This Week in Wheeler's Workshop

[Doctor Gollum]

No different to refurbishing wishbones

[biggriffin]

Are you infringing any patent rights or anything.

really.

[Nick W]

I removed all the bolts, and the part came off the jig easily:





I don't need to be quite so generous with the release agent, as the surface finish isn't brilliant. That won't affect how well it works, but it's no more effort to make a better looking part. The metal outer could do with a coat of paint, although it isn't going to get one.


I'll fit it tomorrow, along with the front springs which should restore the car's ride and ground clearance.

[biggriffin]

I do hope nick, that when you test these non gm parts you are  fully aware of the risks you are taking for the membership, please ensure you wear the correct safety equipment, and then we shall need a full non-senseical report in gobbledygook.

[Nick W]

I could start a new organisation with one rule; just do the job in the way that is most efficient to you.


I would call it Pragmatists Club, but shortening it to PC might lead to some confusion

[TheBoy]

That's looking good Nick W.  Will be interested what they are like on the car

[Nick W]

That's looking good Nick W.  Will be interested what they are like on the car

Dirtier


It's just a prototype repair caused  by the unavailability of new replacements, and the high cost of tired secondhand parts. Using secondhand rubber mounts smacks of desperation to me. The lack of voids in a stable material suggest it ought to be durable which is my main requirement. You've probably noticed I've only done one, as that's all I need so far.

[Nick W]

I do hope nick, that when you test these non gm parts you are  fully aware of the risks you are taking for the membership, please ensure you wear the correct safety equipment, and then we shall need a full non-senseical report in gobbledygook.

Trev, it is a gm part - Good Make


Needing a slight tweak to make the second bolt fit, it's on the car.


Here's the full report: it works.

[biggriffin]

I do hope nick, that when you test these non gm parts you are  fully aware of the risks you are taking for the membership, please ensure you wear the correct safety equipment, and then we shall need a full non-senseical report in gobbledygook.

Trev, it is a gm part - Good Make


Needing a slight tweak to make the second bolt fit, it's on the car.


Here's the full report: it works.

 

[STEMO]

I do hope nick, that when you test these non gm parts you are  fully aware of the risks you are taking for the membership, please ensure you wear the correct safety equipment, and then we shall need a full non-senseical report in gobbledygook.

Trev, it is a gm part - Good Make


Needing a slight tweak to make the second bolt fit, it's on the car.


Here's the full report: it works.

Oh no, no, no. You can't say that until you've stress tested it. Drop it off at Jamie's tomorrow for a QC test.

[Nick W]

If I was worried about stress testing it, I've a mate who is far harder on mechanical stuff than anyone on this forum.


Considering how much better the back of the car is now, I'm wondering how long the mount was broken.

[Doctor Gollum]

Or how long the other side lasts... but at least you can now fix that the same day

[Nick W]

This weekend's job was supposed to be modifying the first MGF hydragas displacer so that we can refill them with nitrogen.
I had all the parts; a displacer, some metal bodied high pressure schrader valves, and some bosses tapped 1/8BSP(actually pneumatic fittings). The plan was to turn the fittings to a convenient size, drill a corresponding hole in the top of the displacer and TIG the two together. But some cretin ordered brass instead of steel fittings, so that plan is postponed.


That meant I couldn't put off fitting the milling spindle to the lathe any longer:



That's the vertical slide for my original mini-lathe with some extra tapped holes, all on a scratch built mount.


Add an ER11 spindle motor(£80 off Ebay, including the mount, power supply and set of collets)





and







Now I can drill cross holes, mill keyways, slots, hexheads etc and drill PCDs without having to transfer the part to the mill.


Like this quick and dirty testpiece, indexing the chuck jaws by eye:





Next job is a stepper-motor headstock dividing attachment, then I can start making the wheels for a simple clock

[henryd]

Very impressive Nick

[Nick W]

This little hole is an MOT failure:





So I cut it out and had a poke about behind it:





Leading to this:





A load of cutting and welding later:





meant I could finally do the 10minute job I started with


None of this is helped by having to remove the seat cushion, various trim pieces, wiring, sound deadening and seam sealer so that they don't get cut through/set alight. There's also a crusty hole in the sill just in front of the jacking point, but that's not visible with the sill cover in place. So I'll get a new sill(both, probably) and replace them in the summer when I'm not working to a deadline.

At least changing the headlamp washer pump was a two minute job Looking back, I don't think they've ever worked in the six years I've owned the car.