Mike's Cabrio Build

[cabrioman]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

So 2014 should be a quiet time in the Garner garage, apart from...

Paint
Power steering
Traction control
lsd
Launch control
Hardtop
Fully retracting windows
Matching camping trailer

Etc etc...


John

[lil_red_roadster]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Hearty congratulations Mike...enjoy..! It'll never be finished though...and that's part of the enduring attraction...
Cheers
Jez

[bryannewell]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Hi Mike
Well done!!

Just the colour then!
Any clues?

Regards

Bryan

[cameronfurnival]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

looks like the paint fell off too MIke! NO seriously well done!

[dcunn]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Well done Mike
Rgds DC

[copperleaves11]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Congratulations Mike. Whilst it may seem like the end of a long journey, it is in fact the beginning of a hopefully longer journey of enjoyment and further development. David

[listerjp2]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

You must be over the moon, well done chap. I have followed your build through its ups and down and have really enjoyed it. At some points it was like a thriller, with my heart in my mouth, you would have thought it was me who was building it. Believe me the only person who is glad its finished (other than yourself) is my wife, who has had to listen to my updates on your progress over many mealtimes. Congratulations. Adrian

[Tony Stott]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Brill, well done sir!!

[Mike]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

What did I do today?

I drove my Cabrio 120 miles without a number plate or tax disc........................and all quite legally! It was great fun. Several police cars passed me by, and I kept hoping they would stop me .............but none did!

Why was it legal? - because I took my Cabrio back for its IVA re-test today, and chose to drive it there!

It was pretty cold when I set off:

IVA Day 011.jpg


But I was well wrapped up, and with the heater on all the way the only part to get cold was my right hand - the centre heating vent has already shown it was worth the effort.

After a 90 minute drive I arrived back here:

IVA Day 013.jpg

IVA Day 012.jpg

This time I was an hour early - so I parked up, took a few photos and had lunch.

IVA Day 014.jpg

IVA Day 017.jpg

The ground clearance is pretty good as Marlins go........but that sump does look vulnerable.

IVA Day 018.jpg

I had arranged to have my Cabrio re-tested again by Martin, this time at 1.30pm to ensure I was not late! So after his lunch he began his inspection. As per last time, he was thorough in checking off the fail items, and within two minutes (literally) he ticked off the brake pivot pin clip, the matched rear tyre profiles, and window and bumper sharp edges, and so moved on to the final item - the handbrake.

Up on the ramps to see what I had done, and that when operated nothing now fouled - all was OK, and the test had now lasted all of 5 minutes.

Although I had added two steel adjusters into my handbrake cable, I still knew the efficiency test was, unfortunately, not going to be a formality.....................

Yesterday I took my Cabrio to the local MOT station to have them test only the handbrake efficiency, to make sure all was well, and give me the confidence to drive my Cabrio 60 miles over to Nottingham (and spend £90) for its IVA re-test.

Unfortunately it was much closer than I had hoped..............

Based on the 1600kg Design Weight I had filled in on my IVA application form this test only showed 17% - enough for an MOT pass (>16%), but a fail against the 18% required by IVA. Oh dear, not again!
Perhaps the pads were not bedded in and would be better after a 60 mile drive?

So, when I arrived at this part of the re-test I was genuinely nervous.
Martin set it up in the brake test machine, and I could see the back end squat down each time he applied the hand brake.

IVA Day 020.jpg

The good point to note at this stage were the exhausts clearing the centre plates even when squatting under hard braking.

IVA Day 021.jpg

However, I could also see the scores on the screen were just the same as the previous day, and a fail was the likely outcome.................

except................................?


(just teasing!)


..........I had agreed with Martin prior to my test that I would "re-submit" my Cabrios Design Weight to a more realistic 1300kg, which meant the efficiency now rose to a creditable 21% and a clear pass!

So - after 8 years, I have now achieved an IVA PASS!!!!!!!!!



The ride home was much more relaxed than the nervous one there and (in places) quite a bit quicker too! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

IVA Day 023.jpg

Although I had just achieved an IVA pass there were bits dropping off my car as I drove home!

The bumper edge covers fell off, but they were never really needed as I had radiused the edges, but I was not taking any risks..............

IVA - Back Home 001.jpg

The gash dash fell off to leave a nice shiney one underneath!

IVA - Back Home 003.jpg


Although these are sold as asfter market alloy wheels, they will not pass the IVA - part of the rim has a radius of less than 2.5mm: so I had to remove it for the test, and cable tie it back on to get it home safely!

IVA - Back Home 006.jpg

..............and this is what its all done for.............

IVA PASS certificate
IVA - Back Home 007.jpg

[Mike]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

HI MIke - I have the standard big sierra wheel as well - will the bits off that work? If so you can have them free gratis

Hi Cameron


Many thanks for your generous offer - this is what the club is all about.

Having said that however, a combination of my impatience and the local Sierra breaker being open (he is a one man hermit operation living in a caravan with the local council trying to close him down on public health issues - you know the sort of place) having one he would let me have for £3, means I have now sourced one, and have my wheel fitted and working now.

On a general Sierra spares note, having had difficulty in finding Sierra's down at my local breakers yards these days I would urge you, and anyone with any Sierra parts to hang on to them. Parts are getting difficult to find and prices are definitely rising for Sierra spares on ebay - quite frightening what some peole think they can ask for!

But thanks once again for your kind offer - at least I know where there is a spare if mine fails!

Mike

[cameronfurnival]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

HI MIke - I have the standard big sierra wheel as well - will the bits off that work? If so you can have them free gratis

[Mike]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

There are times in your life when you get turned over.................

As many of you will have noted I borrowed Cameron's Sierra steering wheel to get through IVA. Over time I have come to like it more than the Momo wheel I had chosen, so bought a "good condition" Sierra wheel via ebay.
Whilst the rim is in good order, it turns out it is not complete - it is missing the horn ring assembley:



Its a simple plastic plate with two copper rings, with 3 lugs on the back which clip into the steel boss.

Does anyone have an old standard Sierra steering wheel gathering dust which has a working ring assembley still in it?

If you do, and you would like to see it go for good use, and earn a beer token or two, please let me know:

Mike Tel: 07968 835101

[cabrioman]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Hi Mike

No problem on the photos.

I think given your tight clearances, removing that section would be a real bonus.

Agree on your comments re pictures being useful, must post some recent picture updates of my rebuild, its moved on a lot. Just starting to rewire it at the moment and then its onto soft trim and refixing body panels.

John

[Mike]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Mike

My hunter has the removable plate, I am sure it was nothing to do with SVA and all about allowing the prop to be taken out without dropping the diff. I would not worry about strength, the standard hunter chassis has no flanges at the back edge of the floor to tunnel joint next to the prop which allows the bulkhead to flex a worrying amount, I fixed mine by welding flanges in, you have done the same with your altered floors. So compared to the standard Marlin arrangement yours and mine are far stronger.

John

Hi John

Had a trawl through your flickr photos and found these - hope you don't mind me copying it on to here to show what you are describing? I may remove this section in mine now that I've seen this.
(This is the beauty of posting photos - someone always finds something you never even thought about when taking the photo!)







Thanks for the photos John

Mike

[cabrioman]

Re: Mike's Cabrio Build

Mike

My hunter has the removable plate, I am sure it was nothing to do with SVA and all about allowing the prop to be taken out without dropping the diff. I would not worry about strength, the standard hunter chassis has no flanges at the back edge of the floor to tunnel joint next to the prop which allows the bulkhead to flex a worrying amount, I fixed mine by welding flanges in, you have done the same with your altered floors. So compared to the standard Marlin arrangement yours and mine are far stronger.

John