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What is the 2B
[Or, dietary tips for Sierras]

The Build Diary
['99 - Aug. '00]
[ Aug - Nov. '00]
[December '00]
[Early Jan '01]
[January '01]
[February '01]
[March '01]
[April '01]
[May '01]
[June '01]
[July '01]

The SVA
[Did my 2B pass?]

On The Road
[Whats it like then?]
[And now it's been improved!]

New for 2003
[Suspension Mods]

New for 2002
[Engine Mods]
[Fuel Filler]
[Custom Instuments]
[Rear Shocks]

Tricks & Tips
[including do as I say, not as I did!]

Major Problems
[Or how to talk to the Manufacturer]

So you think you've got problems?

Gallery
[Or,some necessary light relief!]

Wifes View
[Or, are you coming out of that garage....]

Links
[Other maniacs who have tried this]

About the Authors
[If you are really bored...]

January 2001

Decided it was high time I started the steering/pedal job in earnest (who didn't seem to mind at all). You have to do a bit of a juggling act with the pedals and the steering components. The four-branch manifold caused a few prob.'s by restricting the space for the steering shaft but angling the rack upwards gained the extra mm's needed- this also left the rack low as positioned earlier.

The steering shaft itself had a slight problem as the end of it as supplied by RHE is about 1" sq. and the sierra shaft that goes into it is probably 2mm less in dia. than the hole RHE drilled for me. With the thickness of the sq. it won't clamp up tight -desirable in a steering application I think- I tried a wider slot in the clamp, then a bigger bolt but to no avail! It has been welded in now. The steering column itself needs to go a lot higher for the sierra wheel, which you really need just for the SVA test so the mounting needs fiddling around a bit.

The pedals themselves are a fairly tight fit but a bit of judicious cutting put them to rights, or, if you like, you can reduce the spacer betweeen clutch and brake pedals but then you have to modify the brake rod to the servo.

It all sounds easy but I'd have been stuck w/o my Dad to help with the bits where it got very fiddly! The pedal mounting plate is a bit wobbly on it's own, being fixed just at the base, but you stiffen this up with a tube to the chassis. The sierra pedal box is also a bit weedy when just held on the two studs on the servo, so I put a 10mm bolt and spacer through near the clutch cable guide tube. It's worth checking the height of all the relevant bits on the bonnet at this point, as I found the brake fluid res. fouled mine 'til I lowered the whole thing down about 1/4".

The acc. pedal mounts on it's own, but you'll need to make a spacer for this too. Mine needed a bit of 1 1/4" sq. section, which you may find as part of a rack in your garage roof, or you may not! (Yes, I did. See photo for the sad truth- I think I should be doing a Locost sometimes!). This arrangement shall henceforth be known as the Muirhead mounting system, as was he who suggested it (and got hit on the head by the 2x4 which fell off the racking system!)

Sourcing materials for production of the Muirhead Mounting. Not recommended for those who dislike cobwebs and their inhabitants found in the far corners of the garage.

January has been a slow month- not much time to work on the car and not much to be seen for the effort I have put in, BUT, the mechanical side is nearly done, so perhaps things will speed up soon. Or perhaps not!

From Rosie - Yes, this month has been a nightmare. I came very close to breaking my rule in the 'Girlfriend's View', of not saying "there, there". I think building an entire car from scratch is a pretty good achievement on its own, and just think of the amazing feeling of satisfaction you'll get when it is finished and you can say 'I built that!'

Click here to find out what happened next...