Hopeful March

                                                   March 2011

Tues.01.03.11. The new springs have arrived from Rimmers, I have arranged for Derek Roscoe to fit them next week. The rear registration plate brackets have been taken to Catterall and Wood to be re-made.

I have moved on, in that it has been a long enough time for me to realise that I must complete the project, set my own targets be the only one that should be accountable as well as critical. It has been easy to look outside for blame, but no more.

Fri. 04.03.11. Chris of Catterall and Wood has fabricated the rear brackets for £20.00: with a little filing and cursing they were eventually fitted to the vehicle. Derek Roscoe can fit the new springs next Thursday but this may need to be re-scheduled since Tim Brown can now take the car on Sunday, a week in advance of the original date. Considering that his work commitments sound more punishing, it is more sensible to delay Derek for one week?

Mon.14.03.11. Tim has completed the new cockpit trim. It is not a million miles away from the original but the fabrication is much more professional: £350.00 better, I am not sure? He stripped the old trim then laid the old leather on the frame to provide a maquette for the fibreglass mould. The profile was covered with polythene then one layer of stripped glass applied followed by larger pieces of ‘fabric glass’. Once removed the mould could be tailored until the perfect pattern had been achieved. A layer of foam, followed by the original leather completed the total assembly. 

Silicone bonded the trim to the tub and upper dashboard to ensure a solid permanent fixture.

Derek will take the vehicle tomorrow to change the front springs, tighten a few nuts but also tune the one and half inch SU’s carburettors.

Thurs.16.03.11. I have collected the car from Derek who has fitted the new front ‘doli’ springs, fully extended. As I requested he has also ‘tightened all the accessible nuts and bolts under the car whilst on the ramp; a very important piece of work, particularly when many were loose causing the rear suspension in particular to have too much movement. 

Also Graham who occupies the last unit in the yard has electronically tuned the carburettors, dizzy etc but needs to know the exact ‘Cam’ tolerances to set up the engine properly. I need to contact GKN for that information but after the engine rebuild undertaken by Engine Tekniks I suspect that they have probably been reconfigured.

The extended springs seem to have raised the overall ride height slightly; the rear wheels appear not to be as ‘angled’ as before: the front now dips marginally. 

The ride feels better, slightly softer at the front, more decisive at the rear: but, many more miles need to be completed before the definitive is achieved. The cost of the work was £65 for Derek, £25 for Graham. This could be possibly the final large bill for the build?