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Previous Build Diaries
October 2003
Kit Car Links MK Owners Club TSCC
The picture in the logo was taken by Richard Crowe on a wet day at Nutts Corner on the 24th of Febuary 2004. |
13 Feb 2005 Just a brief update to let you know how I'm getting on. There's currently about 4,500 miles on Lucy and she's going very well. She seems very reliable (touch wood), and still has the ability to put you right back in your seat when you get aggressive with the accelerator. Talking of getting agressive with the accelerator, if anyone is building a BEC I'd strongly urge them to do some track days to get a feel for what happens when the back steps out. I've had a few occasions (mainly in the wet) where the back end has started coming round unexpectedly, and it can be pretty hairy! You have to be very gentle with the accelerator, even when overtaking, or you can find youself having a big 'moment'! Still I've had no 'offs' yet! I did have a problem with a nut on the bottom front balljoint coming undone, luckily I was traveling slowly and no major damage was done. The fact that this nut was covered by an SVA nut cover had stopped me from seeing that it was partially undone. I'd urge folks to check their suspension regularily, especially after a short shakedown period after build. Here are a few pics I stuck up on Locostbuilders. 
 As you can see I've fitted an MK Aeroscreen, and I've done a few other wee things like fitting a battery cutoff switch. 14 July 2004 Well, so far I've clocked up almost 1000 road miles in Lucy in the last 3 weeks, and apart from the 'Coalisland bonnet incident' it's been trouble free. The car is fantastic to drive - and if anyone out there is thinking of building something like this I can't encourage you enough - it's brilliant. The only other thing I'd say is that bike engines are definitely (In My Honest Opinion) the way to go for cars like this, they're light, responsive, powerful and have the most fantastic gearboxes. Work will continue on the car refining wee bits and pieces here and there as I see fit, however there remains only 1 outstanding job I can think of.  I have to bring 'The Maroon Dream' up to Traynors Scrapyard for it's final resting place and that's it as far as the build of my MK Indy is concerned. It's come full circle! I'm not sure there'll be much more to add to this site, but if I do anything major (say fit an LSD, electric reverse or something) I'll update it on here, but hopefully that won't be too soon. I'm starting a new job tomorrow, so it feels like this period of my life is drawing to a close. Thanks to everyone who contacted me and gave me positive comments, and if any builders have any questions drop me a line - I'll try my best. 12 July 2004 At the weekend I managed to go up to Coleraine in Lucy. All went well with no major breakdowns/incidents however I did notice the exhaust bracket had broken. I took it easy going home and this morning made a new bracket, this time bolted on a lot closer to the silencer to prevent the bracket levering against itself.  This uses an leftover bracket from the Honda engine and two bolts going through the glassfibre sidepanel and right through the chassis rail beneath the fibreglass. This has made the exhaust a lot firmer - I don't think it'll blow off in the wind!! The dash has also been cleaned up over the last couple of weeks, slowly but surely, and now it looks like this.  It's a lot better but still not perfect, and requires more work. I also noticed a little rubbing on the rear passenger side tyre. I've raised the suspension on that side and also cut away the glassfibre lip inside the rear wing to increase clearence. It doesn't seem to be damaging the tyre at all, so I'm not too worried. I'm using 195/60 15" tyres, so they are pretty tall compared to most Indy's but I don't think this is too big a problem. During the week I've also been down to Dublin and up in the car and have covered a total of 700 odd miles with no major problems (apart from the bonnet!). I'm starting to get used to driving her, to the extent that getting into the Primera feels like I'm driving a bus!! That said I do appreciate the enclosed Primera cockpit when you're doing 70mph up the motorway! I am still astonished by how quick Lucy is. It really does go like a supercar. Overtaking is a lot easier, but you really learn to appreciate smooth roads, as big bumps are your main enemy. 5 July 2004 I've got the bonnet into an acceptable shape, after re-spraying it. I've also fitted the new bonnet catches, louvres and a catch at the front that would prevent the bonnet coming up even if it wasn't latched on properly.   In the second picture you can see my new stainless steel connection piece that goes between the manifold and the silencer. I need to tidy it up more - there's a lot of excess exhaust paste that needs taken off. Work also needs to continue on the silicon on the dash - I have the vast majority of it removed but getting the dash completely silicon free and polished up - that's going to take time. I've been out and about in the car as well a fair few times (between rain showers!) and it is such a pleasure to drive. She is quick, nimble, surefooted and she is always the centre of attention. I'm finding myself making little excuses to go for a drive now - like I think I'll just fill her up with petrol, I need a pint of milk etc etc. Also as I spend time in her I'm getting a little better at driving - blipping the throttle while downshifting, not using engine braking and going up through the box without the clutch. It is closer to riding a motorbike than driving a car, and it's just as much fun cruising about as it is bombing along everywhere like Michael Schumacher! Roll on the summer. 3 July 2004 Well, I've learnt more in the last couple of days about spraying, filling and sanding than I'd expected! The good news is the bonnet is looking pretty good (not perfect mind you) and I've fitted new stainless steel spring catches, and some louvres to allow the air under the bonnet to escape. I have to say the louvres look very cool. I'm also going to fit a front catch. With any luck this should prevent 'The Coalisland Incident' from happening again! I had to get some paint made up to match the fibre glass - for MK black RAL 9005 seems to work OK. Meanwhile work is also continuing on the sump guard. I'm hoping to get it finished today sometime. I'll take pics and also let you see my louvres and paintwork. Another month passes by - but at least this time I'm on the road! Last month can be got to here, or you can click on the build diary menu on the left. |
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Alister Jackson | No Rights Reserved |