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PostPosted: September 22, 2022, 11:17 am 
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Location: Guadalupe, CA
The great body switch-over (Summer 2022)

For these last several years, I've been running this old, rough, heavily-patinad body on this car. The body is really the only "Berkeley" thing about this car, as the rest of it is all custom. I've come to think of the body in this pic as my "test mule"- the body I could fearlessly mod, cut, chop on as I learned what I could or could not do on this project.. I've been looking for clearances, mounting points, vibration issues, water traps; whatever issues cropped up, this body showed me what they were, and how to resolve them. I love the world-worn patina that this body brings to the car, but it's now time to move onto the next phase of the build.

So this very rough, very brittle body is being retired in favor of a 'good' Berkeley body- in this case, it will be the RED Berkeley body that I have on standby, just waiting for its turn to be put into service. Over the next several months the red body will slowly make its way onto the car, and I'll run it 'as-is' until next summer (2023). My plan is to work the red body over and make it as nice and straight as I can during the summer of 2023, then I'll pull the car back apart for that last time and paint it mid summer of 2024.. If all goes as planned, at that point, the car will be fully mechanically sorted, and once in paint, it will be as 'done' as these things go. I then plan to keep this as a play car, and after a short break, somewhere in late 2024, I'll begin building my 2nd Berkeley, "The Slow Build Berkeley" **link here: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=21443

*I put these plans and dates here to help hold myself accountable.. I've sort of lost my way recently, and my life has been way out of balance, a feeling I decidedly do not like, so like I always do, I've made a plan, set dates, established goals, and move forward.. Thanks OCD :roll:

--ccrunner


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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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PostPosted: September 23, 2022, 11:05 am 
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I thought you were about to offer a vin'd "uni-body chassis" with a title for easy road use; an easy road legal, emission compliant BEC.

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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12


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PostPosted: September 27, 2022, 2:05 pm 
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Joined: October 10, 2010, 10:26 am
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Location: Guadalupe, CA
Late June, 2022

More work at the top of the engine while it's so easy to get to sans body..

-Replaced the old plugs with new..

-Thermostat.. After recently upgrading to a larger radiator, the car has been running way too cold.. a member here pointed out that the thermostat was likely stuck open, which was in fact the issue. I mean REALLY stuck open! Just for grins I tried to manually force it closed.. No way, she's locked up wide open. Installed a brand new OEM T-stat, and now she's perfect and runs at about 175-180 :cheers:

-Swapped out the OEM Honda choke.. this engine had the 'later model' automatic wax choke on it, which I've now swapped over to the older model manual choke..

--ccrunner


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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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PostPosted: September 27, 2022, 2:53 pm 
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Location: Guadalupe, CA
Rear Uprights

I've had the car in service for awhile now, and have noticed that the OEM upper bushings on the Miata rear uprights are quite loose and sloppy, so I pulled things apart and had new bushings pressed in.

--ccrunner


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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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PostPosted: September 30, 2022, 1:58 pm 
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Location: Guadalupe, CA
July 3, 2022

Sealing one firewall hole at a time..

I've struggled with engine heat getting to the driver since day one on this build. Given it's permanent topless design, I'm never going to be able to 'seal' this car up, but I continue to try to minimize the heat that gets through the firewall.

So I'm going after the obvious holes/ leaks one at a time. One trouble spot is where the steering shaft goes through the firewall. It's a bit tight in this area of the car (pedal box), but these pics document my 2-piece seal that seems to be pretty effective.. Not a sexy part in a build, but slowly but surely plugging these holes will make driving this car more pleasant.

--ccrunner


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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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PostPosted: October 1, 2022, 1:05 am 
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Well Dean that steering shaft seal looks mighty fine to me.
Wish I could think outta the box for things like this.

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'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
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PostPosted: October 1, 2022, 5:07 am 
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Dean,

A nice solution to a tricky quandary. Nice work. I would be surprised if it wasn't!

But my next item on my lengthy voyage to completion is bushings in the rear control arms. I too am using Miata components and should have replace the bushings while they were on the bench. Will I need a press or will a BFH work installing the new ones? How tough are the old ones to remove? I am an old dog and this is a new trick so any insights you might be able to share will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

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PostPosted: October 1, 2022, 7:07 am 
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In general, I use a 7/16 threaded rod, nuts, and washers with a metal bearing race driver kit. Coupler nuts and 1/2 inch rod would be better if it fits your drivers and bush id. A piece of exhaust tubing with a driver can provide a cup to pull the bush out, but if it is really stuck, it should come off the car to use a press or use a portapower jack with an adapter.

No poly available for that bush since it needs to twist for alignment adjustment with an oem non-adjustable uca.

One could burn the rubber for the heat to release the bond, leaving a clean, smooth shell to fit a nylon or delrin bush and reuse the inner sleeve. Nasty, black smoke job and the resultant tar sticks to anything.

_________________
Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12


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PostPosted: October 4, 2022, 11:07 am 
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Location: Guadalupe, CA
..Upright bushings.. I hit the easy button on swapping in new bushings and just had a local shop press them out/ in for me..

==================================

Pulling/Splitting the punt (aka belly pan)

These next many pics show more of the body changeover.. From the factory, the Berkeley punt was one big piece, but now I've chopped mine apart to be three separate parts- this was mostly done to make it easier to handle during construction, but to also allow easier access for maintenance and repairs (*unknown to me at this time in late June, the decision to split the punt would save my Monterey trip later this summer in August when I developed mechanical issues- more on that coming up). The 'new' (red) punt needs some fiberglass work out on the corners to make it work with the steel frame. On the front corners, I'm wrapping up the effort to allow clearance for the front wheels at full lock..

--ccrunner


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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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PostPosted: October 4, 2022, 11:18 am 
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Location: Guadalupe, CA
Minor fiberglass work on the punt at the rear wheel openings..

These rear edges/corners needed some work to allow the steel frame to be 'enclosed' behind the punt. Tedious, but it felt necessary to do to clean up this area where the body covers the otherwise hidden frame, even if it is tucked up in the rear wheel wells. The blue tape is just prep for the upcoming fiberglass that will be laid there..

Coming soon; Interior aluminum panels to further conceal the steel frame.

--ccrunner


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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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PostPosted: October 5, 2022, 11:15 am 
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Location: Guadalupe, CA
July 6, 2022

More work on the red punt 'corners'.. The front leading edges are now modded for tire clearance, and the rear corners are modded to enclose the steel frame and provide a solid 'pad' to bolt the rear body section to..

--ccrunner


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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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PostPosted: October 5, 2022, 11:20 am 
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Details on how the punt pads/pass-through mounting area for the car's rear body section turned out... This stage allowed me to mock up the mounting of the rear body section, but there's still more work to do at the very rear of the punt/ car body where they will bolt together..

--ccrunner


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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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PostPosted: October 5, 2022, 11:53 am 
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Location: Guadalupe, CA
Early July, 2022

A few random shots.. the first is a wideshot of the garage as the red body makes its way onto the car..

Next pic is of the starter valves being balanced..

Last few pics are of our trip (without kids!) up the CA coast to Monterey.. fun times with my sweetie. We originally planned to take this trip 2-up on the VFR1200, but Lisa decided last minute that she didn't feel comfortable taking the bike, so we took her Miata instead. A little disappointing for me as I was really looking forward to taking the Honda up highway 1, but I get it, and we had a great time.

--ccrunner


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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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PostPosted: October 6, 2022, 11:36 am 
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Location: Guadalupe, CA
July 2022

As designed, the OEM punt should run the entire length of the car (one big piece). I've elected to cut the punt into 3 sections, mostly to make it easier to work with during fabrication, but also to make servicing buried mechanical bits easier to get to should they need service. I had no idea in July how important that decision would be in just a few short weeks when I drove this car up the CA coast to Monterey car week and I had mechanical issues that necessitated a roadside repair (more on that soon).

--ccrunner


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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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PostPosted: October 6, 2022, 11:53 am 
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Location: Guadalupe, CA
July 15, 2022

Fabbing interior aluminum panels


As the red body is being fitted, I began to address how to dress out the interior; specifically the floor/ frame. The pics below show how the car was designed from the factory- there is no frame to speak of, just folded aluminum panels riveted to the punt to give the car its rigidity. I've modded things to where the body is no longer a stressed member, but I thought it would be cool to fab my own aluminum panels to bolt in over my steel frame to both help clean up the look, but also to visually stay true to the spirit of what the interior of the Berkeley should look like. These pics show what I'm trying to emulate.

--ccrunner


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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com


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