Jimmymac & Alistair's Monocoque Cars

[JimmyMac]

More woodwork.
A friend has just asked me to make him an accurate pattern for a lefty steering rack so I will make him one similar to this.
These are the main parts including the core pattern. The main body of casting is split in two longitudinally using a traditional "paper joint" for turning. The two halves are shown taped together here.

 

[JimmyMac]

Some more woodwork whilst I am at it.

 

[JimmyMac]

It is warming up outside so it is fibreglass season again . I will be making up a couple of battery covers first.
My headlight orifices have always bugged me since my paint job so this week I had some new headlight plates cut to size using an original Marchal headlight profile to rectify the niggle.
In the past we bought these pieces already folded but they never fitted the glasswork properly. (one would logically think this through first), and no matter how much jiggling we tried did they fit the lens profile properly.
I think that the best way to install them is to trial fit them flat, then mark the return corners on the plate to suit the bottom return bend in the fibreglass.
I will then press the proper returns in before bonding them flush in the pod.

 

[Lee Patterson]

How do you cut your plates - water jet? Nicely done!

 

[JimmyMac]

How do you cut your plates - water jet? Nicely done!

Lee
Laser cut locally.
Some time ago I did get some plate profile cut using water jet but hated the resultant finish of the kerf.

 

[JimmyMac]

A good enough fit methinks.

Now looking for a workable black adhesive to stick them in.

 

[Lee Patterson]

Looks great. Keep the photos coming on this topic.

 

[Davidmgbv8]

So the brown Marchal frame fits behind? Then you break the bottom 90 over to meet the bottom of the fiberglass in front of the light?
Appreciate the additional info as I just got my frames from France and will be ready to trial mount my lights.

 

[JimmyMac]

David,

Yes the new plate folds under the bottom in front of the light.

You can fit the brown frame behind the light but before you do this you need to decide where you want the captive screw to fit to - either to the brown Marchal frame or to the alloy one.
It's easier to do it as you suggested by fitting some stand-off bushes to hold the OEM back frame to the front plate.

I am thinking of going totally original and this means a bracket modification to the light fittings to accommodate the captive screw knobs.

Here are the original fittings required for both the main beams and the lower driving lamps. These are illustrated in the blue Willment book.

 

[Davidmgbv8]

Is this the correct assembly order?
Do you remove the riveted plastic bit from the brown plate and put thru the new long pins and knobs?

 

[JimmyMac]

Not correct, your lamp is the wrong model.
To be correct, the light fitting needs modifying with new tabs with bigger holes for the captive screw knob.
The nylon bits in my photo are riveted to the front plate at the hole locations to pick up the thread end of the long screw for adjustment.
Here is an original GT40 light with the proper tab fitting and a screw fitted with the knob locked in front of the tab with a circlip.

As I mentioned previously you should work out which option for screw adjustment that you prefer.

 

[JimmyMac]

Getting on with a new casting pattern for a lefty steering rack whilst awaiting some decent adhesive for my lights.
A trial assembly of the parts for first rack prior to finishing the draft and filleting on the bracket.
Makes a nice war club if it is made in lignum vitae.

 

[Glenn M]

Makes a nice war club if it is made in lignum vitae.

Indeed, but not such a good raft!

 

[JimmyMac]

It has been a couple of years since I first opened up a couple of boxed NOS speedos only to find how badly the paint finishes had deteriorated even after being stored in a dry cupboard.
Anyhow, today I have finally restored what was a new unit to complete my set of gauges.

Sept 2020
Before stripping and re-plating

Today
Painted and ready for new bezels and gaskets

 

[Neil]

It has been a couple of years since I first opened up a couple of boxed NOS speedos only to find how badly the paint finishes had deteriorated even after being stored in a dry cupboard.
Anyhow, today I have finally restored what was a new unit to complete my set of gauges.

Sept 2020
Before stripping and re-plating
View attachment 131862

Today
Painted and ready for new bezels and gaskets
View attachment 131863

Speedos???

 

[JimmyMac]

Speedos???

So what is your problem Manta22 ???

 

[Neil]

So what is your problem Manta22 ???

"Speedos"= https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71ZMcxTbuIL._MCnd_AC_UL600_FMwebp_QL65_.jpg

 

[RayD]

So what is your problem Manta22 ???

Don’t know you nor Manta, but he was only poking a little fun at the ‘speedo’
term you used, due to it’s American connotation.

 

[JimmyMac]

Don’t know you nor Manta, but he was only poking a little fun at the ‘speedo’
term you used, due to it’s American connotation.

OK
Good here.

 

[JimmyMac]

Back to my build log.
Working on some more Kenlowe fan motors which are good enough for restoration.
I will refinish two of the cases in silver.

The condition of the nylon props with the labels is evidence that they have hardly been used.