Under the Skin

The rear of the car runs a Harry Hockly independent setup with coilovers in turrets. It’s very trick.

As you might imagine, having been driven in wet muddy conditions without any wheel tubs has made things quite messy… So both front and rear needs tubs putting in. A chap on MIG welding forum doing an epic Escort rally car prep has sent me the dimensions of the Rallyweld wheel tubs. However they’ll be too small in diameter, but it would save some fabrication work if they do it. Not seen anyone else selling them, failing that I will roll my own, but don’t have access to a press to put stiffner ribs in the sheet

Having looked at pictures last night Colin Satchell’s setup puts the strut top brace in the way of a maxi airbox setup so I’ll need to do as Dave Hunt did and go for a works type brace to the front of he struts tops. Lots to think about!

Not had much time to work on the car this weekend, but managed an hour and a half tonight. When I washed the car it was clear that the window seals weren’t good at keeping water out of the door. As water wasn’t coming out the bottom of the door, some drainage holes were needed.

So door card off.

BZP steel screws replaced with rivnuts. Also replaced some blackened steel bolts that had started to rust up. These held the door handles on. The handles are a lovely piece of work with the insides flocked so that they are smooth against the door card panel.

Three drainage holes drilled (one front, one middle, one rear). Cleaned up the steel inserts that had been cut out of the original doors and were bonded into the carbon of the door structure. Then zapped them with some Rustoleum primer.

I am a long time magpie for shiny bits under the bonnet, but prefer a slightly more subtle look on the interior. Fortunately had some suitable trick bits in the alloy and ti bolts box.

Alloy bolts and washers fitted.

All done. The interior door card is thicker than most that Streamline Carbon produce, but in this case is structural to the door stiffness so has a few extra layers.

Still have the other door to do…

Bought a load of plastic storage boxes from Hobbycraft today who are doing 3 for the price of 2. Started going through the boxes of bits that came with the car and organising them. Fairly tasty double plate AP Racing clutch in their. Looks like I’ll need a new flywheel for that though…