Manky's Pop.

[andbolt0]

looking pretty damd good

[ByzMax]

It  would need to be complete and stand a chance of passing otherwise the will refuse to start the test anyhow so worth just getting done and in. It need not be painted or finished but everything needs to be working.

Looking good

[Manky Monkey]

I know, I know. 

[TwistedPatience]

Damn KOOL ride there Andy keep at it, anything I can do just shout.

[Manky Monkey]

HELP!

Need all the help we can get on all the projects! I just don't seem to have time to do anything on any of them. So much to do. The two rods that support the top of the radiator grille were too long -we'd only guessed at their length. So I hacksawed them down the other day & after work this afternoon drove the 20 miles from Basingstoke to Newbury to have the ends re-threaded. By the time I'd fought my way back through the rush hour traffic it was time to head home to Guildford. A whole day just to get two 2 inch lengths of thread cut. Progress, but very slow progress.
Between nipping out to do his Christmas shopping, Loony took a look at the British Leyland Mini front wings we plan to canabalise to create the lower sections of the cab back corners. Doesn't really show here, but he's cut away the bit the Mini headlight would normally sit in & clamped the remaining curved section to the Pop bodywork. With a little cutting, bashing & welding it will apparently be "sound".

[tony b]

clever sod

[Manky Monkey]

Before it got dark this afternoon, (damn this Winter weather), Loony & I dragged the Pop kicking & screaming out into the sunshine. Our first chance to stand back & have a good look at it for a while.
I was worried the nose would look too long with the axle pushed so far forward. Looks about right to me though. I think the taller than standard wheels help. We've still got to add the sills under the doors, which will lower the body by another inch or so.
To qualify as a commercial vehicle for the SVA test, the pick-up bed has to be longer than the cab. Our cab's about 48 inches long & the bed's 53, so no problem there. We mocked up the pick-up bed length with cardboard. We decided the rear wheels should be equi-distant from each end of the bed, so the bed will overhang the chassis slightly. The top of the bed sides will be level with the swage line on the doors & the bottom will extend down to the suspension linkage rods under the chassis.

[Manky Monkey]

.

[Manky Monkey]

The bonnet only needs extending by about 2 inches, which shouldn't be noticable when it's done. Unlike most V8 engined Pops, where the driver ends up with half the engine inside the car & sitting where the original rear seats would be, we've managed to keep the motor on the right side of the firewall, giving quite a roomy cab.

[Manky Monkey]

We clamped our cardboard pick-up sides to the chassis rails, but the steel ones will be wider -halfway between the outer edges of the body & the sides of the rear window.
Being able to stand back & look at the truck from a distance, we can see now that the radiator grille support struts need to be lower at the bulkhead end, so that they're in line with the raised swage line on the doors.

[Manky Monkey]

A few measurements for those that are vaguely interested -listen up Shaun 
Ground clearance under the radiator grille        5 inches
Ground clearance under the engine sump         8 inches
Roof height                                                55 inches
Pick-up bed length                                      53 inches
Pick-up bed width                                       43 inches

[BikerGran]

Looking good Andy!


No you fool, I meant the Pop!

[tony b]

two vw vans ,a mini a beetle,my my andy you are busy.

[tazet]

They are Lunatic's. He's the guy who has the workshop that the pop is in.

[Manky Monkey]

Only a couple of hours spare this afternoon, so I bent up a loop of 1 inch bore ERW tube, which will form a frame under the dashboard for the steering column & pedals to hang from. Not easy to measure & fit when the doors are still tack-welded shut. 
Praise indeed Bobbi!