29th July
Bit busy up to now so today opened the packages. Found several panels ready shaped and all numbered! Got going on what looked like the easiest panel (N/S rear tunnel side). Needed to snip some metal (first time ever) then clamped it in place. Measured rivet spacing (noticed some threaded mounts that get covered – do they need access later?), punched a mark on each then got out my old Black and Decker and my bumper pack of cheap drills. Got that panel drilled and clamped the front tunnel side panel but drills gave up. One snapped. Thank you Catherine for insisting on safety goggles. Fiddled with passenger bulkhead panel. Totally flummoxed by back panels marked “Driver” and “Pass”. They have to be transposed or are bent mirror wise. Anyway one responds to a bit of trimming and seems to clamp neatly in place, even though it says “Driver”.
Spoke to Paul Gyles at Wembley plant – he suggested cutting compound. Dip drill bit in for each hole. Use better bits! Dry evening, Bosch bits. 3mm holes followed by 5mm holes with cutting compound – knife through butter. Took tip from other site of injecting Waxoyl into each alternate hole. Feel cocky – bad sign.
Not cocky now. Realised most tub photos on sites are of independent suspension frames. Only live axle frame I can find on a customers site has different panelling and no reinforced side protection. Tunnel shape is different too. Find that rear outer panel is not pre-bent but just cut. No problem, use my trusty workbench suggested by David Elliston, another builder, paper template and measure, mark panel, nip between two pieces of wood and bend. Does not look right. Takes ages to re-shape. Not a great job. Made it difficult to judge where drill holes will end up because panel is springy where it overlaps the back panel. Some of the holes end up a bit close to the edge of the frame. None of the sites have any helpful hints.
Ah well, as Martin said, every car is different. As Catherine said, did not want a Lego kit. Must look into forward tunnel panel options on web tonight.
No comments:
Post a Comment