231 replies to this topic

[rodomo]

And you repeat yourself too.

[jonesy]

yep yep

[christolx]

well well....

 

ha ah no strengthening kit currently, not really sure it is neccisary. Brakes are Brembo four pot's from a Lotus Esprit. 330ml rotors up front with VR Rears 

[jonesy]

Well I'd be pretty confident that that's going to pull it up

Good stuff

[christolx]

apologies for going AWOL. I know its been a fair few months, but unfortunately things get in the way and money can be hard to come by. But...she's finally set for paint. 

 

https://youtu.be/eZODZPNdq4E

[jeffblanco]

Great work Chris,

in an earlier post you mention doing a bearing modification to the lower part of the steering column.

Why is this done, and would you still do it if you were running power steering?

 

Regards Mando.

[christolx]

Hi Mando, 

 

Yes the bearing mod. Basically the bearing is just a general improvement over the factory Torana bearing (at it's current age). It's intended to make the steering slightly smoother, some people report an improvement but it may be negligible I am yet to find out, as I have not re-installed the column into the car yet. I did the modofication as I re-built the whole front end as I wanted everything serviced and working as good as new. Your best bet is to feel for any play in the bearing and make the decision to replace it or not. It's not too difficult, and I feel its good piece of mind to replace older parts that may have signs of wear 

[jeffblanco]

Thanks Chris,

I'm going to strip the column anyway, so if it's just a changeover I might as well change it while I'm there.

 

Regards Mando.

[christolx]

So she goes in for Paint next Saturday   it's been a long time coming!

[HIBERN8]

It’s been awhile since I’ve browsed through this forum so had a bit of catching up to do on your thread. Awesome news to hear she is all ready for paint! Definitely a very satisfying milestone in the build. Congrats on getting there mate!

[christolx]

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All Set for Paint 

 

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[GMH-01X]

Exciting times Chris, now the fun part will begin soon piecing it all back together

[308mate]

Ooh la la. What colour will she come back...

[christolx]

you will have to wait and see... 

 

Trial fit of the flare kit. cutting into perfectly good guards just doesn't seem right 

 

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They seem to fit quite well. Plan is to take the guards as high up as I can, trim off the firewall lip at the front, basically (in my opinion) there is not a lot of point to the flare if the space isn't maximised so...going for it!

[jeffblanco]

Hi Chris,

where do your flares come from?

Iv'e never seen flares fit so well.

I got mine through rare spares, what a load of crap.

The work that went into making them fit properly made my head spin.

As well as remedial work, every flare needed  a lot of work to make the bottoms line up with the bottom of the guards.

The rear spoiler, which I also bought through rare spares didn't follow the shape of the boot so I had to buy another one.

They wouldn't take it back because the firm they got it from went out of business.

 

Regards Mando.

[christolx]

surprisingly I do not know the origin of the flares...they actually came with the car and I'm surprised with how well they fit myself. The rest of the kit is from Ernicks-Wilson Fibreglass and they are pretty much the best in the business as far as what I have researched on this forum. If you do a quick search you will see a lot of recommendations 

[Jay#2]

Definitely a good quality flare kit then, mine have took about 100 hours of chopping and reglassing which seems pretty normal for most kits.

[christolx]

it seems that way Jay#2 

 

so just a quick update, they have finished cutting the guards nice and high just like I wanted and have welded up the gap between the inner & outer guard nicely, as I wanted to give some strength and rigidity back to that area. I have seen how they came out of the factory and also seen many ways other's have done it; but I must say I'm pretty happy with the finish! 

 

 

[Bigfella237]

A bit hard to see on that video but I think you'll want to cut a lot more out of those front guards, especially at the front lower corner (the part that gets covered by the front spoiler)?

[mick_in_oz]

I'm with Andrew, gonna have to cut some more, LOTS more, and depending on the wheels and tyres you are gonna be running, lots more out of the A pillar firewall area.

 

I'd go to within maybe 8mm of the flare bolt holes.

 

Get rid off all of the front lower corner of the front guard, the fiberglass covers it anyways. And depending on the wheel and tyre, maybe some of the rear lower also.

 

Basically if its behind the flare, get rid of it.

 

Easier to cut it out now rather than later...

[christolx]

I'm only running 235's on the front. The lower front is cut in Line with the flare, I'll have another look at it. Yea the A-Pillar firewall area hasn't been touched yet, I am definitely going to clearance that area.

 

Thanks for the helpful replies 

[mick_in_oz]

And the rears, cut more from the rears, cut enough from the rears that you start to get worried you wont get the nuts to fit on the bolts, and even with this much cut out it won't actually be enough!

 

Take a couple of inches out of the A pillar!

 

What size wheel and back space?

 

And while your at it, cut more out!!! 

[mick_in_oz]

Couple of pics of my A pillar clearanced for a 215/60/15, on a 15x7" with 3" back space.

 

You can also see the rear bottom of the guard has some removed also.

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[christolx]

oh...wow...ok yep I see your approach

 

so I have got them to cut out the front section of the guard where the front splitter joins to the flare and I have marked where I want them to take a bit more off the arch, closer to the bolt holes on the front section. I am getting them to cut out that section on the firewall, but I don't really get the concept of cutting more out of that rear part because it sits in line with the bottom of the flare?

 

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[76lxhatch]

Positive scrub radius, steer the wheels inboard at the rear and watch how much the outside corner moves backwards (it tucks inside the flare, but hits at the firewall). This gets significantly worse as you increase rolling diameter.