Keep On Rolling!!!

Well its been a while since and update, due to a number of issues. Firstly my laptop went tit's up, so i was waiting for the ipad launch before i replaced it. But after the launch i though they were gash, so bought a new PC. No sooner had i done this when a truck went of road next to my house, and took out the BT pole and everything with it, so no Internet for a while, and even after this had been repaired the broadband was dire so i got a new Hub also, which was balls. But after all that I'm back online and progressing with the build....slowly!!.

I have now got the diff in place along with all the rear drive shafts, wishbones etc... Nothing is set up yet regarding ride height, camber, castor etc... But I'm basically just knocking it up checking that I'm not going to have any issues further down the line (access to nipples, and shock adjustment) I intend to get all the angles and cambers set to the required amount, then once the block and box are dropped in and the chassis has some weight to it, check and set them again.

Now that the chassis is sat on 4 wheels its allot easier to move around, and has allowed me to roll out the garage and tidy up the mess i was accumulating around it.

I do have some concerns regarding setting of the camber angle. I have a gauge from AK which consists of a piece of paper and a plum line. This is very crude in my opinion, and is only as accurate as AK's printer, as if the center plum line is not parallel with the edge of the paper it was printed on it will always give a false reading. After some thought i posted on the CobraClub forum and have been advised of a gauge to make, that is allot more accurate and effective. I was also informed that the AK gauge could just be flipped round and the gauge should give the same reading + as it does -, and if not then use a average of the two readings.

I will when ready for IVA be getting all settings checked using more accurate equipment, as this will be allot better for the bumpsteer and tyre wear.

So the chassis is now rolling and getting towards the point when i need to be sorting out the brake lines and fuel lines. This again is another pain up the arse job, as i will need to borrow/rent/buy equipment for the flaring of the pipes and because i want to do this at my leasure it will probs mean buying. Time is something i have very little of, and even less in the next 8-10 weeks, as the arrival of Tommy Jn will take up whatever free time i do have.

I do have a few small fabricating jobs to do also before i get the chassis ready for the block. As you can see above, i have a hole in the diff for the speedo drive...I'm still not sure if I'm using this, or of the gearbox. I also need to get some plates made to cover the rear hub ABS sensors, this should be fairly easy to do, just keep my eyes peeled for some alloy in a skip, then get some bits cut to fit and sealed on.

Power time!!!

Well its way to early to start playing with engines, however due to the increasing dificulty finding a sound pre 93 block and solid Getrag gearbox i orded my power plant from BAE a while back. Unfortunatly this will mean it will be sat in my garage for a couple of months, however it arrived today and its bloody stunning...

So all tucked up in the corner of the garage, and awaiting me to pull my finger out and finish the rolling chassis so i can start to drop it in.



I'm like a kid at christmas.. hahaha

Now to call Ed at Ward to order my bits for the back end, then i'll make some propper progress.

Chassis build

Well I finally got a weekend in my garage...about fooking time!!! it was ment to be this weekend that my block and box was deliverd..however it wasn’t, due to issues with my gearbox. So I got my build manual and spanners and off I went. I had spent a full evening last week laminating all the pages of the build manual to help keep them clean and tidy.

I did have some issues getting some torque behind the lower and upper ball joint, this is because they are the later sealed type that just spin when tightened, but after some swearing and shouting got them tight to 50 lb torque setting

Although I have set the caster angle to 5.5 degrees I will be rechecking and setting once I have some weight on the chassis (engine gearbox)

Repeated the process for the offside, and managed to get the build wheels on. I am missing the top shock bolt, however this is easily sourced and fitted.

Now i have the front two build wheels on i will be able to lift the chassis at the rear, and wheel out the garage to get the engine and gearbox creat to the back..hopefully

Noisy Time!!!

Well i have had no free time to start getting stuck into the chassis, and with Edd from Ward still not having returned my rear hubs.. not a great deal i could do. So i concentrated more on getting ready for the engine delivery... but i couldnt as there has been issues with my block and delivery lead time has been put back again!.

Ian from BAE has sent me a video of my block running, which will be an awsome bit of kit when it gets here.



I had initial orderd a pre 1993, 2 bolt main, 350ci chevy, running alloy heads with carb, transfering the power through a Getrag box. Arround the date of the chassis delivery i recived a phone call from Ian at BAE, telling me that my engine was a 1968/69 early block but would require extra work on the end caps, so a slight delay. As an alternative he could offer me a 4 bolt block but would require more money.. after a quick think i decided to stick with the 2 bolt block as it was more than sufficient to run 350bhp... the 4 bolt is capable of alot more..so a little excessive for what i need....or so i thought.
  Called Ian begining of this week as Wed was delivery date, and more good and bad news. Bad new was that my gearbox was not selecting perfectly and another was being sourced which has delayed delivery yet again. But on a pluss side, i have been upgraded to the 4 bolt block free of charge, this now allows me massive tunning potential in the future (cams and carbs, could see me 450-475bhp) which might be nice, as i read alot of posts on the fourm of people who are looking for more power after they have compleated there build. I am only having this block built to 350bhp..as thats all i need (for now) so i should now be reciving both block and box on Sat 20th.

Engine spec.

Four bolt main Chevy block
Eagle balanced assembly,
Edlebrock alloy heads,
Edlebrock Torker II inlet manifold,
Edlebrock carburettor,
HEI performace electronic distributor,
Chrome 64 amp alternator,
Billet rose jointed tensioner,
High torque starter motor,
High flow water pump,
Edlebrock chrome rocker covers,
Edlebrock chrome air filter
Billet alloy pulleys

Chassis Time!!!

Well the long long wait has finaly paid off!!! I loaded the car up and went on my way down to AK for the chassis collection. Now with Audi wanting over £1800 to fit a tow bar to my A4 avant, and cost of trailler hire on-top, i decided to get the chassi deliverd by a fella who was recomended by Jon from AK. So after arranging details with him and a cost of £300 was agreed (fricken bargin) I still took a trip to AK to pick up some bits and exchange some parts (wishbones/drive shafts)

So with the kettle full, and the bacon ready, i called some mates and got them round to help with the lifting and shifting. Unfortunatly most of my mates are all alcoholics and with the delivery from Geroge being early doors i had to go and pick them all up, bar Simon who luckly for me wasnt drinking stupid amounts of beer the night prior.

So first off was the body, which was considrably lighter than i thought it would be... thank goodness. I only have limited space so the body was going to be stored by my veg patch in the front garden. This is not an ideal solution however its eather that, or left on the drive for the world and his wife to see.

So with the body sorted and under a tarp, onto the chassis. An amazing bit of kit... and bloody heavy. My garage is round the other side of the house and unfortunatly the 4x4 and trailer wouldnt get anywhere near, so it was good old muscle power, and carry it round to the garage along with all the extra bits i had orderd.

So now the serious build can start and hopefully progress on a weekly basis, so be sure to check here for updates and more of the build.

I like to cut things fine!!!

Well everyone thinks i'm insane attempting this build in a single garage, and they would be right. And i did initialy get some builders round to extend the back wall of my pokey garage to give me some extra room. But after one builder wanting over £1800, and one guy doing the whole "well i can do it, but it wont be easy... or cheep (and i dont rearly want to do it)." One bloke coming to have a look, then dissapiered of the face of the earth!!! hope he's ok. And one guy who said he could do it at a good price... but i lost his number.

Well with chassie collection on the 13th Feb, i though fook it, i'll have to manage with what i have....untill i get a knock on the door (lucky i was in) on the 20th Jan from John. He asked if i still wanted it doing to which i said yes, but he'll have to be quick as the chassie go's in, in a couple of weeks.... so he started Monday 25th and its now finished!!



Day 1. Blockwork start



Day 2. Blockwork finished


Day 3. Plywood roof ready for felt.


Day 4. Knock through and floor/Felt roof


Day 5. Clear away rubble and jobs a goodun.


Very pleased with his work, and have added much needed space to my build area (some where to store my block and box at least)

Hats off to Por-15

Wow is all i can say, this stuff is truly amazing stuff. I'm so glad i didnt stick with a Hammerite finish, this stuff is 1 million times stronger and cosmeticly looks better also.







Just a little cleaning of inside the yoke's for the end caps of the UJ's, and also for the bush's on the wishbones, but jobs a good un, and donner gear is done...phew!!!