The file is the Ultima owners best friend
The file is the Ultima owners best friend
Author
Discussion

crossram

Original Poster:

291 posts

146 months

Monday 23rd December 2013
quotequote all
After three weeks of build on my Ultima I have found that there are very few parts that fit from the factory. The most used tool is the file.

For those that are going to build one of these cars I would suggest a complete set of sharp files. Round, flat and dome shaped all come in handy. even a set of miniature files is handy. Lots of aluminum and powder coat to file.

I have all sorts of other expensive tools but I keep having to go back to the file drawer.

UltimaCH

3,181 posts

211 months

Monday 23rd December 2013
quotequote all
I'll roger that! A full set including smaller versions are a build's best friend thumbup

pilbeam_mp62

955 posts

223 months

Monday 23rd December 2013
quotequote all
crossram said:
After three weeks of build on my Ultima I have found that there are very few parts that fit from the factory. The most used tool is the file.
Which parts, specifically, have you found that do not fit ?

If you are only 3 weeks into your build, perhaps you are still fitting the aluminium panels ? Of course they don't fit smile

You wouldn't be able to buy the kit for the price the factory charge, if you expect them to do all the work for you....

Edited by pilbeam_mp62 on Monday 23 December 19:28

Hoonigan

2,144 posts

257 months

Monday 23rd December 2013
quotequote all
Have to agree, my late Grandad left me his very old files and a bandsaw, I have turned turned much aluminium into filings over the last few months with them smash

crossram

Original Poster:

291 posts

146 months

Tuesday 24th December 2013
quotequote all
pilbeam_mp62 said:
Which parts, specifically, have you found that do not fit ?

If you are only 3 weeks into your build, perhaps you are still fitting the aluminium panels ? Of course they don't fit smile

You wouldn't be able to buy the kit for the price the factory charge, if you expect them to do all the work for you....

Edited by pilbeam_mp62 on Monday 23 December 19:28
Lets see .....I had to sand out the steering rack mounts for the bushings

File the u joints for them to spin without binding

filed every aluminum panel, filed holes to make the radiator mounting holes fit

filed a lot of holes to make the rivets fit

filed the mount holes on the clutch, and brakes to make them fit over the mounting bolts

sanded the inside out of the clutch pedal to make the balance bar fit

sanded the inside and end of the accelerator pedal

sanded out all the holes for the pedal bushings

yes I have just started

356Speedster

2,294 posts

253 months

Tuesday 24th December 2013
quotequote all
You seem to have filed a lot more than I had to :S

UltimaCH

3,181 posts

211 months

Tuesday 24th December 2013
quotequote all
crossram said:
Lets see .....I had to sand out the steering rack mounts for the bushings
I DID TOO

File the u joints for them to spin without binding
HAVEN'T DONE IT YET TO SOLVE THE WEE BINDING I HAVE IN ONE SPOT

filed every aluminium panel, filed holes to make the radiator mounting holes fit
DID THAT TOO AND MADE THEM OVAL

filed a lot of holes to make the rivets fit: ??

filed the mount holes on the clutch, and brakes to make them fit over the mounting bolts
SAME TOO

sanded the inside out of the clutch pedal to make the balance bar fit
SAME TOO

sanded the inside and end of the accelerator pedal
HAVEN'T SEEN THAT AS NECESSARY

sanded out all the holes for the pedal bushings
SAME TOO

yes I have just started

pilbeam_mp62

955 posts

223 months

Tuesday 24th December 2013
quotequote all
crossram said:
pilbeam_mp62 said:
Which parts, specifically, have you found that do not fit ?

If you are only 3 weeks into your build, perhaps you are still fitting the aluminium panels ? Of course they don't fit smile

You wouldn't be able to buy the kit for the price the factory charge, if you expect them to do all the work for you....

Edited by pilbeam_mp62 on Monday 23 December 19:28
Lets see .....I had to sand out the steering rack mounts for the bushings

File the u joints for them to spin without binding

filed every aluminum panel, filed holes to make the radiator mounting holes fit

filed a lot of holes to make the rivets fit

filed the mount holes on the clutch, and brakes to make them fit over the mounting bolts

sanded the inside out of the clutch pedal to make the balance bar fit

sanded the inside and end of the accelerator pedal

sanded out all the holes for the pedal bushings

yes I have just started
If you are getting bent out of shape like that after 3 WEEKS of your build, you are unlikely to get to the end of it without going mad !! Calm down, and realise that building an Ultima is a challenge not to be entered into lightly..... of course you will need to file some mounting holes, where the powdercoat has made them undersize.... I look forward to seeing pictures of your progress. Good Luck with the build !!

donkeasy

636 posts

244 months

Tuesday 24th December 2013
quotequote all


It's a soap about old men building an ultima with a file,

and being proud of it!

Hoonigan

2,144 posts

257 months

Wednesday 25th December 2013
quotequote all
Is that all!!, you want to try building a GT40, I don't even have a manual laugh

Seriously though keep up the good work and post some pics, we need pics..... biggrin


UltimaCH said:
crossram said:
Lets see .....I had to sand out the steering rack mounts for the bushings
I DID TOO

File the u joints for them to spin without binding
HAVEN'T DONE IT YET TO SOLVE THE WEE BINDING I HAVE IN ONE SPOT

filed every aluminium panel, filed holes to make the radiator mounting holes fit
DID THAT TOO AND MADE THEM OVAL

filed a lot of holes to make the rivets fit: ??

filed the mount holes on the clutch, and brakes to make them fit over the mounting bolts
SAME TOO

sanded the inside out of the clutch pedal to make the balance bar fit
SAME TOO

sanded the inside and end of the accelerator pedal
HAVEN'T SEEN THAT AS NECESSARY

sanded out all the holes for the pedal bushings
SAME TOO

yes I have just started

crossram

Original Poster:

291 posts

146 months

Thursday 26th December 2013
quotequote all
pilbeam_mp62 said:
If you are getting bent out of shape like that after 3 WEEKS of your build, you are unlikely to get to the end of it without going mad !! Calm down, and realise that building an Ultima is a challenge not to be entered into lightly..... of course you will need to file some mounting holes, where the powdercoat has made them undersize.... I look forward to seeing pictures of your progress. Good Luck with the build !!
I am not bent out of shape, if anything I am giving Ultima some sound advice

They have competition with the SLC and IMO they should sharpen their ax and get some basic stuff fixed, it's about building a better product and company.

crossram

Original Poster:

291 posts

146 months

Thursday 26th December 2013
quotequote all


My file drawer

crossram

Original Poster:

291 posts

146 months

Friday 27th December 2013
quotequote all
Second best tool is this punch, so far it's made over a thousand beautiful holes . If your going to build one of these cars i would highly recommend this tool, it saves time, reduces mess and makes a nice finished hole.

ezakimak

1,871 posts

258 months

Saturday 28th December 2013
quotequote all
Nice collection of tools. I'm a compulsive hoorder of tools as well. Where do you get that punch?
Will the mail order to Australia?

(You can also get small curved hobby needle files as well. Do you have a nail file in that draw, seams to be most other ones there that I have)

dandare

959 posts

276 months

Saturday 28th December 2013
quotequote all
ezakimak said:
Do you have a nail file in that draw, seams to be most other ones there that I have)
You should ask the CanAm owners about the best nail files to use. getmecoat

crossram

Original Poster:

291 posts

146 months

Saturday 28th December 2013
quotequote all
ezakimak said:
Nice collection of tools. I'm a compulsive hoorder of tools as well. Where do you get that punch?
Will the mail order to Australia?

(You can also get small curved hobby needle files as well. Do you have a nail file in that draw, seams to be most other ones there that I have)
Yes Eastwood has them http://www.eastwood.com/17-pc-heavy-duty-hole-punc...


Over on the right side of the orange tray are some very small files

BogBeast

1,144 posts

285 months

Saturday 28th December 2013
quotequote all
ezakimak said:
Nice collection of tools. I'm a compulsive hoorder of tools as well. Where do you get that punch?
Will the mail order to Australia?

(You can also get small curved hobby needle files as well. Do you have a nail file in that draw, seams to be most other ones there that I have)
Delivery cost doesn't seem that bad...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Hand-Held-Power-Hol...

Cost to the UK seems pretty good too...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231111496116?ru=http%3A%...


Steve_D

13,801 posts

280 months

Saturday 28th December 2013
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crossram

Original Poster:

291 posts

146 months

Sunday 29th December 2013
quotequote all
Steve_D said:
But in the USA it's half the price with no VAT ?

BogBeast

1,144 posts

285 months

Sunday 29th December 2013
quotequote all
crossram said:
But in the USA it's half the price with no VAT ?
yep, that's our lot over here...

In years gone by I have gone Snowboarding in Vancouver and stocked up on stuff like this - used to come back 3 times heavier...