DRL152K Marina based roadster rebuild

[greyV8pete]

Excellent workmanship!

[martinclan56]

I have modified the reverse mechanism for use with my remote gearchange. Not my idea - I copied it from someone else that had already done it.
It involves fitting a spring to the reverse lockout plate so it can be pushed to one side instead of having to lift the gearstick to clear it. Seems to work! But only time will tell how good it is in practice.
gearbox_mod3 by Robin Martin, on Flickr
gearbox_mod2 by Robin Martin, on Flickr

And I have pretty much completed the transmission tunnel and floors now. The floors are bonded in using Sikaflex 522 for strength and waterproofing. Should easily outlive me!
And I trial fitted one of the seats. Err - it didn't fit - too wide. But a bit of attention with some ratchet staps has sorted that. And there is plenty of room between the seat base and the larger than normal steering wheel that I plan to use. My extra depth doors should allow relatively easy entry and exit - I hope...
seat_trial_fit by Robin Martin, on Flickr

[listerjp2]

I have modified the reverse mechanism for use with my remote gearchange. Not my idea - I copied it from someone else that had already done it.
It involves fitting a spring to the reverse lockout plate so it can be pushed to one side instead of having to lift the gearstick to clear it. Seems to work! But only time will tell how good it is in practice.
gearbox_mod3 by Robin Martin, on Flickr
gearbox_mod2 by Robin Martin, on Flickr

And I have pretty much completed the transmission tunnel and floors now. The floors are bonded in using Sikaflex 522 for strength and waterproofing. Should easily outlive me!
And I trial fitted one of the seats. Err - it didn't fit - too wide. But a bit of attention with some ratchet staps has sorted that. And there is plenty of room between the seat base and the larger than normal steering wheel that I plan to use. My extra depth doors should allow relatively easy entry and exit - I hope...
seat_trial_fit by Robin Martin, on Flickr

Hiya

Yep that was my idea and I can confirm that after 3 years it is still working fine.

Well done, I really am enjoying your blog.

Regards

Adrian

[martinclan56]

Thanks Adrian. A combination of poor memory and too much internet searching meant I had forgotten where the original idea came from.
I made the "device" from a short length of 1/4" silver steel, threaded at one end and a boss (from ebay) on the other. Fairly easy to do with just hand tools. The spring in the pictures is a bit too strong so have ordered some weaker ones from ebay. They take 3 weeks to arrive though as they come straight from China!

[listerjp2]

Thanks Adrian. A combination of poor memory and too much internet searching meant I had forgotten where the original idea came from.
I made the "device" from a short length of 1/4" silver steel, threaded at one end and a boss (from ebay) on the other. Fairly easy to do with just hand tools. The spring in the pictures is a bit too strong so have ordered some weaker ones from ebay. They take 3 weeks to arrive though as they come straight from China!

Yep I had to play around with a number of springs but still happy after all these years

Keep up the log, really enjoying it

[listerjp2]

I would consider using grease. I've swapped mine to grease and it seems to be doing fine

Hi Andy, what grease did you use on your steering rack and how did you get in the rack.

Adrian

[andyf]

Hi Andy, what grease did you use on your steering rack and how did you get in the rack.

Adrian

Hi Adrian, I just took the steering rack gaiters off, and smeared the grease along the rack having turned the steering to full lock, focusing on the teeth. I use bearing grease.

[listerjp2]

Hi Adrian, I just took the steering rack gaiters off, and smeared the grease along the rack having turned the steering to full lock, focusing on the teeth. I use bearing grease.

Thankyou

Adrian

[martinclan56]

Some good progress now as I have stopped going on holiday for a while....
I have now fitted the seats on sliders from Car Builder.
runners by Robin Martin, on Flickr
The sliders are nice and robust if a little primative. The main problem is the adjustment mechanism projects above the face of the slider to which the seat mounts. They do supply some little spacers but I didn't fancy the whole weight of the seat and it's occupant being taken on just the 4 mounting points. So I made some spacers, that will support the whole length of the seat, from aluminium box section. This also allowed me to compensate for the fact that the seat mounting centres were at 300mm but the sliders could only accomodate 285mm.

Before I could fit the seats I had to - err - adjust them as they were about 1cm too wide.
seat1 by Robin Martin, on Flickr

Now they are fitted you can see there is plenty of room between the seat and the steering wheel to get legs in. I might even fit some seat pads :-)
seat3 by Robin Martin, on Flickr

The holes in the seat which provide strength (and look pretty) were a bit sharp on the edges. I ran a flap wheel arround them but for the seat belt holes I decided to fit some rubber U strip. This stuff is now available on Amazon and even includes an adhesive strip on the inside making fitting a doddle.
seat5 by Robin Martin, on Flickr

Next major job is to work out how to fit the front cycle wings....