1972 ST Clone

[hot66]

That does look good

[Mike]

Looks great Billy well done! Just as an aside, what's the story with Minilites and the factory ST's, I thought they were used as there wasn't a 9x15 Fuchs until they were made as fronts for the RSR in late 1972, is that the case?

[BILLY BEAN]

Looks great Billy well done! Just as an aside, what's the story with Minilites and the factory ST's, I thought they were used as there wasn't a 9x15 Fuchs until they were made as fronts for the RSR in late 1972, is that the case?

Mike,
Thanks for the compliment. My car is a November 1971 build. By late 1971 Fuchs had started to produce 9 x 15 so Fuchs are "correct" for my car. I have a pair of original 9 x 15 Fuchs dated 2 / 72 (small centre hole) although these are not on the car at the moment. Later 9 x 15 Fuchs had the large centre hole.
Cheers
Kirk

[BILLY BEAN]

That does look good

Thank you James.
Regards,
Kirk

[Mike]

....I have a pair of original 9 x 15 Fuchs dated 2 / 72 (small centre hole)...

Wonderful wheels to have Billy, and congrats on the car again!

[BILLY BEAN]

The second attempt at making the light weight door cards have produced a better result. The ST doors do not have a vinyl covered door "finisher" on the top edge of the door: instead the vinyl on the door card is extended on its top edge which is then glued to the door frame. This is not an elegant solution but saves weight. It is also something of a nuisance if the door card has to be removed for some reason.

The door drop glass on the passenger door is now working better but is not perfect. Using plastic instead of glass does bring about a few issues as it flexes.

The rear light boxes are GRP and a little prone to road debris damage. The damage was already evident after only 500 miles. Consequently, I have made and fitted some aluminium shields to prevent damage to the light boxes.
The last bits of carpet have now been fitted. A tail and plug have been attached to the battery terminals to connect the CTek to. The period fire extinguisher has yet to be fitted. The passenger door striker plate needs a little adjustment to get the door fit right on closure. Both of these are small items.

This leaves one outstanding item I have failed to mention previously: period half roll cage. The original cage was spirited away some time ago. I have the seamless tube already formed and the feet for it to make another. It has yet to be welded, painted and fitted.
I appear to be edging towards a conclusion of the build............until something else turns up to spoil the finish!

[Lightweight_911]

The door drop glass on the passenger door is now working better but is not perfect. Using plastic instead of glass does bring about a few issues as it flexes.

Kirk - I had this problem & solved it (or at least greatly improved it) on my Giulietta Sprint by attaching a length of 40mm x 6mm aluminium bar to the bottom of the door 'glass'.

Scroll down on this page for photos/details:

https://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 6&start=45

.

[yoda]

Looking superb Kirk. You must be chuffed to bits.

[BILLY BEAN]

The door drop glass on the passenger door is now working better but is not perfect. Using plastic instead of glass does bring about a few issues as it flexes.

Kirk - I had this problem & solved it (or at least greatly improved it) on my Giulietta Sprint by attaching a length of 40mm x 6mm aluminium bar to the bottom of the door 'glass'.

Scroll down on this page for photos/details:

https://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 6&start=45

.

Andy,
Thanks for the link and the method you used which may be helpful solving the problem I have. Incidentally I had forgotten what a lovely cay your Alfa is.
Regards,
Kirk

[BILLY BEAN]

Looking superb Kirk. You must be chuffed to bits.

Most kind of you. It has been such a long time in gestation and with many disappointments along the way my feelings are best characterized as relief........or thank the F xxx it is done
( well almost).
Regards
Kirk

[BILLY BEAN]

Friday 13th.
I am not superstitious but after yesterday I am considering a review.
As mentioned previously the last item of significance on the car was the building and fitting of a "period" half roll cage. The cast feet were already welded into the shell. I also already the correct diameter drawn tube with the "hoop" already CNC formed. As I am on the process of getting my house ready for sale time is at a premium. I asked a friend to cut and shape the ends of the tubes and weld the assembly together. My goid friend Nick of Retro Refinishers kindly painted the roll cage. All this was going on whilst I was fitting new double glazing units and painting window frames in Oxfordshire. I was to help get the roll cage back in the car on Friday 13th.
We decided to remove the seats by detaching the lightweight seat mounts and removing the whole assembly. This was easier than trying to slide the seats off the runners.
The cage went in but did not quite line up with the plates welded to the shell. The uprights of the cage need 'spreading' a little. Enter a porta power jack: job done and mounting holes lined up and cage bolted into place. Now the simple job of bolting the lightweight seat mounts back with the seat attached. And this is where it went very badly wrong. The light weight seat mounts on the tunnel and the inner sill. The tunnel bolts are shorter than the sill bolts. The smell of petrol was suddenly evident. A long rather than a short bolt had been fitted on the tunnel passenger side piercing the fuel line. (There is no reason for two different bolt lengths but somehow this is what I had).The car quickly filled with fuel. Frantic efforts to remove the front steering rack cover plate to pinch off the front sift fuel line from the 100 litre tank ( with 45 litres of fuel in it). Rubber mats removed from inside, pedal and foot boards taken out and four people mopping up fuel as fast as it poured into the cockpit. Fuel line pinched off and another 40 minutes mopping got rid of the excess fuel in the car. Car left overnight at Nick's Retro Refinishers. Nick arranged for Ryan a local detailer to come in today (Saturday) and steam clean the carpets and do a final clean up. Ryan did the job at no cost. The inside of the car certainly smells better.
Today Vinny Moog, former Fenn Lane employee, is attempting to extract the punctured fuel line and replace it with a fresh one by inserting it from the front of the car. A method he says he has used before by dropping the suspension cross tube. We shall see. It is at times like these when an apparent disaster strikes that you know who your friends are.
The cage does look lovely. Nicely welded and resplendent in black.

[Bootsy]

Oh dear, sorry to read that l. Fingers crossed for today

[BILLY BEAN]

Oh dear, sorry to read that l. Fingers crossed for today

Thanks Thomas.

[yoda]

Bummer. Sounds like you've got some good guys on the case so I hope it all ends well.

[rhd racer]

What a nightmare. Good to hear you had some good people around to help. I presume the pipe was clamped inside the tunnel, so therefore could not move at all, hence it was pierced by the bolt? I suppose at least with the new pipe installed it will be floating in the tunnel to some extent (especially in the middle section where it will not be possible to secure) and therefore cannot happen again in the future.

I do feel for you though