Pop Mayday.

[33HEMI]

Great work Mark.

[Blackpopracing]

Thanks guys.

A bit less progress tonight as I did some work on mine for the weekend.

I cut all the blanking plates and removed all the bodywork and finish welded all of the front end. Got a few burns as welding upside down is never fun.

The fishplates for the chassis have been cut so they may get welded on Thursday night as its our local club meet tomorrow.

Once they are done the welding work on the front end is complete. There is more welding required when I fit the seat belts, but that should be it then.

[v8pop]

Looking good Mark, Andy will be cruising again in no time mate.

Cheers Tim W

Sent from my M2103K19G using NSRA mobile app

[Blackpopracing]

Cheers Tim.

Yesterday I had also mapped the rear screen surround, first one is now cut but I'll need to try it on Phils car (he has no headlining fitted yet) to see how well it matches up.
I scanned it off his fibreglass one, but that was not very equal (and did not fit that well) so I've made it all correct and a little wider, I suspect a MkII version will need to be done though.

[taxirod]

Excellent work Mark.
And great to see such a spirit of generosity from you and all who have contributed.
Presumably you're working on it in your spare time.....you must have lots of energy if you're holding down a full time job and doing all this too.

[Blackpopracing]

Hi Ian,
Yes, all done in the evenings after work. Feeling a bit tired today after welding upside down yesterday, getting bit old for crawling under cars now!

You seem to get loads done too, so we are cut from the same cloth.

[Blackpopracing]

It was our club night last night so my pop had a trip out and I had a good chat with Andy & Kim.

I'm getting ready for the retro Rides weekend at Goodwood, but a little progress has been made.

I was painting a new mirror mount for mine so it was a good opportunity to get a bit of satin black on Andy's alloy radiator (I'm not a fan of silver radiators through the front grill).




And tonight after putting the wheelie bars back on mine I finished the chassis on Andy's car.

Fishplates added on the outside of the chassis, I was going for strength, not pretty, so a basic shaped plate.




On the inside I though my welding was good enough, so for belts and braces I just went over the top of the welds with a wide stitch weld - that is plenty strong enough even if it's not the prettiest.




Off to Goodwood tomorrow, might see you there

[mygasser]

nothing wrong with that welding mark, as has been said you won't be able to see any of that once it's assembled.
neil.

[Blackpopracing]

If you need any wheel nuts.......!

I do for mine Mo, I've actually measured them now so can let you know tonight what I need.

[Blackpopracing]

nothing wrong with that welding mark, as has been said you won't be able to see any of that once it's assembled.
neil.

Thanks Neil, I'm always a little worried about posting welding photos, I know its strong enough but there is always the doubt that others think - ooh thats awful welding etc.

[jsf55]

Just don't go grinding them down !

[Blackpopracing]

Nope

Popped the engine back in again tonight with the exhaust fitted to see what clearances are like - they are tight. Why Rover stuck the oil pump poking out of the engine like that I don't know but it is a major pain for fitting everything in.

The good news is that it all does fit, but we will be stuck with the tiny oil filter. I've sorted the problem with the engine mount being in the way of the steering shaft, I've trimmed off a bit of the mount and the mounting rubber.


The mount is trimmed back here;




and one of the mounts is trimmed back as well;




Now it all clears ok



The next job is to get a new longer shaft made up.

[v8pop]

Getting on well with it mate. I take it that engine mount is at 45 degrees Mark, could an angle change keep all the rubber by any chance?

Cheers Tim W

Sent from my M2103K19G using NSRA mobile app

[Happydaze]

Wasn't the oil pump design of Buicks making? Rover perpetuating it? I dunno!

Chris

Sent from my SM-T515 using NSRA mobile app

[jsf55]

Made for wrong hand drive cars .... good progress Mark

Sent from my SM-A515F using NSRA mobile app

[Brizey]

Thanks Neil, I'm always a little worried about posting welding photos, I know its strong enough but there is always the doubt that others think - ooh thats awful welding etc.

My bro-in-law had his own company and was a welder all his life starting in the `50s with arc (and gas/brazing) and later Mig/Tig, making low loader trailers to carry bulldozers etc. He taught me to weld and often said `It`s not how the weld looks, it`s the strength that matters`! Yours looks fine to me...

[Blackpopracing]

Tim,

it's sorted now, I only had to trim about 8mm of the side of the mount.

Brian, thanks for the endorsment

[Blackpopracing]

I texted Wayne at OddRods last night for the new steering shaft, he replied this morning with a question and now its ready for collection - great service!

Good friends Mike & Kim, and also Phil came over tonight for a visit. Mike came with gifts - 2 rear windows to choose a good one from and he has machined up a very nice bonnet support housing and also donated a bonnet support rod. Photo's of these in a future posting.

After a good catch up they left me to get on with stuff. I mocked up the suspension again with the coilovers fitted this time, and put jacks under them to mimic the ride height. After lots of trialling to see where the brake line mounts would go I decided on the best place where they will not foul the springs with the suspension in any position. This took far longer that you would think but it's worth taking time on these things.







With that done I drilled a 10mm hole in the chassis and welded an M10 nut over it for an earth point for the engine.




I think that is now all the welding completed on the front of the car.

I then cleaned up the garage a bit and masked up the car, I need to get some panel wipe tomorrow as I ran out tonight. Hopefully I'll get some primer on it tomorrow.

[Happydaze]

At your workrate you won't be too long now!

I see you have the heavyweight jack available at Costco. Great tool except for if you need to pick it up!

Chris

Sent from my SM-T515 using NSRA mobile app

[v8pop]

Okay Mark, looks like you'll soon have it all back on the road mate.

Cheers Tim W

Sent from my M2103K19G using NSRA mobile app