HM2017 Build

[Jeff K]

I’ve made some good progress lately.  Got the engine started for the first time last week and drove the car around the block this week.  No big surprises but lots of little details to work out now.  The car is difficult to drive right now due to the EFI self-learning, at least that’s what I hope it is.  I only have a few miles on it.  I did have one concerning event.  On my last lap around the block, I noticed the rear wheel was wobbling.  After I removed the wheel I noticed the wheel drive pin studs were loose.  I know I tightened them before.  I retightened them on all four corners.  I’ll have to keep an eye on them going forward.

[Redstang69]

Big congrats, that's a huge achievement and milestone.
The thing is a beast and unlike anything else isn't it.

[Bob Worley]

Ain't it great?!   The big grin says it all... congrats!

What branch tires are those? the look great.

[Jeff K]

Thanks.  Cooper Cobras

[Jeff K]

Spent some time sealing up the openings in the trunk liner.  I borrowed Greg K’s design for the roll bar opening.
I figured out the problem with the loose wheel drive pins.  I didn’t read the directions.  The directions said to use Loctite on the threads and I used anti-seize compound.  Enough said.

[Greg K]

Good to see some work being done, all I've been doing is driving...

[Jeff K]

I had to replace the clutch and front brake master cylinders due to seal leaks.  New ones seem to be working so far.  I took the opportunity to reduce the diameter of the clutch master cylinder from 7/8” to 3/4” to match the throw-out bearing requirement. 

Finished securing the remote reservoir hoses.  Also fabricated brackets to secure the inner engine compartment panels to the frame.  Brackets provided with kit didn’t fit.

Made a heat shield for the master cylinders.  While driving in my neighborhood I noticed the master cylinders were getting warm and the remote reservoir hoses were getting very hot from the header heat.  Next time I drive the car I’ll verify it works as intended.  I’ll probably put some adhesive backed heat barrier material on the top surface to further reduce the heat transfer.

[Redstang69]

I like the heat shield idea. I never checked how hot my master cylinders were getting but this is something I've planned to do at some point. Figured it'll at least help the rubber lines from the reservoirs to last a little longer.

[Bob Worley]

I had to replace the clutch and front brake master cylinders due to seal leaks.  New ones seem to be working so far.  I took the opportunity to reduce the diameter of the clutch master cylinder from 7/8” to 3/4” to match the throw-out bearing requirement. 

Does reducing the clutch MC from 7/8 to 3/4 reduce or increase the fluid/pressure to the throw-out bearing?

[Greg K]

Does reducing the clutch MC from 7/8 to 3/4 reduce or increase the fluid/pressure to the throw-out bearing?

It'll reduce the amount of fluid and distance it'll move the the throw out bearing, not so much a pressure thing.

[Jeff K]

The pressure applied against the throw out bearing is the same.  But the pedal pressure was reduced when I switched to the 3/4” diameter master cylinder but the stroke increases to achieve the same fluid volume movement.  Hope that makes sense.

[Jeff K]

Considering how much heat the headers put off, I thought it would be worthwhile adding insulation to the vent tubes right above the headers.  I have seen others do the same thing.  After I insulated the first side, I thought I’d test how effective the insulation was.  With the car fully warmed up and idling, the air coming out of the non-insulated side was about 70 degrees while the air from the insulated side was about 62 degrees, which was close to the outside air temperature.  I suspect the difference might be greater once the body is installed and more heat is trapped in the area.  Turned out to be a worthwhile.

[Paul Proefrock]

Jeff,
What did you use for insulation? i had tried stickyback aluminum foil on my first build and it didn't hold up. Looking for a good solution

Paul

[Jeff K]

Hi Paul, Here’s the stuff I used.  It wasn’t as sticky as I would have liked but I overlapped it as I wrapped it and then made sure the end was tucked under the hose clamp.  I’m hoping that keeps it in place.  We'll see how it holds up after some heat cycles.  I used almost a roll on each side.

[Jeff K]

Not much activity on the forum lately including from myself. 

Here’s what I’ve been doing lately.

I sent some time doing more bodywork.  Not much fun and I’m not great at it.  Getting the sides straight took a lot of effort.  I’m not sure why some of the bodies require more bodywork than others.

I ended up moving the cockpit vent hose inlets to the radiator area.  I figured it would simplify the hose routing.  I originally planned to attach the hoses to the brake vent openings at the front of the body.  I bought some vent openings on Amazon which worked well enough.

I was a little greedy when I originally enlarged the rear wheel well seat cutouts.  The driver side tire rubbed some.  I ended up adding more fiberglass on the inside which allowed me to grind away some on the outside for tire clearance.  This wouldn’t affect the seat placement.

Lately I’d been thinking of just priming the body for now and then assembling the car, getting it registered and then getting it on the road.  That would allow me to work out any bugs and have some fun driving it this summer before worrying about paint.  Also the registration process in California is very involved which will take some time.

To that end, I ended up priming the body using Eastwood’s roll on epoxy primer.  My wife, and probably the neighbors, really dislikes when I spray primer in the driveway so I decided to try the roll on primer.  A local body shop wanted $900 to spray the primer.  The roll on method worked pretty well especially if you’re just using it for bodywork.  If it’s going to use it as a temporary finish like I am, it’s not great.  I’ll probably end up giving it a light sanding with some 240 grit sandpaper to even out the texture.

When Kamal gave me a ride in his cobra, HM-2040, I burnt my ankle pretty good on the side pipes getting out of the car.  I didn’t want that to happen with my car to myself, my wife or anyone one else so I bought some side pipe heat shields from Iconic Parts.  They’re the ones used on Backdraft cobras.  I’ll likely paint them black to match the side pipes.

Hopefully in a couple weeks I’ll have it assembled and have started the registration process.