Wow, another year gone by so quickly. And looking back, I didnt suceed in getting a whole lot done on the car this year! However, with a  garage on loan, I should be able to get a move on this year!

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Tacho

This was bought from Maplins for about £20. I have had it for ages, but only just got round to putting it in a case suitable for the car. Its sold as a kit of parts to solder together, and took me a couple of hours to put together and test. The box that I have fitted it into measures about 90mm x 70mm. So it isn't too big. It gives a 2 digit readout, and so will read from 100 to 9900rpm. Its calibrated by turning the pot on the circuit board and the signal can come from either from an oscilloscope, or a mains transformer with a 9-15v AC output. The other pot one the board is brightness control. There's a chart that comes with it to aid calibration. It's a considerably cheaper way to go than buy an analogue gauge, cost about £25 in total for the box as well instead of around £60+ for a gauge. And its fine if you aren't bothered about a full matching set of dials!

Radiator

This radiator is from a Mk1 1000cc VW Polo. It is aluminium cored with plastic ends. It happens to be the largest size radiator that will fit in the nose cone of a Locost (or any other 7 derivative) the only way to improve on it is to get a multiple core radiator, but they cost a fortune! The radiator measure 19" wide and 13" tall, so really is quite small. This one is brand new and cost £38 from eBay.

Polybush Set

This is a set of black polybushes bought from GTS. They are a very tight fit into the wishbone tubes and need to be pressed in with a vice. The polybushes themselves are moulded items. The tubes are thickwalled steel tube with a 12mm bore. The whole car set cost £48.

Camber Adjusters

A pair of camber adjusters and lock nuts to fit in the top wishbones. The camber adjusters themselves are anodised aluminium. Decided to buy some rather than make them, mainly because I am lazy! They cost £12.50 for the pair.

Mirrors

A pair of Racetech single seater mirrors. Apparently they will not pass the SVA test....

Speedo/Tacho

Acewell ACE-3100. This is a bit like a glorified bicycle computer really. Its got a 0-300kph [0-180mph] (switchable to mph) speedo and a rev counter with shift lights built in. It also records average speed etc. Its got an odometer as well, and it's backlit (both SVA requirements). Speed is sensed with a magnet mounted on the wheel (could be mounted on propshaft with an adjustment to the calibration of the unit) and a reed switch mounted on the hub. Tacho signal is taken from the coil. It comes with all the sensors and wiring to connect it up, and a good little wiring diagram as well. Cost around £80.

Alloy Rack Clamps

A pair of alloy rack clamps to suit the Escort steering rack. These do not require the rubber mounts which the steel clamps use, and so eliminate some of the slack in the steering system. The red bits are polyurethane (PU) packing pieces which fit under the rack so that its clamped tight. Cost £30 (bought in second hand, but unused).