Jackal

Speaking of the dash. I got the new back plate in for the dash. I didn't like the way the first one was cut, and even though I won't be seeing it, I still felt it needed a new back plate. Nine dollars of aluminum and a couple minutes work, and I have the back plate mounted and riveted in. Then came the carbon fiber dash. I held my breath and got it drilled and ready to be cut up some more. The little silver things on the CF dash are rare earth magnets. I use them to tell me where the chassis cross braces are for riveting, and to help confirm my measurements for the gauge fitment. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/IMG_8222.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/IMG_8212.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/d96b80df.jpg

I have assembled most of the Intake manifold, with the exception of the backplate and the trumpets that go on top. Since the alternator sits just below the intake, I'll need that in before I can install the intake permanently and get the fitment of the back plate right. The back plate will not fit if it is centered right on the intake, and to fit it correctly I'll need the to have the hood buckled down correctly. The hood needs the scuttle fitted, the scuttle needs the dash and the electrical in, the electrical........ http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/58c1c32f.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/IMG_8207.jpg

I got a bunch of updates on my blog, but not a tonne of progress. You can check out the blog here: http://lennardj.shawwebspace.ca/ I'll paraphrase the last bunch of updates. The coles notes if you will. The alternator bracket I was hoping was the silver bullet to my mounting challenges has been cut apart, and will have new arms welded to it. Thanks to a great member here, who also lets me rent his garage the arms were cut today. I hope to get a welding lesson tomorrow to stick some metal together. I didn't think it would be so hard to fit a significantly smaller alternator in the car. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/c819e661.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/1d77c509.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/IMG_8220-1.jpg

I painted my last set of wheels Corvette Burnt Sunrise (copper) and think it could look great against the Carbon Fiber.

Firstly, I appreciate everyone's feedback. Hopefully this info will help others in my situation in future. I have been waffling a bit as to weither or not I will go with the large cost of a digital dash right away, or wait. I have been getting a lot of push towards the digital dash, but the wallet and the co-pilot have been leaning towards the cheaper VDO solution. I've got some feedback for the various dash displays for you if interested. Just a short list of likes and dislikes from my own opinon, and limited knowledge. I check for the availability of the sensors for the dash as well, so I will not provide feedback on that, although only certain dash's provide the sensors in the base kit. The Digidash is the most recent digital solution I was looking into. I like many of the features for it, and the cost, but mostly appreciate that it includes the warning and indicator lights. The biggest downfall to it is that not all the info is displayed at once. Is there a way to set the dsplay to cycle through the sensor readings? -Cosworth Pi - I like the look, and really like that it comes with Red back light. There appear to be warning lights on it, but unfortunately there doesn't appear to be the turn indicator lights on it. When optioned up, it is a bit expensive. - Aim MXL - Great looking Dash with all the warning lights as well. A little on the pricey side, and does not have indicator lights that I can tell. That may be software adjustable though. - Motec - Very straight forward. Not too keen on the way it looks, and the limited info on the screen at any given time. - RLC - I feel it's more suited to race, and not suited to a daily driver. The looks arent to my taste either. - RaceTechnology Dash 2 - Seems to have everything I want in a dash. Looks good, indicator lights are included, as well as headlight LED's. Lots of info on the display all at once, and a good price. Seems like it could be a suitable candidate. To me it seems very similar to the Digidash in the LED functionality for the warning and indicator lights and price point. I like the look of the IQ3, and it was the first one recommended to me by a shop when I mentioned I was looking for a Stack dash.

I agree. :iagree: Thanks!

I am at the point of my build where I am looking at the gauges. I have a full set of VDO's but none of the senders. I have been wrestling with the decision of going with a digital setup instead. I have a carbon fiber dash and will be putting it on top of a new aluminum dash plate this weekend, but still have doubts about cutting into this nice new dash for gauges I may not be happy with. I started by looking at the Stack (ST8130P) digital dash, mostly due to how good Mighty Mikes looks. The shop I go to often had mentioned the IQ3 setup, and recently I found the Digidash 2 (DD2 Pro). I'd like to have all the warning and indicator lights included on the digital dash as opposed to having to cut more holes in the new CF. I wanted to see what you folks are using, and see if there are options I am missing. Stack ST8130P IQ3 Digidash DD2 Pro any more I should be looking at?

Some pics of the Kitspares brackets.

It looks like I should have plenty of room moving it down around an inch to an inch and a half. The pulley bracket really only needs to have another hole made in it, and it should work. I'll be mounting it with a lengthened top bolt for the water pump. (the only Torx bolt I've found on the motor)

Well, I am disappointed to write that the Kitspares kit was not the silver bullet I had hoped it would be, but the alternator will be much easier to fit that the one I was give with the kit. The Kitspares alternator is about half the size. The pulley bracket does not quite fit, but it will require only a small amount of modification to make it work. The bracket for the alternator itself will need a complete redo though. That bracket mounts the alternator slightly upward from where it mounts to the block. This causes the top of the alternator to hit the support brace that runs from the foot box to the headlight bracket. The alternator bracket needs to go downward about an inch and a half. I think I'll take a buddy up on his fab skills and get him to cut the bracket and mount the arms (or fab new ones) slightly downward. Tonight I'll take some pictures to show what I'm running into.

For the price of the complete intake kit, I would have expected the capscrews at least. There are eight missing from the manifold/ITB union, and another 12-16 for the monifold/Head union. I didn't find out the thread patern last night, so tonight I'll double check the thread in the head, and get all the remaining hardware tomorrow. No, no instructions online either. The Intake is easy enough, but I have a bunch of crazy brackets for the alternator and little direction as to the orientation. There is a chap who has a blog about it though. The details are a bit lean, but there are a couple pictures. Here's the total guide for the kit from the Kitspares site: http://www.kitspares.co.uk/shop/item.php?cat=5&product=5021&catsub=0 And from the other fellow's site: http://gbszerobuild.blogspot.com/2011/10/fitting-alternator.html I know what you mean about the slow progress. I just can't seem to get the traction I need to make significant progress. Good to see you're getting some progress on motor.

It's looking like there will be a bit of bodging to get it all going. The Jenvey looks amazing, and I can't wait to get it installed. I have the linkage assembly put together loosly already. I'm not such a fan of the filter setup though, and would like to get a pair of K&N, or similar oval filters and top/bottom plates. I have seen some of the cool Honda kids using independant filters for each ITB too, and those setups look pretty nice as well. I have seen a few different setups here, and on the Birkin Yahoo group, but I have yet to find any PN's. I was disappointed to see the backplate for the filter isn't even drilled for the kit _THEY_ sent. :banghead: I have double checked on the website, and it shows the plate I paid for as drilled for the TB's. I was also a little disappointed that not all the hardware was included. The cap screws for mounting the ITB to the manifold, and the manifold to the head were not included either. It's a small inconvenience to go get the cap screws, but after shoveling money out, and waiting for weeks, it would seem the right thing for them to do. The alternator kit is a bit of a shot in the dark. I had tried to purchase a Raceline bracket before, but the deal fell through. I then heard they may not fit in the Birkin from folks around here. I checked with kitspares.co.uk and they said they have had success with thier kit, so on a gut shot I thought I'd give it a try. The only catch with that kit, is the lack of instructions. I'm the type of guy who likes to read instructions, and feel there will be a lot of guess and check tonight when I tackle that project.

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The big shipment I was waiting for. http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/IMG_1264.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/IMG_1259.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/IMG_1258.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/IMG_1255.jpg

:iagree: I think that is displayed right here on the board. There is passion for the Se7en, and for the Morgan, but none displayed for the X-bow.

Morgan will always be the origional 3 wheeler in my opinion. The first Morgan to sport three wheels was back in 1911, and ran to 1939. The early 3 wheelers look very similar to the current version of the car. Duane Thanks for the link John. I was looking around for it without success. Duane

While there are kits available state side, the one in the show is an actual Morgan. (morgan-motor.co.uk) The Morgan company started with the 3 wheeler again in 2011, and deliveries are expected to start at the end of this year, into early next. The motor is indeed a HD Screaming Eagle though. I think as far as fun factor, the Morgan was right up there. My experience with the Se7en is still limited, but I feel that the 3 Wheeler could be just as fun to hit a track day with, and I would bet it would get just as many looks from the crowd as a Se7en.

Loved that episode. In the first of the series I saw the Morgan in the video trailer and I have been excitedly waiting to see it. Little did I know there would be a Se7en in the same segment.

Adding the picture of the GBS solution.

I managed to get the thermostat relocate mounted over the weekend, but that's about it. The water rail is supposed to mount to the side of the head, just under the cover. I have one of the holes needed, but not the other. Further to that, the one hole that is there, is the wrong size. I grabbed a tap set yesterdayand plan on getting the cooling system sorted this week. I prefer the GBS solution to the Birkin solution which is a spacer for the origional thermostat.

Finally I can be busy. I still have the intake coming, a few little bits for the rear brake lines, and the switches for the dash. I'll be ordering the alternator solution within the week, and the Haltech ECU at the end of the month. That should be all the big parts ordered, and just little fittings that are still needed.

Finally parts started rolling in. In this batch; Start button Dip stick and tube Side view mirrors Carbon Fiber dashboard Thermostat relocation kit Cooling pipes Various elbows and fittings http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/IMG_1245.jpg http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l294/nivaguy/IMG_1251.jpg

No affiliation. http://alberta.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-other-Deman-SR7-W0QQAdIdZ356697397

Admittedly, I was aiming for more of a kit that was all inclusive, but I am happy with learning as I go. I feel like I'm rushing a bit as the bloke I rent the garage from is anxious to get his space back.

I missed the last meet, but really hope to make this one.