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[lozzzzzz]

An update on the project......

I've had a very productive last few days on the car.  It got the point where there was little left to do but change the gearbox over for the stronger R30.  While I was at it, I took the opportunity to remove the hydraulic handbrake and extend it a little, I also shortened the gearstick and removed any rubber coupling (quickshift you might call it). 

Refitting the gearbox was a hard task, lying under the car with the thing on my chest, but its all back together and the feel of the gear change is quite rewarding







I'm really looking forward to driving it again soon, there have been a good number of improvements since its first 6 months on the road.

More to come

[lozzzzzz]

A long overdue update.....

I've brought the date forward for the first trackday.  It seems its a lot cheaper in Feb rather than March so 22nd of Feb it is at the Bedford Autodrome!  Cant' Wait!

The last things on the list are the half cage and the seats.  I had the car booked in to have a cage made over a week, this would mean leaving it somewhere for a week!  Something I've not done in all 8 years of ownership.  More importantly as I'd be at work, I wouldn't be part of the decision making process.  I rang around and found that TR Lane could fit me in so I went with the car for a Saturday morning.  I was able to hang around, and help a bit, and be part of the decisions.  Much happier with that.  As an added bonus he cut and bent the tubes, and welded the hoop only in, and I'll be doing the rest of the welding and painting       Much better!  And Much MUCH CHEAPER          (all the following for £150). 

So here is what I had after my visit


And the other bits


I'm really pleased, there is a bit of a gap either side to accommodate the seat belt but its snug against the roof.  There will be two rear stays and one cross bar in the main hoop.  The rear stays will be attached using a method he suggested.  This starts with a welded in washer in an offcut of the tube.  (then I faced it up of the lathe). 



And they will be bolted to the chassis like this

The finished mount will be of this style


I also finally got round to fitting a little box in the center for sun glasses and such.


That's all for now, lots of welding to do now and hopefully fitting of bucket seats.  Talking of which I need some seat runners if anyone has any. 

More to come

[omega3000]

Excellent progress Loz and looking really nice 

[lozzzzzz]

Thanks Buddy   

[lozzzzzz]

I finished off the "fish mouth" joints last night and got it all welded up, just waiting for the paint to arrive then I'll paint and put it back in.  I did a fair bit of tack welding in situ and then took my time to do little sections at a time, but I'm still dreading putting it back in, I bed its all warped to hell.  Watch this space.





More to come.

[lozzzzzz]

Its all painted now, stone chip is great for this sort of thing, its really tough and leaves a functional looking finish. 


I was very surprised when it went back in without any drama, I could even get all the bolts in by hand   no ratchet straps needed. 

More to co

[lozzzzzz]

Had the evening on the car last night but didn't actually get that much done (spent most of it on the phone). 

I thought this might be of interest to some folk. 

You know how you spend lots of money on adjustable suspension.  Its normally good quality stuff but hasn't had much attention in the corrosion prevention department.  After just a few years of reasonably regular use you can kiss the threads goodbye and the adjusters might even be seized too. 

I've got a plan. 

I've bought some "layflat" plastic tubing that you might imagine a curtain rail to be wrapped in, except this is the thickest I can find.  Its 0.25mm thick, similar to the that blue sheet you lay down in building foundations. 

First I cleaned the units up, and copper greased the threads,


Then I put lots of sealer round the neck


Then cut an appropriate length of layflat (I had to buy 82m of the stuff )


And cable tie it tight around the top ensuring the sealer goes into all the creases in the plastic


The length is about as long as the unit, so will be longer than necessary when the suspension compresses.  It sits loosely around the bottom end and should stop the majority of road muck from getting to the damper spring assembly


Refit and repeat


I only got three done, but I'll be done tonight and will be able to drive the car in all weather and not sorry about ruining my expensive new GAZ dampers

More to come

[omega3000]

Ingenuity  Wont that plastic tare though in time  Great progress , ive used something called stove enamel or similar , its what they use on cookers to great effect .. ive used on motorcycle downpipes and it never comes off 

[F1 9LFG]

great work mate, I've seen the below used for the same reason before - maybe a consideration should your 'lay-flat' not hold up?

Regards

Rob

http://www.hilltop-products.co.uk/heat-shrink-tubing-range/heat-shrink-non-polyolefin-specialist/fep-heat-shrinkable-sleeves/fep-93-80.html

[lozzzzzz]

Yeah the plastic isn't exactly bomb proof, but it's pretty thick, you can't tear it by hand.  Thing is I had to buy 82m of the stuff, so if it seems to be working then gets damaged I've for a little left over

The shrink wrap is another good plan, I'll keep it in mind should this not work out. 

[05omegav6]

That'll be a handful on a frosty morning

[lozzzzzz]

There has been steady progress made over the last few weeks. 

I look the wheels back for re-balancing as there is a vibration at high speed, £20 later there was no difference

The track is 3.8 miles long and should suit the car quiet well, but there will be lots of time spent above 80mph, so this vibration will inevitably damage something.  So I took the propshaft off and asked the chap who mate it to check the balance for me.  It's hard not to sound rude asking someone to re-check their work, but I'm glad I did.  He found that the prop was slightly bent!!!!!

I can't recommend Proptech near Kidderminster enough, they're excellent!  Derek (of proptech) made the prop up near enough from scratch for under £150 (I think it might have been £120?).  This time he checked it, straightened it, re-balanced it, and repainted it for......   free! 
(he didn't repaint the damage so I could see where it was under the car)

I'd like to think I'm reasonably thorough with this sort of thing, but it turns out the oversize propshaft was hitting the extended handbrake bracket with the suspension is fully compressed. 

So I chopped it about a bit and as the photos show it now clears the handbrake bracket all the way through the suspension travel. 

Tested the car and no vibration, its super smooth all the way up to a high speeds. 




I slapped some paint on it then to see if there are any witness marks later on. 

I also said goodbye to the second omega around Christmas time.  I think the 3.2 engine, stronger gearbox and shed load of other spares ended up costing between £200 and £300 after selling and scrapping the remainder of the car   must'n grumble!


I'm very excited and very worried about the trackday which is less than a week away.  It's so much harder on the car than anything it's done so far.  I've got a list of things that could go wrong in my head. 

There are fewer people coming now than I thought, but its probably a good thing as Bedford isn't that great for onlookers really. 

All the bucket seats and harnesses are now in.  I've just got to change the diff oil once again and clean the car and it should be ready.           

More to come

[05omegav6]

Exciting stuff

Can't believe you binned the old one with the wheels though Everyone and their dfog seems to be after a set

[lozzzzzz]

I sold those to a member don't worry.  It was a good job the crane struggled and got stuck in that position for ages (the electrics in the lorry wouldn't let the crane lower cos of the weight).  Then I remember I had to take the wheels off. 

Close call!   

[05omegav6]

I sold those to a member don't worry.  It was a good job the crane struggled and got stuck in that position for ages (the electrics in the lorry wouldn't let the crane lower cos of the weight).  Then I remember I had to take the wheels off. 

Close call!