Better building days

Mon.23.10.06. It has been a fiddly seemingly unproductive day but in reality many lose ends have been boxed off. Chris has been assembling the various key components of the vehicle in the workshop. They are all in the half finished state. 

The entire front suspension has been virtually built up apart from the platform Spax adjustable shocker which is stubbornly refusing to accept the ‘superflex’ bush (the shoulder on the bush prevents the simple insertion into the eye of the shocker), the callipers are also resisting the spring loaded rubber seal and, lastly, there are two missing top spring plates (still to be ordered) which form the fixing points for the coils. The rear halfshafts have their new bearings but await the Hardy Spicers that connect them to the two outer flanges of the diff. The steering rack and anti-roll bar remain on the car separated from the column precariously hanging limply from the front hubs. All parts have been cleaned thoroughly, sealed with rust preventer then sprayed with the appropriate paint. Yet even though with this typically scattered evidence of disarray in every corner of the garage the joint potential of the sum of these parts can only be fully appreciated when fitted to the chassis. This is not a million miles away.

The underside of the chassis has had the final rub down in preparation for the second and final coat of Hammerite. The liquid, upon drying, has a self levelling agent that forms a dense, smooth, gloss surface. The chassis will now be inverted repeating the process, which should then allow the four corners of the vehicle to be built up to form the rolling chassis.

The news from ‘Neil’, who has the responsibility to rebuild the gearbox, has been promising. Having stripped down the box he has found little, if any, damage. The cost of gaskets plus the rebuild still needs to be addressed but, fingers crossed, this should not be a huge sum of money comfortably justifying the exercise. Given the ‘blind’ circumstances of the purchase of the box the only choice was an investigation into its actual condition and, hopefully, a trouble free rebuild. 

Ignoring the apparent, ever present, random chaos the project is moving forward. There has never been a situation were there has been compromise or ‘make do’. The confirmation of which fills the garage. These are the days that should be relished and enjoyed.