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• Starting an engine

  Time to try to start the engine. The remains of dinosaurs were injured in the making of this post.

• One, two, skip a few…

  Tonight we try to start the engine. This is what went into getting there.

• Various small jobs…

  Fuel tank hole covered. Windscreen sourced and attached. Engine mount brackets welded in place. Prop-shaft manufactured. Alternator bracket fabricated.

• Shortening the handbrake

  Sequence of pictures that might be useful for someone looking to shorten their handbrake handle (if it gets in the way of the gear lever).

• We’re getting close, methinks

  Radiator mounts modified for rubber mounts, started routing cooling plumbing, removed idler solenoid, rewired engine to exit at rear, mounted scuttle, WHEELS

• Steering, cooling, fuel-pump and bodywork

  Steering column mounted and cut (to allow extension), new steering rack mounts have arrived, bell-housing reinforced and radiator mounted (with fan). Fuel pump and low-pressure filter installed.

• Drive-train in place

  Poly-bushes fitted in new wishbones. Engine brackets welded. Gearbox and engine mount plates drilled. Sump chopped to fit starter motor. More of the bellhousing removed. Diff fitted, bracket trimmed. Pulley for alternator sourced, cheaply.

• Back in business

  The chassis comes back, and work proceeds on fabricating the engine-mount brackets. Bits removed from bell-housing. Oil filter assembly removed.

• The travelling chassis

  Chassis gone for fixing, clutch and hydraulics, engine mount plates cut out.

• A long, long time ago

  Search for propshaft yoke, unsuccessful and then unnecessary. Measure amount of gearbox input shaft to remove, and then remove it.

• We got an engine

  We got our engine, a 1600 Ford Rocam.

• A long read (and much done)

  Purchasing of alternator, starter motor, radiator, remote oil filter. Installation of suspension components, including modifications for some chassis error. Brake caliper spacing measured. Fuel tank installed. DIY riv-nut tool.

• Small steps forward

  Suspension construction in progress, small chassis error. Gearbox in for maintenance and machining. Fuel pump and coolant expansion bottle acquired. Crunched car.

• Last of the panels (for now)

  Floor fitted, and side panels finished (but not fitted). Fuel line moved, due to gearbox conflict. Front uprights done. Steering rack arrives. Diff plug cleaned, photos of filings.

• P-clips, pop-rivets and the envy of Michelangelo

  Brake lines, fuel lines and wiring loom affixed to the chassis (through transmission tunnel). Holes for floor and transmission side panel drilled. Main side-panels finished.

• Almost finished panels

  Still continuing the side panels, annealing the aluminium to make it easier to bend. Also bent the brake lines to the chassis. Picture of fuel tank.

• A step closer to the ENGINE

  The gearbox arrives, and cleaning starts. Also got the seats and fuel tank. Photo of a Locost on the track.

• Paneling as winter approaches

  Brake line sizing, further progress with panels, start of wiring loom, cleaning of seat runners.

• Panels, Lobro’s and MORE stuff

  Got aluminium sheets, front calipers. Packed CV (Lobro) joints, started cutting panels.

• We got more stuff!

  Sizing of brake lines, search for calipers. Aluminium sheets for panels purchased, more donor parts (hardbrake and cables, seat runners, steering column).

• More bolts, rivets and bearings

  More bolts, front wheel bearing kits. Analysed countersunk rivet angle.

• It’s looking a bit like a car

  Preliminary construction of suspension, diff fitting. Chassis modification to fit pedal box. Purchased initial bolt set.

• Back to work

  Fitted poly-bushes, cleaned front uprights in electrolysis cell. Got pedal box, master cylinders, shocks.

• The Chassis Arrives

  Chassis arrives. Front uprights and rear hubs in for machining. Rear wheel-bearings being pressed in.

• Electrolysis for rust removal

  Test of electrolysis method for rust removal.

• Some good news, some bad

  Confirmation that the damaged front hub is still usable, and final bits have been cleaned. Metal shavings found on the magnetic diff filler cap.

• Progress, and a first mistake

  Front upright damaged while removing bearing. Diff cleaned.

• Diffs are DIRTY

  Front uprights disassembled. CV (Lobro) joints disassembled, started cleaning.

• Reverse-thread breeds insecurity

  Rear hub nuts removed (reverse thread MUCH harder). Reverse-thread front-upright hub nut also removed (easily).

• Diffs are HEAVY

  Diff purchased and brought home. Rear brake-drums removed. Searching for a 41mm socket.

• Searching for those magic numbers

  Finding a 4.11 diff

• First picture

  Photo of bodywork (and some fishing)

• It begins

  I know, let’s build a racing car…