Engine in or out

[barnman]

Hi All, thanks for recent advice re paint codes etc.
Chassis and underbody now painted and ready to go with oily and not so oily bits.
We have trial fitted shrouds and panels re door gaps and swages etc along with hood frame.
We have carried this out with no loading from the engine and gearbox...ie they are out.
Any views on whether to preload prior to next panel fit or will it not alter much in view of new chassis/sills/floors etc.
I have seen images where weights have been placed in the gearbox area to ? simulate loading here.
Any further input appreciated.
Thanks Al

 

[Healey Nut]

My opinion is if your chassis flexes that much with driveline weight that it affects the panel fit then you need a new superstructure or the existing superstructure was not repaired correctly .

 

[Keoke]

Alwys preload with

the engine and gear box ​

prior to final Panel fit

 

[red57]

I tend to agree with Healey Nut. I know I hear about folks talking about how important installing the 650# of the engine & tranny is, but why have I never heard of anyone adding 3-400# where the seats are to simulate driver & passenger??? If my chassis flexed that much, I expect the doors would be popping open when crossing a RR track, not to mention rubbing the paint off the door edges. So I personally doubt the need, but freely admit I could be wrong too...
Dave

 

[CLEAH]

I agree with Dave and Healey Nut. The weight of the engine and transmission is distributed over three mounts, two of which are over the front wheels. At most the weight at the transmission mount is 250 pounds. That is not going to measurably flex a solid chassis assembly. Concerned about this myself, when I disassembled my car to begin its restoration, I measured the door openings with the drivetrain in place, then again once the drivetrain was removed. No change in the measurements. My car was completed by a professional restoration shop that fits panels without the drivetrain in place.

 

[British_Recovery]

The car bodies were originally delivered without any drive trains, as seen in some early photos of the car carrier from Jensen.

 

[barnman]

Thanks for that.
The chassis is brand new as are the floors sills etc.
Also fully seam welded so cannot get much stiffer/stronger.
I take the point also about the weight over the front wheels.
Regards Al