Grahams81-Leon 4wd, Big Turbo - Back in the saddle :-)

[air121005]

Cage looks superb, Excellent work Graham!!!

 

[cupra-barn]

The cage looks awesome Graham top work.

I had a dash flocked a couple of years back, if I remember rightly they cover it in glue, then electrically charge the dash causing the flock to react with the charge covering the whole thing and setting in the glue. It looked superb in my last car cost about £70 from memory!

Like this

It was brilliant!

 

[mattymaxx]

what a weapon!

Ill be watching this one closely

 

[ADAM_84]

Car is coming along really well Graham hats off to you as always. Couple of questions, how hard was it to remove the dash? And the top part of it can that be removed without taking the rest out?
I'm having some stuff flocked so think the dash would look good if it was done too if it comes out easily enough.

Cheers Adam

 

[grahams81]

Cage looks superb, Excellent work Graham!!!

Thanks Mate, i'm very pleased with it still might add a cross brace between the sides of the main hoop.

The cage looks awesome Graham top work.

I had a dash flocked a couple of years back, if I remember rightly they cover it in glue, then electrically charge the dash causing the flock to react with the charge covering the whole thing and setting in the glue. It looked superb in my last car cost about £70 from memory!

It was brilliant!

Thanks Barny i might have to go and get flocked - it does look awesome.

what a weapon!

Ill be watching this one closely

Thanks Bud

Car is coming along really well Graham hats off to you as always. Couple of questions, how hard was it to remove the dash? And the top part of it can that be removed without taking the rest out?
I'm having some stuff flocked so think the dash would look good if it was done too if it comes out easily enough.

Cheers Adam

Thanks Adam - i found the dash was a bit of a bitch to get out - about 3 thousand screws and the heater vents etc..... i may be exaggerating slightly but it was a pain.

 

[air121005]

Thanks Mate, i'm very pleased with it still might add a cross brace between the sides of the main hoop.

when looking at it i thought about suggesting that but would it not foul the seats?

 

[joehirth]

Graham, why don't you weld up the rear doors and make it a 3 door, whilst you're there would be pretty unique

 

[prawn]

Car looks pretty cool Graham, but just one question about the cage:

Why does there appear to be a butt joint in the front legs? I'm fairly sure M0rk mentioned it earlier. It looks like a nice and well designed cage, but that Butt weld just confuses me. it ruins an otherwise very well designed cage.

As it's in and done now, I understand you're not about to change it, but i'd seriously look into an additional sill - Roof memeber from the top of the windscreen joint down through the door bars to the base plate, like this:

You can see the bar I'm talking about in grey:

Adding in a diagonal in the main hoop will do wonders for rigidity too.

Do you have any cross bracing above the drivers head as well?

This car is going to be an absolute monster when it's done.

Lovely wheels too

 

[grahams81]

when looking at it i thought about suggesting that but would it not foul the seats?

Nah it shouldn't foul the seats, i mounted the main hoop further back than normal to ensure it wasn't in the way.

Graham, why don't you weld up the rear doors and make it a 3 door, whilst you're there would be pretty unique

Thanks Joe, your not the first to suggest it but like i told Tim, it would look wierd - to pull it off properly i would have to move the B pillar backwards and lengthen the front doors.... Too much work but your right it would look sweet......... Maybe in the future

Car looks pretty cool Graham, but just one question about the cage:

Why does there appear to be a butt joint in the front legs? I'm fairly sure M0rk mentioned it earlier. It looks like a nice and well designed cage, but that Butt weld just confuses me. it ruins an otherwise very well designed cage.

As it's in and done now, I understand you're not about to change it, but i'd seriously look into an additional sill - Roof memeber from the top of the windscreen joint down through the door bars to the base plate, like this:

You can see the bar I'm talking about in grey:

Adding in a diagonal in the main hoop will do wonders for rigidity too.

Do you have any cross bracing above the drivers head as well?

This car is going to be an absolute monster when it's done.

Lovely wheels too

Thanks Prawn,
Yeh there is a butt weld joint, infact all the bends are butt welded to form the front section.
I know this isn't recommended and is weaker than a single piece but i'm using much thicker wall than standard (3.0mm)
Like i mentioned earlier i ensure i had really good penetration and did some practice welds and cut them to inspect (worked out the ideal current on the TIG welder)

I may consider running some bars up from the front mounts upto the top bend like you suggested but i dont want to introduce something to hit my head on in the event of an accident, and that could interfere with me getting in and out of the car.

In hindsight i wish i just took the car to somewhere like custom cages.

I have put a diagonal brace in the roof section you can see it in this pic -

[/IMG]

I think i will put a diagonal brace in the main hoop like you suggested.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions

 

[ShizTheBiz]

great work!!!
sooo whats the next job? is this being painted now?

 

[douthy]

Looks like youve been very busy graham. Superb work!

 

[ShizTheBiz]

oh also if your looking for a flocked dash i highly reccommend NEflock.co.uk. he has done a few pieces for me and the woek has always been 100% and quite cheap as well. would reccommend him 100000%

 

[IbizaAlex]

Are you using a baffled sump on this? (I make them now BTW)

 

[grahams81]

great work!!!
sooo whats the next job? is this being painted now?

Thanks Mate - Plans ----
I'm still working on the inside atm - i've still got to weld the front sections to the bulkhead and make a plate. Next then is to remove the sound deadening with a blow lamp and prepare the inside for paint.
I emeried the rust of half the cage and TIG'd the mounts in last weekend then i gave it a lick of primer.
I've got to go get some more Argon gas on friday when i'm home then i can finish off all the welding.
Good news is i should have all next week off (nothing planned in hoping for no callouts ) so should get the inside totally finished and painted....... then start to tackle the outside

Looks like youve been very busy graham. Superb work!

Cheers Mark, i've been working on for what feels like a lifetime hopefully finished soon.
You should pop round sometime for a catch-up i'll even make you a cuppa or a open a beer

oh also if your looking for a flocked dash i highly reccommend NEflock.co.uk. he has done a few pieces for me and the woek has always been 100% and quite cheap as well. would reccommend him 100000%

Thanks For the link mate i'll look into it.

Are you using a baffled sump on this? (I make them now BTW)

Hi Alex - i do still need one actually mate, do you need my original one or they outright sale. Let me know what the damage would be
PM me if you like.

 

[underpressure]

Looks very good Graham.
I the wheels

 

[poliq]

Loving the progress graham! still going with white for the inside?

 

[INA]

I feel your pain on that front Graham, Tim and i paid for our stuff from INA in Sept last year, I got the final instalment of mine in March, and Tim got the bulk of his last week and is still waiting on some parts.

To be fair Phil , both you & Tim know exactly why there are delays and the order was not complete as we kept adding bits to it.
I know you mean well but others reading this would think I hold there payment as ransom without shipping parts. We do not transfer funds from our paypal account until orders are 100% completed and shipped.

Graham, SEM manifolds are now in stock.

 

[tufftybloke]

Integrated Engineering have just brought out a new inlet manifold...

Looks quite good and can be swapped to be fed from the drivers side which may suit you and your turbo position better...

http://www.intengineering.com/integrated-engineering-1-8t-transverse-intake-manifold.html

Loving your work on this... most people would have just bought an S3 or something but fair play to you dude... love the engineering gone into this

<tuffty/>

 

[staceys3]

Good shout Paul

Graham have to really commend you on this project the quality of work and the effort you have gone to is phenomenal and I'm sure this car will destroy 99.99% of the cars you ever put it up against

I've been following this thread closely for a long time and will do for ever more


---
I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?4yoxe1

 

[air121005]

Integrated Engineering have just brought out a new inlet manifold...

i assume IE have tested the "ribs" down the sides of the intake chamber and there for a reason, to disturb the air flow about each inlet trumpet opening