Scaffolding poles + old VW bits + Rotary engine....
Discussion
Yes, I know, the mudguard is miles out and the wheels are about as round as a 50 pence piece - don't worry, making new ones, gotta move the mudguard as we're making new damper mounting towers too, improve the motion ratio and change the progression curve. Gives you an idea of how much travel there is though, that's not quite full compression - it's got another half an inch or so.
The things we go through in the name of money saving...couldn't really stretch the winter budget to a set of longer 10" stroke front dampers to match the arms, so we're having to trying and make the old 8" units do the job, doesn't do the motion ratios any favours, but needs must:
Damper goes the other side of the bracket but the old shock tower was in the way, I've had the angle grinder out since and there's a lot of front steelwork sat on the floor now though
Best get on with making the real replacement arms properly now though!
Damper goes the other side of the bracket but the old shock tower was in the way, I've had the angle grinder out since and there's a lot of front steelwork sat on the floor now though
Best get on with making the real replacement arms properly now though!
Edited by PhillipM on Sunday 4th December 16:37
Right, Ed's finished welding the jigs up tonight so should be able to knock the proper T45 tubular arms out in the next couple of days, got a few bits of chopping and tweaking on the chassis we weren't expecting just to add a little clearance around the tie-rods, and possibly move the rack a little more, but it's almost there, just waiting on some spacers/fitting for the new steering arms.
In other news, engine should be back together just in time for christmas, it's had a bit of light port work to boot as well, see what Santa brings when you've been good...
Hopefully should get chance for a run around the yard and lane after christmas just to give it a quick check over (I'll get some video this time, I promise!), then it's back to ordering yet more springs, damper oil and valve shims/stacks, as the whole lot needs re-valving and re-springing again, doh.
And another 6 wheel rims to make and weld up too, bit more offset now the track is wider.
Once that little lot is sorted, we'll start on the rear suspension!
In other news, engine should be back together just in time for christmas, it's had a bit of light port work to boot as well, see what Santa brings when you've been good...
Hopefully should get chance for a run around the yard and lane after christmas just to give it a quick check over (I'll get some video this time, I promise!
), then it's back to ordering yet more springs, damper oil and valve shims/stacks, as the whole lot needs re-valving and re-springing again, doh.And another 6 wheel rims to make and weld up too, bit more offset now the track is wider.
Once that little lot is sorted, we'll start on the rear suspension!
Edited by PhillipM on Thursday 22 December 03:39
New upper mounts in progress for the damper, didn't really want to put a kink in the arms (need to be as stiff as possible) but couldn't clear the damper when it's fully compressed without, good enough anyway, another tie-rod to go down the chassis toward the rear mudguard mount too - may as well - but it's stiff enough without tbh:
Don't worry, it's not getting heavier, it's all thin-wall T45 tube, lighter than it looks!
Certainly lighter than the plate tower that was there before anyway.
Don't worry, it's not getting heavier, it's all thin-wall T45 tube, lighter than it looks!
Certainly lighter than the plate tower that was there before anyway.
Pushed her outside today for a look at the front from afar, and to see what it looked like at full articulation (one wheel on floor, one in air, with car still perfectly level, lots of travel!), didn't get a picture as it was dark and raining but she certainly looks a bit more purposeful now!
We've lost a shedload of friction in the front end with the new bush/bearing/arm setup too, which should help the ride and handling.
We've lost a shedload of friction in the front end with the new bush/bearing/arm setup too, which should help the ride and handling.
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