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Date |
Event |
02/04/2003
4hrs
Chassis |
Progress seems painfully slow at the
moment, with cleaning, de-rusting and painting of fuel and cooling pipes for
the engine. Over the past few days I have bitten the bullet to sell the
Westfield and have arranged to go to the Detling Kit Car show (I year on
from when I started) to order the chassis
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05/04/2003
Chassis |
Detling (1 year on) I met up with Chris
Boyer again and took the first steps to ordering the chassis with the aim of
having enough parts to build a rolling chassis over the summer. I should
get the quotation this week and the chassis should be available for
collection at the end of May. I also took the decision to fit a manual
gearbox. This will involve additional work in converting the pedal box,
fitting a flywheel and clutch, but it will be simpler to set up and maintain
and will be more in keeping with the original vehicle. I also gleaned a
few useful tips on developments which have taken place over the last year
such as replacement radiators, new mounting plate for the diff and other
suspension bits that are not used, New dash panel and instrument layout.
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06/04/2003
4hrs
Engine |
One of the things I learned at Detling
yesterday was to use the power steering pump as an idler pulley and to use
both drive belts, as done on the XJ6 engine originally. This avoids having
to make or move the alternator so that it could be driven by a single drive
belt. So today I located the power steering pump and brackets (just as well
I kept them) and began the cleaning up process. I originally thought just
to blank off the inlet and outlet but I think a better solution would be to
short circuit them and fill the pump as usual. This has the added advantage
of not running the pump dry and keeping the bearing lubricated. I
dismantled the viscous coupled fan and cleaned that up as well. I was not
going to use it and replace it with an electric fan. However Chris advised
me that they use both.
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09/04/2003
2hrs |
In between watching the momentous events in
Baghdad including the toppling of the statue I spent the day painting the
power steering pump and the cooling fan. Today, is the day I ordered the
parts for a rolling chassis and paid the deposit
|
23/4/2003
2hrs |
Today is another milestone in the building
of the Classic 120. I have sold the Westfield. This removes a major
impediment to the build, by freeing up the space to build the car. I can
now safely get the chassis in one side of the garage and all the components
in the other half and have plenty of room in which to work. I have cleaned
the garage floor, where the Westfield was, ready to reposition work benches,
tool boxes and components before the chassis arrives. Since I last wrote I
have been painting the cooling fan and various engine brackets such as the
power steering bracket. The rest of the time has been spent cleaning and
preparing the Westfield for sale.
|
27/4/2003
3hrs |
With the Westfield gone, it was time to
repaint the garage floor where it had been. When it was dry I moved the tool
chest and the engine, on its’ stand, to the other side if the garage ready
to start work rebuilding it. Also a general tidy up of the garage to make
a working space for the chassis. The floor will need repainting after all
the degreasing and painting of the components that has gone on. Finished up
the day by steam cleaning and degreasing the diff. Once 20 years of road
grime and accumulated oil was cleaned off it looks as though it is oil tight
and the grease was caused by general spillage during servicing.
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29/4/2003
4hrs
Brakes |
Over yesterday and today I've continued to
work on the diff. It’s now drying after being treated with “Kurust” paint.
I ordered reconditioned brake callipers, new brake discs, disc pads and
engine service items today from “Berkshire Jag Components” (BJC). I am
impressed by the response (personal delivery tomorrow) and the promise of a
discount. Already, without discount, I have saved £40 over the prices
quoted by “SNG Barratt”
Fitted the new bench vice to the B&D
Workmate.
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30/4/2003
Rear Hub |
BJC delivered the parts today with a £20
discount. The diff has been painted with Hammerite silver and looks as good
as new. While I was waiting for the paint to dry I cleaned the rear hub
carriers. The RH one was no problem but the LH one is worn on the inner face
and the bearing is very loose. The LH one is the same wheel that was held on
by the bent nail instead of a split pin. It appears that because the wheel
bearing was not adjusted correctly the inner ring on the drive shaft has
spun round and worn away the upright. I've ordered a new upright and
replacement hub bearing and fulcrum bearings. This seemed sensible because
the hub will need to be changed for splined hubs for the wire wheels.
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Total
hours this month = 19 |
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Total hours to date = 248 hrs |
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