NEW CLUTCH

Along with all the parts I got was a Spridget 1275 pressure plate and disk. Also the flywheel was turned on the ID and face and drilled and pinned to accept the 1275 clutch. This lightened the flywheel as a good bit of metal was removed.

STEERING COLUMN

I tackled the steering gear yesterday and today. It felt very stiff and what I found was the inner and outer tubes were both bent and the bracket that holds the reduction box to the scuttle was cracked and bent. Otherwise the internal parts were in very good condition. I also found that the draglink was bent indicating a wee bit of a bumping at some point.

I cleaned it all up and straightened the two tubes, welded up the bracket and then reassembled it all. I did lub it all during assembly and will pump more in. the spline and key way were perfect.
Here is Mr. Before:

And after:

THE ENGINE

I have been studying the engine ever since getting the car in March and here is what I found.
1. The crankshaft is in excellent condition and mic's at std. size. I'll have it polished and get new bearing shells.
2. New Sport cam shaft.
3. Lightened flywheel with 1275 Spridget clutch
4. Aquaplane head and valve cover.
5. Aquaplane intake with new SU carbs.
6. Aquaplane exhaust manifold.
7. I'll need new valves and guides
And now the bad part.
8. The rods are OK but I'd like to get new ones with bearing shells.
9. The cylinders were bored to 30 over but a sleeve was installed in #1 cyl. It was bored about .004 oversize so the ring gaps are at .028" and the piston will probably rattle. I have a new Ford sleeve on the way from NY (thanks Chris) and a shop here will cut the old one out and press in the new one.

I could have just put the engine back together as is. The other cylinders were in excellent shape with no wear and like new clearance. I intend to put some miles on this car so I'll fix it the right way.

PROPSHAFT SHIM

Nev's new book gives a dimension from the bell housing face to the front of the propshaft spline. I found mine was 1/4" to the rear so a shim is required. I found a penny stuck into the gearbox input shaft that was dated 1971 so I assume the car was restored in that year. It looks like the 1971 penny was soldered to the end of the propshaft at some point.

I made a plug from some nylon shaft I had on hand and deducted the thickness of the 1971 coin plus the 2019 coin that I added. Car value is going up!!

REAR SUSPENSION AGAIN

After reading Nev Lear's new book I decided to go back to the rear suspension and make some changes. The first was to make up a fork reinforcement bracket. This was welded up from the Tie Rod, two 3/8" plates and two 1/2" bolts. I checked many times to be sure the alignment was square.

Here is the finished product with wrapped springs coated with Boiled Linseed Oil.

Just a shot of the machinery and  milling the fork bracket.

GEARBOX BIG NUT

The left hand thread big nut on the rear of the gearbox has 4 slots so I made a wrench to fit it. An easy 15 minute milling job using a scrap piece of pipe. I tried a big pipe wrench on it but I think a hole drilled through and a Tommy Bar will be better but it does work well.

REAR SUSPENSION WORK

I decided to remove the rear springs and clean and grease and wrap them with plastic wrap and string. I painted them with boiled Linseed Oil after this photo was taken.
I also plan to re-enforce the cross members.