PW Tornado Build pics

[Bill D]

Thanks Paul. And I like your new avitar.

Bill D

 

[flatchat(Chris)]

Yeeah! nice avitar-- looks just like my step daughter- she's in London at the moment /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Keep up the good work /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Paul W]

I've had quite a few people emailing me about the rollbar and where I had it made. It was made by Henry @ HCA fabrications and he had the car for 2 days to fit it and it cost £561 inc. vat. Included in that price is a box section welded in at 45 degrees to the side rails that go above the petrol tanks to help in the event of a side impact and also reinforce the flat cill tops. Henry used to assemble the safir monocoques so knows a thing or two about these cars. He is based by High Wycombe and his number is 01628-891-932.

 

[StuartB]

Paul, more pics mate...... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Paul W]

Okay Stuart - here's the latest installment, gearshift and driveshafts.

 

[chris parker]

paul did you use tornados gear linkage or have you made your own and did you fabricate the gearbox mounting brackets as well looking good

 

[Paul W]

Hi Chris,

The gearbox mounts and gearlinkage are both made by myself supplying drawings to a local machine shop. For the mounts I used Triumph herald bushes that I got at stoneleigh last year ! The gearlinkage is totally out of stainless steel - a combination of tube and solid. The rod ends and clevis were from rally design, the 2 UJ's from car build solutions. The rubber boots on the UJ's are from RS components.

 

[Jim Downard]

Hi Paul,
Just looking over your build pics and I'm very impressed. I almost bought a Tornado, but unfortunately, he didn't offer LHD with central shift. I noticed the steering wheels going to be on the wrong side of the car. Ha Ha. I'll tell you something that I really notice, it how much variation there is in the front and rear suspensions between the Tornado, RF, and MDA. I mean, basiclly they should all be the same, but I can see subtle difference in all. Interesting to say the least. I really envy you. I'm just getting ready to fire up my build. I hope it goes as smoothly as your. Keep up the good work.

 

Paul,

I believe we spoke about my desire to change my gear linkage on Wednesday. Do you have a 45 angle view of the rear mounting on the gearbox, also some of the front end would be great to see and help me a lot.

 

[Paul W]

Hi Dave,
O.K. the Tornado chassis has several 5/8" unf nuts welded to the chassis for the gearlinkage so you need 2 x 5/8" rodends to go in them. The gearstick has a circlip top and bottom of the rodend to hold it in place. I have had a clevis pin welded on the end of my gearstick to connect to the main shaft.
The end of the main shaft has a tooth welded on so it fits in the clevis pin.

 

[Paul W]

The main shaft passes through the bulkhead and through the next rod end that fits in a nut welded to the chassis - just to hold the shaft. I then have my first Uj that is under the black rubber boot. This then connects to the angled bit of bar onto the second UJ you can see just before the bracket on the gearbox.

 

[Paul W]

After the bracket that I have bolted to the gearbox mount the bar just has piece of bar welded at 90 degrees straight down. This passes through the rod end mounted on the gearbox arm. The arm I had made is just using a bolt tightened against the shaft of the gearbox which allows a bit of adjustment.
Once I have settled on the feel of the gearstick I will drill through the gearbox selector shaft and run a bolt through - just so it can't work loose.

 

[Paul W]

This one may show it a bit clearer. One thing I wanted to do was to get the final shaft that passes through the arm in the gearbox inline with the car - the reason being your gearstick will be completely inline with the car also.

 

[Paul W]

Painted inside the rear clip / stonechip in the arches and glued the heatmat in place.

 

[Paul W]

Finished the bulkhead panelling.

 

[Paul W]

Header tank / bulkhead window fitted and started making a battery cover.

 

[Bill Bayard]

Paul,

Just one question..... Do you ever sleep?

Your progress is amazing!

Your work is equally impressive!


Bill

 

[Paul W]

Thanks Bill - yes I do sleep ! Work has been a bit quiet for the last few weeks so I've been busy in the garage.

 

[Paul W]

Front of the spyder rivetted down.

 

[Paul W]

Doors are finally hung - wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I just have to struggle to get in and out of the car now as I can't open the doors enough !
I may be extending the garage a few feet to accomodate as this is as far as the door opens !