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Paul Woods
18-01-2018, 08:19
Valtezza...... has the irishman lost his mind? The name is made up from a V6 engine (1mz vvti) and Toyota Altezza 6 speed gearbox for use in an inline RWD application.

Nobody has ever managed to mate these two together and install them into anything, in fact just getting a 1mz to sit flat in an engine bay is a massive challenge in itself, but big challenges are what makes me get up in the mornings.

I'm not saying just yet what this engine/gearbox combo will be going in to, but i will detail the process of mating engine to gearbox and the engine mods needed.

So far the parts we have are....

V6 vvti 1mz-fe
Altezza 6 speed gearbox
Beams lightweight flywheel
Altezza LSD
Altezza propshaft/rear axles.

Lots of exciting projects happening in 2018.

dawesy
18-01-2018, 11:29
Following this one. Sounds intriguing


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Benjo
18-01-2018, 18:53
Is this going to be a new gear box option???????????[emoji3]


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Grenade
18-01-2018, 20:57
Nice. I'm interested to see the 60 degree V6, sit flat in an engine bay too. There's no doubt that you've got the skills to make it happen. Sounds fun and exciting!

Paul Woods
23-01-2018, 19:57
Progressing nicely with the arrival of my custom made flywheel.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/01/90.jpg

sketchy
24-01-2018, 20:33
Was gonna ask what you were doing with the flywheel, the alteza one is thick and ugly, unless you go single mass.....

But like a serial masturbator......you have it in hand, (like always)

So is it our super helpful Toyota with a common bolt pattern(on the bell housing), or do you need an adaptor plate to change the mating angles?
I may have to do something like this soon myself, mate wants to mazda v6 a mx5, with a manual rx7 trans.

Paul Woods
25-01-2018, 08:25
Several years ago i helped a member with his Beams 3s-ge install, and got this gearbox in exchange, so i checked out the fitment. Now a Beams 3s-ge is the same BH pattern/dowels as a regular Mk2 3s-ge, and a V6 fits on S54 gearboxes, so by that logic a V6 fits the Altezza BH/dowels and because the Beams 3s-ge sits straight in the Altezza (not canted backwards like it does in an Mr2) that means the V6 will sit straight bolted to that gearbox.

There are complications though, the starter motor location on the Altezza box won't work on the V6, it puts the starter into the left head (not really where you want it to be) , so i will be cutting out the starter boss and welding it back in further down, grinding out the block for clearance and fitting the smallest bodied starter i can find.

The starter has to go on the engine side and not on the gearbox side like an Mr2 would be, the pinion won't clear the flywheel, and would rotate the wrong way (unless i used Mr2 starter, but at this point it would become a huge headache).

All good fun!

Paul Woods
25-01-2018, 19:44
So as mentioned the starter motor won't work in the stock altezza location, so the starter housing needs rotating around so the starter has clearance to the v6 block.

I came up with this jig idea that captures the starter housing and rotates on the release bearing snout, this will give a very good accuracy welding the housing back on.

It's a one time use jig really.http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/01/103.jpghttp://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/01/104.jpg

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sketchy
26-01-2018, 18:42
That's a simple solution to the starter placement, and the section you cut out for it, welds back in, with the same jig....

Paul Woods
27-01-2018, 10:09
Indeed it does, it looks a bit crude at this stage but that jig literally has to do one job then probably never use it again.

sketchy
27-01-2018, 17:35
So it's probably moving to about 4, or 8 ish? Will you remachine the bell housing,to allow for bigger bolts on the top half?

Paul Woods
27-01-2018, 18:36
Currently it's at around 10 o'clock, I need to swing it down to around 8 o'clock ideally, no need to drill any holes out they are all in the right place.

sketchy
29-01-2018, 18:55
Was meaning on the lower section, the bit you move up.... are blot sizes an issue?

Paul Woods
29-01-2018, 19:56
Ah right I see, no there's no problem with bolt holes in that area.

Paul Woods
13-02-2018, 19:18
Time to reveal what I am doing with this Altezza / v6 combo.

This is a Hood chassis, not to be confused with the Robin Hood of similar design, only 8 of these full tubular stainless steel frames were ever built, they are widebody versions of the super 7 made to take v6 Or v8 engines.

Quite simply a work of art chassis wise, here it is with gearbox and diff thrown in place.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/81.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/82.jpg

thomp1983
13-02-2018, 20:29
Is this the one you swapped Tommy tank for?

Paul Woods
13-02-2018, 20:31
No I've just bought this one.

sketchy
14-02-2018, 02:04
I'd have that, more power then weight......what could possibly go wrong?

samreedy
14-02-2018, 14:56
Ooooooo

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Paul Woods
14-02-2018, 18:22
The donor mx5 arrived today, 2004 euphonic model with 65k on the clock, bought for £250 groats, this will give me hubs, steering, brakes, wiring harness and all switches etc, it's engine and box will end up in my other Robin Hood, almost every part of this car will be recycled.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/83.jpg

Grenade
15-02-2018, 21:19
That is going to be one mean little bit o kit!

sketchy
16-02-2018, 08:44
Why mx5 donor? Other than being the common donor for most small kit cars


Gonna poach some 6pot rx7 calipers to add too?

Paul Woods
16-02-2018, 08:49
The GBS Zero (closest relative to the Hood kit) uses the MX5 as a donor, so i can use Zero wishbones off the shelf on my frame.

Also Mx5 being 4x100 wheel pattern means i have lots of cool options on wheels, including Mk1 mr2 stuff. The Mx5 also has a front engined/rear drive layout, so the chassis harness has all of the components in the right place.

Oh do 6 pot Rx7 calipers fit on an Mx5?

boondougal
16-02-2018, 10:53
Very interesting build. As someone who picked up an already built kit car a year later r so ago it will be interesting to watch this one develope.

Paul Woods
16-02-2018, 22:58
Cheers squire!

Today was a busy day on the Hood, one of the big jobs i had to tackle before even thinking about getting this project off the ground was making the Altezza gearbox fit the engine and to get a working starter motor position. There is only one spot on the V6 that will allow a starter motor to locate and even then a lot of block material needs removing, along with having to relocate the starter housing on the bellhousing as well.... yep moving starter bosses, pretty involved stuff.

So this is the gearbox starter position before surgery....

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/96.jpg

On the V6 engine this would place the starter right in the middle of the left bank head, which isn't ideal, i'd prefer my cylinder head not to have a starter motor in it. So this boss needs rotating from the 10 o'clock position around to roughly 9 o'clock.

This was achieved by making a jig that slides tightly over the release bearing trumpet and bolts securely to the starter bolt holes, the boss is then cut out, the 2" of bellhousing removed beneath it and the boss swung around on the jig and welded back in place. The piece that was cut out then goes back in where the starter used to be...... clear? Let the pics speak....

Starter rotating boss jigamathing..... made from scrap steel mig welded together, the important bit is the ID of the trumpet tube, which fits very snugly, freeplay here would be a disaster.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/97.jpg

First job, cut out the starter boss....

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/98.jpg

Check on the engine which area i need to remove on both engine and gearbox....

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/99.jpg

Remove the area where the starter boss needs to sit....

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/100.jpg

Quick vid showing the "rotate-a-jig" in action, sorry about the music, the radio was on, who doesn't like the Spice girls though?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQe9u-sIpbI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQe9u-sIpbI)

Now with the starter boss in its new position, everything is Tig welded back up inside and outside the bellhousing, not my best aluminium welding but not my worst either.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/101.jpg

Inside my bell end...... hilarious.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/102.jpg

Now the counter part area on the engine block is cut away, this was the one and only spot it could go into.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/103.jpg

Et Voila, one Altezza gearbox bolted to a Lexus 1mz-fe and with a working starter motor position.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/104.jpg

So seeing as the gearbox was fitted to the engine i though it would be rude not to have a trial fit in the chassis just to get a rough idea of things....

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/105.jpg

This gives me funny feelings in my undercarriage.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/106.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/107.jpg

That's all for now folks, next up is engine mountings, gearbox mount, hanging the diff and more parts buying, hope you're enjoying the build.

Grenade
18-02-2018, 15:25
Wow. That is a brilliant idea on how to move that starter! Kept it simple, cheap and easy. I thought rotating that box was going to be insanely complicated. But- you've done it and that car is going to be scary fast. --- PERFECT.

Paul Woods
18-02-2018, 22:41
Thank you kindly, it turned out to be easier than I thought, let's hope the rest of the car goes that way.

sketchy
18-02-2018, 23:55
Some nice headers and lake pipes?

That's probably the last of the hard stuff for you.....

Paul Woods
19-02-2018, 07:45
Yes all in full polished stainless when the time comes.

dawesy
19-02-2018, 08:10
Awesome job Paul. Just shows that thinking about what needs to happen rather than how your going to do it brings about a simple solution.
Looking forward to the development


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Paul Woods
19-02-2018, 08:34
Thanks Lee, shame i will never get to use the "rotate-a-jig" ever again, i enjoyed doing that, might keep it on the shelf though in case some nutter decides to throw a v6 into an Altezza.

sketchy
20-02-2018, 04:59
I'd contemplate it, but more like a v6 Morris minor.....Ill get my coat....

It's either that or an sr20det....but the det motors are going for about $4-5k(like seriously, they have all been thrashed)....better to just up the displacement...

Paul Woods
20-02-2018, 08:35
I think the only restriction here is the availability of Altezza gearboxes/diffs etc , not easy to find cheaply.

sketchy
21-02-2018, 08:06
There are so many here, like 6 or so within 0.5km of my house....always getting kerb love, and beaten.

Paul Woods
21-02-2018, 08:34
Really? I've found the UK gets a shit selection of cars compared to the rest of the world, especially Japanese, we never got the Mr2 turbo for one..... a disgrace.

So i've been writing build threads and blogs on mine and customers cars for best part of 20 years now, and find the basic fabrication stage with oily engines and rough cut metal doesn't really interest readers that much, it's only when you start to paint things and make it all pretty that they come out of the woodwork, people are magpies i guess!



So at this stage i have no shiney shiney to show you but for me the raw fabrication and mock up stage is the really enjoyable part, templating brackets and getting everything to fit with all of the challenges and solutions required are the best bits for me, the making everything pretty stage is ok i guess, that's the part that rewards your efforts with a good looking result, but give me a grinder, plasma cutter and a welder and i'm a very happy man.



Here are the left and right engine mounting brackets tacked up in situ, they are sitting on 1976 Ford Capri bobbins (they were new and cheap) , Rover V8 ones are also ten a penny.



I had to cut the right side mounting bracket off the chassis and Tig weld it further towards the front of the car as the block mounting holes on each side are not equidistant.



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/124.jpg



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/125.jpg



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/126.jpg



Once removed, these will be seam welded, holes plasma cut in them to reduce their weight, planished off, shot blasted and powder coated.



The engine in the sweet spot.... note my car moving solution, the pallet truck also allows me to jack it all up 3" or so.



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/02/127.jpg



Next up is gearbox mount and diff hanging.

sketchy
21-02-2018, 09:40
I'd much rather the bodge and fab stuff, making pretty is good,but making something great from scraps and bits that don't belong is far more fun.

Built not bought....

big_zop
23-02-2018, 02:20
While it is nice to look at something pretty, I love all the detail and fabrication that goes into your projects so definitely keep up the not so pretty stuff too.

Paul Woods
07-03-2018, 08:15
Not a lot to show you recently, the beast from the east prevented me from getting to the garage all of last week, but it did give me time to order a lot of parts at home.



Since the last update i have removed the "roof" roll cage section, this is a road car so not needed. I will be using some of the tubes i cut out to reinforce certain areas that i feel need addressing, especially around the diff area.



One does not simply order parts for a Hood, i'm finding i either need to make everything from scratch or adapt a part from another Seven kit. My scuttle panel is from a Locost for example, it needs widening by around 3" to fit properly and my dash support tube needs redoing to suit. My nosecone hasn't arrived yet but i can already see it will need to be cut and extended, reglassed etc.



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/42.jpg



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/43.jpg



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/44.jpg

Paul Woods
14-03-2018, 21:02
Bought my dream Wheels jr19 15x9

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/57.jpg

sketchy
16-03-2018, 02:32
They are a fine choice on a little kitcar

Paul Woods
16-03-2018, 08:12
Agreed, absolutely love them, these have both 4x100 and 4x108PCD so will swap between the Robin Hood and the Valtezza if i wanted to.

I made a start on the new plenum which needs to sit much lower than the original and also relocates the throttle body to the rear of the engine.

I've started by cutting the lower flange off the plenum, this will form the starting point for it.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/62.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/63.jpg

Paul Woods
16-03-2018, 19:18
More plenuming.....4mm flat plate cut out and welded to the 1mz flange.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/64.jpg

Crush tubes added that extend through to the original flange...

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/65.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/66.jpg

Lid going on next and inlet for the throttle body....

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/67.jpg

Paul Woods
19-03-2018, 19:52
Plenum lid on and throttle body mocked up in position....

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/72.jpg

Throttle flange tacked on and more sections added...

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/73.jpg

Paul Woods
30-03-2018, 16:05
First wishbone underway, I made the jig out of an old kitchen cabinet door. 30mm CDS tubes used throughout.

This jig will allow the other front lower wishbone to be an exact copy of this one, I still need to make jigs for all of the other wish bones though.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/94.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/03/95.jpg

sketchy
30-03-2018, 20:53
Are you building wishbone's by choice? Or is that a part you could buy off them.

Fabbing them and building jigs takes time, is it worth it in time?

No I'm not having a go, there is satisfaction in doing it all....its the "why" we make the choices

Paul Woods
30-03-2018, 23:58
Necessity, there are no wish bones off the shelf that fit my frame, so I have to make everything.

sketchy
31-03-2018, 04:31
Fair enough..
Did you not want to rose joint, and tractor link it to give more camber/caster adjustment on the bottom arms?

Or will more adjustment be available on the chassis?

Paul Woods
31-03-2018, 09:23
On the front the top arm slides within the chassis mounting for castor adjustment, camber is done via top toe link, on the rear it's the same deal so fully adjustable all four corners.

Paul Woods
03-04-2018, 20:01
Both lower front wishbones now made and temporarily fitted.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/04/7.jpg

Paul Woods
07-04-2018, 11:51
Front upper wishbone jig done, again this one isn't handed at all so will work for both sides.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/04/42.jpg

sketchy
07-04-2018, 12:16
You've got jigs, and skills. With no off the shelf competition....

Is there a market?

Paul Woods
07-04-2018, 12:23
Unfortunately the chassis they bolt to is super rare, there's only 8 Hoods in existence and I have one of those.

Paul Woods
09-04-2018, 19:52
Front upper wishbones now completed.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/04/78.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/04/79.jpg

Paul Woods
16-04-2018, 19:58
Rear lower wish bones now done.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/04/124.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/04/125.jpg

Paul Woods
14-05-2018, 13:13
Quick update, all wishbones now done and I was able to get an idea what it is going to look like.

Now I stood back and looked at this Hood chassis with its wheels on and the proportions didn't look right, I know they only made 8 of these but it just looks very odd. The wheelbase is far too long, I'm talking 9" longer than a Westfield SE, 12" longer than my Robin Hood and just didn't look right at all.

I worked out 6" of this length was in the cabin area alone, even at 6ft I was fully extended and still had 8" behind the seat.

So I decided to shorten the chassis, I carefully cut and internally sleeved the tubes, corner checked my dimensions and welded it back up, I also added additional bracing.

The result is much better, looks correct for a Seven and I'm much happier. The second issue was the rear tub was far too high, sitting 4" above the scuttle top! It leaves me thinking what the hell were they thinking, if left like this it would be a real ugly duckling. Add to that my Westfield rear panel would not fit, again all height related issues, the length at the rear was fine.

So I cut the rear tub and lowered it by 4", everything now fits and looks like it should.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/05/55.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/05/56.jpg

Bonnet cut to start making recess for the intake plenum....

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/05/57.jpg


So I also made my own design of rear camber adjuster on the top arm, it's basically an eccentric washer between two guide rails and slotted the brackets either side of the hub. Rotating the bolt slides the hub inboard/outboard by 5*, plenty.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/05/58.jpg


On the front I've made an adapter bracket to interface the Escort rack with the Hood chassis, I've positioned it height wise so that I have less than 2mm of tracking change from fully lowered to fully raised wishbones, I'm very happy with that.


http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/05/59.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/05/60.jpg
Steering column also in....

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/05/61.jpg

So hopefully if I get a few bank holidays and weekends thrown at it the fabrication stage will be done by the end of Summer, then total teardown and rebuild properly.

inglismark
14-05-2018, 21:58
bloody hell, top fabrication there chief!

Paul Woods
15-05-2018, 11:14
Thank you kindly, it's quite sobering thinking I will be doing over 100mph having built or made everything by hand, welding up wishbones is not for the learner that's for sure.

Paul Woods
02-06-2018, 18:38
Big milestone reached, now a fully rolling chassis.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/06/1.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/06/2.jpg

sketchy
03-06-2018, 13:19
A few more bits and pieces left...done by tuesday, yeah?

Looks good.

Paul Woods
03-06-2018, 17:48
Tuesday 2020 maybe :)

Tommytank
04-06-2018, 11:20
Yea i can see now why the Hood was the preferred option. That is a serious bit of kit.

Paul Woods
04-06-2018, 12:04
Yeah agreed Tommy, however there are things they didn't get quite right in my opinion, wheelbase was silly etc

I think this stopped being an actual Hood some time ago, I've robbed so many bits of Westfields and Locosts it's got no real identity anymore.

sketchy
10-06-2018, 01:36
So it's a woodcost?

Thats probably the best name for it now....

LawrenceSelly
10-06-2018, 22:47
So it's a woodcost?

Thats probably the best name for it now....

The Valtezza Woodcost

Love it :D

Paul Woods
11-06-2018, 08:18
It doesn't exactly have the same ring to it as a Pagani Zonda now to be honest! Somehow I don't think we will ever see it go into mass production.

Valtezza Woodcost...... oh dear, i've only gone and built a VW.

Tommytank
11-06-2018, 08:50
Woodsport Hoodsport.

Paul Woods
13-06-2018, 08:26
Tommy that's truely terrible mate :)

Tommytank
13-06-2018, 11:23
No need to be rude, sport. I did what i could, sport. :yelrotflmao:


..... yea, its horrific.

Paul Woods
14-07-2018, 12:18
Not much to report on the Valtezza, the weather has been so nice I've been spending weekends out in the Robin Hood, which I've just treated to a set of Image split rims and fresh rubber, also fitted camber correction plates to the rear which has transformed the handling.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/07/38.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/07/39.jpg

sketchy
16-07-2018, 05:38
Not much to report on the Valtezza, the weather has been so nice I've been spending weekends out in the Robin Hood, which I've just treated to a set of Image split rims and fresh rubber, also fitted camber correction plates to the rear which has transformed the handling.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/07/38.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/07/39.jpg

Id have that when your done with the big kids one....

Paul Woods
16-07-2018, 08:30
The plan is to sell this one as soon as the big 'un is finished, it's so much fun, not the quickest car by any means but definitely the funerest.

I've been slowly upgrading the Robin Hood during the Valtezza build, i ditched the Twin 40 webers it had on, which sucked arse running wise, i just couldn't get it running right on those damn things, and instead i converted it to run on ZX10 bike carbs and made an aluminium airbox for it, she pulls sweet and clean now, one of the best mods i've ever done, i'd highly recommend bike carbs to anyone looking to simplify their fuelling.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/07/47.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/07/48.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/07/49.jpg

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/07/50.jpg

With the filter on it just clears the radiator fan, which is blasting air in that area, it's about as neat as i can get it, but this engine bay is never going to win any beauty prizes.

thomp1983
16-07-2018, 14:07
Bit like you then Paul :laugh2:

Paul Woods
16-07-2018, 15:22
Listen to Brad Pitt there :)

sketchy
17-07-2018, 06:16
Does it work? Yes
Does it fit? Yes

Does it need to be pretty? No, Because fast beats pretty.......

jimi
17-07-2018, 21:08
Does it work? Yes
Does it fit? Yes

Does it need to be pretty? No, Because fast beats pretty.......

So what's wrong with being fast and pretty? they are not mutually exclusive :icon_wink:

sketchy
20-07-2018, 03:45
So what's wrong with being fast and pretty? they are not mutually exclusive :icon_wink:

Nothing wrong with fast and pretty, alfa 8c....

But, its not outwardly visible, so doesnt need to be pretty...lol

Paul Woods
08-08-2018, 17:12
The weirdest thing just happened, bear in mind i've altered the length of my frame to an unspecified length, mounted the engine/gearbox where i best think it needs to be ie a random position, mounted the diff where i want it, again not a measured distance..... so I measured the gap between gearbox and diff and i sent my Altezza prop away to be made the correct length to suit my project which i was due to collect on Thursday.

Wandering through the workshop, i spotted a propshaft, from some obscure Toyota or Lexus i've accumulated over the last 20 years, it's the only propshaft i have here..... and thought that looks very close to what i need, would you believe i offered it up and it is an absolutely perfect fit into the gearbox, onto the diff and the perfect length!!!



I quickly rang the machine shop and asked them to cancel my prop order, luckily they hadn't started work on it, i don't think i will ever be luckier, what are the chances of finding a random prop that just fits on a custom built kit car?

The swap gods weren't just smiling down on me, they were giving me a full blown reach around!..... I will never be luckier.

sketchy
09-08-2018, 04:02
Its only a reach around, if the gods are in the back already.....

Thats just fortunate.....

Fuppylodders
09-08-2018, 07:00
That's definitely a big stroke of luck! Lets hope you get many more reacharounds... :yelrotflmao:

Paul Woods
20-08-2018, 08:41
So I've now hung the Altezza LSD, it's mounted on its original mounting rubbers so NVH should be minimal.

Coming to the end of the fabrication stage now.

http://www.woodsport.org/forum/images/recovered/2018/08/81.jpg

http://www.woodsport.org/forum/images/recovered/2018/08/82.jpg

Paul Woods
24-08-2018, 08:45
Getting down to the finer fabrication jobs now before the complete teardown, which i'm really looking forward to as i'm tired of looking at this thing in bare steel and crap looking components, bring on the pretty stuff as quicky as possible!



Radiator mounted, this is the largest rad i could find that will fit into the nosecone area, i've fitted it at a 45* angle rather than flat in the original Hood, it's from a BMW E30 and the outlets point in the correct direction for me which is nice.



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/08/58.jpg



Also got my screen mountings done, i've made that screen from MG midget parts, very happy with it as it looks factory but different from the usual 7 screen.



Left rad hose, reason for doing this now, the solid pipe is bracketed to the chassis, so will get painted during final assembly, the front hose is from a Celica GT4 and the rear hose is from a Mk3 Mr2 that also has the take off for the header tank, both pipes just happen to be the right diameter and shape, those exhaust manifolds are temporary, i will be making all new stainless 3 into 1 items.



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/08/59.jpg



Handbrake is in, no cables for me, i'm going full hyrdaulic onto separate spot calipers. That's an MX5 lever modified onto a universal master cylinder, it's very compact and simple, no messing around with custom cables and all of the nonsense that comes with them.



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/08/60.jpg



Fuel tank bracketry will be done this weekend and at this point i think i can pretty much tear it all apart now, paint everything and begin final assembly.

Tommytank
24-08-2018, 09:13
Was there not an issue on MOT with a hyd handbrake? Not sure but I seem to remember rally and drifto crews needing to add them as additions rather than replacements as the cable system was a mandatory requirement?

Paul Woods
24-08-2018, 12:46
As far as i'm aware the definition is it needs to be a separate mechanical system to the normal hydraulic footbrake, which of course it is, but the interpretation of "mechanical" could be drawn into question if someone wanted to be pedantic about it...… that does however raise a question mark over the modern electronic handbrakes on production cars, none of those have cables either.

geoffmunt
24-08-2018, 13:49
My understanding was that it can't be solely hydraulic due to the risk of the brake releasing after fluid which had been expanded cools down. If you are saying this would be a completely independent circuit including fluid then that might swing it.

The modern ones are solenoid operated I believe, don't know if that works on hydraulics or some direct mechanical link though.

Tommytank
24-08-2018, 14:06
The VW affairs i have been involved with are mechanical direct to the piston, much like the MR2 ideas with just a motor direct on the lever.

Paul Woods
29-08-2018, 08:19
I tigged up an aluminium fuel tank which is upside down L shaped, so it maxes out the area above the diff as well as behind it, it holds around 55 litres which is massive for a Seven type car, but i wanted some range on this thing with it having the V6 fitted. My Robin Hood with its 1600 Pinto needs frequent fill ups due to its small tank, so i wanted to make sure this car had a decent tank.

It is fully internally baffled for surge and also has a small sump right were the pump sits, the whole pump/gauge assembly is from the Mx5 donor which makes it compatible with the gauges i'm going to use. I've also fitted the Mk2 Mr2 NA fuel pump into the Mx5 carrier as we know that pump works perfectly with the V6.

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/08/77.jpg

Oh yeah, added a Fiat Coupe Cobra style filler cap assembly too.

LawrenceSelly
29-08-2018, 11:56
You need a film student, filming you, and you could make a killing on youtube uploading all of these.

Bet you could get one from Teesside/Durham that had a passion for cars too.

Paul Woods
29-08-2018, 16:12
LOL not sure about that, i have a face for radio :)

Paul Woods
03-09-2018, 14:46
With a weekend at home to spare (Robin Hood stays at home, the Valtezza is at the garage/work) i decided to facelift the Robin Hood dash, this is exactly what i am going to do on the Valtezza too.
I love Burr Walnut, it harks back to my love of old classics and gives any dashboard a touch of class about it, to be honest i hated the leather covered steel sheet that was there before.
So although not 100% finished, i've added a few more Smiths gauges, converted my defuct ETB speedo and tacho to modern (but retro looking) equivalents, i've also added a glovebox which wasn't there before. The wood i used for this was taken from an old wardbrobe door i bought from Ebay for pennies, i have the other door which will go into the Valtezza dash.
http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/09/1.jpg
http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/09/2.jpg

Tommytank
04-09-2018, 15:12
Butchering old wardrobes for a dashboard?

http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/09/5.jpg

...just hold on a minute!

Paul Woods
04-09-2018, 16:25
http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/09/1.png

Angpozzuto
04-09-2018, 21:09
I have to say my mk1 1mz is very jealous of that fuel tank, I normally need to fill up after 160 odd miles . Do you think a fuel tank that big rear mounted would upset the balance of the car?

Paul Woods
04-09-2018, 21:12
Yes I do, I think it would be too much weight in the rear.

Paul Woods
12-09-2018, 08:25
I keep saying the fabrication stage is nearly finished before the big tear down, but then i find another thing i need to fabricate and off we go again. I feel i am close to that point.



Fresh rubber on the JR19's, i went for a full sized spare rather than a thinner version, made the spare wheel carrier which will also carry the number plate holder/lighting, there is also a removeable frame behind the rear panel which will hold the 4x100 wheel mount, it needed to be removeable to get my fuel tank out in future.



So this is how she currently looks, like something dredged from the canal, i know it's only cosmetic but looking forward to the making things pretty stage.



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/09/28.jpg



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/09/29.jpg



She's got a fat ass, 70" from arch to arch.



http://www.twobrutal.co.uk/forum/images/recovered/2018/09/30.jpg

byrney1984
15-09-2018, 22:51
Thats some seriously top work there Paul. Hat off to you sir. It looks like its screaming mad max style supercharger poking out the bonnet.

Paul Woods
17-09-2018, 08:31
Thank you, we don't get many visitors to TB these days so the build threads often look like a man talking to himself!

jimi
17-09-2018, 13:54
:e045: I'm still watching :wink: You doing another "wardrobe" dash for this one ?

Martin42006
17-09-2018, 14:03
Still watching too. It seems to be the same on all forums recently, too many people have migrated over to facebook.

jimi
17-09-2018, 14:20
Still watching too. too many people have migrated over to facebook.
Not me, no way, no how, no interest !!

pbmr2
17-09-2018, 15:25
I hardly post, but read a lot.

byrney1984
17-09-2018, 15:41
I feel the same on my turbo v6 build thread. But as long as people are interested I’ll keep posting until its up and running. Then people can tell me if it was worth when I get it to the shows.

jimi
17-09-2018, 18:53
I visit every day and keep up to date with all the build threads, so keep posting :cool:

mrhappy62
17-09-2018, 19:49
I visit every day and keep up to date with all the build threads, so keep posting :cool:

What he said :thumbsup:

JB
17-09-2018, 21:42
Even ol JB still visits regularly to check what you are all up to!
Can't be doing with facebook.

sketchy
17-09-2018, 22:34
Fb is for sharing content about food/drinks/people....most car stuff comes here.

That said i did start a closed group for my car stuff, to share with people who dont trawl tb......heathens

byrney1984
12-10-2018, 18:43
Have you made any progress lately Paul?

Paul Woods
13-10-2018, 11:17
Yes I've now torn it back down to the bare frame for painting and final assembly, also stripped the v6 down for its rebuild so lots of pretty pics coming soon.

byrney1984
13-10-2018, 19:32
Oh can’t wait. It will be an animal. I keep helping the brother in law with his Dutton pharton. But only because I want to have a blast in it lol. Keep up the hard work I’m sure theres loads of picture whores just waiting to see your work.