Elio Type Vehicle Resurection --- AKA the BEX

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Floor in my shop, starting the process of trimming the firewall box and preparing it to be molded.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

As you see, part of the improved design was to get the steering rack to the outside of the firewall, it simply makes sealing the cabin from the engine bay a lot easier, although carbon monoxide is quite relaxing.

Speaking of carbon monoxide, that floor tunnel in the middle sticking out is where the exhaust will be routed, then down through the left hand floor sill, this was made possible by the staggering of the seats and offsetting the driver to the left some, this was a bonus as exhaust routing can be a real headache.

The amount of floor sticking out will mostly be trimmed back to under the steering rack

[JEBar]

Designed, lasered and folded the lower seat runners.

Some have asked me if the floor is all fiberglass, yes and no, besides the seats rolling along these runners, they are also an integral part of the floor's strength, "bracing" being the correct term. or if you lived in Nepal, you would say "ब्रेसिङ"

These runners are a little short, being the first trial run, and they are fine, I just used what sheet of metal I had in the shop rather than waste money.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ...

I have been getting a firewall box pattern together, but also did the seat runners on the weekend.

Bit of fiddling around, and some laser'd hole positions need adjustment, but worked out rather well and added a lot of strength to the floor.​

Don't mind the ugly cheap black bolts holding them down, not what I will use for the final, as well as the runners being longer.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX.....

it's all working out now, maybe even on the final stretch?

Feels good to be doing actual production parts and preparation finally, and not major redesigns.

Anyway folks, will be quiet for a couple of days, off to Shanghai for 2 days, back Thursday night.​

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Got back on Friday from the Shanghai show, and every surrounding family member is incapacitated in some way, from car accident to Covid (phase 2 starting), so spent the weekend chasing after them.

Back to it tomorrow (Monday) I hope, 4 days lost though.​

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Got back on Friday from the Shanghai show, and every surrounding family member is incapacitated in some way, from car accident to Covid (phase 2 starting), so spent the weekend chasing after them.

Back to it tomorrow (Monday) I hope, 4 days lost though.​

Per Mark BEX .....

... and so I got sick too, anyways, thought it was Covid the way it knocked me off my feet late Sunday and Monday, 2 x tests say no, and almost normal again today, so just caught a 48 hour bug of some sort.

So finally finished off the firewall box design, all files have been sent to the laser shop, hopefully metal sheet will be delivered in the morning, and I'll have it all in my hands in the afternoon to run it over to the fold shop.

[markiver54]

It's great to see the progress!

[JEBar]

it sure is .... over the years I've followed some other projects to bring a 3-wheeled auto cycle to production and all of them have failed.... I really believe that Mark is going to make it happen

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Good, back to a normal day, eg; Laser parts cut, off to the fold shop, back to my shop and start sticking the mold together.

You can see it's a 2 piece mold, bolted together in the middle, otherwise you would not be able to remove the fiberglass part from the straight sides.

[JEBar]

Getting things done in the firewall box mold, the brake booster mount, and the chocolate bars are for both strength and to stop 'tin canning' vibrations.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

The firewall box mold is close, just a few liitle things to do, should have it in the bag by the end of the weekend.

Oh, and: Hmm, shiny!​

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Into the final stages of the mold, just about finished.

Setting up the pedals, and I did change their orientation slightly.

I also had to cut a corner off the chocolate bar directly above the brake pedal assembly for bolt clearance, the corner the red arrow is pointing too, but not yet removed in this earlier picture.​

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Dropped the firewall box molds off at my old fiberglass works today, and to my shock he said he will have one ready tomorrow.

He is notorious for not getting things done quickly, but great trustworthy quality.

The new mob I tried for the floor, well I am a bit disatisfied with their work, it happens, but in the short term, I did figure out the floor using them.​

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

My fiberglass guy said there was more prep involved than he thought, so it's now ready to pull a part tomorrow.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

My F'glass guy sent me this picture this morning, so I got all excited, jumped in the car, drove over to grab it .... to be disappointed.

I thought the picture was a finished piece, but in fact it was still in the mold drying (it was still tacky) and untrimmed, so will get over there tomorrow morning. It's an hour round trip away.

As usual, his work is excellent, and you're looking at the 'rough' side here ...​

[JEBar]

SIDE NOTE :

we've just confirmed that people with "Refundable" deposits on an Elio reverse trike are receiving refunds .... in short, Elio is dead .... this makes the development of Mark's BEX even more important for those interested in this type of vehicle

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Finally, a firewall box in my shop, in a delightful shade of 'Ferrari Red', and now to some extensive work attaching things around it ...

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Glad I took the time to get things rightwith the mold, the clutch and brake pedal boxes were a straight fit onto the firewall box with no modifications required.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Sidetracked the last few days resurrecting a plane down the back of the factory as I have a guy interested in buying it.

It's been sitting for 10 years (Don't worry, I run the engine a few times every year and turn it over a few times a week when I walk past it).

I now have a brilliant idea for a hair stylist shop ...​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTM0m4IY0Ys&t=19s