1976 Autotune Gemini - ELVA MKI replica

doesn't that plate flex underbraking?

looks like it could do with bracing to the bar accross the top of the dash.

In the Escort donor the column goes between the pedals - but higher up - The pedals have been respaced on the Gem to cramp them together on one side.

Decided that it has to be a full bias set up. Will probably end up with extensive modifications to the pedal box.

Custom - but still deciding if it will be extensively modifying the existing or fully bespoke.

With the body off it gave me the opportunity to have a look around......


The standard of chassis finish from Autotune never fails to disappoint - You are there with welder but rather than A- do a proper joint you B - do a curse word design of joint and then rather than weld a cap on the top - 30 seconds of welding - you leave it open and fit a bung in it. FFS that's just wrong and lazy.







Then I spotted this - don't cap it off and why even bother with a bung.








Which is when I notice the misaligned Panhard causing the trailing arms to rub.





But hang on, why is there a row of rivets riveting nothing ? and why it that section of alloy sheets ( and bloddy awful Denso tape) there.





And on the other side?





So rather than adjust the Panhard - there is plenty of adjustment - the builder removes the 0.8mm alloy sheet and folds it in behind! Uh?


More work to undo. One thing that particularly annoys me when having to do stuff like this is the rivet ends being left in the tubes. probably have to drill a hole remove them and then weld it up again.


And the laziness just keeps getting better, why round off a bracket, or bother to correctly support a major load bearing joint. Just make it out of some totally over the top gauge steel and hope that will do it. Each of the three chassis I have looked at is different.








Better order some new 3.3 drills.

Yes well - I have been there a few times as well and can agree that they are not the best

















- but they had a price point that can excuse many things - the Gemini does not.



I will probably go bespoke for the Gemini with the M/C's under dash.





Another in a narrow footwell











Ginetta G27 standard pedals also leave much to be desired but no clear picture of those and the changes I made.

I decided to do some more checking and measuring around the Panhard issue.

I looked across at the passenger side and thought to myself that panel looks flat - and this side is held off by the trailing arm brackets.... hold on they haven't...








Oh yes they have.








The brackets on the O/S bring trailing arms closer to the body by the thickness of the over sized brackets - which I think are produced in the cheap way of just slicing up box section tube.

It's no wonder there is evidence of our original builder losing the will.








And have I mentioned my hate of this stupid Denso tape -" to prevent galvanic corrosion between the chassis and the alloy panels" - which is only required due to the poorly applied - no doubt cheap- powdercoating that falls off in sheets.





On a positive note, the brackets on the axle appear to be in the right place.

Thank goodness you have done that, DS.

I don't know how anyone could have fitted that as it was without it making them feel terribly poorly afterwards.

So the trailing arm brackets were welded on in the wrong place by the factory???
If that's the case it's more than a bit unimpressive. Did they not have a jig?

James

They may well have a jig - But it would be made from untreated pine, nailed together and stored in the open.... Actually its probably made from old pallets and they reused the nails.