SHINNY EXHAUSTS AND BLUE SUSPENSION BUSHES
The stainless steel exhaust system was then installed, this item although brand new
(not a Falcon system) didn't cost me a penny as I swapped it for the original Daimler
gearbox. I found the best way to fit the system into place was to first install the
silencers, then the balance pipe followed by the flexible down pipes and the tail
pipes.
Nice new Stainless steel exhaust boxes.
Next job was the strip down and overhaul of the front suspension, this was shot
blasted and powder coated. All replacement parts were obtained from David Manners
apart from the polyurethane suspension bushes and coil spring mounting rubbers.
These were bought from Superflex with a total cost of £66 (01749 678152).
You can see the blue Superflex polyurethane suspension bushes.
The items purchased from Manners were Front hub seals, wheel bearings, trunnion
assembly with fitting kit, coil springs, bump stops, top ball joints and front discs.
With a few additional nuts and washers etc this came to £344.
During assembly only two problems came to light, the first being that I could not
compress the springs in situ with the compression tool that I had. This was due to the
trumpets on the chassis getting in the way. I compressed the springs on the bench and
secured them with strong wire, this allowed fittment without fouling the trumpets.
Once the spring plate on the bottom wishbone had been secured the wire was cut and
removed.
The second problem was with the powder coating, I found that when a component
that was powder coated was tightened up, the coating would fracture around the site
of the fixing. This made me pleased I had not had the whole chassis either powder or
plastic coated.
I decided to incorporate a modification to the grease nipples on the front suspension,
there are 8 nipples in all that require regular lubrication. The system I installed was a
remote lubrication system as found on lorries.
This entails removing the nipples and installing right-angled elbows (brass fittings),
into these fittings are placed nylon pipe. The pipe is then fed to the front bracing cross
member. This is the thing that is secured to the chassis at the front of the engine by
four bolts, and is banana shaped. In this cross member holes were drilled to accept the
grease nipples and pipework.
I got the new nipples from an auto jumble. The brass fitting and pipe I obtained from
a HGV supplier. Ford & Slater (0116 2632900), the pipe is 3/16 in diameter and
comes in 3 metre lengths (2 will suffice). Be warned only to use pipe designed for
grease, as standard plastic pipe will fail.
This modification allows easy access to the greasing points and prevents debris
entering the nipples during lubrication, total cost around £45.
The next installment will be fitting the rack & pinion steering, and then setting up
temporary ignition and cooling so the engine can be run up before the fitting of the
body.
Left/hand side greasing system.
Close-up of the nipples mounted on cross bar.