New Battery

Old dead battery on left New one on the right

The battery in the S7 has been on its way out for some time now, fitted about 8 year or more and with the car being laid up in the garage for the last few week it has now been killed off for good.

So before Mr Brown sticks the VAT back up on everything I gone out and got a new one.

The new battery is for a 1999 2.0Ltr Ford Focus, so it should be up to powering the S7.

It's only taken me

16 years to get round to wiring these up. I have been driving around all this time with no instrument lights apart from the main pod.

Only the other week when we were out for a drive Becky asked why the rest of the instruments weren't lit up which my reply came back as it not wired up to anything and it was on the to do list.

Well today I had to hang about waiting for the gas man to check the meter and got bored and this is the end result

More Exhaust Problems

The story of this year with the S7 is the exhaust, first the manifold fell a part now the the joint between the manifold and silencer box has blown!!!!!!! This is probably all stems from the manifold repair at the time.



A new joint collar fitted on to the pipe going to the silencer and clamped in place using a stainless steel clamp.


All refitted to the manifold with exhaust sealing paste used to make a gas tight joint and a 57 mm standard exhaust clamp. The clamp in the middle of the collar is there to hold the cover in place.

The cover back in place and the engine run up to temp to harden the exhaust paste.

I just hope that I don't have to have this lot apart again this year or in the near future, will finger crossed anyway!!!

Fuel Additve Bottle Holder

Have made up a bottle holder for the fuel additive the car uses.
This hopefully will stop the bottle from rolling around in the boot and leaking all over the place.
Made out of an old dizzy cover and a bit of carpet and bolted to the boot infill panel.

Headlamp Covers

I have spent most of this year (since the Stoneleigh kit car show) looking for a pair of covers to protect my carbon fiber effect headlamp shells which cost me an arm & leg. Looking around at the shows and various websites I have not found any that cut the mustard, till last Wednesday night
when a came across a website call Lesley Storr Design.
I contacted Lesley via the website and within minutes I got a reply detailing the price and all in info for placing an order, now that's what I call service.

So I put in an order for a pair of 7 inch carbon Fiber Effect covers to match the lamp shells with a red 7 embroidered on to them. Lesley quickly mail me back to say they would be made up for me on the Thursday and posted out the same day, wow

Well they came in the post today (Friday), what a turn round from order to being on the car in three days.

These covers are top quality items and are very well made, believe me I have looked at a few.

They fit perfectly and look the business. I'm well pleased.

Its not just headlamp covers that Lesley manufactures, also available are hood bags, tonneau covers, boot covers and half doors and much more.

So if you own a 7 type car and you are in need of exterior trim contact Lesley via the website

http://www.l-s-d.co.uk/

Rain & Wind breaker, draught reducer

I have made up a rain/wind break draught reducer that fits in to the roll bar out of clear PVC sheet. This may just be a prototype for now but will see how it goes for now.



The sheet cut to size and a rubber edge put on

The reducer in place with the Surrey hood up. Hopefully this will stop some if not all the rain water from coming into the cockpit when the car is moving as it runs off the back of the surrey.

In place with the surrey hood rolled up on to the roll bar.

Hants & Berks Motor Club Meeting @ The Longbridge Mill

Friday 31st July we went along to the Hants & Berks Motor Club evening at the Longbridge Mill just off the A33.
This is more or less run in the same way we have our own Thames Valley monthly meeting, turn up and have a natter type of thing.
All types of classic car turn up to this event and makes a good evening out.

For more info on the Hants & Berks Motor Club pop along to their website at

http://hantsandberksmc.org.uk/

Uxbridge Autoshow 09

Today the Thames Valley Area of RHOCaR when along to the Uxbridge Autoshow.
The show itself was a bit down on years in the past, this I think was down to the weather not playing ball again with shower forecast for the day but a good time was had by all.
It was nice to see some old members from the past and meet the new ones who drop by the stand.

The new set up for the TVH RHOCaR banner work well.

S7 on the TVH club stand.

Show Plates

I have treated the S7 to a new set of number plates and at the same time I had a set of show plates made up.

These plates are not for use on the road but will be on the car at shows, they fit over the normal plates and will save me time in running this blog having to blank out the number plates in photoshop.

Broken Exhaust Manifold

Since the Stoneleigh kit car show I have had what sounded to be a blow on the exhaust, having checked the silencer for leaks and the blow still apparent I then moved on to the manifold.


Thinking it may be a leaking gasket or a crack in the manifold I decided to remove the unit from the car to make the problem more easier to track down.

With the manifold out the cause of the trouble soon came to light, the weld on the middle two pipes had failed and it was only the outer two pipes holding the whole lot together.

With the manifold welded back up, reinforced and a set of new gaskets it is all back in the car.

Side pipe refitted with a new clamp.

Also have made up a cover to go over the joint just to tidy things up.

Stoneleigh 2009

Last weekend we were at the Stoneleigh kit car show. As always the show takes place on the Sunday & Monday over the first bank holiday in May, with Myself, Becky and Tasha traveling up to the show on the Saturday.

This year we have splashed out on a bigger tent. Its an 8 person tent which give us a load more room instead of being crammed in to our three person tent plus it easier to put up than it looks, so a winner all round.

The S7 parked up with one of her sisters, another Cortina S7.

The S7 parked on the RHOCaR club stand on the Sunday.

A great turn out of club cars with over a 120 Hoods, plus the weather was spot on, what more could you ask for.

the RHOCaR camp site on the Sunday evening

As with all kit car show that you camp over at its all very social in the evening.

A few drinks with friends after a nice BBQ supper.

The Monday is not so busy which in a way is nice as it gives you time to pack up and have a good look around the exhibition halls before heading for home.

That Was Then and This is Now

My how time flies the photo above is of my Nephew James age ed about 18 months old. the S7 is way to big for the little chap.
Move time on a few years in the photo below, and its now the other way round James is now 17 and the S7 is now way to small for the big guy.
Is it really that long ago when I built the S7 !!!!!!!! Only seams like yesterday

Tonneau covers

Finally got around to refitting the tonneau cover back to the S7.

Should keep any rain water out when the surrey top is up and saves on putting the full weather hood on in a showers.

Easter

Good Friday


The Surrey Street Rodders had there annual Wheels Day on Good Friday, I was going away for the weekend but still found the time to sneak off for a few hours and go along.
The weather was not very good (rain) but they still got a big turn out of car.

Easter Monday

Went along to the Detling kit car show in Kent, and found some clear flasher lamp lenses to replace the old orange one.

They have transformed the front end look of the car.

Yes they still flash orange

The club I belong to has come up with some new club decals.

Just the right size to fit under the rear number plate and cover up its mounting point.

Ready for the road in 2009

The clocks have gone forward (do hope you remembered to reset yours) and it's time to get the S7 ready for the summer. Mini service to start thing off, change the oil and filter.
So it's the front up in the air and on the ramps first off.

The old oil drained out, a bit black!!!!!!!! Thanks for the use of the washing up bowl mum! Looks like I will have to get you a new one!!

The right lubricants for the job in hand.

Duckhams 20W50 for the engine, EP-80 for the gearbox and EP-90 for the rear axle.

Now its time to put the rear end up on the ramps to check the oil level in the diff.

The diff oil level is checked by the plug in the side. The oil level should be up to the bottom edge of the hole. So it just a case of top up as necessary and refit the plug.

Well all sorted and all levels topped up ready for the road can not wait :-)

All I need now is road tax and some sunny day's! well we live in hope!!

Snow

My first post of 2009 on this blog, the S7 has now been off the road for a few months, I have only done a few job on her so far in this time.

Well this week we have had a load of snow, the most we have seen in some years. Over a foot around our way. As today was not a bad day with a bit of sun I through it about time I woke the S7 from her winter hibernation.

Started up first time and runs like a dream, Shame the drive is still cover in snow and ice as I had a bit of a fun time getting her up the slope back into the garage!