Coming together for the Sea-to-Sea Safari
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 4:50 am
Over the past few weeks I've been making subtle upgrades to the Manxter . .getting it ready for the C2C Safari. As always, one thing leads to another. I started out wanting to make it weatherproof, so I bought a side curtain kit and doors from Winnie. That led to the search for new rear view mirrors, since the old ones mounted to the front roll bar right behind where the leading edge of the doors attached, and because they would have been to close too the buggy's body to even see them through the front vinyl flap of the door. Luckily, Bob Hunter and Joseph Sellars had already experienced these problems, so I stole their idea of using extra long motorcycle mirrors. I also made some Velcro strap things that hold the door up and closed when heading down the road. But, finally, the car is as weatherproof as it's gonna get . . .
I also ordered 15" (6" front, 8" rear) rims all around, because, although the 17's and 20's look great, new rims and tires have to be cheaper than a kidney transplant after 5,600 miles. They're being made by US MAGS so it'll be six weeks before the unveiling . . but I'll post them here once they're mounted.
Here's the top and mirrors installed:
First the mirrors, carbon wrapped to match the engine shrouding:
These are just the right length with the doors mounted:
The side curtains installed:
Another idea I stole from Joseph Sellars, I added a front snap on both sides to keep water from running in through the leading edge of the curtain:
Doors installed:
Here's the straps I made from Velcro One-Wrap and some male snaps. The male snap attaches to the snap on the top of the door
that is used to hold the window open when it's folded over. Then, the Velcro webbing has hooks on one side, loops on the other.
I wrap that around the roll bar and it attaches itself to itself. I leave them in the glove compartment when the windows are folded down.
Here the snap attaches to the female snap on the top of the door:
Then you just pull it up to the height where you want it to sit, and wrap it around the roll bar onto itself:
I also ordered 15" (6" front, 8" rear) rims all around, because, although the 17's and 20's look great, new rims and tires have to be cheaper than a kidney transplant after 5,600 miles. They're being made by US MAGS so it'll be six weeks before the unveiling . . but I'll post them here once they're mounted.
Here's the top and mirrors installed:
First the mirrors, carbon wrapped to match the engine shrouding:
These are just the right length with the doors mounted:The side curtains installed:
Another idea I stole from Joseph Sellars, I added a front snap on both sides to keep water from running in through the leading edge of the curtain:
Doors installed:
Here's the straps I made from Velcro One-Wrap and some male snaps. The male snap attaches to the snap on the top of the door
that is used to hold the window open when it's folded over. Then, the Velcro webbing has hooks on one side, loops on the other.
I wrap that around the roll bar and it attaches itself to itself. I leave them in the glove compartment when the windows are folded down.
Here the snap attaches to the female snap on the top of the door:
Then you just pull it up to the height where you want it to sit, and wrap it around the roll bar onto itself: