dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
Jun 17, 2020 20:17:30 GMT
|
I wouldn’t have the balls to put an engine in like that 🤣. Engine in first,then gearbox in after for me. I would be petrified to put an engine in at that angle 🤣🤣🤣 I've done it loads of times with big sixes - front up on axle stands and it's like dropping a pencil vertically like a dart into a bucket With gearbox in place you have very little clearance to play with it's like dropping a pencil horizontally into a bucket only just wide enough - you frequently hit the sides Really was a non event. Engine tilter thingy gives you full control of angle as it goes in. Engine in first means you still have a faff getting the gearbox and engine aligned, and have to support the back of the engine, and more chance of knackering the pilot bearing or its seal, and more time messing around under the car (not easy with my scissor lift). Last time I did it with gearbox in and same problems as above, pilot bearing is the weakest link and remember sweating my ass off getting the engine and box aligned. We all have our own way of doing things but was so easy with the tilter bar I'd do it again the same way.  |
| |
Last Edit: Jun 17, 2020 20:18:31 GMT by dom10a
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
oh man- I so want a magic mirror for my Imp!!! (once its new secret squirrel engine is installed that is)
|
| |
|
|
dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
Jul 12, 2020 12:07:27 GMT
|
The axle was the last remaining part of the car that needed some TLC. While it was off I fitted stiffer leaf springs, adjustable dampers, and some lowering blocks. The dampers have a slightly reduced height so work perfectly with the lower ride height. The bushings were in pretty good shape but I swapped them all out for Superpro polybushes. The front eye of the stiffer leaf springs was bigger than stock so these needed a larger bushing. The pin hole was also bigger so I had to sleeve the original pins. The Konis were not a direct fit either, they needed sleeves making up for the lower mounting pin.   |
| |
|
|
dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
Jul 12, 2020 12:17:59 GMT
|
The axle restoration process. 1) Removed all hardware and send relevant bits off for electroplating 2) Drained axle oil 3) Removed rust and grime with wire wheel 4) Degreased axle body 5) Applied POR Metal prep & ready 6) Painted with POR 15 7) Made up new brake line and fitted new rubber brake hose 8) Painted brake valve 9) Painted leafs and hardware with epoxy chassis paint 10) Made up sleeves for front eye bushes and lower shock mounts 11) Reassembled             |
| |
Last Edit: Jul 12, 2020 12:21:00 GMT by dom10a
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 12, 2020 18:12:05 GMT
|
|
Epic car! Top work.
Curious, why is one shock in front of the axle and one behind?
|
| |
|
|
dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
Jul 12, 2020 19:02:46 GMT
|
Epic car! Top work. Curious, why is one shock in front of the axle and one behind?  Good question! Something to do with the dynamics of the suspension I think. Maybe to help reduce spring wrap (axle tramp) when going on and off the power? Can anyone improve on that? |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 12, 2020 19:03:50 GMT
|
Epic car! Top work. Curious, why is one shock in front of the axle and one behind? Good question! Something to do with the dynamics of the suspension I think. Maybe to help reduce spring wrap (axle tramp) when going on and off the power? Can anyone improve on that? That would have been my guess too, although I'm not sure how the physics of that work. |
| |
|
|
dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
Jul 12, 2020 20:16:43 GMT
|
Good question! Something to do with the dynamics of the suspension I think. Maybe to help reduce spring wrap (axle tramp) when going on and off the power? Can anyone improve on that? That would have been my guess too, although I'm not sure how the physics of that work. Me neither. The rear end certainly wasn't the forte of the Rx3. All the ones that got raced had watts links or panhard rods to stop axle sway and many had anti tramp bars too. I'd like to fit an FB Rx7 rear end to it which came with a watts link but it involves welding brackets to the body which I don't want to do. |
| |
|
|
jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,921 
Club RR Member Number: 40
|
1972 Mazda Rx3 Coupejamesd1972
@jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member 40
|
|
|
|
Believe it’s to prevent axle tramp, the different locations give a bit of resistance to it. Cheaper than the other linkages mentioned !
James
|
| |
|
|
dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
Jul 14, 2020 11:08:41 GMT
|
Interior all in now. Exhaust in next then axle then should be good to see if she fires up. There's actually a chance i'll finish this thing this year!  |
| |
|
|
|
|
eurogranada
Europe
To tinker or not to tinker, that is the question...
Posts: 2,556
|
|
|
|
|
Just found this today! Beautyful car and inceredibly high standard restoration! Well done!
|
| |
|
|
dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
Jul 15, 2020 10:24:41 GMT
|
Just found this today! Beautyful car and inceredibly high standard restoration! Well done! Thanks very much. Your Granada is amazing BTW. I love the coupe/fastback shape. I will set aside a day to read the thread  |
| |
|
|
dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
Jul 22, 2020 20:00:25 GMT
|
|
|
| |
Last Edit: Jul 22, 2020 20:00:47 GMT by dom10a
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 22, 2020 22:22:21 GMT
|
|
Looking spot on underneath and exciting moment to come!
|
| |
|
|
dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
Jul 23, 2020 20:58:49 GMT
|
|
|
| |
Last Edit: Jul 23, 2020 21:00:03 GMT by dom10a
|
|
samta22
Club Retro Rides Member
Stuck in once more...
Posts: 1,276
Club RR Member Number: 32
|
1972 Mazda Rx3 Coupesamta22
@samta22
Club Retro Rides Member 32
|
|
|
|
Looks stunning, all looks to be coming together beautifully.
As an aside, how do you rate the lift from B&H? I've been pontificating about getting one for years but even more so now (joys of spending too much time on the internet and researching some more).
|
| |
'37 Austin 7 '56 Austin A35 '58 Austin A35 '65 Triumph Herald 12/50 '69 MGB GT '74 MGB GT V8'73 TA22 Toyota Celica restoration'95 Mercedes SL320 '04 MGTF 135 'Cool Blue' (Mrs' Baby) '05 Land Rover Discovery 3 V8 '67 Abarth 595 (Mrs' runabout) '18 Disco V |
|
|
|
1972 Mazda Rx3 Coupefr€$h&m1nt¥
@freshandminty
Club Retro Rides Member 99
|
|
|
There's actually a chance i'll finish this thing this year! No rush - 2020 is pretty much cancelled any way! |
| |
|
|
dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
|
|
Looks stunning, all looks to be coming together beautifully. As an aside, how do you rate the lift from B&H? I've been pontificating about getting one for years but even more so now (joys of spending too much time on the internet and researching some more). Thanks, hopefully not too much more crawling around the car now. The lift has been really good. They are clearly not as good a a twin pillar lift, but are a lot simpler to set up and are ideal for a home garage where height is limited. I cannot raise the car fully on this lift as it would hit the roof. They give sufficient access for you to be able to do most jobs, but work on the central portion of the underside is restricted due to the structure there. If you've got the height, i'd maybe look at a pillar lift but for a standard home garage I highly recommend one of these. I guess my one criticism would be the speed of the lift is too fast. Would be nice to have a bit more control. |
| |
|
|
dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
|
|
There's actually a chance i'll finish this thing this year! No rush - 2020 is pretty much cancelled any way! It's for my own sanity  |
| |
|
|
dom10a
Part of things
Posts: 184
|
|
Jul 24, 2020 22:41:25 GMT
|
Got the car sitting on the ground again today and the ride height is a little higher at the back than I'd hoped even with the 1" lowering blocks but ideally i'd only like it about another 1" lower to give sufficient clearance from the tyres as they do fill the arches. So hopefully with a full tank of fuel, the rear bumper and lights on, the spare wheel in the boot, and a couple of people in the car it should sit about right. I expect the leafs will settle around 1/4" to 1/2" too after a bit of use. Couldn't do a test start as realised I had no engine oil or premix but did turn the engine over on the starter just to see if that was working and all good so fingers crossed should be up and running soon when the oil arrives. I'm going to be using Redline fully synthetic.   |
| |
|
|
|
|
