Mister Towed's Tai Chi build

[Mister Towed]

Spent a couple of hours stripping down the rear suspension and removing the differential this afternoon so I can replace all the bushes with the polybush set I bought. I've now realised that blasting a rolling chassis leaves you without access to some crucial places that really need blasting and painting so I'll be doing those areas shortly too.

The diff. came out surprisingly easily but most of the suspension bolts are siezed in the steel bush inserts making the job a big pain in the bottom. Guess I'm going to have to drill out most of the siezed bolts and replace them with new as even my ball-joint splitter just ended up mushrooming the ends of the bolts rather than pushing them out.

On a more positive note, I've now started spraying and lacquering my wire wheels. I'd have done them all but the can of Simoniz 5 wheel silver paint I bought ran out after three wheels (a phone call to trading standards is in order I feel ). The colour's quite a bit darker than I was expecting, looking more like grey steel than bright silver, but I kinda like the effect and I'm not going to redo them now after all the work I've put in. Before and after shots below:





Quite a difference!

Hoping to start welding up the chassis in a day or two, just waiting for a delivery of steel at the moment...

[jmc14]

Looking good!

[redratbike]

Originally Posted by mulberry

found a cheap engine for that donor car....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Sp...item3a6aeaafe7

when clicked the thread it showed up a nice item as recomended

an electronic ignition kit for a bargain price

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-He...57665568581833

[Mister Towed]

Funnily enough I've already put a 'powerspark' electronic ignition system on my Vitesse engine. It was about £26 from the site linked below and included a new rotor arm.

http://www.simonbbc.com/powerspark-k...ition-kit-25d6

It seems like decent quality for the price, installation was simple and the old lump certainly fired up a lot quicker and idled smoother once it was fitted.

I'm toying with the idea of adding an MSD 5 multi-spark ignition system as well. This is to try to make the car as fuel efficient as possible as the Spitfire tank holds only 7 1/2 gallons, limiting the range.

http://www.vwspeedshop.com/product.p...cat=444&page=1

Although that site is a vw specialist the MSD systems were designed for big, lazy American V8's and are switchable for 4, 6 or 8 cylinder cars.

[garyh]

I had it on my Suzuki LJ80 about ten years ago, not sure if it was a bit OTT.
But it looked good.

[Psycho pops]

Originally Posted by Mister Towed

Spent a couple of hours stripping down the rear suspension and removing the differential this afternoon so I can replace all the bushes with the polybush set I bought.

What Poly bush kit did you go for? was it spitfire or herald, I have been toying with the idea and think that spitfire should best work due to the new swing spring I want to fit and the larger front anti roll bar, thsat is if the rest of the suspension bushes are the same. I notice also the Spitfire bush kit is cheaper too?

[Mister Towed]

I went for the kit listed for the Spitfire mk I - III, Herald and Vitesse mk I from Canleys because I'm leaving my swing-axles as Triumph intended (apart from slamming it onto the tarmac).

http://www.canleyclassics.com/search...LD&ptno=KIT33B

I chose the blue 'comfort' bushes instead of the red 'sport' ones because I don't want the ride to be too hard. I've driven too many cars that've had the ride and road handling ruined by being 'uprated' for the track when they're only ever going to get used on the road.

The Peugeot 306 is a case in point: supple and well damped as standard they can be driven safely to their considerable limits. When the 'Max Power' readers start adding stiffened springs and gas shocks all they get is wheel hop, understeer and snap oversteer followed by a view of the bottom of the nearest dyke through the sunroof.

Back to the polybushes, not sure what the differences would be with the swing-spring setup, but you can buy each bush individually so mixing and matching the correct ones shouldn't be too difficult.

Good luck!

[Patton]

Hi its Pat, been driving Skippy for 2 weeks between showers you don't want any thing stiffer on the suspension mines all original 13/60 herald 80mm lower and 4 top leaves removed and 80mm off the front coils and standard antiroll bar and she is quiet firm enough and no roll, could be different with a six pot up front. I'm going to get Skippy weighed at the local weigh bridge but I get in flying helmet, goggles and I'm GONE with silly grin...PAT

ps last pic in Sammio site gallery

[Mister Towed]

Ha Ha, just checked the image on the gallery: Baron von Skipdriver I presume?

[Patton]

Ist gutt yar, vot ist your name, "don't tell him Pike", above 60 mph need the chin strap done up

[Mister Towed]

Unt not forgetting ze vet celery heir Colonell.

[Mister Towed]

Check out this potential Sammio donor Vitesse on ebay.

It's got a few subtle mods but you won't notice them unless you look really hard.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Vi...item2568b584e9

[davecymru]

somehow i think a swing spring and lowering block may not be enough to get that level!

[Mister Towed]

Yep, you'd need a big lowering block. A really big lowering block...

[garyh]

Love to see some more photos

[Mister Towed]

Originally Posted by garyh

Love to see some more photos

Haven't started the welding yet, still doing some deep breathing exercises...

Work and family commitments are taking a front row seat at the moment what with it being half-term.

I spent a couple of hours stripping the rear suspension down over the weekend though: I've had to saw through both trailing arm brackets due to the bolts being siezed inside the bush inserts with corrosion. The old rubbr bushes turned to dust as I removed them so I'm glad I bought replacements. I'll be sand blasting all the bits and painting them before installing the polybushes and rebuilding the back end. Then I'll start again on the front suspension. Once that's done I'll have run out of excuses and will have to try some welding.

[mulberry]

dont be scared about welding its as easy "walking" set ur welder fairly high on power to start with with small amout of wire feed, this stop u splattering so much, then hold the gun with two hands and keep about 15mm away from your work, try it on some good heavy angle to start with, so you dont burn through,rememeber to push the gun right to left "if your right handed, this should help you see were your welding,.....as you can tell done loads of welding before....good luck

[Mister Towed]

Thanks for the encouragement and advice. I'm looking forward to having a go and I have seen every episode of 'Scrapheap Challege'.

[garyh]

I am looking at several on ebay at the moment, is 100amp ok? its a Sealey.

[mulberry]

well if twaz me i go the biggest i could find that will run on house mains240v, you can never have to much power,and there also better in the low range, but this all depends the thickness of the metal ur gonna try and weld with, look for somfin in the 150-180 amps that be nice home welder size.. you thinking of gas ? or fluxed wire gassless.....but you end up using it on all sorts jobs NOT just for SAMMIO....