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The "7" is now stripped down with all the exterior parts removed. Not a massive job but it has taken most of the day. No surprises other than a little damage to a lower chassis rail, an easy fix.
I've had the deep dish wire wheels reconditioned and two fitted with narrow 165/80-15 tyres for the front. I want to go with 185's on the back but I need to check clearances first.
I'll have the rear body section offered up in the week so I'll be able to work out mounting points. The plan is to have the front and rear easily removable as two sections so they will be bolted onto the chassis.
Here are a couple of recent photos. First one shows the largely stripped down "7".
The second shows the rear TR body section very roughly sitting in place.
The driving position is very short just like the real thing. I might need to shorten the steering column 2 or 3 inches to make it more manageable but I'll decide that when I have the front section offered up.
The rear wheel is just mocked up but it looks like I can go to 185 section tyres as planned, this is the 165/80-15 tyre intended for the front.
Managed to offer up the front end tonight. The doors are simply taped into position and the wheels are just resting against the hubs.
It looks like the whole concept is going to work and my original measurements were really close.
I hope the progress will continue over the next few weeks to a point where it should all be bolted on ready for paint but I'll be taking my time to get everything right.
Awesome! The devil will be in the details, as always.
Looking really great!
The rear end will to mount up to the chassis. A few simple brackets welded the chassis and matching brackets welded to the original steel tube structure of the rear end will secure it in place. The front end will need more work to mount it. The doors are simple but require the hinging method to be worked out.
Shouldn't be too horrible to fab some tubing for the front.
Hinges, etc. will be easy enough for you as well.
In all, a bit of time is necessary. Looking splendid right now!
Not much progress this weekend other than to make a small repair on the lower chassis rail and tidy up some of chassis where panels had been attached. I need to redrill my hub adaptors to the correct PCD before fitting the wheels and lining up the body.
Had some larger 185/80 - 15 tyres fitted to the rear wheels. They fill the arches really nicely, just waiting on the machine shop to finish modding my hub adaptors so I can bolt them on.
Once that's done I can line up the rear end accurately and make some bracketry to hold it in place. The front end will require considerably more work but I'm quite happy with progress so far! Photos to follow.
Wheel adaptors came back today. I've only offered one of the rear wheels up tonight but it looks just right. I'll get the others mounted up and I should be in a position to finalise the rear body fitment over the weekend.
Also ordered a 15" wood rim steering wheel of a similar design to the original TR. I plan to make the interior look like the original cars did back in the 1950's.
All the wheels mounted up today and offered the body work up again. After a lot of jiggling around its all sitting pretty square over the chassis. I've made some brackets to attach the rear end in place and welded these to the chassis. I'm making eight attachment points which should be plenty once its all bolted down. Front end and doors next.
