Eureka!

OK so its been a while again but I haven't been totally slack! works been crazy busy so build time has tumbled to weekends and as I have my 2 boys (Liam 5 Alfie almost 3) as often as I can this prevents a great deal of work on the car at weekends. Kinda hard to weld or grind with a couple of super inquisitive sprogs tagging along :)
But back to my excuses about not making any progress with the kit, I've managed to secure the use of a 2ND shipping container which has been put down about 15 feet from the existing one making my storage double what it was! so I've been busy fitting lights and power etc to that and testing my two new toys; a brand new plasma cutter from http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/Welding/SWP_Cut_40_Plasma_Cutter.html
Great bit of kit I cant recommend them enough the guys there are very helpful and the service is top notch.

the second new toy is a DC tig welder, now I've never tig welded before and have spent a while trying (3 hours or so) now since its on disposable argon cylinders (which only last for 1 1/2 hours a pop) Ive used up 4 tungsten's and 2 gas bottles trying to teach myself so i think I'm going to pop it up for sale on locost builders then try eBay if not.


Ok so the Eureka is all down to my finally figuring out the problem with the steering, part of the reason was I couldn't see the wood for the trees so to speak, the steering rack mount is back to front meaning the rack is too low making the angle too steep for the column extension, OK so that's problem one, problem 2 is that my steering rack extensions have been made to book spec (Brought from 3GE) this means that they are about 70mm too long! this means that the left and right wheels are trying to steer in opposite directions at the same time! OK so that's problem two, problem 3 is the steering rack i was sold as a Mk II escort rack is wrong!


so on to the solutions, One, Order new plates for the steering rack mounts from 3GE to replace the u/s one, Two, ordered new extensions from Rally Design, and Three, New Steering rack from Rally design.

I've already checked that these parts will fit with the guys on the haynes forum so I'm feeling happier with it all now, I have to admit this steering issue has been getting to me and Ive been questioning myself a lot over if i should continue but haven't give in (although I've been close!)

So the progress for this update is small, the steel steering column bearing is in (with Clecos) and working well lets see what happens next week.


I'm going to try to post some new pictures etc with the next update when i fit the new rack.