Europa TCST

[TurboFource]

Back at it ….. touched up black paint in dash area as I may be running without a dash pad for a spell and didn’t want to see bare fiberglass. Hood latch seal reinstalled (what a bugger to do by yourself!), washer nozzles (bugger again), defrost vents and heater box. Hope to have dash in within the next week and then onto door installation.

I must gotten in and out of this tiny thing 50 times today!!

[TurboFource]

Dash not in …. …. Almost. Heater hoses installed (does core bleed itself with use?), switches installed in dash (had to elongate some holes since they weren’t centered in dash opening  ), heater slide controls in dash, dash to chassis brackets installed. Need an end for one of the heater cables since rust turned it into one piece. Spent some time looking for hardware from 4 years ago ….

[GavinT]

... (does core bleed itself with use?)

Good question and I don't see how it could, yet it doesn't seem to be troublesome.

Perhaps one of the 1/2" inlet/outlet tubes extends internally up to the top of one side of the matrix?
I've never had the actual matrix desoldered to see.

[BDA]

When I burp the cooling system, I do it with the heater valve open… when I remember. It’s usually at least cracked open because of the crappy design and because I usually change coolant early in the year. That seems to work ok for me.

[TurboFource]

Mostly in …. great fun in the hellishly small work space! I know it would be easier with the windshield out
but I am not ready for that yet! Heater cables for the slide controls were extra joyful 

[BDA]

Heater cables for the slide controls were extra joyful 

True! But pat yourself on the back. Another job well done!

[TurboFource]

Dash bolts in and steering column nuts installed (another awful task), found more evidence from critters, spherical bearing blocks fit great and my guess on thickness seems pretty close as the door fits in the opening      The excess fiberglass on the inside of the bobbins needs trimmed flush so the hardware sits flat, not fun either. Hope to install door tomorrow…..

[BDA]

That first picture… Turbo in the Lotus position! 

[TurboFource]

Had the door hanging with the spherical bearing hinges and it swung easily, needed to lower it so I “milled” the spacers 1/8” thinner in my drill press with a carbide burr. The top spacers keep breaking the flanges off so I ordered some 2mm thick tubing and washers and will weld up some upper ones. Quite the challenge to do by yourself   

[TurboFource]

New upper spacers fabricobbled from 2mm wall 12mm steel tubing and doubled up stainless washers that I edge welded together. Just painted the carbon steel part so I hope to try them tomorrow.

[TurboFource]

Door in …. great fun with no help! You can reach the bolts via the front wheel well with the splash shield removed. Need to mount water/methanol injection.

Note to future me: Doors will not have perfect fit with out significant bodywork and we don’t know if we like fiberglass work yet

[dakazman]

   Turbo,
 You have come to far to let a little glass work stop you now.😂
  A few sleepless nights is a small price to pay, just don't look at the entire car but a section at a time. Buy some aluminum tape, a Dremel and a gallon of resin with some glass matting to get started.
 Dave