Reassembly begins

Over Christmas, everyone was sick. I had about 10 - days holiday all told over the holiday period and had hoped to get some work done on the car. But, what with snow and flu, very little got done at all. I had really hoped to get the suspension wishbones and uprights attached, however, things didn't go smoothly. It was not a straightforward "bolt it back together job".

I got the wishbones back from the powdercoaters and they looked fine,

Lowers

Uppers

Poor photography! But they do look good!

so, I rushed off to the garage like a kid with a new toy to fit the bushes and attach the wishbones to the car. Problem one: having fitted the bushes to the new wishbone, I offered it up to the wishbone mounts and it didn't fit. It appears the wishbone is about 2 mm too narrow for the mounts....

Problem two: the top wishbone fits fine, but the spacer tube of the new bushes has a 3/8 inch I/D to take a 3/8 inch pivot bolt. However, the hole in the wishbone mount to take the bolt has a smaller diameter, so the pivot bolt won't go throught the hole, probably just needs drilling out to the correct diameter. I will need to get to the bottom of this before I start messing about with the wishbone mounts on the new chassis. I don't want to start drilling out holes before I am sure. Its easier to drill out metal than it is to put it back again! In the mean time I have to get something bolted back on the chassis!

 I decided to go for the steering rack. The rack was in good condition mechanically, but the track rod ends were both shot. It took a week to get the rack cleaned and de rusted and to clean up the rack mounts and repaint them. I also checked the gaiters and replaced all the gaiter clamps because the old ones were nasty .......and then re fitted the rack!

I have a few receipts from the previous owner so I can tell you the new chassis was bought in February 2001. So there it is. The very first bit to go back on the chassis since February 2001 is the steering rack on the 9th January 2011, almost 10 years since the new chassis and just over 24 years from when the car was taken off the road!

All I have to do now is get to the bottom of the wishbone issue and I will be well on the way.

As a bonus, I have discovered where the cat, disappears to when we can't find him. While I was fitting the rack, I heard a rustling noise coming from the back of the garage. There, sitting in the in well at the rear of the car, where the petrol tank goes, was Jazzy Jeff the cat. There is a small hole in the back garage wall where he obviously sneaks in sits in the back of the Vixen.