After 3 months of disruption and chaos finding new homes for all my trash , I've finally got it done. The year is turning fast and I need to decide what I can achieve before winter sets in. The plan would be to get the new engine (remember that) in and operational. Now an unforeseen issue post accident was that I had 2 wobbly rear wheels, I can't be sure it was the accident, but the car drove better before it. I swapped out the rear halfshafts and cured the NSR but not the OSR completely. I think the rear wheelbearing has too much play in it, so the plan is to do the big rear wheelbearing mod to the rear axles, if that sorts it then I want to MOT it. Then pull the motor and Refit the proper engine. In the last week I have had 1 gearbox arrive for overhaul and I have been making a resilient coupling for my mate's engine dyno . This has proved to be a bigger job than anticipated, but is all away for test, so I'll know soon enough. My research into why Engine dynos can eat driveshafts has proved to me that I need to lose my solid centreplate clutch, as keeping it will ultimately break something in the driveline . Think of the engine as an impact gun with attitude and you'll understand why the springs in the clutch centreplate will ultimately save your Gears, shafts and U/J's. Another little task to add to the list then.
The swing axle wheelbearing design is a hangover from the Second World War.
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That's it. That's what's holding the back wheel on ..
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The plan is to use a modern double row bearing, but it will need a new housing. They are available, but £500.00 and I'm not keen on the lack of metal on the bearing seat on the conversion set , so I decided to use good old 6082 Ally and make it as big as space will allow..
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Need to break out the proper measuring tools.
Then the usual Biblical mess when making things......
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It does my head in...
It's a tricky little piece with 2 light interference fits on the bearing outer and axle spout plus a 0.5mm standoff on the housing depth.
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So the bearing is a vice fit in the housing and sits 20 thou proud of the surrounding Alloy.
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You can see the Shiny mark where the spout fits into the housing and bottoms out on the bearing outer track this is what holds both parts concentric to each other.
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The gap is for the caliper mounting plate and it's 4 securing bolts, but you can see the housing engaged on the spout.
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There it is Same o/d as the original, but much thicker on the bearing seat .
Now the more observant will have realised that if you make the bearing 6.5mm wider (which I have) then you need to loose 6.5mm somewhere, this means cutting down the hub spout by 6.5mm.
It's Hardened, so it will have to be ground to finish. Deep Joy..................