AP2289 Build log 'stage 2'

[tkb289]

Hi Glen,

How did you settle on the location of the nose badge? I assume there are some reference points & dimensions involved. It may be an optical illusion, but the badge does not look parallel to the front of the car. It must be the angle of the camera and the radius of the leading edge of the front of the car?

On my FIA, ERA mounted a badge on the trunk and it seems to sit well on the surface, but you are wise to measure twice and drill once. To mock it up, put some blue painter’s tape on the trunk lid and find or make a flat disc about the same size of the badge and see how it sits on the trunk.

[xb-60]

Hi Tim,

You're correct Tim, the badge does look like it's skewed somewhat , but luckily it's just an illusion. A direct result of how little room I've got available in my garage for good camera shoots!
I actually used ERA's recommendations for the location of the nose badge. The pins are vertically placed on the badge, 1½” apart, and it's definitely correctly aligned .

The Cobra badge you have on your trunk looks similar to the one I've fitted to the nose on my car, but the AC badge that I have for my trunk is at least 3" in diameter, is flat like the smaller Cobra badges, and looks like it would not sit well enough for my liking. As you say "measure twice, drill once". I'll see if I can post a a good picture of how it would sit.

Cheers!
Glen

[xb-60]

He (AP F289...none of this "she" or "her" girlie stuff) now has his 'scuttle support' tubes fitted. You might well ask "why scuttle support tubes on a semi-monocoque chassis", but, well, why not? The originals had them....

Cheers,
Glen

[Jaydee]

Do you really need to drill for the badge? I placed mine with silastic and taped it in position for a couple of days. It won't come of in a hurry. At least if some low life tried to get it of it wont break the body work if it's pinned. JD

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Jaydee

Do you really need to drill for the badge? I placed mine with silastic and taped it in position for a couple of days. It won't come of in a hurry. At least if some low life tried to get it of it wont break the body work if it's pinned. JD

That's what I had intended to do, but was persuaded to utilise the pins....but yes, I understand the "risk".

Cheers,
Glen

[Dimis]

Badges are cheap... What happens when you heat it up?
Can you bend it to shape? We're only talking a couple of mm.
Nice work and Good luck.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Dimis

Badges are cheap... What happens when you heat it up?
Can you bend it to shape? We're only talking a couple of mm.
Nice work and Good luck.

Yeah Mr. D, but it's around 70mm diameter and 2.5mm thick. Agreed, might be cheap to a Kirkham owner such as yourself, but they are not all that easy to find.
Bob Putnam (ERA) says that "The street 289s had the same placement" but that would be for the smaller Cobra badges. I'm assuming that's not necessarily so for the AC badges on an English car.

I'll check my stock of pictures, and see if I can get away with placing it a little further forward on the trunk lid where the curvature is less. If that works and I'm happy with it, I dare anybody to be critical

All good with you Anth? Staying under the radar I hope.

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

Been trying to login for more than 24 hours....finally got lucky. What's going on??

Anyway, can finally report successful fitting of AC badge to the trunk. Top of the "A" is sitting up a bit over 1mm. Positioned it about an inch further forward than ERA's figures for the normal (smaller) Cobra badge.

Cheers!
Glen

[patrickt]

That looks good. Always go with what pleases the eye.

[tkb289]

Hi Glen,

Good solution for the badges, your methodical & measured approach paid off once again. I have no doubt they are properly mounted and they do look good, despite the optical illusion.

[xb-60]

Thanks Pat and Tim. Still a lot to do, but nice to be able to start adding some 'appearance' items.

Cheers
Glen

[Alfa02]

Glen, she's starting to look like a Cobra, rather then Cobra parts Your paint (Color & choice) is just RIGHT!!! Any time frame yet, or just when it's done, it's done?? Oh and always great job, My Friend. Took the "Little Pik-nik 289" out yesterday, took 20years off my true age Felt 29, no make that 39, no 20 minus 65 yeah, yeah 45. Damn can't remember how old I am Now what were we talking about Cheers TommyRot.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Alfa02

Glen, she's starting to look like a Cobra, rather then Cobra parts Your paint (Color & choice) is just RIGHT!!! Any time frame yet, or just when it's done, it's done?? Oh and always great job, My Friend. Took the "Little Pik-nik 289" out yesterday, took 20years off my true age Felt 29, no make that 39, no 20 minus 65 yeah, yeah 45. Damn can't remember how old I am Now what were we talking about Cheers TommyRot.

Thanks Tom. Yes, good when it stops just looking like a shell. Time frame? Can't say with any accuracy. Never know who might read this

Cheers,
Glen

Stay sensible and safe you guys.

[xb-60]

A shot of my somewhat 'challenged' workshop/garage. Time to update my posters? If you look closely, there's an Alain Prost poster that says "World Champion 1986"



Update on progress.... currently making up a "cradle" / support structure for the engine.

Cheers,
Glen

[1795]

Glen,

Reminds me of my old workshop, not a whole hell of a lot of room to maneuver in.

Jim

[xb-60]

That picture actually shows it up worse than it really is. I did a big tidy up yesterday, freeing up some floor space and also storage space.
In the end though, you work with what you've got.

Cheers,
Glen

[tkb289]

Glen,

I would say you are certainly making the most of the space you have and the quality of your work speaks for itself.

Are you planning to paint the underside of the boot? A bit of black satin paint will make it a lot less noticeable. I painted the underside of the spare tire well on my FIA and it made a pretty noticeable difference. Purely cosmetic but something to consider down the road. The real priority is getting the car on the road, but all in due time. Just keep doing what you are doing ...

[xb-60]

Hi Tim,

I think after the car makes it onto the road, there will be quite a list of things to still be done. Know what you mean about the tank....and not sure whether to paint it or not. It is actually more noticeable from the sides than the rear, and that pic. is taken from quite low down too. The tank is aluminium alloy, and the car is modelled on a detuned racer, so maybe the look of a non-standard alloy tank is OK. Jury's still out

Cheers!
Glen

[xb-60]

Distractions lately, and not much progress in the garage. So, a couple of jobs "partly" done.

First was quick and easy....assembling the Nolathane bushes to the engine mount brackets:



Will still be a few weeks before the engine goes in.


Second was making up the engine support frames.
These are to support the engine when it comes off the engine stand and has the Canton oil pan, the scattershield and the Toploader fitted:




Cheers, friends, and stay safe
Glen

[tkb289]

Hi Glen,

Well that setup looks very stout indeed. Will you add some casters to the rails or mount the rails to some thick plywood that has casters on it? That should make positioning the motor under the car a lot easier.