Project plastic car (Scimitar GTE)

Project plastic car (Scimitar GTE)

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interloper

Original Poster:

2,747 posts

256 months

Sunday 27th September 2015
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And there is more...

Re fitted the axle, the transverse arms and some of the brake parts.




Pulled the clutch off and dropped it into my local friendly factors, so he can source me a new one.



Then took the flywheel off to access the rear core plugs. After much thought and researching special tools. I decided to improvise.



One rock steady flywheel and much safer than the dubious screw driver method I have witnessed!

Flywheel begone!



After that I persuaded the core plugs on the sides and rear out, washed the system through with the hose and hammered home some fresh ones. Also I replaced the water pump. FYI water pumps are currently around £100 on ebay but I picked up a complete unit from Burton Performance for £55, it certainly pays to shop around!

Flywheel cleaned up and re attached and new core plugs are now visible.



Fitted the new clutch.



Cleaned up the pink and blue type 9 gearbox...



And like the rolling stones song, I wanted to paint it black, so I did.



Gearbox back in place..



Then I moved onto the front suspension.

I decided to do one at a time, I figured that I can use the other as a guide to putting it back together. I started on the NS, I found the ball joint gaiter perished, the bushes aren't too bad but will be replaced anyway and I'm pretty sure the trunnion has too much play. I must admit I was a bit foxed by how you take the trunnion off? And was rather surprised that you just un screw the thing!
A few piccies...




The ball joint was a git to separate. I eventually managed it by undoing the steering arm to give my splitter more space but I really think a better ball joint splitter would be a good investment.






interloper

Original Poster:

2,747 posts

256 months

Sunday 27th September 2015
quotequote all
Another little job was to remove a broken exhaust bolt from the driver side cylinder head. I have seen people weld a bolt to the remains of the old bolt, then carefully wind out. I think you need more old thread sticking out, I just couldn't get the weld to stick. So have started on drilling the remains out, then I ran out of patience and drill bits!

I decided to take the head off and get the local thread doctor to remove the bolt. I knew I had snapped a couple of drill bits trying to get it out but what I hadn't realised is that I had left a bit of drill in the end of the bolt. So it took him an hour to drill the drill bit out before he could actual drill the remains of remains of the bolt out!

I must admit it was really satisfying cleaning up the heads and intake manifold, replacing all the gaskets, re fitting the heads then setting the tappets. For some reason engine work like this is really feel good!







Then the best bit, trial fit the repaired manifold...



Next part of the job...Front suspension and rack back in, new bushes top and bottom, new ball joints and track rod ends.



Then refitting the OSR hub and diff seal, to do this you need to stop things turning, so a bit of make shift iron mongery was called for.



Also spot the shiny new brake and fuel lines!



Prop in..


After that I started looking at the body and was slightly horrified by how bad the carpet and sound proofing had got (mould mainly), so promptly ripped them out and binned them.


In stripping the interior I found a couple of interesting things...



The original build spec! "No 7 Prog 43 O/drive L/Green C Tan trim" but also this....



Looks like the rusty chassis plate had expanded enough to crack the fibre glass, so thats another small glass repair to add to the list.

Finally whilst tidying the shed/workshop I realised the front bumper was in a sorry state and I had never seen it attached, so did a quick trial fit.



Then curiosity got the better of me, what would the bumper look like colour coded? Well the rubber section had seperted already, so I cleaned it up and painted it.



Colour coded it is then!

interloper

Original Poster:

2,747 posts

256 months

Sunday 27th September 2015
quotequote all
And now a properly recent update!

For the last week or so I have been hiding in my shed making up stands and props out of lengths of steel (my poor little Mig has been put through its paces!) in a bid to re fit the body. God knows what HSE would have made of it! anyway some pictures...

One stand complete, just see how things line up...


A slight skip forward in time, hoiking the body on to the make shift stands/trestle things.


Floating in the air...




Squeezing underneath..This took several attempts to get the chassis lined up, not the easiest thing to steer..


After much jiggery pokery, brute force, additional bits of trolley jacking, playing wears the gear lever? And also had to remove the carb, dizzy cap and thermostat housing for clearance! It was finally down.


Doors bolted on...


I wont be doing that again in a hurry, I have got tho thank my other half Helen for getting stuck in, pointing out were it would fail, sorting my ropes and knots and generally being the voice of sanity.

Still a fair way to go before MOT time but I can see light at the end of the tunnel and I dont think its a train heading in my direction!

hidetheelephants

24,864 posts

194 months

Sunday 27th September 2015
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Nice work; I like that it has a type 9, much lighter than the transit/z-car hybrid thing they were built with and a better change. The only downer is the absence of a O/D to play with.

triple5

751 posts

146 months

Monday 28th September 2015
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Love projects like this :thumbup

Mr Teddy Bear

186 posts

192 months

Monday 28th September 2015
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Very interesting keep the photo's coming!

interloper

Original Poster:

2,747 posts

256 months

Monday 28th September 2015
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Thanks Chaps, its always nice to have some encouragement!

interloper

Original Poster:

2,747 posts

256 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
I can confirm, that the Type 9 is some were between, crikey! And jesus wept! On my heavyness scale. I'm glad I didn't have to carry the thing very far and I am grateful that the car doesn't have the heavier original gearbox and overdrive combo.