Project V8

[meerkat]

The mgb rack turned up but now another problem has arisen in so much as the clearance for the steering column, there is none. so now I'm looking for a set of block huggers to give me the clearance I need. I have a mock up of the engine and gearbox in place and the mountings have been made. I just need to get the shocks and springs on the front sorted, I will probably go for coil over shocks with 400lb springs and then the car will me mobile again for the first time in 6 months. with a bit of luck it should be on the road before summer!!!

[motherofgod]

POP browns, do block huggers, not sure how much but worth a look

James

[plastic_orange]

Block huggers seem to be pretty costly and i'm not sure pop browns still do them. There is an MGB supplier that does, but again they are pricey. Is there any way to fit standard manifolds as they come in a variety of configurations - 1 may fit - and they probably flow better than block huggers.
You can always make a set - custom chrome used to do a kit of parts.

PO

[meerkat]

I now have an escort mk rack as the mgb one had a long shaft at the wrong angle, so I will try it this way and it should give me more options as to where the column will run.

[meerkat]

This week took a turn for the worse, I came home last week at 1130 am to find 2 burglars doing their best to empty my shed during the tete a tete I was punched to the ground and then hit over the back with pole. I recovered enough as they were making off in their car to put several large dents in the roof and smashed the rear window with the pole they hit me with. But the good news is they didn't touch the car and I've only lost a couple of tools which are covered on insurance, so take care out there folks and Happy Christmas to you all

[Jefftav]

If you do find these lowlifes stealing your gear alert someone else to phone the police or do it yourself and make some noise(sound car horn, set off alarm) too so that they do a runner. Get car registrations and descriptions (phone camera can be handy). These lowlifes have no morals and don't care what harm they cause so it is best to stay out their way. Cars and tools can be replaced you can't be and chances are they are known to police:D

Glad you lived to tell the tale Meerkat these incidents seem to becoming more prevalent at the moment. As you say everyone should take care and be aware of folk showing interest in your cars or garages etc...

[motherofgod]

Blimey Steve, Glad your ok, did you get some help from old colleagues. Last week the house I live in had this polish burglar break in by smashing the kitchen door right in then my landlord got up and met him in the hallway and he slowly walked out! Absolutely nuts. They did catch him, hope yours get some karma. Have a peaceful xmas

James

[meerkat]

Thanks for your comments people, their time will come. Anyway I've tracked down some block huggers which are used for the mgbv8 conversions, so with a bit of luck I shouldn't have too much trouble getting the clearance I need for the steering, but as with most things this time of year I won't be spending any time in the shed to get things moving along.

[meerkat]

Got the huggers on the mock up and managed to get the clearance I needed for the steering column however, I now have to fabricate new lower wishbones as the existing ones are too long and foul the exhaust. I dont remember having these problems last time I did this, and I can only assume it's down to the wheel size and offset that I have chosen, which is giving me less room to play with, but it's only a minor hiccup in the grand scheme of things.

[meerkat]

things have been very slow due to the wife being on crutches and she finds it difficult to crawl under the car to hold things while I weld them (only joking), so Ive been a bit of a house husband, things are looking up though and she,s getting more mobile, and have started to get stuck in. on another note the police caught the scumbags who broke into my shed and he will go to court next week.

[meerkat]

Things are going slowly as I have broken ribs to contend with, purely my own fault (note to self I am no longer 21). the steering rack is ready to go on now that I have made new lower wishbones I will then be able to fabricate new inner wings and bulkhead to mount the pedal box amongst other things. I still need the coil over shocks for the front and plan to go for 300lb springs. I also need to start thinking about the interior, I read somewhere that someone had used audi tt seats or citreon saxo both of which are aplenty on ebay, The exhaust has been sorted by means of mgb v8 which is block huggers into a single pipe to a single exhaust system. Mgbv8 will also provide the alternator and mounting bracket as well as the radiator.

[plastic_orange]

I fitted a set of TT seats to my Minor a couple of years ago - here's the link:
http://morrisminorowners.co.uk/about1083.html

Pete

[meerkat]

Thanks PO A very interesting read I shall have to get some photos done. I managed to get the pedal box and servo positioned which came from a Discovery it had to be slightly modified but it fit's. just. I should now have enough room to fit the steering column and rack which is from a MGB I shall try and fabricate some form of inner wings on the front as I live in the country and the roads always seem to be covered mud and cr.p. Have put some photos on photobucket Meerkat 7

[meerkat]

fuel tank problem solved, I only have to find one, it will be from a morris minor van and hopefully they will be aplenty. The front shocks have been ordered and the bulkhead position has been marked so the dummy engine can now come out so all the fabrication can be done and painted ready for the new engine. I have thought about trying to build inner wings to try and keep most of the crud off the engine, what I want to know is anyone out there running a car without inner wings, do they wish they had them fitted, I would like to hear some views if poss.

[meerkat]

engine bay almost complete I made the inner wings by removing the arch section from the old wings and welded them into place. as soon as its painted I will post another photo.

[irmscher]

Anything else done ? i am very interested in the progress

[meerkat]

the engine bay has been primed, but I want to drill the holes in the bulkhead for cables etc before painting. once the painting is out of the way the servo, clutch master cyl and other bits can be fitted before the engine. the colour will be old english white with a dark blue metalic roof.

[plastic_orange]

I presume you'll be fitting a crossmember (removeable) to keep the suspension towers apart. If not, I'd suggest doing so as the chassis will flex at that point.

Pete

[meerkat]

the rails are welded together via a crossmember at the front just out of shot. there will also be another one close to the bell housing but I cant fit that yet untill I know how much clearance there is for the exhaust, that one will be removeable.
Steve

[meerkat]

the engine bay is almost ready for the engine, I'm just waiting for the clutch to be delivered then Bobs your uncle.
I have also started to prep the body for painting and as I have a few days off at the moment I'll make use of the time. I originally set the rear suspension to use the original 4 shocks and springs but I have found it way to hard so I shall replace them with 2 fully adjustable coil overs from AVO Not sure about the poundage though so it could be a bit of SWAG (scientific wild *rsed guess)