steering column end
At some of the kit car shows I’ve seen some great looking cars – look a little closer at the wiring and some look a little ropey. I am spending plenty of time in this area aiming to get the best standard of wiring possible for aesthetic reasons and efficiency.
Exhause for Spire Sports Car
The left hand image shows the final elements of the exhaust, the can is a standard ZX12R can which is a challenge to fit but will work. A little more grinding is needed on the header welds and heat wrap will be used to keep the engine bay temperature down as much as possible.
Headers finished
Last two pics, on the left pipe no.3 I found the best way is to tape the pipe ends together but they do have to be tight to make it accurate. On the right no.4 job done!!
All told if I had my time again I would give it to somone else to do but I am pleased with the result.
Exhaust header
I started with the pipe labeled no. 1 this really was the easiest one to start with, two cuts tacked in place, no.2 now getting a little trickier but still looks pretty cool.
I have decided to have a go at making my own exhaust out of a standard zx12r system. Two reasons cost and the standard system comes with its own catalytic converter nice and helpful for the SVA.
I will only show a couple of steps but trust me when I say many hours where spent one reasonably severe burn to the left hand and a trip to A&E with angle grind in my eye!! All in all thank goodness this bit is over.
This picture shows the first cut of the headers, a bit of a gamble at how much to cut off but it has paid off.
This idea was pinched from another GT-R, I have changed it slightly as I have my handbrake just below the gear lever. It consists of 12mm stainless bar bent in three places and 1/2 inch alloy plate. Luckily I have found a really good chap to do the engineering. He milled a curve to the right of the plate so the SVA inspector would be happy, and press-fitted a bearing so the gear lever would be smooth too. I have had a couple of other bits and bobs done to such as alloy welding of the main coolant pipes which run from front to rear, top job.
Andy {engineering chap} is based in the Chester area. he will consider any engineering work. you can contact him via email andyprobyn@hotmail.com
The air scoop, I’ve been looking forward to sorting this, I’ve even bought myself a metal bender to get the crisp clean bends. not like the old days where I would thrash a peace of metal over half a brick to get it something like???? Picture on the left shows the card template, very rough but more than adequate. the picture on the right shows the finished item, the radiator is offset to the right to accommodate the hoses at the back, the top leading edge has a rubber lipped trim to make a nice seal under the bonnet.
Once the front panel is set and aligned I went about hinging it, my solution is two L shaped brackets mounted into each corner and secured into the front chassis member. The brackets look a bit excessive but better to be safe than sorry!
The picture on the right shows the shut lines between the front and the middle panel, anyone who has fitted one of these body’s will remember the day they managed to sort this bit out??
Over all I’m very pleased with the body after all that’s what first caught my eye, Paul {MD of spire} was spot on with the advice, after all he has fitted many of these body’s.
The picture on the left shows the rear section married up to the middle, you can make out the spoiler at the rear and on the right picture you can see were the brackets for the spoiler follow through to the rear hinges. This is one of those times when you measure literally 10 times and drill once. I am simplifying the hole thing as this body panel has been on and off several times and my very understanding wife is getting tired of lifting it with me!!!
You are looking from the rear to the front at the middle section of bodywork , this is the first panel I put on. The black squiggled lines are to be cut out, these are just rough cuts for now.
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