Progress - TCAs, power steering, etc

[Roy Kemp]

Evening all,

First up, I just wanted to say a big thanks to all of you that commented on my previous blog entry and forum post on ARB relocation. Didn't even know what a caster angle was before all that. I'm still bloody clueless, but now at least I'm aware of more things that I'm ignorant of, and need to be aware of. Always a good first step!

So, popped round to see how my fabricator chum is getting on with the various bits on the Phaeton. The adjustable TCAs are now modified to Dutton spec with shock brackets, and looking great. Looking forward to getting them fitted and having a wee tinker.

He's also taken off my stainless side panels, chopped some holes in the tub and welded some s-brackets onto the outside of the chassis rails. To these will attach some fillet plates to sit inside the sides of the tub. These have threaded bosses to form new mounting points for the windscreen bolts, but, more importantly, will support/locate a cross-tube to which the Corsa C power steering column will hang.

Speaking of which, he's also got the column trial fitted, the UJ at the bottom welded to the Phaeton lower column, and the splined top end of the Ford column mated into the Corsa unit so I can keep the same steering wheel.

I had asked him originally to modify the ARB mounts for double width brackets, however, I've asked him to hold off for now, and think of a way we could possibly make them adjustable. He's said if we're going to that level of bother we might as well use compression struts instead. I think we'll probably measure the castor with the standard ARB mounts (I think it's giving a lot of castor) and then see where we're at. He's also noted that the shock bushes are pretty worn, so I'll get these and the top wishbone bushes replaced with poly.

So, all very exciting and can't wait for a play, but his skillz aren't cheap. As Nick from Project Binky says, "I need to find a paramedic for me wallet..."

Hopefully more to follow soon!

[Roy Kemp]

Pictures will be coming shortly - still looks a bit too much of a disaster with no dash, wiring everywhere and steering column poking out at a random angle! 

Still tossing up with this front suspension - just compression struts, compression struts with ARB on drop links, or measure the camber and make do with a modded ARB setup for now? Let's see what happens..

[Dave Adams]

Aye Pecking Awa

seems appropriate i think..... ;-)

[Dave Adams]

glad to be of help.....

[Paul Sheridan]

Roy, lets have some pictures ...... WE LOVE PICTURES :-))))))

[Steve Kerswell]

That's good progress Roy, We fab welders don't do "cheap" :-)