Well one good welding session later - and it's not finished.
The welder keeps cutting out due to thermal overload. As it's not a fan cooled welder it's not meant for the heavy use I'm currently giving it. The advantage is that while I've been waiting for the welder to cool down I've started dressing the welds with my angle grinder. The underside is now completely flat which It must be to allow the floor to be fitted.
The plan at the moment is:
1. Finish welding
2. Dress all the welds that have to have panels fitted over them.
3. Wire brush the chassis in stages and paint it as I go.
4. Weld on Suspension Mounts
5. Weld on Strengthening fillet plates
6. Fit wishbones and rear axle
7. Try the wheels on!
So my target for the coming weeks and more probably months is to get the car to a rolling chassis.
BRING IT ON!!!!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
I spent a good few hours in the garage this morning. After swapping my bottle of Argon for argoshield (for the MIG welder) my welding is now much better.
I spent the time this morning welding, endlessly welding. The chassis is nearly complete, but it was mostly tack welded, and now needs fully seam welding. I was welding so mucg I actually max'ed out the MIG welders duty cycle 3 times and had to wait for it to cool down each time to continue welding.
I think one more good session of welding should see it done. Then begins the grinding, endless grinding, dressing the welds where panels have to fit over them. I can't wait to get this chassis finished so I can get on with some other jobs, it's really starting to drag now.
I spent the time this morning welding, endlessly welding. The chassis is nearly complete, but it was mostly tack welded, and now needs fully seam welding. I was welding so mucg I actually max'ed out the MIG welders duty cycle 3 times and had to wait for it to cool down each time to continue welding.
I think one more good session of welding should see it done. Then begins the grinding, endless grinding, dressing the welds where panels have to fit over them. I can't wait to get this chassis finished so I can get on with some other jobs, it's really starting to drag now.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Ok ok, I know, I haven't updated in AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGES. I have been making slow progress though.
The transmission tunnel is done, although not fully welded yet (more on that later), I have finally recieved my front wishbones - I had to order them from 3ge components in the end.
I removed the engine, gearbox and rear axle assembly (that was one heck of a struggle!) to allow me to manipulate the chassis around so I can fully weld up all the joints I so far havent done.
It's coming along....
The transmission tunnel is done, although not fully welded yet (more on that later), I have finally recieved my front wishbones - I had to order them from 3ge components in the end.
I removed the engine, gearbox and rear axle assembly (that was one heck of a struggle!) to allow me to manipulate the chassis around so I can fully weld up all the joints I so far havent done.
It's coming along....
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Ok, it's been a while - AGAIN!!!
Well I have recently aquired (for free!) a SIP handymig MIG welder - Thanks Wyn!! I have been using it it weld up the transmission tunnel. That was, till today when I ran out of gas. So, I went down to my local motor factors to buy some more and thought i was in luck when i bought their last 2 cylinders, only to go in my wallett and find my bank card is missing! So I buy the cylinders on my credit card and rush home to look for it, to no avail. After spending an hour on the phone to the bank sorting the lost card out, I have only half on hour left to go up the garage and finish my welding before I have to go to work.
I get up the garage and coneect one of the new cylinders, only to find it's empty! And what do you know, so is the other one. Bloomin motor factors have sold me not 1 but 2 empty welding gas cylinders, great. No problem thinks me i'll just pop in there on the way home and swap them for full ones, but when i get there they remind me that they were the last 2 they had. But they will give me 2 full ones tomorrow when they have a delivery. What a day! At least work was uneventful - for a change!
Well I have recently aquired (for free!) a SIP handymig MIG welder - Thanks Wyn!! I have been using it it weld up the transmission tunnel. That was, till today when I ran out of gas. So, I went down to my local motor factors to buy some more and thought i was in luck when i bought their last 2 cylinders, only to go in my wallett and find my bank card is missing! So I buy the cylinders on my credit card and rush home to look for it, to no avail. After spending an hour on the phone to the bank sorting the lost card out, I have only half on hour left to go up the garage and finish my welding before I have to go to work.
I get up the garage and coneect one of the new cylinders, only to find it's empty! And what do you know, so is the other one. Bloomin motor factors have sold me not 1 but 2 empty welding gas cylinders, great. No problem thinks me i'll just pop in there on the way home and swap them for full ones, but when i get there they remind me that they were the last 2 they had. But they will give me 2 full ones tomorrow when they have a delivery. What a day! At least work was uneventful - for a change!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Today I recieved all the parts I had ordered, mushroom inserts, shock absorber mounting brackets and transit drag links.
I now just need to get some maxi balljoints, and await the wishbones from Shug.
Oh, and I made one more rather rash purchase today, a BMW 540! I bought it from one of the guys in work, it has been sat in works car park for about 18 months, needs a fair bit of welding, but it only cost me £250!!! I havent even decided what to do with it yet, to break it for more parts for the locost, or get it on the road and drive/sell it.
I now just need to get some maxi balljoints, and await the wishbones from Shug.
Oh, and I made one more rather rash purchase today, a BMW 540! I bought it from one of the guys in work, it has been sat in works car park for about 18 months, needs a fair bit of welding, but it only cost me £250!!! I havent even decided what to do with it yet, to break it for more parts for the locost, or get it on the road and drive/sell it.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Today i welded in the 2 bottom rails of the transmission tunnel. I can't really foresee getting any time in the garage till Sat/Sun at the earliest now. Next on the list is to weld in the 2 rear bulkhead support tubes and fabricate the rest of the transmission tunnel.
Then I'll remove the rear axle assembly, engine and gear box and fully weld up the chassis.
Hopefully by then I'll have recieved all the parts I've ordered and can press ahead!
Adios!
Then I'll remove the rear axle assembly, engine and gear box and fully weld up the chassis.
Hopefully by then I'll have recieved all the parts I've ordered and can press ahead!
Adios!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Right.
I've managed to grab some more time in the garage recently as the house is now very much on the market.
The rear end is now about 90% done, all that still needs doing is the rearmost top rail and the 2 tubes between that and the bottom one.
I've been taking some measurements for the transmission tunnel, and due to the differential input flange being off-centre (towards the drivers side - typical!) I may have some trouble fitting seats in, so i may go down the route of home made seatin, but, i'll cross that bridge when i come to it.
Today i have ordered the suspension mounting brackets and mushroom adaptors from 3ge components. My front wishbones should be on their way in the next few weeks - many thanks to Shug at Clyde Auto Marine who are making them for me! When all that arrives, I'll actually be able to fit 4 wheels and officially call it a rolling chassis!
As always, I'll post some pics soon.
I've managed to grab some more time in the garage recently as the house is now very much on the market.
The rear end is now about 90% done, all that still needs doing is the rearmost top rail and the 2 tubes between that and the bottom one.
I've been taking some measurements for the transmission tunnel, and due to the differential input flange being off-centre (towards the drivers side - typical!) I may have some trouble fitting seats in, so i may go down the route of home made seatin, but, i'll cross that bridge when i come to it.
Today i have ordered the suspension mounting brackets and mushroom adaptors from 3ge components. My front wishbones should be on their way in the next few weeks - many thanks to Shug at Clyde Auto Marine who are making them for me! When all that arrives, I'll actually be able to fit 4 wheels and officially call it a rolling chassis!
As always, I'll post some pics soon.
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