April - Oct, 2008 Update
Miscellaneous Ramblings....
Well.... where to start ? It's been a while since I updated the build page. I'd like to say it's been a busy summer in the garage to bother with web updates! But the reality is not quite so productive. I can say I have spent much of the summer thinking about what to do. That would be more accurate. I have still been weighing the feasibility of doing a bike engine power train instead of the 'Yota drive train.
Watching YouTube videos of BEC Locosts is bloody addicting. So time passes as I twiddle my thumbs with indecision.
The smartest option for me is to continue with my original plan. I should keep it relatively simple with toyota power and stick to the more traditional build plan. I probably have enough challenges with this 'simple' build. If I want to see this through to a successful conclusion: then stick to the plan!
... my inner voice says " SCREW THAT !! 'BUSA! 'BUSA !! 'BUSA !!! SEQUENTIAL GEARBOX ! 11,000 RPM REDLINE! DO IT !! "
See and HEAR 'Busa-Powered Sound & Fury here
Anyhow... here is the small progress over the spring and summer....
Bottom corner tubes:
On the back of the frame there are 4 rounded corner tubes that most builders make using a variety of methods. These are well documented on Locostusa.com and other build sites. The top bar I cheated a bit and had Russel Metal Specialities bend it for me. See the March 2008 progress update: here . This left the two small corner tubes on the bottom of the chassis. Russel Metal also had some pre-molded 90 degree corners available. There were not the exact size I wanted but were very close. They were cheap enough to make an inexpensive experiment if they didn't work: about $4 each.
I fully welded the pre-molded corners to the tubes, then ground the weld smooth with grinder and flap wheel. I still need to cut them to length and weld to chassis but I was pleased with the results.
The corners will be installed here:
Rod Ends:
I purchased ten rod ends for the back of the car. Five each left hand thread, right hand thread. This will be enough for the four links and the panhard bar. They were purchased from a national industrial supply store with an office in Regina. I can't find the bill at the moment. I had priced out rod ends on several web sites so I thought I had a general idea of what they would cost. So I placed my order without verifying the price. A month or so later they arrived. I was stunned to find out they cost in the neighborhood of $40 - $45 EACH !
Yes, I am, indeed an, idiot!! This was more than double the cost of what I was expecting.
I felt like an even bigger schmuck when I found some postings on the locostusa web site that referred to Jack McCornack's web site: http://www.kineticvehicles.com/ .
His price lists shows similar rod ends (the X Series) for $14 each. http://www.kineticvehicles.com/parts.html . I haven't ordered parts from Jack, the Locostusa community does have a high opinion of him and the products he supplies. I still need rod ends for the front of the car, so I'm sure I'll be ordering from him in the future.
Front end parts:
I found a list of part numbers of the UK Builders site: http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/ for the parts needed when using the Cortina front hubs.
I had tried several Regina parts houses with no success. Not many parts guys have ever heard of a Cortina: "ya mean a Ford Escort, right ??" You should have seen their faces when I asked them for two Right Hand Thread Drag Link Ends for a 1965 - 1984 British Ford Transit Van.
Gord and Gary highly recommended Derek McIlwaine with McIlwaine Services in Balgonie, SK. He is an old-school parts technician with decades of experience and knowledge. I took my list to him and he was able to get the majority of what was needed. He could even get the Transit parts too but suggested they would be cheaper if I got them shipped across the pond myself. Derek is a great guy and I'm glad to recommend him: McIlwaine Services, Balgonie, 771-2380 (no long distance toll from Regina). I was there last week picking up front pads for the POS Malibu too.
I picked up the two Transit drag link ends off a seller on eBay UK for a little less than $30 including airmail delivery.
Seats:
I travelled to Stoon and met up with Ron Lapointe. It was great to see him as we had lost touch since my move to Regina in '89. He is still a Datsun 510 guy and we got to chat about old times, people and cars with the Saskatoon Sports Car Club. A had a bunch of sedan parts and spare engines I'd never use for my '71 510 Wagon. I took a trailer load of 510 bits to Ron. As it turned out he had a pair of leather seat that he didn't want. That was unexpected but a welcome addition to the project. The seat rails will get removed and then some major surgery will take place. Hopefully they can be used in the finished car. A tan interior with a BRG paint scheme would be awesome.
Current Chassis State:
Finish welding has started on the chassis. I have fully welded the top and bottom rails. I had planned to continue of the rest of the joints. I moved the chassis for better access to the joints.
That is pretty much where I have left off.
How I spent my summer....
We had two (yes TWO!) garage sales over the summer. As much as like getting the crap out of the house and out of the garage, I hate the work leading up to them. "Fer Chris-sakes ! Can't we just toss this crap out??"
I went to Gimli for a couple of weekends with the Blurred Vision Race Team . My thanks to Gord Leach and Gary Tholl for being such great hosts and letting a rookie like me help out a little. It was great to meet up with a number of people I hadn't seen in a very long time and meet some new new faces too. Steve M. (Fonzy) and Dano the Mano were great to meet but there were others too!!
I've been moving some large objects out of the garage so I can get some working room over the winter. The sand blasting cabinet went to Terry A. I hadn't used it since I bought it five (?) years ago. It was too big to justify keeping anymore. I bought a '79 Kawasaki in Fall, 2007. It sat here over the winter and all summer. So it will be going to as new home too. It's in outside storage for Rabin until next spring.
I figure the fewer projects I have to get distracted by, the better!
We had some expensive repairs with the Malibu: head gasket blew in Winnipeg while on the Gimli weekend in late August. I should have walked away from the car, but didn't. The repairs and related expenses have made me re-evaluate our family vehicle situation. The POS Malibu is leaving. It was replaced with a much cheaper POS. If you think the Malibu is a boring car, you need to try a '98 Escort Wagon ! It was cheap enough that if it needs a major repair and I'm far from home: I can walk away with no guilt.
Given the poor customer service from the GM dealer and the past repairs the Malibu needed: replacing parts that should not wear out on a car with this mileage. The head gasket was the end for me. I should have punted the car much sooner. I swear if the car had broken down on the way back from Winnipeg I was going to torch the fucker on the side of the highway. Then laugh like a crazy dude 'til the fire department got there.
It will not be a sad day in my house if General Motors goes bankrupt. ... Sorry: rant over !
The build back on (again)?
Damm right it is! The Malibu is leaving and my garage will be clear as of November 1 so I have room to work again. I saw a thread on the locostusa forum that discussed build progress and the builders motivation. It was nice (?) to see others with similar issues.
I can't say I haven't had time to make much more progress. I've gone out to the garage many times and stared at the build table pondering options (see above). My thoughts in Spring, 2007 was that I should have a rolling frame before the snows comes. Well, it snowed last week and I appear to be a little behind schedule!
Finish welding of the basic chassis will get completed, placement of the drive train and rear axle will get done, then construction of the transmission tunnel, you know.. real progress !
To be continued.... REALLY !........
