Since last time I've plumbed up (most of) the cooling system. The only remaining bit is the hole you can see here in the red connector. The temperature sender is going to go in here. Ideally i'd like to fit the fan switch in here but the thread is all wrong, I'd have to drill and tap a new thread in it.
I've also mounted the ECU and expansion tank onto the bulkhead panel.

Since then I've removed the scuttle to allow me to fabricate and fit some of the aluminum panelling that goes underneath it, it will be much easier to fit without it in the way.

I've also made and welded on the headlamp brackets.

Unfortunately all the jobs now require some spending: i need to buy the rest of the exhaust parts, aluminium sheets for body panels etc. so until I can afford it, I've turned my attention to the trailer project - have a look at my other blog!

Here's my latest pics from today:

Here's a fully welded exhaust manifold, just needs painting now.
Here's the radiator mounted up, viewed from above so you can see the fabricated brackets.

And here it is viewed from in front. The eagle eyed amongst you may notice that I have removed the viscous fan from the front of the engine. I had intended to leave it on, but that made it impossible to plumb the cooland hoses, so off it came, and now I have lots of room!

Picture time!!!

Here's the mangle of wires that was the donor BMW fusebox. I'm really glad I got rid of this lot!
This is the yellow plastic template I made up for the bulkhead panel (front of the scuttle)

And here's the resulting steel panel, welded in.

I used the same method to make this, the plywood dashboard panel...

And mounted the gauges and warning lights into it.

Well it's been a productive couple of days. I've now completed all the welding on both exhaust manifolds, they now just need a coat of VHT paint and they are complete.

I went rummaging round a scrapyard this morning looking for rubber coolant hoses to connect to the radiator and expansion tank. I got what I needed for £2. Unfortunately the hose I got for the expansion tank is slightly too small in diameter so I'll have to try again.

In the garage this afternoon, I finished up the manifolds, made brackets up and mounted the radiator. I've ordered a hose joiner with a tap in point for a temperature switch that will operate the electric fan which I have yet to mount up to the rad.

Ok, bulkhead panel, welded in and painted - done.
Dashboard panel, template made, plywood cut out, locating brackets made and welded on, dash drilled and bolted into place. I've also cut out holes for the 4 gauges and all 6 warning lights. All I need to do to finish the dash facia is cover it in thin foam and then vinyl.

I need to make the scuttle outer panel but need to buy aluminium for that.

I've cracked on with the exhust manifold and all but finished the first one. By spending hours with holesaws in the pillar drill, cutting holes in 2" pipe and welding it all toether, I now have a viable manifold, I just need to plug one open end of it, and then the rest of the exhaust can be fitted to the other end, well, it will when I buy it.

Since my last post I have done even MORE work on the wiring, I've removed the wiring for the headlights, front indicators, cooling fan and horns. It makes sense to re-use small parts of the loom as the wiring is all the right size and colour coded. Saves money too.

I've also moved on with other things. I made a template and cut out a 1mm steel plate for the bulkhead panel on the front of the scuttle, and tack welded it in place. I'll remove the scuttle to fully weld it, as that will make it much easier to do.

I've bought lots of new stuff too, a pair of 6" headlights with angel eye rings to use as sidelights. They aren't E marked but it doesn't matter as they don't need to be for track use. I've also bought some really cool instuments. A water temp gauge, rev counter, voltmeter and an oil pressure gauge. When off, the faces are black, but then light up red and white, really trick. I've bought the plywood to make the dashboard and i'll make it the same way as the scuttle panel.