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Scottie's Tribute A352 build

11 Jun 2015, 10:42pm
Hillman minx rear screen and the nice man in the scrapyard even cur out the frame for me bit of work to modify as yours was but hopefully I'll have a nice curved screen at the end of it???
11 Jun 2015, 10:47pm
Ed you under estimate you're knowledge I agree totally with your explanation mine would have been more long winded and not quite as clear nuf said
11 Jun 2015, 10:48pm
another typo cur should be cut????
12 Jun 2015, 6:18am
8 Valve Ed wrote:
My guess is that the chassis is exactly level with the road in your case Scottie!

It's quite easy to check without any special gear, if you take a brake calliper off, and screw two bolts back where the calliper attaches, with the car level (or as it would be if it were on it's tyres), place a small plumb rule against the bolts, they should be vertical with the steering straight ahead.


I got that wrong...

The two bolts should be at the [COLOR="red"]castor angle[/COLOR]. Sorry.

This is based on the two bolts being drilled and tapped at the same alignment as the top and bottom pivot points, which they are in most cases. This tip applies to most cars. I have a small level which has a rotating bubble at one end, I simply set the bubble to the castor angle then place it against the two bolts. It may not be perfect but I don't believe other methods are perfect either, except perhaps on a new car, in clinical conditions. I believe with care, my method is close enough to get the setting within acceptable tolerances, and definitely out of the danger zone.

To simplify this, think of the headstock of a pushbike, it leans backwards, also the forks are bent so the wheel is in front of the line through the headstock, that is the castor. It's what helps the wheels self centre and keeps the car stable, preventing wandering.
12 Jun 2015, 6:21am
I wouldn't get too hung up on tracking/castor/camber 'issues' Scottie, just get it on the road and see how it feels.

Mine's been on the road for almost two years now and covered about 6,000 miles. I kept the castor angle as it left the factory and put a bit of toe in on the back wheels and a bit of toe out on the fronts (adjusting the back to have a bit less and the front to have a bit more after a couple of test drives) and it handles, steers and stops sweetly. It hasn't even worn the knobbly bits off the tyres yet - these cars are very light and don't put much strain on the tyres. If you had a big, heavy saloon body and the car leaned in corners then the suspension geometry would clearly be critical, but in a low, light rollerskate of a car it doesn't seem to make much difference.

Now get it to the MOT station!
12 Jun 2015, 6:32am
deggsy wrote:
another typo cur should be cut????


I blame the auto correct, in my opinion it causes more errors than it fixes, because it inserts correctly spelt, therefore not highlighted words. That means you have to be much more careful when proof reading a post. If the typo's or errors were highlighted they would be easier to spot and correct with the right word. The auto correct won't be a success until it becomes context aware.

Also, for some reason I don't understand, I can miss a mistake or wrong word before I make the post, but is becomes visible to me once it's actually posted, so I now always proof read again after posting. They don't make it easy!

I am tempted to turn off the auto correct but for some reason I don't?

Sorry for rant!
12 Jun 2015, 7:49am
Perfectly plausible I'll use that excuse as well.
12 Jun 2015, 3:02pm
Friday

Well, I took Mr Towed's advice, and braved the impending dense thunderstorms, to drive out to myMot station.

The Mot tester took one look at the stance of the car and reached for the Taplow meter, mumbling about " never fit on the rollers...."

I was even complemented about the engineering on the car and it passed the Mot!!!

I really was grinning like the proverbial Cheshire on the way home!

I then took my V5c, (which I had been hanging on to like grim death) to the
post office and "taxed" the car, which cost nothing as its classed as an historic vehicle, so now I am legal to be on the road.

I fitted my newly arrived "tax disc" in the window.

I will now post off my form V627/1, and re-register the car with its new body and colour.

To be honest, I hope they will rename it A "Triumph XKSS" but don't really give a toss what they call it, because just driving it is sheer bliss.

The car drives very nicely, the steering is tight and precise, the ride is firm, and it handles well.

And the exhaust note!

I could, and will, listen to that all day!
It burbles away normally, and howls when the right foot goes a bit heavy!

It is a bit loud, but hey come on, its supposed to be a road-going bloody racing car! It has to be loud.

When I get round to it, I will try to get some sort of video and/or soundtrack made so I can post it.

Pics:

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]
12 Jun 2015, 3:54pm
Congratulations an inspiration to us all.
12 Jun 2015, 4:29pm
Thanks Derek, ref the screen you intend to use, I am assuming your body-shell is wider than mine?

Reason I think that is because I went the same route as you, and was going to use the Minx rear screen but as far as I remember, it was too wide by far, so I opted for the Morris Minor one I have now.
12 Jun 2015, 4:31pm
Fabulous car, so well done, a great build diary and write up. we've shared your joy and pain all the way...

a real credit to you, i hope you thoroughly enjoy it and it gives you years of pleasure.

a virtual beer from me, you really earned it! :peace:
12 Jun 2015, 4:43pm
Excellent, look forward to seeing it, did you check your bad self in any reflections? As the kids say.
Now you have to get your weights out and just work on your right bicep till its as big as before and you can cruise down to René s with it dangling over the door and look 'cool' together.
How did the seats fare for comfort?
12 Jun 2015, 4:44pm
re screen

Scottie as far as I know I my body will be the same width as yours Hmmm I can always go to plan B cut a few inches out of the centre and have a split screen?
12 Jun 2015, 4:51pm
I had never thought of that one Derek, look forward to what ever you choose!

BSM, they are quite comfy, but have not done a long trip yet!
Time will tell, but they should be okay.
12 Jun 2015, 5:33pm
Scotty, no time wasting please. All done apart from some fettling, so time to get on with the next project, Stoneleigh 2016 is only 11 months away.
12 Jun 2015, 7:19pm
Well done Scottie, great work! :becky:
12 Jun 2015, 8:25pm
Scottie, it's the dogs nuts... I need some new builds to watch...
12 Jun 2015, 8:49pm
Well done Scottie, you beat me by an hour or so, mine passed about 4pm, well done!

It's a good feeling after all that work, it almost seems an anticlimax, although I have still plenty to do on mine.

Including soldering the rad again... :icon_frown:
12 Jun 2015, 9:19pm
Many congrats Scottie. You have created a beautiful looking car, enjoy driving it and all the attention you are bound to get.
12 Jun 2015, 9:23pm
Nice one Scottie ...been a pleasure reading your build

Now sell all your xj13 bits and build a 250swb so I can follow that ha ha ha
12 Jun 2015, 9:43pm
One sweet looking car there Scottie, well done and i look forward to a vid.
12 Jun 2015, 10:41pm
Handsome or beautiful? Both!
13 Jun 2015, 4:54am
Scottie - Many congratulations on the first time MOT pass. :cool:

You now need to take a series of glamour shots* to bring your build thread to a close.
( Before you start your new "Scottie on the road" thread. :icon_wink: )

You had a "simple" plan to build a fitting tribute to one of the coolest cars ever made.

Whilst the build may not have been simple, you have certainly achieved your goal (and them some!).

This has been an epic thread, for an epic build and a real inspiration for me.

Well done that man.

Enjoy, Paul. :)

* Note:
"Glamour shots" refers to your beautiful car, not a collection of topless photos of yourself!

As I hear there is a certain tribe that believe going topless will anger the car building spirits.

:icon_twisted: