Pembleton mkII - Tin Tub

[Ambleton]

The arm end caps (for those that care/wonder) are on 5x m4 bolts for easy removal to get to the damper plates etc.

[Konrod]

It's looking great - first startup is always a great moment and I love what you've done with the offset dash cowling. nearly there........

[English expat]

Looks fantastic, I have thoroughly enjoyed the progress so far. Not long now indeed!!
Keep up the great work.

[gregs656]

So pleased to see this all coming together.

[Ambleton]

Thanks for the encouragement.

Think today I'll be mainly working on bonnet. I did toy about splitting the bonnet and hinging it but in reality, having the bonnet as a whole and removing it one piece is actually more practical. The tail shape is perfect for resting the bonnet on when it's lifted off

[Ambleton]

I spent most of yesterday massaging my front end until I was satisfied.... hol up....

What I mean is that the basic preformed bonnet purchased from PMC has most of the basic shape there or there abouts but it needed a lot of careful massaging to get to sit nice on the car.

My ModelY bonnet catches are likely not to pass the MSVA so I'm going to leave the bonnet long on the sides and use a couple of M6 rivnuts and flange button heads to secure the bonnet in place.

The post MSVA I'll trim the sides shorter and use the M6 rivnuts for the catch body mounts and add the receptacles onto the bonnet.

Weather os nice today so doing a spot of bonnet prep in the garden

[Ambleton]

I need to remake the lhs winglet above the lamp bar under the light, it's sitting all to piss, they're only stuck on with double sided atm to see if I like them of not so no loss.

[Ambleton]

Today I learnt one of the dangers of having a lift off bonnet.


Bonnet was off and propped up against my workbench. As I turned and walked off I caught my foot on it. It fell over and hit my tub full of scrap timber offcuts... fking wonderful.....



In a case of "well its already fked, I can't make it any worse" I drilled out all the rivets and set about with a dolly and a hammer. Bruising and a crease remained so next was out with the power sander.




By this point I was slightly more optimistic that it wasn't completely fked so had a few more taps, removed the rest of the lacquer and a worked up the sandpaper grades.



120, 180, 240, 320, 400, 600, 1200, polish

Amazed how will its come out tbf

[jeremyc]

Ambleton in a previous post said:

Think today I'll be mainly working on bonnet. I did toy about splitting the bonnet and hinging it but in reality, having the bonnet as a whole and removing it one piece is actually more practical. The tail shape is perfect for resting the bonnet on when it's lifted off

Ambleton said:

Today I learnt one of the dangers of having a lift off bonnet.

I was going to suggest that you use your skills to make a bonnet stand for when it's off the car.

As many Caterham owners will tell you, it's all to easy for them to be blown or knocked over (if stood on end), or even blown around when laid down on the ground.

[Regbuser]

Ambleton said:

Today I learnt one of the dangers of having a lift off bonnet.


Bonnet was off and propped up against my workbench. As I turned and walked off I caught my foot on it. It fell over and hit my tub full of scrap timber offcuts... fking wonderful.....

By this point I was slightly more optimistic that it wasn't completely fked so had a few more taps, removed the rest of the lacquer and a worked up the sandpaper grades.

120, 180, 240, 320, 400, 600, 1200, polish

Amazed how will its come out tbf

Really enjoying your build thread

If you want to get into polishing, these are amazing > https://gcabrasives.co.uk/product/micro-mesh-regul... < and the other products they do.

[ivanhoew]

blimey ,good save .

[Ambleton]

Thanks all, if it hadn't worked out then I couldve contacted and purchased another spun dome off PMC but they're now focusing on factory builds.

Chassis supply for the home builder has been terminated for a few years now but common parts are still available. Bonnet, spun nose/Tail, wheels etc.

As they shift away from reliance on 2cv parts I imagine it won't be too long before the models diverge considerably.

As far as I can tell, the only 2cv item remaining on the factory build is the gearbox.

[Doofus]

Ambleton said:

Thanks all, if it hadn't worked out then I couldve contacted and purchased another spun dome off PMC but they're now focusing on factory builds.

So they don't use old immersion heater tanks anymore?

[Ambleton]

Doofus said:

Ambleton said:

Thanks all, if it hadn't worked out then I couldve contacted and purchased another spun dome off PMC but they're now focusing on factory builds.

So they don't use old immersion heater tanks anymore?

You can use the top off an old copper tank if you want, but the factory builds (and mine) use a spun brass dome.

I personally think the brass looks better than copper but that's just my preference. Horses for courses

[Doofus]

Ambleton said:

I personally think the brass looks better than copper but that's just my preference. Horses for courses

I agree.

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

jeremyc said:

Ambleton in a previous post said:

Think today I'll be mainly working on bonnet. I did toy about splitting the bonnet and hinging it but in reality, having the bonnet as a whole and removing it one piece is actually more practical. The tail shape is perfect for resting the bonnet on when it's lifted off

Ambleton said:

Today I learnt one of the dangers of having a lift off bonnet.

I was going to suggest that you use your skills to make a bonnet stand for when it's off the car.

As many Caterham owners will tell you, it's all to easy for them to be blown or knocked over (if stood on end), or even blown around when laid down on the ground.

I managed to forget to lock the bonnet on my westy once. I lived in the peaks at the time and as the car was very loud would always trickle out of the town so as not to disturb folks.

I booted it once I'd left the town and on hitting 60+ the whole bonnet sailed into the air about 30 feet straight up, flipped end over end several times, before landing in a cow field.

I did get some funny looks from a passing car as they spotted this dhead in Goose down and full face helmet jogging in a cow field.

Thanks to the long grass, it survived unmarked.

[Ambleton]

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:

I managed to forget to lock the bonnet on my westy once.

I booted it once I'd left the town and on hitting 60+ the whole bonnet sailed into the air about 30 feet straight up, flipped end over end several times, before landing in a cow field.

Thanks to the long grass, it survived unmarked.

You were incredibly lucky - couldve been much worse - hitting other cars/cyclist, causing an accident etc.

My dad had a similar experience on Thelwall viaduct maybe 8-9 years ago. Was in the fast lane and the car in front of him swerved last minute. He didn't have time to react but there was a set of roofing ladders that had departed from a builders van were laying flat with the hooks skyward. Not quite sure how but they pirouetted up and over his saab, with the only damage to tiny little dings on the bonnet and a broken number plater where it had made contact as it went up and over into the air.

He was guite shaken as it couldve been A LOT worse.

Cops came and cleared the ladders with a rolling roadblock. Builders van nowhere to be seen. They did establish the van they came off as gantry cameras could see the same van with and without ladders pre/post junction but they said there was little evidence and the numberplate wasn't clear enough yadda yadda.

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

Ambleton said:

You were incredibly lucky - couldve been much worse - hitting other cars/cyclist, causing an accident etc.

I was VERY VERY lucky. As it launched over my head (no windscrern) my terror was it's going to go through someone's windscreen.

Fortunately it was very early and countryside so very quiet.

I become quite ocd checking the locks after that. Or I would leave the keys in the bonnet lock so I couldn't start the car without checking.

Your father was very lucky.

We had a blue plastic pipe (think they're comms trunking) write off our car. It was on a crane in the central res and two fellas were holding it to stop it swaying. One let go, and it swung into the outside lane just as we were passing. Luckily it was low so it smashed the front of the car and ever panel on the drivers side. Higher... It'd have taken the roof off.

Anyway... Apologies for the segway. Absolutely love the car... And the brass!

[Ambleton]

And progress has slowed down again. My weekends are now pretty much fully booked for the next 6 weeks or so so it'll only be evenings.

I pulled apart my carbs and rebuilt them.

Highlights were:
One carb had no O-ring between the float bowl and the body
One carb didn't have an O-ring on the idle mixture screw

I also changed the float valve for an uprated sprung unit for the increase in fuel pressure from the fuel pump instead of gravity fed like on the bike.

£60 worth of carb parts...





Stripped down:





Any eagle eyed nerds among us will notice a lack of idle jet and atomiser tube here. I forgot I raided this carb for parts when I was pissing about with my previous car. I have a few sets of carbs and plenty of bits so I harvested...

All rebuilt...

[LewG]

Just caught up on this thread Niall and wanted to say what a superb job you're doing, it looks great! Are you still living pretty local to St Neotnam?