Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Topics - argy

Pages: [1]
1
2fifty Chat / Replacement for the DNA supplied door handle
« on: July 30, 2023, 06:10:43 PM »
Hi,

I'd like to understand if there is sufficient interest in making a replacement for the DNA supplied door handle which I believe is from the Ford Mustang.

We already have a drop-in replacement for the original Alfa / Ferrari / Maserati handle (https://grassbankconversions.co.uk/product/classic-250-style-door-handles-in-stainless-steel/)

That one is best suited to new builds as it will operate both the door lock and, through a turn of the key, the central locking system (Handy if your battery is flat...). It can also be supplied with the boot handle such that both locks use the same key.

The proposed item will look the same but rather than having fixings at 165mm it will have the same fixing location as the Mustang handle (which I think is about 148mm). Unlike our existing handles the new one will not have a key, just a push button but will include the built in lever so it should be straight forward to attach the handle to your existing latch release mechanism.

You can see that the Mustang handle is 17mm shorter than the Italian Job but we can follow the same Italian shape but just make it shorter. And, depending on the size of your door lock hole, I should be able to align the fixing points so that the existing hole is fully covered.

Having built a number of the Z3 / Italian Job handles I expect the price for the DNA / Mustang handle to come it at around £265 - £295. The benefit of this handle along with the improved looks and simple installation will be that these handles are built from mirror polished marine grade 316L stainless steel so no rusting and no bubbly chrome.

If you think this is of interest and if I can get five or more interested parties then I will go ahead with getting some made. Either PM me or leave your comments here.

Cheers
Russell

2
2fifty Chat / Rear Lenses (Thanks Sir Percival)
« on: June 03, 2023, 07:43:21 PM »
Hi Percy,

It was great to meet you at the Malvern Kit Car show today (and Julie). Thanks again for lending me your boot handle at the start of lock down. You can see how the handle looks on Ian Fife's car a couople of posts down.

What did you think of the show? I've only been going to the show for the past 5 years and to my mind Stoneleigh always seemed to be a much bigger and well attended event with much more to see in the stand area. I wonder if it wasn't as well attended because it clashed with the FA Cup final or because of the rail strike (unlikely given that it's a car show) or some other reason... I also wonder if tomorrow will be busier...

As discussed, I'll have a new batch of the rear lenses in a couple of weeks. You can also see them on Ian's car :-)

As I mentioned, I now have a small number of the mirror polished stainless steel 250 style door handles with the built in mechanism which is designed to interoperate with the Z3 locking system. The push button releases the latch and turning the key will unlock the central locking system which comes in handy if you ever get locked out because of a flat battery (The boot lock also operates the centrasl locking system).

The lenses are a drop in replacement for either the 3D printed ones that you have or for the original 'boxy' MG lenses. You can see more images of all of the above on the grassbankconversions.co.uk website.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Russell

3
2fifty Chat / Replacement rear light lens / cover for Lucas L676
« on: May 21, 2022, 10:39:47 AM »
Another follow up from Stoneleigh.

The delivery of the replacement rear light lenses happened yesterday and I'm pleased with the results. See the images below where I compare the new lens with the MGB lens (Lucas L676).

The lenses are on the grassbank site here https://grassbankconversions.co.uk/product/gb-676-replacement-rear-lens/ There are more pictures there as well.

Also on the grassbank site are the reflectors which you might need if you swap out the rear lens. The purpose of developing the lens was to remove the boxy reflector section which is why you might want the new reflectors. There's a link on the grassbank lens page to the reflectors.

Cheers
Russell

4
2fifty Chat / Replacement boot handle
« on: May 07, 2022, 04:41:05 PM »
Hi to everyone that I met at Stoneleigh over last weekend.

Compared with previous years Stoneleigh was quite quiet this year. The weather wasn't brilliant on Sunday but wasn't too bad on Monday.

I helped out on the https://grassbankconversions.co.uk/ stand in hall 1 where I displayed my polished stainless steel boot handle (see images below) and my replacement rear lens which eliminates the boxy MGB rear lens. (see image).

I had a couple of questions about compatability with existing handles and holes in the metalwork (OK< Fibreglass) and I wanted to verify whether this stainless steel handle will cover the hole created for the MGB lock. From the measurements that I took from my MGB lock the hole in the boot is 35mm whereas the Z3 needs 37.5mm so there is enough space (I believe).

Development of the stainless boot handle was undertaken as a lockdown project with the help of Sir Percival who lent me his rubber / plastic one to judge the overall dimensions (Thank you). The one that I've developed is different in that it fully utilises the original Z3 central locking and key locking system which means no more being locked out of the car if the battery manages to run flat over winter. If you kept (or are just starting and therefore still have) your old boot locking bits then this handle (with the included bracket and gasket) will provide you with all of the security and access that the original Z3 enjoyed.

I'm developing a second version of the handle which will not need the Z3 stuff and is intended for those that have a boot button activated solenoid but which needs the key to be turned in the lock to allow the boot lock to be activated. This second version is intended to be a slimmed down version with a smaller boot hole opening. If anyone has any particular suggestions / requirements as to what size of hole this should work with then please PM me, happy to chat. I'd like to replicate the Alfa GTA look if anyone is interested...

Meanwhile, here are some photo's of the MGB lock measurements, a shot of the boot handle itself and one of the rear lens at the end. The rear lens photo is shown on my car and this is the first prototype, basically it is a space model. The actual item is currently being made using a different (tougher) material and will be the same colour at the original MGB lens.

Cheers

5
Sales and Wants / WANTED Z3 boot lock
« on: March 14, 2020, 10:17:56 AM »
I'm trying to use the Z3 central locking mechanism with the DNA provided external boot lock. My kit didn't have the complete DNA lock set so I decided to attempt an improvise...

I think I'm making reasonable progress but in the process I've fooked my original lock. There must be plenty of these lying around in people's come-in-handy bins and I'm hoping that someone will have one that they would like top recycle in my direction?

I'm talking about the aluminium bit that the key fits into and to which the central locking mechanism also attached.

If you have one that you don't need, please PM me.

Thanks
Russell

6
Sales and Wants / WANTED: 2fifty perspex headlight covers
« on: March 03, 2020, 09:33:31 PM »
Does anyone know where I can get a pair of these or who makes them?

Anyone got a spare pair kicking around :-)

Hopefully someone can help me out with this.

Cheers

7
Hi,
I think a couple of us want to get made some of the lower section of the MGB rear light cluster to replace the bulky / boxy version. I'm talking about the red section.

Is there anyone else out there that might be interested in getting some and we'll see if we can get a bulk order placed?

Please PM me if you are interested.

Better still, please PM me if you have any for sale  :D

Russell

8
I'm close to Manchester and I'm getting to a critical stage of hanging all of the panels in their final resting places.

It's not that I'm afraid of commitments, but... It'd be nice to cast an eye over someone else's work of art before I do anything that would be difficult to reverse?

Anyone close by that I could pop around to chat things over with or that might want to come over here and take a look at my set up alongside yours?

I look forward to hearing from you :-)

Russell

9
2fifty Chat / Harrington side screen trim
« on: November 20, 2019, 09:48:07 AM »
I've just taken delivery of a trim kit from the Harrington group along with the bumper and side vent kit.

I'm not even nearly ready to start using any of this yet but looking at the side screen trim it's not immediately obvious how it attaches to the windscreen pillars and then what happens at the top...

The kit didn't come with a top of the windscreen trim and the side screen trim is straight whereas the pillars are curved so I'm assuming that there's some fiddling to do. I also assume that the trim fits underneath the windscreen and pillar rubber strips.

Has anyone had the pleasure of fitting these and if so have you any guidelines and photo's that you can share please?

Russell

10
General Sales and Wanted / DNA 2fifty rear light lens covers
« on: November 18, 2019, 09:13:03 PM »
Hello

Anyone got a spare set of lenses to replace the pointy out MG lenses or does anyone know where to get them?

The kit that I bought (second hand as an unstarted project) didn't have any accessories so I bought a new set of MG rear lights but, as you all know, they are sub optimal...

Hopefully someone can point me at a set?

Cheers

Russell

11
General Sales and Wanted / 2fifty metalwork needed please
« on: October 15, 2019, 08:48:53 AM »
Having started a new conversion I've discovered that I'm missing various bits and pieces from the kit that I bought.

Whilst this isn't a disaster it is a bit of a set back as I'd rather not go about having to make bits that have already been made and may well be out there already so...

The photo below is from my build diary and shows all of the brackets and fiddly things that I have. I know that I'm missing the door latch plates and all of the headlamp metalwork. The problem is that I don't know what else I'm missing.

If anyone has or can point me at a source of the door latches and headlamp fittings I would be very grateful. If you can also look over the photo and let me know if I'm missing anything else (I've got the bumper sections) then that too would be very helpful.

Thanks in anticipation
Russell


12
Build Threads / Russell's 2fifty build
« on: October 14, 2019, 05:30:38 PM »
I'm about to start converting my 2000 (X) reg 3.0i Z3 into a DNA 2fifty.

I bought 'most' of a kit a couple of months ago and I've been waiting for the bad weather to kick in before retiring the Z3 and transforming it into a beautiful 2fifty. I'd like to record my progress on here and to share my experiences as well as pick up hints and tips from the many excellent examples that I've been oggling on here over the past few months. :-)

My original plan was to build a Tribute 250 SWB California but, after a bit of persuasion, I decided to go for the 2fifty simply because of the stunning looks.
Fortunately for me, very fortunately in fact, Justin's place of work is in my home town and he has kindly let me use his facilities to convert my Z3.

I've got a couple of 'Before' images and the first 'During' ones which I'll post below. I've also got a couple of questions which I hope someone will be able to help me with. One of the photo's shows what brackets and fixings came with my kit. Having looked at the video I know that I'm missing some items and there may be others. I wonder if someone would be kind enough to take a look at what I've got and help me to build a list of what's missing.

In addition to these brackets I've got some heavy metal bumper sections and, I believe, all of the fibreglass body parts. but time will tell.

Things that I know that I'm missing include the template for cutting out the end of the door where the lock access is (The cut out is visible at around 6 minutes and 10 seconds into the build video). I also think that I'm missing the door latch plates (5:42) and at least one of the glue turntables.

I can get by without the template and the glue turntables but if anyone knows where to get the door latch fixings and if anyone can spot what else I'm missing I would very much appreciate your input.

OK, here goes some photo's. My plan is to build the body this winter and then have a go at the interior next winter...

Pages: [1]