Back in the saddle.

Writing the last blog post did serve to make me realise that I really should get on with it.  As a starter-for-ten I set myself a couple of simpler tasks to get things moving again.  First up was to add some heat mat to the passenger footwell.  The reason for this was not because I am concerned about the passenger's feet getting toasted by the exhaust heat.  The battery is to be located just the other side of the panel and hence I felt that I should do something to try to protect it.

The products used to do this came mostly from Car Builder Solutions.  The heat mat seemed to get good reviews and the appropriate adhesive was apparently their proprietary contact adhesive.  The sticky stuff was tested a few weeks ago when Kate stuck together two bits of foam on her way to making a foot stool.  At the time I got her to give the heat mat its base coat as per the instructions.  I should also state that Mrs C put her crafting skills to the use when cutting out the heat mat to the correct shape for me.  When I came to actually glue the matting to the car it was a case of applying the adhesive to both sides with a paintbrush and leaving it to dry for fifteen minutes.  When I returned to the mounting surfaces I was suprised to find that they were barely tacky to the touch; I thought I'd got something else wrong.  Reluctant to admit defeat I paired the matting with the aluminium panel.  It sticks.  It really sticks.  Some clever chemical reaction seemed to be under-way as the matting when quite clammy and cold.  Anyway, it's on and I'm halfway through finishing the edges with aluminium tape.

As you can see, there are four bolts that hold the battery mount in place but I can't think how I can practicably protect these.  The second job was to decide where to locate the master switch via it's rather expensive bracket.  I had to check the height of the bodywork as it is now the highest point on the car but all is well.  The cable run to the side of the car for marshal use is going to be very short and it'll still be okay for me to use - although I will have an ignition switch closer at hand.

 One big project completed (by Dave) is the build-up of the axle.  This was delivered back to me this week and I'll hopefully fit it this weekend - albeit with some old dampers on-loan from local RGBer Al Boulton while I wait for my Protech's to arrive.

The next big project is the roll cage; work is under-way.

So there we are - I'm back up and running.  Deadline? Pah!

TC