S4 Duratec Project *The finishing Touch*

[ardee_selby]

Gordon - Check your in-box

Cheers - rd

[Spyder fan]

Dear All,
I was at Spyder yesterday for my +2 zetec's annual service and MOT. The Duratec Elan project is gaining headway again and I expect to have something to report in about 6 weeks time. The chassis is ready to be blasted and painted now that it's final fettling has been finished to allow everything to fit and get clearance, the next stage is to properly build up the full rolling chassis and then fit the body ready for painting, then off to the painters before coming back to Spyder for wiring and fitting out before turning the key and giving it life.

It should be on the road in July this year...... it's getting real now and I'm starting to look forward to it.

Regards

[elansprint71]

I wondered where this thread had gone.... and have to say that I'm a little put out that nobody PM'd me so that I could add my valuable contributions.

Well, the only side-stripe words for this car are, Shirley...... ELAN SQUINT.

Personally I don't like the colour over white paint schemes, I also prefer the look of the FHC. But what do I know, I've got a yellow over white Sprint which was converted from FHC.

Back in the 60s Harry Ratcliffe ran the quickest Minis in the world (also the fastest Elan but that's another story) he then decided to do something a little different. They fitted a Buick V8 in the back of the Mini, with front wheel drive via a Jag diff. I can't help thinking that you've missed a trick with this project.

[stugilmour]

Sounds like great progress Alan. Any reason for fitting the body and then painting rather than painting it prior to installation? Just to make sure it fits & in case body mods are required?

Cheers!

[Spyder fan]

Sounds like great progress Alan. Any reason for fitting the body and then painting rather than painting it prior to installation? Just to make sure it fits & in case body mods are required?

Cheers!

Stu,
Spyder find it causes less damage in the build doing it this way, they have rebuilt more than most after all. The body already fits and all the adjustments have been made.

Pete,
The colour scheme is still Pistachio over White with gold bumpers and wheel centres, offset a little by the full cage in black and of course the double duck roof. I want this car to stand out for more than just a show off reason, it's a tiny car by todays standards and I want other road users especially foreign lorry drivers to know I'm there (we get loads of LHD 45 tonne articulated trucks filling the roads near here as we are not far away from the channel ports). Reserve your judgement until you see it, I like your yellow over white car but think your new FHC is a bit plain.

Regards

[richgilb]

Looks cheap and tacky, Alan. Just let the performance do the talking....and the green paint!

Mark

Suits him, sir.

[richgilb]

DURATEC SPRINT in the original font. Job done.....

This L reg one is by far the best looking car on this site after mine.

Here is mine, note the little sticker on the wing that says BBR Turbo. I'll see you at Castle Combe. Prepare to be humbled.

[richgilb]

Dear All,
I was at Spyder yesterday for my +2 zetec's annual service and MOT. The Duratec Elan project is gaining headway again and I expect to have something to report in about 6 weeks time. The chassis is ready to be blasted and painted now that it's final fettling has been finished to allow everything to fit and get clearance, the next stage is to properly build up the full rolling chassis and then fit the body ready for painting, then off to the painters before coming back to Spyder for wiring and fitting out before turning the key and giving it life.

It should be on the road in July this year...... it's getting real now and I'm starting to look forward to it.

Regards

Total cost to date?

[innesw]

Good to hear it's still progressing Alan! Anymore picturesto tease us with?

I'm also aiming to be finished near July, I'll race you and see who finishes their car first!

Innes

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Proof of the pudding; who will be the fastest around the dreaded Castle Combe
A shame that I won't be able to make it this year; but next year's going to be a go'er, budget permitting.

Cheers
John

P.S. Hope it doesn't rain again!

[Spyder fan]

Innes : Should have some more photos early May, I look forward to racing you, even though I am cheating using Spyder.

John: Maybe or maybe not getting to CC trackday this year, I have rellies coming over from Australia who need picking up at stupid o clock in the morning on the Sunday and a wife who is getting stressed about the visit already so being absent from home on Saturday 28th May might not be politically correct.

Rich: Flipping troll! go play with your Miata/Eunos/MX5

[elansprint71]

Should that Mazda not be a SPLINT?

[Mark B]

[/quote] Prepare to be humbled.[/quote]

Did you mean humbled or hairdressed?

[Spyder fan]

finally after more than a year I am pleased to present the one and only unique Spyder Duratec Elan Chassis in it's complete and painted form. It's all go go go for Donnington now: Spyder are building the full rolling chassis complete with the engine and running gear right now with a view to fitting the body and sending it to SMS in the next 2 weeks for them to paint and return before the end of June for Spyder to finish the build before the end of July.......... Just in time for show and shine

[innesw]

Very nice Alan! Especially the adjustible wishbones in the last pic, are you going for adjustible wishbones all round?

Innes