The simple things...

Why is it that whenever you think that you have a simple little job to do, it always ends up being far more difficult than you envisaged? Today I had the simple task of tacking in the tubes that support the seat. Unfortunately the first time I did it, the holes to mount the seat did not quite line up so I had to cut them off and start again. Having got it wrong once, I then spent a lot of time getting the alignment perfect for the second attempt - which worked eventually. Unfortunately this delay meant I used up all the time I had hoped to use to ponder pedal and gearchanges - I have this to look forward to next time!! I must confess to having spent a little time sat in the newly placed seat...! The only snag appears to be that the brake pedal may just catch the steering bottom bracket - however, I did have a large pair of boots on and it might look a bit different in trainers!

Steering at last

Another couple of days of good progress this week. Earlier I cut and tacked in the two diagonals from the shock mounts to the scuttle tube (which I also tacked in). Today I fabricated the mounts for the steering. The lower on used an exhaust clamp to hold the Sierra rubber bush. The clamp was than bolted to a bracket welded to the front tube. it took several attempts to get it correct as the clamp that joins the lower column was fouling the bracket. The upper bracket was made to bolt to the adjustable mount from the Sierra. At first I thought that a simple plate would flex but once everything was bolted in, it seemed immovable! The last thing I did before leaving was to cycle the front suspension through its rang of movement and was delighted to see that there was no bumpsteer whatsoever - the time spent with the laser over the new year was obviously well spent!

New Year News

Happy New Year t o you all! A lot to update today. First new purchases. From Rally Designs, I bought Caterham steering rack extensions, which extend the rack by 100mm. This means that the Escort Mk2 rack can be used otherwise unmodified. I also bought a pair of their aluminium rack clamps- a bit ‘bling’ but as the rack I have had no mounts, necessary. I have also addressed the steering column ‘problem’ by buying a Sierra column from the Cortina/Sierra on the A17 near Boston. It is just about the perfect length and at £17, much cheaper than having an adaptor machined for the Fiesta column. Finally Father Christmas (AKA Wife) bought me a pair of Sabelt Harnesses - these have yet to arrive though!
Anyway, before christmas, I made the mounts for the seats and tacked the rear bulkhead bracing - not as easy as it sounds as they slant in two directions! Over the new year, John and I made the rack mounts. First we clamped the rack in position and attached a laser pointer to one of the uprights. John then moved the suspension through its range of movement whilst I marked the bump-steer on a piece of cardboard 4m away - you probably can’t see the laser spot on this photo. We then progressively lowered the rack until we found the position where there was virtually no bump-steer at all.Typically this proved a pig to make mounts to hold the rack in this position but we eventually succeeded! Finally we mocked the steering column into position and decided how to attach it!
The next few weeks should see some rapid progress I hope! The hits counter has reached 5000 - they can’t all be John and I so how about leaving a message so that we know who is watching!? Cheers!