Stoneleigh Car show

What a great show t was this year again, We had the ferry booked for the Friday night from Belfast to Liverpool and all went well with a rather nice sailing.
Saturday morning and off the boat at 6.30 am which was a chilly start to the day but the excitement overruled the cold morning air. We made one stop on the way to Coventry for a cup of coffee and we were sitting outside the hotel shortly after 10am which is normally way to early to check in but the reception at the Hotel said the room was free and already set up for us coming so gave us the swipe cards so we could get our bits and bobs into the room.
Right then of to Stoneleigh it was and after we drove around the park  few times we parked up and went for a walk. Not much was happening on the Saturday afternoon bar vendors setting up and the stands getting setup inside the halls.
The sun was shinning and we just chilled after walking about. After meeting up with Andy and the GD crew for a chat I was asked if I would put the car on the Total Kit Car stand. Was a tad worried at this point as it wasnt show clean and the tires still had some mud on them from a few donuts that was done earlier lol.

With the Cobra given a quick dust down we got a taxi back to the hotel to get ready for the evening gathering with Andy,Meena, Iyshea and all the club GD members that cars on the stand. What a fantastic night we all had and it was a real pleasure to be part of it.

Up bright and early on the Sunday for a full packed day going around the show and as normal the GD stand looked really well.

It was great going around the show looking at all the Cobra marques and all the other makers of kit cars, come 6pm we were pretty knackered so it was back to the hotel for a shower and another GD evening.
On the Monday I picked up a few bits and bobs I needed before we headed off around 2pm, we had to get back to Liverpool for the overnight ferry. Weather had been great all weekend so we were hoping that we would get back to the ferry before the rain that was forecast come in. In the end we got loaded onto the ferry with not a drop of rain............ result.
Already looking forward to next years show :)

On the road and a few wee jobs done.

Over this past couple of weeks after passing the IVA quite a few small jobs have been done, Steering wheel changed, Side vents fitted and all the other wee jobs we tend to tackle once the car is on the road.
I fitted the Carbon fibre stone guards today then just ordered some clear protective film of the net tonight. Hopefully it will keep the guards in good shape and I can change the film on a regular basis as it gets marked.

The other new addition Ive been working on was adding the switches for the drivers and passengers heated seats, with another switch for a cooling fan override. Installed the MIL light on the panel as well. The OB2 data plug is wired and installed as well and out of sight.

IVA Test

Arrived at the local test center at 8.45am on Friday morning for my first attempt at the Iva test at 9am, First time they had done a GD so it took the full 6 hours to go through every thing on the list, seemed to take ages to do all the brake testing. Anyways I walked away at 2.50 pm with my MAC cert. Didnt sleep last night but I sure will after a few drinks tonight. One happy bunny 
Now back to the finishing of the Cobra, hope to get a load of wee jobs done over this next month and the car on the road.

Waxoyl leaking

Took the Cobra out to check brakes etc and noticed when I got back some steam/smoke from underneath, thought it was enamel hardening on manifolds but noticed a dark coloured drip from one cat :OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Almost a heart attack later when under the pit at a fast pace,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, the exhausts where they ran under the chassis were heating the chassis up and guess who had the bright idea of putting loads of waxoyl down the chassis legs  .Bottom line waxoyl dripping from a few unused rivnuts either side onto cat then with the heat turning black and dripping onto the ground. Phewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww not oil in the exhaust then as that was first flash that crossed my mind.
I guess I might of pumped way to much waxoyl into the chassis, Firstly tomorrow I will block the spare rivnuts with some bolts so no more waxoyl can flow through them when heated up, then I will on the next few occasions the car is out watch for further points where the waxoyl may find an exit point. 

All in all its a good idea to put waxoyl into the chassis but don't go to daft with it like I did 

  

Pre Iva

Got a wee while at the car today and a small drive to see if there are any rattles, knocks etc and also to let the suspension settle so I can get the Indicator height set.
With the brakes starting to bed in and the handbrake getting a little work I noticed it needed some adjustment. I had been talking to Andy about the right bolts for the anti roll bar and mentioned that I needed to adjust the handbrake as well. He suggested checking and adjusting at the handbrake calliper.
Took the split pin out and turned the adjusted with a large screwdriver until the brake applied then wound it back a  1/2 turn and replaced the pin, same with the other side. Job done and ready for another bit of bedding in to see how it settles.

Another IVA job that was done last week was the dash radius, The carbon dash has to sharp a radius for the IVA so I took a large radius piece of ducting, cut about 90 deg out of it and covered it with foam and some black vinyl. Note also the not so sweet IVA steering wheel :(

I noticed when having a test drive the Anti Roll bar arm bolt was catching the inner wing even though I had trimmed part of the lip previously, I trimmed the lip a bit more and took 5mm of the bolts either side and that's another job ready for testing again.

The GD IVA kit is on its way so hopefully that will be here in the next few days and I can get the headrests, silencers, boot handle etc fitted. Must go find another few jobs to do tmw :)

IVA more information required.

Not posted much this past few weeks but the roof is sorted on the and the next step is the side windows. Been doing other small jobs like calibrating the speedo, making a IVA lip for the bottom of the dash and a few other IVA requirements.
On the IVA status, 2 weeks ago I sent away the IVA form only to have a nice chap ring me up and say that he also needed a declaration of self build. Form was sent out, filled in and returned. How ever today the main office at Swansea sent me a letter looking copies the main build receipts and photos of the build.

At least I have a reference number now 75734....  so its in progress. Hopefully I can get the data stick with a few pics loaded onto it and printed in the next few days.

Hoping to get a few hours at the car tmw and a bit more done :)