Chuck's RX7 / CMC w/IRS challenge

[rx7locost]

One thing leads to the next. This week’s focus was on seat belts. You may recall that I purchased those surplus HumVee belts to replace my 5 point belts. Let me say that this job would have been better if I had planned this from the beginning. I hate undoing things that were already done. The best trade-off location for me was in space insode the seat backs. I have a healthy amount of foam in the seat backs. This space has now been put to use.

I would have recessed the belts into the rear panel but that would have taken me further into the frame and relocating several more things already occupying that space behind the rear panel. So I took the easy way out. I drilled out 6 rivets in both of the corners. Then replaced them with rivnuts. I made up a reel mount from 1/8” stock and did some forming/welding. Welded in a threaded nut in the roll bar and test fit the belts. I thought I’d have to relocate my lower seat belt mounts, but that turned out as a pretty good fit. Because the belt reels must be vertical, they get further away from the rear panel as you get higher. To accommodate that I had to rebuild the seat backs. I cut away more padding and plywood, then formed an aluminum panel to ensure the foam and seat don’t get into the workings of the reel.

I am very happy with the belts. They are a great bargain.

This is where I am at today.

reel bracket.JPG

belt assy.JPG

seat back.JPG

[rx7locost]

Boy, this Spring, the weather just won't give us a break. Still cold out there. I heard about 3 weeks ago, that our weather here in Chicago had seen only ~6 days at or above average over the previous 60 days. Since then, it has there has been no real change in that pattern! Not a real good time for fiberglassing. I did fire up the ($$$) electric garage heater for a few days though.

I did get some quality time with the doors. I decided to make some "adjustments" to the top edge of the door. I cut back in to the pocket about 1-1/2" and then extended that line toward the front. This will give me plenty of shoulder room. That little detail required me to rebuild the slab side of the door above the pocket. That area was cut out then reglassed to the new shape. I think this will work out well. I left a flange about 1/2" deep min along the top egdge. That takes some of the flex out of the top edge of the door. I am going to use self gripping edge trim along that edge, just like I did on the scuttle's edge in the cockpit. My car may end up looking a bit like a 1970's speedboat, but WTH!

I am still on the bubble as to how to secure the door closed. I need to think about that some more. Once that is decided, then I'll add the reinforcement battens and glass over them.

[Lonnie-S]

Chuck, you are getting so fancy, my word. I think you're going to have the only "Phaeton" model Locost on the planet. Now, if you make those doors swing up at the front Lambo-style, I'm calling in the Locost police on ya.

Cheers,

Edit: Added Mr. Green so nobody would take my quip too seriously.

[locofinn]

Chuck, You lead and we all follow. Good ideas!

...Mark

[GonzoRacer]

Now, if you make those doors swing up at the front Lambo-style, I'm calling in the Locost police on ya.

Awww, shoot, Lonnie, wait 'til you see the remote-controlled electro-hydraulic system he's gonna install on 'em. Push the button on the key fob and both doors scissor upward and outward, untouched by human hands!

JD "I'm just jealous" Kemp

[Lonnie-S]

. . . wait 'til you see the remote-controlled electro-hydraulic system he's gonna install on 'em. Push the button on the key fob and both doors scissor upward and outward, untouched by human hands! . . .

Don't give him any ideas, JD!

Cheers,

[rx7locost]

Oh, you mean like Kartracer47's Wycked7 lambo doors? It's been done before.....

[GonzoRacer]

But not with NASA-style exploding bolts!!!

[rx7locost]

Gosh, where does the time go? I lost some steam as I has a 2 week business trip to China and then got caught up with getting the lawn and yard ready for the season. We had some good days which I could have put to use driving, but I had the seats torn up. So, I got that taken care of. Seats are now modified to fit the belt reel behind them. Ready for a spring drive. Today it never got above the upper 40's and they expect scattered frost on Sunday night. Yech!

I also finished my revised 3rd brakelight. The original one I used was a single row light that was not very bright. Now, with the light tucked up under the hardtop and the larger, brighter LED lamps, it really POPS. The guy behind me won't miss seeing this one unless he/she is too busy texting.

I think the doors will take a back seat untill later this summer. Time for some fun.

[robbovius]

Rx, whoa! swank ride. that's a beefy rear third eye, certainly get the attention of the folks behind.

[Lonnie-S]

Hey, wait a minute! Now, maybe my eyes decieve me, but aren't those dual cup holders I spy atop the transmission tunnel? I don't know, Chuck, but couldn't that get you excommunicated from the Church of the Lotus 7? If not, it may at least get you the assignment of writing on the board 200 times, "I will never, ever, ever again put cup holders in my Lotus 7 replica."

Like I say, I could be seeing things wrong.

Cheers,

[KB58]

Any car with space for cup-holders was obviously designed too large...

[nick47]

I want cup holders in my Locost. I don't want to have to hold onto my my coffee on the drive home from Peets. I am having trouble figuring out where to put them.

[rx7locost]

Those are not cup holders. They are dual Circular Utilitarian Part holders.

They are very poor at being functioning cup holders. They are too short to effectively hold anything higher than ~4 inches not to mention they tilt slightly forward

For a good cup holder, look for a gimbal mounted holder like used on boats.

[geek49203]

That same space -- space between the seat backs -- could be used for a "glove box" storage unit. Which of course could be wired to stay cold.

Not that I've considered this...