Elio Type Vehicle Resurection --- AKA the BEX

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX .....

Slow week for the BEX for various reasons, travel and other things going on.

I lost nearly half a day fault finding the wiring loom because the fuel pump wouldn't (pump), turns out the holes I bored in post 1,176 (holy smoke, that many?) I had disconnected the EFi computer loom to get my drill in there, and forgot to plug it back in, sigh ...

Now I have fuel pumping, I just need to get a fuel line to the engine, make a throttle pedal, mount the gearchange assembly, and it should be driveable.

Part of what is going on is I had to move some older car project stuff out of a friend's factory that has been there for over 5 years, as he has sold his factory, quite a pile, frames, molds, engines, parts etc, which i will sort out over time, no hurry.

This is one of those projects in bits above ..

[JEBar]

​Per Mark BEX ....

Not much to report except a sore back from yesterday's move, and a large lunch function for April 1st .. that included green meat (April Fools' joke = green meat)

But late in the afternoon the 2 bodyshells of the donor cars left, a requirement as part of the cleanup to gain some space in the factory. Always a little sorrowful to see the helpful friends leave, and I am a bit of a hoarder who has to toughen up a bit

I still can't get over that they pay me to take them away, and decent cash too, I have to act 'unimpressed' with the cash they offer me, like it's too small, while hiding the fact that in Australia you have to pay the scrappers to take them away, lol!​

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Target today was to get the fuel lines hook up properly, tend to a few small items, and get it started ..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmRabtHM-OU

[JEBar]

when asked :

This might be jumping the gun a little, but it's starting to look like a real car. I can't help but wonder, if you have started to plan out the interior? Any ideas about the seats, dash, panels etc....?


Mark responded :

It's a bit difficult to explain it, various pictures and concepts in my mind, but it will be simple and sparse.

What is a priority to me is storage bucket space to the immediate right of the driver, and left of the passenger, not just for convenience to put shopping bags and other stuff in, but to keep that extra load weight forward to keep the vehicle as stable as possible.

The driver seat i hope to find a wide, well supported OEM that can be jacked up and down, that not all cars have. I also don't like the ones that do jack up and down, but tilt forward as they jack up (the lower squab). Jacking is a big help to accommodate tall and not so tall people.

Rear seat, the squab at least, is a part of the car, likely molded fiberglass and likely part of a one or 2 piece floor.

[JEBar]

when asked :

do you foresee having a small trunk area with some type hatchback type door for a storage area behind the rear seat ?


Mark responded :

Yes.

.. and no. It will come down to the total sum of storage space.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

I got back into the factory this afternoon, drew up a temporary gear change mounting, took it to the laser shop with a box of ice pops for a bribe (hot today), and 30 minutes later back in my factory folding and fitting it.

The gearchange sits high up next to the steering wheel, bit like some mini vans, and the stock cables are an easy straight'ish run to the gearbox, without kinks, twists, or sharp bends, so the change is light and silky smooth.

Won't know if the position is comfortable until I drive it later this week after I get a seat mounted.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Well the first test drive happened today, accidentally.

.. after welding in the gearchange mount and a few other little things, I started it up while sitting on the side of the frame, pressed the clutch in, put it in first, let the clutch out, fell backwards when it jerked forwards, and there I was laying on my back on the frame with the BEX idling forward without concern, heading straight towards the rear of my forklift.

... and that was when I discovered the brakes are working just fine, after just barely getting my toes to the pedal while on my back

.... I had better mount a seat next me thinks!

[JEBar]

Personal Note :

having lived through the time when Elio Motors was actively working on building their demonstration vehicles, its wonderful that Mark hides very little (if any) info about his programs development ..Smile .. I've said it many times, I have no confidence whatsoever that Elio will ever produce anything other than promises .... at the same time, I have a very high confidence that Mark will bring his to production

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Today worked out well. The new vertical for the gear change, pink arrows, allowed me to run a tube horizontally to mount the stock throttle pedal to it, was scratching my head how I was going to do it, but got lucky and it was quite easy after all

The office is looking rather complete, as soon as the seat is properly mounted, and the throttle cable connected, I might be able to drive it after an extensive safety check.

[JEBar]

Smooth day today, and some of the good fortune I have been getting with things fitting is uncanny.
Make the seat runner supports, in picture 1 you can see were nothing more than 2 x longitudinals, with some guides for the wheels on the rear halves, and a latitudinal to mount the front of the seat (see the 2 small holes), that also acts as a chassis crossmember.

The left mounting offset of the VW Jetta seat is just perfect (see picture 2), like it was designed for the BEX, and the fore/aft movement, and the huge jacking height can suit anyone from 4 foot to 7 foot tall, simply amazing seat for this application.

The throttle cable is factory stock, uncanny fortune that the brake master cylinder booster mount was the right angle and right place for the cable to come though to the throttle pedal (white arrow). see picture 3. I merely made an extension to reach it with a small heim joint and metal extension (red arrow).