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Funny how your chassis looked great both before and after paint! :cool:
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It would look even better in my workshop but got up at 6 this morning to go to the unit to collect the van and the battery was dead and couldn't get it to jump start :-(
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Had a good day today on our other project, ended in the momentous occasions of getting it of the build tressles onto the floor for the first time!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y.../IMG_00425.jpg |
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:-) thats my racing teammate Dave, were both of the more muscular build, the reason hes in it is we were trying to work out the most graceful entry and exit route, turns out there isnt one!
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Slight delay in getting the chassis back to the workshop due to an earth fault on the transit race van but all sorted now and im off up there in the morning to start on building it up. in preperation i ordered some spaxy goodness from Canley and they arrived today. height and ride adjustable, also collected a good condition large front ARB on the way home tonight, £10! niiiicceeee
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_.../IMG_00436.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c.../IMG_00437.jpg |
Best laid plans of mice and men, the workshop heater went bump so spent e whole day stripping it and rebuilding with a new fuel solenoid, main jet and thermal cutoff switch, then found myself sanding it all down and painting it......I need help!
That said Dave my partner in car crime was MIA today as he is off paintballing for his stag do, we're doing an alternative stag do for him me and a couple of other non paintballers next month, silverstone international track day in one of our other toys, an Audi a4 Quattro track slag. Did get to spend an hour on the blast cabinet trying to salvage my calipers but in the end dug out the plastic and ordered a pair from Canley, at the rate it was going it would have been days before I was happy with them and I'm conscious that the rolling chassis needs to be done ASAP as its due in Preston in the near future. Did get time to order some 3/8" and 5/16" UNF tap sets though as the first fun job will be clearing all the galv out of the threads on the chassis, not looking forward to that as I'm sure ill end up snapping one so went for the full set in each size so I have a taper, bottom and plug hopefully if I take it easy and use lots of lube I should be alright, as the bishop said to the actress........ |
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Good luck getting everything ready for the the trip to Preston. It will be interesting to see what your kit frame will look like compared to my one. Cheers, Paul. :) |
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My workshop heater came on for about ten minutes today, then it clouded over, I thought it might come back on again but it got dark instead. |
Well with a now fully functioning heater that has never run or looked better the man cave was a nice place to be today, got the body back on the GTA and tested the rear lighting, all good except it looks like my indicator stalk is goosed so of to ebay in a minute to find a replacement.
Putting the body back on the GTA was in fact part of today's master plan to make room for the Navigator chassis, after a quick clean up and tool sort it was unloaded from the trailer where it has sat waiting since it was painted a while ago, noticed a couple of small marks where it was rubbing whilst in transit but a quick touch up with some paint saw that all sorted, then it was on to cleaning out any holes filled with galv and tapping those that headed it. The tapping went fine, paying out for a good quality full set of 3 3/8unf taps was a good move. Biggest problem was finding the tapped blocks that the front suspension towers bolt to as during the last workshop cleanup all Navigator parts had been "filed" in a potato storage box, I say box but its a wooden crate about 6 foot long buy about 4 foot wide and 4 foot high, much digging about later and I had all 4 required, phew! I ordered a load of bits from Canleys on Thursday expecting them to arrive yesterday but they didn't arrive which was a bugger as e order included a load of new bolts, nuts etc, quick trip to my local fastener chap on the way in this morning though saw me leave with about 100 mixed UNF bolts and sets crews in different lengths and thread configurations along with a good handful of stainless washers and spring washers, a fiver thank you for cash, result:-) Once all the required holes were drilled out, threaded etc we started to try and fit the front suspension mounting tower blocks, one each side went in ok with a gentle tap, the other two were going nowhere as the channel they slip into was full of globs of galv, about an hour of chisel drill and swearing action saw them clear enough to get the blocks in and lined up though. The near side tower went on in about 30 minutes, mostly due to trying to align the threaded blocks properly whilst holding the tower in place and fitting the bolts at the some time, good job Dave was present as I don't think 2 hands would have been enough. Remembered that to fit the shiny new spax shocks I would need the shock top mounts off the old shocks, 10 minutes rummaging through the potatoe box and a trip next door to borrow some spring compressors saw them off and the old shocks and springs relegated to the growing scrap pile that whilst sorting through the box had 2 manky old spitfire rads added to it. Another 5 minutes a piece with the rotary wire brush in the grinder saw them cleaned up nicely and a cot of etch primer and them 2 coats of chassis black with a couple of minutes in front of the heater saw them ready to be pressed into service. One problem encountered when assembling the spax was that the two top nuts are the same size and thinner that a standard spanner so locking them off against each other was impossible so a hunt around the floor found the nuts that had come of the old shocks, one thick and one thin, the thick ones were cleaned up and pressed back into service successfully. Just had time to fit the near side shock and then ran out of time but the end result is: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V...s515/image.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3...s515/image.jpg Not as much as I hoped for today but an hour on Monday should see the offside finished as well and then hopefully another hour will see the rack and the front updated ARB fitted, if time allows then the next step is to fit the new wheel bearings discs calipers, pads and brake flexis which for the purposes of getting a roller going should be the front end pretty much done......in theory! One issue I have come up against is that buying my donor in bits means that I can't seem to find the shims that go between the bottom wishbone mounts and the chassis, anyone know how many should be there? Anyone got any going spare? Till Monday evening then Tata |
Must be good seeing parts going back on. :cool:
The previous owner restored my donor's chassis so I've not touched it. Are these shims visible? If so, I can have a look at in the daylight for you? Cheers, Paul. :) |
Mine had four on one side and three on the other. I think they were added as needed and it will depend on whether your chassis was made on a Monday or a Friday afternoon.
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I've ordered a few stainless ones from Canleys but won't fit them until after the body is on and I can get the roller to the setup guru who does the race car.
Good progress today the front suspension towers are both on now along with the front co livers. Also completely rebuilt one good rack out of two including painting, new boots and fitting it. Was going to use solid mounts for the rack but found a pair of polybushes in the tater box so have reverted to standard but with the polybushes. Spent half and hour with the rotary wire brush in the angle grinder and took my 7/8" front ARB back to bare metal, it's hanging from the ceiling now drying after 2 coats of gloss black fortress metal paint so should be dry enough to fit in the morning, hopefully by the time I get home my mot recent Canleys order should be waiting for me which should mean that the front will be pretty much complete by this time tomorrow barring new wheel studs which I haven't ordered as I'm awaiting the arrival of a set of wire wheel conversion hubs. Hopefully will the diff in tomorrow and will then start on brake lines and stripping and refurbish the rear suspension whilst waiting from my swing spring kit from Canleys which I'm told could be a while yet as they are made to order. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7...s512/image.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E...s512/image.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J...s512/image.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-O...s512/image.jpg |
looking very smart Viatron.
It seems a long haul to get this far, but it starts to really take shape and inspire from now! I makes me laugh when someone will say that you 'restored' the chassis, when in fact you have significantly 'improved' it! The factory would have gone bust a lot quicker if they had spent your attention to detail on every car! |
Yes, that's looking really smart. Keep up the good work!
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Only have one thing to say today ( not really) Bl00dy diff bushes! What an absolute pain, 3 hours to remove 2 bushes, eventually had to burn out the rubber, that was nice, and do the hacksaw a slit and chisel them out, won't be doing that job ever again!
Other than that had a real result today, digging through the tardis that is the tater box storage solution guess what I found lurking in the bottom, a very clean and unworn swing spring complete with the correct top plate, now I loaded every part and transferred them all to the tater box and can't for the life of me remember seeing it, I think the triumph parts density in the box is so high that their reproducing! Quick call to Canleys and although they won't cancel my swing spring kit order and refund me they have given me a full value credit note so as good as at the rate I'm buying stuff from them. Got the updated ARB fitted today complete with new polybushes and swivel ends, had a minor crisis when I found it didn't have the studs in the end but dig in the parts department turned up 2 standard ones complete wish studs and they are the same size so that's a bother job complete. Got the new discs mounted to the freshly painted hubs and also made a couple of brackets to mount the chassis end of the brake flexis to as couldn't find any amongst the boxes. Also fitted te first of the cu/in brake lines and found I had a load of appropriately sized stainless rubber lined p clips left from the race car so am using those. After struggling with the diff bushes I managed to get it cleaned up and painted before leaving so all things being equal I'm hoping to have it fitted tomorrow, my only concern is how much galv I will find in the tube between the 2 bushes, worst comes to worst ill chop it out and replace with new as I can't see me getting a drill in there and it would appear to be no more that a crush tube anyway. Currently trying to decide if the mini fin brake drums are worth the money, I think I'll probably go for them as now I have decided on wire wheels they will be visible. Hopefully my wheel bearing will turn up before I leave for the workshop in the morning, if so I should be able to get the front totally finished included calipers brake pads, dust shields etc. At this rate my target to have a rollin steerable chassis by the weekend looks possible....ish As I know you lot like pics some more below of today's progress. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u.../IMG_00440.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a.../IMG_00442.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B.../IMG_00443.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-r.../IMG_00444.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-A.../IMG_00445.jpg Till tomorrow Ta ta |
Love the pics, V... They will help me at some point.
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Well my most recent Canleys order just arrived, haven't been able to get to the unit for the last couple of days as I landed a last minute emergency job but am clear tomorrow and Saturday and with Dave lending a hand on Saturday I still think we're on schedule fr delivery of a rolling chassis to Ribble sometime Monday .
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d...s512/image.jpg |
Mustn't get envious, carry on decorating... keep wife in good mood...£££
Look forward to seeing rolling chassis, how about video to show what you have done. |
Not a bad idea, might try and do one once its a roller
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Good day and bad day all rolled into one, managed to get one of the rear vertical links all stripped of its old paint down to shiny metal along with its matching trailing arm, also found a brand new rear trunnion in the tater box which is good because the one on the side I've been working on today has the bolt sheared inside it so I'm guessing that's why a new trunnion was purchased. Got all three parts all painted up and hanging up drying.
Managed to get the near side hub assembled as one bearing kit arrived from Canleys, I ordered another from Rimmer Brothers and it was here when I got back tonight so no reason the other side won't be done tomorrow. Have dropped a bit of a goolie as I forgot to order the copper washer that goes between the front brake flexi and the calliper and in addition my comprehensive polybush kit was missing the rear diff bushes so both ordered today, hopefully arriving tomorrow by first class mail so I can get the front end totally signed off early Monday. Finished assembling the rear spring with new over length studs, a 1inch Ali spacer new rubber buttons etc, even though the spring looks brand new I stripped it and greased the leaves to ensure everything moves the way it should. Biggest disappointment of the day was trying to get the near side hub off so I could recon it all, lots of thumping and swearing and regretting not buying the special tool for the job but I begrudge over £60 for a tool I will hopefully only ever use once. Popped into halfords and bought a hub puller on the way back home that might do the job but if not the scrap pile and welder will come into play tomorrow and ill make my own DIY version of the tool. Quite frustrated as if the hub had come off I could have had one side stripped reconditioned and ready to go back on in the morning grrrrrrr. Still waiting to hear from the local tyre place where I dropped off my 4 steel wheels last week in the hope they could find 4 scrap tyres that hold air to use as build wheels but will pop in on the way to the unit in the morning and see what's what, without wheels it won't make Preston on Monday...... As always some pics of today's progress: http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uEbfG2PeGtk/UU...8_%2525209.jpg http://lh3.ggpht.com/-f15gxlWSaOc/UU...8_%2525209.jpg http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2KhrSpBHn-U/UU...8_%2525209.jpg http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wyqjeJX_ZxQ/UU...3_15_18_10.jpg http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jOyu0x7jqvc/UU...3_15_18_10.jpg http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TUUGw1rHYhk/UU...3_15_18_10.jpg Till tomorrow...... |
Viatron, I found with 3 herald based rebuilds I have done so fat it is almost impossible to get the rear hubs apart without the special tool.
I only ever planned one but invested in the tool on my first rebuild! Worth it for the peace of mind. Looks good mate and coming along now. |
Well getting to Preston for Monday is a bust, heat a puller, nothing will move either of my rear hubs, looking closely at them I think both rear corners were stored outside underneath a salty water waterfall so have admitted defeat and ordered a pair of reconditioned rear uprights with reconditioned trunnions and driveshafts already fitted, at the very reasonable price of £90 each which considering what I spent on trunnion kits, bearings, uj's etc isn't bad at all, hoping that Canley will take them back for a credit. I know it's seems a cop out but my time is now limited as I'm booked solid for the next month so apart from Saturdays I will be a bit stuffed and this way I should still be able to make delivery next Monday so ill only be a week out.
On a lighter note we did get the rest of the brake lines in place and the offside hub fitted with the new bearings so apart from the calipers which I couldn't fit because I had forgotten to order the copper sealing washer between the flexi and the caliper the front is done and dusted. When I got home last night the copper sealing washers and the missing rear diff bushes had arrived so I will have the diff and rear spring assembly fitted tomorrow morning as very kindly my customer is paying me for the day just to trave to Bolton so I can be on site for 08:30 Tuesday morning so I can get a pretty much full day in at the unit and then tootle up late afternoon and maybe pop into Preston on the way for a looksie. One interesting fact came to light when ordering my recon shafts is that there were 2 different sized bolts used when joing the driveshaft flanges to the diff flanges 1/2" on earlier cars and 9/16" on later ones. On investigation te 3.9 diff I had selected had 9/16" flanges fitted but my driveshafts had the 1/2" ones so even if I could have gotten the driveshafts stripped and rebuilt I would have been a bit knackered, every cloud has a silver lining I suppose. Should also be able to get the gearbox joined up to the bell housing tomorrow in readiness to connect to the engine when I collect it next Saturday. Also planning to strip, clean reprint and rebuild the pedals as Ribble will need those at some stage for the frame redesign and fitting. A few not very good pics: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u.../IMG_00446.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u.../IMG_00447.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E.../IMG_00448.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-I.../IMG_00449.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O.../IMG_00450.jpg |
Looking Good, V.
We are at a very similar stage but you are now pulling away. I fitted driveshafts yesterday and discovered the same issue with the bolts, although Canley's parts listings show 5/16 and 3/8 rather than 1/2 and 9/16. I'd refitted the 13/60 flangesto the driveshafts and then discovered that the flanges on the new 3.89 diff were larger. Fortunately I had a spare Vitesse axle under the bench and cannibalised that. It was then that I noticed that the new bolts were a little small. I had a set for the propshaft that are the correct size, so I go them on in the end. When I build my next Ribble I shall definitely buy the reconditioned rear units. I am pleased to have done mine and everything turns beautifully smoothly, but I did have to buy the hub puller and a decent press (to remove old UJs), plus the new bearings and UJs. Never mind the cleaning/blasting and priming. All good fun. It does look wonderfully period in black. |
Thanks, that's the look I'm going for, my thinking is that the car itself is period inspired so I think to keep the underpinnings looking period suites. I am still a bit miffed that I won't have rebuilt the rear uprights myself but time is against me and this is a side project to the Tiger GTA Dave and I are rebuilding so it wouldn't be fair to delay that project when Dave has put so much into it. I'm also conscious that if I am to have any bum in seat time in it this year then I will need to sub out parts of the build, it's just a matter of practicality really. I have made a lot of progress in a short time as I am fortunate enough to be able to predict a slack period in business around this time every year to be able to hit th spinners!
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Viatron- Chassis is looking great by the way. |
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Good news is that I picked up my recon upright/driveshaft assemblies tonight and they look spot on and everything moves as it should, the bad news is that looking at the weather I might not make it back at the weekend to fit them......bugger!
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Apart from this possible set back, it looks like you are close to getting to the Ribble factory. :cool: It will be interesting to see what your frame work looks like. Good luck, Paul. :) |
Good day today, basically the chassis is done, it would be a roller but deite a mid week call to remind him my local tyre boutique failed to have obtained some worn but air holding 13" tyres for fitting to the steel rims he has had for over 2 weeks now!
Only part not fitted are the rear shocks as they are on back order, we have made some temporary sports shocks out of 1" box section :-) also the Alain drums are on back order so have fitted the new adjuster and brake cylinder but am leaving off the shoes etc. Front calipers are all done now but am leaving the pads for now and have also left the transit coating on the discs. Fitted the bell housing to the gearbox after Dave attacked it with the rotary wire brush and would have had that fitted as well but discovered that the tater box parts dept was lacking overdrive gearbox mounts, they are on order now so the gearbox should be in before its now rescheduled delivery to Ribble sometime next weekend. Called Andy to relay the tale of woe rear tyres and he has kindly offered to lend me a set of spit wheels with tyres so am picking them up on my way north on Monday. Oh before I forget the recon rear uprights and driveshafts I bought were spot on, a tad heavy on the paint in places but everything has been renewed and moves as it should so a good buy at £175 the pair. As always some pics: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p.../IMG_00456.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U.../IMG_00457.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w.../IMG_00458.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4.../IMG_00460.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p.../IMG_00463.jpg |
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Good luck, Paul. :) |
hi your car's looking great good work... diff is great in the car tryed it on road to day once again thinks phil.
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Glad it found a good home. The car actually made it onto its wheels today and rolled across the workshop! It's ready now for definite delivery to Ribble on Tuesday, big sigh of relief!
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Well, finally delivered the rolling chassis to Andy this morning bright and early so its over to team Ribble, hoping for regular updates from Andy on this thread as the frame etc. takes shape. Will have to pop up in the next week or so anyway as I need to drop in the engine and box and drop off the pedals and column.
Had a look at the new Colani beast and have to say that although its not to my taste the body finish is excellent and the pint job looked very very nice. |
Great stuff. Are you getting the German front end you originally wanted?
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Unfortunately not as the the moulds have been
A. Sold B. Cut up C. Not known Depending on who you speak to so it will be the traditional bonnet |
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cool, look forward to seeing it take shape.
Is Ribble doing the interior as well or are you getting it back to finish off inside? Anything special planned? |
Doing the interior myself haven't decided whether to go Ali or fibreglass sheet on the interior, I do like the period look the Ali gives but don't fancy the amount of work required to keep it looking nice.
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Nothing wrong with a bit of patina...
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