Pauls Project Dax Thread - Here we go!

[aaronjb]

I am guessing after paint people just assumed I was some posh twat.

    

I'll second the request for pics though, I love looking at photos of other people's work! (Insert something here about that being because I don't do any of my own before Tony says it)

[KevinW]

She's not much to look at yet tbh... the cosmetics are yet to be done!

Doesnt matter! the important thing is that YOU are doing it, and creating something, rather than just writing a cheque.

My first Cobra had a grey body and yellow doors and bonnet for years before I got it painted. Funny thing was, I had a lot more interest before it got painted looking like Noddy's car than after, with people stopping for a chat, and asking me if it was a resto project etc.

I am guessing after paint people just assumed I was some posh twat.

[CobraPaul]

Pics?

She's not much to look at yet tbh... the cosmetics are yet to be done!

[KevinW]

Pics?

[CobraPaul]

So - She's now legally on the road!

Very much needs a proper run in as we tbink the piston rings need to be coaxed back into sealing properly after a long time sitting. She's had fresh VR1 oil and filter, got a clean bill of health and MOT and is at home ready for a few gentle journeys out whilst the engine breaks in.

I do, however, need to do a few things soon ish. There is no vent on the fuel tank and I need some suggestions for adding something to the filler neck. I've seen a post or two online about this but curious to see what others have done before committing to a solution. One thing is for sure, I don't want fuel shooting out of the filler cap and onto a hot exhaust!

[Chris]

I am presuming that you have considered that the engine bores  / camshaft etc etc will be dry if you haven't
already attended to such items ?
Good luck with you start up and mot test .

Chris.

[CobraPaul]

There has been a lot of progress on this, but not many posts or updates - so I apologise there!

Anyway, I think today is the first day in about 22 years that this car has been considered "complete" in that every part is fitted to the car.
I'm hoping for a start up next weekend and to check for any running issues before moving the car out of the garage and down the end of the road and back.

Nervous to say the least, but if I can have a small "shakedown" and make sure there's nothing new to be concerned with, and to check all gauges are reading a signal ok, then I can consider it ready to ship to Thunder Road for a checkover and (hopefully) its first MOT since 2003!

Still a long list of jobs to do after that; but mostly cosmetic (ie paintwork, interior trim) that I don't want to consider doing until I know that mechanically and safety are all ok.

[CobraPaul]

Months 5-7: June-Aug 2024

So I've been really lazy and not updated this thread for a few months. That doesn't mean things haven't progressed though. I'll keep it brief, and bullet point the updates with some photos of the work. Progress is slower than I'd like, but I don't think there is too much left to do to get her back on the road now, which is a relief.

June:
- Installed new throttle return springs and custom bracket
- Installed the heater/demister hoses
- Installed new throttle cable end
- Fitted a new coolant expansion tank drain hose (to ground, saving a mess in the engine bay)
- Fixed the intermittent wiper circuit, replacing with a VW relay
- Installed rear reflectors for MOT (easily removable)
- Replaced the blown horn
- Installed bonnet gas struts / lifters
Total Spend in June: £168.67


July

- Purchased new wheel nuts
- Installed new wind wings and slightly larger sunvisors (to replace broken items)
- Added door strikers reinforcement panels in wheel arches (as per Dax recommendations)
- Fixed door strikers (drilling and tapping for new threads)
- Installed shorter (more appropriate) stainless bolts on rollbar echelons

Total Spend in July: £298.89


Aug:
- Reattached fuel pump
- Installed new custom gearknob (still need to sort the gaiter)
- Created 3D printed templates for the side vents
- Started the engine for the first time since purchase!
- Removed wheels in preparation for wheel refurb & new tyres

Total Spend in August: £0

Throttle Return Springs



Side grill 3D printing prototype:


Rear of vent, showing mounting brackets


New Gearknob


Door Striker reinforcement plates


Wiper relay


Throttle cable (before)


Throttle cable (after)


New Sunvisors


3D printed belt clips prototype

[CobraPaul]

Month 4: May 2024


A random month of slow-progress, with family holidays that left me with less time on the car than I'd like.
I've done so many odds-and-sods on the car this month, but haven't achieved a whole lot if I'm honest, but I've tried to detail the bigger bits below.
There have been some nagging/frustrating jobs and in a lot of cases I'm unlikely to be able to confirm if they've been successful or not until
I get the engine running again. This won't be long, but I want to be sure that everything is in good order before proceeding further.
A few setbacks too - after finally fixing the horn circuit, one of the 2 horn units blew, so I now need to replace this. (And may as well replace both)

Completed:
- Fitted "Glovebox" to the dash via removable brackets
- Installed and wired in new slim fog/reverse light
- Fixed Horn circuit for ground-switched rather than positive-switched to allow for horn to be relocated to the steering wheel
- Investigated and rerouted the carb vacuum-advance configuration (not yet tested)
- Installed seats and harnesses (additional short spacers needed on the seats to allow rails to move properly)
- Installed chrome door sill trim (replaced self-tappers with rivnuts)
- Bled the brakes
- Updated the v5 for the correct engine capacity and engine number
- Replaced corroded chrome rings on rear Lucas lights
- Investigated Intermittent Wiper wiring - relay missing (and now believe I understand the wiring changes needed!)
- Started work on the door strikers which were poorly fitted
- Started work on the demister hose routing from the heater


Total Spend this month:
£87.47

Photos

Dash constructed, pending covering:



Seats and belts fitted:


Fresh brake fluid:


Rear combined fog/reverse light fitted:


New light rings:

[Chris]

Just my opinion as time served engineer for the last 40years plus, using sealant like Hylomar on rubber is not a good idea.  And sure isn't best practice.

I have used a smear of  blue Hylomar without any issues on things like water way / inlet manifold gaskets
but not on things to do with fuel tanks etc .
Definatly not used when sub assembling fuel tanks for production, gasket only .

[CobraPaul]

I've now switched to a cork gasket with a small amount of Hymolar blue as per your Facebook post - thanks Mike!

[CobraPaul]

Just my opinion as time served engineer for the last 40years plus, using sealant like Hylomar on rubber is not a good idea.  And sure isn't best practice.

I acted solely based on what ETB themselves advised me!

[Mike Hamblin]

I checked with ETB when I ordered and they said it would be ok as long as it's used with a fuel resistant sealant - hence the Hymolar Blue

And I doubt I'll be using E10 in this.. E5 mostly.

It does frustrate me that they don't provide a gasket that's compatibility with fuel is questionable though!

Just my opinion as time served engineer for the last 40years plus, using sealant like Hylomar on rubber is not a good idea.  And sure isn't best practice.

[CobraPaul]

Might be worth checking the fuel gauge sender gasket, to see if its suitable or E10 compatible, as some of the rubber gaskets just wont last with the ethanol mix. Hence I changed over to cork and rubber mix. As the rubber gasket which was used originally used total disintegrated.

You've got me worried now though. Maybe I ignore what ETB told me and just replace it with a cork gasket anyway

[CobraPaul]

Might be worth checking the fuel gauge sender gasket, to see if its suitable or E10 compatible, as some of the rubber gaskets just wont last with the ethanol mix. Hence I changed over to cork and rubber mix. As the rubber gasket which was used originally used total disintegrated.

I checked with ETB when I ordered and they said it would be ok as long as it's used with a fuel resistant sealant - hence the Hymolar Blue

And I doubt I'll be using E10 in this.. E5 mostly.

It does frustrate me that they don't provide a gasket that's compatibility with fuel is questionable though!