Latest pics (April 2011)
Friday, August 31, 2007
Latest pics from the workshop
Latest pics from Merlin.. car really starting to shape-up.. engine/trans in and low n level, tailgate modified, shifter working, rear lights coming along, firewall in..
Friday, August 24, 2007
Ongoing 'discussions' with Phoenix
Formal letter of complaint lodged with Phoenix. JL called me today and awaiting full response to my claim.. happy to consider any reaosnable offers. stay tuned. JB
More updates from Merlin.. pics to follow
"we got gears, made the linkage over the past two days, got a bit pissed off at times, but it was worth it in the end, allthough you will only be able to use 1st and 4th, i dont see a problem with this. only joking we got em all . wot a bastard job thou, no wonder it costs so much for the original linkage. boot mould should be done by monday, a nice louvered job. martyn didnt seem to impressed when i told i wanted to fit the f1 style air intake on to the roof so i said "tough it will look mental" he just laughed and walked away! i keep meaning to send you some pics but i always forget il will try to remember this weekend.bye for now.merlin."
"aero cathes look dear, i think i paid that money for the locking 1s. try rallydesign.co.uk ok so your wing mirrors just turned up 4mins ago, martyn is jumping up and down because he is very excited about these he has looked every where for a pair of these for his elan , where did you get them from? and at what cost? the rear bumper on the nissan 350z, we made 1 just like this for a subaru, its a very simple and efective way for reducing turbulance in the wheel arches, i think you may find sum pics of it at autosportif.co.uk or .com they look after peoples rally cars. we built him a 1 off aero kit so he could do the 24hr at nurmburg ring.cheers"
"all gears seem positive, a nice heatlhy clunk when it goes in to reverse, rear visability will be none with this tail gate, i will still fit a pespex panel into the new fire wall just in case sumthing changes. but the camera sounds dead cool, a bit like pimp my ride.. the new fire wall is going to be in 3 pieces due to how orkward it is to make while the cage is insitue, 2 pieces have been made today and the top piece a bit later on this after noon, i have taken a pic of the 2 pieces fitted to the car, you will get these pics later. "
"have you seen the lotus elise wing mirrors? or vx 220 mirrors. u may have to be carefull with the wing mirrors from larger cars due to the fact that they mite full of guff like elec motors+demist, with this stuff it starts to get heavy.cheers for now merlin"
"aero cathes look dear, i think i paid that money for the locking 1s. try rallydesign.co.uk ok so your wing mirrors just turned up 4mins ago, martyn is jumping up and down because he is very excited about these he has looked every where for a pair of these for his elan , where did you get them from? and at what cost? the rear bumper on the nissan 350z, we made 1 just like this for a subaru, its a very simple and efective way for reducing turbulance in the wheel arches, i think you may find sum pics of it at autosportif.co.uk or .com they look after peoples rally cars. we built him a 1 off aero kit so he could do the 24hr at nurmburg ring.cheers"
"all gears seem positive, a nice heatlhy clunk when it goes in to reverse, rear visability will be none with this tail gate, i will still fit a pespex panel into the new fire wall just in case sumthing changes. but the camera sounds dead cool, a bit like pimp my ride.. the new fire wall is going to be in 3 pieces due to how orkward it is to make while the cage is insitue, 2 pieces have been made today and the top piece a bit later on this after noon, i have taken a pic of the 2 pieces fitted to the car, you will get these pics later. "
"have you seen the lotus elise wing mirrors? or vx 220 mirrors. u may have to be carefull with the wing mirrors from larger cars due to the fact that they mite full of guff like elec motors+demist, with this stuff it starts to get heavy.cheers for now merlin"
Monday, August 20, 2007
Loose ends.. a letter to John L
Finally got an all-clear on the transaxle from Kev at GTO engineering. One less thing to worry about. That now allows me to address the outstanding invoice with Phoenix. Spoke to Falkirk Trading Standards today who were very sympathetic about my story. The following letter will be sent tomorrow morning; if that doesn't work then they'll take the file over and see if any action against Phoenix is due and fight on my behalf if there's a case owing:
FAO: John Leitch, Servicing Manager
Phoenix Honda (Falkirk) Limited
Glensburgh Road, Grangemouth, FK3 8XJ
Date: 20th August 2007
Ref: C268360, dated 23rd May 2007 (no reminder recorded)
RE: Lotus: Removal of Engine and ancillaries
Dear Mr Leitch,
Thank you for your invoice for the sum of £598.78 inc. VAT. Please forgive the delay in responding; but following works undertaken by your workshop the car has since been passed to my current mechanic and race builder at MVS Racing, Wales. Since taking custody of the vehicle MVS have undertaken a full review of your work, between 2nd October 2006 and 23rd May 2007, on behalf of Phoenix Honda (Falkirk) Limited and relating to the engine conversion of a Lotus race car (Q386 NVS).
For the record you stated that the contract for services with your good selves was halted at the instruction of your general manager. Unfortunately this has caused a lot of inconvenience to all parties involved, both fiscally and in terms of lost competition time. It is my belief that the original contract for services was engaged on a ‘subsidised’ labour basis in exchange for promotional benefit in kind. Although a rate per hour was never finalised a fee of £500, for the completed build, was mentioned at outset as well as your repeated assurances of “being looked after”. On this proviso the project proceeded, including the shipment of many expensive engine and transmission parts, imported as part of a sponsorship deal with B&A Foreign Cars, Texas.
Whilst I fully appreciate that the outcome may have been very different, had your management not intervened, it nonetheless left me on a limb in terms of project completion after significant delay, many £0000s invested and a limited budget to cover future labour charges.
However putting these losses aside I have reviewed your invoice for the removal of engine and ancillaries and find it wholly reasonable in the circumstances. Unfortunately I must adjust the final payment to account for a subsequent repair to an expensive alloy billet transaxle adapter plate, which was damaged in your custody through misaligned drilling for fitment. The damage prevented correct alignment of the transaxle and necessitated a portion of alloy to be cut out, filleted, welded, machined and re-drilled. I have been informed this process took approximately 8 hours labour for one of MVS’ mechanics. The adjustment to the payment is attached overleaf together with pictures of the repair for reference.
Following a preliminary discussion a copy of my file is ready to be sent to Falkirk Trading Standards, pending the outcome of this offer, which is made in Full and Final Settlement of the invoice referred. I therefore hope Phoenix Honda (Falkirk) Ltd will accept so that all parties can move on quietly, and wish to thank your staff for their otherwise friendly service, good faith and good humour through testing times.
Without prejudice
Jonathan S. Beckett
14 Dumyat Rise, Larbert, FK5 4FL
Appendix:
1a. Invoice for services: C268360 (copy attached)
Services referred: Removal of Engine and ancillaries
Amount invoiced by Phoenix Honda (Falkirk) Limited: £598.78
Less,
1b. Cost of labour for the repair of 1 x billet transaxle adapter plate
Repair: Cut out original metal, fillet, weld, machine and re-drill by MVS Racing
Hours required (1 mechanic) 8 hours
Cost per hour from MVS Racing (reduced rate) £35.00
Total cost of repair £280.00
+ VAT to be charged (17.50%) £49.00
Labour Sub-total £329.00
Payment: Amount invoiced less full cost of repair (1a-1b) £269.78
A full engineer’s report, from MVS Racing, detailing the repair is available upon receipt of an additional nominal payment of £30, cheques made payable to MVS Racing.
Please refer to pictures (x3) attached detailing the repair. The replacement cost of a new made-to-order racing billet transaxle adapter plate was estimated in the region of £350.00 once shipped from the United States and would have also incurred additional delay to the ongoing build/conversion.
FAO: John Leitch, Servicing Manager
Phoenix Honda (Falkirk) Limited
Glensburgh Road, Grangemouth, FK3 8XJ
Date: 20th August 2007
Ref: C268360, dated 23rd May 2007 (no reminder recorded)
RE: Lotus: Removal of Engine and ancillaries
Dear Mr Leitch,
Thank you for your invoice for the sum of £598.78 inc. VAT. Please forgive the delay in responding; but following works undertaken by your workshop the car has since been passed to my current mechanic and race builder at MVS Racing, Wales. Since taking custody of the vehicle MVS have undertaken a full review of your work, between 2nd October 2006 and 23rd May 2007, on behalf of Phoenix Honda (Falkirk) Limited and relating to the engine conversion of a Lotus race car (Q386 NVS).
For the record you stated that the contract for services with your good selves was halted at the instruction of your general manager. Unfortunately this has caused a lot of inconvenience to all parties involved, both fiscally and in terms of lost competition time. It is my belief that the original contract for services was engaged on a ‘subsidised’ labour basis in exchange for promotional benefit in kind. Although a rate per hour was never finalised a fee of £500, for the completed build, was mentioned at outset as well as your repeated assurances of “being looked after”. On this proviso the project proceeded, including the shipment of many expensive engine and transmission parts, imported as part of a sponsorship deal with B&A Foreign Cars, Texas.
Whilst I fully appreciate that the outcome may have been very different, had your management not intervened, it nonetheless left me on a limb in terms of project completion after significant delay, many £0000s invested and a limited budget to cover future labour charges.
However putting these losses aside I have reviewed your invoice for the removal of engine and ancillaries and find it wholly reasonable in the circumstances. Unfortunately I must adjust the final payment to account for a subsequent repair to an expensive alloy billet transaxle adapter plate, which was damaged in your custody through misaligned drilling for fitment. The damage prevented correct alignment of the transaxle and necessitated a portion of alloy to be cut out, filleted, welded, machined and re-drilled. I have been informed this process took approximately 8 hours labour for one of MVS’ mechanics. The adjustment to the payment is attached overleaf together with pictures of the repair for reference.
Following a preliminary discussion a copy of my file is ready to be sent to Falkirk Trading Standards, pending the outcome of this offer, which is made in Full and Final Settlement of the invoice referred. I therefore hope Phoenix Honda (Falkirk) Ltd will accept so that all parties can move on quietly, and wish to thank your staff for their otherwise friendly service, good faith and good humour through testing times.
Without prejudice
Jonathan S. Beckett
14 Dumyat Rise, Larbert, FK5 4FL
Appendix:
1a. Invoice for services: C268360 (copy attached)
Services referred: Removal of Engine and ancillaries
Amount invoiced by Phoenix Honda (Falkirk) Limited: £598.78
Less,
1b. Cost of labour for the repair of 1 x billet transaxle adapter plate
Repair: Cut out original metal, fillet, weld, machine and re-drill by MVS Racing
Hours required (1 mechanic) 8 hours
Cost per hour from MVS Racing (reduced rate) £35.00
Total cost of repair £280.00
+ VAT to be charged (17.50%) £49.00
Labour Sub-total £329.00
Payment: Amount invoiced less full cost of repair (1a-1b) £269.78
A full engineer’s report, from MVS Racing, detailing the repair is available upon receipt of an additional nominal payment of £30, cheques made payable to MVS Racing.
Please refer to pictures (x3) attached detailing the repair. The replacement cost of a new made-to-order racing billet transaxle adapter plate was estimated in the region of £350.00 once shipped from the United States and would have also incurred additional delay to the ongoing build/conversion.
Merlin casts his magic..
Latest update from Merlin.. there was a potential proboem with the G50 box as it was stuck in gear - Kev from GTO engineering popped over to help.. thankfully it looks as if the box is okay.. just needs to be modified for the upside-down spray bar. Rear number plate leds ordered and on their way. Ordering vinyl number plates and looking for fuel hose for the guys.
We continue to swap ideas on the bodywork.. hopefully the guys will produce an absolute monster, all spoilers, vents, engine intake and wide arches.. we're all using Gottfried's Grassinger Ultima as a loose guide albeit the car will have to compromise to run on the road... just.. I'm also sending them pics of old Group4 cars and SuperGT racers.
"kev is a great bloke, so much so that he managed to fix it on our bench, "
two thumbs up " he was concerned about the number of bolts that were slack and not half as tight as they should be, also he did mention that as it is the larger of the g50 boxes it probably didnt need an oil cooler as it holds more oil than the shorter g50 box.
cheers for ordering the little bits and pieces i have found that in the past it is allway the smallest things that you get unstuck on, i really need the guy to sort the fuel tanks out as this seem to be stoping me from doing a lot of work, unfortunatly everything revolves around these, ie cant fit / make fire wall, finish rollcage, sort out interior, once these tanks are in there is going to be a massive change to the apperence to the car, which will be a real boost for me.
at the mo there is a louvered boot lid being made with a big f1 style air intake being stuck to the top of it!!! mental cheers merlin.."
We continue to swap ideas on the bodywork.. hopefully the guys will produce an absolute monster, all spoilers, vents, engine intake and wide arches.. we're all using Gottfried's Grassinger Ultima as a loose guide albeit the car will have to compromise to run on the road... just.. I'm also sending them pics of old Group4 cars and SuperGT racers.
"kev is a great bloke, so much so that he managed to fix it on our bench, "
two thumbs up " he was concerned about the number of bolts that were slack and not half as tight as they should be, also he did mention that as it is the larger of the g50 boxes it probably didnt need an oil cooler as it holds more oil than the shorter g50 box.
cheers for ordering the little bits and pieces i have found that in the past it is allway the smallest things that you get unstuck on, i really need the guy to sort the fuel tanks out as this seem to be stoping me from doing a lot of work, unfortunatly everything revolves around these, ie cant fit / make fire wall, finish rollcage, sort out interior, once these tanks are in there is going to be a massive change to the apperence to the car, which will be a real boost for me.
at the mo there is a louvered boot lid being made with a big f1 style air intake being stuck to the top of it!!! mental cheers merlin.."
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