Engine & Gearbox cont...

The engine to gearbox sandwich plate is now finished and has been given a quick spray of black hammerite. The side panels have been unclipped and stored away again. The front suspension and hubs are assembled and the front wheels are on. The car is now standing on its wheels for the first time.


The cvh flywheel is now bolted on along with the new clutch kit. The gearbox and engine are now bolted together. The engine and gearbox were then lifted into the car.

The gearbox mount looks to be past it's best so a new one has been added to the shopping list. Its clear that the oil filter will foul the steering column link so I'll need to find a solution to get round this, maybe a remote filter.

I'm still deciding which alloy wheels I'd like to go for, I don't think the donor car's snow tyres seen above really suit the indy!

Engine and gearbox

The job of cutting both side panels is just about finished. Image below shows build progress so far with rear donor wheels bolted on and side panels held on temporarily with clamps.


New release bearing clipped on to gearbox shaft, part CCT132 from the new clutch kit.


New spigot bearing pushed into crankshaft to accept the end of the sierra gearbox shaft.


Both engine mounts bolted on.


The cvh flywheel had developed some light surface rust. I removed most of it with some fine wet and dry.


Before the gearbox, clutch and engine can be connected, I need to make an adaptor plate to fit between the engine and bellhousing to keep the road dirt out. The plan is to get the adaptor plate made this week, re-fit the front suspension, get the car down onto the ground and on it's wheels for the first time and then fit the engine over the next couple of weeks.

Side panels cont...

One side done!

A pair of reconditioned sierra calipers were also purchased today.

Side Panels

The kit came with the longer side panels which means the front suspension area, wishbones and shocks, will be covered rather than open to the elements. Before the panels can be fixed the chassis, holes need to be cut to allow the wishbones to pass through. I made a cardboard template which I then clamped to the chassis to check that no moving parts would come into contact with the panels once fitted.


A rough outline has been chain-drilled and then the hole sections were removed with assistance from a hacksaw blade. The rough edges will be tidied up with a file and dremel drill.



Once cut and tidied up, the panels will be stored away. The left hand panel will need an additional hole to allow for the exhaust. The panels will be fixed to the chassis once the engine is in and I have the exhaust.