Thread: Plugger and The Camel

Hi Stealth,

Two reasons:
1) I didn't want sand lying inside the rails just adding to the mix of crap in there, keeping moisture locked in a adding to corrosion. Last shell I got sandblasted still had sand filtering out of it six months later despite numerous attempts with the compressed air and vacuum trying to get it all out of the nooks n crannies.

2) KBS systems state that the paint gets better adhesion of the chassis is left in a rough (read: rusty but not scaly) state as this rough texture promotes adhesion.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Tricky

Well Saturday was hot, damn hot!! The outside temp up here in Brisbane measured 41 degrees at 12.30pm (no, I'm not kidding) and in the shop is was like 46 degrees according to my Fluke - thats damn hot!!

Anyway, we started early in the shed at 0700 to get the chassis back on its wheels which will make it so much easier to roll around and store while clients work is going on. The rear suspension went on first - took about 30 mins and bolted right up with no issues. Some fettling of the rear springs was required to get them all nice and aligned and relaxed but in it went so easily - yay!!

The front however!!!! One of the chassis bushes just refused to go in - even with help from an 8lb sledge and all it was doing was deforming the bush. The issue was when I used brute force (no other way!!) to get the old bushes out left some deep scoring on the inside of the chassis bush tubes surface and this had to be rectified. After extensive use of a half-round file and then honing the surface with a wheel-cylinder hone all was good and the bush just tapped straight in with a slight interference fit! After that it was easy to bolt the front suspension up. again with some slight fettling of the springs etc for alignment.

Here are a few pics of the finished product. We knocked off at midday saturated and ready for a beer and to hit the pool - which incidentally was starting to get warm after all these long period of excessive heat!! We are now officially at the half-way mark, with six-months to go. Enjoy...




Cheers and thanks,
Tricky and Plugger

I like your work, but what I really like is your shed.
To me, this thread triggers massive shed envy.

I think you need to do a shop tour and show us your toys.

Hey Toxic,

Your wish is my command. This is the home of Tricky Performance Engineering. Here is a quick guided tour....

Here is the outside of the workshop. Its basically a 12m x 12m barn-style shed. Only 144m2 so I need to be very careful in how I utilise the space (something it seems I am not the best at...). LED floods light up the driveway if needed. Please excuse the rubbish out the front, not tip day yet!


Left bay looking towards the rear. This is where most of Camel resides. On the left the sandblasting cabinet, parts washing bin, linisher and TIG. Notice the Martini Racing livery along all the perimeter walls (my favourite colour scheme):


Refreshments, entertainment and telecommunications to your immediate left as you walk in. Personnel door leads outside to the pool:


The latest project - an Aussie made supercar for a Doctor sitting on the chassis table (which is used often):


Looking over at the middle bay - the AMG donor for the supercar and my '56 F100 chassis sitting on top of the hoist. 1200x1200 welding table in the foreground (on wheels) and in front of the guillotine:


Continued...

Everyone mash that like button for more!

I'd noticed the Martini colours. Great taste.
They say if you enjoy your work, you'll never work another day in your life. Doing this kind of work would be up there with one of my dream jobs. Problem is l lack all of the skills, and have no time management, if my own build / mods are anything to go by

Continued...

This is the (ahem) 'office'. Not finished lining it yet but there is to go in a drafting table against the right wall and then some more shelves on the back wall. To the left is the storage cupboards which hold bits n pieces and spares etc and at the back corner you can just see the big compressor (in here to isolate the noise from the neighbors). Back wall also holds all the lifting gear (slings, shackles etc). Behind the wheelchair is Pluggers freshly-built 202. The wheelchair traction motor will get used for something....


This is the machining room - lathe, mill, drill press and roller cabinet for all the machining bits n pieces. Rack up top to store all the long and heavy lengths of steel etc. Yet to go in is a CNC lathe and/or CNC plasma cutter. There is room for both to the left...


This is the end bay looking out towards the driveway. Racking system holding (mostly) client stuff. Pan brake in the foreground, mobile steel rack in the centre. Lots of bench space down the left wall that needs to be uncluttered and made usable again! '56 F100 bonnet to the left...


The cluttered bench space - love the stripes!! I have lots of art on the walls - to the left is a picture of the Le mans Porsche garage from 1970 and all-conquering 917...


Third bay looking towards the centre bay - some toys to play with...


Continued...

Continued...

Overhead boom crane No.1 rated to 300kg. This crane services the right and centre bays. When you are a one-man-band these come in super handy for manual handling duties...


Overhead boom crane No.2 - same rating. this crane services the left and centre bays. Notice the blue reticulated air-line throughout the shed to supply shop-air...


The loft - handy for storing Land Rover and F100 parts. The electric jib crane can lift 500kg and is bolted to a very large 12mm steel plate which is through-bolted to the floor joists. The 13,000lbs winch is for pulling clients cars up and down the driveway and into the shop - you could not push a car up the driveway so the winch does all the work...


And the last shot which is the rear of bay one and all the Camel parts. Mercedes AMG doors to the left, '56 F100 door to the right. As soon as Camel is finished the Mini will go and this area will be turned into a 6mx4m rear-draft fully lined and filtered spray booth so I can paint all my own work (I find it almost impossible to find a good spray painter these days)...


That's about it then. Hope you guys liked it. Not quite finished yet but almost there.

Cheers and thanks,
Tricky and Plugger

Ripper of a "shed", well more like an operating theatre really.
Some fantastic machine shop tools to play with in there.
What is your calling?
Keep up the great posts.


Cheers, Mick.