Right then better start my '77 S1 project...

[CharlieCroker]

I have no intention of replacing this radio and it will stay in place in the center switch panel, what I will do however is hide a new head unit and locate speakers so that they are also hidden or very discrete. I have done this set up in every retro car I have ever owned this way you get great sound but maintain originality to the eye. 

[vintaylor]

Looking forward to seeing the interior coming together in your elite!

[CharlieCroker]

You wouldn't believe the effort I am putting in to source original interior parts, been scouring the web for hours (don't tell the boss!) Drove 6 hours round trip to get that dash, seats are proving to be a bitch to find in good nick, all good fun though lovin'it, all part of the chase ;-) 

[CharlieCroker]

Didn't get a whole lot done this weekend but have discovered that moving the body shell forward is not a simple as slotting the points of contact holes, instead it is a massive job of sectioning the rear and front of the shell to gain the space needed to allow for access on the rear suspension turrets and space to miss the front V of the chassis, it can be done but is a lot of work. I've measured the front and rear arch and I need to gain 2.5 - 3cm at the front, that will take the rear wheel back and should center it as well as improving the position of the front wheel in the arches as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Don.Hasi]

 

 

 

The picture of the damper looks like it is a bit bent in direction to the top mount. Perhaps a possible reason because the wheels are not at the right position? 

 

Oh and for this "simple" unbolt and bolt the chassi... the gear gaiter will move also, won´t it?

 

A fair amount of jobs. good luck with it.

[Herc]

Charlie,

 

Here a few snaps of my chassis vs body alignment.  The rear cross member is hard against the back of the body, but yours look pretty close. I can't see that your body alignment is far out, personally.

 

https://plus.google.com/110688590824613490459/posts/3CqTZNgzgXz

[CharlieCroker]

Thanks for that Herc, I think my shell will need some tweaks to get it forward. What I was thinking though is taking it as far forward as it will go until it makes contact with either the rear cross member or suspension strut and them retake measurements with the wheels back on, if the wheels then look better I will leave it at that. If not and I think it is worth the hassle I will section the shell to make the gain, for what I have planned for the car I need the clearance in the arch. 

[mikeeech]

As an aside your chassis looks in good nick.

[CharlieCroker]

Thanks, it is, all the mechanics look good and engine sounds sweet. Just the body is not perfect. One way or another I'll get it better aligned, even 1cm forward would make a difference as it would increase the gap at the front of the arch and reduce the gap at the back. :-)

[CharlieCroker]

Look what came in the post!

 

 

New rear crank shaft seal fitted.

 

 

 

Can anyone confirm torque setting for these and the flywheel?

 

 

New bearing in place.

 

 

Electronic ignition.

 

[CharlieCroker]

Had a can of wrinkle paint left over from another project, seeing as the engine was out...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[vintaylor]

looks awesome .. Does your wife allow you to put parts in your oven haha?

[CharlieCroker]

Not when she's around! Don't tell anyone, hehe 

[esprit s2]

Why red dude?

[CharlieCroker]

Why red dude?

 

Cos' I had a can of red left over. I know they should be black but heyho, that's the way it goes...

[esprit s2]

Looks good!

[vintaylor]

Plus it matches the car

[iainskea]

Vey nice Vin

[CharlieCroker]

GET IN! Got the mudda fudda off, and all intact, no real damage done except the nut to the bolt looks a little worse for wear. Cleared under the area, that is moved all the shite that was getting in the way, tools and crap everywhere, moved the axle stand to get a proper swing at the bolt and with a mighty blow from the persuader it moved! Couple more swings and a massive screwdriver too knock the bolt out, then just a little fight to get the strut off. Schweeet! 

 

Edited April 9, 2014 by CharlieCroker

[LOTUSPOINT]

...Can anyone confirm torque setting for these and the flywheel?

 

bolts housing (from manual page 19: "all other 6mm nuts or setsrews")  .96-1.1 Kg/m or 7-8lbs/ft or 10Nm

bolts flywheel (from manual page 19: "flywheel") 6.5-6.77Kg/m or 47-49lbs/ft or 65Nm

[CharlieCroker]

Thanks ^^. Had a go at removing the front struts before the football last night, and to my surprise wasn't such a big struggle. Couldn't get the compressors in place as many have discovered on here so the only way is to remove the upper wishbone which came our without even a little fight. Then compressed the spring as best I could whilst supporting the hub assembly using a jack, this enables you to ease of the pin nut at the top of the strut. So I now have the right side suspension of the car completely off, hopefully the left side will be done this weekend. 

 

 

The only way I could get a good hold on the spring with the compressor was as shown here, properly squashed the life out of it! 

Edited April 11, 2014 by CharlieCroker

[CharlieCroker]

Cam covers back on, looking resplendent.



Started painting the cruddy and rusty parts of the chassis, just using hammerite smooth, seems to be appling very well, I'm surprised in fact how well it has gone on. 














 

[vintaylor]

its really starting to come together Charlie!

[CharlieCroker]

Cheers Vin it is, the last shock however is proving to be a right git to get off, the other 3 have come off without a major fight but this sod doesn't want to budge, I spent hours hammering on the bolt but still doesn't want to move. I'm just gunna keep oiling it and hammering until it yields!  

[vintaylor]

Persistence and/or a grinder is always the key haha