road. I'm ringing at High Halstow Saturday morning. Would you like some help in the afternoon? Morning Nick Would I say no to company and help. Yes please or absolutely. That would be awesome. Sally is meeting friends for “lunchtime”. |
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Jan 28, 2022 15:03:06 GMT
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But it won’t get the RR on the road. I'm ringing at High Halstow Saturday morning. Would you like some help in the afternoon? I’m not sure that I would admit to ringing on a public forum.😇 |
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Jan 28, 2022 15:30:09 GMT
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I'm ringing at High Halstow Saturday morning. Would you like some help in the afternoon? I’m not sure that I would admit to ringing on a public forum.😇 It's already a very public activity; last night several thousand people in Rochester and Strood could hear us |
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Jan 28, 2022 22:22:45 GMT
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Some sound logic there, would look a bit odd with the roll bar higher than the screen! So now that decision has been put to bed, what's next on the hit list? Loads of little jobs. Given you now have all the major masses fitted the ride height looks pretty level and not ridiculously high, certainly good enough to get started with. I love it low as possible, but within the parameters of what I got to work with….. Perfect. Grizz, You've probably thought of this and researched it yourself in an earlier entry which I've missed (easy to do in a thread like this that gets updated so regularly due to your rapid progress). Now you have decided on seats, have you checked where the top bar of the windscreen will be in relation to your eye level when sitting in the driver's seat? I had a beach buggy a while ago with a chopped screen. The seats were already bolted to the floorpan, so no way they could be lowered and the top rail of the 'screen was right in my eye line when driving. It was really annoying and uncomfortable having to duck your head down or tilt it to one side to see under the windscreen frame when driving. It wound me up so much I sold the buggy after a couple of months as that ruined the pleasure of driving it. I had a similar issue with a buggy in the past, I ended up changing the seat frames as the line of vision issue was annoying me so much. Luckily it did not work out too costly There is a load of space for vision, but the ratios end up a touch odd. So staying standard for now. Some sound logic there, would look a bit odd with the roll bar higher than the screen! So now that decision has been put to bed, what's next on the hit list? My suggestion is: steering column - which includes the dash support - and linkage to the rack clutch and throttle pedals That will allow the wiring looms to be hung wherever various bits of them need to go - some like the engine ECU will be sited differently to the Mazda Fuel system That will allow a number of small doable in an evening jobs to be completed: radiator supports, wiring the lights, engine plumbing, throttle cable and all the other jobs that look quick but suck up a lot of time and resources. I would make getting it running a priority, as that is a big morale boost All sounds good. Moving the engine back an inch may work too. ………. I'm ringing at High Halstow Saturday morning. Would you like some help in the afternoon? I’m not sure that I would admit to ringing on a public forum.😇 ✅ I’m not sure that I would admit to ringing on a public forum.😇 It's already a very public activity; last night several thousand people in Rochester and Strood could hear us Pity I was unaware, may have taken a drive to come listen. Bed time I guess. Soon. |
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Jan 29, 2022 22:26:38 GMT
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Another one of those days….. Started slow, got going in the garage and was looking out front for my neighbour. Saw nickwheeler was just pulling up and reversed up on my drive. When he got out, he had a mischievous grin on his face….. We walked around to the deck and got a coffee. Then he pulled out this bit of magic…….. “ I had a bit of time and was bored, so I made a Dimple Die” I guess once again, we have no excuse not to make a small, tidy visor for the front screen.  Thanks Nick. That is just awesome. We then spent the rest of the day down at the garage, loads done, little to show. But a nice dinner, chat and an alcohol free beer for Nick. Trust me, the chicken thighs, Cajun rice and a load of vegetables was bloody brilliant.  More later. |
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Last Edit: Jan 29, 2022 22:30:17 GMT by grizz
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PREPARATION PREPARATION PREPARATION TIME FLIES FOR SURE. So my first job yesterday morning was to start trimming back the original steel dash support some more so it could be worked in under the dash and support the steering column and other bits. So I ground and cut back the welds at the ends, removing the wings. Better.  Nick and I were working in parallel most of the day. Next to go, more cautiously was was the steering column end mounts. Followed by careful grinding back, and cooling with a wet cloth to keep the plastic bush safe.  Coffee time at 2.00pm saw the iced Belgian buns coming out. At which time Nick had removed the original brake pipes in the engine bay, and I had managed to remove more of the engine bay “decorations” that would not work for this build, but will have to be made again to fit and accommodate the Mazda parts. The original Ford steering column bulkhead hole was disassembled and put up a very brave fight…. But eventually it was opened and cleared of plates and rusted in allen bolts. Allowing us to start making up the new plates. Which currently will incorporate the Ford brake and clutch assembly, albeit modified.  With trial fitting the Mazda steering column it became apparent we needed more space. So nickwheeler armed with masking tape, marker and ruler, marked the lines of engagement, and I fitted a fine toothed blade to my woodwork jigsaw with vacuum cleaner in tow and opened the dash up. The search will be on for a 450mm wide by 1500mm long length of good marine or phenolic ply to shape the dash from.  Pretty pleased so far. Followed by filing all the edges down, front and back, plus a strip of masking tape to make it less hazardous.  And test fit. Red line for centring.   Time for another coffee. Coffee drives this build. |
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Last Edit: Jan 30, 2022 8:23:50 GMT by grizz
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More progress, excellent!
Coffee powered? Belgian bun power trumps that!
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More progress, excellent! Coffee powered? Belgian bun power trumps that! Belgian buns fully ascribed to my ex-Nicola. Clever girl 😀 They are a special treat for me, and nickwheeler deserves and earns it. He also got to try an American Oat Creme Cookie that he may have liked. |
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nice work guys  great progress and with the bonus of the "Grizz Grin"  |
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