richd13

Back in the garage today after a nice relaxing bank holiday weekend. Started with the wiring from the engine and gearbox install last week: connected up the reverse light switch, loom connections and starter motor/battery leads. Also took the opportunity to attach the gear stick and fuel line as per the recommended build sequence. Then started to look at finishing off the steering, but couldn't get the upper column to pass through the lower bush without disrupting the plastic inner piece; after checking it against the upper bush supplied loose that end doesn't seem to fit through so will ask Derek's advice on how to fit it tomorrow. After that I started to tackle the cooling - the radiator, header tank and most hoses are now fitted, just the heater valve/block/header/tee piece still to go.

Thanks for the detailed descriptions Jim, it was the starter and gearbox I was most confused about so that should really help when I get back into the garage tomorrow! Jonathan - I'll bear in mind the photo posting for the future, hopefully I won't need to for this now! I'm in East Yorkshire.

So I had a couple of reads through the wiring connections section of the build manual this afternoon in the hope of sorting out my freshly installed engine and gearbox. However, as a complete newbie I must admit that it was all extremely confusing. Has anyone done this recently and have the time to run through in a step-by-step fashion exactly what I need to connect to where? Preferably with photos or detailed descriptions? I am unsure whether I will get the opportunity to look at it over the bank holiday weekend, but nevertheless I'd prefer to sort it out with help from you guys on here if possible rather than annoying Derek with a very long phone call...

Nice relaxed day today after wrestling with the engine and gearbox yesterday: attempted to make sense of the engine wiring instructions in the build manual but no luck, so decided to fit the exhaust primaries and collector instead. Took time out for a bike ride and to clear some of the empty boxes from the garage floor as well.

They're in! Engine and gearbox are successfully installed in the car, after a long but rewarding afternoon. Feeling quite relieved as this feels like a major milestone in the build. Tomorrow will be spent sorting out the wiring and cooling, with a break from the car with a bike ride on the cards.

Half day today; fitted the front anti-roll bar, read through fitting the engine and installed the washer head, pipe and bottle. Then removed the bell housing from the engine and attached to the gearbox, and added the U-shaped hose to the engine. Engine bay is all taped up ready for attempting to get the engine in tomorrow!

Productive day today; after fitting the correct bushes in the LH upper wishbone I fitted that to the car, then proceeded to add the damper unit, upright and wingstay, and torqued all the fixings. Then after wiring up the newly-arrived second headlight, I repeated for the RHS of the car. All that's left of the front end for tomorrow is the anti-roll bar, for which I need to go and buy some threadlock. Then it'll be onto prepping the engine/gearbox!

Started the day off by fitting the steering rack, nice and easy. Then moved onto the front suspension; both lower wishbones in without too much difficulty, so far so good... However after reading that the uppers needed 1/2" OD aluminium bushes inserting and foolishly deciding on the advice of ~20 year old blog that the only way these would fit was to use a vice, the bolts would then not go through as the bush was compressed too far! I suspect that the 12mm bushes are actually the correct ones as they go in far more easily, but will check with Derek tomorrow. He has already said he will send out new bushes. So instead I moved onto the lighting, only to find that my headlights don't match: I have an older one and a new one, so again on the phone with Derek and he's sending a second newer-style out. Proceeded to get the LH light wired up and left it there for today to fix a couple of bits on my brother's car before its MOT tomorrow, and put some new bars on the mountain bike.

So on Friday, my friend Scott, my Dad and I made the 400 mile round trip to Dartford and back to collect my kit - many thanks you two, couldn't have done it without you! It's now unloaded into the garage and I've checked through most of the boxes to be pretty sure I've got all the major components, though no doubt I'll find something I haven't been given! After a pretty chilled weekend I've got the trim attached around the front apertures and sprayed waxoyl into the grot traps, and dug out the parts for the steering rack and front suspension fitting ready to start properly tomorrow.

Thanks guys, appreciate the offers of help! The kit is now loaded in the garage, and taking a couple of days just to familiarise myself with the boxes, excited to get started!

Thanks Paul, I've been to pick up some Waxoyl today so I'll put that down as an early job too! Nigel, I believe I've come across your blog before, it's a good read! I've decided to use the blog section on this site if anyone wants to keep track of my progress. And Jonathan, I have indeed received an email about the Yorkshire, north and east group. And most tools I've managed to acquire, minus a couple that I'm borrowing from my local garage in exchange for a few beers!

Technically three days' work, but the garage is now clear and ready for the kit to arrive on Friday! The photo appears to be uploading the wrong way up though...

Hi all, I am incredibly happy to introduce myself as a new-build 270s (I'm picking up the kit on Friday 20th, i.e. in two days!). My name is Rich and I live in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire. Just wanted to know if there are any build tips applicable to me; I plan to attach the IVA protection to the front apertures as the first job, and have ordered bigheads to attach the cycle wings, but any other advice would be greatly appreciated.