1 step forwards and 96 steps back today with a load more issues discovered whilst reassembling - but working through them, and the front is finally together on shiny new alloys. We've even got a Christmas theme going as it looks like someone based the wheel/centre cap design on Rudolf...
I do have a bit of an issue with the discs - unlike the previous ones which were EN8 ground/stress relieved stock, these were cut from mild rolled as it was the only thing available at the time.
Now they've gone through an oven the stress relief has curled them around the grain direction - they're bent by about 3mm. Bah. Anyone got any easy idea's for flattening them before I spend days in the press and lathe?
I was thinking someone with plate rolls might get them close enough for me to just doa skim to take them true afterwards, but I don't know anyone with a set or a firm that would take such a small job on.
Sorted the discs, made up a jig on a machined plate to measure them against, then went roundy-roundy in the press, warmed them op to let them relax, and chased around again. Close enough now just to skim/shim true once it's had a heat cycle.
Anyway, we're currently adding more louvers than a louvery thing at a louver convention:
Yep, keeping the panel straight is....interesting...to say the least!
The upper ones on the rear bonnet are even worse, as being a bit of a tart I've rolled the edges in to match the curve on the bonnet - and every one is tapered to a different size like those....so I've been inventing new swearwords.
Yes Woody, he's our official supervisor. And tyre fitter...
Skidpan's - 6mm thick aluminium plate for the transmission - goes forward under the beam/seats and is overlapped by the main floor so even thicker there. The transmission plate also overlaps the engine plate when that is fitted so there's no leading edges anywhere to dig in - making the underbody armour half an inch thick in some sections - it still takes a beating mind.
The front beam and front section of the floor gets it's own piece of 6mm plate too which wraps up around the front beam and up a few inches to prevent the beam digging in on a nose-hard landing/ditch crossing.
Unfortunately it doesn't look this shiny for long!
You'll have to excuse the rear of the floor, one of the helpers thinks a hammer is a good substitute* for a sheet metal folder.... *It is, but not how he uses it!
Been rerouting some piping, along with some other changes the eagle eyed might notice - basically the hoses were a little close to hot spots for comfort, even with heat shielding, mainly because they'd been made few mm long by the supplier but with such short, wide hoses getting rid of the extra length means you end up routing at quite an angle into some of the fittings, and it also meant the dry sump belt was difficult to access - not something you want in the field!
Anyway, chances are the hoses would have been fine but after this amount of time an oil fire is not the way you wish to discover that they weren't!
Anyway, that knocked on to shifting a few bits and pieces (exhaust relocated by removing the right support tube, and shuffling of the oil filter mainly - although today I decided I didn't like it, so we've moved it completely under the engine now there's room due to the exhaust shift ) and then it meant remaking panels that were already done, doh - nearly there though, coming together at last:
And welded up:
Next stop, more louvers to match the other side (hence the big, flat unshaped area on the side).
Today we see the lesser spotted Hermit Filter in it's natural location. Generally shy and lacking in mobility, this little fella finds a nearby engine and ducks underneath, using the sump for protection. Upon finding this safe location, he quickly hooks into the oil lines and then filter feeds on debris and dirt in the oil, providing a beautiful symbiotic relationship that helps the engine live longer.
That cute blue exterior hides some defences though - attempting to remove a Hermit Filter - even one that has only lightly screwed itself to it's new perch - often requires the services of Popeye (or alternatively the Left Hand of God, if he's around at the time) and unfortunately the trouble doesn't stop there.
After freeing the grip of the tenacious Hermit Filter, it borrows a trick from the aquatic world and aims a stream of hot, black oil at your hands, eyes, the floor, the walls and, for some inexplicable reason, the cream living room carpet.
Even if you've removed it in the garage, 10 miles away from home.
It's an incredible defence mechanism really.
Quick snapshot as was just ticking over for 20s at a time to find leaks - haven't even dialled in the timing or fuel yet, just on my base map - found plenty, as you can hear from the whistling noises. Anyway, it's alive!