You dropped the lump in through the top???? Don't Norman's instructions say to lift the chassis over the lump and install from the bottom? Maybe you did do it that way and left out a few pictures in between!

I had a bugger of a problem wth the upper mount but it did eventually line up - don't know why it was reluctant.

Of interest is that the lump uses a number of (non-standard) "fine" metric threads especially where bolts screw into ally - which is quite the opposite of British engineering convention where ally tends to have coarse threads.
Even the rubber engine mounts have "non-standard" metric threads.

Ahhh, if life were only simple :)

Greg

yes the honda blocks are all weird threads, its a bit annoying really.

im pretty sure with my chassis you could only put the engine in from the top as theres a couple of cross members in the way underneath that would stop it coming out.

The old chassis had a big crossmember welded in so it had to be lifted out of the top, it was a hell of a squeeze, I only forgot to unconnect the clutch flexi! As it came out that way I figured I'd put it back in to the new one through the top as I thought it would be easier than lifting a rolling chassis up, probably would have been easier from the bottom.. I have bolt in crossmembers on the new chassis which is a better idea..

My main problem was that the rear mount was in the wrong position, I had to make a spacer from 1 1/2" square tube to bring it up to get the engine level!

I didn't check the bolts, just re-used them in the same positions.

Rich

Do all the new chassis have a bolt in bottom cross member 'coz mine only came with a top one ?

Good question! Mine, which is a pretty early one (4 or 5 depending on what you go by), has a tubular one that bolts diagonally across the top of the engine bay.

No sign of any bottom one - either fixed or bolted. Maybe I should give Norman a call and ask?

Greg

all of the chassis have the bolted cross member across the top, checked my chassis when i was under it last nite, i was slightly wrong, i dont have one going across under the engine, must have been getting it mixed up with a different chassis id seen at Normans.

Don't worry guys! My 'new' chassis is actually the second chassis produced, the one after the prototype (it is the one that was used for the burgundy car) so isn't exactly the same as the other later cars. It has two bolt in diagonals underneath the engine and one top bolt in diagonal above the engine..
I asked Norman about it and he said the lower one wasn't really needed, although I'm keeping mine as you can never have a chassis that is too stiff!
Rich

the phantom chassis is damn stiff as well, try jacking it up on one corner of the bulkhead just infront of the engine ;)

Well the body is on, nearly! The top damper mounts are stopping it go down fully as the whole coil-over is positioned slightly higher than the prototype chassis, I'll cut a section out tomorrow and make a small shaped section to 'glass back into the body. It's great to finally have it rolling again!

http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/gtr_i..._rolling_4.JPG

http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/gtr_images/body_on_1.JPG

A short video of it going on!

Rich

What are you doing with the old chassis?

Bill Gullatt
Harvest, AL
USA

I cut it up into 3 sections.. The front section was damaged from the crash and quite bent with suspension mounts ripped off, mounts were for prototype suspension anyway. I'm keeping the rear section to mock up the 4.2 Audi V8 :icon_lol: for phase 2 which will come later on..

Rich

No more pictures for here, there are a few on my site. Got the steering hooked up and the brakes bled. Having problems bleeding the clutch hydraulics for some reason, anybody else suffered from this?
I also fired up the engine for the first time today which is a huge bonus, with the clutch sorted it could be drivable!
Rich

Well I've driven it up and down the drive now, no pic updates for a while as it is mostly sorting out wiring so not very exciting.
Painter is coming any day now and I want it painted asap which he didn't see a problem with..
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/gtr_i..._painted_2.JPG
http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/gtr_images/wiring_1.JPG

Off to paint tomorrow :-)

Ok, I've forgot, what colour had you decided on?

John

not 100% which one, but black, probably Audi 'phantom black' metallic. I keep going back to that photoshopped black car that was up on pistonheads ages ago!

http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/misc/phblk.jpeg

Mine will have a matt black window trimline and my bi-xenons but other than that it will look as above. My theme is turning into a black on black, black leather interior too. I think the black body colour helps disguise the gap in the wheel arches so visually lowering it..
Rich

Now in primer... glad to be seeing the back of that foul green colour!

http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/gtr_i...painters_1.JPG

Don't think much of the stripes though :yo:

I'll get me coat...

John

Back from the painters...

http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/gtr_images/painted_2.JPG

http://www.ricola.co.uk/images/gtr_images/painted_1.JPG

Nice !