Build Diary 15

Build Diary Page 15

• Windscreen wipers.

The windscreen wipers from the Sierra have to be modified to fit the small windscreen of the Quantum. The arm is cut down to leave a 30mm stub sticking out the main arm. The stub is then bent 25 degrees to the horizontal. The original springs are too strong and have to be replaced with new ones. The 10" wiper blades from the Mini are used. To attach the wiper arm to the blade, a piece of a 3mm drill was cut off and brazed on to the arm. This allowed the plastic clips supplied with the blades to be used. A coat of primer and black paint, and you would think they had been bought.

• Vents

To help remove some of the under bonnet heat, I decided some vents would be needed. I have always liked the Aston Martin style wing vents. I showed my Dad some pictures of the style of vent I was thinking about, and soon there were two vents fabricated. They were made from aluminium, with fine stainless mesh behind. The aluminium was highly polished. The vents were bonded on to the side of the bonnet with some post office red sealant to match the bodywork. Mmmm tasty!

• Mud flaps

To help reduce the amount of dirt and small stones being thrown up from the front tyres, a pair of mud flaps were attached to the cycle arches. They were cut out from a flat sheet of semi rigid plastic, and attached with a couple of screws.

• Hood and side screens

The side screens come in two parts. The fibre glass bottom half and the top frame with the window. The two halves are bolted together, then rubber seals are pushed onto the edges to form a "semi water proof" seal. The hood is attached to the car by means of a header rail which fits over the windscreen frame, and fasteners at the rear of the car. The hood was temporarily attached because the fasteners we were going to use would have failed the SVA test. The idea is that if it rains on the day I take it for its SVA test, I can clip in the roof at the front and hold down the back with good old duct tape. Then when I get there I can remove all traces of the hood, because the front clips are held on with screws, and not pop-rivets Lets just hope it doesn't rain!

To hold the side screens closed a strip of vinyl with press studs is used. I'm not a fan of press studs, they tend to loosen over time. I also had visions of the vinyl stretching with use. There had to be a better solution, and here it is! The strap and fastener from an old ruck sack. It works a treat! It keeps the side screens pulled in tight, and never loosens, because its self adjusting. It's also quick release.