Build Day 139.....Steering Column Downlink

Fitted and welded up the downlink for the steering, connecting the column with the rack. The car now has steering!

Build Day 138.....Few more bits and bobs

Car's now back on axle stands with the wheels off so I can work easier on it. Completed a the few bits and bobs on the rear suspension I hadn't got round to doing. Next I fitted the front brake calipers and the brake master cylinder.
I've also fitted the passenger side foot panel.

On it's Feet!

Not really an official 'Build Day' today as I haven't really done any work to the car. What I have done, however, is to put it down on it's wheels for the first time:

Seems very low once it's down. Only 6 inches ground clearance:

And many thanks to Keith. Once again he's helping me out, this time to trim down those wheel hubs on a lathe so I can fit the rear disks.

Build Day 137.....Four Wheels on my Wagon

Well, I tried to finish off the rear hub assemblies, but came across another issue in that the rear disks do not fit correctly over the hubs. I will need to find someone with a lathe to help me out with this, but in the meantime, I've finished off assembling, but without the rear disks. The result, four wheels on the car:

Not put it down on the floor yet, that will come tomorrow, but it really does look like a car now :)

Build Day 136.....Fitting rear calipers

I had wanted to get the wheels on today, but unfortunately I came across a problem in that the rear calipers I've bought would not quite fit round the de-dion axle. The solution to the problem was some fettling to the axle (with angle grinder, drill and file) and the calipers now fit. Only problem is that it's taken all day.

Only thing to do now in order to get the car on it's wheels is to assemble the rear hubs/bearings and we are in business, although this is all going to have to wait till tomorrow.

Build Day 134 & 135.....Driveshafts, Hubs and Uprights #1

I've had all my deliveries now, so I've been busy over the weekend on the car. Firstly, I've continued with the drive shafts. All the new, replacement, CV joint boots are now on and I've started giving them some coats of paint.
Also spent some time on the rear suspension. The new, shorter shocks are on, but not with the springs, as I need to order shorter springs - doh! I've also put together the panhard rod ready to do on.
The biggest job, though, was putting together the front hub and upright assemblies, complete with brake disks. These are now bolted up to the front suspension (although, not tightly) and really look the business. Will look even better once the calipers are on:

Build Day 133.....Cleaning Parts

I'm working all out now to get the car on it's wheels. To do this, I've placed an order for the brakes for the car, plus the proper sized shocks. I'm having Wilwood powerlite 4 pot calipers on the front and on the back I'm converting from drums to disks with some generic VAG single pot calipers.

Unfortunatly, the order hasn't arrived yet, so I was a bit stuck with what to do today, so I ended up cleaning and reconditioning some donor parts that I hadn't got round to doing before. Not much fun, but it has to be done.

In particular I've cleaned up the drive shafts and removed the old, perished CV boots. I've now ordered some new boots to go on. The shafts will need to go on before I can put the wheels on anyway, so it's time well spent.

Build Day 132.....Bolting Bits On

I've carried on bolting stuff on. First, the rear suspension:

Not been able to fit the shocks at the back, though, as I've found I have the wrong length. I have 13" Open, where as I need 11" - More expense :(

Then I moved on mounting the brake and throttle pedals plus the steering column. Had to first fit the transmission tunnel panel by the pedals as I wouldn't be able to fit it once the pedals were in place:


So, it's moving along quite nicely: