Hi all,
Many thanks for the compliments. I set up the website to help other builders and keep some information alive.
I used to post on Blatchat when it was open but since it went members only I think they excluded a few with good skills to offer.
I was brought up on Kent Crossflow engines and had various Fords with them fitted. I had two in the 7 car. One a mild 1300 then an all singing and dancing 1700cc on twin Webers (What a glorious sound on full chat). However they are now quite rare in their own right.
I thought moving to a Totota 4age was more modern, how soon that has become collectable, especially my Phase 3 married to the Toyota T50 5 speed rwd box. Fitted with the throttle bodies and on full song it's more like the xflow sound but higher revving. It is the best engine for a usable 7 I reckon. I used a Racelogic performance meter to measure the car each time I changed engine. The 4age in final configuration gave 0-60mph in 4.9secs as best time. In sprinting it consistently beat everything in its class to 60 foot at 2.1s from standing.
Personally, I'm a bit of an oddity really. I'm skilled at quite a few things. Fabrication, welding, mechanics, electrics and electronics.
I worked in, then owned my own companies that had fabrication and welding involved. In my spare time my hobby encompassed electronics. Mechanics was a necessity when I was young and broke, do it yourself servicing etc was a requirement to just run a car !
I like to do things hands on and generally build my own stuff unless it's not economically viable. No point spending more to build something that you can buy for less.
The car sadly is looking worse for storage at the moment. It's under a tarpaulin and in the open since we moved. I have considered selling it, although there's a disparity in values when you consider that all in with expenses it now costs around £1k to get an IVA.
It wouldn't take much to spruce up to good condition again but needs to be in a garage to do it. Ours is full up with no chance to clear as there's nowhere else to put it all. UK weather doesn't help, you just can't even guarantee a day without rain.
I'm not so young I'm in my 60's and semi retired now, my legs have let me down in recent times so it's harder to do things I once did easily.
Sorry last bits not a moan just a statement.
Rob |