On the road at last

[Elva 11]

Finally got a registration number and all suitably de- IVA'd.
300 miles done and first thoughts and snags. Running in so light on the revs but still plenty happening.
Of course it shakes and bangs but then it's supposed to. I feel the standard springs are too hard, especially on the back. Steering light and precise. Engine needs a trip to CCKHISTORIC for a rolling road session. Plenty of grunt low down and looking forward to the noisy end of the rev band. Brakes are excellent ( twin piston calipers on 9" discs front, 8" Escort drums on the back. I've gone over the top on master cylinder size and so too little travel, too much effort. Handling and grip are both good , AO 21 tyres on 5" rims.
Weather protection? Rubbish!
Nothing fallen off, (well apart from the Weber jet cover) no oil drips, just a tad of tyre rubbing on full lock.
Does any body know the cut in temperature for the standard switch? Fan starts and is keeping water temperature at 80 deg maximum.
This whole thing is going to be so much fun
How can I get photos on here.
Can I be in your gang now ?
Ian

[jonclancy]

You certainly can, Ian!!

Congratulations!!

Jon

[Splat]

Congratulations indeed.

WRT weather protection, yesterday was the first time that I've driven the car any distance in truly filthy conditions (about 70 miles in what felt like a deluge but was actually little more than an autumn shower). Wearing a very good repro. A2 jacket (my open-cockpit winter flying jacket), an old '60s "corker" helmet, gloves and goggles, I was pleasantly surprised at how not-too-horrid the experience was. For the want of some actually useful goggles or a full-face lid (not very "period" though) it woulld have been quite manageable....

Best get used to it; just like me you've got yours (back) on the road just in time for autumn!!

[Elva 11]

Cheers Splat. The weather protection issue was a joke. I had unfortunately omitted to take my Dad's 50s racing helmet, complete with Mike Hawthorn visor. I'm used to motorcycles so, as you say, it wasn't really too bad. Thermos and Tartan Travel Blanket will be very period I think. Ian

[Splat]

Elva 11 wrote:
> Dad's 50s racing helmet, complete with Mike Hawthorn visor.

The visors never seem to come up on ebay. Waterproofs would be the obvious thing, but I rarely wore them when I was a full-time biker, and I'm even more reluctant to wear them when driving. Besides, finding myself spending four hours washing a car the size of a roller-skate, simply because it spent a ninety minutes on sodden roads, seems a bit daft. Though it did get plenty of looks in the Revival Car Show car park! so, worth the hassle!

[Elva 11]

The story so far. Hopefully this is a link to my build photos.
http://s1348.photobucket.com/user/ELVA112/library/
No knuckles were harmed during the making of this vehicle.