I went to a track experience day on Thursday, after being driven round the track by an instructor in a Lotus Elise (mostly sideways) and a thrilling few laps in a Subaru Impreza group N prodrive rally car, driving myself, I had the choice of supercars to take out for a few laps, which would you have chosen? Ferrari 360, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Audi R8, Porsche 911 GT3 or a Lamborghini Gallardo? There was only 1 choice for me, the 500bhp Lambo, it was immense.
Here's some of the front brake lines clipped to the chassis.

The extended steering rack - finished!

And the shortened handbrake cables, re-clamped properly.

Ok update time.... after a week on days i have indeed got quite a bit done.

All the parts and tools I ordered arrived very quickly, so I re-cut the threads on the steering rack and fitted the extension pieces, connected it all up and the steering works! Woo hoo, i can finally put a tick against a thing on my to do list - the steering is finished.

I have also ticked off item 2 - recondition rear axle, as all that is left to do on there is get 2 new flexi hoses and fit them - easy peasy. The ones I was able to remove from the BMW were is such poor condition that it wasn't worth re-using them.

Well no sooner was the steering finished, i had to paritally dismantle it again, as the engine had to come out. I Have removed the engine and box for 3 reasons - I needed to install the clutch, I had to run the copper brake lines around the engine bay for the front brakes, and I need to do a couple of last welds inside the engine bay. All of these would have been very difficult with the engine in place, and removing it isn't much hassle.

So with the engine out i have fabricated and fitted all the front brake pipes, at the moment only partially clipped in place, i need to do the welding before i fully rivet the clips in places as there is a chance i could damage the pipes with the heat from the welder.

I have taken the time to re-fit the clutch with brand new stainless steel bolts of the correct size, and fit the gearbox back up to the engine.

I have also fitted the brake balance valve in position in the brake circuit, in the centre console, within easy reach when driving.

The last thing I have done this week is revomve the alternator from the scrap BMW, it is actually the one off my donor engine, i had to use it on the BMW when I was driving it regularly as it's own packed up.

So the plan for this week is to finish the few welds, brake lines, and get the engine back in with the propshaft fully installed too. At this point, all the major mechanical systems will be in place, and the next phase is to get them all working.

I've had a little potter about with the car this week, I've made up the last of the copper brake lines for the rear axle and installed it, I just need to recover a couple more flexi lines from the scrap BMW to connect it all up. I've also refitted (properly this time) the handbrake cable calmps that i used to shorten them, as they were previously slipping quite badly. The handbrake now seems to work fairly well.

This past week I have also sold my spare alloy wheels on ebay for 155 quid, which will go towards my suspension. I intend to order that when i get paid. The wheels will be collected this week.

Parts-wise I have oredered some brake pipe clips (the P-clips I have are too large), a large Die holder to finish cutting the threads on the steering rack, and a brake proportioning valve, to control the pressure to the rear brakes, to stop them locking up.

I'm back on dayshift from next week so i hope I may be able to get back on with it at the pace i previously had been going at.

Last weekend I did indeed get the rear calipers refitted, and to be honest that's about all that's happened since last weeks' post. Being on night shift, I've had quite a tired week this week and haven't been able to find the energy or willpower to drag myself up into that cold garage and get on with it.

Enough excuses, I'll get the rear axle finished this week and hopefully the steering too. Refitting the clucth shouldn't be too much trouble, the prop will be done at the same time (that reminds me, I need to paint the welded joint) although the clutch might require a run to Cowbridge to get some bolts to hold the pressure plate on as i had to cut them off to remove it.

Hmm... keep reading!

Just another quick update this morning.

I've finally recieved the M14x1.25 die from china that i ordered. Problem is that as it was chinese made it's not very good and the threads it cuts are too small. I ran it up the ends of the steering rack, leaving about 30mm of thread untouched, and then threaded the extensions on. Where I had used the die, they wound on but are clearly loose, and where I haven't used the die they are way too tight and don't wind on at all. Grrrrr!

Also I have cleaned and painted the rear calipers which i hope to re-fit today. This afternoon I hope to get the rear axle all finished. I can then fit the spare set of rear wheels and put it back on the floor.