Aaron Beams Mcgregor 7

[nz_climber]

Today I managed to finish off the dash. Made the join between the main dash and the glare shield a nice radius thanks to some bog, and a lot of sanding, and finished off the Indicator/Wiper switch covers with a bit more sanding.

Then wasn't sure what else to do, so put everything back together with tunnel panels etc so see how it looks, and took a few photos (will send some off for the calender in the next few days. )



from another angle

[nz_climber]

Ok things might have look they its going backwards, but that was always the plan, anyway the last few days have been busy with odd jobs with not much to show..

First is reinforcing the drivers seat a bit, with 3mm core matt, worked really well - might add some more later depending how much twist is has once bolted in.


Second job (inbetween helping my brother change a cam belt on a 1uz toyota soarer - what a mission) finishing off the back panels in the boot area, fitted rivnuts so can remove the springs and diff if needed. other panels are just fixed with self tappers for now, will rivet them down once fuel lines are in.


Last job for today was remove the engine. Now can go about fitting the side panels and making up the driver and passenger foot well panels. Also gives a chance to tidy up the engine, fit the sump, change the seals etc

[nz_climber]

It looks to have gone backwards, front wish bones, uprights etc all removed, side panels test fitted, need a few adjustments but looking good.


Made up the passengers footwell panel, it is pretty complicated to get around the dry sump oil tank behind it, but should be ok once its fixed


Thats about it, heading back up north tomorrow to start back at work again, fingers crossed I should get down here more than last year..

[nz_climber]

Well not much progress has been made, I am still living in the wrong part of the country, although I have done a fair bit of wiring for another clubbie getting built just down the road

My dad has been working hard though, and making a stainless fuel tank, here are some pictures of progress, the surge tank is complete, and main tank should be done in the next couple of weeks. As you can see the surge tank takes an in-tank pump (standard altezza item) and is hidden inside the main tank saving space in the boot area.

[nz_climber]

I have got a bit of money now, so things should start to progress again, have fuel lines and accelerator cable on the way, also purchased a standard airbox to modify to go into my nose cone/ or just behind the radiator somewhere!

Heading down to burnham for work next week so hopefully get a bit of time on the car in the evenings.

[nz_climber]

Well my last planned trip didn't happen, because of the events that happened on ANZAC day, so will be now down in Chch on the 19th of May for a few days, and then probably again the weekend after (Iam in Woodbourne for a 2 week course).

Can't wait to get down and do some work.
Fuel tank is pretty much done.
Now sorting out some rear brakes (got some nissan primera hand brake calipers for free)
Also have brought a few parts from wreakers - Flexible fuel lines, and Accelerator cable and a airbox with MAF sensor mounting.

Sorry nothing important or interesting. Getting a bit worried now MarkP and Flewy and Heavyseven are going to finished their cars well before me if I don't speed up!!

[nz_climber]

Ok time for another update, due to a bit of good luck instead of a week 4wd course (because of the bad weather) I ended up in Chch and working on my car, which makes a change!

Anyway, the plan was to have it painted soon, but got a few quotes etc, and have now decided paint can wait, I will be sporting the popular un polished alloy and white gel coat fibreglass for now! This means I will have money to put towards getting the car finished and on the road sometime in the next 6months (fingers crossed)

First of the pictures is the great work my dad has done on my Stainless Fuel tank and inbuilt surge tank. Filled with water to test for leaks (only one which has been fixed) total of 34L in the tank, and 2L in the surge tank with pump fitted.



Here is the lift pump for the surge tank


Next was a lot of fitting and testing the side and rear panels ready to be installed, and also making up the 3/4 panels. Big news is I actually stuck down a few of the internal panels with glue and rivets! (in the boot area and under the scuttle)

Recieved a set of guards thanks to Mcgregor Motorsport, here are some pics of one in place with the wheel, and can also just spot the new rear brake disc (drums have been removed now)



Next things to do are
Finish setting up rear brakes (caliper bracket and handbrake cable)
Send the car to Mcgregors for some front end adjustment and new front wishbones
Line side panels with vinyl (in cockpit area) and cut some holes for the exhaust etc
Bonnet is getting z3 vents fitted

[nz_climber]

The Z3 vents have now been added to the bonnet, thanks to the good job done by Terry at Redline Customs and Classics. I think they look good and help with the problem most 7's have which is over heating due to not enough air getting out from under the bonnet



Now to get a similar vent or something just below this vent to get some air flow past the oil tank

[nz_climber]

Manged to get some more time to work on the car last week, and pretty happy with the progress that was made.

First off was getting the brakelines P-clipped in place.
My dad finished the first rear brake caliper bracket and also made the second one too
Handbrakes cables were purchased and bracket made and fitted.
So now the rear brakes are all complete (all except some longer wheel studs to fit the mags when they go on the car)

Here are some of the details of the parts used to go from sierra drums to disc brakes:
2 times rear calipers from a 1988 crx (also common to most early model civics and some smaller fwd nissans)
2 times rear brake cables from a 3door EG civic
2 times rear brake discs from a nissan pirmera (same thickness as civic but with correct offset and about 10mm more diameter.) Redrilled to suit ford 4*108 stud pattern
2 times spacers for under the hub (replaces where the drum backing plate used to be)
2 times custom caliper brackets

In the process saved about 3.5kg from each side. (A fair bit of unsprung mass and alot of rotating mass too)

Also got the fuel tank fitted into its final resting place

Car is ready for travel to Mcgregors now for some alterations to the steering rack placement and new aero shaped wishbones.

Here are some photo show I have actually done some work.

[nz_climber]

Well its been a while since the last update but here is the progress - I know its nothing exciting like the other fast paced builds around here, but its surprising how much time little things like the dash and cambelt covers take.

Since last time:
Mcgregors have modified my steering rack mount and also have made my new front A arms so they should be on the way soon

Did some more work on the dash to finish it off, looks good now – just need some perspex to cover it


Also cut and hacked up my cambelt cover (as it didn’t fit with the new cambelt route now the dry sump system is installed, and also at the top was to tall to fit under the bonnet, so a bit of fibre glass and some bog later, everything is all good just needs some paint to finish it off.
After the hacking and cutting

After the fibre glass and some bog to smooth it over


Also while in christchurch I managed to get a few laps in a friends racing mini, was great fun to get out on track (although I was very slow – first time driver at Ruapuna) but was a good day for it, and only 3 other cars there for the morning session.