Manky's Pop.

[BikerGran]

Bit expensive but know their stuff - http://xgenuk.com/exhaustpipe.asp

Hm, they were called X-Generation last itme I was there, now they appear to be Blue Sky Concepts.  I think I know why but it has nothing to do with the quality of their stuff!  They're in Poole.

[Manky Monkey]

Hmm, they look very professional -which usually means very expensive, but certainly worth a phone call. Thanks Bobbi.

[goforest]

Theres a bloke round the corner from me don't no him but could be a friend of a friend type thing I'll check it out

[Manky Monkey]

Thanks Paul. 

[Manky Monkey]

To comply with SVA regulations the Pop will need side repeaters for the indicators. I've been playing with various motorcycle ones for a while but eventually plumped for these from Europa Spares, who specialise in kit car parts.
www.europaspares.com
Loony thinks they're actually VW Golf units, possibly mark 3. The Pop was originally fitted with small hinged air vents on either side of the body, opened with a lever from inside the car. Mine was missing the actual flaps when I bought it, so Madron molded some new ones in fibreglass for me. Seemed the obvious place to mount the repeaters as anywhere else would spoil the lines of the bodywork. I'll remove the hinges & bond the 'glass panels permanently in place. It seemes a shame to lose an original feature of the car, but then we've already chopped it in half so what am I worrying about?!

[Manky Monkey]

Only had a couple of hours at the workshop ths afternoon, so finished off by cutting the first chassis cross member -completely the wrong length. Bugger. Measure twice, then measure again. Never mind, I can use the off-cut elsewhere so it won't be wasted. I'll try & get it right tomorrow.

[panthershaun]

keep the nice opening airvents Andy and just mount the lights on them

[Manky Monkey]

That was the original plan, but as you can see from the side-on view, they're too deep. The panel hinges go right across the opening so even LEDs would foul. I've tried lights everywhere else I can think of & they just look wrong. A necessary addition to get through the test, so I'm happy to put them here -at least they look like they're supposed to be there, rather than just plonked on anywhere as an afterthought.
Think I've also got to fit a reversing light & fog light. Loony would like them on hinged mounts under the rear tailgate so they can be hidden away after the test, but I figure if I've got to have them, they might as well be fitted properly, in the panel under the tailgate, probably just using a red & white version of the tail lights I've already got.
For anyone following this, there's a comprehensive run-down on what's needed for the commercial SVA test in the new issue of Custom Car magazine, (available in the shops from today). No new BritChopper mags at Loony headquarters yet Shaun.

[panthershaun]

should be today mate, unless the postie's slow 

[Manky Monkey]

The Postie was too quick -got to Loony's workshop before he did & left a card to say he'd called. Different sorting office to the one I work in, so Loony will have to go & collect them on Monday.
Got to bed at 1.0.clock this morning, then up again at 3.30am to go to work, then an afternoon spent hacksawing metal in the workshop in the sweltering heat, so I'm knackered now. I'm getting too old to burn the candle at one end, let alone both.
Anyway, today I cut 4 angled cross members for the Pop & Loony tacked them in place. These will brace the gearbox cross member & should stop any torsional twisting of the chassis when we drag race it, carefully road test it.
I've been peering under the bodies of various hotrods this Summer & have to say, even some of the prettiest examples have suprisingly flimsy looking chassis. Ours is built like a Sherman tank compared to many, but I'd rather over-engineer than have it hop, skip & jump it's way down the road. The main chassis legs are 40mm x 80mm, 4mm wall thickness. The new cross members are 40 x 80, 3mm. 
Next job is a protective loop around the propshaft, (a very sensible precaution -if the prop breaks loose it won't be much fun flailing around inside the car at several thousand rpm). Still waiting for the new prop to be finished at Reco-Prop in Luton at the moment though. Also need to make up some outriggers to attach the outer bodywork to, but need to know where the exhaust system's going to run before we can do that so I need to find someone to make up the headers.    

[panthershaun]

looking good mate, once my bodies done that's my next job 
I'll pm you about those pop pedals and where I will hide them if you need to collect before I'm back

[Manky Monkey]

Right-o.
Picked up a couple of bits & pieces from the autojumble at the Wiltshire Steam Rally today.
A pair of new reproduction tractor number plate lights for a fiver each.

[Manky Monkey]

And an MG handbrake lever for 5 quid.

[Manky Monkey]

.

[tbone]

i really like the look of the mg lever, would have used one on my trike except for the fact they have that open back.