New Engine

[Manky Monkey]

That's a tidy UJ set up -possibly the shortest linkage yet?

[reliantman]

Still playing with it. If I can solid mount the front of the box I should get away with it.
Got to do some sort of shaft from the clutch to the gear box.

[reliantman]

Today I spent twenty five quid on a piece of 10mm thick ally plate, 16 x 13 inches.
It's going to be bolted into the middle of the frame, and the Reliant gearbox will be bolted to that.
Got to cut it up with just hand tools, so that should be a laugh. 

[Manky Monkey]

Most of my stuff is hand cut & filed as that's all I have access to -plus I find it kinda satisfying to create something from nothing like that. Plenty of hours of sweat & toil ahead for you then Doug!

[reliantman]

Cheers.
To be honest there is not a lot to do, apart from drilling the holes to mount the bellhousing.
The hardest job is going to be making sure all the surfaces are square so the U/J flanges line up & don't vibrate.

[reliantman]

Tombstone anyone?

I chain drilled the top corners and gave them a quick going-over with the grinder. I will tidy it up with the correct file, if I can find it.

[Manky Monkey]

That's a big ol' lump of plate.
I've got to try & find a couple of square feet of 3mm steel for various mounting brackets on the Pop & strengthening gussets on Taz's trike frame. 

[reliantman]

I usually go in and scrounge bits off the storeman in our local fabrication company, but they only have a limited supply. I had to go further afield for the ally plate.

[Manky Monkey]

You dug it up from a field?
Didn't have to go too far to find my steel plate in the end -I blagged some from me brother Brock last night. 

[reliantman]

Looks like I dug it up, does'nt it?
I dunno how long it was in the back of the stores.

[reliantman]

I have another bit of ally for the back of the bellhousing. Ten quid for 12x12 Inches.

[Manky Monkey]

Bargain.