| Diary June/July 2001 |
| Les's 2B kit car |
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| June 22nd 2001 Started stripping down the donor car ready for collection of my kit on July 14th. The first task was to disconnect and label the wiring from the engine and associated components. The radiator was drained and removed then the starter motor and prop shaft were removed. The cross member above the grill was cut through and removed along with the grill to allow removal of the engine though the front of the car without much lifting. (5 hrs) June 24th Supported engine on scaffold pole across wings of car and supported gearbox. Lowered crossmember to allow sufficient clearance for sump to pass over. Unbolted engine from gearbox and move engine forward to clear gearbox input shaft, removed clutch and flywheel to reduce the weight. Engine removed and placed in corner of garage. Gearbox mounting removed and gearbox taken out through front of car. (5 hrs) June 26th The task for today was the rear suspension. Undone the drive shaft nuts and raised the car on axle stands. The brakes were removed along with handbrake cable then the drive shafts were removed form the diff. The diff was unbolted and removed from under the car along with the rear suspension. The brake pipes and hoses were unclipped and the fuel tank was lowered fuel lines disconnected then the tank was removed. The wires at the rear of the car were disconnected and labelled. My carport and garage now resemble a scrap yard. (8 hrs) June 28th Raised front of car to work on front suspension. Brake cylinders and brake disks removed. Separated ball joints and removed front hub carriers. Removed steering column, brake servo and master cylinder, brake and clutch pedal assembly and handbrake lever. Some parts cleaned ready for fitting. (4 hrs) June 29th - July 6th Continuing to clean parts, overhaul and paint parts ready for fitting. July 14th Went to pick up Luton van at 9 am. The van that I had booked had not been returned as it was in Scotland, so I had to measure other vans to make sure the chasis would fit in. After finding one suitable I set off with a friend and my son to travel the 175 miles to pick up my kit. With my foot flat to the floor doing an average of 60 mph it soon dawned on me that it was going to be a very long day. With a stop at the services and a few laps around Mansfield Woodhouse trying to find the Robin Hood factory we finally arrived at 2.15 pm. Inside the factory there was a large queue of people waiting to pick up their kits along with various forms of transport in the yard being loaded with parts after being checked off on the list. My turn came at 3.30pm. with the kit being loaded onto a trolley while I paid for it and received some leaflets and 4 videos. I had to park the van on the road outside as there was no room in the yard, so the trolley outside to the van. The process of checking off all the parts then started which turned out to be harder than expected, with problems identifying some of the parts. With the check sheet ticked off and all the parts loaded and secured we set off for home at 4.50pm. Time was now of the essence as I had a party to go to at 7.30pm. With my foot flat to the floor again we didn't seem to suffer much with the speed even though the van was now loaded up. A few phone calls were made to say that we were running a little bit late and to go on to the party without me and I would see them a bit later. Without any stops we arrived home at 7.50pm. and quickly unloaded the kit into the garage, with a quick shower and change of clothes I managed to get to the party by 8.30pm. just in time for the meal. |
