My SWB TT Z32...

[jap.slapper]

LWB zed's are from memory 49/51 weight distribution, I'm not sure on the SWB. So much had been binned already that I have nothing to go by other than knowing it is bloody heavy for its size.

The 'Escort' doors that you're talking weight about 8 kg each and cost around $700 + the usual shipping/taxes. I'm keeping my options open at the moment

[BenTaylor]

The only justification for a wanky pickup conversion is the look at me factor...

Waste of time IMO

I don't know, I think the old El Camino and Holden/Maloo are basically pickup conversions from the factory and they've proven to be pretty useful and relatively successful over the years

I agree, there are plenty of cool pickups out there, just that most of them came like that from the factory

[BenTaylor]

This is the sort of thing I was talking about:

[jap.slapper]

This is the sort of thing I was talking about:

Ah yes, the Z Centre tub for the rear hatch.....nasty!

[BenTaylor]

Bet it's light tho...

[jap.slapper]

I would think so, though not as light as your wallet would be after Z Centre had invoiced you for it......"Let me see, that's one crap piece of poorly fitting fibreglass hatch tub and a sheet of B&Q polycarb'......hmmn, that'll be £12,000 please + an extra £3000 for standard shipping + VAT"

*Ok so that's a gross exaggeration as it only costs a couple of hundred quid if I remember correctly but never let the truth get in the way of a good story and all that!! Though they do, in my opinion, take selling cheap poorly fitting tat at a premium to a whole new level.

and far too much copying of others work for my liking.

[Gonzo12c]

Id say lexan is lighter than that tub thing and if you are going that way then might as well get a lightened rear hatch too.

The weight distribution on a shorty I would say is greatly different and maybe can get away with loosing more off the rear than a LWB and as well moving the fuel tank further rear will counteract the weight loss in the rest of the rear end but overall be lighter.

I plan to run my fuel cell at the very rear of the car which stock position is just behind the seats so will slightly alter the weight ballast however on a lighter rear end overall this should counteract that.

There has been a standing argument that the length difference between the LWB and SWB is something like 5 or 6 inches and makes no difference at all but that comes from the usual chimps that went tracking once at Japfest with a boot full of subs and crap.

[jap.slapper]

Off on a tangent but could any of you guys recommend a decent mig welder brand?

Ideally I'll be looking for a used/ex garage mig welder for under £500 on ebay but have read mixed reviews on the cheaper Clarke and such like.

[jap.slapper]

You know when you sit down first thing in the morning, have your first coffee of the day and your mind wanders....well this morning I pondered on recent events.

On Friday whilst collecting the kids from school I got chatting to one of the mums (she's a copper) and a good friend of my wife. I asked after her husband (he's also a copper) and the conversation turned to the recent NATO summit held a few days ago at the Celtic Manor in Newport. The subject of cost came up and it apparently cost somewhere in the region of £54 million.

I didn't really think any more about it, other than the fact that I can't see where the justification for that figure comes from (plenty of back handers I'm sure). This morning whilst sipping my brew I spent a few minutes working out what that £54 million could have bought you in the real world.

To put it into perspective for the same amount you could have bought 33 brand new 2014 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Vitesse, 692 brand spanking new 2014 Nissan GTR's or 5,400 brand new 2014 Ford Fiesta's.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they had loads to discuss what with the number of fookin' idiots playing silly buggers around the globe, but couldn't they have just held a conference call or if they had to have a face to face why book out a 5 star hotel for several weeks and shell out on all of the other security bollocks and expense that goes with it.....just have a brew over at Mr Cameron's gaff, grab a couple of sleeping bags and crash on the floor of Downing Street.

You may have gathered already that this is one of those pointless random posts that for all intents and purposes falls into the category of 'brain fart' however I just thought I'd put it out there....£54 million could have been spent on a lot of much needed equipment (both civvy and military) but instead was spent on hosting a chimps tea party. Hey ho what do I know

[pablo]

Focus man, focus You've had F1, BTCC, and Time Attack all happening today. Plus you've got a car to build, never mind your own 5-A-Side team. Focus man, focus