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It's a smiths unit out of a spitfire unfortunately swapping them out won't work as I have fitted a contactless ignition system and it seems to kill the standard type rev counter. there is a company on ebay selling a upgrade module for £42 which has to be soldered on and programmed ? I think that is probably the best way to go but thank you very much for the offer it was very much appreciated.
I have the twin of that tacho in my Marlin, it even mists up the same. I fitted electronic ignition and it continued to work fine. Are you certain you haven't disturbed the piggy back connector on your coil that sends the impulse to the tacho? It doesn't care what ignition system system you have, as long as it gets its impulses!
Thanks for that I'll check it you are right about the tacho apparently there are two types RVI and RVC the earlier one won't work with electronic ignition the later RVC which I have should work ok?
I hade to replace all the manifold gaskets on the carbs and they are running a little better now they still need balancing I am waiting for a friend to sort them out.
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I have started in the rear inner wings cum boot walls as usual I am making them over size to be cut to fit after the body is fitted. If I get them right each inner wing should be made up of three panels and lots of brackets!
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Still looking for a replacement taco I just lost a bid on eBay for one but there are more on there I just need to get one at the right price?
I haven't posted for a while so I thought I had better give you all a update.
I was running the engine last week trying to tune it a little better and the rev counter decided to start working again the engine will now tick over reasonably well.
On Thursday some friends (I have got some) came over and helped me to put the body on it fitted reasonably well but needed some fettling to get it all lined up.
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There was a bit of a overlap with the boot floor which had to be cut back.
The wood bar over the cockpit was just to help with sliding the body on and has now been removed.
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also some cutting and filing of oversized alloy panels
next will be bonding the shell to the frame I just hope I get it right
Nice one Deggsy!
I remember when I finally got my body on, and thought "Wow, I'm nearly finished" Even the Towed thought the same, and commented on my thread to the effect!
How WRONG I was!! How WRONG he was!!
The work that came after that was epic!
Having said that, you have already done your dash and a lot of other things too, as your build is different to mine,
so hopefully you will be much closer to the finish than I was.
My rev counter packed up last summer, and I just left it, but my dash has to be stripped out now as there are lots of issues behind it that now need addressing!
Scottie
Thanks for the encouragement I agree there is a long way to go yet, did you notice how lost the wheels look in the arches? spacers and wider tyres I think.
Odd you should say that 'cos I had noticed, and mine were the same.
I fixed it by 1.25 inch spacers all round, , extra-wide dished wheels and a few degrees of negative camber which always helps to give the illusion that the wheels fill the arches better!
Feels more sure- footed too. ( and looks mean!)
Before you finally bond your body on, make sure you are happy with the stance and ride height Deggsy.
Once the body is fixed lowering can only be done by suspension tweaks.
I did both on mine, I dumped the body as low as I could possibly get it first, and then lowered the suspension also.
It really is low, but will ( or does) clear all the speed bumps and rubbish I've met on the roads in 600 miles or so.
I'll look forward to your posts!
The body is as low as it will go as it fits onto the frame that Chris made for me (so I'll blame him) It made fitting and lining up very simple though/
Nice one Deggsy!
I remember when I finally got my body on, and thought "Wow, I'm nearly finished" Even the Towed thought the same, and commented on my thread to the effect!
How WRONG I was!! How WRONG he was!!
Seconded!!!
At long last I'm filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding ready for that gorgeous Flag Metallic Blue Ecurie Ecosse paint job.
If it looks half as good as this one I'll be well pleased !
Sanding the worst most boring part of any build but so essential to get it right for the brilliant finish you require good luck I'll be in the same boat eventually!
Well it's done right or wrong the shell is bonded to the frame and there's no way of changing it now next job is bonding the boot floor and figuring out the inner rear wheel arches?
Started on the endplates the front ones are pretty straight forward
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bonded and riveted in place
The rear end plates and inner wings are a little more complicated
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I hade to make the rear end plates in two pars too fiddly otherwise?
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bottom half in place.
top half tomorrow then I'll start on the inner wing 3 panels I think? then the other side after they are sprayed and body guarded.
finished the o/s rear inner wheel arches not very good photos it's a bit tight in there. they need to be painted then I'll start on the other side as soon as I can procure some more alloy sheet I've run out again!
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I've also sent for some spacers to bring out the rear wheels photos when they arrive a bit
Fitted the rear wheel spacers today 32mm that should worry the bearings? I wonder if anyone makes super duper heavy duty herald bearings Hmmm!
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Don't worry about the bearings Degsy!
Most of the cars I've ever owned have ended up with 32mm spacers on them, and I've never had any problems, or noticed that the bearings have worn out prematurely.
In fact I've driven hard and fast in some of the cars, and the bearings never ever wore out, and I never needed to change them! My XK has 32mm spacers too!
Scottie good too hear that all being well I'll have no problems with them. I have just arrange a trip to my local metal stockist tomorrow (36 mile round trip) to pick up another sheet of alloy last one I hope?
The Inner rear wheel arches are now finished.
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I thought the boot lid wouldn't fit at first but after I trial fitted the seal its looking good though I did have a few problems with the hinges wonderful stuff fibreglass just fill the holes in and try again.
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I also fitted the upper harness bolts (same problem as the hinges) oops!
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the doors don't fit at all and will need some serious modifications to the hinges to get them right I think Scottie had the same problem?
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I can't finish the inner panelling until the doors are fitted correctly as the locks and striker plates need to be fitted first.
Mine were well wrong because I lowered the body shell much more than Chris had intended, which threw the hinges miles out.
The hinges actually touched (pushed hard!) on the body inside, so had to be modified several times, but I got there in the end.
Also instead of having just two bolts connecting the doors to the hinge, I used 4, which allowed for more adjustment, but literally took hours and sometimes days to adjust right, and at present the passengers door STILL is not 100 per cent, but with all the hassle, I've learned to live with it. ( does not notice too much)
And opens and closes okay.
All in all, I'm not sure that 4 bolts was the answer to the problem,
but I'm not changing it now.....
If you look back at my build thread, I covered the subject, and had loads of pics, so that may help you. Its really work intensive stuff though. Gotta be done!
Good luck.
the engine will now tick over reasonably well.
! 
