Elio Type Vehicle Resurection --- AKA the BEX

[markiver54]

If Mark mentioned it, then I missed it. Just wondering what the finnished overall weight of the vehichle will be, or a close guess,

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

More of the same.

On and off the car, making adjustments and starting to make all the bracing for the nose to become a pattern. It will need a lot of bracing.​

[JEBar]

If Mark mentioned it, then I missed it. Just wondering what the finnished overall weight of the vehichle will be, or a close guess,

I don't recall him giving any numbers .... I do know he's trying to keep the weight as low as possible while maintaining the vehicle's balance .... at the same time doing so without sacrificing structural integrity

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

The internal bracing is done, removed from the skyhook, and allows me to start working on the outside of the panels.

[JEBar]

FYI ....

Mark has come down with Covid .... he's been pretty sick .... thankfully on the mend and will get back to work on the car ASAP

[markiver54]

FYI ....

Mark has come down with Covid .... he's been pretty sick .... thankfully on the mend and will get back to work on the car ASAP

Thanks for the update. Best wished to him.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

The Covid has hit pretty hard, have slept about 18 hours a day for the last 3 days.

Wife was a bit cocky and saying she was stronger than me, and has been looking after me the last few days, well today she went back to bed at lunchtime and woke up at 7pm with her dinner and drinks all ready for her

[JEBar]

Good News !!!

Per Mark BEX ....

Well, Merry Xmas all, feeling a lot better, and I should be back into it on Monday

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX


A day back at work today, as I seem to be almost fully recovered from Covid ..

Main thing today was to put the front suspension back in, wheels on and take accurate track width measurements, then I made a dummy axle (a piece of tube) to hold the wheels the same distance apart. A bit like a trailer axle and wheels if you like.

This is to slip under the front nose body work, to position the wheels in order to make wheel covers and finish the nose.

I might have taken a picture had I had my phone with me ....​

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

Toying with designs and measurements, not a quick process.

Notice the dust after being home for a week+ with Covid ..
​

[JEBar]

Question I asked Mark : "I've heard that in China that celebrating the New Year is a pretty big deal, during which things pretty well shut down ..... when is it and will it have an impact on you development of your trike ?"


Response From Mark : "Chinese New Year is massive, usually closed solid for up to 2 weeks, and hard to get any sense out of people a week before, and a week after, so call it a month's disturbance. It's fine as long as I plan and stock what I need for the duration.

This year is February 1st, so from the middle of January I will start to suffer the effects from it.​"

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

This is where I am headed with it at the moment...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-kLBTbDoN0

[markiver54]

Very cool! I like it.

[JEBar]

on the one hand, very similar to the old Elio but still very different in other ways .... I like it

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....


Just to let you know that I am working on the BEX every day, but it's the sort of stuff such as playing with some changes, optimising and detailing areas of the design, but there is nothing physically new to show at the moment.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

I thought I had lost 2 days CAD work today, had to restart the computer after a freeze, then spent the next hour trying to find my files from the last 2 days, probably 30 hours worth, I was really quite upset, then I finally discovered that I had been working directly from my backup USB, darn it.

But at least I didn't lose the files.

Minimal parts count, which will be lowered further later.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

You know I share most everything here with you guys and gals, at least 95% of what I do, but for the next 1 to 2 weeks probably, I will be in the other 5% "Secret Squirrel" mode.


Do not worry, I'm not going anywhere, and will still post things of relevance, observations and questions.

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ---- in response to the following comment from a follower of this project >> "Thanks for the support.

As I say, I'm still here, not going anywhere, I just want to do some secret squirrel stuff, it may not even work out, but if it does I think it will be a major step forward in the project.​"

Thanks for the support.

As I say, I'm still here, not going anywhere, I just want to do some secret squirrel stuff, it may not even work out, but if it does I think it will be a major step forward in the project.​

[JEBar]

Per Mark BEX ....

In less than 20 working hours, starting from nothing, I have built this new floor, pillars and firewall chassis, including being slowed by minor mods and stopping to think about things along the way. Very happy about the ease and simplicity of construction.

From nothing meaning, leaving the shop with only my USB, buying steel, taking it to the laser shop, cutting the parts, then to the fold shop, back again and assembling and welding.

One of the most obvious changes is the size of the main engine rails, arrowed and compared to the last one. Main reason is the last one is a purchased rectangle tube, and there is too much variation in them, but also the new one is clearly larger, being double the height at the root, but also it's a laser'd and folded sheet now for consistent accuracy.

And no, it's not a pickup

Next picture is of the sides cut into 2 pieces, I knew i had to, but still grimaced taking a grinder to a brand new panel!

And last picture is the "Secret Squirrel" modifications I am making, the yellow arrow clearly pointing out the changes ..

[Cofisher]

Clever...lol