Chassis problems

Fri.23.06.06. I have had an early start in an attempt to make the most of the day. I have posted the exchange components to Rimmers: when received they will offer a reconciliation figure measured against the rest of the parts. The true figure should be available, probably around midweek. They should then contact Chris with the finite amount before they dispatch the goods. 

Later in the morning we returned to Slicks to pick up the pieces from the day before. The jump leads were at the ready it being very unlikely that the transporter would start: but bugger me it did. We chugged around to Cyrils to, at long last, deliver the chassis. ‘Proud as Punch’ Chris explained to Mark exactly what was required. All the 4mm steel fabricated patches were to be welded to the relevant, identified weaker areas of the box section together with the supplementary stop ends to reinforce the overall strength. 

The newly designed rear unit should be secured parallel to the spider section; this will house the petrol tank that in addition supports the boot space. The entire chassis should then be shot blasted, to be later galvanised, guaranteeing its longevity. I feel sure the boys will finish the welding perfectly to make an already wonderful piece of 50’s engineering even better. The final treatments should re-define the appearance providing a superlative foundation on which to attach both the new and reconditioned parts. We climbed into the cab satisfied that we were at last making genuine progress. Slightly distracted, soaking in the pleasure of the past few moments I turned the engine over without waiting for the heat exchangers to kick in, the result was that the battery flattened, disappointingly the old fucker wouldn’t start. “What have I told you about that, you friggin’ wanker!” exploded Chris, but in the same sentence began to critisize Slick for allowing the machine to decay into this unreliable, worthless wreck. “This is so embarrassing, it’s definitely going, I am having no more of it: never mind, we have at least delivered the chassis”. Chris began to accept the situation, he phoned Slick who promptly came to our rescue with some jump leads. We were soon on our way back to Westmead for an impressive ‘tidy up’ in preparation for the next stage of the exercise. We re-sited the trestles placing the body tub centrally in the workshop to facilitate all round access. By the end of the afternoon we had dry built the car using the old rubber wing spacers to attach the nose cone and front wings. This will determine the precise location of the new boltholes that secure the tub to the chassis but will also replicate how the car will actually be constructed.

As I leave for France on Monday for 5 weeks, Chris has asked me to reconcile all present expenditure. I think he is concerned that we might be getting carried away by over spending on the project. I have also attempted to ensure that everything is in place whilst I am away so that Chris can progress nicely on his own. Nearly all of the shitty jobs are behind us, when the chassis returns and the new components have arrived Chris should have a ‘ball’ putting it all together. Bientot.