Debra and myself drove up to Cambridge in the pouring rain to visit Titans last Friday .

They are very busy with a new range of products for the American market so think I shall need to show some patience .

A couple of friendly engineers had the unenviable job of trying to make sense of my drawings but they quickly grasped the general idea which I hope will allow taking the car towards a far better balanced outcome .

I now have to wait for an estimate of costs : I am hoping they have some sympathy for me as a sole privateer .

I must say we did have a very good afternoon/evening enjoyed in the Cambridge shops , tea houses bars and restaurants .

The accusump turned up from Think and is shown here with my Italian quality chrome lorry horn , a very important asset with so many non-spatially aware drivers on our roads .

To save waiting for Titans results I shall assume a positive outcome and start planning the plumbing etc .

I have been somewhat distracted with the search for a mountain bike which with my recent lack of exercise is badly needed . Looking at the Specialized Stumpjumper or similar but I am very aware that my funds are not unlimited and it will cost similar to a Simpsons exhaust . Dilemmas , dilemmas !!!

Titans are in Germany on a trade fair so I will have to wait till next week to visit them .

Instead this week I have indulged in a bit of parts therapy . Guy Croft is obtaining a clutch for me and is kindly going to machine me a one off Volumex/carb manifold ( His listed Volumex manifolds are for Lancia models which are fitted on the slant unlike Fiat twin cams )and these bits have turned up from Caterham , Thinkauto and Merlins .

An Accusump is on a two week back order from Think . I am hoping it will help prolong engine life on start up to save expensive rebuilds too regularly .

I now am in a dilemma on electronic ignition decisions , perhaps a MSD Gal-2 programable ignition with a Blaster HVC 11 coil run of a Lumenition optronics but will need and appreciate peoples advice on suitability ( most people will know a good deal more than me so will post ) .

Another view of pump/susspension turret intended relationship .

Revised pump bracket drawings ( fingers crossed ! ).

So many issues still on the list :

Pump bracket .

Trip to Guys for engine completion/run in .

Engine/gearbox mount fabricating/tig-ing .

Clutch/propshaft .

All engine bay plumbing .

Turret strengthening .

Induction .

Bonnet and second door prep and spraying

Peddle alterations , could be easier to start again with a manufactured set .

Targa-ing the hard top .

Final bits of electrics .

Alarm .

And more .

Interestingly Quaife are asking 5124.00 plus vat for the 60G and 370.80 plus vat for the digital gear position indicator yet Caterham are asking 6500.00 including vat for this pack . ???

If my visit to Titans is succesfull I hope to pop down to Caterham next week to check out their selection of rads and might even put in an order to Think autos for dry sump tank , catch tank , laminova , accumulator , oil stat , Revotec , warning lights etc .

The induction ' lack of space ' is still
waiting to be confronted .
Guy has set up a new 40 dcoe and
my brother in law is due to be cnc'ing a VX to carb manifold .
I dont believe there will be a problem with the new engine location but I may just resort to even stiffer springs to double ensure
nothing meets with the carb . May be even spring fix the carb /filter .

To add to my spares box Guy has also found me another new 124 cam driven distributor which are now hard to come by .

The block face is now a tad behind the front wheel line . Hoping this has to make a worthwhile improvement in balance to justify the effort/expense .

This also allows me to fit a turret strut brace but I first want to position the radiator so I can explore the options for additional turret bracing possibly forward to the chassis rails .

If the new bracket works out , this is where the dry sump pump and engine will sit .

A Quaife 60G 6 speed sequential box will in time replace the type 9 box that came with the car . Quaife make a forward offset gear linkage for the Ginetta which should with an appropriately kinked lever put the gear change in just the right place .

In the meantime I shall use the type 9 to get the engine mounts and gearbox bracket fabricated and tiged in to place and then the drive train will just need a clutch and prop shaft .

Once the engine is fixed in place Simpsons can make up a Seven type 4into1 free flow exhaust and things will start to look a lot more hopefull .

SpitVX .

Having failed ( yes , shamed ) to reduce the KB of images to an acceptable figure without leaving them too small to see I have chosen to blog this cars progress instead so thanks to CC for hosting it for whoever might be interested .

O.K.
Since it last appeared anywhere I have now shortened the existing engine mounts by 4.0 cm and moved the twin cam rearwards by 12.5 cm ; where it belongs !

Titan of Cambridge phoned today to confirm they have received cad drawings of the existing dry sump pump bracket from Guy Croft . This will make it easier for me when I take them up my drawings ( 3D nightmare !) for a revised bracket which once fabricated will relocate the pump in the same orientation but in front of the pump drive belt with the drive wheel refitted to its rear end ( avoiding the pump belt , tensioner , supercharger belt and steering rack ) instead of the normal behind belt position giving clearance for the suspension turret .