One for all the Scooby aficionado’s out there

[islandman]

Another day another job done (i'm starting to enjoy this outsourcing lark, if I were doing it this would all take months / years).

I wanted the coolant pipes run and fitted at this stage so if any chassis mounting points had to be made it would out of the way before the chassis goes to paint. This is what they came up with.

The pipes are higher than the suspension components and the floor drops that have yet to be fitted, so it will all be neatly tucked out of the way.

 

[ydeardorff]

I take it your going to use a front mounted radiator then?
What radiator?

The 2005 porsche 911 center radiator might be of interest to you.

5.07"H x 22.4" L x 1.3" 570x34x129 (MM) thick, effective max cooling = 147.6hp each

There is another version of this with other porsches and it was a tad larger 24" x 6" x 1.5".
2005 PORSCHE 911 3.6L H6 Radiator | RockAuto
The 996, 911, and boxster seem to be the best donors. And at 130 USD each not too badly priced.

Forgive the grossness of my garage. But this is a Size mock up I did.

This is a blurry shot of the nose of the car without the hood on. There would be plenty of room for this radiator if not two of them.

 

[islandman]

I take it your going to use a front mounted radiator then?
What radiator?

The 2005 porsche 911 center radiator might be of interest to you.

5.07"H x 22.4" L x 1.3" 570x34x129 (MM) thick, effective max cooling = 147.6hp each

There is another version of this with other porsches and it was a tad larger 24" x 6" x 1.5".
2005 PORSCHE 911 3.6L H6 Radiator | RockAuto

Forgive the grossness of my garage. But this is a Size mock up I did.
View attachment 7289
This is a blurry shot of the nose of the car without the hood on. There would be plenty of room for this radiator if not two of them.

I haven't fully thought through the radiator yet, I'm still toying with the idea of two smaller ones in the sides beneath the lights, or the same as I did last time in the wheel well.

 

[islandman]

The floor pans are finally in.......not long and it will be in paint. Just waiting on a couple of parts

 

[Peter]

That's looking a very neat job there David, I had a WTF moment on the pipes until I realised the chassis was upside down *nothing to see*

That front end is vary nice.

 

[ydeardorff]

The floor pans are finally in.......not long and it will be in paint. Just waiting on a couple of parts

Nice, are those 4 inch drops? Looks like a pair of upside down bathtubs

 

[sector]

With so much invested into this chassis why not make a one pice drop floor?

 

[islandman]

Nice, are those 4 inch drops? Looks like a pair of upside down bathtubs

Depends on where you measure from. From the top of the outer frame rail to the bottom of the pan its 14cm, same as my other Nova. For me this is still a compromise. If you go any lower you ground out too easily, if I go any shorter I can't sit up straight (I'm 6' 4"). As it is I have to have the seat inclined way back.

 

[islandman]

With so much invested into this chassis why not make a one pice drop floor?

Three reasons :

1) The bulk of the strength in the VW Beetle chassis is in the spine so you don't want to go removing that.
2) I need a gap in order to run coolant pipes down to the radiator (and I don't want these in the cabin)
3) If you change the chassis too much you run into regulation and registration issues in the UK

 

[ratrog64]

Looks Fantastic! What body is going on this chassis?

 

[islandman]

Looks Fantastic! What body is going on this chassis?

A mark 1 Nova Deluxe Kit Manufactured in 1981 that remained stored by two separate owners and never started (I'm the 3rd Owner to store it!). I bought it 9 years ago when it came up for sale. 2 months prior to that I had just heard that the Nova Molds in the UK had been cut up an burnt as the guy storing them didn't get paid. So initially I bought them to preserve an untouched kit should anyone ever want to take new molds.

Then a chassis came up correctly registered as a Nova, plus lots of Subaru parts and conversion options had evolved over that time so things kinda came together. I saw a chassis that was being worked on by another Nova owner using the same engineering firm, the work and finish was so awesome and I was so envious I got carried away and started my build remotely.

I'm on a poor internet connection at the moment as I'm in Malaysia this week. I will post some photos when I get back to the hotel later.

 

[islandman]

This is the body going on the chassis






and this is where it is currently stored



it occupies the "top bunk" with my other Nova wrapped up on the lower bunk

 

[ratrog64]

WOW!

Wow, a true virgin! You're a lucky man, she is gorgeous! What color is she? Can't tell if its orangeish or brownish. Either way I love it. You are certainly pulling out all the stops on this one! Should be a beautiful example when you are finished. I would have been so tempted to have a new set of molds pulled. Storing it for nine years shows you are a patient man.

Shopping out some of the work is the way to go if you want to get it done in a reasonable amount of time. Looks like you have chosen well on the firm doing the work.

Will you be letting the original go when she is done or will you be every mans idol and have 2 beautiful women in your stable?

 

[islandman]

The colour is brownish, I tend to refer to it as the "old baked bean coloured one!"

I won't be letting my first Nova go, I have had that for 27 years this year and have done almost everything on it myself except the paint job, so it has lots of emotional attachment. My wife always says its the thing I have had the longest relationship with in my life time! Longer than her ;o)

 

[ratrog64]

Fantastic!

Yes baked bean does describe it well. I love it. Browns are making a big come back now, hadn't seen much of it for the past several years and now its resurfacing again.

Its going to be a beautiful car.

I have had a Bug since I was 18. Its still under my car port to this day. Other then my siblings, its the longest relationship I have had as well.

 

[islandman]

Well the part I was waiting on finally arrived, the subacoupler for the gearshift to the gearbox. It sit prouder of the chassis tunnel than I was expecting, which is a function of the gearbox input shaft height. I will need to make a raised fiberglass cover to protect it and ensure nothing fouls it when trimming the interior.



Some strengthening to the IRS shock tower mounts as with the RED9 coilover suspension these will effectively be taking the weight of the rear of the car through these points.





Smart Fortwo seats that don’t fit





Mx5 seats that don’t fit (yes I could squish the side cushions in, but this is without sound proofing and carpet so it will only get worse!). I’m slowly coming round to the Idea of angle fixed fiberglass shell seats as no corvette seats around in the UK.








I know its not Christmas but it feels like it!, Hi Ho Hi Ho its off to paint we go!

Will be interesting to see it all painted

 

[sector]

What is the width of the Smart for Two seats? Thanks

 

[islandman]

What is the width of the Smart for Two seats? Thanks

This was not measured by me personally but provided by someone else so I can't vouch for it

"Runner to runner width 17"
Outside runner edge (furthest left edge to furthest right edge of metal runner) 17.6""

 

[sector]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Peter]

floor width 17.5" max, even those overly made drops. Pity I can't find a seller for the ones I have at the moment as they drop right in.

Of course we all know the Suzuki Carry or most Japanese micro vans ones are a perfect fit, need to fettle the runners of course.