Tuning Canterbury 695

[AndrewHarvey]

Many thanks for the offer Steve - I've ordered one instead. Would of hated to of broken yours!
It's just another permanent departure from standard - that I didn't really want.

 

[fiat500]

Many thanks for the offer Steve - I've ordered one instead. Would of hated to of broken yours!
It's just another permanent departure from standard - that I didn't really want.

Andrew, your modifications definitely set a standard for "departure(s) from standard" so I wouldn't stress about the spring-seats. many of us have found the remains of those dangling in the general rust and debris beneath the car so consider yourself lucky to have had them to remove. This must be quite common as they are available as a weldable-on spare-part so could be replaced if ever thought necessary.

 

[AndrewHarvey]

Your quite right Peter, removing them is not the biggest deal!
I will drop the suspension down this week end when I will also fit my new driveshaft's (yes another departure!)
You need to un-couple the driveshaft's to get enough working space in the area in question.
I had a set of driveshaft's made in Poland - here's hoping that they are straight forward to fit!!
The body shop are now making preparations for taking the car in....just need one inner arch panel and then strip off all the external chrome and windows and - one Navy Blue and yellow monster should arrive back - oh 'eck I hope it doesn't look horrid???
Inspiration...............

 

[AndrewHarvey]

Fancy drive shafts arrived - so weekend works are planned!
Remove spring seats and fit driveshafts
Might even get to drive it a little!

 

[AndrewHarvey]

Found a couple of period publications - I've always been a sucker for these.
I ve already got the Piper radio instructions for the ashtray radio, Halda Speed Pilot books etc.
I have a full set for my 1951 Lambretta also......

Driveshafts ready to fit tomorrow.....spot weld drill at the ready.

I also had a requirement for a new roof securing strap. As I plan to run an opening hard top the strip / holes are visable and will let rain water in.
I had my fabricators run me up a stainless version. Guess it will get painted - maybe not - all the same another top quality job!!

 

[Paolo66]

Did you get that yellow book off ebay recently Andrew? I went to "buy it now" on one and somebody beat me to it. Is it any good?
Damian

 

[AndrewHarvey]

Yes it arrived from the Bay of Many Things recently............
Its very good and a usful companion with the Haynes book.............its much more specific with great images.
The issue is that my car is so far from standard - lots of it are no longer relevant....
Brakes - all different
Suspension - all different
Interior and dash - all different
Engine - Kinda similar.....
Transmission - all different
Thinking about it - Oh 'eck - these books are now pointless......But I still love them.....

 

[Franko500]

Are you going to have it ready for the Herne Bay classic car show Andrew?

 

[AndrewHarvey]

The current plan was to get it painted ( the track is too wide to pass the MOT without the wide arches)
It would of been fun - maybe I can get it to one soon.....

 

[AndrewHarvey]

Only grabbed two hours this afternoon in the height of summer to cut off the rear spring seats.....whilst others polish - I'm still building
It's amazing how completely rust free the car is - 46 years and the rear spring seats are as good as the spares I bought a year ago!
Eventually found a removal method - and after dressing the remaining bodywork to make room the coil over fits - good coat of hammerite to finish
The fitting of the super Dooper driveshaft joint went well so just the other side tomorrow...…id rather be ogling cars at the car show where Franko will be - but it will never get finished if I don't press on...

 

[AndrewHarvey]

Finished off the drive shaft upgrade - they are a really good piece of engineering
Hopefully that will be the last time I need to worry about the transmission output.
Cannot decide wether to fit the super exhaust before painting - I'm impatient to hear it in its full glory BUT don't want the beautiful carbon fiber and zircotec coating to be painted
The little boy in me wants to be sniggering at the ridiculous noise it's going to make.......

 

[AndrewHarvey]

Bought a spare fuel tank to ponder a thought of an external fuel filler cap.
Does anything say racing car more than a bonnet mounted filler?
Very Porsche RSR....
It might look just right....stainless fabricated filler / water catcher welded onto tank....hole cut in bonnet with foam surround to be water tight....custom filler cap.....
Maybe..............

 

[AndrewHarvey]

Found a really elementary problem with my build.
My beautiful Nardi steering wheel is too big at 40cm
I cannot get my legs between the period bucket seat and the rim!
Bugger!
Now I've got to find a replacement.
Any ideas guys?
The Nardi will sell for strong money but I need a wheel - now....

 

[stevehg]

Found a really elementary problem with my build.
My beautiful Nardi steering wheel is too big at 40cm
I cannot get my legs between the period bucket seat and the rim!
Bugger!
Now I've got to find a replacement.
Any ideas guys?

How about using this one with an over geared rack ....

Seriously though, the competition wheels normally go down to 33cm. Did you measure how much you need to reduce it by?

Obviously both Nardi and Mota Lita do custom wheels. A bit spendy, but there is also superspoke here in the UK... http://www.superspoke.co.uk/the-collection/

And lastly, they are a bit marmite, but there is the option of flat bottomed or quick release, if it just access that's the issue and once you are in it's ok.

cheers, Steve

 

[AndrewHarvey]

Does anyone know the boss kit needed? For some reason I think there are 48 splines on a 500 steering column but don't know why this number is stuck in my head

 

[the hobbler]

Morning Andrew;
I will measure the diameter of my steering wheel to see if it is smaller, which I am sure it is.

 

[stevehg]

IIRC from buying my boss for the Nardi (36cm btw) it was 38.

cheers, Steve

 

[the hobbler]

Hi Andrew;
I have measured my steering wheel--it is 31cm in diameter--outside of rim to outside of rim. The securing bolts (small countersunk cap-head) are on a 3.5cm radius (7cm from bolt centre across to bolt centre),. It is a wood-rim wheel with Nardi type spokes (1 long, thin, tapered slot in each of the 3 spokes), with 'made in Italy' stamped on the reverse of the spokes, plus the number:-1074.
'Er indoors has a picture of the wheel on her phone (long story, won't bore you with it), as soon as she is back home I will e-mail you that picture.

 

[Alfons1972]

It is a wood-rim wheel with Nardi type spokes (1 long, thin, tapered slot in each of the 3 spokes), with 'made in Italy' stamped on the reverse of the spokes, plus the number:-1074.

1074 should be the production date: October of 1974

as soon as she is back home I will e-mail you that picture.

I'd like to see it too

 

[the hobbler]

I have sent you an e-mail Andrew of my steering wheel (which I had forgotten that I had). I was wrong regarding the (3) spokes--they have 3 diminishing size holes (comes of looking at too many pictures of Nardi steering wheels and not the car!)---the spokes are more like the Mota-Lita wheels. who do a variety of sizes that should get you round your problem.