Three Bolts: Mk 4 Roadster Build

[carbon-12]

This past weekend was the first in a couple months where I focused more on the car than on my day job—that means I made some progress.

I finally finished up the cockpit aluminum by attaching the large piece which goes behind the driver and passenger seats.

cockpit-aluminum-1.jpg
No rivets yet, just clecos, then self-tapping screws.

cockpit-aluminum-2.jpg
The two panels on the sides were part of my powder coating practice. Eventually, all the panels will get the same treatment.

Once done, I tried to start making sense of fuel delivery. Since I ordered my crate engine with an MSD Atomic fuel injection system, I won't be running hard lines for fuel. The directions from MSD are very clear on that point. Instead, the fuel injection kit comes with some sturdy 5/8" OD rubber-ish tubing. That will certainly be simpler to run from the tank up to the engine, and since I won't be using a return line, and I already put together my in-tank fuel pump, I hope this step will go pretty easily. I also drilled a hole in the 4" tube under the passenger seat to secure the fuel filter. I ordered some 5/8" Cushioned Stainless Steel Cable Clamps to secure the fuel line to the chassis. Once that arrives, I'll attach the fuel line and connect it to the fuel filter.

fuel-filter.jpg
Fuel filter.

After that, I attached the flexible brake lines to the front brakes. Then, I started thinking about running the hard brake lines. Since I've never bent brake lines before, I wanted to experiment with the shape I'd need to connect the front brakes, so I went out to Home Depot and bought some 1/8" steel rod. This worked well. Within a few minutes, I had a shape I can use to transfer to the hard line.

brake-hard-line-template.jpg
This is half the bends I'll need to connect the front brakes with hard lines. The other half of the shape is a mirror image of this one.

I'll be out of town for a few days to celebrate a long Fourth of July weekend with my family, so this marks my pre-holiday stopping point. I'm looking forward to getting back, and pushing through this work, and the few additional steps left to go before installing the drive train.

[edwardb]

Just a hint. Before you mount the cockpit wall permanently, it's easier to first mount the trunk pieces right behind it. Some of the rivets on the trunk pieces are very difficult to reach otherwise.

[carbon-12]

Just a hint. Before you mount the cockpit wall permanently, it's easier to first mount the trunk pieces right behind it. Some of the rivets on the trunk pieces are very difficult to reach otherwise.

Thanks for the tip!

[DaleG]

Most of us find that out the hard way.