Started to Restore My Roadster

[b_caswell]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

See my post in your Marina pedal box thread

[andyf]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

See my post in your Marina pedal box thread

Hi Ben,

Thanks, yes I saw your post. The problem is I don't have the tools to bend the steel plate and not having the dimensions makes it harder to get a fabricator to make it up for me. If anyone has the dimensioned drawing that would be great.

Thanks

Andy

[b_caswell]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

Can't help with the measurements as my car is hybrid. But it wouldn't be too difficult to make a template to fit using either thin alloy or even a corn flakes packet. The only important point would be the angle between the bulkhead and the side panel. All the bends are straight 90 degrees in 16 gauge so a decent vice and a bit of angle iron is all you need.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

One.of the early Tech Tips had an article about cracked bulkheads, I will see if I can dig it out.

here or there

[andyf]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

Thanks Steve. I'll download it tonight.

[andyf]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

Last night I got five minutes to take a look at triangulating the peddle box to the chassis last night. Unfortunately I can't make it work and I'm not sure that the "standard" marlin fix would fit either. The problem is that the 4-2-1 exhaust manifold is right in the way :-( When I took a look from the inside I noticed that it already has a piece of angle used to stiffen the bulkhead between the accelerator peddle mount and the bulkhead so I think I'm going to replace it with a longer piece. I won't be able to get all the way across but I should be able to get it to the middle of the transmission tunnel which should help. Unfortunately my phone's packed up so I can't post any pictures at the moment but I'll add some as soon as I can get a new battery!

[h_m_cumming]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

That's what you need to try and achieve Andy. The weak point is at the cutout for the tunnel. If you can bridge that you should be OK.
Can you do it in two stages, a bit from each side with an overlap?

[andyf]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

I may have to use some cereal boxes and tape to make a template. Unfortunately the Ford tunnel isn't straight across the top so the angle needs to have a bend in it!

[andyf]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

So here are a couple of pictures. This one shows the view from the engine bay. The problem is that the manifold is right in the way.

20140924_201319.jpg

This is from the cockpit. The aluminium angle can be seen behind the throttle peddle mount. It's a pity it's not longer! I'm going to get a longer bit of angle and see if I can get it in behind the heater so that it spans the weak point in the bulkhead.

20140924_201352.jpg

The biggest problem I'm going to have is drilling the holes for the fixings, either pop rivets or bolts, it's not going to be easy!

[h_m_cumming]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

I stuck all mine down with silicon sealer as well as rivets, belt and braces.

[andyf]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

Anyone know how the Marina steering racks are lubricated? My old escort rack was filled with gear oil but we used to just grease the sunbeam rack.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

The manuals say "inject 1/3Pt of a recommended lubricant through the pinion end rack seal, then locate and tighten the rack seal clip" here or there
Recommended lubricant is EP90 here or there

You could also try injecting through the centering hole in the middle of the rack body.

[andyf]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

Haven't had much time to work on my car recently but I have managed to replace the alternator, the ignition light wasn't coming on. What was funny was that I used Google to find a local alternator specialist and when I dropped my faulty unit off the guy laughed and said that's one of ours! I must have got the alternator from them back in the 80's when I built the car... what a coincidence!
20141018_105309.jpg

I also had time to remove the spare wheel, I wanted to shorten the mounting bolts because the were sticking out into the boot area. While I had it in pieces I decided to paint the mount since it was quite rusty.
20141018_105355.jpg

I've got my dad working on making up a stiffening bracket for the peddle box so hopefully I can get it put back together next week...

[andyf]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

The manuals say "inject 1/3Pt of a recommended lubricant through the pinion end rack seal, then locate and tighten the rack seal clip" here or there
Recommended lubricant is EP90 here or there

You could also try injecting through the centering hole in the middle of the rack body.

Thanks Steve, I'll get a syringe to pump the oil in with.

[andyf]

Re: Started to Restore My Roadster

Made a stiffening strip for the peddle box and a bracket to fit on the engine compartment side so that I can use a rod down to the chassis to stiffen it further.

20141102_144832.jpg20141102_145742.jpg

The holes in the bracket are slotted so that I don't have to remove the peddle box to fit it.

I've also fitted new shocks to the back end and freed off the clutch, after 18 years of inactivity the driven plate was stuck to the flywheel and the pressure plate. A tap with a hammer and chisel soon separated them!