The next rabbit hole. Help ID the chassis.

[apbos]

Just an update. Returning the adapter plates to Huffaker tomorrow. Here are a couple screen shots of a 1275 back plate and the second plate Huffaker provided. Notice no space for the oil pump. Must have been dry sump? It took a couple hours to do by the wiz kid!

 

[apbos]

So I have been spending sometime trying to get the rear uprights sorted. The blueprints implied a VW CV rear axle was going to be used. Using the measurements, it was determined the plans are for a Honda 600 axles! They are available, but need to find the hubs. Consulting Scott Young to get everything together.
Regards
Paul

 

[JHaydon]

Before I owned it, Craig Taylor (Taylor Race Engineering, where Scott used to be one of the magicians) converted my Tiga from Hillman Imp axles to VW by making spacer rings which fit between the upright and the VW bearings. Scott can make something similar or maybe figure out something better.

Fun fact, Craig told me years later that mine was the only car he had ever converted to VW axles. The next time they had a Tiga in the shop, someone noticed that Mazda axles looked tantalizingly close to the right size. They turned out to be a drop-in fit. Not sure which Mazda the axles were from, though.

Oh, and about using VW bits: I was using Type 3 rear hubs, but they were made in Brazil of some material that was only slightly harder than old cheese. After a few races, the hub would deform to the point where the axle nut was no longer tight. The first time I found this out, the splines were ready to fail. The next time, I caught it when the hub was visibly loose. From then on I checked that hub after every weekend. The only good thing was the hubs were cheap (a local VW specialty shop had overstocked on them in the 80s) and the CVs and boots were easy to find.

I ended up replacing the hubs with semi-custom aluminum hubs with hardened bearing surfaces from Larry Oliver, but the next step was going to be steel hubs from Taylor Race Engineering.

 

[apbos]

Scott was very helpful. I head to Texas in January and In think I will drop off the bits to him. We figured out the CVs were Honda, but how to get 5hem connected to the Hewland is still a bit of a mystery. I like the idea of using VW components, but the VW stub axels are too large to fit in the inboard portion of-the uprights. I do have other options as I have two other sets of complete uprights that could be used in place of the LeGrand uprights.


Lola FSV uprights purchased at an estate sale and a set of McNamera uprights and axle shafts that came with the gearbox ( almost identical to the LeGrand uprights)

 

[apbos]

Just an update. Back in January I injured my finger and back. Three weeks of bed rest, physical therapy and the back is doing much better. However, my finger is healing slowly. It is still in a splint and 8 weeks later and because it is on my dominant hand work and typing have almost been impossible. Will be getting X-rays again next week. Hopefully, I can start to use it. I have been able to have everything for the project moved to a central location, which should help when I can get going again.

Regards
Paul

 

[JPSmit]

Just an update. Back in January I injured my finger and back. Three weeks of bed rest, physical therapy and the back is doing much better. However, my finger is healing slowly. It is still in a splint and 8 weeks later and because it is on my dominant hand work and typing have almost been impossible. Will be getting X-rays again next week. Hopefully, I can start to use it. I have been able to have everything for the project moved to a central location, which should help when I can get going again.

Regards
Paul

take your time! This is not something to rush - or push too hard too soon. Good to hear from you and keep us posted.

 

[JHaydon]

take your time! This is not something to rush - or push too hard too soon. Good to hear from you and keep us posted.

Yes, but brief updates -- don't strain that finger typing too much just for us!

 

[apbos]

It’s amazing how you can get your time filled by work when you are not supposed to be physically working. I feel like a consultant! I hope I am not becoming one of those “Pigeon” consultants I despise so much. Next appointment with the hand specialist is in 7 days. Tomorrow marks 3 months! Doing lots of reading, hopefully the wrenching will begin soon!
Regards
Paul