Foundation Work September/October 2013

Hi All!
It has definately been a while since my last post, I'm going to try getting on a lot more frequently to update you all with new material and keep up to date with all the stuff that is happening.
What has been happening since the last update I hear you ask, well a number of images have been posted to the facebook community 'Marcos Cars' in drips and drabs, basically we had a scare with the chassis in that because the front end has suffered an impact at some stage, we thought the impact had travelled rear ward and distorted the base cross members behind where the seat backs would be, this was put in a jog after 2 weeks waiting and found to be square, so panic over. Since then however Rory (Marcos Heritage spares) has advised that due to the huge level of Waxoyl protection within the chassis rails I cannot now proceed with my original plan of galvanising and powdercoating the chassis. I can even just revert to Just powdercoating the chassis as again the level of wax oyl will cause it all to be melt once the powdercoating process heats the paint to about 400 degrees. so the plan now is sell what will be a fully restored ORIGINAL chassis and the proceeds will be used to buy a new one ready Galvanised and drilled I will of course get Redditch to powdercoat for me as their work is top draw!

The downside of all of this is that my plan to be at the NEC Classic with a naked Marcos will sadly not be coming to fruition with all the issues that I have described above.

I have started buying all the new bits needed to completed the running gear and most under body items. we are off to the Bristol Classic vehicle restoration show show at Shepton Mallet tomorrow to get a few more bits. Below are some piccies of the latest new bits.

Shot blast and Powdercoated Triumph GT6 wishbones and Coil spring. together with bracket and Pedal box shroud

I have opted for Satin Black on all the dark bits of the running Gear, opting for a dark metallic blue for coil springs on the car to go roughly with the colour I intend it to be. the colour is going to be either a Jaguar flag blue, or the Rolls royce Sapphire blue used on the 1995 racing LM600 as it is a gorgeous colour.

Close up of the metallic Blue powdercoated spring (1 of 4)

Close up of the Wishbones (Satin Black)

 We have also been servicing the Half shafts for the new rear axle a Capri standard differential 3.0.9 ratio these again were serviced with new bearings and rear drums machined to fit my wheels. This was also carried out by Marcos Heritage Spares (Major plugs for them in this thread!) together with the rear axle refurb, I have also been painting the prop shaft which has a new UJ and flange (below) as the old one would not have fitted the new axle.

picture below shows the new bearings fitted these were machines and refurbished by M.H.S

Prop shaft and new UJ assembly

Also returning from the M.H.S machine shop were the rear drums which have been machined to Triumph PCD's to be fitted to my existing Alloy wheels the ford ones are also in place on the same drums.

Drums prior to treatment with the abrasive disc attachment to remove rough dirt and surface rust.

Paint application

Once the drums were rubbed down with the sanding wheel we began with the first two generaous coats of Hammerite smoothrite which treateds existing rust, also protects against future rust and ensures these stay looking great.

Drums following the first and second coats.

What I only realised a week after getting back all the suspension parts, was that the rods I took (Suspension radius rods and the rear panhard rod were missing, the job lot of bits got seperated at the works) note to self to properly itemise all my bits in future!!! Pictured below are the newly shot and coated rods.

So this weekend Iwill be finishing off the spraying of the drums, the prop shaft and the steering rack that I started all that time ago, together with fitting new bushes and rose joints to both the steering fitting on the chassis and the panhard rod a fairly lengthy shopping list is going with me to Shepton Mallet also.

More Next time!