Elio Type Vehicle Resurection --- AKA the BEX

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

No great moments to post sorry, even my lunch was boring.

Just lots of little boring stuff going on guys, compresssed and fitted the springs back onto the suspension today for example.

Want to get all the wheels on, sit it on the ground, get the engine installed in the next day or 2, so I can have weight on the front suspension to set the front wheel's camber, then design and laser cut the appropriate mounting brackets from the steering knuckle to the struts.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Finally on it's wheels for real, with steering and brakes.

More work to be done, I see it's too low at the front, at least by 1" or more, easy fix as I had planned ahead for it, and I have to make the brackets proper for the suspension to steering knuckle joints.

Good news is the front spring rates feel about right, no reason they shouldn't be close considering the similar weight at the front of the donor.

The rear spring, which is the same as the front, I'm not sure yet until I can get to having a full tank of fuel and a person's weight in the back.

Of course will be great if all 3 spring/damper units are straight "off the shelf" and identical.

[JEBar]

in a conversation about today's rapidly rising fuel prices, Mark commented :


I think gasoline prices make a difference, but I don't think as much difference as many might think, although the $7 or $8 I predict it will at least peak at, will get some people considering a change.

I think the bigger difference is that it forces people to at least consider and try a smaller car, then they realise how practical a smaller car is, the convenience and ease of driving it around town, parking. more garage space at home, etc.and then they don't go back to a larger vehicle.

With a BEX type vehicle, even more advantages like driving forward into a car park in one movement.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

The steering knuckles to suspension strut adapters worked out just great, bit scary when things work first time!

Ride height has been adjusted, couldn't be simpler, and now is sitting at 180mm or 7", but when radiator, A/C condenser, battery, wiring, washer bottle, bodywork and driver, etc, are added, should be down to 5", easy to adjust if need.

Notice rather than 4 separate holes, it's all one laser cut. They are 1/2" thick each, so no question of strength.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

I finished off the rear suspension top mount today, I've actually had the parts for a few months, but had to do the front first.

You can see it here, and the adjustments I had already for both height and spring stiffness (through ratio rate).

Now it's so high it could be on off road vehicle

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX .....

Today bolted the engine, in along with fitting the CV driveshafts .

[markiver54]

Getting there!!

[JEBar]

he most certainly is

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX .....

Ughhh, my least favorite area of any vehicle, wiring.

Have the engine computer mounted and plugged in, lower picture.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX .....

Well most of the wiring loom is plugged in for the engine side of it, still some to go, but I have run across an annoying issue: The wires are too short because I have moved the steering wheel over some 3" or 4" relative to where it and the fuse box were in the 2 seat donor car.

The are some 15 connecting plugs that go into the back of the instrument panel, pictured left, mounted on the steering column, so I ain't changing them! I have to get creative with the mounting of the fuse box, pictured right, to make up some of the length deficit, and hopefully the only issue later will be that the stock wiring loom wires are too short to reach the headlights, shouldn't be hard to fix that, or you lot can just drive only in the daytime and save me the bother.