The re-modelling continues

Sat.17.06.06. We have had a few hours today to rectify the minor adjustment details affecting how the rear wings sit against the body tub. The gap between the two components is even throughout the entire length following the line of the front wings exactly. The car now appears much longer, sleeker, noticeably sexier with the addition of the wings, taking on the likeness of a real car. 

The engine side panels, at the moment, meet the body tub at an acute 45-degree angle formed principally because of the design of the front wing. Two quite different methods to assemble this section have been explored. The debate rests whether or not to integrate the panels into the body tub creating a bonded seamless line, or, to add the panels to the bonnet by means of an extra hinge extending it down the meet the top edge of the wing. The latter is the safer option: post painting there would be less opportunity for the bonnet panels to ‘craze’, whereas the proposed ‘seamless joint’, because of natural vibration when on the road, may, in due course split, cracking the filler.  Nonetheless, both solutions have increased beneficial aesthetic qualities. An extended engine panel would encourage the eye to flow uninterrupted along the entire length of the car, whilst creating a ‘false bonnet’ would fool the eye into thinking that car possessed the complete fully folding “Morgan” equivalent. A decision must be made soon.

Rimmers have posted their final quote for all the replacement components (so, it is back in the ‘can’ for the Sheepdip brothers). Andrew Monday has shaved off as much as is possible offering an excellent deal. There are some items that are priced on an exchange basis, as a result it will be necessary to amass these parts ready for dispatch; these include the front brake callipers, starter motor and alternator. The total cost of the stock will be £2368.81.It is proposed that I shall drive down to Lincoln next week to collect the parts. Throughout the end of June and all of July I shall be working in France, as a result, will not be available to physically contribute to the project. This will hamper the mobility of Chris limiting his accessibility to the suppliers of the materials and services. For that reason it is imperative that certain measures are in place before my departure to Tarascon. The chassis must be transported to Andy and Mark, the wings and nose cone taken to Gordon, the dashboard plus the alterations to the cockpit  ‘measured up’ by Dave Brown together with any other fundamental aspects of the ‘programme’ that need to be arranged beforehand.

Mon.19.06.06. I have pinned our ‘urgent’ work list to the wall in the garage. This outlines the important tasks for the week ahead. Earlier I had collected the repaired windscreen from Mark who had made an excellent job of re-tapping and re-sighting the screws that hold the brackets to the screen. The screen is still a very tight fit with little or no tolerance for rough handling, worryingly, I feel sure that at some later date we shall need to revisit this problem: but not this week. We have spent most of the day rubbing down the car (we are at last using 150’s) but also chasing Rimmers for their amended quote. I have decided not to buy the wheels just yet, they are not necessary, stretching the budget at a cost in excess of £800.00. Dave Brown didn’t pitch up, much to the annoyance of Chris. “I think he’s just bloody unreliable” stated Chris. Knowing Dave I know this not to be the case, but I also am aware that he to always takes on too much work, which undoubtedly stretches his availability.

I have insisted that the chassis must be made ready to be transported later to Cyril’s in order that the final welding can be carried out. So, late in the afternoon we removed and stored the nose cone, front wings and engine panels. The body tub was then lifted onto an adjacent pair of trestles. We shall, hopefully, deliver the chassis to ‘the boys’ tomorrow.

Whilst Chris was in the shower I thought that it would be a good idea to test the screen once more on the scuttle top. This would be a true test of how well it actually fitted. I climbed into the cockpit gently lowering the screen down onto the brackets. So far, so good. I risked a rye smile as I tightened the offside retaining screw. 

The nearside was always the tight one but as I inserted the screws, inopportunely, to my instant dismay, the weld in the corner popped open. Oh shite. Thinking quickly I removed the screen hiding it on the floor behind the engine panels. I shall invent some story tomorrow about how it must have split during the night, contracting when the air was cooler or that a small rodent must have gnawed its way through the metal. One thing is for sure I am never going to admit to it