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TurboZed
United Kingdom
94 Posts |
 Posted - 31 May 2010 : 15:48:27
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Nice job mate, great shots of your work!
Regards,
Jim Gough
Looking for a fastback Rapier.... |
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1922
United Kingdom
549 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2010 : 20:33:04
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Here's the second lower link. I'm starting with this:
After a bit of a clean - got this:
First I cut out the middle section and then cut a slot down the side to get this:
Then open out the cut to widen the arm - note the v shaped notch in the lower edge so it will bend at the correct point:
Tack welded together in position, with a one reinforcement piece tacked in and the second piece next to it.
Second reinforcement tacked in:
Top view:
Proper weld:
All welded and put next to first arm to compare:
Bit of grinding to remove the ugliest bits:
All done and ready for blast cleaning:
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Edited by - 1922 on 01 Jun 2010 17:35:04 |
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1922
United Kingdom
549 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2010 : 14:05:15
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Yup - I used some of the bit I'd cut off for a backing plate. It's about 2mm thick.
I used a Migatronic MX180 MIG welder with 0.8mm wire and Argon/CO2 gas mix. You need quite a lot of power to make sure that the weld pool gets all the way through the metal - I don't think I'd want to do this with a little 100 amp hobby MIG and 0.6 wire.
After all, if this bit breaks while I'm hurtling around the back roads I won't be very happy 
Here is the underside of the suspension lower link - not quite as pretty as the top.
I'v got another one to do - I'll take some intermediate pictures with the next one so that you can see the process. |
Edited by - 1922 on 29 May 2010 14:09:01 |
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TurboZed
United Kingdom
94 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2010 : 22:59:32
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Thats some snazzy welding you've done there, you can hardly tell! Have you plated across the join inside of added strength?
Regards,
Jim Gough
Looking for a fastback Rapier.... |
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1922
United Kingdom
549 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2010 : 22:36:27
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Hmmm - probably less than I'd charge for a steering rack conversion 
For tonights episode - a shortened suspension lower link. Newly blast cleaned and ready for painting.
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TurboZed
United Kingdom
94 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2010 : 21:48:36
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whats the opening bidding on that?
Regards,
Jim Gough
Looking for a fastback Rapier.... |
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1922
United Kingdom
549 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2010 : 10:24:16
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Thanks Glen,
If this all goes according to plan I might have a excellent reconditioned steering box for sale  |
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bigt80
United Kingdom
1052 Posts |
Posted - 27 May 2010 : 22:45:16
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quote:
Originally posted by 1922
Thanks Tim,
I've wanted to do this mod for years. I had an Avenger for a couple of years while I rebuilt my first Rapier and the steering was so much more precise - the Rapier steering has a "rubbery" feel in comparison.
I'm hoping to get the welding done this week and it all refitted so I can start I do some drawings for the steering arms and get those made.
Great contribution to the forum there Derek; don't reckon I'll ever attempt that!  Mind you; got to get the car on the road first & then being reminded about how wooly the steering can be - I might change my mind . cheers. G. |
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1922
United Kingdom
549 Posts |
Posted - 26 May 2010 : 14:02:47
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Thanks Tim,
I've wanted to do this mod for years. I had an Avenger for a couple of years while I rebuilt my first Rapier and the steering was so much more precise - the Rapier steering has a "rubbery" feel in comparison.
I'm hoping to get the welding done this week and it all refitted so I can start I do some drawings for the steering arms and get those made. |
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arrocuda
United Kingdom
501 Posts |
Posted - 26 May 2010 : 09:42:01
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I'm liking this thread..... I have a thang for angle grinders too! The pics are excellent and..... measurements too. Excellent stuff!!
Tim.
Building the '2nd series' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda'). |
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1922
United Kingdom
549 Posts |
Posted - 25 May 2010 : 20:17:35
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Got the lower link tack welded while it was on the car then removed the whole assembly for a final measure up before it's welded properly.
The outer ball-joint looks to be in the right position, it's the correct distance behind the crossmember and the lower link looks to be right length.
A measure up shows it's distance from the bolt holes on the cross member to be very close to the original Rapier, only a couple of millimetres different on the distance from the front bolt hole.
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argonaut
Hungary
39 Posts |
Posted - 20 May 2010 : 08:05:59
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| Looking good Derek, good progress so far, well done! |
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1922
United Kingdom
549 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2010 : 21:27:25
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I need to cut between 85 and 89 millimetres from the lower link. This gets the track to within a few millimetres of the standard Rapier. A little wider is ok as this makes the lower link closer in length to the Avenger one - and this will mean I can use the standard Avenger track rods.
So first cut the lower link - and hope to get it right first time or I'll have to buy another one:
All seems to have gone well - I've reduced the length by 87mm and angled the arm back to about the right place. Trial fit on the car looks about right.
Next step is to tack weld it together then measure it up against the standard Rapier set up again, just to make sure, before I weld it properly. |
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1922
United Kingdom
549 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2010 : 09:08:23
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The crossmember is a slightly different shape, so the mounts need to be a little shorter than the Rapier ones but very similar.
There's an engineering place a couple of miles away that can laser cut steel plate. I'll get them to cut the steel for me, then I can weld it together. I could cut the steel myself with a hacksaw and file - but I'd rather not!
They also have a CNC machine - so I'm planning on getting him to make the new steering arms for me. |
Edited by - 1922 on 18 May 2010 09:12:28 |
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TurboZed
United Kingdom
94 Posts |
Posted - 17 May 2010 : 23:10:05
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Excelent pics again! How are you going to fit the engine mounts the the Avenger cross member? (If you've already said and I've missed it, sorry! LOL)
Regards,
Jim Gough
Looking for a fastback Rapier.... |
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Topic |
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1922's steering rack project
