MadaboutKitcars

Hope you don't think I'm being a busy-body, but I'd find somewhere else to put that battery.

If you have a front-end shunt there are two serious safety issues:

1/ the battery is likely to short out on the steering rack and start a fire, and

2/ Trumpton won't be able to get to it to disconnect it before trying to rescue anyone trapped inside (it's always the first thing they do at an RTC scene).

Mr T I to felt this location was a little odd and your concerns are much the same as mine but if you step back and think about it!

1, The battery is pushed hard against the main chassis crossmember stopping the battery from moving back making it impossible to short-out on the steering rack.
The battery is also clamped in place again stopping it from moving forward.
I agree, any battery that's no fixed down is a predental short-out as well as an MOT failure!

2, Batteries are mounted every where in a modern car, under the seat, in the bulkhead, in the boot, under the floor ect.
So the fact that fireman Sam will actually be able to see the battery and there for disconnect the battery safely will be a help, he might even use the fitted isolator switch instead of just cutting the power cable which seems to be the normal thing to do.

3, Lastly, the front impact damage would have to be tremendous and have to crush the main chassis rails and anti roll bar mounts before smashing the battery and possibly causing a short-out!
Where as with a conventional engine bay fitted battery a simple front impact causing the bonnet to "ripple up" and short-out across the battery is a very common occurrence!


Sure, the steering rack might come un-bolted from its mounts and the steering column allowing it to fall onto the battery and short-out, but, I'll take that risk.


IMHO, Although having the battery mounted in a unusual place might cause some concern I'm sticking with it.

No problem, all points taken in good spirit.

Like wise. eace:
You never contact me regarding the Cordite bulkhead ?
You still want it ?

Hi Micky, yes, still interested in the cordite bulkhead. I did send you a pm asking how much you want for it, etc., and I didn't hear back so I figured you were just busy sorting your projects.

I've checked my pm 'sent items' to see exactly what I asked but the message isn't there, so it obviously failed to send. Sorry about that, I guess we were both waiting to hear back from the other. I didn't chase it up as I've been distracted away from my Speedster by the Midget (which is now almost fully sorted).

Just pm me with a price and collection address and I'll probably take it off your hands.

Mr T Here's what I have got.

PM me and we'll agree on a price but you'll have to sort out collection from SN2 2PN, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Lower front grill under construction.



The centre section of the lower grill will hinge to allow battery access.

I intend to use the outer edges of the lower grill to tie-in the bottom of the wings and the top edge will support the fiberglass radiator style grill .

Much work has been completed over the passed few days.



As you can see in the photo the front lower grill and main grill are now finished and fixed in place.
The inner wing flanges are screwed to brackets welded to the outer edges of the lower grill.
The main grill is fixed to an internal steel band, this in turn is braced to the bulk head via 30x30x3 RSA which provides a edge for the freshly "adjusted" bonnet to rest against.


The truck also had it's first trip outside so I could get a full photo shot.







Although it sits square and looks good I feel it would look better if the front springs were lowered a few inches.

Looks good even with that cow catcher, Lowering the front just a bit would do. Great work!

Look svery,very good!Makes me want a new build

Good work and thanks for all the photo,s.

This is the full mock-up of the front end.

Nice, the spider web compliments the cow catcher nicely. Well done!

Mike - Nice to see this coming together & I like the front indicator mounts.

Good luck, Paul.

I spotted a classic wind screen on E-Bay that measured about right so I offered £45 and got it!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=352603409527&view=all&tid=1042440513022

My thought were if it all goes wrong and doesn't fit I'll be able to use it on something else in the future.


The first thing I had to do was clean out all the old rubber seals.hwell:
Then lots of penetrating oil to free-up the top hinge and side adjusters.
Once these were working nice I made a simple supporting frame from 3 bits of 40 x 40 x 3 angle.



This frame is fixed to the original top hinge and side mounting brackets allowing it to swing away. This also allows the screen to be removed if needed. .
I had to trim a little steel from the top edge which helps to give it some shape.



Once I had lined the screen up on the truck it became evident some serious cutting was needed.



The top edge of the frame fits against the roof line and is held in place with the aid of some brackets.
The side rails rest on the lower dash cross member to which they are welded in place.



Then it was just a case of filling in the gaps around the ill-fitting wind screen.





Again a very satisfying job that gives the truck a period look .
I was quoted £80 to have a piece of glass cut to fit so alls fine and as a bonus this style of screen also eliminates the need for wipers but I'll fit a single one-arm unit as the holes are there for it.

The next dauting task it to try and fit opening door windows complet with glass, runners, winders, and finally door cards!! .

Brilliant. For your door glasses, why not look at lifting glass with a leather strap as in old railway carriages? With a final hook to hold it fully closed.

I tried that on another truck and ended up using bungee cord to keep the windows closed and to stop them rattling so it's not for me !!

Don,t know which size but maybe;sliding windows from Citroen Hy.
You can still order new frames......

I might be a "woose" but, sliding window just an't cool. ound: ound:

I'v been sizing-up a pair of Land Rover Discovery rear windows. !!!.

Spent some time filling-in some of the gaps around the edges.

Rear edge.




Front edge.




Overall view.


Not sure how I'm going the sort out the door bottoms yet.

Put a raiser on the sill.

Looking good!

Got a old mini heater fitted under the dash.



Also fitted an overdrive switch to the gear stick.



loving this build.

I gone for the "steam punk" look with the dash board. ound:




Because the clocks are so deep I had to remove the steering column to get the dash to fit in, I just hope I can reach and tighten the column clamps when I re-fit it .

Looks good love the heater (?) controls. Nitpicking I know but Surface mount 4" brass gauges would look interesting. Envious of your skill. Dave

As we are in the mood for painting we put a little on the pick-up.

loving it!