TREASURE

I am happy to report that things are back on track with Arthur and last Tuesday I and a chum had a trip down to Ditchling in Sussex to visit Arthur in his man cave, well actually much more like a cavern. I can only dream of having so much space and that many tools, even if I knew what to do with them.  Two left hand drive Beetle Backs were in production for customers in the USA, but most importantly there was a pile of goodies that had my name on them. TREASURE, steering rack, steering column, petrol tank, pedal box, master cylinders, handbrake lever and brake lines, now we can really get a move on.

Suspension shouldn't be much longer and an order was confirmed for exhaust pipes, dashboard, gear linkage, prop shafts, reversing gearbox etc. I had a list of queries which we talked through and I came away very excited and anxious to get the spanners out.

Despite the cold damp weather I wrapped up well and laid my new goodies out for the obligatory photo, the petrol tank although in its correct position has yet to be bolted down, but came complete with a lovely Monza style filler cap.

First job was to fit the pedals into the pedal box, the fit of each pedal on the shaft was too snug and the surplus black powder coat paint had to be filed away. It was the same problem between each pedal, but with some serious filing the pedals eventually swung freely back and forth after the box was bolted down. I intended to fit the bikes original clutch cable, but I had to drill out the hole at the top of the pedal for the nipple and also to widen the split to allow the nipple to rotate freely. I used the old hand break adjuster and although the cable is a tad too long I found a good route for it, that is out of sight with no tight bends and it works well. The photo show the mechanical break warning light fitted, but the rod from the master cylinder needs to be shortened and a clevis fitted before that can be bolted on.

Next job is to fit the steering rack and column, better get the steering wheel ordered.

RACKED

The little job of the luggage rack that I mentioned in the my last posting is now almost complete. The wood supports have to be removed and given a final sanding before varnishing. The aluminium straps are 30mm wide by 2mm deep, there is very slight flexing, but I thought that if I went up to 3mm I might have trouble bending the little upstand at the tail end, that I considered necessary to prevent luggage from slipping backwards under fierce acceleration. May be a quaint wicker basket would be appropriate? I think it looks the business and that the proportions are right. By the way, the little pot of paint was exactly the right size to give me the line to grind and sand the ends to.

The 6mm countersunk bolts go all the way through the wood and the GRP before being bolted up behind two 20mm wide ali strips, one fore and the other aft, that run from side to side so the stress on the GRP is spread evenly. When the rack is finally attached, probably after the car is sprayed, I will use a length of double sided tape between the the wood and the GRP to take up any gaping between the two

On a sadder note my relationship with Arthur of Aerocyclecar, the maker and supplier of my kit has come to an end. This will make the project a little more challenging as I will now have to independently source parts, but I have been promised help in that direction from somebody, who completed his car last year. With a bit of luck it may be quicker this way, although some parts may have to be special one offs, but one step at a time and the first is steering and suspension, I''ll let you know.

CHRISTMAS BLING

Happy New Year to anyone reading this post and to celebrate it I have attached three of my wife's Christmas presents to the car.

First on was the Spread Eagle bonnet mascot, not quite the same, but very similar to Moto Guzzi's eagle motif that I applied to the alternator cover.Then the replica RAC and AA badges were pop riveted on, just to add a bit of nostalgia, those were the days, when a patrolman would snap a smart salute to a passing car bearing the appropriate badge

 

 

Next job is to make the luggage rack for the back of the car. I have a length of African hard wood, which my circular saw will cut down the middle to create the supports for the ali strips. The hard bit will be getting the underside of the wood to the same curvature of the GRP back panel, but I am sure I'll get there in the end.