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Frame is now fully welded and the lip for the floor support is in place, pic below shows the floor edge support in place, had to use some flat bar in the end as my stock of angle was more reduced than I thought.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c.../IMG_00776.jpg All tube ends have been capped so hopefully the frame will not rust too much from the inside. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X.../IMG_00781.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-H.../IMG_00782.jpg Managed to get 2 coats of paint on it which will hopefully be dried by Monday so I can flip it over and give the underneath a couple of coats. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a.../IMG_00780.jpg Also managed to start painting the pedal box, have decided that I will paint rather than powder coat but stick to my plan of keeping them blue grey. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x.../IMG_00786.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d.../IMG_00787.jpg Hopefully Monday or Tuesday will end with the frame permanently fitted and maybe even the floors in and pedal box fitted. fingers Crossed |
Mac - Looks like lots of good progress being made. :cool:
I forgot to mention last time that your suicide doors will be interesting to see too. Good luck, Paul. :) |
So the frame is finally on!!!
I had to re-drill the 2 rear mounting holes as my chassis had been used by Ribble as a chassis mule and they had drilled 2 mounting holes, unfortunately they turned out to be in the wrong place! The purchase of a brand new drill bit paid dividends as drilling steel and galv can be a bit tiresome. Borrowed next doors lathe, mine is still waiting for me to get round to dropping the motor off for a rewind, and turned up some spacers out of bar stock as I didn't have any tube the right size. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t.../IMG_00789.jpg The hole in the top of the chassis has been opened out using a Christmas tree bit so that the tube drops in, the tube has been trimmed to sit fractionally below the top of the chassis to allow a little bit of pull down. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_.../IMG_00791.jpg One disadvantage of having the chassis galvanised is that the 2 plates the rear is supposed to bolt into have been locked in place by the zinc, no amount of hammering will move them and they are way off centre so in the end was left with no option but to weld the rear mounts to the chassis. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2.../IMG_00794.jpg End result though is that the frame is now permanently mounted to the chassis, just in time for me to disappear for the next 10 days as I have a contract that includes the next 2 weekends...rats! https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k.../IMG_00793.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4.../IMG_00792.jpg also got to paint the stripped down pedal box but forgot to take pics. |
Hella Mac,
It look pretty good. I reckon The benefits of a galvanished chassis lay in the future!:icon_eek: Michiel |
Mac - Thanks for the photo of the chassis spacer/crush tube fitted.
Can I just check if you left it like it is in the photo, or did you weld it in place? Cheers, Paul. :) |
Left it as is, being about a millimetre below the chassis level meant it all nipped up tight and the underneath of the plate came down flush with the top of the chassis
HTH Mac |
Finally got some time back in the workshop but wont be much progress for the next day or so as we have decided to reorganise a bit as the workshop is a tip and its getting both Dave and myself down, we also have to make room for our new scissor lift and my new 542 tool box, anyone interested in a Snap on roll cab and top box?
Whilst I have been working though Sean next door has beefed up the sides of the inside of my body with another 3 layers of fibreglass. The plan is to cut the door apertures and use the cut out parts as the door skins and I was worried that unless reinforced they may not retain their shape. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O.../IMG_00803.jpg Sean has also now finished the moulds for the humps and I have the first 2 out of the mould. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-M.../IMG_00804.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s.../IMG_00805.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a.../IMG_00806.jpg Very pleased with the fit, will get them trimmed up this week so will post more pics. On the way home tonight I will be dropping off the Ribble supplied floors to have them used as templates for new floors in 3mm Ali which should be done by the end of the week. Well I cant put it off any longer need to start tidying the workshop. TTFN Mac |
What a fantastic looking body you have !!!!!! No pain no gain. lol.
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The wife says the same thing...........
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That bulkhead to body join does look seamless. Keep up the good work and good luck with the doors. :juggle:
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Mac - It looks like the body is coming together nicely. :cool:
Good luck, Paul. :) |
Been busy with the tidy up, 4 bin liners and counting and 2 empty toolboxes decanted into the beast but couldn't spend the rest of the day without making some progress on the Navigator, picked up by 4mm Ali floors last night so got them fitted, bit of trimming hear and there but on the whole they fit really well.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V.../IMG_00850.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B.../IMG_00851.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F.../IMG_00852.jpg The rear floors drop down nicely so they are pretty much flush with the chassis so as low as I can go and the front ones sit on top of the chassis, with the floor mounted pedal box this should give a pretty good driving position whilst being as low as is practical. Just need to fab up the curved angle for the inside edge up against the chassis and they can go in. I will be using bed liner on them as its a tough finish but looks quite period as well. TTFN back to the tidying up. |
looking very nice ..:icon_biggrin:
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Even though they are 4mm Ali they are as strong as the steel floors but lighter. I plan to tig weld 2 19mm boxes across the width of the rear floor to ensure they cant sag and also to mount the seat runners to but cant do that until the runners arrived.
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Floors look good. :cool:
I do like the way you have worked around the main chassis rail to give a full size lowered section for the seats. Good luck, Paul. :) PS Your "mega" tool chest is something else. |
Well the clear up is finally done! With Daves help we even got the scissor lift in. Just a couple of boxes of tat to sort through Monday and it will all be done and i can get back onto the Ribble, look for an update monday night.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z.../IMG_00869.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3.../IMG_00871.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-I.../IMG_00872.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G.../IMG_00874.jpg |
Well Monday and Tuesday ended up being taken up by a last minute training job in Poole but finally managed to make it back to the workshop today. Want to get the body on ASAP so I can figure out where my seat rail supports need to go on the floors so the next 3 jobs will be the running of the fuel and brake lines, building up of the pedal box and fitting of the fuel tank.
I have a couple of tanks here and both are by no means new so have spent the last hour going over both and selected what I think is the best one. I have just ordered the Frost Deluxe Tank Sealing Kit and decided to strip the exterior of its paint so I can do a proper inspection before throwing £67 quids worth of stuff into a colander! Just using some old paint stripper I found during the tidy up, don't know how effective it will be because I think its a bout 3 years old but I will leave it overnight then use the steam cleaner to give it a good blast both inside and out. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u.../IMG_00921.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5.../IMG_00922.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S.../IMG_00920.jpg |
Made some good progress today
A. Install rear frame addition for hanging exhaust from https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G.../IMG_00923.jpg At least it fits! All the joints need re welding though as the pigeons have had a field day on it.... Grounds the welds back https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-M.../IMG_00926.jpg And rewelded https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-K.../IMG_00927.jpg Had to weld the 2 feet on as i don't have a bolt-able mounting point thanks to the galvanising locking the sliding plates in the top way off centre, drilled the centre mount and bolted it up, https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L.../IMG_00931.jpg Couple of coats of chassis paint later and its done https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R.../IMG_00933.jpg B. Seatbelt mounts Spent a very frustrating hours cleaning out as much of the zinc in the seatbelt mounting holes in chassis as possible with a needle file so i didn't wreck the threads, ran all three taps through though and its all good so popped in the belt eyes. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z.../IMG_00935.jpg Then turned my thoughts to how and where to mount the outer lap belt mounts, i ordered some belt mount plates from Rally Design this is what i came up with https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t.../IMG_00936.jpg Just trimmed about 10mm off one side of the purchased mounting plates The piece of box needed the end capping up so decided to do it before welding the box to the frame. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z.../IMG_00937.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-o.../IMG_00938.jpg A little fine welding around the edges https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z.../IMG_00939.jpg Quick clean up with a flap wheel later https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B.../IMG_00940.jpg Clamped it up and welded it in, not my prettiest welding but it was in a very awkward place , thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V.../IMG_00944.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B.../IMG_00946.jpg Couple of coats of paint later and the eye bolt installed, had to trim the thread back about 10mm as it was bottoming out against the frame https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6.../IMG_00950.jpg Then did the other side https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_.../IMG_00953.jpg C. Clean up the fuel tank Borrowed next doors steam cleaner and gave it a good going over inside and out https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F.../IMG_00947.jpg Pleasantly surprised at how clean the inside is https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i.../IMG_00948.jpg Back at it tomorrow and will have Dave's help so should be more progress to report tomorrow. Mac |
Mac - I'm sure you are glad to be car building again after all that cleaning up.
I am thinking about adding some extra support at the back of my frame too. So it is good to see how you have approached this. Hope you had a productive today as well. Good luck, Paul. :) |
Just spent the last 30 minutes posting a progress update only to have it all dissapear in a brawser crash....arse! So if it looks a bit fragmented i apologies but im taking no chances
Refitted the rear brake link pipe that had to be removed to fit the Ribble supplied rear frame extension https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-C.../IMG_00958.jpg |
Next on the list was fitting the front floors, basically pre drilled them both, scuffed the backs up well in preparation for the bed liner application next week and help key them for the PU adhesive i am using as well as rivets. Quick session with the air riveter and they were in.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A.../IMG_00959.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C.../IMG_00964.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b.../IMG_00965.jpg Dave still has to learn that trying to push a drill bit through steel sometimes ends in humorous results! https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4.../IMG_00966.jpg |
Next we ran the brake line from the front 4 way to the rear t piece.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J.../IMG_00967.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l.../IMG_00969.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J.../IMG_00971.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-N.../IMG_00972.jpg |
Trial fitted the tank, unfortunately all the holes were 1/2 hole out so the easiest option was to notch the top tank flange,, Te he he i said flange..........
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-J.../IMG_00974.jpg Once we had done this it fitted fine. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L.../IMG_00973.jpg My tank sealing kit still hasn't appeared from Frost even though i paid for 48 hour delivery and placed the order wed morning.grrrrrr |
Found a nice spot for the fuel pump so we got that fitted including the earth.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z.../IMG_00975.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1.../IMG_00976.jpg |
When i finally got back home the part i ordered to hopefully convert the fuel tank outlet from a threaded boss to an 8mm push on fitting had arrived, ill try it monday and fingers crossed that will allow me to re run the fuel line although i haven't decided exactly how to route it yet.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6.../IMG_00977.jpg Back at it Monday so more updates Monday night TTFN Mac |
Some good progress there . looking good.
It will be good to see a few well finished Cordites . |
Quote:
My top tip for big updates is write them all up in a Word / Text Editor type programme first. That way you can save all the words / photo links before you try to post them on here. Then it is a simply Copy & Paste from one to another after hitting the Reply key. You can then use the Preview button to check it all looks OK before posting the update. Cheers, Paul. :) PS You are really making good progress now. :cool: |
A bit more time in the workshop today after some work.
Pedal box now fully painted and reassembled https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d.../IMG_01005.jpg Skateboard grip tape added to the pedals and trimmed https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W.../IMG_01006.jpg Was a bit worried about the rear frame extension moving so made a couple of small l brackets out of some steel angle and riveted them using some nice big 5mm rivets to the bottom of the frame extension and the chassis, seems to have stopped any flexing now https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0.../IMG_01007.jpg Dropped of my template tonight on the way home to have the curved pieces plasma cut so i can finish the floor supports on the inside next to the chassis. Back at it tomorrow and am hoping to have fuel line in and maybe another tial fit of the body so i can work out where the seats and steering column need to go. TTFN Mac |
When i got home my fuel tank sealant kit had finally arrived from Frost
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-o.../IMG_01009.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S.../IMG_01010.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k.../IMG_01011.jpg So thats something else i will be trying to get done tomorrow so i can get the tank fitted. Mac |
Mac - I might steal that skateboard grip idea for my Spitfire accelerator pedal. :cool:
Is it self adhesive, or do you need to glue it in place? Good luck with the petrol tank, Paul. :) |
Paul, its self adhesive, PM me an address and ill send you some, got about 5m of the stuff!
Just started the fuel tank, mixed the Marine clean 1:1 with boiling water and its definitely working! The plane is to get the marine clean and the Prep and Ready done today so it can dry out overnight then apply the actual tank sealer in the morning. Bit of a change of plan with the fuel hose as I'm not sure where I want to run it until I have the body back on so am just about to start trimming the spitfire tunnel I got off the spitfire graveyard. Mac |
Tunnel is now trimmed,
Started with this: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3.../IMG_01015.jpg Trimmed the edges to end up with this: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-N.../IMG_01018.jpg Had to trim a bit more to get it to fit at the back ok: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z.../IMG_01019.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4.../IMG_01020.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-b.../IMG_01021.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7.../IMG_01022.jpg |
Got the first 2 stages of the tank lining done, cleaned internally using Marine Clean then used the prep and ready for prepping the surface in anticipation of applying the lining in the morning. If the lining goes as well as today i will be very happy, the inside of the tank now looks almost new!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w.../IMG_01024.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B.../IMG_01025.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8.../IMG_01026.jpg Just. Had time to give the exterior a coat of Hammerite primer i found in the paint cupboard https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E.../IMG_01023.jpg At it again tomorrow TTFN Mac |
Well the tank sealer is in....looks like a silver metallic paint to me buts its in now and the excess has been drained off and its done. One way or the other!!!
Whilst waiting for it to dry I have been plating up the bits of tunnel I had to cut to get it to fit properly, they are behind the rear bulkhead and as such are open to the elements so they need to be sealed. Started with this: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A.../IMG_01027.jpg And after about an hour had this: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--.../IMG_01028.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L.../IMG_01029.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P.../IMG_01030.jpg The more observant of you will have noticed that the top of the handbrake relay lever bracket was missing earlier. The company I bought it from were a little happy with the cutting and cut through it about 90% so I removed it totally then bolted the relay lever in to make sure it was all aligned and welded it back up. Just got to figure out how to remove the remains of the underseal now and do a final trim on the edges and it will be ready for final cleaning in preparation for a coat of bed liber when I do the floors as I think the stippled black effect might look ok and period enough. Onwards and upwards peeps. TTFN Mac |
The tank has finally stopped dripping so have now hung it back up for the coating to cure, fingers crossed it should be touch dry in the morning, couple of pics of the completed job, to be honest it just looks like I have swilled a couple of litres of silver smoothrite around the inside but it does seem to "cling" to vertical surfaces better than straight paint would.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i.../IMG_01032.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d.../IMG_01033.jpg The dark steaks are runs where drips have slowly made their way down the walls of the tank, I have turned it every 20 minutes for the last hour and a bit to make sure it doesn't pool but it seems to be staying put now. Also finally got the rear trailing arm brackets installed. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4.../IMG_01031.jpg Had a bit of a moment when I tried to check the range of movement on both sides as I thought one was binding badly. Quick check though revealed that one shock was set to full soft and the other full hard so have set them both to a mid range setting and the range of movement and resistance now seems the same. Hopefully by the morning the paint stripper should have done its work on the tunnel and I can steam clean it off and get a coat of primer on it. As long as the tank looks ok I will also get a coat or two of chassis black on it and get it installed so I can then start to run the fuel lines. The list of things to do before fitting the body is now reducing quickly and fingers crossed I'm on target to get the body at least semi fitted at the weekend. TTFN Mac |
Mac - Looks like it is all coming together nicely for you. :cool:
I didn't realise you where going to use a Spitfire hand brake tunnel, as I have a spare. Although, it does look like the one you were sent is in better condition than mine. Cheers, Paul. :) |
Paul,
It wasn't bad and apart from closing in the cuts I made just needed re-stitching together in places where the guys I got it from were a little enthusiastic with the angry grinder. I was always keen to use the Spit tunnel as it does away with the need to make a central tunnel frame to take the handbrake and will also add to the production look of the interior hopefully Mac |
Picked up the plasma cut pieces of plates last night and welded them up this morning. A little distortion has crept in as its 3mm plate and got good and hot when welding so my initial idea of just riveting it to the side of the chassis looks iffy, its not pulled much, about 2mm in places but enough to make pulling it down with rivets impractical. I've decided to mount it using 2 long m8 bolts straight through the chassis then rivet the rest so will have to wait until tomorrow as I will need to pick up some long M8 bolts on the way home tonight.
Shot of one side: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z.../IMG_01034.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O.../IMG_01035.jpg and the other side propped into place: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E.../IMG_01036.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-e.../IMG_01037.jpg Got the first coat on the tank exterior: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C.../IMG_01038.jpg Got to actually do some work this afternoon so next update tomorrow some time. TTFN Mac |
Got the passenger side inner floor support in this morning, had to cut and re weld it a bit as the heat had pulled it out of shape a bit more than i was happy with, looking at how beefy it is if i were to make them again i would use 2mm not 3mm steel.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7.../IMG_01039.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j.../IMG_01040.jpg I ended up using 3 M8 coach bolts to fix it in place in the end, filing the holes in the 3mm plate square was not as bad as i feared and took about 2 minutes per hole using a tapered square section file. Also got the tank mounted in place https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U.../IMG_01041.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s.../IMG_01042.jpg Called a holt to proceeding at about 13:30 as i got the call from Des Shelley Shafts in Wolverhampton to say that my prop shaft was finished, new UJ, strip clean rebuild paint and balance for £90! On the way back i popped into Bitec in Telford to pick up the Raptor Bed Liner kit, good value at £74 including the gun, the kit is big enough to give a good size pickup bed at least 3 coats so should be more than enough, have decided to do the tunnel in it as well to pull the interior look together rather than have different finishes on different parts. Prop in tomorrow hopefully as long as i can pick up the right size bolts in a good grade. Then crack on and get the rear floors in hopefully. TTFN Mac |
Mac - I'll be interested to see how that bed liner stuff looks / works.
Good luck, Paul. :) |
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