Shiny Stuff pt 2

I had no idea it's been such a long time since the last update. Progress is slow at the moment, partly shoulder related but also some of the tasks are requiring a bit of time to ensure I'm not making any mistakes. I have however ordered the windscreen which is due in a couple of weeks - feels like a significant step forwards.

So after putting it off for a while I needed to tackle the front nudge bar and overrider setup. Some just fit overriders, some quick lift jack points (race style but just cosmetic) or full nudge bar with overriders. Originally I was going to do nudge bar only until Mrs B pointed out it would be better to do all for the sake of paint work and other drivers in car parks.

It's a tricky one as where the fixing rods go through the body is all curves with little in the way of reference points to work from.

AK do mark a position for the holes but at this point I have no idea if they are where I need them to be - reason being is that there is a school of thought that says it's better to bend the studding rod to allow it to be horizontal as it passes through the body instead of an angle. This will make sense a bit later. Maybe. 

First things first, the overriders need attaching to the nudge bar. Again it's all curves and no guide markings either.

Rule number 1 is to ensure the top of the overriders line up with the top of the nudge bar. 

This is done by using a long straight edge and then some accurate measurements to find where to drill holes for bolts from inside of overriders. Repeat for the other side and then drill out.

Bolted up test for symmetry. 

Looking ok so far.

I inserted bolts into the stud fix position and using a camera tripod with a couple of modifications, made a jig for accurately  testing the position for fitting.

Those photos above don't show the bolts as my method of checking the holes marked on the body for drilling. However the hole positions are good so it's just a case of drill and then open out slowly with dremel and files and then mark up and fit brackets.

If I'd wanted to make things more complicated I could have tried to bend the studding as it comes out of the overrider so that the studding and tube assembly is parallel with the ground but doing this proved to be too difficult plus it's not obvious whether the body angle front to back would change with further suspension adjustment making it impossible at this stage to judge. 

Brackets attached to inner wing face - there's a degree of adjustment possible to get best alignment.

 

And there you have it. I know the transmission cooler looks wonky... When I fitted it there was no body to reference the radiator position. Hand welded radiator frame to blame. Not my welding I should add.

Holes just need opening out for grommets for nudge bar now.