Road trip

Fantastic cars, roads, scenery and photos. Wow what an excellent trip, thanks for making the effort to share with all of us. I for one would have driven my car out in the torrentials on purpose.....if only it would rain in California (we, as a state, have been on FIRE for a few months).

Would have happily shared some rain with you Mesa, if I could have.

 

[Mike L]

Just feet getting wet really.

As a all year around motorcyclist - Gore-tex products are your friend. I was thinking of getting some Gore-Tex sneaker so I could watch my kids play Saturday sports without having to change into the Wellies (Gumboots).

Only major issue was when we stopped to refuel at a pump with no canopy. Rain was teeming into the front clip via the nostril and water got in to the electrics for the cooling fans, after which they went a bit haywire - so much so that they drained the battery over the next 10 - 15 miles. End result was not enough charge to run the fuel pumps/provide spark and we coasted to a stop. Disconnected the fans and got a push start from some of our travelling companions and we were away again. Dried the car and fans out overnight at the next stop, re-connected the fans, and all was well again.

Pleased you got it sorted Brian.

 

[Ryan L]

Just feet getting wet really

On the MTB I normally wrap my toes/feet in aluminum foil before putting my shoes on if I know its going to be a wet and cold one. helps keep some blood circulating in the toes as they don't get as cold when they are wet.

Ryan

 

[DaveM]

Brian,
Great looking Mk II. See you removed the roof vent?
Is the flat black on your nose painted?

 

[Larry L.]

'Serious question (forgive my ignorance):
It seems as though it's pretty much impossible to 'waterproof' the passenger compartment of a GT40.
Why?
The nose and engine compartment I can understand to a great degree...but the passenger compartment?

 

Brian,
Great looking Mk II. See you removed the roof vent?
Is the flat black on your nose painted?

Yes - the flat black is painted. Did not include the roof vent because I really didn't need another entry for water...

 

'Serious question (forgive my ignorance):
It seems as though it's pretty much impossible to 'waterproof' the passenger compartment of a GT40.
Why?
The nose and engine compartment I can understand to a great degree...but the passenger compartment?

Most of the water comes in under the doors and some down the sides of the doors. We have used weather-strip, but it does not do a complete job. Water gets in to the footwell through the various holes in the mono front bulkhead. Some also leaks in from the engine bay via the various removable panels and little gaps.

 

[Larry L.]

Most of the water comes in under the doors and some down the sides of the doors. We have used weather-strip, but it does not do a complete job. Water gets in to the footwell through the various holes in the mono front bulkhead. Some also leaks in from the engine bay via the various removable panels and little gaps.

Thanks, Brian.
'Seems as though the front bulkhead holes ought to be easy enough to plug/fix...ditto the engine bay gaps. The door issue not so much. Sounds as though the doors might do quite a bit of air pressure-generated warping/flexing 'at speed'. Perhaps thickening them may solve that?
I dunno. 'Too far above my pay grade.

Of course, there's always the 'wet suit' solution, I suppose! ;-)

 

Plugging the holes in the front bulkhead is not straightforward. There are lots.

 

[Larry L.]

Swiss CHEESE has fewer holes!!!

 

[Ed McClements]

Swiss CHEESE has fewer holes!!!

Or - as my kids called it when they were little - "mouse cheese". I think because in every Tom & Jerry cartoon portraying cheese it was always Emmental!

Emmental

Brian's car

(I may have mixed-up the captions...not sure).

 

[DaveM]

Brian,
Have you posted a build log on this site? Your chassis looks very much like Superformance, but I see some differences in the tubing and rivets on the firewall. Is it custom and not a Superformance?

 

[Mike L]

Brian build log is very well known on this site. Look up Classic Car Developments Chassis Number 3

Classic Car Developments Chassis #3

Not sure if image station is still hosting stuff, but let's give it a whirl. Assuming a picture appears, this is my CCD monocoque chassis as at last Sunday. The fibreglass roof section is just a buck to give some idea of proportion. the steel roof section is being pressed sometime this or...

www.gt40s.com

 

[DaveM]

Thanks Mike,
I obviously missed the build log. See it took a while starting in 2003, but very impressive.

 

[Jim Rosenthal]

Well done, Brian!!! I am incredibly jealous. This couldn't happen to a nicer or more deserving guy. You're the best. The photos of your car are really stellar. There is nothing better or meaner looking than a GT40 coming at you with its lights lit up.

 

Thanks Mike,
I obviously missed the build log. See it took a while starting in 2003, but very impressive.

Actually took longer than that Dave. Almost 19 years in total.