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May 10, 2022 20:57:55 GMT
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Going back to the Escort for a moment, I've just received these pictures from the upholsterer - ready to collect on Friday!   I'm pleased with the results from what I've seen so far, and they're a perfect match to the front seats - literally, the fabric is straight from Cobra. The plan is to have some more progress on stripping the Puma this weekend, in between gardening jobs.
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Last Edit: May 10, 2022 20:58:36 GMT by jasellan
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Nice cars there,
Particularly interested in the work you're doing with the Spitfire, should be a right little pocket rocket when its finished,
Looking forward to seeing future updates on this thread,
Nigel
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BMW E39 525i Sport
BMW E46 320d Sport Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 325 Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 320 Cabriolet (Project car - currently for sale.)
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May 14, 2022 18:49:36 GMT
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Nice cars there, Particularly interested in the work you're doing with the Spitfire, should be a right little pocket rocket when its finished, Looking forward to seeing future updates on this thread, Nigel Thanks for the kind words, I'm hoping to have something usable more than anything else but I have a feeling it will feel quick enough as well! Managed some more progress on the Puma donor this afternoon, first I liberated the ECU and removed all of the wiring from the back of the car - I only need to disconnect the fuel pump and then the loom can be removed.  I've also removed various bits from the engine bay including header tank, airbox, fuse box and the plastic bulkhead. The engine bay and interior looms have been separated, so next step is to cut the exhaust and drag the engine out!  |
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More progress on the Puma today, it's looking a lot less like a complete car now:   Front bumper, radiator, AC condenser all removed - the engine mounts, PAS pipes and other bits and bobs have also been sorted. The engine is ready to come out, and we did attempt it but the 'box wasn't willing to separate. Awaiting a long 15mm socket as I'll just pull the driveshafts and lift the whole lot out! |
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How much for the puma gearknob if its for sale?
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How much for the puma gearknob if its for sale? I have no need for it anymore - if you drop me a DM I'm sure we can arrange a sale. |
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Jun 15, 2022 21:17:43 GMT
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More progress made on the Puma now - engine is liberated!  Next up is getting the original Spitfire engine running and idling so I can sell it on - it turns freely but I haven't confirmed it as a runner yet. |
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Jun 19, 2022 20:59:09 GMT
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Well that answers that... I tried first with fuel into the pump, but I was impatient and went straight for the closest to the carb I could get. Afterwards the fuel from the pump started coming through so we'll call that a success!
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Jul 28, 2022 20:23:05 GMT
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I've just received an order from Rimmer Brothers for new hardtop glass and seals, so whether I run hard- or soft-top I should be 100% water tight.
I've also started work stripping down the Puma wiring loom - I've worked backwards from connectors I know won't be used (cluster, doors, speakers etc.) and hopefully that means it'll still work when I strap it back to the engine! Speakers will be wired up another way which I'll cover when I get to it.
No pictures yet but I'll try to grab some next time I'm at the car.
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Jul 30, 2022 17:49:05 GMT
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I decided to get the tyres swapped onto the steel wheels to get them test-fitted on the car, to measure width etc. - tyres are Pilot Sport 3s in 195/50/15 which should help get the extra power down. The wheel in picture has some positive camber at the moment - I understand this is normal on Spitfires after they have been jacked up, and settles back down after a short drive. I think the wheels stick out just enough for me to put a small flare on the arches without obviously changing the lines of the car:    |
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Nov 12, 2022 21:32:54 GMT
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Nov 13, 2022 16:46:44 GMT
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In Spitfire news, I now have somewhere for it to live so the project should start picking up in speed if all goes to plan:   |
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Nov 15, 2022 20:34:40 GMT
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A summary of tonight's progress:  The clutch master cylinder is seized, so I've since whipped that off to be reconditioned - luckily one of my dad's customers offers this service, so I've arranged for them to do it rather than messing with it myself. |
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Nov 19, 2022 19:59:37 GMT
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In a massive oversight on my part, I had been too concerned about the overall length of the new engine & gearbox combination to notice this:  The sump has a strange 'lower sump' which is perpendicular to the engine and is 14-15" wide... The gap between the chassis rails is 13-14" wide so we had a problem. A sump from a 1.6 Fiesta has been ordered, which should mount up okay as it's the same Zetec-SE block. This is a deeper sump, but is one piece rather than two and doesn't have the wide section meaning it will fit between the chassis legs with no issues. The oil pickup is in the centre so there are no internal clearance issues either, touch wood! I also figured out the routing for the serpentine belt, allowing for removal of the A/C compressor - I will be leaving the PAS pump attached and looping the lines, as I need the pulley (top left of image) to make use of the idler pulley (top centre).  I'm not convinced that the belt would like the long run from the tensioner (bottom left) to the alternator (top right) otherwise, and I'd rather be safe than sorry. |
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Nov 19, 2022 19:59:49 GMT
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In a massive oversight on my part, I had been too concerned about the overall length of the new engine & gearbox combination to notice this: The sump has a strange 'lower sump' which is perpendicular to the engine and is 14-15" wide... The gap between the chassis rails is 13-14" wide so we had a problem. A sump from a 1.6 Fiesta has been ordered, which should mount up okay as it's the same Zetec-SE block. This is a deeper sump, but is one piece rather than two and doesn't have the wide section meaning it will fit between the chassis legs with no issues. The oil pickup is in the centre so there are no internal clearance issues either, touch wood! I also figured out the routing for the serpentine belt, allowing for removal of the A/C compressor - I will be leaving the PAS pump attached and looping the lines, as I need the pulley (top left of image) to make use of the idler pulley (top centre). I'm not convinced that the belt would like the long run from the tensioner (bottom left) to the alternator (top right) otherwise, and I'd rather be safe than sorry. I have a picture of the original setup as well, and will double-check to ensure everything is spinning in the correct direction. |
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Last Edit: Nov 19, 2022 20:01:55 GMT by jasellan
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Nov 26, 2022 22:28:33 GMT
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Belt run has now been sorted, I've sourced a tensioner from a non-PAS, non-AC MK4 Fiesta and fitted it:  I've also removed the exhaust and propshaft and had a go at test-fitting the engine and gearbox - everything is just loosely bolted together at the moment:  As you can see, it's sitting too far forward and therefore too high at present - that's because of this:  I've already removed the riveted-on inspection plates, and taken a small sliver out of the tunnel for clearance - I've since marked up a second cut:  This should get the engine sitting behind the front crossmember, will hopefully avoid any cutting of the firewall and gives a really sensible shifter location. The handbrake will have to move back a similar amount to the cut, but that shouldn't be too much of a job. |
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Some more progress on squeezing the engine in - first the bulkhead was trimmed slightly:  Then the engine was lowered back in for a better look:    Since then I have trimmed some castings off the sump, which has given another 10-15mm however it's looking likely that the bonnet won't clear at this point. Waiting on some countersunk bolts and a few other bits before we can properly attach the engine and gearbox to make a start on mounts. |
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It's certainly an option, as is getting the engine down further - the only thing is it'll be pushed backwards to do so, which is fine as long as it doesn't stick into the cabin itself. I'm trying to wait until I can test the engine and bonnet together before jumping to any conclusions. |
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