Decided to fit MK Engineering GRP seats to my J15. I had to weld fixings to the chassis and tilt the seats a little to match the Sylva driving position.

After fitting the steering column I found the steering wheel too close so I put a dog leg in the top chassis rail to make it 25mm further away (just about within my welding capability).

I then put a piece of card in place of the dashboard.

and here are the results:

Old Puma wheel std cahssis: http://locostbuilders.co.uk/upload/P3141231.JPG

Sport Wheel std chassis: http://locostbuilders.co.uk/upload/P3141229.JPG

I then emailed and phoned Jeremy, we decided the GRP seats gave a lower "bottom" position but the attitude/rake was not the same as the standard kit. He suggested lowering the column.

I duly did this as follows.

Chassis mod: http://locostbuilders.co.uk/upload/IMAG0325.jpg

Old Puma Wheel modded chassis: http://locostbuilders.co.uk/upload/P3151237.JPG

Sports Wheel Modded chassis: http://locostbuilders.co.uk/upload/P3151238.JPG

I have sincce looked at a number of J's dashboards and none of them have an ideal view of the speedo and certainly no better/worse than mine now.

Does anybody know the exact rules about the IVA rules relating to view of the speedo through the wheel?

Are you allowed to move your head?

your allowed to fit a larger diamiter steering wheel to improve visibilty and to give a larger dash area which is exempt from radius edges!

not really enough space behind a Phoenix steering wheel for proper clocks either. I agree it is a shame but a feature of the design.

I went with a digital speedo and warning lights in the middle, tacho down to the left and auxiliary gauges as a row of 3 on passenger side.

Plenty of room behind a Phoenix wheel...even a 260mm steering wheel

Here's mine, the dials are fine to see.

BTW email sent

There's no mention of positioning in the IVA manual (available online - see thread in IVA/legal section).
Only that it should be visable day and night but that refers to illumination I think.

Mine is way out of my natural line of sight, in the left-hand digital secton of the bike clocks, in this photo...

I have the same problem.

Rather infuriatingly I've spent many hours making a Fiesta Mk6 column fit because I didn't like the idea of the key being behind the dash.

I have very little adjustment available and really don't want to start chopping my chassis around.

Have you any pic's?

You've mentioned seats, in fact, specifically MK Engineering seats..... and they fit! I'm assuming they are the same seats that MK Sportscars peddle? - or are these MK Engineering 'specials'.

http://www.mksportscars.com/parts-interior.html

I've got a particularly narrow cockpit, that is so narrow that sticking Karrimat foam on the sides will just about do it, if built up. I'd prefer a seat though, given the headrest incorporation etc.

The usual Tillet, for example, comes out at 42cm at the front (or 40cm with the rolled edges removed). Which is (at best) a very tight squeeze, or (I believe) impossible. Is your's narrower than this?????

Would appreciate a dimension, and (if you could, grovel) an idea of the back angle. The seat has to be in an upright orientation (which is why the Tillet B3 or B4 isn't of use, though the former would fit nicely) or my legs are too long..

My thanks.

If I had that little space id be fitting a sequential shift light, a few other warning lights and a digital speedo.

quote:

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Originally posted by loggyboy
If I had that little space id be fitting a sequential shift light, a few other warning lights and a digital speedo.

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Latest dash implementation with Playkool + Smiths 100mm instruments


Latest J15 dash

I too have the MK Engineering seats, not the best fit but adequate for IVA I hope.

This is what mine looks like.
Its compounded by the fact that the boss is large. This was the only one for a Mk 6 that I could get back in the day when I started this nightmare project!
Steering wheel is an MX5 one with a center pad I was going to use for IVA.



There are some wheels who's shape would help but you cant get center pads so I'm stuffed there too!

This is the shape of wheel that might help...

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/steering-wheels/sparco-325-steering-wheel

With some re-positioning of the column I think I may be able to get away with 80mm gauges.

Looking at JPs demo car I think that may be what he used.

Will have to but a smaller hub though but mine isn't collapsible so was a potential IVA problem anyhow.

Body tub looking good Chris :-)

It's another odd design quirk.....I can't see a good reason for not having a higher dash area, there must been some logic in it when Jp was developing he car.

I passed IVA with a Fiesta MkIV column, heavily cut away dash to accommodate the lock and ignition switch, Caterham 11" padded Momo wheel with a Momo adapter supplemented with a further adapter to bring the wheel fixing down to three screws.
The 80 mm ETB speedo and revcounter were spaced out from the dash due to lack of room behind. I used JP's standard seats but raised 50 mm on the driver's side to gain sight of the instruments. This left things a bit marginal on shoulder strap
fixing positions though.

Afterwards all that was ditched for a new dash, minus huge cut out, non-locking home produced column and a quick release steering wheel boss. All this was a right faff but gave much better sight of the instruments from a moulded seat where my
bum was at floor level. It also saved a considerable amount of weight.

I think I have posted some pics in a photo archive.



[Edited on 18/3/13 by deeceee09]