kit car

Ive owned my kit car a Dutton Melos for around 5 years, it was something I had always wanted since i was a boy, a racing car i could afford but when i could afford one the kids came along so money went different places, but after 20 years and a divorce the chance came along because there was no-one to stop me, e-bay sorted me out with a very cheap box full of bits and a rolling fiberglass body which someone had striped and never put back together. That spring I sanded down the box section chassis gave it 2 coats of red lead paint and then 4 coats of black coach enamel,up graded the front shockers (spats),black enameled the rear axle,prop shaft and front stubs, rear shockers were painted red and fitted to the chassis.The body was one piece and was bolted into place along with the seats,roll bar,screen bars,steering shaft,steering wheel and carpets.The engine is a ford 1600 crossflow from a ford escort Mexico which was striped as far as i was able and refitted. It didn't need much work but a new carburetor was purchased from e-bay again and fitted. The electrics were gone so an electrician mate from work came round a few weekends and rewired it, starter motor, alternator, headlights everything just left me the dash to build. The old clocks from an old ford down the scrap yard did the job as now I wanted to get it on the road. Had the engine running  but never drove it until the m.o.t, took it to work where they did m.o.ts and it passed their inspection but not mine the driving position was to cramped for a 6" 2 bloke and although it didn't weigh much it didn't stop very well, so I had to cut the front bulkhead out, make a box for the foot pedals so my legs would fit better,then in the already full engine compartment fitted a brake servo from the scrapyard again, took it for a spin, loads better.The summer was just starting so the car, although needing loads of work was just the toy to have, it wasn't the best but it was a head turner and was used daily until the autumn when the weather changed, a soft top was needed so to e-bay again. The roof was fitted and some doors were made, she was almost water tight (as tight as a kit car can get). It was used all that summer but had to come off the road during the winter, it was unsafe as the slightest of wet roads just made the back wheels spin on the spot. The body had had no work done to it so it was sanded and the spiders in the fiberglass were filled and the body was painted ivory,it was originally black, the colour change had come from the high build primer,when it was on the car it looked good so got top coat the same colour .Its an ongoing project which will improve with time which takes me into another project we enjoy..........wine making

Welcome

Hi my names John and with my partner Melanie moved to the west coast of Orkney in Scotland in October 2009 from Derbyshire England with the idea of living the good life.We had purchased a near derelict cottage in the small (you cant call it a village,only a few houses) hamlet called (hope not to offend anyone) twatt.We moved up for the good life but never intended to be selfsufficent just live more healthily by growing our own veg,a dream for some so here we want to show how we did it,the achievements and the disasters because there will be some and already has like my attempt to build a wind turbine and forgetting the Orkney winds but that story will have to wait.The veg plot is at the moment is very overgrown with grass so first task is to dig it, with my bad back(sciatica)

The above photos are of the cottage and the dreaded veggie plot ready for digging (cant wait).This blog is not only going to be about the veggie plot its going to be about the things I'm interested in like my landrovers,kitcar,chickens,music(50s)and pottering about with junk and seeing what  I can make.

test post

this is a test post for my new blog