Project Shed build diary - count down to MGF15

[sparky135]

Great thread, Rob.

Keep up the good work. Looking forward to seeing this in the metal at Gaydon. I've read so much about it. Will be great to see it.

[johnreed]

Great thread Rob!
I wish youd publish "101 things to do with a jack while the missus watches big brother" i had to use my elbow to fit the janspeed 4 2 1!
See you at MG15
John

[Rob Bell]

glad you got them. i am sure after a little testing you will get the settings best suited for your tracking exploits.
i spent about 2 months testing for track settings and standard road and once you start with the number of half turns of the valve ( i think 30odd) and then work out the front /rear % all will be well. my settings would be no good , not for the weight of the 'r' but due to different driving styles. thats what made the system so good, its flexibility. or just lock them down totally, although against current thinking i found it best when the fluids were able to run l/r. and no more noses dives

good luck with the project will keep an eye out for your development, with you in spirit. as edmond h said about conquest of everest (the hill not the glazing) why?? because its there. well my take on it is, why??? to see if it works.

Thanks Gerry - and that ethos of 'why??? to see if it works!' is perfect for this project! Actually this is a significant part of buying the car in the first place - to try out really mad ideas that I wouldn't be brave enough to do on my other MGF!

The isolator valve is going to be fun to play with - particularly given the weight that's already come out of the car. I'll have to let you know how I get on with this once it is back on the road!

Great thread, Rob.

Keep up the good work. Looking forward to seeing this in the metal at Gaydon. I've read so much about it. Will be great to see it.

It isn't much to look at yet - I hope you'll not be disappointed! It certainly lives up to its 'Sheddy' name at present. Currently investigating the idea of getting it covered in Vinyl. There's a local company that reckons they can cover it for around 800 quid... cheaper than a respray! Will have to find sponsorship to do this though - 800 quid is probably more than I've spent on the car so far (excluding the roll cage - which cost 600 quid - but that's not currently in the car...)

Great thread Rob!
I wish youd publish "101 things to do with a jack while the missus watches big brother" i had to use my elbow to fit the janspeed 4 2 1!
See you at MG15
John

Thanks John. Maybe get the book out for Christmas! I'm sure it'll be a big seller - including the top tip on how to get the Christmas tree standing at a true perpendicular!

[johnreed]

We've already discussed that Rob, and it's fairy abuse!

[Rob Bell]

We've already discussed that Rob, and it's fairy abuse!

[Ezra]

Hi Rob.
Was flicking through pics of project shed and noticed what looks like a tf boot on your f.
Was this a straight swap or is there work involved?
Best of luck with the car, hope your still making progress with it.

[Rob Bell]

That's indeed a TF boot lid. But not a standard one. It's from an MGF/TF Cup car - and as such is made in GRP. It's located using 4 pins - so not exactly practical for a trip down the shops - or particularly secure!

However, to your question - yes, a TF boot lid is a straight swap for the MGF one. Thinking about getting one for my other MGF!

[Herbie]

Very interesting read / view ! I must have overseen it, just stumbled across this thread.
Good work Rob

[Ezra]

Ya definitly makes you take a second look So..... that's another item on my "must get list"
Are you going to spray the car? Any perforamace upgrades planned?

[Rob Bell]

Thanks Stephan

Ezra, much work already done and much more planned!

Engine wise, for the time being, things are going to remain reasonably standard - but for a better cold air supply and K&N panel filter - oh and a pair of Lotus Sport 135 cams on Piper Vernier pulleys, a Trevor Taylor, single exit sports exhaust (lighter than the standard 'box) and a 4-2-1 exhaust manifold

Plenty more to do - considering fitting motorcycle throttle bodies and may be a Megasquirt engine management system

Regarding the paint on the car - well, certainly the current finish(es) are particularly rough - but I think that I've got rid of worst of the rot now. But spray versus vinyl? Not sure. I would like to try the vinyl route. About 800 quid I think. But I'd need to find sponsorship to do that!

Latest update - not a great deal done these last couple of evenings - but the last of the suspension has received a lick of paint - so all that remains to do now is to check all the torque settings, and fit the brackets for those sexy new brake rotors

painted_subframe.jpg (46.83 KiB) Viewed 99 times

[Kasper]

As Shed is about weight: What's the weight of the Vinyl compared to a tin of paint?

nice paintjob on the subframe and the other parts
It's looking it is about time to come over and admire your project Rob, see you at MGF15!

[Rob Bell]

Kasper - you know, I don't know about the weight difference between vinyl and paint! Bet there isn't an awful lot in it! But I'll go with the more 'cost effective' option. But another thing to consider is the longevity of the finish. Paint *can* last indefinitely. Vinyl is far more sensitive to UV exposure - and is said not to last much more than 5 years.

Mind you, given that I plan to use this car in competition, how long do you reckon a paint job will last on a competition car?

[ErikB]

Mind you, given that I plan to use this car in competition, how long do you reckon a paint job will last on a competition car?

Touching up or a small repair (especially on a racer) could be done by yourself. It's harder to repair scratches and dents when working with vinyl.

Hope to see this famous F at MGF15

[Rob Bell]

Very true Erik! As it happens, Dick Owen had a tin of orange paint and a spray gun - so that's one option. The other is to have a go in Halford's car park with a party pack of rattle cans!

Look out for the Sheddy-ist (should that be shabby-chic?) MGF at the show, and you'll not miss it!

[vexis]

Good luck with ur project Rob hope its well on track for the meet.
Im gutted I wont be able to see ur work as I cant make it
But good luck to you.

[Rob Bell]

The minimum build target is to get the Shed back on its wheels - and thankfully I've now got some more wheels after some thieving scumbag stole the ones originally on the car, along the ones from the donor! Grrrr...

So with the front suspension now rebuilt, I should be well on track for that.

I'd also like to get the GRP bonnet repaired and fitted in time - at least this would mean that it would have bonnet pins to hold the bonnet down during transport! I also need to replace the offside front wing (its waiting in the sidelines) and refit the headlamps - and probably temporarily fit one of the standard driver's seats to the car (I don't think that I'll have the Cobra buckets fitted in time unfortunately).

So I don't think that the target is too ambitious - but obviously I'll see what else I can get done on the Saturday ahead of the show! Watch this space

[Rob Bell]

Progress this week has been a bit slow - work getting in the way, but yesterday collected a Liquid Levers hydragas pump from Brian, and a set of VVC alloys - the Shed shall have wheels!!!

Managed to get away early today and collected a 5 litre can of hydrolastic fluid - should be enough to pump up the car from dry

So this evening has seen me just going round checking the torque settings on the subframe, and a couple of other little jobs ahead of taking the subframe across to the in-laws, the current residence of the Shed.

First job was to bolt on the brake caliper adapters for the new brake discs...

John Reed Racing caliper spacer bracket

brake_bracket.jpg (56.49 KiB) Viewed 37 times

I also thought that now might be a good opportunity to fit 45 degree grease nipples that should make things a little easier to service the upper arm greasing points when the suspension is all back in place...

Standard versus 45 degree nipples

45_degree_grease_nipples.jpg (27.86 KiB) Viewed 37 times

These replace the standard one, located in the upper arm, as shown here:

Nipple location

location-OF_grease_nipple.jpg (47.08 KiB) Viewed 37 times

Here it is, fitted:

45 degree grease nipple fitted

nipple_in_situ.jpg (52.69 KiB) Viewed 37 times

[Rob Bell]

I also got out the epoxy resin, and have attempted to repair the GRP bonnet which has split apart following its flipping open at 100mph at Spa...

bonnet_repair.jpg (53.39 KiB) Viewed 37 times

bonnet_repair2.jpg (58.13 KiB) Viewed 37 times

Fingers crossed, this will fix it.

So, preparation for tomorrow, and the big fit up.... I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be a long day!

[tanamana]

I hope all goes well. Been following this for quite a while now
and I hope to see the 'Outhouse' in question on Sunday.

DAMN you is clever, innit.

[Rob Bell]

'twaz a long day... fitted subframe, stood on rusty nail, shouted a lot, hobbled around, fitted new brakes, wheels, pumped up suspension, discovered that rear hydras soheres appear to have failed, cursed some more, refitted wing, grp bonnet, bumper, afixed "MGF" number plates and....

MADE IT!!!!

The Shed enjoyed it's first public outing Pictures to follow - had a great day - great to put faces to names

The shed, for the first time, is on my drive - so I hopr to be able to do more small jobs over the coming weeks in evenings - I guess we'll see