Well the weekend has been and gone and we got as much done as we could. We were hoping to start on the cage and I even took my helmet and neck brace up, but setting up the gearbox and making the motor plate and all the little odds and ends we did not get anywhere near it, but we still go a fair bit done.
When I took the box and other bits up, I also took the shim plate that goes between the engine and box. Steve measured this up and transferred it all onto a bit of 3 mm steel plate, he cut it to fit between the rails and then cut out the two main holes (Crank and starter motor) and drilled for the bell housing bolts.
The Cunning Coupe
The Cunning Coupe
While he was doing this, I decided that the callipers on the back axle would be better at the front, this would take the brake pipes out of the way. This did not take long and it looks a lot better for it.
The Cunning Coupe
Lesley and I started to make up the seat; we used cardboard and transferred this to the alloy sheet. When marked out, Lesley cut it out with the plasma cutter. We bent this around a gas bottle and fitted it into the chassis. It was cut oversize, so when it was fitting perfect, we marked it and I trimmed it off with a disc cutter.
The Cunning Coupe
The Cunning Coupe
With the motor plate made, Steve started to make the chassis mounts for it. The bottom ones will also be used to hold the belly pan at the front. We are going to fit a checker plate floor between the gearbox and rear axle anti rotational bars, so I cut a couple of support bars to go in between. These will also be used to take the back stays for the gearbox mount (Not shown in photo)
The Cunning Coupe
This was as far as I got, they have been shutting the M4 at Newport overnight for the last few weeks so I had to make a early exit so not to have to take the long detour. Steve and Lesley were still going to finish off a few things before they went home.
For those who have been following the build will know I had to shoot off down to Eastbourne the other weekend, as my mother had be rushed into hospital. While my mother will be out in a couple of days, it has taken a toll on myself and family, I have decided I have to put the build on hold for a while.
The engine and parts have been put away in my son’s garage and will stay for a couple of months, also with events and holidays, I will not be able to go The Shed until the end of October at the earliest. The car is still planned to be out next year, but I don’t think it will be at the beginning.
I would like to say a big "Thank you" Steve & Lesley for not only building the car, but looking after me while I am down in deepest Wiltshire and also when up the track.
My site has been updated (And paid for, for another year) at
http://www.cunningplan.net/thefuture.html
