Clearout

Fri.28.09.07. How just one day can change the prospects of the project never ceases to amaze. The workshop has experienced a ‘life change’. Sixteen bags of assorted rubbish had been stacked by the doors ready for dispatch to the local refuse site. Bench tops have been cleared of all surplus tools, nuts, bolts screws and the inevitable collection of new parts that have been on and off the car over the past 12 months. Working surfaces have been stripped of clutter, materials stacked in an orderly accessible manner, the floor had been cleared of debris, trip wires, rusting medieval mantraps: in all, the transformation was inspiring in an uplifting kind of way. “I’ve decided to have a massive, massive clearout, nobody can work surrounded by mess, it’s about time we got organised!” This was music to my ‘shell like’. It may have taken almost an eternity for this concept to mature yet, more importantly, the realisation that, even if, only basic systems are in place, ‘it does in fact benefit the project’, but the conscious act of implementing structure, planning, thoughtfully preparing the ‘next move’ is a gigantic leap for mankind.

 “How can we take the tub off surrounded by shite, with no space to site it, attempt to continue to work on the chassis at the same time, you tell me that?” To which, my obvious reply was that I didn’t know. “I’ll say you don’t know, it’s because you are quite happy to drift from one job to another with no idea of what you are doing, without any sort of plan: listen, we’re going to get organised!” Okay boss, I’ll do my best. 

The bags of rubbish were loaded into the jeep along with the sections of aluminium that are destined to be folded and trimmed at Catterall and Woods. After the briefest discussion, I also managed to extricate the boot box and boot lining in preparation for modification before their assembly in the car. It is proposed that a wooden collar will surround the box to form the support when placed in the well of the boot space. The lining requires some repair work but, apart from applying the sealant will serve as a pattern for the box fitting itself. Justifiably, I still remain impressed with Chris Catterall’s attention to detail. He carefully verified the fold lines, sliced the merest edge from the rear panel of the battery box skilfully manufacturing the small rectangular master cylinder bracket. As I suspected earlier, now that the work is complete, we have a uniquely, faultless outcome.