MDA GT40 Rebuild.

I am looking for some Aluminium seat carcasses/ frames similar to what you would get in a monocoque. Does anyone have anything or know where I can purchase some off the shelf. They are needed relatively quickly.
Cheers
 
Hi guys. Just a quick update with this weeks progress. The long winded aluminium work is coming together. I am still unsure what to do about the front section. I would like to create something similar to the original cars where you have a semi circular opening where I believe the spare wheel went. Due to the steering column on the GT Racing/MDA chassis being sat high it’s making things difficult. I did make a card template however it just doesn’t look right.

Due to the upper harness mounts being only a piece of steel angle I have decided rather than to weld in any box section I am going to make the entire firewall in one panel apart from a small opening in the middle to access the back of the motor. Rather than this being made out of 1.2-1.5mm ally I will replace with 3mm and double brace it against the chassis.

I have managed to get some Simpson race harnesses which have very similar buckles to the old aircraft harnesses. Not sure if they used things like this in race cars back back in the 60s but they look bloody cool.

I also stumbled across a very retro looking washer fluid “bag” I remember my grandfathers old chassis having a similar bag in the passenger footwell of his car. I believe they located them inside back in the day before antifreeze. However I love uk bag idea over the plastic bottle that looks very out of place.

I have also got myself a 3 in 1 reservoir for the brake and clutch fluid. It’s much tidier that having 2 plastic bottles and I’ll probably locate this under a hatch in the front section. If it doesn’t fit I’m not too fussed as I quite like the look of it.

You’ll see from my images I have raised the height of the centre tunnel and run it right the way through the car. It gives it more if that “monocoque” feel and feels far more snug and rigid inside. I may run a simple die down the top just to add some character and detail. I have also rounded the inside edge of each sill. It just softens they look and with me deciding to keep the interior all exposed ally I think it will help.

I am still unsure what to use “shifter wise” the original seems so poorly made and is unbelievably basic. I like the fact that there is nothing to go wrong it just looks like it should be on a tractor, not a 40. I’d like as short throw as possible. Anyone made anything they are willing to share?

Anyway thanks for following and I look forward to any constructive criticism :)
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Ian Anderson

Lifetime Supporter
Looks good.
Couple of questions
Will your seats be easily removable or back rests come forward to allow access to firewall to change belts etc?
Seat base looks tight fit, Where will seatbelts bolt in and looking at your belts the adjustment will be in that tight location So not allow easy adjustment.
ian
 
For a shifter I’ve been thinking about a variation of this:
 

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Looks good.
Couple of questions
Will your seats be easily removable or back rests come forward to allow access to firewall to change belts etc?
Seat base looks tight fit, Where will seatbelts bolt in and looking at your belts the adjustment will be in that tight location So not allow easy adjustment.
ian
Hi Ian
The seats fix directly to the floor from under the lower seat cushion. Previously the only thing holding the seats in were two wing nuts through the stainless floor pan. God knows what would have happened in the case of an accident. I have four fixing points through the steel cross sections which sandwich the base of the seat between a stainless plate and the chassis. There will then be a removable section of the firewall that will be fastened using a dome headed torques into rivnuts.

The harnesses fix to the existing mounts. There is enough room to tun the flat of the belt either side. The adjustment end of the Simpson harness is buckle end and not mount end so no worries on adjustment.
 
Really like the shifter. My car is RHD with a sill side shifter. Would this be adaptable? Is it your own design?

It is not my design, I saw it on a factory five forum. Looks simple enough to replicate though. Details here:

 
Does anyone know the dimensions of a genuine rear window. I’m thinking of changing the glass from the MDA to a more original shape. I just need to make a template
 
Hi Jack,
the attached can be used to provide the more correct bulkhead window. As your post-IVA you don't need to worry about getting E-marked materials
Regards,
Andy
 

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