Engine Mock-Up

This is a major milestone for this build, I have a FIAT Twin Cam Lampredi designed engine for the car, it's from a 1984 FIAT Argenta, but is basically the same engine as 131 Sport, Strada Abarth, 105TC, 124 Sport, Spider etc...

When I picked the kit up nearly two years ago, Richard and the team at GBS helped by trying the engine out in a chassis at the workshop and knocked up the engine mounts to suit this engine and block etc. with it being different from the Zetec or Pinto options.

I also opted for the GBS team to produce a custom inlet manifold to suit the engine and the ZX-6R carbs I have sourced.

So this past weekend was the first proper install, albeit temporary, to see how the engine and gearbox look.

Big thanks to Nigel from work who was a superb help getting it in, and also to Davie from work for getting me a loan of a lifting frame.

 

Ready to lift....

 

 

Nigel toils while I mess around with the camera.... :-)

All looks well as you can see, with perhaps a slight adjustment needed to the chassis at the gear stick housing end, where things are a bit tight. Also looks like a smaller alternator with bespoke brackets will be required to clear the steering column.

Next job is to get the differential in to look at the dimensions needed for a prop shaft and check out the other engine parts for clearance.

Drivers Side Interior and Side Panel

Made some more progress a week or so back on the panels on the drivers side.

Got a great help from Kenny Gray from work to form the small kink in the side panel to match the chassis.

Its been a great motivation seeing the progress that David, Paul and Richard have made getting their cars to the IVA stage....thanks guys.

New House, New Garage, Progress at Last....

After a year and a half of 'zero' progress, having moved house and had a year working down south (with no chance of working on the the build) I have finally got things up and running again.

Pedals all assembled and installed with bushes etc. Brake master cylinder fitted also.

Bushes fitted and distance tubes installed into the front and rear suspension wishbones and bolted up on a temporary basis. I will need to remove and shorten the tubes to match the bush widths and install additional large diameter washers. Also need to get two spacers made up to fill the gap between the upper mounting flanges for the shock absorber.



Also completed the drill off of the drivers foot well forward panel.

Next step the interior panel at the drivers seat and that should complete the O/S interior panels.....