Robin Hood Series 3a week 8

The report for this week is kind of late  as I have been so busy, but I have lots to tell you. I managed to get the old car stripped completely which is a big step as I have everything I need ready to fit the new one. It was very heavy work removing the engine and box by myself but I managed with a little help from my angle grinder to cut the front end off. I removed the wiring loom and was amazed how heavy it was, I am making my own loom for the car so there will be a big weight saving there. The first thing I fitted on to the car was the gearbox mounting the one on the car had rusted away to nothing, it took half a day to put the two bolts into the mounting as they had to be inserted into holes in the tunnel floor with the only access was through the gear lever hole or a small space under the box from the front of the gearbox. Not one of my favorite jobs.  Next up was getting the new discs and calipers fitted and running the brake lines in, I went for putting the lines inside the car as they are copper pipes so will never need to be replaced.. Fitted the master cylinder onto the pedal-Box and all the line fastened in, I may add extra clips in the engine bay at a later date.  Fitted the hand-brake and connected the cables- it works but is going to need adjusting as it has a lot of travel 

I was looking for a nice easy job last Sunday as I was shattered, so I set to to put the rear bulkhead in behind the seats. this creates the larger boot that I had on the other car, of course it wasn't a simple job as it had to be slid into the space between the rear arches then twisted down to slot into the space behind the seats. Once I realized that this car is 1inch narrower than the old one and the tunnel is offset by 2 inches it was simple. While I was on I fitted the infill  panels on the ends of the rear arches to finish them off.

I then set about getting the steering column lined up and fitted as I had got the bearing for the bulkhead. The hole in the bulkhead was in the wrong place so I had to make a plate to cover the old hole with a hole in the correct place and drilled ready to accept the bearing. I had to remove the exhaust and manifold and the brake master cylinder to get access and I am too old to be lying down the drivers foot well working with my arms over my head. I am pleased no one was there to laugh as I attempted to get back out. Column support fitted and I will, wait and see if the column needs any more adjusting before I finally bolt in the strengthening bar.

Last job for the week got the windscreen positioned and bolted into place- it will need to  come off again to seal where it fits round the body but that is only 6 bolts fitted the hood as well   so a good weeks work. Oh I got the old shell away to the scrap yard.