Probably one of the best original B shells that I have ever worked on - although its got some rust perforation / rust ingress issues - its less than extensive - the real bonus from my prospective is that its never been bodged - in fact until I touched it it's never been welded - good time to pick up on this one too - its due into the Grumpy Towers workshop within the next few weeks for the work to recommence
Thanks Chris, a rather nice testimonial given I received an email from the car club this morning enquiring whether I'd like a spot on their March order of BMH shells - yours for £11,548.95 inc. VAT... err no you're all right thanks.
So while Chris prepares himself with a stiff gin or several , I've started to get going again on a few minor projects I can do in preparation for my part. Hence the other shell appearing in the workshop for mockup and reference purposes
I've also started sorting out a little work area to build the various components I've been accumulating the last couple of years
Fingers crossed the shelves empty as more things get built... that's the idea anyway!
First up are the steering rack and rear axle, something I started sorting last year during the first lockdown. The latter I've already got all the constituent parts for having previously prepped and rebuilt the rear brakes, subsequently storing them while we moved. So I've essentially now just got a kit to attach to the rear axle, which as above is now mobile on an upside down spare pallet.
Post by toomanyprojects on Mar 2, 2021 16:26:45 GMT
A rubbish start to the week on the work front meant that distraction was required last night. Off to the build area then for a few hours tinkering to make the day feel a little more worthwhile.
Decided I would make a start on reassembling the rear axle, up on to the new operating table then
All did not quite go to plan however, upon further reading of fixings and double-checking a couple of bits, it appeared some minor adjustment was needed on the components I'd already assembled. So for ease I took them apart and started again .
All fixed and orientations checked, they could then be added to the axle
the drums were the last item to get fitted
I also dug out another pre-packaged piece of the puzzle containing the cabling and fixings for the handbrake.
The kunifer brake lines are also ready to be fitted but have left them off for now as the next bit of building involves finally opening a couple the boxes from Frontline I've been accumulating
Post by toomanyprojects on Mar 3, 2021 17:38:18 GMT
Bit more time to play after work last night, I can't yet get used to this walking straight outside to the workshop malarkey but I think I'm willing to try and it's going to be productive
So as mentioned previously, it was time to dust off the Frontline boxes and play lucky dip (the sign is a reminder or the day job in case you're wondering )
Which revealed quite the kit to build
All rather robust as you would expect and pretty comprehensive. Albeit it would appear not quite 100% complete as I'm missing a set of M8 bolts referred to in the build instructions, but do appear to have a couple of extra M10s, easily rectified but a little annoying nonetheless.
Anyway on with building, I'd already modified the axle by removing the check strap fixings which allows the top and bottom axle brackets to be located
Two U bolts are clearly not enough anymore so now we have three per side (drums were removed again for maneuvering purposes - am conscious I probably need to lift it off and back on to the original dolly as it will soon weigh a ton.
I then got roped into removing the troublesome starter from the '7 so more assembly to follow tonight. I also have a few holes to drill using the above brackets as a guide before I can go further.
Post by toomanyprojects on Mar 8, 2021 22:27:28 GMT
Some minor distractions from the MG over the weekend...
1. A mower needing some serious tlc
... albeit it did the job after the above carb strip, clean and rebuild
Will get a strip and rebuild of the body now I know it works, perhaps I should do a thread on it... it's old enough and does count as JDM-ish being a Honda
2. We also finished the work on the 7, including topping up the last of the fluids and changing the speedo cable (another pig of a job!)
3. And lastly the unloading and distribution of more parts/tools (I was not popular that day!)
It also included the arrival of something I've been waiting on for the MG
Anyhow speaking of which, back to the rear suspension. Amongst the distractions I also managed to drill the required holes, add paint and locate some M8 bolts. Which meant that tonight after work I was able to finish off the rest, that was not without its challenges however...
Can you tell what's wrong with the above picture
Luckily I have some spares but have ordered some more. They will get an email too, it's just not good enough given the price of the kit.
Anyway, I've got as far as I can for now short of fitting it up to the car and drilling the required holes for the subframe mounts and the panhard rod support
The last job will be to run the brake lines and add any final clips etc. So that sees the majority of the suspension work now completed for front and back. (yup, here's one I made earlier... )
Next jobs will involve that crate you can see loitering under the bench and the steering rack on the other bench which I've still not touched.
No i think it might be an engine. A rather grubby rover v8 going by the photos in the horse trailer.
The answer to both is yes, but also no...
So the yes' - 10 points to George in that it is an engine. 10 points to Martin for spotting the rather 'used' 3.9 Rover V8 in the horsebox. It's errr definitely grubby!
so onto the No - It is not the engine (but George knew that anyway ). In fact it was originally game plan a) a 3.9 engine from a discovery 2, all the ancillaries, electronic ignition, potential for LPG conversion if desired for touring etc. however something appeared which was too good not to go for at the time. So the crate actually contains option b) which I think is a little more exciting
A Morgan spec cross-bolted 4.0 V8
Mmmmmm shiny. As you can see it's a lot cleaner , and I've already got a few goodies to be attached
I need to get it fully unwrapped and then on the stand to start identifying what I'm missing, but from the looks so far, lots of annoying fiddly bits it would seem - cooling system parts, dipstick tube, ancillary cable guides etc.
OOh now there is something you dont see every day. Looking forward to seeing it go in.
Hopefully there will be a few bits you say that about. The whole intention around this car was that it would look 'relatively' stock to the untrained eye, but if you know then you might perhaps spot that something was a little different, you'd then look a bit closer and the reaction will be 'Ahhhh that's interesting' - I've a few more little touches to incorporate yet
Prime example was something I was playing with last night:
Ignoring the FiTech for a moment (that one is an obvious addition for now but will be hidden under a filter!), if you look closer at the above, the front cover and pulley system will be a slightly different and upgraded version to the usual SD1 / P6 route... me make hard work for myself? Always
It's slightly different as instead of a distributor drive oil pump this one has a crank driven pump which in theory gives increased oil pressure and flow. Guess we'll find out in time, but as with all these things, changing one thing leads to another... so it needed a longer keyway and slightly different pulley arrangement. Most won't spot the difference as it will be relatively hidden but that's all part of the fun. Lots of learning and reading as I go with this one having not built one of these, but given the engine is a relatively well-trodden path / option, I don't foresee any unsurmountable issues. He says... anyone want to come on an engine building/wiring holiday to Norfolk
While I source some bolts/threaded bar so I can get it on to the engine stand to continue the fun, I do have a couple of other things on the to list while it's still on a pallet and easily accessible. One example is to attach the exhaust manifolds and lay out the pipes so I can work out where to drill/install/weld the exhaust sensor to be as far back as possible but also in range of the associated wiring for the FiTech. Again there are a few resources around for how this is done, including good old Wheeler Dealers when they put one on a Chevy C10.
Speaking of which, the FiTech integration might be the fun bit, then again it may be straightforward, we shall see. The good news it that again there is plenty of information around with more and more folk mentioning to me that they are looking to add them. You'll have spotted the hole in the manifold above for one of the various sensors required in addition to the exhaust one mentioned, there's also the fuel lines to sort. Then it's a case of routing everything sensibly, asides a few clips there is not much that needs to be done to the bodyshell at all.
asides a few clips there is not much that needs to be done to the bodyshell at all
I take it that its slipped you memory that I have a big lump to chop out of each inner wing in order to shoehorn the exhaust headers through then
Cast exhausts, there are numerous versions to play with, I was even surprised to find the P6S has different manifolds to the P6 auto, I think PopBrowns still make shorty tubular manifolds too
, I've started to get going again on a few minor projects I can do in preparation for my part. Hence the other shell appearing in the workshop for mockup and reference purposes
