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today we started to figure out where the steering box was going to go along with it's 'paired' steering arm on the other side upright. the box is now about where it needs to be and the cad steering arm is mocked up so it clears the brake caliper.
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...-7-jpg.644614/
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...-4-jpg.644615/
just the steering box to mount (3 tubes to weld in the chassis) before the engine and box can be offered up. we won't fit the column sections until after so we can route it clear of the engine, exhaust etc.
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...37-jpg.644619/
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...32-jpg.644620/
not much done today but still something. the top lip of the chassis got ground away (it'll be seam welded later) to drop the box slightly. now 2 of the 3 mounting bolts are under the chassis. we'll bolt tubes to them and weld the tubes to the underside of the chassis with flitch plates for strength. the hole through the chassis has a bolt through to hold the box while the others are done but will then get a tube welded through so the chassis won't crush.
also ash popped over and we dug out my exploder axle from over the road and sat it on tall axle stands ready to cut off it's bracketry and shorten the long side. he said he'll help fit it next saturday afternoon so the spring perches and will also need making by then.
neil.
the steering box is now fitted and the drag link adjusted to give even lock left and right. we also seam welded the top of the chassis rails and added the bracing plates from under the chassis to under the front crossmember.
rear axle is next so it's on all 4 wheels then engine and box mockup. it's coming along.
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...21-jpg.644679/
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...13-jpg.644680/
Coming along and looking ��.
Gary
it occurred to me last night that it'd handle much better and be lots less 'uncle buck' if it had shock absorbers on the front. so with a pair of new-ish cortina rear shocks from a kit car offered up it was time for more cad work. oh, and the steering arm needing a little trim to clear on full lock, lol.
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...38-jpg.644707/
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...33-jpg.644708/
before making the shock brackets (although they're marked out on the steel sheet, lol) i decided the chassis where the steering box mounted wasn't as strong as i'd like. there was a slight twist if you pushed the wheels lock to lock as they stopped each way, not good enough. so we did yet more cad work (we're getting good at this techy stuff) and cut 3mm thick over plates on top from behind the now crossmember all the way to the bumper bolt holes and on the inner sides from the crossmember agin forward to the bumper bolt holes. the drivers side we shaped the side plate to include the 2 tubes that are under the chassis. bit of a grind up and refit the box and what a difference. i'd considered adding another crossmember in front of the box but it's not needed now. shock mounts next, honest.
neil.
almost forgot we trimmed the last bit of inner wing each side back to the bulkhead for better steering shaft clearance.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...22-jpg.644742/
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...14-jpg.644743/
Looking proper tidy and strong.
Very technical with the cad.
G
thanks and yes it's much stiffer now. shock brackets next and then a brake conversion to do, lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by BadAC
neil.
the shock brackets are all cut and ground. we clemp them all together for grinding so they're all the same. they're now ready to weld in place once their bolt holes are drilled.
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...39-jpg.644770/
ashley came today and we cleaned all the old brackets off of the exploder axle before shortening the long side 2 7/8" so another short side shaft can be used. the bottom plate of the spring perches are now made. we know the axle needs to be back along the springs from stock to centre the wheels in the arches so we've drilled 3 holes in a line off centre going up to a 2" offset so when it gets weight on it we can position it right without re drilling them. the rally design u bolts needed opening up to suit the 3" exploder axle tube size too, again ready to go now. i can't yet find the 2 axle c clips so i'll order a new pair as well as new halfshaft oil seals while it's all apart. last peice to make is the plates that go under the springs for the u bolts to go through.
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...40-jpg.644782/
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...34-jpg.644783/
Nice work Neil, i'm loving the autocorrect feature "exploder" axle :thumbsup2:
Don't think there was any computer whatsits going on there. They colloquially became known as exploders if I recall correctly for their party trick of doing exactly that due to a fuel problem, or was it when they were rear ended, as it were?Quote:
Originally Posted by jsf55
Chris
Sent from my SM-T515 using NSRA mobile app
no, it's the front of the crankshaft snapping off on the 4.0 ohc v6 engine. too much load in front of the 1st main bearing with the timing chain pulling from both banks i guess.
neil.
the seals and c clips are ordered from rock auto, under ?25 including shipping and duties this end.
no one noticed the axle hanging down in the last pic? we sat it up on the springs while help was here, it's easy enough to position but getting it up there on your own........
neil.
the axle is now bolted to the springs, after we made the lower u bolt plates. it's just clamped tight at the moment, we'll leave setting the pinion angle until the engine and box are mounted. the halfshaf6ts are just slid in for now too as they'll come out to fit the now oils seals in the casing ends. couldn't resist a look how far (if at all) they stick out. well shock horror, if the arch lips are rolled they'll go under...... just.
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...41-jpg.644808/
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...35-jpg.644809/
Looking good, tight fit but I am sure you'll get to fit.
G
I there no other way to run that steering set up with a drop pitman arm ect that big plate steering section looks a bit dangerous is that final? Not wanting to put work down that set up looks a bit Risky!
it may look that way in the pics tom, but it is very 'butch'. coming from a farming background i tend to over engineer things. all the steering arms are cut from 12mm plate, thicker than the ones supplied by speedway etc. i'm happy enough not to change it for sure. it's nice to have constructive criticism though as there could always be something i've overlooked and is worth a second go at.Quote:
Originally Posted by tom.marg
cheers, neil.
i forgot to put a pic on of my new 'old' shifter that arrived yesterday with patina to match the car, lol. i think it's a megashifter, maybe a console model as there's no 'box' bit to sit on the tunnel. i can make a box easy enough though along with a bracket for the gearbox end. it is for a 4 speed auto with p,r,n,d,3,2,1, so the lever will never get to '1' as my fmx will run out of gears by then. other than that it'll be just fine. if i can work an aod or gm o/d box onto the fe v8 later on i'll be all set for the extra gear too.
neil.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/attachme...43-jpg.644824/