Locating parts and raw materials

[sambo]

G'day all. I have a list of components that I'm chasing up for the build. If anyone can suggest where to find them in Melbourne, or alternatively interstate I'd be very grateful. Most items are probably laughable to you guys in the trade, but as a backyard builder with little experience, these things are not easy to locate!

- Flat steel bar
- Threaded rod
- Universal joints (for steering components)
- Electrical terminals & connectors (in bulk - not Autobarn prices!)
- Conduit suitable for wiring
- Nutsert/rivnut tool & rivnuts
- Tek screws (again, bulk)
- Sound/thermal deadening materials
- Aluminium sheeting (and parts to mount for heat shield?)

Thanks in advance guys. All comments/suggestions are welcome!

Paul

[stephen low]

Sambo

Obviously steel/ali suppliers and / or fastener supplies will have various steel/sheeting and threaded rod options, plus rivets, teks and more than likely nut serts too. Best option is the yellow pages for nearest outlets to you.

Uni joints, I suggest talking with Harrison as to what is normally used in those kits and work from there. A late model vehicle salvage yard would offer a variety of options and these joints aren't terribly high wear, so it's more a case of what will fit your needs.

I'd suggest you leave this one till later until you have the engine bay crammed with the essential goodies that might interefere. Such as motor, extractors, various driven bits at front of engine and anything else that might get in the way. My unis came with the car but i did play around with an excel and ford column at one stage.

I have the hyundai and an AU column in my shed if you want them to play around with so let me know. We can talk over a beer or three as I think you were once before going to come over, no?

My sparking had bulk packs of the terminals and connectors you are talking about but I didn't ask where he sourced them from, in bulk! probably get the protection conduit from the same place too!

I know Barry Nelson on the forum sells sound insulation, worth a call, he's in Patterson Lakes / Chelsea areas, so you could drop in to my place on the way to his!!

Just part of the research you need for such supplies. I now know of most of the local steel suppliers near me and have my favourite fastener haunts as well.

On bolts I'd almost suggest buying a variety of diameters in all say a metric thread at a certain length with matching plain and nyloc nuts and high tensile washers to suit. Buying in bulk will be cheaper and might offset the slight price difference if you only needed a shorter bolt in a certain application. I know my purchases spreadsheet is littered with fastener purchases, I'd hate to think what I've spent in bolts alone!!

Anyway happy hunting and let me know about the two steering columns.

Cheers

[boxhead]

Definatly speak to Barry regarding the electrical stuff, he put me onto motorbike wire terminals.

Check in your local are for a bolt supply company, they will help you with the all thread bar, nutserts, tek screws etc.

[dbn04]

http://cableorganizer.com/automotive/

i used some of this stuff to tidy up in the engine bay and cabin , cheap as chips as well,

[sambo]

Slowy, yes I will definitely take you up on the offer to visit and talk shop over a beer or two. How are you placed this weekend? I still have your mobile no. Regarding the bolt bloke, I didn't think to ask about the threaded rod. Will investigate those other pointers, thanks.

Thanks Boxhead - you mean 'Baz' from this forum?

[LoBelly]

Hello Sambo

I went to Cost Less Bolts for a lot of Items, the store near Vermont has Kits/Packs in various grade metric and UNC bolts, also in stainless a couple of these packs was invaluable in the creation/assembly phase. (they also have all sorts of all thread)

Possibly worth a visit to see what they have. The shop in (near) Vermont seems to be more diverse than the one in Moorabbin.

I used lots of 7 core trailer cable to do my wiring

Steel Merchants in the yellow pages for your steel, Also consider using aluminium if it doesnt have to be steel, obviously lighter and easier to work.

Many of the places that carry the materials also carry the tools for working them eg. steel merchants cary all manner of cutting/grinding wheels, as well as the some safety gear. (very important for the weekend wannabies)

good luck

LoBelly

[Aussie Mike]

I buy most of my steel flat bar and such from Culpan new steel in Airport west. I've been dealing with them for about 14 years and they have always been helpful. I think they just changed their name of though.

For SS tube and bends I deal with Tubesales in Thomastown. Again a smaller company but helpful and good to deal with.

For aluminium bar stock, tube etc I go through Smart aluminium in Keilor/Tullamarine. Good to deal with and have most sizes in stock. Recently changed policy on minimum lengths though so you may have to buy a 1/2 length minimum now.

For Chrome Molly tube plate and barstock I deal with Airport metals in tullamarine. All aircraft grade stuff with a good range in stock and I've found their prices are better than British international traiding who are supposed to be the Chrome molly importers/specialists.

For all my fasteners, SS, nutserts etc I deal with the Metric Men in Keilor. I've been buying from them since they opened about 10 years ago and they know me and look after me on prices etc. Very helpful guys.

Finding a supplier you trust and building a relationship is well worth doing. You will get good advise and pricing and they will often take an interest in your project.

Cheers

[sambo]

LoBelly - yes I've been to Cost Less Bolts a few times. If only their Moorabbin store was open Saturdays, much closer for me. Great service and prices from I think Steve (?) at the Ringwood store, although I wish I'd known about the bulk packs. Cheers.

[Tenrocca]

Originally Posted by dbn04

http://cableorganizer.com/automotive/

i used some of this stuff to tidy up in the engine bay and cabin , cheap as chips as well,

Thats some neat stuff on that site

[stephen low]

Paul

This weekend I have arvo commitments both days, from about 12 noon but happy to catch up with you in the morning if you like. Sunday would be better and I'm still partial, as the old foster signs say, I allus has one at 11!!

And no I believe Barry Nelson uses his name not Baz on the forum! Though i think he does call himself Baz for short and he is the bike wire supplier!

Cheers and wait for the call - and beer

[sambo]

Thanks for those contacts Mike - very handy. I'll ring around and see who's open on Saturdays. Yeah isn't it funny, once they know about "the project" they always seem to loosen up and/or improve the pricing - something about these cars hey?

[sambo]

Slowy - sounds good. I'll call you tonight. PS. Barry's blue beast was the car that inspired me to get started - so there you go.

[Leeroy]

Sambo

I got lots of steel / rod / etc. of all sorts in sizes etc. Handyman Steel Moorabbin. Heaps of types and plenty of offcuts real cheap. They cut to length also.

Nutserts and tool I got at Costless bolts Moorabbin. Try Coventry Fasteners on Chesterville Rd, Moorabbin, open Saturdays.

Kyatts autoparts Chesterville rd, Moorabbin also great for tools and auto stuff and know their stuff also.

Meridan Motorsport in Moorabbin have anything you need in AN fitting, braided line, adaptors or anything required for tech stuff for your cobra, good prices also with heaps of assistance

I work in Moorabbin so love to shop local cos I'm lazy.

[sideshow]

why do u want to buy wire

just buy a painless of a hot rod wiring kit

much easier to wire up a car for a novice

by the time u buy stuff seperately its same price to buy a premade fusebox with loom then u just run it to correct spots in car and fit your terminals

i buy the white plugs and terminals in bulk and crimp terminals im packs of 500
still cost abit
relays i get in packs of 50 and only save about 1 or 2 bucks per relay

[sambo]

Leeroy, cheers mate I think you've spotted most of my needs in the one area (Moorabbin) which is great as I only live 10 mins away. Nothing wrong with being lazy, it allows more time for tinkering!

Sideshow, I've got the American Autowire Highway 15 kit but I need all the terminators for my headlight and tail light lamps which come pre-terminated with those brass bullets. But you're dead right, painless/etc is the way to go. The Highway 15 kit is superb value for money and really easy to work with.

Thanks again for all the help today guys.

[sideshow]

well u only need 2 or 3 plugs front left and 2 or 3 front right
2 for rear afew behind dash

u need to buy good crimpers theyre around 40 to 50 bucks

but its not worth buying in bulk u wll have to much extra

i can prob sell u terminals in bulk but it would take me an hour to price it up
and thats 70 bucks hehehheheeh

just wait till end and write down what plugs u need and ill give u rough price for them and terminals

but u need good crimpers as i do come across some home wiring jobs and
they are asking for trouble in afew years down the track

i dont use the brass bullets mine are flat terminals and they are silver clour

i find the brass ones dont have as strong a hold onto eachother

so i use brass one son basic low current wires mainly thin ones

anyhting hi load i use silver terminals

anyway just take your time and do it slowly and correctly

bad connections are a pain in the butt to find

[Tenrocca]

Originally Posted by sambo

I've got the American Autowire Highway 15 kit

Glad it turned up, all that worry for nothing! I ended up buying one of those too - started pulling off the wire I dont need, and I reckon Ill have enough left over to run all the extra engine harness bits!

[sambo]

Tenrocca, yes it did finally turn up but not for 3 weeks because he actually sent it to the wrong customer! Anyway he threw in free speaker looms for my troubles. He said he had a string of nightmares after trusting his wife to post all the orders for a week and I noticed that he's no longer listed on eBay. Whoops!

Sideshow I might take you up on that offer, thanks. Perhaps when I have my L76 and I put the order in for the modified loom? Still several months away though.

[sideshow]

yep
when u order modded loom for l76 i need pics of the air flow meter
there are 2 types of maf meters and they have diff plugs so i need a pic to see hwat type i need to add to the loom

i have ecus and pedals too now

so will be selling complete packages ready to go
with ecu with security removed and full loom with relays etc modded to suit cobra and accel pedal and maf meters

theres alot of stuff missing when u buy a crate motor hehehhehe

[sambo]

Sideshow, I've spec'd up the required parts right down to the spring and clip for the fly by wire pedal. And you're right, there's plenty of bits required on top of the crate motor. Eg, generator, MAF, starter, tensioner, pulley, brackets/bolts, heat shields, belt, looms, dipstick, etc!

Could you please send me an email with prices on the loom, ecu (E38) and edit? Are you able to arrange a tune as part of the ECU remap?

Cheers