MINX wrote:dam, scrolling down through the pics, i was hoping you were going to run the three pipes right out under the rear bumper with triple straight tips!
I am guessing a muffler is required to be allowed to use it anywhere except Amberly Airbase

Stu, I'd probably be allowed to run it like that at Willowbank....but there's no corners, so that's no good!
It's really starting to come together now....

...but the engine is only a dummy block. So this had to happen.

The engine was required to keep the extractors in place when the main flange was welded out.

So this is how they finished up....and as previously mentioned they just need the EGT and wideband ports added prior to being ceramic coated.



With the engine removed and the finishing work underway my focus moved onto the front end. Those of you who are familiar with WTAC cars, generally the Pro and some Open class cars use a tubular front end. The NC is really quite a good front end (chassis wise)...what I mean is that it is quite light but also structural. So my intent was to maintain as much of the OEM front as possible but also achieve what I need to with regards to ducting for the heat exchangers (radiator and oil cooler) and also adding a suitable structure to support the front aero package (which is still just a concept in my head at this point).
The first thing that was done was unbolting all front end components that can be easily removed. ie. guards and front bar reinforcement etc...


To increase the available space for the heat exchangers the vertical section of the radiator support panel needed to be removed. It is predominantly spot welded in so I set about drilling the spot welds off.


So it then looked like this....


From a previous project I happened to have a spare top section of the radiator support panel.

....and with the front bar reinforcement bolted back on. It certainly has increased the amount of useable space forward of the engine.


I also set about removing the remainder of the battery/power steering reservoir crossmember.


Cheers,
Danny