Another little job done today. I fitted the 4 new tierod ends and assembled the main steering rod with the steering damper loop thingy and painted the rod ends and clamps. I also painted the steering damper as well. Will fit them tomorrow. No pics taken today so will take some tomorrow after assembly. Hope the steering box overhaul kit hurries up and gets here. Thats the next job to be done.
As promised, (to myself), i fitted the steering rods and steering damper. I put new rubbers on the damper that i had in my toolbox, that i saved from when i fitted one new rear sway bar tie bar to a commodore that had a broken one. They come in a kit of two bars etc. Had them in the toolbox for years. Saved me buying 4 new rubbers. I checked the toe setting and found it to be toeing in 3mm. I adjusted it to 1 mm toe in, 1/2 a turn on the track rod. I touched up the paint and took a couple happy snaps.
A couple days ago, i got some bits from old blighty. Unfortunatly they were in blue bags. The fuel tank mount bolt kits, and the two steering box overhaul kits, (i need one for the s3 as well). After searching through various books i found out how the single bolts at the rear of the tanks are supposed to be fitted. So i checked my parts and found the large flat washer doesnt fit on the stepped bolt like it should. They supplied a 5/16 washer instead of a 3/8 washer. So i drilled the 2 washers out to 3/8. Then i found that only one of the two fuel tanks had the centre rear hole drilled to 5/8, and as the rubber insulators are stepped, I had to go buy a 5/8 stepped shank drill bit, ($47.00), just for one hole. I spose u never know when u might wanna drill another 5/8 hole somewhere. So i drilled the hole, painted it, made up the two brackets for the top of the chassis to strengthen the mount points, see pics, and painted them too. The pics dont show the other 6 bolts and washers etc. Maybe tomorrow i might have a go at fitting the fuel tanks.
So after a visit from 68s2alwb, i decided to try to fit the fuel tanks. Now i have had these two fuel tanks in the chassis before it was sandblasted and painted to trial fit them and check them. Was all good. Not so this time. The drivers side tank was good. Went straight in, bolted up perfectly, even with the single bolt at the rear of it. Now the passengers side. The fuel tank just didnt want to fit. It was almost like one of the outriggers had been bent inward about 2mm. So after some jacking under the tank and aligning the bolt holes with a couple of screwdrivers and forcing with the 3lb leather faced hammer, i got the front bolts in. The rear single bolt was another story. I had to force the tank downward to insert the rubber mounting bush, try to align it with the hole and at the same time, align the hole up and then fit the stepped bolt. All done. Lots of cursing later and i managed to fit the strengthening plate and the washer and nut. I tightened all the bolts and nuts. Got the penetrol spray out and gave all the bolts a squirt. Will paint later. Couple pics⤵
Hey Rod, it looks like I might take you up on those S3 hubs you've got as one of my original hubs is knackered. A can't remember if you said or not, but do you have studs for those hubs as well?
This afternoon i dug out both steering boxes i have for the s2a. Both are late build boxes. I checked out both boxes and decided to do up my original box. So i cleaned up the outside and about 49 years of dirt and crap came off. Then i stripped the box as per the instructions in the workshop manual. Then i cleaned all the inside stuff. I even stripped the top column bearing apart and cleaned it up too. I regreased the top bearing and put together again. I cleaned the outer housing of about 5 coates of paint. Cleaned the inside of the tube. Then i cleaned up all the other bits that needed painting. Painted them satin black. Then i cleaned up the box itself. Loverly. I then started re assembling the box. It all went together well. No wear to speak off. Not bad for a 49yr old box. It still had some oil in it when i pulled it apart. I discovered that i shouldnt have pulled the seal retaining washer out as its staked in at assembly. So i had to refit it with the new seal and stake the washer again. Next time i'll just hook out the old seal, which is just an 'o' ring, and replace it that way. Anyway i put it all together and reset the end float. I needed one less shim. I fitted new gaskets to both sides of the shims as the manual says. Put it all together and reset the sector shaft end float. Checked everything. All good. I gave the outer housing another coat of paint. Took a couple pics. And it was 9.30pm. Time to relax. Im happy with todays effort.
I think i overdid it yesterday. Woke up this morning with a sore back and feet. Im finding it hard to walk atm. I should have done the rebuild today but i was impatient. Ahh well i can spend the day in front of the tele now resting...
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