...so there I was, a week and a half ago, on the PeruRail train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, when my mind turned to thoughts of door hinges.....

Might get round to doing something to the G46 after Easter, although I'm now back in the Mon-Fri 9-5 office based rat race... at least I get weekends off now..

I take it you didn't have a set of spanners in your hand luggage then as I didn't see any mention of the mysterious disappearance of a pair of train door hinges on 'Peru Today' (free with Sky World News). ;)

Sadly the baggage limit was only 5kg - and that was taken up by my cameras....otherwise...

December 2014 update......






.........see you in 2015.

Nigel - Here's hoping you will have better luck with your build in 2015. :pray:

Take care, Paul. :)

Recap and a new challenge?

The road going Scimitar was originally purchased in 2011 as a donor vehicle for a Sammio G46 conversion to be used for the September 2012 London to Athens rally. After various delays (see previous entries ad nauseam) the partly converted vehicle was delivered 7 months after the conclusion of the rally it was intended to enter. In storage (garden ornament) since April 2013 was considered to be a long term project rather than the 'quick and dirty' fix as envisioned for 2012.

I recently saw an advert by Messrs. Classic Rally Tours for their 'Italian Lakes Rally 2015'. Having enquired if my '95 Alfa Romeo Spider could be accepted I was advised that it could take part but would not be eligible for any prizes as it was not... 'a classic'. Being a little competitive I rejected their kind offer and wondered if the Scimitar could possibly be ready for this event which starts on 29 August 2015.

The entry deposit deadline is 3 April 2015 with the full amount being paid by 20 June 2015. The deposit is returnable up to this point so that will be the point where I go round the room looking for Go/No Go Poll

With 100% commitment to the project and no deviation to the plans I have formulated over the last 18 months and everything arriving on time and within budget this may be possible...

(Re-reads entry, laughs, pours another large whiskey and goes back to reading Octane Magazine...)

Nigel - Well that certainly sounds like a challenge! :eek:

I am sure if you start any work, even a small job, the encouragement from the forum will help you build up from there and keep going. :cool:

I put off a lot of jobs on my own build based on fear and most have turned out OK (ish).

Obviously many jobs have taken miles longer than I expected / hoped, but if you don't start, you'll never finish.

I've also found that seeing other builders tackling their "issues" gives me more confidence to tackle mine.

Good luck, Paul. :)

PS
Remind me where your farm shed / workshop is?

Hi Paul, thanks for your kind words of encouragement. I have been watching yours, and other builds, few of which are G46 related but have a lot of commonality. In fact I have been busy compiling a dossier of how things fit /don't fit / are made to fit so I have a good idea of where I am going with the design and how to get there.

I am amazed at how much ground you have covered working in the drive and back garden - usually in very inhospitable conditions. You deserve First Prize for tenacity and perseverance.

I hope to get the beast off the drive and under cover in a month or so when I can start stripping the car down, modifying and rebuilding as necessary. I need to strip the body off the chassis for outrigger repairs and once satisfactory will modify body to suit my taste, then I can start to re build.

My build 'pit' is located near Aldenham and once I get my act together and clear the area I should have enough space for the G46. I currently have a knackered and rusty XJ6 which I'm taking some parts off to use on the G46 so once stripped and removed I will gain rather a lot more space...

Unfortunately I'm a bit stuck at present with the Shogun needing its body welded back on to the chassis and the Alfa Spider needing fettling..

So many cars - not enough time.

Aldenham is not far from me, so I can pay you a visit when you are set up there.

Aha - a challenge!
 

This group were the inspiration behind my purchase of the Scimitar and subsequent re-bodying....

http://www.guildofmotorendurance.co....15%20Promo.pdf

...back on the road by September? Hmm..

A fixed deadline could be a great motivator to get stuck in and force decisions. :cool:

As, initially, I wasted a lot of time trying to work out the "best" way of doing something.

Whereas now, I am happy to find "any" way of getting the job done, so I can move forward to the next one.

I've also learnt that sometimes you just have to go a bit mad to make progress.

https://d2nh4f9cbhlobh.cloudfront.ne...ankenstein.jpg

:icon_wink:

Good luck, Paul. :)

Just read through this whole thread on my old car again. Remind me why you ave a replacement engine in hand? is the fitted one nackered? I removed my race engine when I sold it but fitted a very good one with unleaded heads.

Jim - I don't want to put words in Nigel's mouth, but this post may cover part of the problem...

:icon_sad:

thanks Paul - that's all I could find so I wondered if there was another reason. I'd just whip the heads off and clean it up - new HG and inlet manifold gaskets never hurt (use quality not ebay specials). Oil change and it'll be fine. They're an agricultural engine and a bit of dust and rust won't kill it :)

Sorry I missed the above posts - working too hard at work!

The only reason for buying the engine was to (eventually) rebuild it as it might come in handy some time in the future, plus the fact it came with a gearbox with overdrive...

I'm sure the current engine once 'recommissioned' will be as good as it was before it went away....and it was very good.

It was over 15 years ago that I rebuilt the car (and engine/box were replaced at least once after that) but you'll need to check the back axle ratio - here's some info for you:

early overdrive box (up to chassis 93/2477 - type 5 box with LH type overdrive - sometimes called the type Z as it was apparently fitted to the Zodiac?)

1st 3.163:1
2nd 2.214:1
3rd 1.412:1
o/d 3rd 1.158:1
4th 1:1
o/d 4th 0.82:1
axle 4HA 3.31:1 (first 500 cars had a 7HA with 3.58)
26.7 mph @ 1000 rpm in o/d 4th

later overdrive box (hybrid Type F box with J type overdrive)

1st 3.163:1
2nd 1.95:1
3rd 1.412:1
o/d 3rd 1.098:1
4th 1:1
o/d 4th 0.778:1
axle 4HA 3.31:1
28.1 mph @ 1000 rpm in o/d 4th

4 speed (type 5 box):

1st 3.163:1
2nd 1.95:1
3rd 1.412:1
4th 1:1
axle 4HA 3.07:1
23.7 mph @ 1000 rpm in 4th

Also remember that the overdrive clutches are hydraulic but the 4 speed is cable (there was a hydraulic Bellhousing available from Ford but rare now) so the pedal etc needs modifying. Both the 4 speed and the 3.07 axle (if you have one) are getting rarer and sought for sprint cars.

Thanks for the info Scimjim, very useful.

Anyone know what happened to this/Nigel?

Unfortunately, no.

But it would be nice to hear how some of the original builders are getting on.

Quick Update:

I heard from Nigel/Nike55 and although his G46 build stalled a few years ago, he still has the car and is planning to restart his build some time this year.

So with a bit of luck there will be an update at some point in 2019.