Building "Thor"
Discussion
A little trailer work today and this is back home!
Sorry for crap picture - it was getting dark and taken from inside the house in the warm....
Gearbox is ordered and should be available in a couple of weeks completely rebuilt and nice and strong.
Aluminium has arrived for the intake manifold construction and some stainless for the exhaust manifold.
The exhaust manifold flanges are being plasma cut out of stainless and should be delivered by the end of next week.
Still working on wheels.
The epicyclic engine speed gizmo design is nearly finalised so not long before manufacture can start on that.
Some cleaning to do next (when it gets warmer, snowed today!) then some media blasting. Both outdoor jobs, burrrr. Not as hardy as I used to be!
Paul
Sorry for crap picture - it was getting dark and taken from inside the house in the warm....
Gearbox is ordered and should be available in a couple of weeks completely rebuilt and nice and strong.
Aluminium has arrived for the intake manifold construction and some stainless for the exhaust manifold.
The exhaust manifold flanges are being plasma cut out of stainless and should be delivered by the end of next week.
Still working on wheels.
The epicyclic engine speed gizmo design is nearly finalised so not long before manufacture can start on that.
Some cleaning to do next (when it gets warmer, snowed today!) then some media blasting. Both outdoor jobs, burrrr. Not as hardy as I used to be!
Paul
Hi All
A few more pictures of the end I will be using.
You can see the 'through' axle drive from the middle to rear axle in the bottom picture.
Lots more thinking/planning to do but some initial thoughts are that I can reduce the spring (or air bag) length by 7" which with the larger wheels will see an overall chassis height reduction of 5.5" after adding the larger wheels.
The drive to the middle axle is rather offset so I may need to produce a method of moving the drive from the center line to allow a reasonably straight prop shaft.
I will need to produce a new front axle to fit and remove the current driven one (on the RR). It still looks like it will need about 3ft added to the length between front and middle axle.
The rear axles are drum brakes which will need changing. The RR are discs. The A arms can be inverted, the panhard rods might need shortening a little as will the rear anti roll bar. New shorter shocks too.
Lots to do and think about.
Paul
A few more pictures of the end I will be using.
You can see the 'through' axle drive from the middle to rear axle in the bottom picture.
Lots more thinking/planning to do but some initial thoughts are that I can reduce the spring (or air bag) length by 7" which with the larger wheels will see an overall chassis height reduction of 5.5" after adding the larger wheels.
The drive to the middle axle is rather offset so I may need to produce a method of moving the drive from the center line to allow a reasonably straight prop shaft.
I will need to produce a new front axle to fit and remove the current driven one (on the RR). It still looks like it will need about 3ft added to the length between front and middle axle.
The rear axles are drum brakes which will need changing. The RR are discs. The A arms can be inverted, the panhard rods might need shortening a little as will the rear anti roll bar. New shorter shocks too.
Lots to do and think about.
Paul
I'm not the only nutter out there.
That chap has spent 6000 hours recreating a replica of the Captain Nemo car. I like the bit where he tells us that he used two used bridge I beams for the chassis!
Anybody thinking of importing into the UK may want to think about the 102" width of the 'beast'!!!!!
Paul
That chap has spent 6000 hours recreating a replica of the Captain Nemo car. I like the bit where he tells us that he used two used bridge I beams for the chassis!
Anybody thinking of importing into the UK may want to think about the 102" width of the 'beast'!!!!!
Paul
My little project is moving very slowly due to other commitments.
I now have the materials for the exhaust headers and have made a press to form some of the parts using my fly press.
The aluminium is here for the inlet manifold and I have started to develop the 'production' method.
Rebuilt TH400 auto gearbox is now sat in my workshop with the converter and flex plate.
I suspect I will need to upgrade my Tig welder to be able to achieve the weld quality I want on both the stainless and aluminium.
I must pull the cover off a diff so I know the ratio. Then we can sort the engine 'speed increaser'.
Paul
I now have the materials for the exhaust headers and have made a press to form some of the parts using my fly press.
The aluminium is here for the inlet manifold and I have started to develop the 'production' method.
Rebuilt TH400 auto gearbox is now sat in my workshop with the converter and flex plate.
I suspect I will need to upgrade my Tig welder to be able to achieve the weld quality I want on both the stainless and aluminium.
I must pull the cover off a diff so I know the ratio. Then we can sort the engine 'speed increaser'.
Paul
No real progress on my project due to work on moving and growing on of my businesses.
I have been working on the inlet manifold and exhaust headers which will see me testing my ability to weld aluminium on the inlet side.
As with most projects there have been a few trial and error processes (mainly error) which eat time.
I have also been doing a few final jobs (upgrades) on the Ultima for this year.
I have been working on the inlet manifold and exhaust headers which will see me testing my ability to weld aluminium on the inlet side.
As with most projects there have been a few trial and error processes (mainly error) which eat time.
I have also been doing a few final jobs (upgrades) on the Ultima for this year.
Anybody want to make something similar???
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-SIX-WHEEL-RANGE-ROV...
Beware: You might p
s off other posters on here!
Paul
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-SIX-WHEEL-RANGE-ROV...
Beware: You might p
s off other posters on here!Paul
Had a fun evening.
Charlie Broomfield brought his Rover SD1 Meteor down and we took it to the local 'classic' car meeting in Barrington. It has been off the road for 4 years while he modified the engine to produce another couple of hundred horsepower. Passed it's MOT at first attempt in the middle of the week so tonight was it's first longer run.
It is quite a surreal experience travelling in a car with the engine only turning over at 600ish rpm at 50mph. The slightest provocation with the loud pedal sees the wheels spin up. It looks stable, planted and effortless!
It drew a crowd and a stream of questions (which Charlie is used to) and put a smile on a lot of faces.
I must try to find the time to make some more progress on my little project.
Paul
BTW. Charlie's Rover has a perfume that I can't put my finger on. It is a mixture of various oils, petrol, rubber, nostalgia, etc. etc. If I could bottle it I am sure it would fly of the shelves as the thinking man's cologne.
Charlie Broomfield brought his Rover SD1 Meteor down and we took it to the local 'classic' car meeting in Barrington. It has been off the road for 4 years while he modified the engine to produce another couple of hundred horsepower. Passed it's MOT at first attempt in the middle of the week so tonight was it's first longer run.
It is quite a surreal experience travelling in a car with the engine only turning over at 600ish rpm at 50mph. The slightest provocation with the loud pedal sees the wheels spin up. It looks stable, planted and effortless!
It drew a crowd and a stream of questions (which Charlie is used to) and put a smile on a lot of faces.
I must try to find the time to make some more progress on my little project.
Paul
BTW. Charlie's Rover has a perfume that I can't put my finger on. It is a mixture of various oils, petrol, rubber, nostalgia, etc. etc. If I could bottle it I am sure it would fly of the shelves as the thinking man's cologne.
I suspect an in-car air freshener would be a better bet, so that "her indoors" can get away from it, as I suspect the feminine sex would not find it so appealing to lay next to!
Paul
PS. I can see a range of fresheners:-
Burning rubber for the drift enthusiast.
Castrol R for the racing types.
Duck oil, petrol and EP gear oil for the vintage driver.
Any I've missed?
Paul
PS. I can see a range of fresheners:-
Burning rubber for the drift enthusiast.
Castrol R for the racing types.
Duck oil, petrol and EP gear oil for the vintage driver.
Any I've missed?
I suspect it would be close to the higher figure you mention. The chassis is usually a Phantom II which has to have a V5, so about £20K now and that's before you refurbish it.
Lots of bespoke engineering, an oversize Bentley lookalike radiator could be almost £10k, plus many, many hours at probably north of £40/hour.
Real head turner and you don't see them for sale....
Paul
Lots of bespoke engineering, an oversize Bentley lookalike radiator could be almost £10k, plus many, many hours at probably north of £40/hour.
Real head turner and you don't see them for sale....
Paul
Bit of thread resurrection.
I am still busy with things that make the money and will be for quite a few months yet.
However, I have been thinking a lot and doing the late night internet research.
The Land Rover chassis and, more importantly, the drive line was going to struggle with the power and torque. Everything was going to need strengthening.
And then I saw an add......for this
It is an Albion 6x4 lorry with old style leaf springs all round, air over hydraulic drum brakes (which will be junked in favour of discs all round) and automated bush lubrication.
It is definitely strong enough, and once I replace the leaf springs with air bags and drop it down a good bit, it should produce an unusual vehicle.
She is 26ft long and has a 6 cylinder Leyland diesel engine at present. The drive line is central (which Land Rover was not) and each axle has the same amount of power.
It will end up heavier than planned, but I doubt that will be an issue. Driveline power losses will be reasonably substantial too. There will be room for a very large fuel tank!
I also have the paperwork.
The engine I am going to use in her is almost ready to test run on the rig. It is the last model of the Meteor V12 with roller cams. It has not been run since the Danish MOD rebuild and I hope to fire it up tomorrow if time allows.
The Land/Range Rover has gone on the back burner. It may get sold or it may sit until I have time to make a little brother with a small engine. Maybe 7 to 10 litres!!!
Paul
I am still busy with things that make the money and will be for quite a few months yet.
However, I have been thinking a lot and doing the late night internet research.
The Land Rover chassis and, more importantly, the drive line was going to struggle with the power and torque. Everything was going to need strengthening.
And then I saw an add......for this
It is an Albion 6x4 lorry with old style leaf springs all round, air over hydraulic drum brakes (which will be junked in favour of discs all round) and automated bush lubrication.
It is definitely strong enough, and once I replace the leaf springs with air bags and drop it down a good bit, it should produce an unusual vehicle.
She is 26ft long and has a 6 cylinder Leyland diesel engine at present. The drive line is central (which Land Rover was not) and each axle has the same amount of power.
It will end up heavier than planned, but I doubt that will be an issue. Driveline power losses will be reasonably substantial too. There will be room for a very large fuel tank!
I also have the paperwork.
The engine I am going to use in her is almost ready to test run on the rig. It is the last model of the Meteor V12 with roller cams. It has not been run since the Danish MOD rebuild and I hope to fire it up tomorrow if time allows.
The Land/Range Rover has gone on the back burner. It may get sold or it may sit until I have time to make a little brother with a small engine. Maybe 7 to 10 litres!!!
Paul
I doubt I will be using twin rear wheels, probably super singles I suspect.
It will probably be lighter than Bloodhound, but not by much. It will probably use nearly as much fuel though!!!!
I fired up the Meteor tonight. Sorry no video, as I was too busy trying to shut it down when I realised it had a big oil leak.... due to lack of a gasket that I should have checked.
Should be able to fix it easily tomorrow, so will try again.
Need to do some gearing investigations so we can calculate the gearing for the stepper box that Charlie Broomfield will build for me. Once that is done we will have the complete driveline. I will be concentrating on checking, and if necessary, refurbishing the drive axles and splitter box. Drive shafts will get new hardy spicers and may be shortened to keep the engine as far back as possible.
Paul
It will probably be lighter than Bloodhound, but not by much. It will probably use nearly as much fuel though!!!!
I fired up the Meteor tonight. Sorry no video, as I was too busy trying to shut it down when I realised it had a big oil leak.... due to lack of a gasket that I should have checked.
Should be able to fix it easily tomorrow, so will try again.
Need to do some gearing investigations so we can calculate the gearing for the stepper box that Charlie Broomfield will build for me. Once that is done we will have the complete driveline. I will be concentrating on checking, and if necessary, refurbishing the drive axles and splitter box. Drive shafts will get new hardy spicers and may be shortened to keep the engine as far back as possible.
Paul
At last I have had time to fire up the engine I will be using.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDEBLPUHzUs&fe...
It is a Meteor Mk4B1 which I collected from Denmark and features roller cam followers and was one of the last batch made by Rover.
She was part of the Danish army stock that was sold off when they ceased using the Centurion MBT that Britain supplied post WWII.
The smoke you can see rising from the exhaust manifold is the remains of the inhibitor that was used to prevent corrosion post rebuilding.
Now I am happy I have a good engine (you can never be sure until you run one) I can start the modifications to inlet manifold, throttle bodies, injection, electronic ignition, oil pump, fuel pump, cooling, etc, etc,. It sounds as though there will be little of the original left but there will be.
Everything is to build reliability and usability for the road. I will also add a bit of 'bling' too!
I think it sounds a bit like a Merlin even as it stands.
Paul
PS. It stopped because it ran out of fuel!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDEBLPUHzUs&fe...
It is a Meteor Mk4B1 which I collected from Denmark and features roller cam followers and was one of the last batch made by Rover.
She was part of the Danish army stock that was sold off when they ceased using the Centurion MBT that Britain supplied post WWII.
The smoke you can see rising from the exhaust manifold is the remains of the inhibitor that was used to prevent corrosion post rebuilding.
Now I am happy I have a good engine (you can never be sure until you run one) I can start the modifications to inlet manifold, throttle bodies, injection, electronic ignition, oil pump, fuel pump, cooling, etc, etc,. It sounds as though there will be little of the original left but there will be.
Everything is to build reliability and usability for the road. I will also add a bit of 'bling' too!
I think it sounds a bit like a Merlin even as it stands.
Paul
PS. It stopped because it ran out of fuel!!!!!!
Hugo a Gogo said:
Storer said:
Hugo a Gogo said:
I'd be tempted by a strong and simple truck ladder chassis from a 7.5 tonner, beam front axle, solid rear, twin wheels
then build a roadster body on that
The problem with the truck chassis is that it would need to meet HGV/LGV regulations and be tested by VOSA rather than a local MOT garage.then build a roadster body on that
Also, truck chassis do twist, which they are designed to do.
The rear Range Rover axles used on the Carmichael can be relatively easily linked together as there is only a plate on the back of the middle axle and you can buy upgraded parts from the off road racing fraternity. The engine will also need to be geared up by 2x to 2.5x and the torque reduced accordingly.
Paul
Paul
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