Team ‘Katona’s Pleasure Hamper’ (not sure why)

Donor car : We were given a donor car, which was nice. It had an engine with half our mileage and which didn't have a blown head gasket. It also had a clutch. All useful stuff was removed before sending it off for scrap

First job was to retrieve from winter (heated!) storage.

For assessment of the structural state, and to reduce the number of fires during welding this year, the interior is stripped and the rear hood removed. The rear seats are staying out to increase our limited storage, and the swanky/ comfy sports recliners are tested in place (mountings will need to be fabricated later). The indicator stalks are replaced as they were a cause of one of the more alarming thermal incidents last year. chunky steering wheel fitted whilst in the vicinity.

Next its time for the removal of the shot engine. Easier to drop the whole subframe and raise the car.  The original subframe is in better condition than the donor so it is stripped cleaned and hammerited dark green (found on garage shelf!). The steering rack is swapped for the donor one, as its gaiters aren't split, and a few welding patches are needed in the inner front arches and engine bay.

The wishbones and struts are removed off the subframe assembly and a couple of possible causes of last years handling (like a bag of spanners) are found. Nylon bushes are ordered as the originals are a little worn! The strut top bearings don't exactly move freely either.

Many remarks were made last year (not least from the MOT tester) about the stainless strips along our sills. Comments such as 'what are they hiding?' can now be partially answered as on the passenger side the answer is 'not a lot'. Not a lot of metal that is. A little fabrication of a new sill should help with the chassis rigidity. We should now be confident to open the doors with the targa roof removed! A month and four days to go..... good progress!

Page last updated 23/4/11