Mirrors and babys

 Happy Christmas and happy new year to all of the followers and readers of my blog. I start on good news with the birth of my daughter Poppy. She was born not long after my last update on the 25-11-2013 and another official Geordie to add to the growing family.

So with Christmas just a few days back it was time to "Man-Up" and brave the bitter weather on the top of my mountain in Burnopfield and fit some Christmas presents.




First on the list was a collapsible steering boss from Europa. This is an IVA compliant part as it is a collapsible boss in the event of an impact, and i now just need to find an acceptable steering wheel that is compatible and will look right for the car. i have a few options in my head currently, but just doing some research before i buy one.

Next up was some wing/side mirrors. These were a Christmas present from the better half at request of myself. I have fitted them for the moment, but i don't believe they will pass the blasted IVA test, so they will probably be changed at some point for something compatible.

Isn't really rocket science fitting these, a simple 10mm hole in the correct position then secured underneath with a large penny washer, lock washer and nut. My mirrors have a rubber grommet between the stalk and the body so this is good to use as a template of where to cut. the picture here shows the grommet on my initial position. I since changed my mind (filled the hole) and moved a bit further back, reason being was if i mounted the passenger side mirror in the same position then it would have blocked all vision from the pillar of the screen.... and thus being useless. So i moved them both back about 1.5" to give better vision. The reason i fitted it further forward firstly was that i was conscious of the side screens that will be fitted at some point in the build (not purchased yet) and i didn't want them to void/hit the mirrors, but in my process of solving a problem that didn't yet exist, i created another with the visibility of the nearside mirror and the windscreen pillar.... bugger!!!

You can see with this picture and the fitting position that if it had been further forward then how restricting the visibility would have been. Never mind.... I'm getting quite good with filling holes that have been put in the wrong place now, lucky all this is being done prior to paint finish.

Ignore that hole that hole that has been filled. The fixing underside was a sod to get to in the initial position, so in hindsight the revised position is better for access for fitting, and shouldn't create any major issue with the side screens.... i hope.

Once they were both fitted it was time to sit in and see what visibility was like. and to be fair i wasn't to disappointed, they will probably shake like a shitting dog when the engine is running and be next to useless but from a cosmetic and style perspective then I'm very happy with them.... and after all this isn't a car being built for practicality.

 Next up was the rear view mirror, which is mounted on the centre of the top scuttle. Again i will have to check if this is IVA happy as in its pictured state here it will fail on the radius of the mirror. I have got a black rubber sleeve that goes around that i think should see me right but will have to check to be 100%. IIRC i need something to cover the mounting flange as this might not have the desired radius. So another bit that might have to get changed at a later date..... the list is starting to build up now. ha ha

Looks nice mind, and again very simple and logical to fit, with a nice rubber grommet between the stalk and the body to be used as a guide as to where to cut/drill. I chose the scuttle mounted mirror as opposed to the top mounted mirror (which secures to the windscreen centre strut) due to reports of serious vibration through these types rendering then next to useless. I'm sure an element of that will be valid on this type also, but who cares whats behind you??

I need to make a few alterations for the windscreen lower bracket and centre support, as again i believe these are an IVA fail point, however in order to make the adjustments i need to remove the screen again, and by this point i was to bloody cold and fed up with the constant streaming from my nose so that will wait until the weather warms up..... that could take a while!!!

Another last shot to accentuate how small my garage is and the near primitive conditions that I'm building this monster in.... its a combination of a very wide car and a very narrow garage. Anyone who has a nice size garage with insulation and heating id better never here you complaining.


And to finish this little and abysmally overdue update i would like to pass my regards and thoughts to everyone in the AK team in Peterborough and all the Freeman family who sadly lost Lynda Freeman (Wife of Ken) to cancer just before Christmas. A sad loss to everyone and my sincere condolences to all.

Tommy