Today went as well as yesterday! I again got a very late start (up too late posting on fubar I guess). Plus a few other little projects around the factory that needed attention first.
Now, without a body.... there's not much left to the car. Four bolts and the engine and trans. come off together. I used the forklift (yes, backyard again) seeing as how there isn't an engine hoist... yet. Plopped it on the ground with some support, then started making the comparisons. The new powder coated frame is off of a '61. Still a C1, but of course, a few minor changes from the previous models. Some for the better. I'll also have to make some modifications for the roll cage.
Because the front took such a hard hit, the front cross member bent, which is also the part you suspend the control arms off of. Anyone who's seen how large/thick this piece is (there's a pic of it on the new frame) will know how big of a hit this was. So, a spare of those was sent and came back from powder coating as well.
In one photo, I specifically pointed out the the shims that go between the frame and the cross member. Many models didn't come with these, but they were very useful. The shims help with a touchy steering problem, by adding more caster to the wheels.
For those that don't know, caster is, for example, the difference from the wheel on a bike, way out in front of the handle bars, vs. a wheel on a shopping cart, the center of the wheel is behind the bracket that connects it to the shopping cart. Every wonder why those wheels on shopping carts wobble fifty times a second..... well, that's the caster (or too many times running into the curbs in the parking lot) . Too much isn't great either. Ever wonder how hard it is to turn a long forked bike ? Not as easily as the shopping cart...... Now, imagine that on a car (less exaggerated, of course). The feeling to a driver is the same.
Shims in and the cross member tight, I started the oh-so wonderful greasy step of removing the parts from the old frame, cleaning EVERYTHING, inspecting each part, then installing them on the new frame. So far, no hardware has been reused. The old stuff is, well, old. Although this is a restoration, it might not be to factory specs in the end, hey. It's a race car! I'm not worried about how shiny it is, but more the integrity of the pieces and hardware being used. Do we want it to look good? Sure! But the strength and quality of an old bolt is better sometimes than the new shiny ones you got at the dollar store. Safety comes long before pretty, although usually the two go together. So far, that has been the case. Most of the bolts' threads are pretty rusty, or non existent. So, they got replaced. No work that I touch, that goes that fast leaves my hands without knowing it's to the best of my ability (all of my work for that matter... not just the fast stuff).
And so it goes. Cleaning and inspecting is one of the most important parts, especially with race cars! It may take the longest out of all the stages, but it's worth ever second!
This project required a slightly higher level of organization, seeing as how it's getting pretty much stripped to the bone. I've organized all the hardware in individual bins per item removed, and marked what they are. Usually, we throw everything in a big pile only to spend time trying to remember months down the road where everything goes. Although the project has taken big steps in two days, I won't have any idea how long it will take to get parts, so, better be safe than sorry.
Speaking of parts, along with inspection, I started the LONG list of parts needed to fix the damage, and the parts that need replacing from normal fifty year wear and tear. Although a lot is being replaced from the hit, we've decided to go ahead with some other fixes..... all new custom exhaust, new shocks, etc. These parts may take a while to get my hands on, so know that as the pics come out, you may see some old junk going back on. Never fear! I want to make the new frame is a rolling chassis as soon as possible to free up a lift again. The junk will get changed when the parts come in.
Stay tuned!
