I'm still working away pretty steadily on my build. My current tasks are all "infrastructure" related and not too picture worthy. They do take a lot of time as I'm solving problems as I go, so trying out alternatives even if just in paper/cardboard prototype form. Additionally, I live near the ocean and if something is going to be left in bare metal, I can only go 2-3 days with out putting primer on it. That makes for more work later as I typically have to wire brush off the paint, then clean the metal completely with acetone before I can weld on it again. It's getting pretty repetitive.
However, I want to have as much done as possible before I take it off the rotiseree and put it back on the build table for its final fit-out.
Here's a typical example of what I'm doing. I needed to put "dog legs" in the tunnel to provide enough room for the large (same as a Ford V8) bell housing. At the same time, I couldn't run a straight tube backwards from the widest point unless I wanted to give up another 2-3 inches for both the driver's and passenger's side footwell, which I didn't want to do. It would have taken me into less than 12" on each side for controls and that was too little, I felt.
Attachment:
DSC03701.JPG
I had always planned on "triangulating" this area externally on the underside of the car. The gussets should do most of the job, but this area takes a lot of stress according to the Wesley Linton Analysis, which was done on a Luego chassis, a slightly modified "Book" chassis. To that triangulation, I planned to add a cross member, which would essentially be at the beginning of the tunnel proper. I tried a number of configurations, but felt they would be too close to the roadway. I elected to concentrate on the local triangulation of the dog legs and leave the crossmember as a future development if it proved necessary.
I tried a couple of different methods using ready-made RHS and plate, but all were too bulky. Thereafter, I decided to take a 1" x 1-1/2", 14 gauge RHS piece I had on hand and split it into two channels like so:
Attachment:
DSC03704.JPG
Here's a right-side-up view of the dog legs after I drilled the holes laid out previously. This is the driver's side of the car, if that isn't readily apparent to you.
Attachment:
DSC03705.JPG
Here's my first round set-up on each side of the tunnel. Note that I've welded a large tab in place to pick up the forward gusset, located in the engine compartment. In the completed car, there will be a 16 gauge undertray welded in place. These trianngulation channels will be on the roadway side of that undertray, if that wasn't already obvious to you.
Attachment:
DSC03706.JPG
Attachment:
DSC03710.JPG
Another problem I was trying to solve was the location of the rear brake lines in the area between the engine compartment firewall and the tunnel behind the transmission mounts. My engine and transmission go in as a unit. There's a lot of stuff moving around as they go in and it's a super tight fit to get it in. My major concern was pinching off the brake line due to a collision with the transmission or bellhousing. Running the line through the dog leg would be risky as it is very exposed (and tight) at installation time. My second reason for the channel was to provide a protected path for the rear brake lines, and avoid routing it through the dog leg. The channel provides that protected path for me now.
Providing a path, yet not having the channel protrude into the tunnel itself required some shaping and trimming as here:
Attachment:
DSC03709.JPG
Here's the completed driver's side with the channel reshaped to protect and carry the rear brake line.
Attachment:
DSC03712.JPG
Both sides are trimmed and trial fitted in this photo.
Attachment:
DSC03714.JPG
Here's a sequence of photos showing how the brake line routing works:
Attachment:
Brake Line Channel 3.jpg
Attachment:
Brake Line Channel 4.jpg
Attachment:
Brake Line Channel.jpg
Attachment:
Brake Line Channel 2.jpg
So, there you have an example of the things I'm working on. Next is the emergency brake system and then the pedal box and 16 gauge transmission tunnel paneling.
Cheers,