Build Diary
July 2007

,
2nd July
Managed to fit the rear hubs and carriers together.  The diff is already bolted in, so it was easy to measure up for driveshafts.  Going with the ones from Raw Striker (Mel).   He has a reputation as a nice guy, and when I spoke to him he was friendly.  Measured everything up and sent him the shafts with the required dimensions.  Stripping down driveshafts is a messy old job, and really needs a 3 armed puller (I have a two armed one, which made the job worse).   I managed to get hold of a set of CV covers, it isn't clear but these may be tricky to get hold of fordsparesuk  seem to be able to supply (mine were e-abay), although in reality were not really a bargain (£25 for 4).

24th July

Not a whole lot of time spent down with the car, but good progress on the one visit.

Steering rack just doesn't fit where it is supposed to.  The take-off for the steering column clashes with the rack bracing.  There isn't more material in which extra holes could be drilled.  According to Sylva owners the rack is never in the right place, and is very variable.  Basically this is one of those tolerance things, that don't always get done right!  I will plan to weld new supports in, and then drill them when I have had a chance to work out the exact track position.  This is a bit of a pain (didn't want to weld chassis and mess up powdercoat) but it is unavoidable.

Managed to fit the engine, the welding of the engine cradle has distorted it slightly so one set of holes don't align with the chassis, but these will be easily redrilled.  Engine sits nicely, sump is a bit low at the moment (not cut down) but will be pretty much flat with bottom of chassis when trimmed.  Manifold will need to be custom made, as one of the ports is in-line wih the top chassis rail.  This prevents me getting one from the dwarf car folk  (http://www.ssheaders.com/) which are incredibly good value.  Once I have bolted a few more things up I can chase that around.  Engine is reasonbly far back, output shaft lines up reasonably (in a bec kind of way) with the tunnel.

I am still hoping that I won't need a bonnet bulge, but only time will tell.  Here is a view from the side.


Put the car on some wooden frames to improve access.  I need to sort the panelling out, so hopefully this will make that task a bit simpler.

Bit of a result with the handbrake.  The Sierra handbrake needs some modification to fit, and really the whole thing is a bit crap.  I have a Sierra handbrake (scutter on locost group, thanks), but thought a Fiat Coupe (20v turbo type) might work better.  It does!  No modification required, except to bend up the switch a little.  Will mount easily with 2 M8 through chassis tube, and the handbrake even has threaded holes.  As a bonus it adds to the mongrel qualities of the car.  For adjustment I will use a stainless turnbucle (how do you spell that?) e-bay chandler.

Handbrake cable is simpler than first expected.  One outer can be shortened (with the adjuster), the other cannot.  The long outer is about right for the driverside brake so that is a result.  I will need to cut the cable and rejoin it, but have got some joining bits from the above chandler.  I plan to have the handbrake within the tunnel (standard striker/phoenix is outside the tunnel) because I think it is neater.  There is loads of space on that side of my tunnel as the propshaft will be on the other side.

Tried out a few panels for size.  The precut stuff all looks pretty nice.  A bit of trimming, but not the nightmares that I have seen reported by some.

Go to Next Month

Back to Index