My Type 54 to sort of 47 Conversion

[RoddyMac]

I've been meaning to post this pic:



This is the modified $40 Honda Civic Alloy rad.  Its a bit too tall, but if I angle it, like in the photo, I think it'll work.  All I need to do is build some ducting/supports and I should be good to go. 

[RoddyMac]

This weekend I did a deal with a friend for some pieces for my car, but included in the transaction was this:







Unfortunately, it came without papers but there is a serial number still on it.  I'm hoping I'll be able to track down its history.  The original idea was to sell it as is, but after looking it over, its in really decent shape (or much better shape than my car when I first picked it up).   I might build another spider type frame for it but if anyone is interested in it, send me a message.

Rod

[Rosco5000]

It really amazes me how many of the cars crawl out of the woodwork in the greater Vancouver area.  Nice find.

[Chuck Nukem]

Who will claim the Europa forums title of KING OF PROJECTS?!?!?!?!

[Piper an]

Hi mate re the civic rad if you dont mind me asking which model & what did you have  to mod regards Derek

[RoddyMac]

Derek,
It's one of these, though I bought mine 5 years ago:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DUAL-CORE-ALUMINUM-RADIATOR-FOR-HONDA-CIVIC-DEL-SOL-92-00-B16-B18-MANUAL-TRANS-/271177421898?fits=Model%3ACivic&hash=item3f236f144a:g:T64AAOSwcdBWRkr6&vxp=mtr

I had to move both hose connections, remove the filler cap, and weld in a baffle.  Looking at it now, it would have almost been easier to start off with a rad core and build tanks.   The Civic rad is the "universal" rad for the Locost crowd in North America, though I think on your side of the Atlantic the "universal" rad is from a Polo.   

I'm hoping my setup will work, if it doesn't then I'll be shelling out for a stock sized aluminium rad.

Rod

[RoddyMac]

I haven't posted progress in a while as it's been just sanding, filling, sanding, filling etc.   But the end is in sight.  The goal at the moment is to have the car in its final coat of high build primer on the Canada Day long weekend.  Then in paint by September.   My helper and I have been going over the car for the past three weekends trying to find all the pin holes and other voids, which we thought we had found all of until we rolled it outside into daylight and we found even more voids and pinholes.  Oh well, I have another two weekends to get it all sorted.

Here's some pics:









Rod

[BDA]

Good light makes all the difference, doesn't it!

Good luck with your schedule! I'm looking forward to seeing your car painted!

[Rosco5000]

Nicely done as always.  That is a long process getting everything flat and ready to go for paint.  I can't wait to see it with paint on it.  I would love to see it in person one day.
Ross

[Chuck Nukem]

Looking good Roddy! I cant wait to be back in sanding hell myself!

[RoddyMac]

This past week my gas caps arrived, well to be honest the second set of gas caps arrived.  The first set I ordered were for a 2" filler neck, and were too small for the pockets I glassed into the body.  The second set are for a 2 1/2" filler neck and look much better.  Saturday saw me turn up a pair of filler necks with a 2 1/2" 16 tpi thread, I made them in aluminium even though I am aware of galling problems.  They did get a coat of Never Seize and seem to thread on easily. 



Sunday, I went to the garage where the car currently is and tried to fit them.  I managed to get one to fit reasonable well, but I still have to trim some fiberglass inside the body to make it fit a bit better.  I would have done that on the weekend, but it was just too hot out for me.  Next weekend I'll get it done.





Rod

[Rosco5000]

Nicely done as always.  I like the 47 look with the filler caps and NACA ducts.  Did you finish up the gas tanks?

[BDA]

What Rosco said...

I always wondered what the ducts were used for. What are you using them for?

[RoddyMac]

Ross,
The tanks aren't quite finished, I've been waiting to sort out the filler necks before finishing them up.  I want to make up the mounts to locate the tanks, then mate the filler neck to the tank with a rubber hose.

BDA,
The duct on the RH side feeds into a yet to be fabricated cold air box.  I've started on a transition piece that goes from the rectangular opening to 4" round so that I can run a hose to the air box.  The duct on the LH side just dumps cool air into the engine bay.

A friend sent me a write up on Lotus 47 modifications that was written sometime in the 70's, and the write up mentioned the RH duct and cold air box, but nothing for the LH vent.

Rod

[jbcollier]

On a 47 one duct supplied cool air to the engine bay and the other cool air to an oil cooler.