Task for today: drop Herald engine and gearbox into the Spitfire chassis then see if the bonnet is going to fit without fouling.
First stage, engine and box roughly fitted (just bought a gearbox bracket on ebay so it's just supported by a bit of wood at the mo) -
Then separate the front and rear clamshells and drop the front one over the front of the chassis and support it so that the bottom of the sills is level with the bottom of the chassis -
And from a few more angles -
Doesn't look too promising that last shot...
...but the wheels and gear lever look like they'll be in the right places -
And now for the moment of truth, will the bonnet fit over the engine?
Drum roll...
Success!
The bonnet needs a little fettling to fit, but that's just because the bonnet doesn't quite fit the opening anyway.
The pic's were taken with the carburettors removed though as the front dash pot does
just foul the underside of the bonnet, causing the right-hand edge to lift about an inch -
I do have a cunning plan to address that though.
To say I'm happy it's going to fit is something of an understatement, I'm absolutely delighted!
More later.